Maine D-III basketball teams learn NCAA tournament matchups

STANDISH The players on the St.

Josephs College mens basketball team watched the screen pensively as the NCAA Division III tournament selection show played, waiting for their future to be revealed.

Well, save for one.

Actually, one of my friends sent me the picture of it before, freshman guard Silvano Ismail said with a smile.

But I didnt (tell anyone).

The rest of the Monks found out together: St.

Josephs will open the tournament against the 11th-ranked University of Redlands on Friday at Tufts University, continuing their journey after a 24-4 season that netted the school its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship since 2009.

Its still a great feeling to watch our name be put up there, Ismail said, (considering) the work that we put in the whole season, since the first day we came here until now.

...

To be in the tournament my first year is really exciting.

St.

Josephs had company Monday.

Husson University (21-7), fresh off of winning the North Atlantic Conference championship, drew No.

14 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, while in the womens tournament, No.

2 Bowdoin (27-0) will host Brooklyn College (17-11), and Bates (16-9) drew an at-large bid and will play Southern Virginia University (26-2) in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

This is the most fun time of year, and it is always fun to play teams that youve never seen before or played before, Bowdoin coach Megan Phelps said.

And you know, to just have a couple days to prepare, and then play a couple more games, hopefully in Morrell (Gymnasium), its gonna be fun.

The mood in Standish before the show was light and calm as the players filtered into the Hall of Fame room at St.

Josephs Harold Alfond Center.

The Monks had punched their ticket by beating Lasell College in the GNAC championship, so hearing their name called was a matter of when, not if.

We know we made it, we know were going to get a game, so theres not too much scared-ness, senior guard Teagan Hynes said.

But theres definitely some curiosity.

We dont know, and I think thats the fun part about doing this.

Its less scared, and more, Oh, its exciting.

We get to find out where were going.' Still, there wasnt much chatter as the Monks watched quietly as the first 32 teams were read off.

Finally, when the St.

Josephs matchup was revealed, there were claps around the room as the Monks saw their next assignment following 18 straight victories.

Its an exciting feeling, said sophomore forward Remijo Wani, the teams leading scorer at 18.3 points per game.

Youve got seniors who never would have thought of playing in March Madness, and now look at us.

Theyre back in the dance for the first time in 16 years, and they dont have to travel far.

Its a great feeling, going to Tufts.

Not too, too far, which is nice, junior guard John Paul Frazier said.

Ive got family who lives right around Tufts, so itll be fun to have them come to the game and experience that.

Redlands (22-4), roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles, is making its first tournament appearance since 2013.

This is a great experience for these guys, St.

Josephs coach Tyler Ackley said.

If theres an opportunity to go play, Ill take this team any day of the week.

The Husson men started the season 2-5 but have won their past nine games, the most recent a 90-59 victory over Vermont State University Johnson in the NAC final.

Riles Neff leads the Eagles in scoring at 17.5 points per game, while Jeremy Moronta is averaging 14.9.

One of two remaining undefeated teams in the nation, the Polar Bears will host Brooklyn in Fridays Round of 64 at 7:30 p.m.

Also traveling to Brunswick are Cortland (24-3) and Endicott (22-5), who will face off at 5 p.m.

The winner of these two games will play in Saturdays Round of 32 at 7:30 p.m.

Being in the NESCAC, one of the hardest leagues there is, coming out of there undefeated has been a really big building block for us, and having that pay off is really awesome, senior guard Sydney Jones said after a selection show watch party.

I think were just excited to keep playing in Morrell.

Thats really what our team is all about, getting to play with each other in a place that we love.

So were excited for anyone who comes along.

Bowdoin repeated as NESCAC champions on Sunday , after Jones scored 15 fourth-quarter points to erase a double-digit deficit and in a 62-59 win over Colby.

The win marked Bowdoins 11th conference title, the most in NESCAC history.

This is second time the Polar Bears have entered the NCAA tournament undefeated (2003-2004).

If Bowdoin wins its first two games, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will take place at Morrell Gymnasium on March 14-15.

The semifinals and national championship game will take place in Salem, Virginia, on March 20 and March 22.

Bowdoin celebrates its win against Colby in the NESCAC womens basketball title game at Bowdoin College on Sunday in Brunswick.

Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald Last season, Bowdoin hosted four NCAA tournament games in Brunswick before falling to Smith College in the Elite Eight.

A rematch between the Polar Bears and Pioneers (26-2) is possible if both teams win their first two games.

Bates, which made the Sweet 16 in the womens tournament last year, earned an NCAAs berth for the third time in four years.

The Bobcats, led by former Mt.

Ararat standout Elsa Daulerio (15.2 points, 9.1 rebounds per game), have made nine tournament appearances in program history.

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