Four League Schools to Appear in NAIA II National Tournament
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time in Sun Conference history, four teams will appear in the NAIA II Men's Basketball Tournament. The 2013-14 season marks the third consecutive year that at least three league schools have earned a big to Point Lookout, Mo. The Sun Conference, along with the Crossroads League, are the only conferences to send four teams to the College of the Ozarks.
Leading the way for The Sun Conference is 11th-seeded St. Thomas after the Bobcats earned one of two league automatic bids by claiming the regular season championship. The Bobcats are making their sixth appearance at the national tournament with a 2-5 overall record. STU will square off against Union (Ky.) in the second-to-last game of the first round on Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. (CST).
No. 13 Northwood, making its eighth consecutive appearance, recieved the conference's second automatic berth by winning The Sun Conference Tournament title. The Seahawks are 10-7 all-time in Keeter Gymnasium and finished as the 2011-12 National Runner-up. NU will take on Friends (Kan.) at 1:45 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, March 13.
The Southeastern Fire are making their first-ever appearance at the NAIA II National Tournament, one of five programs in the 32-team field to do so in 2014. SEU earned an at-large berth thanks to a 24-6 overall record and will square off with No. 16 Huntington at 4 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 12.
The league's final team to qualify for the March 12-18 event is Embry-Riddle after receiving an at-large bid. The Eagles (24-7) are one of eight qualifiers that have won a National Championship, doing so in 2000, and hold a 15-12 all-time record at the national tournament. The Blue and Gold will kick off the tournament by taking on No. 10 Midland (Neb.) in the first game of the tournament at 8:30 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 12.
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National Tournament Bracket