UWA receives at-large bid in NCAA tourney

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – One of the most fruitful years in UWA Men’s Basketball history is not done yet as the Tigers have been selected as an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament.

“Thankful to get in,” said Head coach Allen Sharpe. “Had a great turnout tonight for the selection show. A lot of excitement when our name was announced, so that’s always a positive. Just glad to keep the season going.”

UWA (22-7) enter as the #5 seed and will face #4 seed Valdosta this weekend on the campus of Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, March 16 as part of eight teams in the NCAA South Regional. A time for the game has yet to be determined. Both teams finished with a 16-4 GSC record during league play to share the regular season crown. VSU won both matches during the season.

“I think it’s great we have that matchup. They’re the only team that swept us,” said Sharpe. “To have another crack at those guys will be a big-time opportunity and I know our guys are excited about it.”

Nova Southeastern hosts the South Regional despite falling in the finals of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament to Florida Southern who enters as the second seed.

Delta State, who won the Gulf South Conference automatic bid by virtue of winning the GSC Tournament Sunday over UAH, will be the seventh. Miles is in as the automatic qualifier from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Champion and is the eighth seed. 

Also participating in the South Regional as at-large selections are the #3 seeded Lynn Fighting Knights out of the SSC taking on the #6 seed Alabama-Huntsville. 

The Tigers tied a program record for wins in a season (22) and set the all-time mark in conference wins (16) and in consecutive GSC wins in a season (11).

To stay updated on ticket prices and times for the South Regional, keep an eye on uwaathletics.com.