Pairings Announced For 2011 Food Lion SAC Men’s Basketball Tournament
ROCK HILL, SC - The Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team is the top seed for the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, which begins Wednesday.
The Railsplitters (16-2 SAC, 24-2 overall) are ranked 13th nationally and won their first SAC men's basketball title. They will face eighth-seed Carson-Newman College (8-10 SAC, 11-15) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. LMU swept the regular-season series against the Eagles, winning 90-69 on the road and 83-78 at home.
Carson-Newman was part of a five-way tie for fourth place with Newberry, Tusculum, Brevard, Catawba and Carson-Newman all finishing with an 8-10 conference record.
Anderson University (12-6 SAC, 18-10) is the second seed and will face seventh-seed Catawba College (8-10, 12-14) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The two teams split during the regular season, with Anderson winning 81-56 at home, and Catawba winning 75-69 at home.
The Trojans tied for second in the regular-season standings with Wingate University. Anderson swept Wingate in their two meetings to earn the second seed.
Wingate (12-6 SAC, 17-9) is the third seed and will face sixth-seed Brevard (8-10 SAC, 13-13). Brevard is the defending men's tournament champion. Wingate swept the season series, taking a 65-49 victory at home and wrapping up the regular season with an 87-77 victory on the road Saturday, forcing a rematch on Wednesday.
Newberry College (8-10 SAC, 13-13) is the fourth seed and will host fifth-seed Tusculum College (8-10 SAC, 11-17). The Wolves and the Pioneers split the the season series, with Tusculum winning 80-73 on the road, and Newberry winning 71-66 on the road.
The five-way tie was a first in conference history. In the head to head comparison between Brevard, Carson-Newman, Catawba, Newberry and Tusculum, both Newberry and Tusculum were 5-3, Catawba was 4-4 and Brevard and Carson-Newman were both 3-5. Newberry and Tusculum were 1-1 head to head and both were 0-2 against Lincoln Memorial. Newberry was 1-1 against Anderson, while Tusculum was 0-2 against Anderson, so Newberry earned the fourth seed.
In the head to head comparison between Brevard, Carson-Newman, Catawba and Tusculum, Tusculum was 4-2, Catawba and Brevard were 3-3 and Carson-Newman was 2-4, so Tusculum is the fifth seed.
In the head to head comparison between Brevard, Carson-Newman and Catawba, all three were 2-2. Brevard was 1-1 against Lincoln Memorial, while Carson-Newman and Catawba were both 0-2 against Lincoln Memorial, so Brevard is the sixth seed.
Catawba was 2-0 against Carson-Newman to earn the seventh seed.
Quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals, which will be held at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C. on Saturday, March 5. The men's semifinals will be at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Lincoln Memorial vs. Carson-Newman winner will face the Newberry vs. Tusculum winner at 5:30 p.m. The Anderson vs. Catawba winner will face the Wingate vs. Brevard winner at 8 p.m.
The championship game is on Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m.
Tickets for quarterfinal games are $6 for adults, $3 for children, students and college students with ID. Tickets for semifinal and championship rounds are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and college students with ID.
Fans showing the Food Lion MVP card can save $1 off the price of an adult ticket for the quarterfinals ($5 with Food Lion MVP card) and the semifinals and championship ($9 with Food Lion MVP card).
The tournament winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
MEN
Wednesday, March 2
Food Lion SAC Tournament, Quarterfinals, Home of Higher Seed
No. 8 Carson-Newman at No. 1 Lincoln Memorial, 7 pm
No. 7 Catawba at No. 2 Anderson, 7 pm
No. 6 Brevard at No. 3 Wingate, 8 pm
No. 5 Tusculum at No. 4 Newberry, 8 pm
Saturday, March 5
Food Lion SAC Tournament, Semifinals, CVCC Arena, Hickory, NC
Carson-Newman/Lincoln Memorial winner vs. Tusculum/Newberry winner,
5:30 p.m.
Catawba/Anderson winner vs. Brevard/Wingate winner, 8 pm
Sunday, March 6
Food Lion SAC Tournament Championship, CVCC Arena, Hickory, NC
Semifinal winners, 4 pm