2011 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball First and Second Round
State University of New York at Oswego – Oswego, New York
Friday, March 4 – First Round
Penn State-Behrend (23-4) vs. Rhode Island College (19-7) – 5:30 p.m. (EST)
Live Stats | Live Video
Oswego State (23-4) vs. Wells College (17-11) – 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, March 5 – Second Round
Winner of Penn State-Behrend/Rhode Island College vs.
Winner of Oswego State/Wells College - 7 p.m. (EST)
Visitor Information
Competition will take place in Max Ziel Gymnasium
Directions to Laker Hall
Campus Map
Visitor Guide
Oswego State has been chosen to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5. Penn State-Behrend will square off against Rhode Island College in the first game at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, while Oswego State will host Wells College in the second first-round game at 7:30 p.m. The winners of the two games will take to the court at 7 p.m. on Saturday for the right to advance to the sectional rounds at a location to be determined.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students with valid ID. The Campus Center Box Office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday. They may be reached at (315) 312-3073. The Tyler Hall Box Office will be open on Saturday from 2-5 p.m. Online tickets may be purchased for each game at tickets.oswego.edu. Tickets will also be available the day of the game one hour prior to tip-off. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
Penn State-Behrend (23-4) is making its fifth trip to the NCAA tournament, and second appearance in four years. The Lions received an at-large bid after falling to La Roche in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship game on Saturday. In their previous four trips to the dance, the Lions advanced to the second round in 2007-08 and the Elite Eight in 1999-00.
Penn State-Behrend is led in scoring by Co-AMCC Player of the Year Chris Saltzman (17.3 ppg) and Rus Conley (15.3 ppg). The Lions shoot the ball extremely well, as they are ranked in the top ten nationally in both field goal percentage (50.0) and three-point field goal percentage (41.0). The Lions also have the ability to shut down opposing offenses as they give up just 57.6 points per game (7th nationally).
Saltzman and Conley combine to shoot 53 percent from the field, while Justin Kovac ranks fourth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.44.
Rhode Island College (19-7) won the Little Eastern Conference Championship to advance to their fifth consecutive NCAA tournament after a 62-49 victory over Eastern Connecticut. The Anchormen are 6-4 in NCAA Tournament action under head coach Bob Walsh, reaching the Elite Eight in 2007 and the Sweet 16 in 2010.
The Anchormen have five players who average nearly 10 points per game in scoring, led by Mike Akinrola's 14.2 points per contest. Antone Gray (12.8 ppg), Mason Choice (11.8 ppg), Carl Lee (10.7 ppg) and Nick Manson (9.5 ppg) round out leading scorers for Rhode
Island College. The Anchormen rank 11th nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.6) and 21st in rebounding margin (7.1).
Akinrola was named the Little East Most Outstanding Player of the tournament this past weekend.
Wells College (17-11) enters the NCAA tournament with an automatic bid after a thrilling 75-72 overtime upset of number one seed Penn State-Harrisburg in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship game on Sunday. The Express will be making their first trip to the NCAA tournament in just their third year as a program.
The Express have four players who average double figures in points. They are led by the contingent of all-conference players Terry Harrison and Mabior Mayen. Harrison, a transfer from Cayuga Community College, had an impressive first season for Wells. Averaging 19.1 ppg and 9.7 rpg, Harrison finished with 13 double-doubles on the season and finished the regular season second in the conference in scoring and third in rebounding. Mayen, a freshman, averaged 16.1 points and 10 rebounds per game, including 13 double-doubles. He finished sixth in the conference in scoring and second in rebounding.
Oswego State (23-4) is making its first-ever NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament appearance in its 88-year history as one of 18 teams to receive an at-large bid. The Lakers, under the direction of second-year coach Adam Stockwell, finished the regular season 17-1 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) while putting together a 16-game winning streak. Stockwell went on to be named SUNYAC Coach of the Year.
The Lakers place four players in double figures in points, led by SUNYAC Player of the Year Chad Burridge (18.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg). Other key contributors include Hayden Ward (10.3 ppg, 8.0 ppg), along with Conor Monaghan (10.7 ppg) and Chris Gilkes (10.0), both off the bench. Ward was also named Third Team All-SUNYAC.
Point guard Sean Michele ranks tenth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.97. Ward provides a strong rebounding presence as he snatches 3.2 offensive boards per game.
