Sunday, March 11, 2007

                JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 11, 2007) - The waiting finally came to an end Sunday night, as the ETSU men's basketball team learned that it would meet Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The No. 8 seeded Buccaneers (24-9) will travel to meet the No. 1 seeded Tigers (21-10) Wednesday night at 6 p.m., and the game will be televised live on ESPNU.

            "We're glad to finally learn who we will be playing, and no doubt this will be a challenge for us going on the road to face an ACC opponent the caliber of Clemson," said ETSU head coach Murry Bartow. "At least in the NCAA Tournament you face a team on a neutral court. This won't be an easy game for us on the road."

            This will be the third meeting between ETSU and Clemson in the last four years, with the previous two meetings going down to the wire. In 2003-04, the Bucs actually held the lead with less than a minute remaining only to see the Tigers tie the game and ultimately win 100-84 in overtime. In 2005-06, the Bucs trailed by just six in the final minutes and had a shot to pull to within three at one point, but Clemson again took the victory 80-72.

             In the event of an ETSU win, the Bucs would play the winner of the No. 4 seed Ole Miss and No. 5 seed Appalachian State matchup. The second round game would be in either Oxford, Miss., or Boone, N.C. on March 19.

            For more on the NIT visit nit.org, or check out ETSUBucs.com for all the latest updates and news regarding ETSU men's basketball.