Ithaca Hosts Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship Saturday and Sunday
February 27, 2009
Top-seeded Ithaca College hosts the 2009 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship tournament with the semifinals on Saturday and the title game on Sunday. The tournament winner earns the Empire 8 title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.
The Bombers (24-1 overall, 15-1 conference), winners of 12 consecutive games, will play the second semifinal on Saturday at 4 p.m. against fourth-seeded and defending champion Nazareth College (12-13, 9-7). Ithaca handed the Golden Flyers two lopsided losses in the regular season, winning 122-90 at home on Jan. 9 and clinching the top seed with a 113-86 victory at Nazareth last Friday.
The first semifinal at 2 p.m. pits second-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology (17-8, 12-4) against third-seeded Utica College (17-8, 11-5). The Tigers, who handed Ithaca its only loss of the season, swept the season series with the Pioneers. RIT won 74-59 at home on Jan. 2 and 58-55 at Utica on Jan. 30. The Pioneers have won seven consecutive games and 14 of their last 16.
The semifinal winners will meet in Sunday's championship at 1 p.m.
The schedule, results, and broadcast information are all available at the tournament website