Regular Season Champion Alfred to Host E8 Men's Basketball Championship
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
The 2019 Empire 8 Conference Men's Basketball Championship will run through top-seeded Alfred as the Saxons have earned the right to host this year's conference tournament. The Saxons finished the regular season with a 14-2 mark in league play to claim the top spot.
This year's tournament will take place this coming Friday - Saturday, February 22-23. For the complete schedule of this year's E8 Men's Basketball Championship, please see below.
CLOSER LOOK
Alfred finished the regular season with a record of 21-4 overall, including their 14-2 mark in E8 league action. The Saxons have won 11 straight games heading into this year's tournament. They'll take on Stevens in one Semifinal matchup on Friday night as the Ducks (9-7 in E8 play) earned the No. 4 seed in this year's championship.
Nazareth (12-4 in league play) earned the No. 2 seed and will take on a familiar foe in the other Semifinal game Friday evening. The Golden Flyers will take on crosstown rival St. John Fisher (12-4) with a berth in the E8 Championship on the line.
The winner of this weekend's tournament will earn the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament and advance to the 2018-19 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.
2019 Men's Basketball Tournament Seeding:
1. Alfred
2. Nazareth
3. St. John Fisher
4. Stevens
2019 Men's Basketball Tournament Schedule:
- All games to take place at Alfred University -
Friday, February 22
Semifinal #1 - 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Stevens at No. 1 Alfred
Semifinal #2 - 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 St. John Fisher vs. No. 2 Nazareth
Saturday, February 23
Empire 8 Championship - 3:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and https://youtu.be/wzL4HcDoUUQ