FHSU Sports Information Department
The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament field was announced on Sunday night (Mar. 6). Fort Hays State will make its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Johnson as the No. 5 seed in the Central Regional. The Tigers take on No. 4 seed and long-time rival Nebraska-Kearney in the opening round of the tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
This will be the 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament all-time for the FHSU men. The Tigers were ranked No. 4 in the region rankings all three weeks leading up to the tournament selection. Fort Hays State is one of three schools from the MIAA participating in the regional, joining Northwest Missouri State and Nebraska-Kearney. The NSIC also has three teams in the tournament and the GAC received two selections. There are two games with match-ups of teams from the same conference, Fort Hays State’s game and the No. 3 vs. No. 6 game.
First round match-up times will be released once announced by the host institution, No. 1 seed Augustana. Below are the opening round match-ups between the teams.
#1 Augustana vs. #8 Harding
#4 Nebraska-Kearney vs. #5 Fort Hays State
#3 Minnesota State-Moorhead vs. #6 Minnesota State-Mankato
#2 Northwest Missouri State vs. #7 Ouachita Baptist
All opening round games will be played on Saturday, March 12. Semifinals will be on Sunday, March 13 and the Regional Final will be on Tuesday, March 15.