Kearney, Neb. – For the first time since 2007, the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team will play in the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Lopers (20-11) are the fourth-seed in the Central Region and will face fifth-seed and longtime rival Fort Hays State (20-10) Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D. The 3,200-seat Sanford Pentagon is the host arena.
 
The Augustana University Vikings are the top seed and regional hosts for a second straight season. Augie is 59-5 over the past two years, not including an exhibition win over Iowa in November.
 
The Loper/Tiger winner faces either Augie or eighth-seed Harding (Ark.) on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Harding was the regular season Great American Conference champion and lost to Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) in the GAC tourney finals.
 
On the other side of the bracket is defending region champ Minnesota State-Moorhead. The Central Region title game is set for Tuesday, March 15th, at 7: 00 p.m. The region winners advance to the Elite Eight March 23-26 in Frisco, Texas.
 
Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Pentagon ticket office at (605) 312-7900. Session ticket prices are $12.00 for adults, $5.00 for youths with ages five & under free.
 
The Lopers split the season series with the Tigers, losing in Kansas by an 84-75 score in mid-December and winning in the Health & Sports Center, 90-64, on January 30th. 

The two have never met in a national tournament but squared off six times in the RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) Tournament. Saturday's game will be the 125th all-time meeting between the two with Hays holding a 78-46 series edge.
 
UNK is 10-12 in 11 all-time NCAA tourney appearances, reaching the Elite in 2003 and the Sweet 16 in 1999 and 2004.
 

Saturday, March 12th
Session # 1
12:00 p.m.  – 3rd-seed and 7th-ranked Minnesota State-Moorhead (30-5) Vs. 6th-seed Minnesota State-Mankato (21-9)
2:30 p.m. – 2nd-seed and 13th-ranked NW Missouri State (25-5) Vs. 7th-seed Ouachita Baptist, Ark. (19-12)
Session # 2
5:30 p.m. – 1st-seed and 3rd-ranked Augustana (28-2) Vs. 8th-seed Harding, Ark. (20-10)
8:00 p.m. – 4th-seed Nebraska-Kearney (20-11) Vs. 5th-seed Fort Hays State (20-10)
 
Sunday, March 13th
Session # 3
5:00 p.m. – MSU-Moorhead/MSU-Mankato winner Vs. Northwest/OBU winner
7:30 p.m. – Augie/HU winner vs. UNK/FHSU winner
 
Tuesday, March 15th
Session # 4
7:00 p.m. – Championship game (winner advances to Elite Eight in Frisco, Texas, March 23-26)