Texans Headed Back to NCAA Elite Eight
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Tarleton State University will play Augustana (S.D.) in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco Wednesday, March 23 at 6 p.m.
Tarleton punched its ticket to the Elite Eight for the second straight season after defeating the Angelo State University Rams, 77-72. The Texans are the only repeat team in this year’s Elite Eight from last season.
Tarleton (24-8) clinched its Lone Star Conference record fourth Regional championship and will head to Frisco for the Elite Eight—the first time the Division II tournament has been held in the state of Texas. Semi-final games will be held on March 24 and the championship on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m.
Augustana ranks third in the NABC National Coaches poll and boasts the No. 6 scoring offense in the nation, making the meeting a battle of a top-10 national offense and Tarleton’s No. 10-ranked scoring defense. Augustana won its first regional championship and will represent the Central region after defeating Northwest Missouri State in the title game, 80-78, on Tuesday.
For the latest news regarding this year’s NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament, visit www.tarletonsports.com or www.NCAA.com.
When Tarleton suffered a one-point loss in double overtime to then-No. 20 Angelo State 34 days ago, coach Lonn Reisman challenged his team to rise to the occasion or risk missing the NCAA playoffs.
The 28th year head coach said he needed to “push the right buttons” to get the best from his team, which was sitting with a record of 16-7 and a 5-5 mark in Lone Star Conference play. “After the double-overtime loss, we were at a crossroads.”.
The Texans responded.
Tarleton won five of its next six games to secure the No. 4 seed in the South Central regional tournament. After the first two rounds of the tournament, the Texans matched up with Angelo State—who happened to be responsible for Tarleton’s only two losses since Feb. 10—for the second straight season with a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on the line. It also set up the first rematch of the South Central Regional championship game since 1987.
“A lot of credit to Angelo State University,” he added. “They have a very good basketball team. They are very well coached and they gave an outstanding performance tonight. They have had a great year and it’s a shame that only one team from this region gets to go forward, but I’m very happy that it’s us.”
Tarleton’s starting five—Malcolm Hamilton (17 points), Michael Hardge (16), EJ Reed (13), Chantz Chambers (13) and Romond Jenkins (10)—played a huge role offensively, combining to score 69 of the team’s 77 points. Tarleton shot an impressive 56 percent from the floor and 45 percent from behind the arc in the first half – which makes this the best offensive performance by Tarleton in its six regional championship appearances.
Tarleton, a member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. With campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of integrity, leadership, tradition, civility, excellence and service.
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Contact: Nate Bural – Director of Sports Information
254-968-1802
[email protected]