Metropolitan area schools ready for DIII NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

The NCAA released the Division III national basketball tournament brackets for both men and women on Monday. On the men’s side, eight tri-state area teams will continue their seasons on Friday in a win or go home scenario. DoubleGSports.com will have coverage throughout the tournament.

The Hosts

Eastern Connecticut

The Little East Conference champions will host an opening round regional bracket. The Warriors will face Johnson & Wales University (19-9) and the winner will face the winner of Middlebury College (19-6) and Lebanon Valley College (18-9). Eastern (25-3) enters the tournament ranked No. 10 nationally behind head coach Bill Geitner. They have won five straight and 16 of 17. The Warriors are 7-7 in seven previous NCAA appearances.

Wesleyan

For the third time in four years, the Cardinals (21-6) will participate in the NCAA Tournament. Wesleyan will face the New England Collegiate Conference Champion, Southern Vermont (22-5) in the first round on Friday. That game will follow a matchup between Swarthmore (22-5) and New England College (21-6).

Cabrini

The Cavaliers (24-3) will be making their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and have been selected as a host school for the opening two rounds. Cabrini will face College of Staten Island on Friday, while Albright and Springfield will also meet in Friday’s opening round. The winners will go head-to-head on Saturday in the Second Round. Cabrini defeated CSI by one point earlier this month. The Cavaliers are led by Tyheim Monroe (21.6 points per game).

On The Road

Ramapo

The Roadrunners (21-6) won both the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season and conference tournament titles. They will travel to Williams College in Massachusetts and play fellow tri-state area school, Moravian (20-7), in the first round. If they advance, they will play the winner of Williams (22-5) and Bridgewater State (18-9). Chuck Breen’s Roadrunners are led by Thomas Bonacum (13.9 points per game) and Christopher Moseley (13.5).

Moravian

The Hounds reached the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in school history and will play Ramapo on Friday at Williams College. Moravian won its first-ever Landmark Conference championship this season. Their last appearance in the NCAA Tournament was 2008. It’s been a record season for Moravian, having reached program highs for most wins with 20, most points scored with 2,324, most three-pointers with 309, most steals with 310, most blocked shots with 107 and most assists with 444. Oneil Holder and Jimmy Murray lead the Hounds, each averaging 17.4 points per game.

Swarthmore

The Garnet (22-5) finished as the runners-up in the Centennial Conference and have made the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row and the second time in program history. They will travel to Wesleyan and face New England College in the first round. The winner advances to play the winner of Wesleyan vs Southern Vermont. Junior guard Cam Wiley leads the Garnet with 15. 8 points per game.

New Jersey City

NJCU is appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, and will once again face the champions of the Liberty League. The Knights face Union College (18-8) in the First Round, at Plattsburgh State. If they get past Union, the Knights will face the winner of Plattsburgh State vs Nichols. Sam Toney is the leader for the Gothic Knights, averaging 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Staten Island

The Dolphins will travel to Radnor, PA to take on Cabrini on their home court in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. CSI received the automatic big to the tournament after winning the CUNYAC tournament over top-seeded Lehman. Christian Taylor leads the charge at 16.6 points per game while Adeola Latunji averaging 15.7.

The full NCAA Division III interactive bracket for the 2018 Tournament can be found at httpss://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/basketball-men/d3