Sweet 16: Bruins going dancing again

Bracket | Fan & Visitor Information | Schedule & Results | NAIA Release

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For the 16^th-consecutive season the Bellevue University men's basketball team has earned a berth in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament. Bellevue, the North Star Athletic Association regular-season champion, was among the 32 teams announced as qualifiers by the NAIA National Office.

The 2018 Tournament will take place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. beginning on Wednesday, Mar. 7 and culminating with the National Championship Game on Tuesday, Mar. 13.

The Bruins are the sixth seed in the Liston Bracket and will meet third-seeded Northwestern in the first round of the tournament. That game will be played on Wednesday, Mar. 7 at 8 p.m.

Bellevue's streak of 16-straight NAIA Tournament appearances is now the longest in the nation as previous host College of the Ozarks did not make the field.

The appearance is the 19^th overall for the Bruins (21-11) who have reached four Final Fours, including last year's run to the semifinals. In their previous 18 appearances BU has posted a 24-18 (.571) record. They are 3-11 all-time against Northwestern.

BU is among the hottest teams entering the tournament with wins in 14 of their final 18 games, including seven of the previous eight.

The two-time National Champion Red Raiders (25-6, 13-5 GPAC) are making their 18^th National Tournament appearance overall after qualifying as the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament Runner-Up. The series between Northwestern and Bellevue dates back to 1983. NWC won the most recent match-up, 81-73, on Nov. 27, 2009.

Wednesday's winner meets the winner of the 2-v-7 game between St. Francis (Ind.) and Keiser (Fla.).

Bellevue is one of two NSAA schools in the field with Tournament Champion Mayville State (8^th seed, Duer Bracket) slated to take on top-seeded College of Idaho on Thursday, Mar. 8 at 4 p.m.