Bearcats to host NCAA Regional

The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team secured the MIAA's automatic bid and the NCAA Central Region's top seed to the 2017-18 NCAA Tournament. The Bearcats will now host a seven-game regional tournament in Maryville, Mo., starting Saturday, March 10.Northwest's first round game against No. 8 seed Minnesota State is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at Bearcat Arena. The second round will be on Sunday, March 11 and the Sweet 16 round will be on Tuesday, March 13. The National Championship Elite Eight will be held in Sioux Falls, S.D., starting on Tuesday, March 20. Northwest has advanced to the Central Region championship game each of the past four seasons and captured the NCAA National Championship in 2016-17.Northwest is making its 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the sixth appearance under head coach(12-4 overall). McCollum, who is in his ninth season, led the Bearcatsto a fifth-straight MIAA regular season title and third-straight MIAA Tournament title.was named the MIAA Player of the Year for the third straight year and earned first team All-MIAA honors for the fourth time.Tickets can be purchased online HERE starting at 10 p.m. Sunday evening. All seating for the regional will be general admission. Fans can purchase single session tickets in person at the Cashiering office. The Cashiering office, located on the first floor of the Administration Building, will be open until from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early.Single session tickets can be purchased for $12 each for adults and $7 for students. Children 2 and under are free per NCAA policy. The ticket office will open 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to the start of each session.1. Northwest Missouri (Host)2. Northern State3. Southern Nazarene4. Southwest Minnesota State5. Missouri Southern State6. St. Cloud State7. Washburn8. Minnesota StateNoon: No. 3 Southern Nazarene vs. No. 6 St. Cloud State (Session 1)2:15 p.m.: No. 2 Northern State vs. No. 7 Washburn (Session 1)6 p.m.: No. 1 Northwest Missouri vs. No. 8 Minnesota State (Session 2)8:15 p.m.: No. 4 Southwest Minnesota State vs. No. 5 Missouri Southern (Session 2)5 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 27:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 47 p.m.: Championship Game