March 8, 2004
Web Posted: 03/08/2004 12:00 AM CST
Special to the Express-News
St. Mary’s and Texas A&M-Kingsville received at-large bids to the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament.
The 64-team field for the tournament was announced Sunday night.
St. Mary’s (19-10) lost to Drury 62-58 Saturday in the championship game of the Heartland Conference tournament. Drury earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
A&M-Kingsville finished behind Tarleton State in the Lone Star Conference. A&M-Kingsville (19-10) is coming off an 89-85 loss to Tarleton on Friday. The Javelinas had won seven of eight games prior to their last meeting with Tarleton.
Automatic bids are awarded to 22 conference champions. The remaining 42 teams are selected at-large by the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee.
Eight regional tournaments, consisting of eight teams each, will be conducted March 13, 14 and 16 at regional sites.
The eight quarterfinalists will advance to the finals tournament at Centennial Garden in Bakersfield, Calif., March 24, 25 and 27.
The 48th-annual championship game will be broadcast on CBS at noon, March 27.