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INDIANAPOLIS - Metropolitan State University of Denver's men's basketball team has been selected to participate in the 2013 NIT (National Invitational Tournament) Season Tip-Off. The Roadrunners will face Rhode Island in the first round on Nov. 18 and will play either University of Arizona or Fairleigh Dickinson one day later, depending on the first-round outcomes. Tucson, Ariz., will be the host city of the four-team West Region. The semifinals and championship will be played in New York at Madison Square Garden.
"The opportunity to represent all of NCAA Division II in this tournament is a tremendous honor and it reflects on our rich tradition of success," said MSU Denver President Dr. Stephen Jordan. "What an exciting time for both our student-athletes and for the entire Roadrunner community."
The NIT Season Tip-Off began in 1985, known as the Preseason NIT. This year's tournament field includes 16 teams from different conferences. It features Duke, Arizona, Alabama and Rutgers.
The Roadrunners finished the 2012-13 season 32-3 overall, reaching the Division II national championship game. They also went 20-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and won the regular season and conference tournament championships. This season, they return three starters in all-region senior guard
Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.), who led the team in scoring, and juniors
Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) and
Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College). MSU Denver also adds two Division I transfers to its roster in
Raul Delgado (Chihuahua, Mexico/Springville (Utah) H.S.) and
Will Sinclair (Lilydale, Australia/Lilydale Heights College).
"The NIT should be commended for providing such a great opportunity to Division II schools," Clark said. "We are honored to be only the second Division II team to compete in this prestigious tournament. This is a complement to Mike Dunlap, Bob Hull and all the former players that have helped create the rich tradition of Metro State basketball. We will do our best to represent the RMAC, Division II's South Central Region and Metro State University."
Rhode Island finished the 2012-13 season 8-21 overall. The Rams also return three starters from last season, including leading scorer Xavier Munford, who averaged 17.4 points as a junior.
The NCAA began inviting one Division II team to participate in the predominantly Division I tournament last season, making Metro State University the second-ever Division II school to hold this honor. In 2012, Division II Alabama-Huntsville knocked off North Texas in the first round.
The 2013 NIT Season Tip-Off will be carried by the ESPN family of networks, televising games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3. All game broadcasts will also be available on WatchESPN.
