March basketball madness comes to UCCS

For the third time in 15 days, the UCCS Mountain Lions Men’s Basketball team will face Metropolitan State University of Denver at 6 p.m. March 15 at the Auraria Event Center.

The teams will face each other as part of the 2014 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament, continuing the men’s basketball team’s most successful season in program history. The Mountain Lions will be the No. 8 seed while Metro is the No. 1 seed.

The game is a rematch of the March 8 2014 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout championship game. UCCS lost that game 77-71. The teams also met March 1 with Metro State winning 83-77.

“I’m proud of our guys and what they have earned,” Jeff Culver, head coach, Men’s Basketball, said. “They have fought and competed in one of the toughest conferences in Division II, and we’re excited that we have the opportunity to continue our season in the NCAA tournament.”

Faculty, staff and students can ride a shuttle to the March 15 game. The $17 fee includes the bus ride, game ticket, sandwich and pom pom. The shuttle will leave at 3:45 p.m. from Lot 4 near El Pomar Center. The shuttle is expected to return to campus at 10 p.m. To reserve a seat, please respond to https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/UCOC/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=171193 by noon March 13.

In an open letter to fans, Culver said  the game was a chance to show off the university’s support and excellence to a regional and national audience.

“I have been on record stating that we have the best fans in the RMAC, and I truly believe that,” Culver said. “I know that you will all be out in full force this Saturday at 6 pm at Metro State, and I trust that all of you will continue to represent UCCS with character and class.”

The full letter can be read here: http://gomountainlions.com/basketball/news/spotlight/14mbb0312.html.

The game will also be broadcast on KSPK, 100.3 FM.

The Mountain Lions have won a program-record 21 games and advanced past the RMAC Shootout quarterfinal round for the first time in program history. The men’s basketball is the third team sport at UCCS to qualify for NCAA postseason, joining the 2004 softball team and the 2007 volleyball team.