Athletics | Men's Basketball | NCAA Bid

February 29, 2004
Monarchs draw 12th-ranked Randolph-Macon in opening round of NCAA Division III National Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The ticket has been punch, and the Methodist Monarchs are heading to Virginia for the opening round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

The bids and brackets were released on Sunday, and Methodist is matched up at 12th-ranked Randolph-Macon in the first round of the tournament. The Monarchs and Yellow Jackets will square off at Randolph-Macon’s Crenshaw Gymnasium. Game time is to be announced. The winner of this game will advance to Saturday’s second round showdown at Maryville.

This is Methodist’s fourth trip to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in the program’s history, and the first since 1997. The Monarchs have had some success in NCAA postseason. The 1977 team advanced to the "Sweet 16," while the 1997 squad advanced to the "Elite Eight," losing to eventual national champion Illinois Wesleyan.

The Monarchs enter the game 18-9 after knocking off Shenandoah 72-58 in the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament championship, while Randolph-Macon is 22-4. However, unlike the Methodist, the Yellow Jackets entered the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament as the top-seeded team, but were shocked 54-50 by eighth-ranked Lynchburg.