Dayton Flyers

March 11, 2007

DAYTON, Ohio - The Road to the Final Four begins as the University of Dayton hosts the Opening Round of the 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at UD Arena. The game will feature Florida A&M University versus Niagara University. Tickets for the game are still available at the UD Arena Ticket Office. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call the UD Arena Ticket Office at (937) 229-4433.

Florida A&M will have an open practice at UD Arena Monday at 6 p.m., with Niagara practicing at 7:10 p.m. Both practices are open to the public.

The Florida A&M Rattlers will be the first ever team to make a second appearance in the Opening Round Game after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. FAMU enters following a 20-13 overall regular-season record and a 12-6 mark in MEAC play. The Rattlers beat North Carolina A&T, 74-66 on Friday in the MEAC Finals. Florida A&M beat Lehigh 72-57 in the 2004 Opening Round Game.

FAMU is led by senior center Rome Sanders, who averages 15.6 points per game, as well as senior guard Brian Greene who leads the team in rebounding at 7.2 per contest. Sophomore guard Joe Ballard is the team leader in assists at 2.9 per game.

The Niagara Purple Eagles reached the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship by virtue of an 83-79 win over Siena in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Game on March 5.

NU is led by junior guard/forward Charron Fisher who averaged 21.0 ppg during the regular season. Leading the way for the Purple Eagles in rebounding are senior forward Clif Brown at 9.8 rpg and Fisher with 8.1 rpg. Junior guard Stanley Hodge paced Niagara with 4.1 apg this season.

The winner of Tuesday's Opening Round Game will face Kansas, the top seed in the West Region, on Friday in Chicago. Click here for a complete 2007 NCAA Tournament Bracket.

Make sure you check out the front page at DaytonFlyers.com, to vote for which team you are most excited to see play here at UD Arena!

NCAA Opening Round Ticket Information

2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship
Opening Round
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 7:30 p.m. ET
University of Dayton Arena

Ticket prices:
Adults: $12
Children: $6
Groups (20+): $6
Group orders also receive 2 free parking passes
Parking passes can be purchased prior to the game for $5 for lots A or C, or $7 the day of the game.

For more information, please call the Ticket Office at (937) 229-4433