March 16, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio - The Road to the Final Four begins as the University of Dayton hosts the Opening Round of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at UD Arena.

The game will feature the Mount Saint Mary's Mountaineers against the Coppin State Eagles.

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.

Coppin State will have an open practice at UD Arena Monday at 6 p.m., with Mount Saint Mary's practicing at 7:10 p.m. Both practices are open to the public.

The Division I men's basketball committee announced the pairing Sunday, about 90 minutes before the rest of the field of 65 was revealed. The teams will play in Dayton, Ohio with the winner advancing into one of the brackets as a No. 16 seed.

Coppin State (16-20), the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will be making its fourth NCAA tournament appearance and first since 1997. The Eagles have won 12 of their last 13 games since starting the season 4-19. They beat Morgan State 62-60 in the conference tournament championship game Saturday night.

Mount St. Mary's (18-14) won the Northeast Conference tournament last Wednesday, beating Sacred Heart 68-55. The Mountaineers are making their third NCAA tournament appearance and first since 1999.

NCAA Opening Round Ticket Information
2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship
Opening Round
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 7:30 p.m. ET
University of Dayton Arena

Ticket prices:
Adults: $12
Children: $6
Groups (20+): $6
Group orders also receive two (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.