Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Racers Host UTEP Tuesday In NIT
3/15/2015 6:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
2015 NIT Bracket
The Murray State Racers will host the UTEP Miners in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
Tuesday's tip is at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
MSU is making its eighth NIT appearance and first since 2011. The Racers will be playing just their second NIT home game following the one they hosted at old Racer Arena against Wake Forest in 1983.
The Racers had an automatic spot in the NIT after they claimed their 24th Ohio Valley Conference regular season title when they ran the table going 16-0 as the fifth undefeated OVC team in 67 years and the first at MSU. At 27-5 following their heartbreaking loss to Belmont (March 7) in the OVC Tournament championship game, the Racers ended what is the record winning streak in OVC history at 25.
The Racers lead the all-time series with UTEP 2-1, but haven't played them since 1964 and haven't hosted the Miners since 1954.
The Miners are 22-10 and were 13-5 this season to finish second in Conference USA.
The CFSB Center ticket office will be open Monday with the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fans may also order by telephone by calling 270-809-3000. The ticket office will also be open at 8 a.m. Tuesday on game day.
Here are some facts about the NIT from the NCAA on how the field is chosen and the schedule.
Selection Process
Any regular-season champion of an NCAA Division I conference (as determined by the conference's tie-break protocol) not otherwise selected to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship will secure an automatic qualification into the NIT. The committee will then select the best available teams to fill the 32-team NIT field. Once selected teams are seeded and placed into one of four eight-team regions.
First, Second and Quarterfinal Rounds
The first three rounds of the NIT are hosted at the campus site of one of the participating teams. For each game, the higher-seeded team will have the first option to host unless logistical circumstances preclude such an opportunity. First-round games will be played March 17 and 18. Second-round games can be played March 20-23 and quarterfinal games will be played March 24 and 25.
Championship
The 2015 Postseason NIT will be in its 78th year at New York City's Madison Square Garden. On Tuesday, March 31 , the four quarterfinal winners will square off with the championship game scheduled for Thursday, April 2.
Experimental Rules
This seasons' NIT games will have two experimental rules. Teams will use a 30-second shot clock instead of the current 35-seconds. The NIT will also use a four-foot restricted-area under the basket instead of the current three-foot arc.
Murray State - NIT History
The Murray State Racers will host the UTEP Miners in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
Tuesday's tip is at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
MSU is making its eighth NIT appearance and first since 2011. The Racers will be playing just their second NIT home game following the one they hosted at old Racer Arena against Wake Forest in 1983.
The Racers had an automatic spot in the NIT after they claimed their 24th Ohio Valley Conference regular season title when they ran the table going 16-0 as the fifth undefeated OVC team in 67 years and the first at MSU. At 27-5 following their heartbreaking loss to Belmont (March 7) in the OVC Tournament championship game, the Racers ended what is the record winning streak in OVC history at 25.
The Racers lead the all-time series with UTEP 2-1, but haven't played them since 1964 and haven't hosted the Miners since 1954.
The Miners are 22-10 and were 13-5 this season to finish second in Conference USA.
The CFSB Center ticket office will be open Monday with the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fans may also order by telephone by calling 270-809-3000. The ticket office will also be open at 8 a.m. Tuesday on game day.
Here are some facts about the NIT from the NCAA on how the field is chosen and the schedule.
Selection Process
Any regular-season champion of an NCAA Division I conference (as determined by the conference's tie-break protocol) not otherwise selected to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship will secure an automatic qualification into the NIT. The committee will then select the best available teams to fill the 32-team NIT field. Once selected teams are seeded and placed into one of four eight-team regions.
First, Second and Quarterfinal Rounds
The first three rounds of the NIT are hosted at the campus site of one of the participating teams. For each game, the higher-seeded team will have the first option to host unless logistical circumstances preclude such an opportunity. First-round games will be played March 17 and 18. Second-round games can be played March 20-23 and quarterfinal games will be played March 24 and 25.
Championship
The 2015 Postseason NIT will be in its 78th year at New York City's Madison Square Garden. On Tuesday, March 31 , the four quarterfinal winners will square off with the championship game scheduled for Thursday, April 2.
Experimental Rules
This seasons' NIT games will have two experimental rules. Teams will use a 30-second shot clock instead of the current 35-seconds. The NIT will also use a four-foot restricted-area under the basket instead of the current three-foot arc.
Murray State - NIT History
| Date | Opponent | H/A | W/L | Score | Head Coach |
| 03-15-2011 | Missouri State | Away | Lost | 89-76 | Billy Kennedy |
| 03-13-1996 | Missouri | Away | Lost | 89-85 | Mark Gottfried |
| 03-26-1994 | Bradley | Away | Lost | 66-58 | Scott Edgar |
| 03-15-1989 | Penn State | Away | Lost | 89-73 | Steve Newton |
| 03-17-1983 | Wake Forest | Home | Lost | 87-80 | Ron Greene |
| 03-11-1982 | UNLV | Away | Lost | 87-61 | Ron Greene |
| 03-13-1980 | Illinois | Away | Lost | 65-63 | Ron Greene |
| 03-10-1980 | Alabama | Away | Won | 70-62 | Ron Greene |
| 03-05-1980 | Jacksonville | Away | Won | 53-49 | Ron Greene |
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