INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team secured the MIAA’s automatic bid and the NCAA Central Region’s top seed to the 2017-18 NCAA Tournament. The Bearcats will now host a seven-game regional tournament in Maryville, Mo., starting Saturday, March 10.

Northwest’s first round game against No. 8 seed Minnesota State is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at Bearcat Arena. The second round will be on Sunday, March 11 and the Sweet 16 round will be on Tuesday, March 13. The National Championship Elite Eight will be held in Sioux Falls, S.D., starting on Tuesday, March 20. Northwest has advanced to the Central Region championship game each of the past four seasons and captured the NCAA National Championship in 2016-17.

Northwest is making its 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the sixth appearance under head coach Ben McCollum (12-4 overall). McCollum, who is in his ninth season, led the Bearcatsto a fifth-straight MIAA regular season title and third-straight MIAA Tournament title. Justin Pitts was named the MIAA Player of the Year for the third straight year and earned first team All-MIAA honors for the fourth time.

NCAA Central Region
1. Northwest Missouri (Host)
2. Northern State
3. Southern Nazarene
4. Southwest Minnesota State
5. Missouri Southern State
6. St. Cloud State
7. Washburn
8. Minnesota State

Saturday, March 10
Noon: No. 3 Southern Nazarene vs. No. 6 St. Cloud State (Session 1)
2:15 p.m.: No. 2 Northern State vs. No. 7 Washburn (Session 1)

6 p.m.: No. 1 Northwest Missouri vs. No. 8 Minnesota State (Session 2)
8:15 p.m.: No. 4 Southwest Minnesota State vs. No. 5 Missouri Southern (Session 2)

Sunday, March 11
5 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Tuesday, March 13
7 p.m.: Championship Game

— Northwest Athletics —