Whitworth will host in NCAA Division III third round

SPOKANE - The NCAA has selected Whitworth University as the host site for Saturday's NCAA Division III men's basketball third round game between the Pirates and the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders.

The game will tip off at 7 p.m. in the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Tickets will cost $10 for adults and $5 for students, youth and senior adults. All available seating is general admission and tickets will only be sold at the door. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The teams will play for the right to advance to the sectional final and championship semifinal rounds on March 22-23 in Salem, Va.

Whitworth is in the Division III tournament for the eighth time and is making its fifth trip to the Division III sweet 16.

Sixth-ranked Whitworth is 26-3 after an 86-67 victory over Emory University on Saturday night in the second round.

Mary Hardin-Baylor, from Belton, Texas, is 24-5 following a 117-92 win over Concordia University (Texas) on Saturday night.

The winner of Saturday's game will play the winner of a contest between St. Mary's (Md.) and Morrisville State (N.Y.) in Salem next Friday.

Whitworth and UMHB have already played each other this season, also in Spokane. The Pirates pulled away in the second half for a 70-61 victory on Nov. 24 in the only previous meeting between the schools.