The 2008 MEAC Basketball Tournament Men’s Champion Coppin State Eagles will face Mount St. Mary’s in the opening-round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. The game is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the University of Dayton (Ohio).

The Eagles defeated top seeded Morgan State, 62-60, to secure the conference tournament crown. With a 7-9 MEAC record and 16-20 overall finish, CSU becomes the first team to reach the NCAA with 20 losses.

Coppin State 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.

The Eagles have had success in the NCAA tournament. In 1997, Coppin State became the first MEAC institution to win a first round game. The No. 15 seeded Eagles defeated the No. 2 seed University of South Carolina 78-65. South Carolina was ranked sixth nationally, giving the Eagles their first win over a Top 25 opponent. The Eagles fell 82-81 to the Texas Longhorns in the second round.

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.