Orediggers home for opening rounds of NAIA tourney, teams and seedings announced

Well, at least for a few days, we knew that the Orediggers would be hosting an opening-round pod of the 64-team NAIA National Men's Basketball Tournament but today we found out who--and Mining City basketball fans are in for a treat.

The Orediggers are the 4th seed in the Cramer Bracket of the NAIA tournament and will be joined in Butte by #5 Thomas Moore of Kentucky, #12 Eastern Oregon and #13 Westmont (California) College.  The opening round is next Tuesday with Eastern Oregon facing Thomas Moore at 5pm followed by the Orediggers date with Westmont at 7.  The winners of the first round will advance to Wednesday's second round at 7pm.  All games will be played at Kelvin Sampson Court in the HPER complex on the campus of Montana Tech.  The second-round winner will move on to the final field of 16 teams.

Advance tickets go on sale Monday at 9am at the HPER complex in office 145 and will be available until 5pm and again from 9am to 1pm on Tuesday.  All advance ticket sales will be for reserved seating and will be $20 for Tuesday's session (both games) and $15 for Wednesday's contest.  General admission tickets will be at the door and will be $12 for the first round and $10 for the second round.  Doors will open at 4pm on Tuesday and 6pm on Wednesday.  Advance tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling Montana Tech Athletics at (406)496-4105.  Current Oredigger season ticket holders will have the right of first refusal for their seats and will have until 5pm on Friday to confirm.