Aug. 19, 2008

CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team will be one of 16 teams in the field for the 2008 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament, it was announced today by C.M. Newton, chair of the NIT Selection Committee. The Ramblers, who are the No. 10 seed, will open play in the tournament by facing No. 6 seed Georgia on Nov. 17 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.

Created in 1985, the NIT Season Tip-Off has evolved into an enhanced format this year that guarantees every team four games. First- and second-round games will be played at the home campus sites of the four highest-seeded teams. The winners of those sites will move onto the semifinal and final doubleheaders Nov. 26 and 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Loyola, which returns four starters from last year's team, will be competing in the North Regional, which is being hosted by top-seeded Purdue. Prior to the Loyola-Georgia game on Nov. 17, the Boilermakers will be hosting No. 14 seed Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. Eastern. The winners of those two contests play Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU, while the remaining two teams will compete in the consolation round at 4 pm Eastern.

The remaining 12 teams will play third- and fourth-round contests on Nov. 24 and 25 on the home campus sites of the three highest-remaining seeds. Participating teams will not play any team twice and third and fourth rounds will be assigned to the most geographically compatible site possible.

The NIT Season Tip-Off Field is listed below.

East Regional
No. 4 Boston College vs. No. 13 Loyola (Md.)
No. 8 St. John's vs. No. 9 Cornell

North Regional
No. 1 Purdue vs. No 14 Eastern Michigan
No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 10 Loyola

South Regional
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 16 Mississippi Valley State
No. 5 Davidson vs. No. 12 James Madison

West Regional
No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 15 Florida Atlantic
No. 7 UAB vs. No. 11 Santa Clara