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The date is set, the bracket filled in and for the third straight year, the Hampden-Sydney Tigers are headed to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Despite being eliminated in the first round of the ODAC tournament, the Tigers earned an at-large invite and have been chosen as one of 16 sites hosting first and second round competition. 

That’ll take place this Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, at Kirby Field House. The Tigers will welcome Bryn Athyn (PA) College in the first round on Friday, March 7, at 6:40 p.m. The Garnet & Grey of sixth-year Head Coach Caleb Kimbrough have an overall record of 21-5, completing the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) regular season at 14-2, before being upset in the conference tournament quarterfinals. The Lions have a record of 20-8 after winning the United East Conference Tournament Championship to receive automatic qualification (AQ). H-SC is making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and its 17th overall appearance in the NCAA postseason.

“We are thankful to get to continue the journey together with this team,” said Kimbrough. “Making the NCAA tournament is a big accomplishment and I am very proud of this group. We need everyone to come out and support on Friday. No excuses, GID!”

Looking over the season so far 

H-SC, ranked No. 11 in the final NCAA Power Index (NPI), has won 11 of its last 13 games overall. The 21 wins mark the third-straight season with 20-plus wins, and it’s the 18th 20-win season in program history-the first time since 1996-99 that the Tigers have accomplished three consecutive 20-win campaigns, including 22-7 in 2022-23 and 31-3 last season when finishing as the National Runner-Up. The Garnet & Grey have also been ranked among the D3hoops.com Top 10 for 11-straight rankings. In addition, eight opponents played this season have qualified for the postseason tournament: Christopher Newport, Gettysburg (PA), Guilford (NC), John Carroll (OH), Mary Washington, Pfeiffer (NC), Randolph-Macon and Roanoke.

As mentioned, H-SC will host Bryn Athyn on Friday, March 7, at 6:40 p.m. The visiting Lions have won 15-straight games and are making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the program’s first conference championship, as well, while ranked 158th in the final NPI. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (23-3) will play The College of New Jersey (20-7) in the other first round game on Friday, March 7, at 4:10 p.m. Pitt-Bradford also earned an AQ as the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Tournament Champions, while TCNJ earned an at-large bid. The two winners of the Friday games will play in the second round on Saturday, March 8, at 6:40 p.m.-all three games in Fleet Gym.

Hampden-Sydney Tigers beyond Round 1 

Second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional sites on March 14-15. Winners of the four sectional championship games will advance to the semifinals and finals on March 20 and 22. All games, except the semifinals and championship, will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The semifinals and championship will take place at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.