Fresh off a big road win on Wednesday night, the Kent State Tuscarawas basketball hoped to receive an invitation to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Basketball Championships on late Thursday afternoon.

As the team held a Tournament Bid Watch Party in Founders Hall Auditorium surrounded by parents, students and staff, the air was filled with nervous anticipation for the Eagles who have been ranked in the USCAA Top 10 for eight straight weeks.

The Golden Eagles, who are 17-8 on the season and ranked No. 7 in the USCAA Coaches Poll, did not get a definite nod, but a definite maybe around 5:45 p.m. as they earned a tie for the No. 9 seed to the tournament held at Virginia State University in Richmond, VA.

With the tie for the No. 9 Seed, the Eagles will have to root for Penn State York to win the PSUAC Tournament against Penn State Brandywine. Those two square-off on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., while the Eagles are making their way home from Miami Hamilton where they will play in a 3:00 p.m. tip.

A victory by PSU York will send the Golden Eagles to the USCAA National Championships for the first time. They would face No. 8 Seed, Southwestern Adventist University of Dallas on Monday, March 7^th at Virginia State University. A loss would end their season. Tickets for the tournament will be sold on site.

It was the second time in five years of membership that the Golden Eagles were extended a tournament invitation via a conditional status. In the 2019-2020 season they finished 12^th in the final coaches poll and were dubbed as a bubble team for the tournament. A one-point, double overtime loss in the YSCCC championship ultimately burst their bubble.

They hope to be one of seven teams to receive an at-large bid and hope to join three automatic qualifiers from the Penn State University Athletic Conference, the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Yankee Small College Conference.

Tournament play begins on Monday, March 7^th at 10:00 a.m. in the 6100 seat Multi-Purpose Center at VSU. A first-round loss eliminates a team from championship contention, but all teams are guaranteed a minimum of two games in the tournament. Consolation brackets will match losing teams with the chance to play for third and fourth place overall.

Coach Richard Tharp and the Golden Eagles will have to temper their excitement a bit, as they have one final regular season game yet to play on Saturday, February 26^th at USCAA DII No. 4 Miami Hamilton. KSU Tusc beat the Harriers 86-79 on the Eagles home floor December 22, 2021.