IUP women, men get top regional seeds for NCAA Division II basketball tournament

Despite being upset by Gannon, 50-40, in the PSAC women’s basketball championship game, IUP earned the top seed in the Atlantic Regional to begin the NCAA Division II Tournament.

The Crimson Hawks (28-3) will host the first three rounds of the tournament and will face CIAA champion and No. 8 seed Fayetteville State (21-8) on Friday. Also in IUP’s half of the regional, No. 4 seed Bowie State (25-5) will face fifth-seeded Virginia Union on Friday at IUP.

Gannon, meanwhile, will host in the other half of the regional. The second-seeded Golden Knights (25-6) face No. 7 seed Cal (Pa.) (21-9) on Friday in Erie. In the other game, No. 3 Glenville State (26-5) plays No. 6 Notre Dame (Ohio) (26-5).

The IUP men (28-2), meanwhile, also drew the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Regional. The Crimson Hawks are coming off their second straight PSAC championship and will host No. 8 seed Winston-Salem State (19-10) on Friday.

In the other half of IUP’s side of the bracket, No. 4 seed Shippensburg (24-7), which the Crimson Hawks defeated in the PSAC title game, will face No. 5 seed Fairmont State (23-7) on Friday.

West Liberty (26-3), winners of 10 in a row, earned the No. 2 seed in the region and will host in the other half of the draw. The Hilltoppers play No. 7 Virginia State (19-9) on Friday or Saturday.

Also in the West Liberty half of the draw, No. 3 seed Charleston (25-6) will play No. 8 seed Mercyhurst (20-8). The Lakers advanced to the Elite Eight last season.