Men's Basketball

ETSU Headed to Clemson for NIT
ETSU Headed to Clemson for NIT
A-Sun Player of the Year Courtney Pigram will try to lead ETSU to their first national postseason victory since defeating Arizona in the 1992 NCAA Championship - www.ASunPhotos.com

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The waiting finally came to an end Sunday night, as ETSU learned that it would meet Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The No. 8 seeded Buccaneers (24-9) will travel to meet the No. 1 seeded Tigers (21-10) Wednesday night at 6 p.m., and the game will be televised live on ESPNU.

“We’re glad to finally learn who we will be playing, and no doubt this will be a challenge for us going on the road to face an ACC opponent the caliber of Clemson,” said ETSU head coach Murry Bartow. “At least in the NCAA Tournament you face a team on a neutral court. This won’t be an easy game for us on the road.”

This will be the third meeting between ETSU and Clemson in the last four years, with the previous two meetings going down to the wire. In 2003-04, the Bucs actually held the lead with less than a minute remaining only to see the Tigers tie the game and ultimately win 100-84 in overtime. In 2005-06, the Bucs had a shot to tie the game in the final minutes, but Clemson again took the victory 80-72.