March 15, 2010
 
Marshall Accepts Invitation to Play in CollegeInsider.com Tournament
Thundering Herd Earns First Post Season Berth in 22 Years
 
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) — Marshall University Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick announced Sunday night that the Thundering Herd men’s basketball team (23-9 overall, 11-5 C-USA) has accepted a bid to play in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) and will do so as a number one seed. Marshall will host Western Carolina (22-11) in first round action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (March 16) at the Cam Henderson Center.
 
This is the first postseason berth for the Thundering Herd since the 1988 NIT when VCU escaped the Cam Henderson Center with an 81-80 first round win.
 
“We are excited to have the opportunity to play in our first post season tournament in 22 years,” Marshall head coach Donnie Jones said. “We are looking forward to playing a postseason game in front of our fans in the Henderson Center and we hope that a large crowd will come out and support our team.”
 
The CIT is in its second year of existence. Old Dominion won the inaugural tournament, defeating Bradley 68-62 last season. A total of 16 teams are scheduled to compete in the tournament with the first three rounds being conducted on campus sites. The championship of the tournament is scheduled to be played at the highest remaining seed.
 
Tickets are $20 for lower reserved seats, $11 for upper-level reserved, $10 for general admission and Marshall Student tickets are $4 with a valid student ID. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.Herdzone.com.
 
The Marshall University Ticket Office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and fans can purchase tickets over the phone by calling 1-800-THE-HERD or 304-696-HERD during business hours. Fans that purchase tickets online or over the phone can pick up their tickets at will call on Tuesday.
 
Regular season ticket holders that pre-ordered post-season tickets can pick up their tickets starting at Noon Monday at the Cam Henderson Center Ticket Office.
 
This is the fourth different postseason tournament in which Marshall has competed. The Thundering Herd played in the 1938, 1947, and 1948 NAIB Tournaments, winning the NAIB National Championship in 1947. The Herd has also played in four National Invitational Tournaments (1967, 1968, 1973 and 1988) and five NCAA Division I Tournaments (1956, 1972, 1984, 1985 and 1987).
 
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