ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Coach Grey Giovanine's Augustana men's basketball team will back at Carver Center on Friday and Saturday, March 9-10 to host NCAA Division III Tournament sectional rounds. The NCAA announced the four sectional host sites this morning and the 24-5, ninth-ranked Vikings will be staying home.
 
On Friday, sixth-ranked Emory (23-4) and number 24 Wisconsin-Oshkosh (22-7) will square off at 5:30 p.m. Augustana will tangle with 20th-ranked John Carroll (25-5) 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.
 
John Carroll, out of University Heights, Ohio in the Cleveland area, shared this year's Ohio Athletic Conference crown with Marietta before winning the conference tournament and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tourney. The Blue Streaks are fifth in the nation in scoring with an average of 98.8 points per game, meaning Augustana will face two of the top five offenses in the nation in their first three NCAA contests. JCU, which reached the sectionals with wins over Thomas More (95-72) and Wooster (91-85) at home, is making its 16th appearance in the Division III tournament and is 23-16 all-time with a third-place finish in 2004.
 
Emory, located in Atlanta, Georgia and runner-up in the University Athletic Association this season, advanced to sectional play by defeating Berry 91-72 and LeTourneau 83-82 at home this weekend. The Eagles, who made a sectional appearance at Carver Center in 2016, will be making their 13th NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. They are 12-7 all-time in tournament play and will be seeking their first trip to the final four.
 
UW-Oshkosh finished in third place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this year and earned an at-large bid to the NCAAs. To reach sectional play, the Titans went on the road to Springfield, Ohio and downed Marietta 74-67 before knocking off 3rd-ranked Wittenberg 68-60 on the Tigers' home court. UWO is in the NCAA tournament for the eighth time and has a 9-7 record all-time. The Titans, who own a regular season win over Augustana this season, are looking for their first trip to the final four.
 
Ticket prices for this weekend's games, which are set by the NCAA, are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors aged 60 and up, $5 for students and children aged 2-18, and children under two will be admitted free of charge. No passes will be recognized. Tickets will go on sale at Carver Center on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Rock Island NCAA Sectional Site