December 18, 2006
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University will host its largest, and toughest, tournament of the season when the 2006 River City Classic Men’s Basketball Tournament starts Tuesday afternoon at Bill Greehey Arena.
The tournament field is a veritable who’s who of the top teams in the South Central Region with Fort Hays State, Metro State, Midwestern State, Missouri Western State, Northwest Missouri State, Pittsburg State, Southeastern Oklahoma State and host St. Mary’s in the field. Three teams are currently nationally ranked: Metro State at #21, Southeastern Oklahoma State at #19 and Northwest Missouri State at #13. Just a week ago Fort Hays State was ranked 15th in the nation before falling out of the polls.
The tournament will consist of four games each day with tip-off times slated for noon, 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Host St. Mary’s will face Missouri Western State and Fort Hays State each day at 7:30 p.m. The highlighted game of day one will be #21 Metro State against #13 Northwest Missouri State at 2:30 p.m.
With the Rattlers 70-68 loss to Abilene Christian on Saturday, they fell to 4-4 overall. However three of their four losses are to teams that are either currently in the national rankings or have been this season. The Rattlers are also in the midst of a 12-game homestand.
St. Mary’s River City Classic Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
Dec. 19
Pittsburg State vs. Midwestern State, Noon
(#21) Metro State vs. (#13) Northwest Missouri State, 2:30 p.m.
Fort Hays State vs. (#19) Southeastern Oklahoma State, 5 p.m.
Missouri Western State at St. Mary’s, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 20
(#13) Northwest Missouri State vs. Midwestern State, Noon
Pittsburg State vs. (#19) Southeastern Oklahoma State, 2:30 p.m.
Missouri Western State vs. (#21) Metro State, 5 p.m.
Fort Hays State at St. Mary’s, 7:30 p.m.