KEENE, NH – The Little East Conference Champion Keene State College Owls men’s basketball team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Spaulding Gymnasium this weekend, Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4.

The 26-1 LEC champions will host Baruch College on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

This weekend will mark the first time the Owls have hosted “March Madness” on their home court since 2007.

The Owls set a new program record for wins in a season this past Saturday when they grinded past Western Connecticut State University 83-79 in overtime for their second straight Little East Conference tournament title, fifth since 2015, and sixth overall.

Nate Siow finished with 19 points while tournament Most Outstanding Player Jeff Hunter tied for the national lead in double-doubles (22) in posting a 14 point and remarkable 25 rebound stat line. The Owls enter the tournament being led by Octavio Brito, who averages 20.7 points per game.

Keene State has made the NCAA tournament now five times under head coach Ryan Cain, who has a 78-19 career mark at Spaulding Gymnasium.

Tufts University (19-7, 6-4 NESCAC) and Widener University (19-8, 11-5 MAC Commonwealth) round out the weekend pod, with the Pride and Jumbos to square off at Spaulding Gymnasium on Friday at 3:00 p.m. Tufts was an at-large selection, while Widener won their league tournament.

The two winners from Friday will square off with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.