Feb. 25, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - First-round pairings for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship basketball tournaments have been determined, with Lewis set to take on Southern Indiana in both men's and women's competition at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Ind.

The Lewis-USI men's game tips off Thursday at 6 p.m. The Flyers (15-12), making their first GLVC tournament appearance since 2004, are the East Division No. 4 seed, while Southern Indiana (25-5) is the West Division No. 1 seed.

USI, ranked No. 5 in the most recent NCAA Division II national poll but certain to drop following two losses, defeated Lewis 82-68 in the regular-season meeting in Romeoville.

Other first-round men's contests on Thursday are Northern Kentucky (No. 1 East) vs. Rockhurst (No. 4 West) at noon, Drury (No. 2 West) vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (No. 3 East) at 2:30, and Saint Joseph's (No. 2 East) vs. Quincy (No. 3 West) at 8:30.

The Lewis-USI winner plays the Saint Joseph's-Quincy winner in the semifinals Saturday at 2:30. Sunday's championship game is slated for 1.

The first-round women's game matching Lewis (No. 1 East) and USI (No. 4 West) on Friday also is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. The Flyers, winners of a school-record 24 games (24-3) and ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division II, topped USI (16-11) 92-72 when the teams met in Romeoville during the regular season.

Other first-round women's games on Friday are SIU Edwardsville (No. 2 West) vs. Bellarmine (No. 3 East) at noon, Northern Kentucky (No. 2 East) vs. Missouri-Rolla (No. 3 West) at 2:30, and Drury (No. 1 West) vs. Kentucky Wesleyan (No. 4 East) at 8:30.

The Lewis-USI winner plays the SIU Edwardsville-Bellarmine winner in the semifinals Saturday at 6. Sunday's title game is scheduled for 3:30.

For ticket information or to purchase tickets, call the Roberts Stadium box office at (812) 476-1383, ext. 25.