PROVIDENCE, R.I.-The UMass Dartmouth men's basketball team will host the Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament for the 11th in the program's history at the Tripp Athletic Center on Feb. 29 and March 1. Joining the Corsairs are second-seeded Rhode Island College, third-seeded Keene State College, and fourth-seeded University of Southern Maine.

The Anchormen (20-6) and Owls (17-10) open the semifinal round at 6 p.m. on Feb. 29, while the Huskies (14-12) and host Corsairs (24-2) provide the nightcap at approximately 8 p.m. The two winners meet in the championship game at 5 p.m. the following evening. The 2008 Little East Conference Tournament champion earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament field.

UMass Dartmouth advanced to the semifinal finals for the eighth consecutive season and 19th appearance in the program's history with a 131-63 victory over eighth-seeded UMass Boston. The Corsairs set a Little East Conference Championship Tournament record for points in a single game against the Beacons, putting an additional 21 between the previous record-holder Keene State College (110, Feb. 27, 1998 vs. Plymouth State). UMass Dartmouth became just the fourth team to eclipse the 100-point mark in 21-year history of the men's basketball tournament.    

UMass Dartmouth and Southern Maine are meeting in the semifinals for the just the second time. The Corsairs earned a 15-point victory (76-61) in the lone final four match-up back on Feb. 25, 1994. UMass Dartmouth has won each of the two meetings this season, including an 88-69 win at the Tripp Athletic Center on Feb. 2.    

The semifinal round game between Rhode Island College and Keene State marks the 10th meeting since the start of the 2005-06 campaign for the two clubs with the Anchormen holding a 6-3 series lead. Rhode Island College swept the regular season series, edging the Owls twice but the average margin of victory was just 4.5 points. The Anchormen earned the lone neutral court victory in the series last season, eliminating Keene State from the 2007 NCAA Tournament in the sectional semifinal round in Amherst, Mass.     

For complete coverage of the 2008 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, please click on the Tournament Central home page for broadcasting links for the three weekend games in North Dartmouth, Mass.

                                                            -jph-