PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the third consecutive week, the Little East Conference has two representatives in the Northeast Region poll, released this afternoon by the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Selection Committee. Nationally-ranked UMass Dartmouth held steady at No. 2 for the third week, while Rhode Island College slipped one position to No. 6. The Little East Conference is just one of two conferences to have more than one team featured in the 10-team regional field.  

The NCAA regional selection committee used the following criteria based on the games through Feb. 24, 2008 to determine their third and final rankings: in-region record, overall record, opponents winning percentage, and opponents opponents winning percentage. The number of ranked teams is relative to the number of teams in the each of the eight regions.

The NCAA will tabulate a final regional poll after this weekend's game to assist the selection and bracketing process for the 59-team national draw, but it will not be released to the public. The winner of the 2008 Little East Conference Championship Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The pairings for the national tournament will be announced on Monday, March 3.

UMass Dartmouth (24-2) is enjoying one of the finest seasons in the program history, capturing the Little East Conference regular season crown and earning homecourt advantage in the Little East Conference Championship Tournament with a 12-2 mark. The Corsairs climbed four positions in the latest edition of the D3Hoops.com national poll to No. 5, marking the second highest ranking in program history. Under the direction of Head Coach Brian Baptiste, UMass Dartmouth eclipsed the 20-win mark for the 12th time since the inception of the Little East Conference in 1987. The current Corsairs are tied for the third most wins in a single-season with 24, matching the 1987-88 and 1989-90 squads. Baptistes' charges boast a 2-1 record against the Northeast regional field, including a victory over No. 3 Brandeis University on Dec. 6, 2007.

Rhode Island College reached the 20-win barrier for the third time in the past four campaigns this season, boasting an overall record of 20-6. The Anchormen have been hot down the stretch-winning five of their past six contests-to earn the second seed in the Little East Conference Championship Tournament with an 11-3 mark in the conference circuit. Rhode Island College's success can be attributed to its offensive depth as five student-athletes are averaging at least 9.7 points per game. Junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, N.Y.) paces the Anchormen attack with 13.9 points per game.           

Rhode Island College will face conference rival Keene State College at 6 p.m. on Feb. 29 in the first semifinal game of the 2008 Little East Conference Championship Tournament, while UMass Dartmouth will host Southern Maine in the nightcap at 8 p.m. The two winners will meet in the championship game the following evening at 5 p.m. Fans unable to make the trip to North Dartmouth, Mass., can watch the tournament action courtesy of the Dartmouth Community Television Station with John Cabral providing the call for all three games this weekend.