NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -  The Rhode Island College men's basketball team has earned the top seed in the 2009 Little East Conference Championship Tournament for the second time in the program's history after setting an Anchorman record with 13 conference victories. Rhode Island College has raised the past two Little East Conference Championship Tournament trophies and earned the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Plymouth State University, and Keene State College will join the Anchormen in hosting quarterfinal round games on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The quarterfinal round winners will advance to a final-four format at the highest remaining seed for the semifinals on Feb. 27. The 2009 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Champion will be crown the following afternoon. For the first time in the Little East's history, each of the semifinal and championship round contests will be video-streamed live on LittleEast.tv.

Head Coach Bob Walsh and his No. 18 Anchormen (21-4) clinched the top seed and home court advantage throughout the tournament on Tuesday night with a 70-68 win at Western Connecticut. Rhode Island College boasts a 13-1 mark in the Little East, marking the program's most wins in the conference since the inception of the Little East in 1987. The Anchormen are in the midst of riding the momentum of a 12-game winning streak-matching the third longest string of success in the program's history. Rhode Island College will face the University of Southern Maine (5-20, 2-12 LEC) in the quarterfinal round. The Huskies hold a slim 3-2 edge in five prior Little East Tournament games. Southern Maine nearly upset top-seeded Rhode Island College in the 2007 Tournament as the host Anchormen needed a three-point buzzer beater to edge the eighth-seeded Huskies, 72-69 in overtime.

Nineteenth-ranked University of Massachusetts Dartmouth secured the second seed in the annual conference tournament after matching the program's standard for Little East victories (12), tying three other Corsair teams. Head Coach Brian Baptiste has led his charges to wins in 18 of their past 20 games to boast an overall record of 22-3. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will host intra-state rival, University of Massachusetts Boston (4-21, 2-12), in the first round at the Tripp Athletic Center. The Corsairs sport an impressive 4-0 record against the Beacons in Little East Tournament action, including a home victory last season in the quarterfinal round.    

Plymouth State University earned the third seed in the bracket for the sixth time in the program's history thanks to an 8-6 mark in the conference. Head Coach John Scheinman had guided his Panthers to wins in four of their past six contests to raise Plymouth State's record to 12-13. The Panthers will host their 19th Little East Conference Tournament game, when Plymouth State welcomes sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State University (13-11, 6-8) to Foley Gymnasium. The Colonials hold a 4-1 advantage over the Panthers in the conference tournament, including a dramatic two overtime victory in the 2005 championship game.

Keene State College (11-13, 7-7) needed the final contest of the 14-game Little East Conference circuit to clinch the fourth seed in the conference tournament. The Owls registered their seventh Little East Conference win this afternoon against UMass Boston to earn the fourth and final home quarterfinal round game. Head Coach Rob Colbert and his charges will face fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University (12-13, 6-8). The Warriors, on the strength of their road record in the conference, won the tie-breaker over Western Connecticut. Keene State College and Eastern Connecticut split its prior two Little East Conference Tournament meetings.   

2009 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament
Quarterfinal Round - Feb. 24 at the highest seed

#8 University of Southern Maine  at #1 Rhode Island College, 7 p.m.
#7 University of Massachusetts Boston at #2 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 7 p.m.
#6 Western Connecticut State University at #3 Plymouth State University, 6 p.m.
#5 Eastern Connecticut State University at #4 Keene State College, 7:30 p.m.

Semifinal Round-Feb. 27 at the highest remaining seed