STEVENS POINT, Wis. – For the second weekend in a row, UW-Stevens Point will host the 2014 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship, as Bennett Court at Quandt Fieldhouse was selected as the host venue for sectional play for Friday, March 14 and Saturday March 15. On Friday night, the University of Texas at Dallas will face UW-Whitewater at 5 p.m., followed by Emory (Ga.) against UW-Stevens Point at 8 p.m. The winners will then play for a spot in the Final Four on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Tournament Bracket

UW-Stevens Point (28-1)

How They Got Here: Top-ranked UW-Stevens Point advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over Marian University and Central College (Iowa) in the first two rounds at home last weekend. In the opening round, the Pointers survived the Sabres' upset bid by escaping with a 66-64 win after Marian missed a good look at a three-pointer at the buzzer. UW-Stevens Point then topped Central, which defeated St. Olaf in the first round, 76-61 behind Clayton Heuer (Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Lincoln/UW-Green Bay)'s career night of 24 points and 12 rebounds. The Pointers won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season and tournament titles this season.

Key Players/Stats: Senior guard Tyler Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph) leads UW-Stevens Point in scoring (19.6 ppg), rebounding (5.1 rpg), assists (3.9 apg) and blocks (25). Senior Trevor Hass (New London, WI/New London/Augustana (SD)) is second on the team in scoring (17.6 ppg) and is shooting 49.2 percent from three-point range this season. Heuer, a senior center, is third on the Pointers in scoring (9.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (4.9 rpg). Tillema, Hass and Heuer were each selected as First Team All-WIAC performers and Tillema was the conference's player of the year. 

Other Notes:
Since the format of the NCAA Tournament changed in the 2000 season, 46 percent of sectional hosts have advanced to the Final Four. At least one sectional host has made it to the Final Four in every year since 2000 but all four hosts have never advanced to the last four.

This season marked the eighth straight season that UWSP has recorded at least 20 wins and 12 WIAC victories … The Pointers have won a WIAC-best 28 regular-season championships and eight WIAC Tournament titles.

UW-Stevens Point has won three national championships (2004, 2005, 2010). The 2010 national title made UW-Stevens Point the third school to win three or more national championships.

The Pointers have made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including eight in a row and 10 of the last 11. UWSP is 30-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

UW-Stevens Point has an 8-4 all-time record in the sectional rounds of the NCAA Tournament, including a 5-2 mark in the Sweet 16. The Pointers are 4-1 at home in the sectional rounds and have advanced to the Final Four twice while playing as the host in the sectional rounds (2005, 2010).

UWSP is a perfect 16-0 at home this season and holds a 231-32 (.878) all-time record at Quandt Fieldhouse. The Pointers are 12-3 at home in the NCAA Tournament.

Current WIAC teams are 108-42 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 39-16 in the last 10 seasons, and have won four of the last 11 national championships.

UW-Stevens Point ranks in the top seven in the country in scoring defense (seventh, 59.5), scoring margin (fifth, +15.4), field-goal percentage (fourth, 52.0), three-point field-goal percentage (fifth, 41.5) and turnovers per game (sixth, 9.4).

This season, ninth-year head coach Bob Semling became the winningest coach in program history by recording his 201st career victory at UW-Superior on Jan. 11. Semling has compiled a 215-48 (.817) overall record at UWSP, including a 119-25 (.826) mark in WIAC games. The Pointers have won three national championships with Semling, who was the 2010 D3hoops.com Coach of the year, on the staff, two as an assistant and one as a head coach.

Emory (18-8)

How They Got Here: After being one of two teams to receive a first-round bye, five Emory (Ga.) players scored in double figures as the Eagles defeated Centre College (Ky.) 72-62 in the second round at home. The Eagles finished second in the University Athletic Association with a 9-5 conference record and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Key Players/Stats: Emory has two of the UAA's top-five scorers in Jake Davis and McPherson Moore, who were each named to the 2013-14 UAA Men's All-Association Basketball Team. Davis leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally in scoring (22.8 ppg), while Moore is fourth in the UAA (17.3 ppg). Davis also leads the Eagles in rebounding (5.7 rpg), while ranking second in the conference in free-throw percentage (.876) and third in steals (1.6 spg). All-UAA honorable mention selections Michael Florin and Alex Foster each average 10.0 points a game with Florin ranking second in the conference in assists (5.5 apg) and first in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8:1).

Other Notes:
This year marks the second straight and third overall trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the Emory men's basketball program. The Eagles enter the weekend with a 4-2 all-time mark in NCAA Tournament contests (2-1 in 1990, 1-1 in 2013, 1-0 in 2014).

Emory heads into the round of 16 with an overall record of 18-8, the fifth highest seasonal win total in program history.

Emory is guided by seventh-year head coach Jason Zimmerman whose school and career record of 109-69 makes him the winningest coach in program history. The 82-74 win over Chicago on Feb. 7 enabled him to establish the program record with 104 career victories. After going 17-33 his first two years with the Eagles, Zimmerman has guided Emory to a ledger of 92-36 since the 2009-10 season.   

Emory's 84.1 points per game average tops all UAA squads and ranks 16th nationally in DIII. The Eagles have scored 90 or more points on eight occasions this year.

The Eagles average a league-best 10.2 turnovers per game with that mark good for the No. 16 spot on the national chart.  Emory has 12 single-digit turnover contests this season, including last weekend's NCAA second-round game vs. Centre with five miscues.

Emory had four representatives on the All-UAA Team in 2013-14, seniors Jake Davis and McPherson Moore landed first-team acclaim while juniors Michael Florin and Alex Foster were honorable mention picks. Davis is just one of four players in program to have been tabbed to the first team on three occasions, joining Tim Garrett ('88-89-90), Chase Fawsett ('03-04-05) and Austin Claunch ('10-11-12). 

Davis' per-game scoring average (22.8 ppg) is first on the school's seasonal ladder. Davis is the program's No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 1,830 points, trailing only Tim Garrett's (1986-90) top mark of 1,875 points. Davis has scored in double figures in 24 of his 25 games this year.

McPherson Moore has provided ample scoring punch to the lineup this season with his 17.3 points-per-game average second on the team, fourth in the UAA and 16th on Emory's seasonal chart. Moore has 23 straight games of double-figure scoring and has been the team's top scorer in its last five games (nine on the year).

The Davis/Moore tandem ranks as the program's most prolific 1-2 punch in a season (40.1 ppg) with the next closest being Chase Fawsett (18.8 ppg) and Clayton Fuller (18.5 ppg) combining for 37.3 points per game during the 2003-04 season.

The Eagles have made the most of their free throw opportunities this year, pacing the UAA and ranking fourth nationally with a 79.6 percent effort (453-569) at the stripe, good for the No. 1 seasonal mark in school annals. Emory has shot 73 percent or better from the foul line in its last 13 games, including a current six-game streak of 80 percent or better.

UT-Dallas (27-3)

How They Got Here: UT-Dallas earned a trip to the Sweet 16 after a 78-77 overtime win over Whitworth on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Comets defeated the Pirates on junior guard Nolan Harvey's three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired in overtime after UTD trailed 77-72 with 27 seconds to play. In front of the largest crowd in school history, UT-Dallas opened the NCAA Tournament with an 85-70 win over Chapman. The Comets booked their place in the NCAA Tournament by winning their third American Southwest Conference (ASC) Tournament title with a 78-69 win over Hardin-Simons on March 2. UT-Dallas also won the ASC regular season with a 20-2 regular season conference record.

Key Players/Stats: Kyle Schleigh leads the Comets in most individual categories, including scoring (17.9 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg), assists (122), steals (62) and blocks (37). Matthew Medell (15.2 ppg), Harvey (13.7 ppg) and Dmitriy Chernikov (11.2 ppg) all average in double figures for UT-Dallas, which averages nearly 81 points per game on the season. Schleigh was named the American Southwest Conference Player of the Year and was also named to the league's All-Defensive Team. Medell was a third team all-conference selection, while Harvey earned third team All-ASC honors.

Other Notes:
UT-Dallas is currently ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

The Comets' 27 wins this season are a school record. The 2008-09 team posted a 26-5 record on its way to the program's only Elite Eight appearance.

This year's NCAA Tournament berth is the fifth for UTD and the program's first since 2011. The Comets are 5-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament including the two wins this season.

The Comets won the ASC Tournament for the third time in program history by winning three home games by an average of 15 points per game.

Schleigh is the program's all-time leader in points (1,764), field goals made (588), field goals attempted (1,163), free throws made (439), free throws attempted (563), rebounds (885), rebounds per game (7.9 rpg), steals (191), blocked shots (125) and minutes played (3,518). He also ranks second all-time in points per game (15.8) and assists (326). Schleigh ranks sixth all-time in scoring in ASC history and fourth in rebounding. His 439 made free throws is the most-ever in the conference.

Schleigh was a third team All-American as a junior, named such both by D3hoops.com and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was both the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in the ASC's East Division last season. Schleigh was a first team Preseason All-American by D3hoops.com this season and is a 14-time ASC Player of the Week.

Of UTD's five seniors, four Comets have played all four season together. Schleigh, Chernikov, forward Carter Nash and guard Ryan Smith have been a part of four 20-plus win seasons and have a 90-22 record over the four years, three wins shy of the winningest senior class in school history.

UT-Dallas has won at least 20 games in each of the past six seasons and are 140-33 during that span.

Head coach Terry Butterfield is in his 14th season at the helm of the Comets and he boasts a 240-141 mark since taking over the program in its third year. He was named the ASC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career, also earning the distinction in 2004-2011 and 2012.

UW-Whitewater (25-4)

How They Got Here: UW-Whitewater began the NCAA Tournament with a 79-55 win over Northwestern (Minn.) behind double-doubles from Reggie Hearn and KJ Evans. The Warhawks then defeated Augustana (Ill.) 87-68 in the second round to advance to the round of 16 after two wins on their home court. Five UWW players scored in double figures in the second-round win, led by Evans' 25-point, 12-rebound performance, as the Warhawks pulled away in the second half. UW-Whitewater received an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament after losing to UW-Stevens Point in the WIAC Tournament and finishing second in the WIAC with a 13-3 conference record.

Key Players/Stats: Three UW-Whitewater players were named to the All-WIAC First Team. Eric Bryson was named to the first team and averages 12.2 points per game on 52.9 percent shooting, while shooting 37.8 percent from behind the arc. Evans leads the Warhawks in scoring with 16.2 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the WIAC, and leads the conference in rebounding (8.4 rpg). Quardell Young was a First Team All-WIAC selection for the second year in a row and the point guard averages 10.9 points and 3.9 assists per game, while leading the conference in steals (2.0 spg). Reggie Hearn averages 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and was an All-WIAC Honorable Mention choice.

Other Notes:
UW-Whitewater is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament and seventh under head coach Pat Miller.

The Warhawks have advanced to the Sweet 16 five times in school history, moved on the Final Four four times and won three national titles.

Four Warhawks on the team this season played in the national championship game in 2012 including Alex Merg, Cody Odegaard, Eric Bryson and Quardell Young.

UW-W has faced teams ranked (or receiving votes) in the D3hoops.com poll five times this season and posts a 3-2 record. The Warhawks topped then #17 (now #5) St. Norbert 73-62 on Nov. 26, lost to #1 UW-Stevens Point 79-67 on Dec. 11, upset #1 UWSP 81-76 on Feb. 5, lost to the Pointers 74-57 in the WIAC Championship on March 2 and defeated Augustana (receiving votes) 87-68 in the second round.

Head Coach Pat Miller missed three games in the middle of the season after having surgery on his neck. Assistant Coach Nick Bennett took over during the span leading the Warhawks to a win at home over top ranked UW-Stevens Point Feb. 5, 81-76.

UW-W finished second in the WIAC regular season standings and second in the conference tournament to UW-Stevens Point.

The Warhawks are 15-0 at home this season, 8-4 on the road and 2-0 at a neutral site.

UW-Whitewater is one of two schools to have both men's and women's basketball playing in the Sweet 16. The Warhawk women are traveling to Greencastle, Ind. (DePauw) and face UW-Oshkosh in a sectional contest Friday. Amherst is the other college/university to have both teams advance to the Sweet 16 this season.

Whitewater has won 11 of their last 12 games this season.

UW-W point guard Alex Merg was named the WIAC Scholar Athlete. His sister, Mary Merg, earned the same recognition on the women's side becoming the first brother-sister combination to be recognized as WIAC Scholar Athletes in the same sport.

This is the first time since 2000 that two WIAC teams have advanced to the Sweet 16.

In the NCAA Tournament...
- UW-W averages 83 points per game shooting 54% from the floor, 43.8% from three-point range and 76.9% from the free-throw line.The Warhawks have out-rebounded their opponents 77-47 in two NCAA games.
- The starting five for UW-W average 62 points per game and are on the court over 28 minutes per game in the postseason.
- Defensively, UW-W has held their opponents to 61.5 points per game.
- KJ Evans leads Whitewater in the postseason with 18 points and 11 rebounds per game.
- Quardell Young orchestrates the offense for UW-W and adds 16 points, 5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in the tournament.

Head-To-Head Series:
UW-Stevens Point: never faced Emory, leads UT-Dallas 2-0, leads UW-Whitewater 101-81
Emory: never faced UW-Stevens Point, tied with UT-Dallas 1-1, never faced UW-Whitewater
UT-Dallas: never faced UW-Whitewater, tied with Emory 1-1, trails UW-Stevens Point 2-0
UW-Whitewater: never faced UT-Dallas, never faced Emory, trails UW-Stevens Point 101-81