SDSU, USD get BracketBuster games...Jacks on ESPN2

Summit League Earns Multiple BracketBuster TV Games for Second Consecutive Season
North Dakota State and South Dakota State to represent league in nationally-televised primetime contests on back-to-back nights

ELMHURST, Ill. – Pairings for the 11^th Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters men's college basketball event pitting potential NCAA Championship hopefuls against each other Feb. 22-24 were announced Monday evening.

Two of The Summit League's tri-leaders, North Dakota State (18-5) and South Dakota State (18-6), were selected among the 13 televised matchups. The Bison play at Mid-American Conference leader Akron on Friday, Feb. 22 (7 p.m. ET on ESPN2) while the Jackrabbits play the following day at Murray State (8 p.m. ET on ESPN2). Both games will also be available on the WatchESPN website and app.

Remaining matchups involving Summit League teams include:
            Cleveland State (Horizon) at Western Illinois
            Morehead State (Ohio Valley) at Oakland
            Kansas City at Tennessee Tech (Ohio Valley)
            North Dakota (Big Sky) at Omaha
            South Dakota at Montana State (Big Sky)
            Bowling Green (Mid-American) at Fort Wayne
            Milwaukee (Horizon) at IUPUI

Additional information for non-televised games, including start times, will be released by the home teams.

"We are pleased with having two of our schools chosen for nationally-televised games and look forward to our nine matchups," said Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple. "These BracketBuster games provide great exposure for our league, our universities and each of the nine competing men's basketball teams. This evening's announcement of the pairings has generated a tremendous buzz around the league and is a boost to each school's national recognition."

The Summit League currently ranks No. 18 in the current Collegiate Basketball News RPI ratings with No. 65 North Dakota State and No. 66 South Dakota State leading the way.

Future Summit League member Denver, which joins the league next season, was also selected for a television game at Northern Iowa.

As part of the agreement, all of the Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters home teams in televised and non-televised games will play a return game at the home facility of their opponent within the next two seasons.

THE SUMMIT LEAGUE ALL-TIME IN BRACKETBUSTERS

OVERALL RECORD: 9-12
            By Year: 2005: 1-1; 2006: 1-1; 2007: 0-2; 2008: 0-1; 2009: 1-1; 2010: 1-0; 2011: 1-0; 2012: 4-6

HOME GAMES: 6-3
            By Year: 2006: 1-0; 2007: 0-1; 2008: 1-0; 2011: 1-0; 2012: 3-2
ROAD GAMES: 4-8

By Year: 2005: 1-1; 2006: 0-1; 2007: 0-1; 2009: 1-1; 2010: 1-0; 2012: 1-4
TV GAMES: 2-2
            By Year: 2007: 0-1; 2008: 0-1; 2012: 2-0

RECORD VS. LEAGUES  
            Big Sky: 0-1; Big West: 1-2; Horizon: 1-2; MAAC: 1-0; MAC: 3-1; Missouri Valley: 1-3; Ohio Valley: 1-1;   

Southland: 1-1; WAC: 0-1

ALL-TIME RESULTS FOR CURRENT MEMBERS
           FORT WAYNE (0-1)
                       2012: at Eastern Kentucky (OVC), L, 78-69
            IUPUI (1-0)
                       2012: at Nicholls State (Southland), W, 84-80
           KANSAS CITY (0-1)
                       2012: Wright State (Horizon), L, 76-62
           NORTH DAKOTA STATE (2-0)
                       2009: at Milwaukee (Horizon), W, 77-69
                       2012: Western Michigan (MAC), W, 86-73
           OAKLAND (0-1)
                        2012: at Illinois State (MVC), L, 79-75
           SOUTH DAKOTA (0-1)
                       2012: Texas State (Southland), L, 93-92
           SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (1-1)
                       2009: at Cal Poly (Big West), L, 66-62
                       2012: * Buffalo (MAC), W, 86-65
           WESTERN ILLINOIS (0-1)
                       2012: at Evansville (MVC), L, 68-45

            * denotes TV game