Haverhill, MA (March 6, 2024) – As announced by the NJCAA Men's Basketball Committee and released live on the NJCAA Network, the Northern Essex Community College men's basketball team has earned the number two seed in next week's national tournament set to begin Wednesday March 13th on the campus of Herkimer College in Herkimer, NY.
By virtue of their seed, the Knights will receive an opening day bye and will open up national tournament play on Thursday March 14th at 6:00pm in an Elite Eight matchup against the winner of #7 seeded Prince George's (MD) Community College and #10 seeded Riverland (MN) Community College.
The remaining three teams on the Knights side of the bracket includes the tournament host and third seed Generals of Herkimer College who will take on the winner of Wednesday's opening day game between #11 Joliet (IL) Junior College and #6 Minnesota North-Rainy River.
An Elite Eight win would send the Knights onto to the national semi-finals on Friday March 15th at 7:00pm with the national championship game set for Saturday March 16th at 5:00pm (Full Tournament Schedule below).
The Knights are led by Region 21 Player of the Year and reigning First Team All-American Luis Reynoso (Lawrence) who is averaging 19.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game heading into the national tournament.
As a team, the Knights will enter the tournament leading the nation in scoring defense as they've held the opponents to an average of 61.4 points per game. The Knights have controlled the glass throughout the season as they rank second nationally in all four rebounding categories and fifth in steals per game at 13.2.
Daily admission to the games in Herkimer is $5. Fans not making the trip will be available to purchase pay per view access to the games on the NJCAA Network.
TOURNAMENT SEEDING: #1 Dallas College – North Lake (TX) #2 Northern Essex Community College #3 Herkimer College (NY) #4 Montgomery County Community College (PA) #5 Brookdale Community College (NJ) #6 Minnesota North-Rainy River #7 Prince George's Community College (MD) #8 Fulton-Montgomery Community College (NY) #9 Sandhills Community College (NC) #10 Riverland Community College (MN) #11 Joliet Junior College (IL) #12 Hostos Community College (NY)
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: Wednesday March 13th Game 1: 12:00pm Fulton-Montgomery vs Sandhills Game 2: 2:00pm Brookdale vs Hostos Game 3: 4:00pm Prince George's vs Riverland Game 4: 6:00pm Rainy River vs. Joliet
Thursday March 14th Game 5: 10:00am FM-Sandhills Loser vs Brookedale-Hostos Loser Game 6: 12:00pm PG-Riverland Loser vs. Rainy River-Joliet Loser Game 7: 2:00pm Dallas-North Lake vs. FM-Sandhills Winner Game 8: 4:00pm Montgomery County vs. Brookedale-Hostos Winner Game 9: 6:00pm Northern Essex vs. PG-Riverland Game 10: 8:00pm Herkimer vs. Rainy River-Joliet Winner
Friday March 15th Game 11: 12:00pm Loser G7 vs Loser G8 Game 12: 2:00pm Loser G9 vs Loser G10 Game 13: 4:00pm Winner G7 vs Winner G8 Game 14: 6:00pm Winner G9 vs Winner G10
Saturday March 16 Game 15: 12:00pm 5th Place Game (W11 vs W12) Game 16: 2:00pm 3rd Place Game (L13 v L14) Game 17: 5:00pm Championship Game (W13 v W14)