K-State To Host NIT Season Tip-Off Midwest Region

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Led by veteran head coach Lennie Acuff, Alabama-Huntsville returns eight lettermen, including three starters, from a squad that won 29 games and advanced to the Division II Elite Eight in 2011-12. The Chargers will be led by Gulf South Conference scoring leader Jaime Smith (18.0 ppg.). North Texas, which will be under first-year head coach Tony Benford, returns all five starters from a team that won 18 games and advanced to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament final a year ago. The Mean Green squad includes Lou Henson Award finalist (Mid-Major Player of the Year) Tony Mitchell, who was the only freshman in the country to average a double-double (14.7 ppg., 10.3 rpg.). He was the first freshman since Michael Beasley in 2007-08 to post multiple 30-point, 15-rebound games.

The 28th annual NIT Season Tip-Off will include eight seeded teams, including the four top seeds and five-seed Lehigh, six-seed Robert Morris, seven-seed Cleveland State and eight-seed Delaware. Michigan will host Bowling Green, Cleveland State and IUPUI in the North Region, Pittsburgh will host Fordham, Lehigh and Robert Morris in the East Region and Virginia will host Delaware, Fairfield and Penn in the South Region.

Individual ticket prices for the preliminary rounds at Bramlage Coliseum will be announced at a later date. Ticket information for the potential semifinal and final games at Madison Square Garden will also be communicated to Ahearn Fund members and season ticket holders at a later date.

Kansas State, led by first-year head coach Bruce Weber, returns 12 lettermen, including four starters, from a team that won 22 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years.

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