Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Fairbanks, AK - July 27, 2005 - The Owls will begin life as a Division I member with a game against the University of Denver on Friday, November 18, as the brackets were announced for the 2005 BP Top of the World Classic, scheduled for the Carlson Center in Fairbanks in November.

The Owls and the Pioneers will play the early game on the 18th, a 6:00 p.m. game that precedes the Lamar-Southern Mississippi contest at 8:30 p.m.

Denver is coming of a 20-11 record and a bid to the National Invitational Tournament where they dropped a two-point decision to San Francisco. The Owls are fresh of a 24-6 season and a third-consecutive berth in the Division II National Tournament.

"It is going to be a good test for us that’s for sure," said Owls head coach Tony Ingle who is one of two coaches in the field to win a national championship in his career. "Denver's a tough club; they won 20-games last year and went to the NIT. But, we will be prepared and ready to play hard."

Should the Owls win their opening game, they would play the winner of Lamar and Southern Mississippi. Lamar was 18-11 last season while the Golden Eagles had an 11-17 mark.

In the other first round tournament games, the host team, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, will begin the tournament on Thursday, November 17, by playing San Diego State. Illinois-Chicago and Montana State play at 8:30 p.m. to conclude the first session.

George Roderick, the chair of the 2005 BP Top of the World Tournament Committee, was enthusiastic about this year's field. “I really think that this year’s field is as good as it was last year,” said Roderick. “We have some really high profile, name coaches. Billy Tubbs was here with Texas Christian, Larry Eustachy has coached at the Great Alaska Shootout, Denver had an outstanding season, and Kennesaw State won the Division II national championship in 2004. It’s really going to be an exciting tournament.”

Four games are scheduled for Saturday, November 19th with the loser’s bracket games are slated for 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. while the winner’s bracket contests are scheduled for 5:30 and 8 p.m. However, the host, Alaska-Fairbanks, will play at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, regardless of whether or not they win their first game. Also, if UAF loses to San Diego State, SDSU’s winner’s bracket game will be played at noon Saturday instead of at 5:30 p.m.

The tournament will conclude with four games scheduled for Sunday, November 20th. The loser’s bracket games set for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with the third place game set for 5 p.m. and the championship slated for 7:30 p.m.

Once again, UAF will play in the evening session, and their game will be at 5 p.m. Sunday unless they advance to the championship game. The third place game would then be rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday and the fourth place game for 11 a.m. if the Nanooks are not playing in either of those contests.