SPRINGFIELD, Oh. - La Roche men's basketball will play in their second NCAA tournament in three years this Friday, March 6th when they take on the ninth ranked Wittenberg University at Wittenberg. The winner of Friday's contest will take on either Benedictine University (IL) or Susquehanna University; those teams will be play at 3:30 p.m. at Wittenberg prior to Redhawks and Tigers. LRU vs. Witt is set to tip-off at 6:00 p.m.

Coverage

Live Stats | Video | Tournament Website

Venue

Pams Evans Smith Arena | Capacity: 3,044. Directions, parking, and seating informaton.

La Roche (21-6)

AMCC Champions

• La Roche took down their conference rival, Penn St. Behrend, in the AMCC Championship game last Saturday at the Kerr, 62-61. Darius Lawrence sunk two free throws with less than 30 seconds remaining to put the Redhawks up one. The Lions Kenny Fukon, the game's leading scorer, went for a layup in the closing seconds but his shot rimmed out and the Redhawks emerged victorious. La Roche and Penn St. Behrend have met in three straight conference title games, the Redhawks have won two. All of them, have been decided by three points or less.
• Darius Lawrence and Tyler Frederick were named to the All-Tournament team.

News and Notes

• A men's basketball record four Redhawks were selected on the AMCC All-Conference Teams. Junior forward Tyler Frederick won Player of the Year and made first team. Senior guards Kennedy Smith and Darius Lawrence capped off their breakout season's by receiving their first all-conference nods as they were picked on the second team. Junior guard Austin Hannes also received his first conference award as he was selected to the third team.
• La Roche is 20-1 over their last 21 games.
• The Redhawks have drained 10 or more three's in six of their last seven games. They shot over 40% from deep in four of those performances.
• LRU has shot 76% (70-92) from the free throw line over their last six games, averaging 11.6 FT per game during that span.
• The black and red have shot 50% or better from the field in five of their last seven games and 11 times this season. LRU is 11-0 this season when shooting 50% or better.

Hermie Carmichael

• La Roche has now won four men's basketball championships (2004, 2011, 2018, 2020). Head Coach Hermie Carmichael has been apart of three of those four teams, serving under the late great Coach Scott Lang and current assistant coach Harry Jenkins in 2011 and leading the helm of men's basketball in 2018 and 2020. Coach Carmichael and the Redhawks are incredible 57-4 (including playoffs) against AMCC opponents.
• Including this season, the Redhawks have had four straight 20 win seasons under Coach Carmichael.

NCAA Tournament History

• The Redhawks last played in the NCAA Tournament on March 2nd, 2018 against Johns Hopkins where they lost, 52-39.
• LRU is 0-3 all-time at the big dance.
• Their closest defeat was against none other than Wittenberg University on March 4th, 2011 at Marietta. The Tigers edged out La Roche, 74-68. The teams have not met again since.

Wittenberg (26-2)

News and Notes

• The Tigers of Wittenberg have been one of the best team's in the nation all season long, they currently rank number nine in the country according to D3hoops.com but have been as high as #2 in 2019-20.
• Both of Witt's losses this season came against Wooster, most recently in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title game where the Tigers fell, 87-63.
• Wittenburg has scored an average of 80.7 points per game while allowing their opponents to score an average of just 65.8 PPG.
• The Tigers have shot 48.4% from the field and 36.8% from three point range this season while holding their opponents to 41.6% FG and 31.3% 3-PT.
• Wittenberg head coach Matt Croci was named the NCAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.
• Senior guard Jake Bertemes was named the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year.
• Junior F James Johnson (14.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG) was named to the league's first team All-Conference and Senior G Jake Bertemes (13.6 PPG, 3.1 APG) was selected on the second team.

Ticket Information

Additionally, ticket sales for Friday's first round games will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Hall of Honor Room on Wittenburg's campus, with one ticket good for both games. Tickets for Saturday's second round game will go on sale at 4:00 p.m., also in the Hall of Honor Room. Cash and/or credit sales will be available during all ticket sale opportunities. There will be a designated fan section for La Roche in Pams Evans Smith Arena.

TICKET PRICES:

$12 – Adults
$7 – Seniors, Students and Children
Free – Infant Children Two and Under