PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Champions of the last two AMCC Tournament Championships and four of the last six, La Roche men's basketball sees itself in unfamiliar territory entering the 2025 AMCC Tournament.
The AMCC Tournament tips-off today, Feb. 24 and for the first time since 2021-22, the Redhawks are positioned to have to win three games to be crowned champions.
After an 11-14 overall mark and 8-8 record in AMCC play, the red and black begin their venture in the AMCC Tournament as the #5 seed.
The #5 seed matches the lowest seeding by La Roche in the AMCC Tournament. Three times the Redhawks have held the #5 seed, most recently in the 2014 AMCC Championship.
As the #5 seed in the AMCC Tournament, the red and black hold a 1-2 record in First Round play and an overall record of 1-3.
La Roche will look to do what only one team has done in school history, win three games in the tournament to raise the banner.
In the 2004 AMCC Tournament, the Redhawks ran the gauntlet as the #4 seed, defeating #5 Pitt-Bradford (61-60), #1 Penn State Behrend (66-57) and #2 Frostburg State (44-42) to win the championship.
In the world of sport irony, La Roche will have to follow nearly the same path as it did in 2004.
The Redhawks begin the tournament tonight on the road against #4 Penn State Behrend at 7 p.m.
The red and black currently hold a nine-game winning streak against the Lions, with its last loss coming to the hosts on Jan. 12, 2022.
This year, the Redhawks defeated Behrend, 75-59 on the road and then in the rematch, took down the Lions, 77-72 at home.
Tuesday marks the 10th meeting in the last 15 years between La Roche and Behrend in the AMCC Tournament, with the Redhawks holding a 6-3 edge in that time frame.
Should La Roche upend the Lions, they will meet with top seeded Pitt-Bradford on Friday, Feb. 28.
The path the same over the first two rounds for the red and black, as it was in 2004, just the order is switched.
Entering the tournament, Bryce Epps is the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points per game, while Joe Starzynski follows at 13.6 per game.
Starzynski and Isaiah Thomas both lead the team in rebounding at six per night, while Epps and Michael Brooks split the assist duties, averaging 2.8.