NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark will host Stevens on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the ECAC Metro Championship Tournament after being chosen as the third seed in the eight-team invitational. 

2009 ECAC Metro D-III Men's Basketball Championship Bracket (PDF)

It marks Rutgers-Newark fifth consecutive invitation to the championship under eighth-year head coach Joe Loughran. The Scarlet Raiders (16-12) reached the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship game for the first time in program history on Saturday, falling to top-seeded Richard Stockton, 62-54. 

Sixth-seeded Stevens (13-12) is a member of the Empire 8 Conference. The teams have not met since the Raiders took a 74-58 win on December 1, 2004, in The Golden Dome. 

Tickets will be $5 for general admission and $3 for students with valid I.D., senior citizens (65-years-of-age or older) and children (under the age of 13).

2009 ECAC Metro Championship Tournament
OPENING ROUND (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)
#8 NY Maritime at #1 Montclair State, 5 PM
#7 York NY at #2 NYU, 7:00PM
#6 Stevens at #3 Rutgers-Newark, 7:00PM
#5 Merchant Marine at #4 Lehman, 7:00PM 

SEMIFINALS (Saturday, March 7, 2009)
Winner of Maritime/Montclair State at winner of Merchant Marine/Lehman, TBA
Winner of Stevens/Rutgers-Newark versus winner of York NY/NYU at home of highest seed.

Championship (Sunday, March 8, 2009)
Semifinal winners at site to be determined.