By Staff
DAYTON, Ohio – The NCAA mens' basketball tournament will kick off tonight with the play-in game.
Florida A&M will take on Niagra at the University of Dayton Arena tonight at 7:30.
The winner gets a No. 16 seed and will face top-seeded Kansas in the opening round.
The two schools arrived in Dayton on Monday and are looking forward to playing for a spot in the "Big Dance."
Florida A&M was in the play-in game three years ago and were happy to be back in Dayton.
"Just wanted to thank the University of Dayton, the city of Dayton for hosting this event," he said in a press conference on Monday. "Three years ago it was wonderful. We are very excited to be here. We're surprised, but we're very excited. It's an honor to play tomorrow."
Florida A&M won 21 games this season, the most in 20 years.
The team is led by a trio of fifth-year seniors (Darius Glover, Brian Greene and Rome Sanders).
Niagra was equally happy to be still competing.
"Well, Pete Carril always said if it's March and you're still practing, then that's a good thing," Niagra coach John Mihalich said. "We're honored to be one of two teams that get to tip this tournament off, and anxious for the game to start."
Niagra, like Florida A&M will be led by a trio of seniors (Lorenzo Miles, J.R. Duffey and Clif Brown..
The team won 11 games in a row to earn their spot in the play-in game.