Wednesday, March 19th, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Cassell Coliseum (9,847) -- Blacksburg, Virginia. Television: ESPN Classic. NIT Record: Morgan State 0-0, Virginia Tech Virginia Tech 18-6. Series Record: Virginia Tech leads, 4-0.

GAME NOTES: The Morgan State Bears will make their first-ever postseason appearance in Division I-A basketball when they collide with the top-seeded Virginia Tech Hokies this evening at Cassell Coliseum in the first-round of the NIT. The victor of this contest will move on to the next round and will face either VCU or UAB. The Bears finished the season with a 22-10 ledger, and claimed their first regular season title in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Morgan State won 15 of its last 17 games, but unfortunately one of those setbacks came in the MEAC title against Coppin State, 62-60. As for the Hokies, they finished the season with a 19-13 overall ledger and will be making their ninth NIT appearance. Virginia Tech has won this event twice, in 1973 and 1995, and currently has an impressive 18-6 overall mark in the NIT. The last time the Hokies participated in the NIT was back in 2005. In that tournament, the team opened with a 60-50 win over Temple, before falling to Memphis, 83-62. With respect to the all-time series, the Hokies have won all four meetings, including a 77-49 win over Morgan State back in 2006.

The Bears' success this season can be attributed to the team's strong effort at the defensive end of the floor, as the squad is limiting the opposition to just 61.4 ppg and a mere 40.8 percent shooting effort from the field. Morgan State also did a strong job on the glass, outrebounding opponents by 5.0 rpg. At the offensive end of the court, the Bears have been led by Jamar Smith, but the guard is currently struggling with a foot injury and might miss this evening's matchup. Smith would be a huge loss for Morgan State, considering he is leading the team with 17.0 ppg, while also pulling 5.6 rpg. Marquise Kately and Reggie Holmes have also played a large role in the Bears' success, as Kately is posting 12.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg, while Holmes is contributing 13.0 ppg. Boubacar Coly has been a monster in the paint all year long, and is averaging 11.1 rpg, while also collecting 83 blocks and 9.6 ppg. Overall, the Bears come into this matchup netting 67.7 ppg, while shooting 43.3 percent from the floor.

The Hokies have a strong core of talented players on their roster, and the team's trio of double-figure scorers has led Virginia Tech to 69.2 ppg. A.D. Vassallo has been the top option this year for the Hokies, as the guard is netting 16.6 ppg to go along with 4.8 rpg. In the paint, the Hokies possess a talented pair of forwards in Deron Washington and Jeff Allen. Washington is currently averaging 12.8 ppg on the year and is collecting 6.5 rpg, while Allen is contributing 12.2 ppg to go along with a team-best 7.9 rpg. Malcolm Delaney is only shooting 39.6 percent from the floor, but the guard has dished out 97 assists to go along with a mere 9.6 ppg. At the defensive end of the floor the Hokies have done well, limiting teams to just 64.8 ppg.

The Hokies have far too many options offensively for the Bears to contain. Expect the top-seeded Hokies to move into the next round with relative ease.

Predicted Outcome

Virginia Tech 73, Morgan State 55