Dons To Host Denver Wednesday in First Round of NIT

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March 13, 2005

The University of San Francisco (16-13) will host Denver (20-10) of the Sun Belt Conference in a first round game of the National Invitational Tournament Wednesday, March 16th at War Memorial Gymnasium.

"It is a great statement for our program to be invited to this great tournament and a testament to our fans that we were awarded a home game," said Dons' head coach Jessie Evans. "We have a great senior class and it is fantastic that they will have the opportunity for postseason play.

"Denver is a team I am very familiar with from matching up with them in the Sun Belt when I was at Louisiana Lafayette," Evans continued. "They are an excellent team as their record attests. They have an excellent player in 6-10 center Yemi Nicholson who averages 18.2 points per game.

"They went 20-10 this year in a good conference and got to the Sun Belt finals, where they lost to Louisiana Lafayette, who I coached last year."

USF's NIT berth is the fourth straight postseason appearance for Evans, who earned the previous three at Louisiana.

The NIT appearance is the first postseason appearance for the Dons since winning the WCC tournament in 1998. USF lost in the NCAA tournament to finalist Utah in Boise, Idaho. It is the first NIT postseason appearance for USF since 1976 when they lost to UNC Charlotte.

USF won the 1949 NIT under legendary head coach Pete Newell.

The Dons are paced by all-WCC guard John Cox, who is 25th in the nation in scoring at 19.9 points per game.

"We are hoping to fill the gym with Dons fans wearing Green and Gold," concluded Evans. A good crowd will not only help us get a win, but might help us secure another home game."

Tickets for the game are $27 for lower reserved, $18.00 for upper reserved and $12 for general admission. USF students will be admitted for $6. Fans can call 415/422-2USF for 415/422-6893 for tickets or buy them online at USFDons.com.