PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team will make its third consecutive, and 17th overall, appearance in the NCAA DIII Championships after earning one of 21 at-large bids on Monday afternoon. The Pioneers will face Otterbein in the opening round game on Friday evening with the University of Chicago serving as host.

The Pioneers and Cardinals will face off at 4:40 p.m. inside the Ratner Athletics Center in Chicago, Illinois. Host school Chicago plays Penn State-Behrend at 7:10 p.m. on Friday night with each winner advancing to Saturday's second round game at 7:10 p.m.

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UW-Platteville enters the championships with an 18-9 record, including wins in four of the past five games. The Pioneers fell in the WIAC Semifinals to UW-Whitewater this past week but bring NCAA Championships experience from several players on the roster.

Otterbein is making its 14th trip to the NCAA DIII Championships, and first since 2001-02 when the Cardinals won the National Championship. On the season, Otterbein is 22-5 overall but fell in the OAC Championship to Heidelberg this past weekend.

The Pioneers and Cardinals met previously in the NCAA Championships, when UW-Platteville won 96-94 in the 1990-91 Final Four before ultimately winning the National Championship.

Three other WIAC teams earned berths in to the tournament, with WIAC Tournament champions UW-La Crosse serving as hosts and facing Hope. UW-Whitewater plays Loras at WashU, while UW-Stevens Point battles UW-Stevens Point at Gustavus Adolphus.

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