The Thoroughbreds' path to the New South Athletic Conference championship has been established.
As a result of Virginia Peninsula defeating Mid-Atlantic Christian 79-70 on NSAC Decision Day today, VPCC (3-4 NSAC, 10-9 overall) reclaimed third place in the conference, dropping BLC (2-3 NSAC, 8-6 overall) to the 4-seed. Both the Gators and Thoroughbreds will host NSAC opening round games this Tuesday night, February 21st.
The difference between the 3-seed and 4-seed for the Thoroughbreds is the potential opponent for the semifinals. The winner of their 2/21 game with T-5-seed Carolina Christian (0-7 NSAC, 3-14 overall) will travel to Newport News, Va. to play top-seed, nationally ranked Apprentice (11-0 NSAC, 17-7 overall) on Saturday, February 25th. Had VPCC lost to MACU for a second time (MACU edged VPCC 70-68 on January 11th), the Mustangs would await the Centurions-BLC winner.
Peninsula will host T-5-seed Christendom (0-4 NSAC, 6-14 overall) at 7pm EST this Tuesday night, while the Centurions-Thoroughbreds game will begin at 6:30pm EST. This is a single-elimination tournament. The Thoroughbreds must defeat Carolina Christian to extend their season.
Here is the full schedule for the 2023 NSAC Men's Basketball Tournament:
OPENING ROUND - FEBRUARY 21ST (seeding in parentheses)
PLAYED AT HOME VENUES
(T-5) Carolina Christian at (4) Blue Lights College, 6:30pm EST
(T-5) Christendom at (3) Virginia Peninsula, 7:00pm EST
SEMI-FINALS - FEBRUARY 25TH
APPRENTICE ATHLETIC CENTER - NEWPORT NEWS, VA
(1) Apprentice vs. winner of CCC-BLC, 4:00pm EST
(2) Mid-Atlantic Christian vs. Christendom/VPCC winner, 6:00pm EST
CHAMPIONSHIP - FEBRUARY 26TH
APPRENTICE ATHLETIC CENTER - NEWPORT NEWS, VA
Semi-final #1 winner vs semi-final #2 winner, 4:00pm EST