Falcon men travel to Creighton in NIT

3/16/2009

BOWLING GREEN - The season will continue for the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team in Omaha on Wednesday night. The Falcons will face Creighton in the National Invitation Tournament, the oldest such event in college basketball.

"We're thankful that we're going to get a chance to compete for another championship," BG coach Louis Orr said last night when his team learned its opponent in the NIT. "The hard work that the guys put in during the regular season opened this door, and it's a great opportunity."

The Falcons (19-13) lost on Friday in the MAC tournament semifinals to eventual champion Akron by a 63-55 score but were guaranteed a berth in the NIT after winning a share of the regular-season championship in the MAC. Senior Nate Miller, a first team All-MAC pick who had 27 points in the Akron game, said his team relishes the chance to continue playing.

"Anytime you're playing in a postseason tournament, that's good," Miller said. "We are going to go out to Creighton and give it everything we've got, and hopefully come back with a win."

Creighton (26-7) was the co-champ of the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The Bluejays are making their 12th straight postseason appearance.

"It should be a great atmosphere, and that's a very good basketball school, and a good team," Orr said. "But there's a lot of good teams. At this time of year if you're playing, you're a good team."

Creighton had won 11 straight games before getting whacked 73-49 by Illinois State in the semifinals of the MVC tournament on Saturday. The Bluejays are led by conference player of the year Booker Woodfox, who averages 15.9 points per game.

Contact Matt Markey at:

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