Men’s basketball team to meet Mississippi State in NCAA opener on Friday

UPDATE: Liberty will host a viewing party on Friday at the Vines Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:27 p.m. game. Sodexo, Liberty’s dining services provider, will offer candy, chips, popcorn, and beverages. For game notes, live video, and live audio, visit LibertyFlames.com.

On Selection Show Sunday, the Liberty University men’s basketball team found out it will enter its fourth NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed, the highest seeding in school history. The Flames will face Mississippi State, the fifth seed in the East Region, in Friday’s first round at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

The winner between the Flames (28-6) and Bulldogs (23-10) will advance to Sunday’s second-round game against the winner of Friday’s East Region game between No. 4 seed Virginia Tech and No. 13 Saint Louis.

Liberty punched its ticket to the “Big Dance” by upsetting Lipscomb on its home court last Sunday in Nashville to claim the ASUN Men’s Basketball Championship title in its inaugural season in the league. The Flames are making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2013.

Liberty has limited availability in its ticket allotment to the NCAA Tournament. Contact the Flames Ticket Office at 434-582-SEAT (7328) from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.mm. or email tickets@liberty.edu.

Read the full story and follow the Flames through the NCAA Tournament on the Liberty Athletics website.