NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/14/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - March madness has struck and the people of Natchitoches and Northwestern State University couldn't be happier. The NSU Demons are making the most of their first NCAA Tournament appearance winning the tournament's opening game 71-67 over Winthrop Tuesday. Northwestern (19-12), the 16th seed, will play Illinois, the top seeded team in the Midwest Region, Friday at 11:15 a.m. in Dayton, Ohio.

Friday's game will be televised by CBS and will be shown in north Louisiana on KSLA-TV in Shreveport and KNOE-TV in Monroe. The game will be broadcast to 21 percent of the country including all CBS stations in Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

NSU fans can watch the game on a big-screen TV in the East Concourse of Prather Coliseum beginning at 11 a.m. ARAMARK will be providing food. Northwestern students can use their meal card to purchase lunch. All other fans can buy lunch for a nominal charge.

Northwestern under second-year coach Mike McConathy is 19-12, equaling the most wins by a Demon men's basketball team in 19 years. NSU has won six in a row and eight of its last nine games.

"This is an exciting time for anyone associated with Northwestern," said NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "We are so proud of what the players, coach McConathy and his staff have done. It is exhilarating to see our men's basketball team have this opportunity to compete on the national stage and to do so well."

The Demons won the game Tuesday behind 18 points from Chris Thompson and a huge game from 6-11 freshman center D'Or Fischer, who had 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots.

"The students at Northwestern are excited and proud of what the team has done," said NSU Student Government Association President David Gunn, who is also a member of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. "A lot of students got together to watch the game and will be watching Friday. This will do a lot to generate support and will get the university's name out in a positive way."

Tuesday's game was produced by CBS and was shown nationally on The National Network with Shreveport resident Tim Brando doing play-by-play and former Kentucky and Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino handling analysis.

"This is the biggest thing to happen to Natchitoches and Northwestern State in their sports history," said Gary DeBlieux of Natchitoches, who was among a group of more than 100 Northwestern supporters who watched the NSU-Winthrop game at Merci Beaucoup. "Those kids played their hearts out like they did all year. That's why they're where they're at."

The Demons had to play the tournament's opening game under a new format under which the No. 64 and 65 teams faced off to determine who would face the top seed in the Midwest.

The opportunity to play in the first game of the tournament has allowed the Demons to receive coast-to-coast publicity in newspapers including USA Today, the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis Star-Tribune as well as ESPN and CNN. That is in addition to having the last two games broadcast on ESPN2 and TNN.

"We can't measure the positive side effects this will have for the university." said Director of Alumni Affairs Chris Maggio. "This has created a sense of pride among the alumni. You can't buy this type of exposure all over the country."

"The phones have been ringing off the hook. The attention and the exposure has been wonderful for Northwestern," said Director of Admissions and Recruiting Jana Lucky. "Students and parents have been able to watch our team and see our coaches and players interviewed. They have seen the pride everyone has in the university and how much we care about the students. That comes across."

According to Northwestern Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Vicki Parrish, the team's success goes beyond what happens on the court.

"The purpose of the university is to broaden the horizon of the students and the team is getting a chance to experience first-hand what it takes to be successful," said Parrish, who is chairman of NSU's Athletic Council. "This opportunity adds to the prestige of the university and is something to be admired."

A limited number of tickets are available in Dayton at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on the balcony level overlooking the main lobby. Tickets are available on Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Tickets are $50 which includes both the NSU game and the second game between Tennessee and UNC-Charlotte. To reserve tickets call (937) 461-4700 and leave a message for Northwestern State tickets at the front desk.

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