NCAA Elite 8 features Shaw University; Murray named National Player of the Year

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Shaw Bears will represent the South Atlantic Region in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals Wednesday, March 20 at 6:00 PM (CST) in Evansville, Indiana. Shaw (13-3) will play West Georgia (23-8), of the South region, in the third game of the quarterfinals round of the Elite 8. Semi-finals are at 7:30 pm, March 21 and finals will be broadcast live Saturday, March 23 on CBS, at 12 noon.

Shaw will feature the National Player of the Year, Ronald Murray. The Division II player of the year, is second in the nation in scoring and leads the conference with 25 ppg. The 6'4"senior-guard shoots 50% from the floor and 77% at the line and averages 5.7 assists per game. Murray was CIAA player of the Year as well as MVP of the CIAA Basketball Tournament.

In the South Atlantic Regionals, the 2002 CIAA Champions received a Bye and edged out Winston-Salem State University 62-61 in the semis. In the finals, Shaw defeated Carson-Newman 69-68 to advance to the Elite 8.

Ranked nationally the entire year and maintaining Top 25 status for twelve consecutive weeks, the Bears are prepared for the Big Dance, averaging 87.4 point, and holding the top in the league for scoring margin at 13.3. Against nationally ranked teams, Shaw is 3 -0, Tampa 71-68, Clark Atlanta 85-61, and their Elite Eight opponent West Georgia 75-67, Nov. 23.

The CIAA has to its credit four national champions, Winston-Salem State University, 1967; Virginia Union, 1980; North Carolina Central University 1989; and Virginia Union University 1992.

Although, Joel Hopkins is in his second collegiate season as Head Coach (42-14), he does have collegiate championship experience as he was a member of the NCCU 1989 National Division II Championship Team.