Virginia Union Men to Face Columbus State in NCAA Tournament

Virginia Union University's men's basketball team will face Columbus State University in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament on March 13 in Kennesaw, Ga.

The Panthers finished the 2003-04 season as CIAA Tournament champions and will enter the tournament with a 25-4 record.

VUU enters the tournament as the #4 seed in the South Atlantic regional, with Columbus State being the #5 seed. Kennesaw State, which is hosting the regional, is the top seed.

This marks the second straight season that VUU has went to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers lost in the first round last season to Kennesaw State 74-65.

The last time VUU faced Columbus State was in the 2000 NCAA Tournament, when Columbus State beat VUU 80-60.

Virginia Union won the NCAA championship in 1980 and 1992 and have been national third place finishers three times.