Cardinals Ready for Third Shot Against Falcons, Eye Regional Title

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FAIRMONT, W.Va. – After getting past their rival in the Quarterfinals, the Cardinals ready for a third shot this season against the top-seeded Falcons in the biggest contest of the year. Wheeling Jesuit eyes its first men's basketball NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional title with Fairmont State standing in the way Tuesday night.

For the first time, the Cardinals (25-7) are playing for their opportunity in the DII Elite Eight. WJU will tip off against Fairmont State (31-2) in FSU's Joe Retton Arena on Tuesday night, March 14, at 7 p.m.

WJU aims to prove the third time is the charm against Fairmont State in the 2016-17 campaign. The two Mountain East Conference foes have provided their fans with two very entertaining games, which both ended in Fairmont State victories – 95-92 in overtime on November 30 in Wheeling and 97-86 later in the year on Feb. 1 in Fairmont.

The Cardinals earned the opportunity for their third chance at the Fighting Falcons with a pair of late second-half rallies. WJU came back and took away the dramatic overtime, 96-95, victory over West Liberty in Saturday's Quarterfinals. On Sunday, the Cardinals trailed the Raiders of Shippensburg by 15 points with 10 minutes to play, before they energized and surged back for the 97-91 victory.

The Falcons secured their spot in Tuesday's final in a much less dramatic means. Fairmont State took care of No. 8 seed Bowie State going away, 93-67. The Falcons took a double-digit halftime lead and allowed the Crimson Hawks of IUP no closer than five points in an 84-68 Semifinal win.

-GoCards-

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