UCO Athletics
Chris Brannick, Director of Sports Media Relations
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Central Oklahoma is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row following the announcement of the 56-team field Sunday night.
The Bronchos, 35-19 on the season, will be the No. 3 seed in the Central Region and will travel to Magnolia, Ark. for the eight-team regional tournament beginning Thursday at Southern Arkansas University. UCO will play sixth-seeded St. Cloud State at a time to be determined.
UCO won 33 games during the regular season to clinch the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular season title and the top-seed in the conference tournament this past weekend. The Bronchos went 2-2 in the tourney before being ousted in the semifinals.
The NCAA selected 56 teams Sunday, 23 automatic qualifiers that won their respective conference championships. Regionals are double-elimination tournaments and the winners of each regional advance to the championship finals. The Division II Baseball Championship will be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., from May 26-June 2.
Central is in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in as many years under third-year head coach John Martin. Martin has won 102 games leading the Bronchos over the past few seasons, and last year, took UCO to the Central Regional Championship game.