After finishing the season with a 26-6 record, the University of South Alabama men's basketball team has earned an at-large berth in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The 10th-seeded Jags will open play this Friday against seventh-seeded Butler in the first round at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. The game will tip off at 1:45 p.m. central. Should the Jags win Friday, they would play in the second round on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the same location.

Ticket information and a list of events surrounding the upcoming NCAA games featuring the USA Jaguars are below:

NCAA TOURNAMENT TICKETS
The Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center is the official ticket seller for this event and has full-tournament booklets available for purchase. Contact the BJCC ticket office at (800) 732-4849 or visit http://www.southtix.com to place your order or gain additional information.

Please note that tickets to this event are NOT available through the Mitchell Center ticket office.

Friday's game will also be broadcast live by CBS/WKRG Ch. 5.

Go to this site for the full NCAA tournament bracket:
Mens Basketball Bracket

STUDENT GAME-WATCHING PARTY
USA students are invited to watch the Jags on the Student Center big-screen TV. The game is being televised on CBS, and Jaguar Productions is sponsoring a Basketball Game Watching Party in the Student Center Ballroom at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, March 21. There will be free soft drinks and popcorn. For more information, call (251) 460-7144.

ALUMNI GAME-WATCHING PARTIES
USA’s National Alumni Association will host several game-watching parties in Mobile and Birmingham for USA alumni, students and employees.  Wear USA apparel for special discounts during the game.  Game time is 1:45 p.m., Friday, March 21.  For more information, call (251) 460-7084.

Mobile (Downtown) – Game-Watching Party
Heroes Sports Bar & Grille
273 Dauphin Street

Mobile (West) – Game-Watching Party
Fabacher’s Sports Bar & Grille
5602 Old Shell Road

Birmingham – Game-Watching Party
Fox and Hound Pub & Grille
3425 Colonnade Parkway

ALUMNI RECEPTION IN BIRMINGHAM
The USA National Alumni Association will hold an alumni reception with Coach Ronnie Arrow and the Men’s Basketball Team from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 at the Birmingham Marriott.  USA Alumni are invited to meet Coach Arrow and visit with the players at 6 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served.  USA Fast Break Club members are also invited to attend.   For more information, call (251) 460-7084.

OPEN PRACTICE SESSION IN BIRMINGHAM
The public is invited to watch the Jags in action during an open practice session from 12:45-1:25 p.m., Thursday, March 20 at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. Admission is free. 

All practice sessions are free and open to the public:

Noon-12:40 p.m.         American
12:45-1:25 p.m.           South Alabama
1:30-2:10 p.m.             Tennessee
2:15-2:55 p.m.             Butler
4:25-5:05 p.m.             Oklahoma
5:10-5:50 p.m.             Louisville
5:55-6:35 p.m.             St. Joseph’s
6:40-7:20 p.m.             Boise State

SGA STUDENT BUS TRIP
USA’s Student Government Association will take two buses to Birmingham to see the Jags play in the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 21. The buses are reserved for winners of a special student promotion hosted by the SGA.  Free bus trips and tickets were given to the first 100 students responding to the giveaway.  Buses will leave the Student Center at 6 a.m.   For more information, call the SGA at (251) 460-7191.