For the third straight year, the Dalhousie Tigers will compete for the U Sports national men’s basketball championship at the Final 8 tournament in March.
But this year, it’s on Tiger turf.
Dalhousie will host the Final 8 at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre from March 9-12. As the host team, Dal’s team earns an automatic entry into the tournament, and the university is hoping to see the stands full with Tigers fans.
“We want to fill the seats in the Scotiabank Centre with students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends and family to cheer on the Tigers,” says Tim Maloney, Dalhousie director of varsity athletics.
Dal President Richard Florizone and the Dal Tiger mascot are clearly on-board, as this promotional video shows:
The first Tigers game of the Final 8 will be on Thursday, March 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets that are purchased online by Friday, March 3 include entry to the game, a Tigers T-shirt and access to the pre-game pep rally at the Auction House — Dal’s official “Hoop House.” The pep rally will have a fan zone with face painting, thunder sticks and more. Buy tickets here.
And just because the Tigers are guaranteed their spot in the national Final 8 doesn’t mean their quest for a third-straight Atlantic University Sport (AUS) title is finished. The AUS championships take place this weekend (March 3-5), also at Scotiabank Centre. As the top-ranked team, Dalhousie gets an automatic bye into the semifinals on Saturday, March 4. Should they prevail, they’ll go for the championship at 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available at ticketatlantic.com
Dal set for U Sports men's basketball Final 8
Staff - February 28, 2017
Tigers centre Ryall Stroud in action this season, with the Final 8 looming. (Dal Tigers photo)