By Aaron Heller<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hood College men\u2019s basketball team is headed down to Greensboro, North Carolina, after being selected as an at-large bid to compete in the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers were unsure if they would be able to continue their season after an early exit from the MAC Conference playoffs to Eastern University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But their 19-6 season bolstered their chances, allowing them to take on the 24-4 Penn State Harrisburg on Friday, March 1, at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers departed from Hood College Thursday at 7:45 a.m. and make the six-hour venture to Greensboro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior guard Trumaine Strickland said he excited and prepared to travel down to North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s a blessing,\u201d Strickland said. \u201cThis is my first time traveling to North Carolina, and to be able to do it with this group of hard-working guys, makes it that much more special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduate student Justin Gielen is no stranger to the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before attending Hood, Gielen won a national championship with the Maryland Terrapins as a member of their soccer team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI’m beyond excited to compete in my first basketball NCAA tournament,\u201d Gielen said. \u201cI can’t wait to take part in and make our mark on the biggest tournament of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers will face the top teams in the country in D3 basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur goal is always to beat anyone we play against,\u201d Gielen said. \u201cWe know that if we’re locked in and playing our game, then we are good enough to beat anyone in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strickland added, \u201cThe goal coming into this tournament is to go as far as we can\u2026We know people are going to have us written down as an underdog, but if we play our game, we going to make history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers are out to prove to both the MAC Conference and the entire D3 basketball division that they are a top team in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe want to go all the way and bring a natty back to Hood,\u201d Justin Gielen said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"