Valparaiso, Ind. - Valpo will face Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Seattle. The Crusaders (18-12) take the #15 seed against the #2 seeded Bulldogs (27-2). Tipoff will be approximately 9 p.m. CST (7 p.m. PST) or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Michigan State-Nevada game.

The Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament champions, Valpo has never faced Gonzaga, the West Coast Champion, in basketball.

Both teams have enjoyed success in the NCAA Tournament as Valpo advanced to the Sweet 16 in 1998 and Gonzaga advanced to the Final Eight in 1999 and the Sweet 16 in both 2000 and 2001.