Valparaiso announced Sunday evening that it has accepted a bid into the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) and that the Crusaders will host Iona on Wednesday, March 16 at the Athletics-Recreation Center at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

The Crusaders enter the postseason, their tenth postseason appearance in the last 16 seasons, with a 23-11 overall record this year, their greatest number of victories since 2001-2002.  Valpo posted a 12-6 record in Horizon League play as well, just one game out of a share of the regular-season title.  The Crusaders are led by junior First Team All-League and All-Tournament Team honoree Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]), who ranks third in the league at 17.0 ppg and is Valpo’s leading scorer through two seasons all-time.  Fifth-year senior Cory Johnson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East [Iowa State]) scores 14.1 ppg, while sophomore Ryan Broekhoff (Frankston, Victoria, Australia/Australian Institute of Sport) posts 10.4 ppg and a team-best 5.1 rpg.

Iona enters CIT play having gone 22-11 this season, including a 13-5 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.  The Gaels advanced to the championship game of the MAAC Tournament before falling to Saint Peter’s, their only loss in the last 10 games.  Iona is led by junior Mike Glover, who averages a double-double with 18.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg.  Junior Scott Machado scores 13.6 ppg, while sophomore Kyle Smyth adds 10.1 ppg.

The CIT is a single-elimination tournament consisting of five rounds, all on campus sites. The top four remaining seeds after the first-round games receive second-round byes. First-round games are held March 15-16 and second-round games March 18-19.  Quarterfinals will be played March 21-22, the semifinals are slated for March 25 and the Championship Game will be held on March 30.

Tickets for Wednesday night’s first-round game are on sale now online at www.valpoathletics.com/tickets and www.etix.com.  Tickets will also be available by phone at 1-877-MY-VU-TIX or in person at the Athletics-Recreation Center ticket office beginning Monday morning at 10 a.m. CDT.  Ticket prices start at $10 apiece for lower level bleacher and mezzanine seats, while chairback seats are $20 apiece.  Valparaiso students receive free admission.