NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -  Rhode Island College will host the 2009 Little East Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal and championship rounds at The Murray Center between Feb. 27-28. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Keene State College, and Western Connecticut State University each advanced to the semifinals with a victory this evening to join the Anchormen.  

Top-seeded Rhode Island College and fourth-seeded Keene State College will square off at 6 p.m. on Friday night, while second-seeded UMass Dartmouth and sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State University will play in the nightcap approximately 8 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. the following evening with the champion earning the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament. Ticket prices are $4 for general admission, and $3 for seniors and students with a valid ID. 

The Anchormen and Owls split their two regular season matchups with each team winning on the others home court. Keene State College edged Rhode Island College in overtime, 85-81, on Dec. 13, 2008, while the Anchormen most recently defeated the Owls, 93-72, on Jan. 31. Rhode Island College and Keene State College are meeting for the third time in conference tournament with the Anchormen holding a 2-0 advantage.

The Corsairs swept the previous two meetings with the Colonials this season, most recently with a six-point win on Jan. 24 in Danbury, Conn. UMass Dartmouth and Western Connecticut have met seven times in the Little East Tournament with the Colonials owning a 5-2 mark. Western Connecticut edged the Corsairs in the semifinals of the 2005 Tournament en route to capturing the conference crown.

If you are unable to make the trip to Providence, R.I., LittleEast.tv will video-stream each of the three games this weekend, free of charge. You will also be able to follow all the action with real-time statistics, courtesy of the Rhode Island College athletics department.