MARION, Ind. -- Luckey Arena will host its first ever Mid-Central College Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship on Tuesday, March 2 when Indiana Wesleyan University hosts Bethel (Ind.) College.
Indiana Wesleyan has shared the MCC regular season championship two times in the past (2007, 2009), but were not the No. 1-seed in the conference tournament. Each of those two seasons, Indiana Wesleyan lost to the other co-champion on their home court in the title game.
But this season the Wildcats claimed the first outright MCC regular season championship in program history with a 13-3 record and earned home court advantage throughout the tournament. For the fifth consecutive season, the top two seeded teams in the tournament will meet for the MCC automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, with this edition taking place in Marion.
Both teams are 27-5 this season and ranked in the NAIA Division II Top-10. Indiana Wesleyan has tied the program high in the rankings with the No. 3 spot while Bethel chimes in at No. 10.
The two teams split the regular season series with each team protecting home court. Indiana Wesleyan handed Bethel its first 
loss of the season with a 73-67 victory on December 1, 2009 while Bethel ended the Indiana Wesleyan program record 14-game win streak with a 79-72 win on January 26 in Mishawaka.
In the two previous installments this season, nine players from the teams have averaged double figure scoring, five from Indiana Wesleyan and four from Bethel.
But the two players who earned All-MCC First Team honors, IWU senior center Zach Coverstone and BC senior guard Ryne Lightfoot, have struggled offensively in the head-to-head matchups.
Coverstone has averaged 10.5 points and Lightfoot 12.0 points. But both have contributed in other ways. Coverstone has pulled down 10.5 rebounds, blocked 3.5 shots and earned 3.5 assists in the two games while Lightfoot has hit 5-of-9 (55.6-percent) from 3-point range.
Wildcat senior guard Ryan Hetrick has stepped up against the Pilots this season with a team-leading 17.0 points per game. He has hit 57.1-percent (12 of 21) of his shot with 10-of-15 (66.7-percent) coming from 
deep. Sophomore guard Derrick Troyer (12.0 points), senior guard Spencer Harris (11.5 points) and freshman guard Aaron Martin (10.0 points, four 3-pointers) have also stepped up for the Wildcats.
Likewise, Indiana Wesleyan will need to contend with a quartet of Bethel players who have put up numbers against IWU this season. They are senior guard Tony Benford (16.0 points, 56-percent shooting), junior guard Caleb Laidig (14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists), senior forward Wes Laidig (11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) and junior center Joey Welch (9.0 points, 10.0 rebounds).
Both teams are assured a spot in the NAIA National Championship in Point Lookout, Missouri on March 10-16 due to their high rankings. The winner will claim the conference automatic bid to the tournament while the losing team will receive an at-large bid.
Tickets for the game will be $7 for adults and $2 for students, with IWU students with IWU IDs being admitted free. The only pass that will be accepted for the MCC Tournament Championship Game is the NAIA Pass. Indiana Wesleyan VIP All Sports Passes and Indiana Wesleyan Faculty/Staff Athletic Passes cannot be accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan students will not be on campus for the MCC Tournament title game due to Spring Break. The Marion community is strongly urged to come support the Wildcats in their quest for the program's first-ever MCC Tournament championship at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2.
CLICK HERE for full MCC Tournament bracket
BOX SCORE from 12/1/09 game
BOX SCORE from 1/26/10 game
