MANHATTAN – Kansas State men’s basketball team was rewarded for their successful 2011-12 season on Sunday night, as the Wildcats earned their 26th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their fourth in the last five seasons by receiving an at-large bid to the tournament.

Kansas State (21-10, 10-8 Big 12) was selected as a No. 8 seed in the East Regional and will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to play No. 9 seed Southern Mississippi (25-8, 11-5 Conference USA) at the CONSOL Energy Center (19,069) on Thursday, March 15. The winner will advance to play either No. 1 seed Syracuse (31-2, 17-1 BIG EAST) or No. 16 seed UNC Asheville (24-9, 16-2 Big South) on Saturday, March 17. The Wildcats will be joined at the venue by No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 7 seed Gonzaga, No. 10 seed West Virginia and No. 15 seed Loyola (Md.) of the East Regional. Aside from No. 1 seed Syracuse and No. 2 seed Ohio State, the other top five seeds in the East Regional are No. 3 seed Florida State, No. 4 seed Wisconsin and No. 5 seed Vanderbilt.

Tickets are available to current Ahearn Fund members and men’s basketball season ticket holders who did not place a pre-order. Fans should call the K-State Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS on Monday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $78 for each session in which K-State participates. Seating will be assigned in order of K-State Athletics Priority Points.

*From K-State Sports