For the sixth time in program history, the Bradley University men’s basketball program has been invited to participate in a first-year postseason tournament and the Braves (18-14) will host Ohio Valley Conference runner-up Austin Peay (19-13) in the first round of the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at Carver Arena.

Bradley is 0-2 all-time against the Governors, dropping both games of a home-and-home series in 1989 and 1991. Austin Peay opened that series with a 70-65 win Dec. 20, 1989 at Carver Arena, then completed the sweep with an 86-76 win Jan. 14, 1991 in Clarksville , Tenn.

While Bradley finished alone in fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, Austin Peay tied for second in the OVC regular-season race with a 13-5 league record, then lost to Morehead State in the championship game of the OVC Tournament. The teams have three common opponents: Evansville , Drake and Southeast Missouri State . Bradley split its two MVC games versus both Drake and Evansville and downed Southeast Missouri State, 75-62, Dec. 14 at Carver Arena. Austin Peay dropped a 70-62 decision at Evansville in the regular-season opener, as well as a 71-54 score Feb. 21 at Drake in a game created through its participation in the ESPNU BracketBusters series. The Governors swept their OVC series against Southeast Missouri State , resulting in one of their nine road wins.

Bradley’s 2008-09 season-ticket holders may claim their regular-season seats for Wednesday’s CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament opener at the Shea Stadium Box Office ( 1523 W. Nebraska Ave. ) Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 (Club Level), $25 (Priority I), $20 (Priority II), $14 (Priority III) and $9 (Priority IV). Bradley University students will be able claim tickets at no charge, courtesy of the Braves Club, by presenting a valid student ID at time of pickup.

All unclaimed season-ticket holder seats will be made available to the general public beginning Wednesday morning at the Shea Stadium Box Office, the Carver Arena Box Office and online at www.BradleyBraves.com. In addition to the individual $9 ticket prices for Priority IV seating, all fans purchasing three tickets may receive a free ticket for Priority IV seating beginning Wednesday morning.

Bradley’s appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament will be the program’s 34th all-time postseason appearance, the most of any current Missouri Valley Conference team, in seven different events. The Braves have played in eight NCAA Tournaments and 21 National Invitation Tournaments, as well as single appearances in the National AAU Tournament, the National Campus Tournament, the Commissioner’s Classic and the College Basketball Invitational. Bradley played in the first NIT in 1938, as well as the first edition of the National Campus Tournament in 1951, the Commissioner’s Classic in 1974 and CBI in 2008. The Braves also were invited to play in the first NCAA Tournament in 1939, but turned down the bid in favor of participating in the NIT for a second consecutive year.

The Braves have earned a postseason bid for a fourth consecutive year, matching the longest such streak in program history. Bradley’s seven postseason wins the previous three seasons are tied for the eighth-most nationally since 2006: 2006 NCAA Tournament (2-1), 2007 NIT (1-1), 2008 CBI (4-2).

CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Schedule

First Round March 18 Austin Peay (19-13) at Bradley (18-14) 7:05 p.m.

Quarterfinals March 23 Campus Sites

Semifinals March 25 Campus Sites

Championship March 31 Campus Site ( Fox College Sports)

Article courtesy BU Sports Information