Bucknell University Athletics
Men's Water Polo to Play at Harvard Saturday in NCAA Play-In Game
11/21/2016 6:08:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's water polo team defeated George Washington on Sunday to win the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championship and earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. The Bison learned they will be traveling to Harvard on Saturday, Nov. 26, for a play-in game matchup with the Northeast Water Polo Conference champion. Game time is TBA.
The winner of the game between Bucknell (23-4) and Harvard (24-6) will advance to a second play-in game against UC Davis on Dec. 1 at the University of California's Spieker Aquatics Complex, which will also host the four-team championship bracket Dec. 3-4. The winner of the second play-in game will face USC.
California and Pomona-Pitzer will face each other in the other play-in game on Dec. 1. The winner of that contest will face UCLA in the national semifinal on Dec. 3. The championship game is slated for 6 p.m. on Dec. 4.
Bucknell has earned its sixth NCAA berth and its first since 1985. The Bison also qualified for NCAAs in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980, finishing as high as fifth in 1979.
Saturday's matchup will be the second this year between Bucknell and Harvard. The Bison lost to the Crimson 13-11 at October's Harvard Invitational. Bucknell is 20-9 all-time against Harvard, including winning nine of the last 11 meetings, which included an eight-game winning streak from 2004 to 2012.
Bucknell has had one of the best seasons in program history this year. The Bison have their most wins since 1985, have put together a pair of nine-game winning streaks, have six wins over ranked foes and have not lost to an unranked opponent all season. Freshman Rade Joksimovic was named the conference Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year for both the regular season and Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Championship Tournament.
2016 NCAA Championship
All games at Spieker Aquatics Complex except for Nov. 26 play-in game
Saturday, Nov. 26 - Play-In Game (Cambridge, Mass.)
Harvard (24-6) vs. Bucknell (23-4), time TBA
Thursday, Dec. 1 - Play-In Games
UC Davis (23-5) vs. Harvard/Bucknell winner, time TBA
California (20-4) vs. Pomona-Pitzer (21-8), time TBA
Saturday, Dec. 3 - Semifinals
USC (23-1) vs. UC Davis/Harvard/Bucknell winner, 6 p.m.
UCLA (25-2) vs. California/Pomona-Pitzer winner, 8:12 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4 - Championship
Semifinals winners, 6 p.m.
