The Matchup
- Third-seeded and eighth-ranked Fairmont State will open NCAA Tournament action on Saturday afternoon when they battle CIAA Regular Season and Tournament Champion Virginia State in the first regional quarterfinal of the day at noon inside Wheeling Jesuit's McDonough Center.
- This will be the third meeting between the programs as FSU picked up a 72-55 road win over VSU on Nov. 13, 2012 and then defeated the Trojans, 85-77, at home on Nov. 10, 2013 during the first-annual Joe Retton Classic.
- In his four seasons as Fairmont State's head basketball coach, Jerrod Calhoun is 10-2 against CIAA teams, including a 4-0 mark this season.
- The Falcons picked-up home wins over Lincoln (PA) (98-73) and Shaw (95-69) before going on the road to defeat Bowie State (98-91 OT) and Winston-Salem State (88-78).
- The Falcons also opened the NCAA Tournament against CIAA member Livingstone in 2013, picking up a 91-73 first-round win.
- In the last meeting between the programs back on Nov. 10, 2013, Caleb Davis and Thomas Wimbush both reached double-figures for the Falcons, scoring 13 and 11 respectively. In addition, Trevor Andrews-Evans and Shammgod Wells both played in that matchup.
- This marks Calhoun's third NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons at Fairmont State, the Falcons are 2-0 in first round games under Calhoun.

Scouting FSU
- Fairmont State is 3-3 this season against teams in the 2016 Atlantic Regional (CU 2-0, WJU 1-1, WLU 0-2)
- Fairmont State is currently sixth in the country in scoring offense (91.9) and also ranks 48th in Division II in field-goal percentage (48.0).
- The Falcons are also one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the basketball, ranking fourth in Division II in turnover margin (4.8) and 15th in turnovers forced (17.00).
- FSU has attempted 850 three-pointers this season, which ranks third in the Mountain East and 11th in the country. The Falcons also rank 20th in the nation in three-pointers made per game (10.3).
- Fairmont State is 40th in the country, but just sixth in the league in assists per game (16.2) this season.
- Fairmont State ranks 10th out of 12 teams in the MEC in free-throw percetnage (68.0).
- Eleven of Fairmont State's 14 active players have reached double-figures at least once this season. The Falcons have nine players averaging 13 minutes per game of more this season.
- In 29 games this season, FSU has turned the ball over 15 times or less in 24 of the 29 games.
- The Falcons have scored over 100 points seven times this season.
- FSU has made 10 three-pointers or more in 17 games this season.

The Last Time
- With Fairmont State's victory over Shepherd in the regular season finale, the Falcons wrapped up their best regular season finished since the Falcons went 24-2 during the 1999-00 season. The Falcons also finished the 1998-99 regular season with a 23-3 record and were 24-2 following the 1997-98 regular season.
- The 25-win season is also the 15th in Fairmont State men's basketball history. The last 25-win season for FSU was in 1999-00 when the Falcons finished 25-4 following NCAA Tournament play.
- The Falcons also spent the entire season in the NABC/Division II coaches poll for the first time since 1998-99, when the Falcons ended the season ranked second in the country.
- Fairmont's appearance in the poll back on Nov. 24, 2015, was its first since Dec. 4, 2008 when FSU was ranked 19th in the country.
- After being ranked 14th in the first top 25 poll of the season, the Falcons have been ranked in the NABC top 10 for 14-straight weeks (which is a program-record streak).
- Previously, the Falcons were ranked in the top 10 for 13-consecutive weeks from Dec. 12, 1968-Mar. 6, 1969 as members of NAIA.
- The Falcons have been ranked as high as second in the country this season and have been ranked in the top five for seven weeks.
- The Falcons have also recorded four-straight 20 win seasons in Calhoun's first four seasons with the program. The last time FSU had four-straight 20-win seasons was from 1997-01. The Falcons made an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 1998 after winning the East Regional.

Scouting Virginia State
- The sixth-seeded Virginia State Trojans enter this weekend's Atlantic Regional with an overall record of 23-5 and were 14-2 in CIAA play this season, winning the CIAA North Division Regular Season Championship.
- Virginia State head coach Lonnie Blow, Jr. was named the 2016 CIAA Coach of the Year and went over 100 career wins at Virginia State this season (117-53, six seasons). Blow is the only CIAA coach to win a CIAA Tournament Championship with two difference CIAA institutions.
- VSU has also won seven-straight games, including three games in the 2016 CIAA Tournament to win the tournament championship and clinch the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. VSU defeated Livingstone, 89-78, on Feb. 28 to win the CIAA Tournament Championship.
- Virginia State and Fairmont State have played six common opponents this season (Charleston, Glenville State, Winston-Salem State, Bowie State, Lincoln (PA), and Shaw). Virginia State is 9-0 in those games and Fairmont State is 8-0.
- The Trojans average 79.8 points per game and hold opponents to 70.3 points per contest.
- VSU is ninth in Division II in field-goal percentage defense (39.7), 10th in offensive rebounds (14.14), and 23rd in turnovers forced (16.36).
- Kevin Williams leads two Trojans in double-figures, averaging 14.8 points per game.
- Elijah Moore also averages double-figures at 14.0 points and is the team-leader in rebounding (5.7).
- Williams and Moore are tied for the CIAA lead in steals per game at 1.8 per game.
- Waymond Wright is second in the CIAA in assist-to–turnover ratio (2.4).

For more pregame notes, view the Complete Game Notes (PDF) here