KEENE, N.H. – Keene State College is preparing to host first and second round games in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history. Along with the Owls, Baruch College, Tufts University and Widener University will compete against each other at Spaulding Gymnasium this weekend for a chance to go to the Sweet 16.
 
The other three teams involved each took a different path this season to get to this point. Here is how each of them ended up here.
 
Baruch College (22-5, 12-2 CUNYAC)
 
The Bearcats got off to a slow start, beginning the season with a 3-3 record. The team picked up momentum after that, winning nine of its next 11 games. BC then finished the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, including a thrilling 83-82 overtime win over Lehman College in the City University of New York Athletic Conference Championship. It was Baruch's second straight championship and third in the last four seasons.
 
Baruch is led by the backcourt duo of senior Devin Nicholson and junior Jehmehl Fair. Nicholson, who was named a CUNYAC First Team All-Star and CUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, led the league in 3-point field goal percentage at .414. He also ranked second in the conference in 3-point field goals per game (2.3 per game) and seventh in scoring (13.9 points per game). Fair was named a CUNYAC Second Team All Star after finishing the year with 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
 
Tufts University (19-7, 6-4 NESCAC)
 
The Jumbos are one of four teams from the New England Small College Athletic Conference to make the NCAA tournament this year. The other three are Hamilton College, Middlebury College, and Williams College, whom Tufts have all beaten this season. TU made it to the NESCAC semifinals before losing to Hamilton 71-48.
 
Senior guard Dylan Thoerner was named to the All-NESCAC First Team for the second straight season. He averaged 15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. His .508 field goal percentage ranks fourth in the league. He only needs 26 points to reach 1,000 for his career. He would accomplish that in three seasons, as Tufts' 2020-21 season was canceled due to COVID. Senior guard Tyler Aaronson, the older brother of Keene State sophomore guard Spencer Aaronson, needs 17 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
 
Widener University (19-8, 11-5 MAC Commonwealth)
 
Widener enters the tournament after winning the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championship over Alvernia University 74-69. This is part of a stretch where the Pride have won seven of their last eight games. As a result of his team's success, Head Coach Chris Carideo was named MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year.
 
Graduate students Dominic Dunn and Pat Holden were both named to the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team. Dunn is third in the league in scoring with 18.2 points per game, while Holden is fifth with 14.0. Both players also excel beyond the arc. Dunn leads the league in 3-point field goals per game with 2.7, while Dunn is third in 3-point field goal percentage at .416. Fellow graduate student Kenny Lewis also helps the Pride on the boards, as his 8.2 rebounds per game is fifth in the league.
 
Widener will take on Tufts in the first of two games to happen at Spaulding on Friday, March 3. That matchup will tip off at 3 p.m. Then, Keene State will play against Baruch at 5:30 p.m. The winner of those two games will then play each other in the second round on Saturday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m.