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OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City University's Abe Lemons Arena will be the site of the Sooner Athletic Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments on March 3-5, 2011.
OCU last hosted the SAC Tournament in 2004, the second of two consecutive years the nation's premier NAIA conference staged its postseason basketball tournament at Abe Lemons Arena.
"Oklahoma City University eagerly anticipates once again hosting the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament," OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. "OCU is proud to belong to the nation's premier small-college basketball conference and to have its teams and athletes perform at their best on our floor. We appreciate the opportunity that commissioner John Hudson and the Sooner Athletic Conference has given OCU to showcase our university and community."
Berths in the NAIA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments will be at stake in the SAC Tournament. The tournament champions secure their spots in the 32-team national tournament.
John Brown captured the SAC Tournament men's title last season 73-58 over Rogers State on March 6 at Southern Nazarene's Sawyer Center in Bethany, Okla. Abel Galliguez of John Brown earned tournament most valuable player honors, scoring 15 points in the final.
OCU won the SAC women's tournament crown 62-55 over Oklahoma Baptist last season. Tournament MVP Donica Cosby recorded 18 points as OCU picked up its third consecutive SAC Tournament title and eighth overall.
SAC member institutions are John Brown, Lubbock Christian, Mid-America Christian, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma City, Rogers State, St. Gregory's, Southern Nazarene, USAO and Wayland Baptist.
The NAIA Division I men's tournament happens March 16-22, 2011 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The NAIA Division I women's tournament will be March 16-22 in Jackson, Tenn.
Abe Lemons Arena served as the stage for the NAIA wrestling championships the past two years. The 3,360-seat facility has also hosted the Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball tournament, Women's College Wrestling National Championships, USA Junior National Wrestling Duals and the Mid-America Youth Basketball national tournament.
The facility, completed in 2000, has been host to speaking engagements from individuals as diverse as author John Grisham, television host and OCU alum Chris Harrison, Gen. Colin Powell, Bishop Desmond Tutu and author Kurt Vonnegutt. Top tennis players Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati squared off in the 2001 IGA Superthrift Tennis Classic final at Abe Lemons Arena.
OCU also hosted the SAC basketball tournaments in 1996 at Frederickson Fieldhouse.