Men's Basketball | 2/24/2014 3:37:00 PM

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Curtains up for the Western Oregon University men's basketball program. The Wolves will be playing an enormously important game against Simon Fraser University (B.C.) Wednesday for many reasons.

Western Oregon (15-11, 8-8 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) hosts the lone foreign NCAA institution, SFU, in front of a potential crowd of nine million fans. WOU will have the opportunity to showcase its program on a network that covers Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, and the ROOT SPORTS regional networks combine to reach nine million homes across 18 states. ROOT SPORTS NORTHWEST was formerly Fox Sports Northwest.

ROOT SPORTS is the home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Timbers, among numerous other professional and collegiate sports teams in the Pacific Northwest.

"We're excited for the chance to play in front of such a broad audience across the region and country," WOU Head Coach Brady Bergeson said. "This is an excellent opportunity to expose not only our program, but the school to such a big audience."

This will be the second time Western Oregon has been on the channel, but the first it has come to Monmouth. In 2011, WOU dropped an 85-54 game at St. Martin's, a game that appeared on Fox Sports Net. With this broadcast coming from the Western Oregon University campus, the school will have an excellent opportunity for exposure.

"Western Oregon University is proud to have the opportunity to showcase the institution to so many people," Western Oregon University President Mark Weiss said. "We look forward to highlighting our school through our athletics, and cheer on our men's basketball team."

Aside from the exposure standpoint, the game itself is big for the Wolves. With the GNAC tournament looming just two weeks away, Western Oregon still has yet to qualify for the annual postseason event. The top six teams from the conference make up the tournament field March 5-8, held in Lacey, Wash., for the third straight year. WOU needs one win in its last two games to secure its spot, or it must hope for other factors. But, it's simple for the Wolves, if they beat Simon Fraser (10-14, 3-13 GNAC) Wednesday, they're in. And, as every basketball fan knows, if you make it to March, anything can happen.

The Wolves qualified for the inaugural GNAC tournament in 2011, played at higher-seed sites, and in 2012 in Lacey. Western Oregon was the sixth-seed in 2011 and fell at third-seeded Seattle Pacific by four points. In 2012, fourth-seeded WOU fell victim in the first round to Montana State Billings', the fifth-seed, Cinderella run to the conference title.

The Wolves are currently fifth in the conference standings, out of a chance to be seeded higher, tied with MSU Billings at 8-8 in GNAC play, and one game ahead of Central Washington. If all three teams end tied, Western Oregon holds the tiebreaker. WOU also holds ties against both MSUB and CWU if just two of the teams are tied. Again, it's simple, if the Wolves win one of their last two games they advance to the fourth annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament.

Simon Fraser has been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, but still has two games left on its schedule, and just as much exposure opportunity on television Wednesday. Simon Fraser has lost four of its past five, and six of its last eight. It is 3-11 since the New Year. The Clan has won two of its nine contests away from home this season. Sango Niang leads SFU with an average of 15.6 points per game. His 5.5 assists per outing are third in the conference. Ibrahim Appiah has a team-high 7.5 rebounds per contests.

Western Oregon has won 10 straight in the series. The last time Simon Fraser won in the series was a 70-61 decision in Burnaby, B.C., in 1999. WOU has won nine straight at home over the Clan. SFU's last win in Monmouth was the first meeting between the programs in 1968, 97-86.

Bob Akamian will be the play-by-play voice on Wednesday's broadcast, with Dave Harshman handling the color-commentary. Fans are encouraged to wear black in support of Western Oregon and to get their seats early. The first 100 students at the game will receive a free ROOT FOR WOU t-shirt. The game is sponsored by Associated Students of Western Oregon University (ASWOU). Free pompoms and tumblers will be given out by ASWOU. Students who arrive early will also be given free pizza on behalf of the WOU Alumni Association. Fans are also encouraged to bring amusing, but appropriate, signs to the game for the broadcast. Prizes will be given to the most creative and best overall signs.

Fans can get into the game for free with a donation of two non-perishable food items.Tipoff is scheduled for 7:06 p.m. with the live broadcast to begin at 7 p.m. Don't miss this rare chance to be on television and show off the Western Oregon University campus and Monmouth and Independence.