GAC announces adjustment for basketball tournaments

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  • Southwestern Oklahoma State has clinched the top seed for the west division of the Great American Conference. The Lady Bulldogs could host three games at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center. Provided
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RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas — Friday, the Great American Conference announced an alteration to the previously revealed 2021 men’s and women’s basketball championships brackets.

The league’s Council of Presidents approved changing the format by having a crossover between the two divisions starting at the quarterfinal round. Previously, the Eastern and Western Divisions would conduct three rounds of tournament play with the two divisional winners meeting for the overall conference championship.

The opening round of the new format will remain the same. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds of each division will host first-round games against that division’s No. 6 seed and No. 5 seeds, respectively. With the new format, the first-round winners from the Eastern Division will face the top two seeds of the Western Division and vice versa.

The league also announced game times for the tournament. All women’s games through the first three rounds will begin at 5:30 p.m. and all the men’s games will begin at 7:30 p.m. The women’s final will tip at 1 p.m. on Sunday followed by the men at 3:30 p.m.

Monday, March 1

No. 5 East at No. 4 East

No. 6 East at No. 3 East

No. 5 West at No. 4 West

No. 6 West at No. 3 West

Wednesday, March 3

No. 4/5 East Winner at No. 1 West

No. 3/6 East Winner at No. 2 West

No. 4/5 West Winner at No. 1 East

No. 3/6 West Winner at No. 2 East

Friday, March 5

Semifinals at highest remaining seeds

Sunday, March 7

GAC Championship at highest remaining seed

(Coin Toss if equal seeds)