INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- After dominating the 2026 NCAA Division II East Region Tournament this past weekend, the No. 4 ranked Daemen University men's basketball team will be the #4 seed and face #5 seed Lander University in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Wednesday, March 25. Tip-off is set for 8:30 PM. The NCAA unveiled the seeding for the Elite Eight today following the conclusion of the eight regional championships across the country last night. 

Daemen (33-1, 16-0 ECC) returns to the national quarterfinals after winning the program's second East Region title in program history last night. As the top seed and hosts of the East Region, the Wildcats cruised to a 111-83 victory over #8 seed Goldey-Beacom in the regional quarterfinals and advanced to play #5 seed Saint Michael's in the semifinals. After falling in the regional semifinal round in both of the last two seasons (2024, 2025), the Wildcats earned their way back to the Sweet 16 with an 85-62 victory over the Purple Knights. The East Region title game featured Daemen, winners of the 2026 East Coast Conference championship, and #3 seed Saint Anselm, winners of the Northeast 10 Conference championship, on Tuesday night. It was a tight game at the half, with the Wildcats leading by two, 43-41, but Daemen exploded in the second half, outscoring the Hawks 51-34 to post a 94-73 East Region title victory. The Wildcats were paced by the explosive play of 2026 ECC Player of the Year Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) who drained 11 three-point field goals to score 40 points en route to being named the regional's Most Outstanding Player. 

Ranked No. 23 in the final NABC poll of the season, Lander claimed the #5 seed in the Elite Eight. Wednesday's meeting with Lander marks the first time the Wildcats and Bearcats meet on the court. As the #2 seed in the region, Lander punched their ticket to the Elite Eight by winning the Southeast Region, topping #4 seed Lenoir-Rhyne 86-62 in the regional championship game on Tuesday night. The Bearcats (28-5) are on a 13-game win streak and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1998-99. 

Additional information including ticket sales as well as a full game preview will be available at daemenwildcats.com in the coming days.