Beavs start play in CBI on Wednesday

OREGON STATE ACCEPTED a bid to play in the College Basketball Invitational on Sunday night, and they'll host a first round game in Corvallis against Western Illinois (18-14) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (TV: HDNet). It will be the third time in four years the Beavs (19-14) will participate in the CBI.

The 16-team CBI field features hosts Butler (vs. Delaware), Penn (Quinnipiac), Evansville (Princeton), Pittsburgh (Wofford), TCU (Milwaukee), San Francisco (Washington State) and Wyoming (North Dakota State) in the other first round games.

Oregon State won the CBI title in 2009 during Craig Robinson’s first season in Corvallis. Last year, Oregon won the CBI. Oregon State in 2010 was knocked out in the first round of the CBI.

"I'm extremely excited to still be playing and it's exciting to be playing with a good field of teams," Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson said. "When you're playing as well as we've been playing at the end of the year, you want to keep playing. Not only for your one senior (Kevin McShane) who is graduating, but for your team that is coming back to start the preparation process for next year."

Tickets will go on sale beginning at noon on Monday.

Three of the eight first round games will commence on Tuesday with the remaining first round games being played on Wednesday.

The quarterfinal round will take place on Monday, March 19 with semifinal round games being played on Wednesday, March 21. The best-of-three championship series begins on Monday, March 26 and continues on Wednesday, March 28. Should a third game be necessary, it will be played on Friday, March 30.