TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 6 seed Southwest Minnesota State University wheelchair basketball team opened play at the National Wheelchair Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night earning a 71-49 victory over No. 11 seed Eastern Washington University inside the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.
 
SMSU (12-9) will now advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday facing No. 3 seed and defending national champion, Arizona with game time slated for 4 p.m. CDT.
 
SMSU is 1-4 versus Arizona this season with the Mustangs' lone victory (63-50) coming in Marshall on March 13. SMSU is 10-23 all-time versus Arizona.
 
If SMSU wins on Thursday, it would play in the semifinals on Friday at 5 p.m. CDT. If SMSU loses, it would drop to the consolation bracket and play on Friday at 1 p.m. CDT.