Xavier (24-10) vs. Clemson (19-14)                   9:30 pm EST
National Invitation Tournament                        Semifinals
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NEW YORK (Ticker) -- For the first time in the history of the
school, Clemson is involved in the Final Four of a postseason
tournament and will battle Xavier tonight in the semifinals of
the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden. 

This is the first trip to a postseason Final Four for Clemson's
men's basketball team, but it also marks the first for any
Tigers' basketball squad. Clemson's only postseason tournament
championship took place 60 years ago this season when it won
four games in four days to capture the Southern Conference
title. 

The Tigers (19-14) are the type of team that usually performs
well in the NIT. They were never a serious candidate for an
at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and are loaded with seniors
just happy their careers are not over. 

Four seniors dot Clemson's starting lineup but it has been point
guard Terrell McIntyre and power forward Harold Jamison who have
led the way through the NIT's first three rounds.  McIntyre, the
Tigers leading scorer at 17.9 points per contest, combined for
35 points in first- and second-round victories over Georgia and
Rutgers and how has 1,802 points and 566 assists in his career. 

Jamsion grabbed 15 rebounds in each of the first two games and
poured in a career-high 26 points in a third-round rout of
Butler.  The 6-8 Jamison has recorded a double-double in seven
of his last nine games, including all three NIT contests. 

Xavier (24-10) counters with three seniors in its starting
lineup, forward James Posey and guards Lenny Brown and Gary
Lumpkin, who combine for 45.8 ponts per game. The trio has
helped two freshman, forward Kevin Frey and center Aaron Turner,
develop into effective players. 

Brown is the team leader with 17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8
assists per game and is one of the top 3-pointer shooters in the
nation, having connected on 94-of-239 (39 percent) shots from
beyond the arc.  In fact, Brown, Posey, Lumpkin and sophomore
Maurice McAfee have combined to go 230-of-646 (37 percent) from
3-point range. 

It will be up to McIntyre, fellow guard Tony Christie and
swingman Andrius Jurkunas to get out to the perimeter and
prevent Xavier from bombing away. Jamison, center Tom Wideman
and 7-0 reserve Adam Allenspach have helped the Tigers hold a
plus-15 rebounding advantage during the NIT. 

Clemson is particpating in its 12th NIT.  The Tigers are
appearing at Madison Square Garden for the second time, having
played a first-round contest against Providence in 1975. 

Xavier is in its sixth NIT and has reached the semifinals for
the second time, having claimed the 1958 championship with a
78-74 victory over Dayton.  The Musketeers eliminated Toledo,
Wake Forest and Princeton en route to tonight's game. 

The winner of this game will face either California or Oregon in
the championship game on Thursday night.