For the third time in the last four years, Eastern University Men's Basketball will open the MAC Freedom Tournament with a home game. The Eagles will host the defending champion and third-seeded DeSales University Bulldogs to open the Tournament. While Eastern beat the Bulldogs in both regular-season match-ups, the Bulldogs have a history of tournament success that the Eagles will need to overcome.

The DeSales men's basketball program is participating in the MAC Freedom Tournament for the 18th time. They have won four titles and played in 12 Championship games. Eastern has been in the league for 12 seasons. The Eagles are in their seventh MAC Freedom Tournament, but they are still looking to make a championship game for the first time in that stretch. Head Coach Dan Pruessner is in his first year in charge, but the Eagles have a veteran group and the program has been in four-straight tournaments.

Eastern clinched the home game by sweeping the season series against the Bulldogs. The Eagles earned an 80-71 win at DeSales last week to lock up the second seed. Eastern  trailed by four at the half, but they shot shot 65 percent in the second and held the Bulldogs to 11-of-33 from the field to claim the win. Terron Bacon hit all four of his shots after half and finished with 13 points to spark the Eagles.

After scoring 80 points in only two games in their first 23, the Eagles scored eighty in each of their last two. They were 8-of-19 from behind the arc in an 81-57 win over Misericordia to wrap up the year.

While the Eagles are not a team that relies heavily on the 3-pointer, they have made four more long-range attempts in their home gym than they have away from home. That stat, without context, does not mean too much, but given the team's unbalanced schedule, that number is significant. Eastern has only played 11 home games and 14 games away from home.

The Bulldogs are led by junior forward Timmy Edwards. He shoots over 60 percent from the floor and is a 75 percent free throw shooter. He averages over 15 points an outing. He led DeSales with 18 in their game here. Kweku Dawson-Amoah is the only other Bulldog to average in double-figures.

The Eagles have four players averaging in double-figures and two more right at eight points per game. Draig Ruff is the only perimeter player to average more than ten. The sophomore wing is at 13.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and over a half a block every game in the league. Victor Peña, Michael Bowlers, and William Blet give the Eagles three post players to score and protect the rim. Bowlers is shooting 65.5 percent in conference play.

Because it is a MAC event, there will be admission charged. The cost of admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for students. Eastern Student Development and Athletics will cover the cost of any Eastern students with a valid Ecard. Fans unable to get to the game in person will be able to follow through live stats and on EagleVision. Those links are on the schedule page.

The winner of Wednesday's game will take on the winner of the other semifinal which will be played in Hoboken on Wednesday. Top-seeded Stevens hosts FDU-Florham at 8 pm.