INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA, CBS Sports and Turner Sports announced today that the University of New Mexico is one of the top 16 schools that has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA 6th Fan Contest. With its advancement to the next round, UNM has won $10,000 for its general scholarship fund.
The contest now becomes a head-to-head competition as fans of competing schools will try to rack up the most votes to move on to the next round. UNM faces off against Western Illinois in the Sweet Sixteen.
“We appreciate all the Lobo fans that have participated and will participate in the NCAA 6th Fan Contest,” said Brad Hutchins, UNM Senior Associate AD for Marketing and Revenue. “Because of their engagement, we were able to receive $10,000 from the NCAA. We need to keep the momentum going and are asking all Lobo fans for their continued support!”
Fans can continue to vote daily for the Lobos in three different ways: online at NCAA.com/6thFan, via Twitter using the hashtags #6thFan and #NMex, or by connecting their Facebook account to the website to vote and also to register for a chance to win prizes. Voting is open through Sunday.
Following the week of Round 2 voting, schools that receive more votes than their head-to-head competitor will advance to the Elite 8, which will be announced Feb. 24. On March 3, following another week of head-to-head voting match-ups, the schools advancing to the contest’s Final Four® will be announced. The two finalists will be named March 10.
The school generating the most votes in the final round of the 6th Fan contest on March 16 will win a $100,000 contribution to its general scholarship fund. One randomly selected participant who registers and votes on NCAA.com will win an all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis April 4-6, 2015. Additionally, iPad Airs will be awarded in each of the five rounds to randomly chosen individuals who vote via NCAA.com in each respective round.
The following schools have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and are listed below in their seeded head-to-head match-ups:
1 North Dakota State University vs. 16 University of Portland
2 Arkansas State University vs. 15 University of North Carolina, Greensboro
3 South Dakota State University vs. 14 University of Arkansas, Little Rock
4 University of Texas, Pan American vs. 13 University of Northern Iowa
5 University of Central Florida vs. 12 Southern University, Baton Rouge
6 Western Illinois University vs. 11 University of New Mexico
7 Bryant University vs. 10 University of North Carolina, Asheville
8 Brigham Young University vs. 9 Western Carolina University