Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team, making its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2010, has earned a No. 15 seed in the South Regional and will travel to Providence, R.I., to take on No. 2 seed Villanova out of the Big East Conference Thursday, March 18, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The Colonials learned of their seed at a team gathering in the International Suite of the Charles L. Sewall Center via the annual Selection Sunday show on the CBS Network.

RMU earned its second straight automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament thanks to a 52-50 victory over Quinnipiac in the championship game of the 2010 NEC Tournament, March 10, at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn.

"It certainly was a little nerve wracking watching the brackets go up, but it's always exciting at this time of year, especially so this year for our guys since we're playing in the NCAA Tournament," head coach Mike Rice said. "We have a tough task ahead of us in playing Villanova, but we'll make sure we have our guys prepared to go up there and give it all we've got."

Robert Morris is making its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the most by any program in NEC history, as well as its third straight postseason appearance. RMU also took part in the NCAA Tournament in 1982, 1983, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 2009. The Colonials also played in the 2008 Mastercard National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

"We were happy when we saw that we weren't going to be in the play-in game," senior guard Mezie Nwigwe said. "It's exciting to be playing in the NCAA Tournament again, and having been there once before we know it's going to take a lot of hard work. It could be my last college basketball game when we play Villanova, so we're going to go all out."

In 1982, RMU was a No. 12 seed and dropped a 94-62 decision to No. 5 seed Indiana in Nashville, Tenn., as part of the Mideast Regional. The following year, the Colonials earned their only NCAA Tournament victory with a 64-54 win over Georgia Southern in the opening round at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. RMU advanced to face No. 5 seed Purdue in the Mideast Region, where it dropped a 55-53 decision.

"Last year I watched the guys play against Michigan State, so for me actually getting to play in the NCAA Tournament this year is a dream come true," freshman guard Karon Abraham said. "It's what you dream about as a little kid, and now it's going to come true. There's always going to be butterflies, but we're looking forward to heading up there and playing as well as we can."

In 1989, Robert Morris earned a No. 16 seed and dropped a 94-60 decision to No. 1 seed Arizona in the West Regional in Boise, Idaho. In 1990, the Colonials earned a 15 seed, battling No. 2 seed Kansas in the East Regional in Atlanta, Ga., before falling, 79-71.

In 1992, RMU was a No. 16 seed, falling to No. 1 seed UCLA, 73-53, in the West Regional in Tempe, Ariz. Last year, the Colonials entered the 2009 NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed in the Midwest Regional and fell to No. 2 seed and eventual national finalist Michigan State, 77-62, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.

Robert Morris enters the 2010 NCAA Tournament with an overall record of 23-11. The Colonials are led by Abraham, who was named the 2010 NEC Rookie of the Year and the MVP of the 2010 NEC Tournament.

In the NEC Tournament, Abraham averaged 17.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in three games, converting 54.5 percent (18-for-33) of his shots from the field, including 50 percent (8-for-16) of his chances from beyond the arc. Overall on the 2009-10 campaign, Abraham averages 13.4 points per contest and owns a team-high 80 three-pointers.