Entering the 2012 Northeast Conference basketball tournament, eight teams will be vying for that coveted automatic bid into the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The Robert Morris Colonials will host their quarterfinal game against the Monmouth Hawks Thursday night at 7 p.m. as they begin their journey towards the eighth NCAA tournament bid in school history.

Guard Velton Jones leads the Colonials with 16.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, leading the team in both categories. Guard Coron Williams, averaging 10.2 points per game, is also a player that Robert Morris will be relying on to win the tournament. Forwards Russell Johnson and Mike McFadden combine for almost 10 rebounds per game and will be needed to get the Colonials over the top.

The two teams that entered the tournament in higher seeds than Robert Morris were Long Island and Wagner. The Colonials gave the top-seeded Long Island Blackbirds their only conference loss of the season, defeating them 75-66 on Jan. 26. The Wagner Seahawks, on the other hand, defeated the visiting Colonials 80-69 on Feb. 2.