MARIETTA, Ohio — When first-round action of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament begins Friday in the Marietta pod, there will be three undeniable facts.

• Ban Johnson Arena will be packed and loud when Marietta (20-6) faces Maryville (21-7) at 8 p.m.
• All four teams still won't know much about the other participants as they are all unfamiliar faces.
• Only one team will advance to the Sweet 16 next weekend.

"This is always the most fun time of the season, but it's also the toughest time of the season," said Marietta coach Jon VanderWal, who is 7-6 in NCAA Tournament games. "You start playing teams that you don't know much about. You've heard about them, and you've watched some video, but we're all trying to figure out a game plan based on limited information."

It's also why it is one of the most exhilarating times of the year.

First round action in Marietta begins at 5 p.m., Friday when Arcadia (22-5) plays New Jersey City University (20-7). The winners will play at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 2, for a chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament.

Maryville earned an automatic bid after winning its second-consecutive USA South Athletic Conference Tournament crown, while the Pioneers had to rely on an at-large postseason berth after losing to John Carroll 82-79 in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Scots return everyone from a squad that reached the NCAA Tournament last year, and lost to eventual national champ Nebraska Wesleyan, 94-70. Maryville has a balanced offensive attack with four players averaging 12 points more per game.

"I think the guys understand that it's a new season," Maryville coach Randy Lambert said. "What we've done in the past is behind us, and we have to focus on this first round. Taking an early exit last year should motivate them for this season."

Maryville enters the tournament averaging 78.2 points per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor. The Scots are also shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. Senior Calvin Songster, a 6-foot-2, guard, is one of Maryville's top players with 15.2 points and 3.1 assists per game. Senior forward Dante Hoppa is a strong performer as well, and he is averaging 13 points and six rebounds a contest. Conference tournament MVP Emier Bowman is averaging 12.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.3 steals a game.

Lambert, who is in his 39th and final season at Maryville, has an overall record of 722-324.

Marietta is 13-2 on its home floor this season, while Maryville is 7-3 on the road.

The Pioneers started the season with 10 consecutive victories before slipping up against Elmhurst College during the D3 Desert Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona, in December. Marietta didn't finish the season strong, going 3-4 over its final seven games.

But Marietta is a team with postseason experience, and due to the early exit from the OAC Tournament, is rested. The Pioneers are averaging 84.0 points per game after shooting 45.4 percent from the floor.

VanderWal's squad is deep and he will use a lot of players on Friday. Leading the way for the Pioneers are senior Anthony Wallace (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) (11.6 ppg), sophomore Jason Ellis (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) (10.9 ppg) and senior Kyle Dixon (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) (10.5 ppg). Dixon and junior Caleb Hoyng (Celina, Ohio/Celina) lead the way with 5.5 rebounds per game.

The first game on Friday will pair up two contrasting programs. NJCU is making its 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament (19th time as a Division III program), while Arcadia, winners of the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championship, earned the league's automatic bid and is making its first-ever NCAA appearance following a 92-56 victory over Widener.

VanderWal, who is in his 12th season at Marietta, has an overall record of 231-103.

The Gothic Knights lost to Rowan, 80-77, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship game, but earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

James Richardson, a 6-foot, senior point guard, led the Gothic Knights with 19 points, while Sam Toney, a 6-4 junior forward, added 13 points. Shooting guard Denzel Banks, a 6-2 sophomore, had 12 points in the loss. Toney leads the team with 16.0 points a game to go with 7.4 rebounds. Banks is averaging 11.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, while Richardson is averaging 8.9 points.

Marc Brown, who enters the weekend with a career record of 196-129, is in his 12th season with NJCU.

Arcadia entered its conference tournament on a two-game losing streak, only to win back-to-back games.

Sophomore Da'Kquan Davis, 6-1 guard, earned the MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year award after averaging 16.4 points and 5.1 rebounds, along with 64 assists this season. Senior Phil Pierfy, a 6-5 forward, was also a first team all-conference selection for a second year in a row. He enters this weekend averaging 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Other scoring threats for the Knights are Josh Scott (12.7 ppg), Evan Slone (10.3) and Kyle Reilly (7.5).

Arcadia is coached by Justin Scott, who has an overall record in seven seasons of 103-86.