Excitement is building at Eastern Mennonite University.

Tickets sold out Friday, ahead of the EMU-Centre match-up in the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament.

The first game between Wilmington (Ohio) and Lycoming begins at 5:30 p.m. EMU takes on Centre College at 8 p.m.

Students and other people in the EMU community have been talking about the tournament all week.

Not only is it the first time the school is hosting the tournament, it's also the first time the men's team has qualified to play it.

Though Kelsey Landes and Ethan Henderson were trying to get some schoolwork done Friday, they were also thinking a lot about EMU's upcoming game.

"[We have] just have been really packing out the gym for them. And, I feel like finally EMU has some school spirit, which has been a lot of fun to be a part of," says Landes.

"We go to classes with them. They are a part of us. So, we're excited to cheer them on," says Henderson.

It's been a fast-paced season and a whirlwind week for some EMU fans.

The university only found out Monday it'd be hosting the tournament, and people lined up early Wednesday to make sure they'd have a ticket.

It's not just students feeling the excitement.

Lisa Rodino was at the campus bookstore Friday where people were buying shirts to show their pride at the game.

"It has been crazy. It's been so much fun," says Rodino, who works in admissions. "Watching all of the students come to the games, and the fans, and the cheering, it's been great."

EMU junior Richy Bikko has been going to games all season.

"We all love being supportive of the team, too. It has been a really big excitement. I've never seen something like this at this school," says Bikko.

"The players seem to want it more. They want to win this game. That's all they're focused on," says Henderson.

Standing-room-only tickets are all that remain for the EMU-Centre game. If EMU wins Friday, tickets for Saturday's game will go on sale for EMU fans at 11 a.m. in the University Commons lobby. Saturday's game starts at 7 p.m.