For the past week, the Miles men's basketball team knew it had earned a spot in the NCAA Division II national tournament. But Sunday night, the team congregated for a tournament watch party to find out who it was playing and where it was going.

The Golden Bears were given the No. 8 seed in the South Region tournament and will play host Nova Southeastern on Saturday in their first-ever trip to the Division II regional. The teams will tip-off at 4 p.m. and the winner will move one step closer to a trip to the national championship tournament in two weeks.

"It's an honor to have an opportunity to keep playing in the South Region (tournament)," said Miles head coach Fred Watson. "National champions have come out of this region. It's a really good region and we're just excited to be here."

But the Golden Bears are not just headed to Fort Lauderdale to get some sun. Watson said his team and his coaching staff are on par with each team in the region. Miles played four games against two of the teams in the regional (West Alabama and Delta State) and the scoring margin in those games were less than two points.

"We're going to have our work cut out for us but once you get to this level, everyone is very good," Watson said. "There are going to be a lot of elite teams and this (region) is one of the best in the country."

The opening game for the Golden Bears will feature contrasting styles. The Sharks (26-3) are currently the No. 3 team in the country -- also making their first NCAA appearance -- and are averaging almost 100 points per game, which is second in the NCAA. But gaudy rankings and big offensive numbers did not help NSU win the Sunshine State Conference tournament, where it lost to South Region No. 2 Florida Southern. Senior guard Devonte Fuller said this team will not cower as it works toward pulling the upset.

"We don't see them as some big team because they're ranked. We see them as just another team, just another game. So that's how we're going to prepare for it this week," said Fuller, Miles' leading scorer.

The Golden Bears will continue to rely on their stout defense, which is the only one in the nation that does not allow 60 points per game and also leads the nation in defensive field goal percentage. 

"Like Coach Watson said, our defense can always be there, even when our offense is not," said senior guard Damian Archer. "Our defense is consistent and that's what we've been winning with all year."