SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- When Tyrekus "A.J." Bowman walked into his international business class last week, he received a rousing ovation.

"That's the first time that's happened in four years," senior forward Luke Tambon said. "Of course, he walked in late."

Bowman, a two-time, first-team All-American, helped Augusta State win the South Atlantic Regional and send the Jaguars to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

Augusta State faces South Central Regional winner Central Oklahoma at noon today in the Division II Tournament quarterfinals at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

With a win, the Jaguars (25-6) would advance to the Final Four on Thursday. With two, Augusta State would play in Saturday's national championship game.

"I think we're going to play loose," Tambon said. "We're probably one of the underdogs up here.

"We know we have a good team. We have a good center. We've got a good playmaker. We've got good guards and good coaches and role players. I feel confident."

Augusta State coach Dip Metress said his team is a little awestruck by the Elite Eight signs peppered throughout the area. But his players shouldn't be intimidated by the MassMutual Center.

Although the arena -- which houses fewer than 6,700 fans -- is three times as large as Augusta State's Christenberry Fieldhouse, the Jaguars are no stranger to large venues. Augusta State played at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum (10,325-seat capacity) in the preseason and later in front of their largest crowd of the season (6,502) against Georgia at the 10,523-seat Stegeman Coliseum.

"With us playing in those arenas," Metress said, "I don't think we're in awe of this arena."

Metress said his team is soaking in the new experience since arriving Sunday. The Jaguars practiced Monday afternoon and again Tuesday morning. Later, the Jaguars toured the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, visited a children's hospital and attended a banquet.

"I'm glad we play the early game," Metress said. "I think we're just anxious to play."

Bowman is looking to build on his performance in the Regional, when he averaged 27.3 points a game. Bowman is one of five Augusta State seniors to finish their home career with a victory. Now, they'll try to end their collegiate career on a high note.

"Our feeling is," Bowman said, "we're going to go up there and play Augusta State ball, hopefully play three more games and win them all and come back home with a national championship."

While Bowman and all-region players Ben Madgen (guard) and Garret Siler (center) are expected to score, Augusta State's success may depend on its other players shooting well from the perimeter.

Guards Daniel Dixon and Steve Smith gave the team a lift with a pair of 3-pointers each in the Regional championship win over Clayton State.

"We have to believe we're able to shoot that well," Dixon said. "We were struggling earlier on in the tournament, but we picked it back up in the game we needed to."