It's official: The NCAA basketball tournament will be coming to the Baltimore Arena in 1995.

As expected, the NCAA Executive Committee formally has awarded first- and second-round games in the East Regional to UMBC, the host institution. The other East site for the first and second rounds will be Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, N.Y.

The executive committee's action follows last month's recommendation of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee. Four games will be played at the Baltimore Arena on Thursday, March 16, 1995, and two games on Saturday, March 18.