2025 D2 CCA MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TIP-OFF CLASSIC

HOSTED BY THE ST. JOSEPH SPORTS COMMISSION

OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 2

CIVIC ARENA

For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 19, 2025

Brett Esely Contact: 816-233-6688, besely@stjomo.com

St. Joseph continues to be a desired destination for major college and high school events.  For the second consecutive year, the St. Joseph Sports Commission is proud to host two major NCAA Division II College Basketball Preseason Tournaments as the CCA Division II Tip-Off Classic begins the season October 31- November 2 followed two weeks later by the 3^rd Annual Division II Women’s Basketball Central Showcase November 14-15.  Both events will be held in Civic Arena.

The CCA Division II Tip-Off Classic features 12 teams (6 men’s teams, 6 women’s teams), four games per day (two men’s games/two women’s games), 12 games total.  On the men’s side, the field is headlined by local favorites Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State and will be the Griffon Head Coaching debut for Brooks McKowen.  They are joined in the field by fellow MIAA rival Pittsburg State, 2024 National Champion Minnesota State from the NSIC, and 2025 NCAA Tournament participants Missouri-St. Louis from the GLVC and West Texas A&M from the Lone Star Conference. The women’s draw also features Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State and will include the Griffon Head Coaching debut for Luke Scheidecker who will face the defending National Champion Grand Valley State from the GLIAC in the opener.  Also included in the field is 2025 Elite Eight Participant Lubbock Christian out of the Lone Star Conference, and NCAA Tournament participants West Texas A&M and Adams State from the RMAC.

“We are privileged to have the opportunity to once again host arguably the best regular season tournament field in the country right here in St. Joseph” said Brett Esely, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission.  “We relish the opportunity any time we can engage our local universities, MIAA partners and attract elite teams on the national level to play in St. Joseph!”

Ticket information will be released in early fall, in which all presale tickets will be facilitated online and in walk up on gameday at the Civic Arena Box office.  Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available by contacting the sports commission.

“In our continued efforts of promoting St. Joseph as a college and high school regional sports hub, the month of November will be a sweet spot time on the calendar to host tournament basketball and given our location and expertise in hospitality/experience, we look forward to delivering a March level feel in the early season!” Esely said.

2025 DIVISION II CCA TIP-OFF CLASSIC

October 31-November 2, 2025

Friday, October 31

 1:00 PM – Northwest Missouri State vs. Adams State (W)

3:00 PM – Missouri Western vs. Grand Valley State (W)

5:00 PM – Minnesota State vs. Northwest Missouri State (M)

7:00 PM – Missouri Western vs. West Texas A & M (M)

Saturday, November 1

1:00 PM – Grand Valley State vs. West Texas A & M (W)

3:00 PM – Lubbock Christian vs. Adams State (W)

5:00 PM – Pittsburg State vs. West Texas A & M (M)

7:00 PM – Northwest Missouri State vs. Missouri-St. Louis (M)

Sunday, November 2

12:00 PM – Northwest Missouri State vs. West Texas A & M (W)

2:00 PM – Missouri Western vs. Lubbock Christian (W)

4:00 PM – Pittsburg State vs. Minnesota State (M)

6:00 PM – Missouri Western vs. Missouri-St. Louis (M)

The St. Joseph Sports Commission is a division of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau.