For only the second time in the history of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the men’s and women’s regular- and postseason championships have advanced together to the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA Division II Basketball Championships.
On Tuesday, sixth-seeded Black Hills State (30-4) from the RMAC captured the South Central Region by winning 76-62 at top-seeded and host Dallas Baptist (29-7) to advance to its third “Elite Eight,” where the Yellow Jackets play No. 1-ranked Nova Southeastern (30-1) on March 25 at 4 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pa.
On Monday in Denton, Texas, third-seeded Colorado Mesa (36-1) posted a 65-64 win over top-seeded and host Texas Woman’s to collect the South Central Regional title. With the win, the Mavericks meet Minnesota Duluth (23-8) in Pittsburgh on March 24 at 10 a.m.
The last time the RMAC had a men’s and women’s school competing in the NCAA Division II Championships in the same season was 2013, when the MSU Denver men and the Mesa women played “Elite Eight” games.
MSU Denver won its men’s national quarterfinal game by defeating Franklin Pierce 78-65 on March 28 in Louisville, while Colorado Mesa dropped a 60-44 decision to Dowling of New York on March 26 in San Antonio.
The Roadrunners advanced to the 2013 NCAA Division II men’s finale, where Drury posted a 74-73 win on April 7 in Atlanta. Dowling went on to the women’s title contest and lost 71-56 to Ashland of Ohio on March 29.
The RMAC men are now 14-4 in NCAA Division II regional finales, and the women 4-3. In “Elite Eight” games, the men are 8-6 and the women 1-2.
As for national titles, the RMAC has won three men’s titles and appeared in the national championship game five times. The RMAC women competed once in the national title game were Fort Lewis fell 65-53 to Emporia State in 2010.
Men’s National Championship game appearances
- 1996 – Fort Hays State 70, Northern Kentucky 63
- 1999 – Kentucky Wesleyan 75, MSU Denver 60
- 2000 – MSU Denver 97, Kentucky Wesleyan 79
- 2002 – MSU Denver 80, Kentucky Wesleyan 72
- 2013 – Drury (MO) 74, MSU Denver 73
Women’s National Championship game appearances
- Emporia State 65, Fort Lewis 53
