By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – The Fort Hays State men’s basketball team earned an at-large bid into the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championships, announced Sunday (March 10) by the NCAA office. With a record of 23-7, the Tigers received the No. 6 seed in the Central Region and will take on No. 3 seed Minnesota Duluth in the regional quarterfinals on Saturday (March 16).
Minnesota State is the top seed in the region and will host the regional in Mankato, Minn. March 16, 17 and 19.
This is Fort Hays State’s 14th trip to an NCAA Central Regional and the first since 2016. The Tigers are 10-12 all-time in the tournament, including a 7-8 record in neutral-site contests. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs (25-6).
The Tigers last played in the NCAA Tournament in the 2016 regional quarterfinals. The Tigers are 3-4 in regional quarterfinal games. Fort Hays State has played in three regional title games, winning one en route to its national title in 1996.
Two other MIAA schools join FHSU in the field of eight, including No. 2 Northwest Missouri State and No. 5 Pittsburg State. The Northern Sun has four teams in the field, with the Great American Conference earning one bid.
The winner of the Central region will meet up with seven other regional champions at the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind. March 26-30.
More information on the regional, including game times, ticket information and more will be released as it becomes available.
2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship Central Region Tournament Quarterfinal Matchups
No. 1 Minnesota State (29-2) vs. No. 8 Arkansas Tech (25-6)
No. 2 Northwest Missouri State (27-4) vs. No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State (19-12)
No. 3 Minnesota Duluth (25-6) vs. No. 6 Fort Hays State (23-7)
No. 4 MSU Moorhead (24-5) vs. No. 5 Pittsburg State (21-10)
Women
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team earned an at-large bid into the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship, announced Sunday (March 10). The Tigers secured the No. 3 seed in the Central Region and will take on sixth-seeded Northwest Missouri State in the quarterfinal round on Friday, March 15.
Southern Nazarene was picked as the top seed in the region and will play host to the regional in Bethany, Okla.
The Tigers are 24-7 this season, winning 20 or more games for a 13th-straight season, the longest-active streak in Division II. This is Fort Hays State’s ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament and its eighth trip over the last 10 years. Fort Hays State is 7-7 all-time in the tournament.
Fort Hays State has never played as the No. 3 seed in the regional and has never taken on the No. 6 seed. The Tigers are 4-2 in the quarterfinal round, 1-3 against MIAA opponents in the tournament and 1-2 in neutral-site contests.
The Tigers last qualified for the Central Regional in 2022 when FHSU was the top seed and tournament host. FHSU has advanced to the regional title game three times in school history.
FHSU will play Northwest Missouri State (23-7) for a fourth time this season and a second time in less than one week, with the Tigers defeating the Bearcats in the MIAA Semifinals on Saturday (March 9). The teams split in the regular season before FHSU went up 2-1 in the season series with the postseason victory.
The eight regional champions will meet up in St. Joseph, Mo. for the 2024 NCAA DII Elite Eight March 25-29. The Tigers hope to end their season in the same building it began, with FHSU opening the year with two wins inside the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
More information on the regional, including game times, ticket information and more will be released as it becomes available.
2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship Central Region Tournament Quarterfinal Matchups
No. 1 Southern Nazarene (28-2) vs. No. 8 Henderson State (20-11)
No. 2 Missouri Western (25-5) vs. No. 7 Minnesota State (26-5)
No. 3 Fort Hays State (24-7) vs. Northwest Missouri State (23-7)
No. 4 Pittsburg State (24-7) vs. Harding (25-5)