NSIC tournament pairings are set

Matt Zimmer — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 02:55:45 GMT

SIOUX FALLS — The NSIC basketball tournament bracket is set.

The top 12 twelve teams (men's and women's) have qualified, and the top four have earned first-round byes.

So the Division II conference tournament begins Wednesday night, with the 5-8 seeds hosting the 9-12 seeds on their home floors, and the winners advancing to second round action at the Sanford Pentagon, which begins Saturday. The championship games are set for Tuesday, with the men's and women's winners each earning an automatic bid to the Division II NCAA tournament.

On the men's side, MSU-Mankato earned the No. 1 seed on the heels of a 26-2 regular season that saw them go 20-2 in NSIC play. Minnesota Duluth, MSU-Moorhead and Minot State earned the second, third and fourth seeds and first-round byes, respectively.

MSU-Mankato is the No. 1 women's seed as well, followed by UMary, Concordia-St. Paul and Northern State.

USF and Augustana's women each got in at the tail end of the standings, with the Cougars coming in 11th and the Vikings 12th.

Augustana's men finished 7th and USF 8th, meaning the Viking and Cougar men are both at home Wednesday night for first round action.

Here are the complete brackets for the tournament. All games at the Pentagon will be televised on Midco Sports.

NSIC women's tournament

First Round

Wednesday

(11) USF at (6) Minnesota Duluth, 6 p.m.

(10) Minot State at (7) St. Cloud State, 6 p.m.

(9) Winona State at (8) MSU-Moorhead, 6 p.m.

(12) Augustana at (5) SMSU, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at Sanford Pentagon

Moorhead/Winona vs. MSU-Mankato, 4:30 p.m.

SCSU/Minot vs. UMary, 7 p.m.

Sunday at Sanford Pentagon

SMSU/Augie vs. Northern State, 4:30 p.m.

UMD/USF vs. Concordia, 7 p.m.

Monday at Sanford Pentagon

Semifinal, 4:30 p.m.

Semifinal, 7 p.m.

Tuesday at Sanford Pentagon

Championship, 7 p.m.

Men

First Round

Wednesday

(9) Bemidji State at (8) USF, 6 p.m.

(12) St. Cloud State at (5) SMSU, 5:30 p.m.

(11) Northern State at (6) Winona State, 6 p.m.

(10) Wayne State at (7) Augustana, 6 p.m.

Saturday at Sanford Pentagon

USF/BSU vs. MSU-Mankato, 11 a.m.

Augie/WSC vs. UMD, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday at Sanford Pentagon

SMSU/SCSU vs. Minot State, 11 a.m.

WSU/NSU vs. MSU-Moorhead, 1:30 p.m.

Monday at Sanford Pentagon

Semifinal, 11 a.m.

Semifinal, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday at Sanford Pentagon

Championship, 4 p.m.

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DRAGONS WOMENS BASKETBALL

NSIC tournament pairings are set