(bearcatsports.com) The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team earned an at-large bid into the 2021 NCAA Central Region Tournament set for March 13-16 in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

The top two seeds will receive a bye as with COVID-19 protocols only six teams instead of eight will take part in the regional and only teams in the MIAA and the Northern Sun Conferences will represent the region. The Central Region winner will advance to the Elite Eight, which will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, March 24-27.

The Bearcats, ranked No. 1 in the latest NABC NCAA Division II top 25 poll, will be the No. 2 seed in the region. Northwest will play the winner of the No. 3 seed Washburn vs. No. 6 seed Missouri Western contest on Sunday at 7:45 p.m. The No. 1 seed Northern State will face the winner of the No. 4 seed MSU Moorhead vs. No. 5 seed Wayne State on Sunday as well.

Northwest (23-2 overall) will be taking part in its eighth consecutive and 21st NCAA Tournament overall. It is Northwest’s ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament under 12th-year head coach Ben McCollum. Northwest owns an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 29-20.

The Bearcats won the NCAA Division II national championships in 2017 and 2019. Northwest captured its eighth straight MIAA regular season title in 2020-21.

Each qualifying team will be allocated a set number of tickets and will work through their respective athletic department. Per NCAA Championships protocol, the capacity for Wachs Arena will be limited to 25%, which translates to 1,750 tickets available for each session. Prices of all-session and individual session passes and tickets are as follows:

All-Session Passes                                             Individual Session Tickets
$40 per adult                                                       $15 per adult
$25 per student/youth/senior citizen                   $10 per student/youth/senior citizen
** Senior Citizens are individuals 65+

Northwest will receive an allotment of 150 tickets for NCAA Central Region games. Northwest’s Director of Athletics Andy Peterson will handle the allocation of Northwest’s tickets through player’s parents/family members, Center Court Cat Club members and Bearcat basketball season ticket holders. Peterson can be reached via email at ANDYP@nwmissouri.edu or 660-562-1306.

All games will be live streamed free on NCAA.com.

2021 NCAA Central Region Teams
1. Northern State (18-1)
2. Northwest Missouri State (23-2)
3. Washburn (19-6)
4. Wayne State (11-6)
5. MSU Moorhead (10-4)
6. Missouri Western (14-10)

2021 NCAA Central Region Matchups
Saturday, March 13
No. 5 MSU Moorhead vs. No. 4 Wayne State, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Missouri Western vs. No. 3 Washburn, 8:45 p.m.

Sunday, March 14
No. 1 Northern State vs. winner of MSU Moorhead/Wayne State, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Northwest Mo. St. vs. winner of Missouri Western/Washburn, 7:45 p.m.

Tuesday, March 16
Central Region Championship, 7 p.m.

MARYVILLE, Missouri – Washburn University’s Tyler Geiman sank a 55-foot shot at the buzzer to edge No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University in the 2021 MIAA Tournament championship game, 69-68.

Northwest’s Diego Bernard had drained two free throws with :02.7 left to give Northwest a two-point edge, 68-66. The Ichabods inbounded the ball and Geiman let it roll before he picked it up and hit nothing but net from beyond half court.

Washburn won the program’s sixth MIAA tournament title as Northwest was looking for its sixth straight and 10th overall. Washburn moves to 19-6 on the season, while Northwest drops to 23-2.

Washburn held Northwest in check offensively in the opening 20 minutes limiting the Bearcats to 23.1% (6-of-26). The Ichabods held a 30-19 lead at the break.

The Ichabods led by as many as 13 in the second half at 36-23 before the Bearcats mounted a charge. A 12-5 run pulled Northwest to within one at 45-44 with 8:54 to play. Northwest would take its first lead of the second half at 53-50, and first of the game since 7-6, on a three-pointer from Trevor Hudgins with 5:55 to play. Hudgins hit another triple to put Northwest up four, 56-52 with 5:28 remaining. Washburn’s Connor Deffebaugh hit a triple from the left corner with 4:55 left to cut the Bearcat lead to one. Washburn’s Jalen Lewis gave the Ichabods a three-point cushion at 60-57 with 3:49 to play.

Ryan Hawkins hit two sets of free throws with 2:25 and 1:44 left to cut the Washburn lead to one, 64-63. Freshman Byron Alexander gave Northwest a 65-54 lead with 1:15 to play on a pair of free throws. Washburn’s Will McKee turned the ball over with :55.4 left, but Alexander threw it away on the ensuing inbounds play and Geiman made a layup to give the edge back to Washburn, 66-65. Hawkins drained one of two free throws with :32.5 to even it up at 66-66.

Hudgins appeared to make the defensive play of the game when he blocked an attempted three from Geiman and Bernard snared the rebound. Geiman fouled Bernard at halfcourt on his drive up the floor with :02.7 left to set the stage for the final dramatic moments.

Northwest and Washburn will look to continue their seasons at the Central Region Tournament.

Class 1A

Region 2
Macy Sievers, Newell-Fonda
Baily Sievers, Newell-Fonda
Maggie Walker, Newell-Fonda
Aleah Hermansen, Audubon
Ella Larsen, Newell-Fonda
Eva Steffenson, CAM
Jaci Christensen, Audubon
Josie Hartman, SE Warren
Coach of the Year: Joe Wollum, CAM

Region 4
McKenzie Goodwin, Kingsley-Pierson
Allie Petry, St. Albert
Brooklyn Beery, Kingsley-Pierson
Izzy Weldon, Fremont-Mills
Makenna Shepard, St. Albert
Avery Dowling, Sidney
Delaney Iseminger, Kingsley-Pierson
Abbi Bailey, Kingsley-Pierson
Coach of the Year: Nicole Goodwin, Kingsley-Pierson

Region 8
Macy Emgarten, Exira-EHK
Quinn Grubbs, Exira-EHK
TJ Stoaks, Lenox
Jenna Stephens, Stanton
Cassidy Nelson, Lenox
Emily Jones, Wayne
Mollie Rasmussen, Exira-EHK
Kaylee Weber, Sigourney
Coach of the Year: Tom Petersen, Exira-EHK

Class 2A

Region 5
Maddax DeVault, Nodaway Valley
Kailey Jones, AHSTW
Riley Batta, South Central Calhoun
Claire Denning, AHSTW
Alexa Ahrenholtz, IKM-Manning
Lindsey Davis, Nodaway Valley
Claire Harris, AHSTW
Coach of the Year: Brian Eisbach, Nodaway Valley

Region 8
Mallory McCall, West Monona
Hannah Dau, South O’Brien
Kendra Kuck, Underwood
Madison Stowater, Ridge View
Emma Vohs, Ridge View
Brielle Engelmann, Alta-Aurelia
Anna Coffee, Hinton
Coach of the Year: Jazmyn Flynn, Underwood

Class 3A

Region 1
Peyton Beckman, Panorama
Haley Rasmussen, Atlantic
JaMae Nichols, Cherokee
Teagan Slaugher, Cherokee
Alexis Pingel, Cherokee
Ava Wolf, Shenandoah
Coach of the Year: Brandon Slaughter, Cherokee

Class 4A

Region 1
Elle Scarborough, Glenwood
Jenna Hopp, Glenwood
Madison Camden, Glenwood
Emma Salker, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Payton Hardy, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Kennedy Lein, Carroll
Coach of the Year: Brian Rasmussen, Glenwood

Region 3
Kelsey Fields, Creston
Jocelyn Bice, Norwalk
Emma Miner, Dallas Center-Grimes
Bren Moritz, Norwalk
Julia Reis, Dallas Center-Grimes
Sam Dunphy, Creston
Coach of the Year: Adam Jones, Dallas Center-Grimes

Region 8
Paige Anderson, Denison-Schleswig
Hannah Neemann, Denison-Schleswig
Emma Dighton, Boone
Allison Piercy, Spencer
Jada Piercy, Spencer
Claire Schmitz, Harlan
Coach of the Year: Zach Klaassen, Harlan

Full lists HERE

Class 1A

Substate 7
Trey Baker, Martensdale-St. Marys
Leyton Nelson, Tri-Center
Jack Franey, Martensdale-St. Marys
TJ Harkins, Earlham
Ethan Alfers, Tri-Center
Toby Bower, Nodaway Valley
Grady Jeppesen, Riverside
Mason Crouse, East Mills
Coach of the Year: Chad Harder, Tri-Center

Substate 8
Manny Hammonds, Grand View Christian
Sam Rallis, St. Albert
Sage Evans, West Harrison
Layne Pryor, Woodbine
Tre Melby, Logan-Magnolia
Gavin Reineke, Boyer Valley
Gabe Peterson, Madrid
Jonny Gatto, Grand View Christian
Coach of the Year: Rowdy Evans, West Harrison

Class 2A

Substate 8
Sid Schaaf, Treynor
Raydden Grobe, AHSTW
Tim Zimmerman, Treynor
Chris Schreck, Van Meter
Brayden Lund, AHSTW
Eli Kading, ACGC
Matthew Boothe, Central Decatur
Kyle Sternberg, AHSTW
Coach of the Year: Scott Rucker, Treynor and GG Harris, AHSTW

Class 3A

Substate 8
Ryan Blum, Glenwood
Luke Rankin, Dallas Center-Grimes
Cole Glasgow, Dallas Center-Grimes
Skyler Handlos, Atlantic
Connor Frame, Harlan
Colby Burg, Creston
Jack Cooley, Clarke
Coach of the Year: Joel Rankin, Dallas Center-Grimes

Class 4A

Substate 1
Josh Dix, Abraham Lincoln
DaVares Whitaker, SC East
Jamison Gruber, Abraham Lincoln
Chase Bartlett, SE Polk
Noah Sandbothe, Abraham Lincoln
Bie Ruei, SC East
Coach of the Year: Jason Isaacson, Abraham Lincoln

Full lists HERE

2021 Pride of Iowa Conference Girls Basketball Honor Teams

First Team

Maddax DeVault, Nodaway Valley**
TJ Stoaks, Lenox **
Cassidy Nelson, Lenox
Rachel Sobotka, Mount Ayr
Emily Jones, Wayne
Lindsay Davis, Nodaway Valley
**Unanimous Picks

Second Team

Lexi Shike, Nodaway Valley
Lyndsey Dale, Central Decatur
Josie Hartman, Southeast Warren
Maddie Stewart, Mount Ayr
Kaylin Lack, East Union
Alivia Ruble, Southeast Warren

Honorable Mention

Alexa Anderson, Mount Ayr
Corinne Bond, Nodaway Valley
Jordan England, Lenox
Maggie Haer, Southwest Valley
Hallee Hamilton, Central Decatur
Kylie Keller, Martensdale-St. Marys
Grace Nixon, East Union
Makayla Ruble, Southeast Warren
Kennedy Weed, Bedford
Maddy Wood, Wayne

Rosemont, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced the full bracket for the 2021 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament presented by SoFi that will take place March 10-14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Michigan (19-3 overall, 14-3 in the Big Ten) is the No. 1 seed for this year’s tournament after securing the outright Big Ten Championship. This year marks the 15th time Michigan has won the title and its first regular-season championship since the 2013-14 season. The Wolverines last captured the Big Ten Tournament championship in 2018 when they defeated Purdue 75-66 in Madison Sqauare Garden. The 2018 championship came on the heels of Michigan’s 2017 championship in which they beat Wisconsin 71-56 in Washington, D.C. As the No. 1 seed, Michigan receives a double-bye and will open tournament play at 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, March 12, with a contest against the winner of No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Michigan State.

Illinois (20-6, 16-4) has earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament, marking the Illini’s highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 2009 when they also earned the No. 2 spot. Illinois’ 16 conference wins this season are the most ever in program history and top the previous school record of 15 which was set in 1984 and repeated in 2015. Illinois has won two Big Ten Tournament championships (2003 and 2005) and boasts the third-highest all-time winning percentage in Big Ten Tournament play (28-20, .583 pct.). Illinois will tip off its tournament schedule at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 12, and will take on the winner of No. 7 Rutgers vs. No. 10 Indiana.

Iowa (20-7, 14-6) clinched the No. 3 seed in the tournament after defeating Wisconsin 77-73 on the final day of the regular season. This marks Iowa’s highest seeding in the Big Ten Tournament since the Hawkeyes earned the No. 2 seed in 2006. That year, Iowa defeated Ohio State 67-60 to capture the program’s second Big Ten Tournament championship. Iowa won its first tournament title in 2001 when it defeated Indiana 63-61. The Hawkeyes will open tournament play the evening of Friday, March 12.

Rounding out the top four seeds in this year’s Big Ten Tournament is Purdue (18-8, 13-6), marking the sixth time in the last seven years that the Boilermakers have earned a top-four seed in the tournament. The Boilermakers are currently riding a league-best five-game winning streak heading into postseason play. Purdue will tip off its tournament action Friday afternoon (March 12).

The Big Ten Network will televise the tournament’s first 10 games, with coverage spanning the first round of the tournament through the quarterfinals. CBS Sports will once again broadcast the semifinals and final. All BTN on-air games can be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the FOX Sports App, while the CBS Sports broadcasts will also be available to stream live on Paramount+.

2021 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference has announced the full bracket for the 28th Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament that will take place March 9-13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Maryland (21-2, 17-1 Big Ten) is the No. 1 seed for this year’s tournament after securing the outright Big Ten Championship, its third in a row and sixth in seven years with Saturday’s 88-61 win at home over Penn State. Along with their six conference titles, the Terrapins have won four Big Ten Tournament championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2020) since joining the conference prior to the 2014-15 season.

Maryland will open tournament play at 11 a.m. (ET) Thursday with a quarterfinal contest against the winner of the second-round game between No. 8 seed Nebraska and No. 9 seed Minnesota.

Indiana (18-4, 16-2) is the No. 2 seed for this year’s Big Ten Tournament after the Hoosiers finished second in the conference standings, their highest placement since sharing the Big Ten title in 1982-83 and set a school record for conference wins in a season. Indiana, which advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals last year for the first time since 2006, will tip off its postseason schedule at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday with a tournament quarterfinal game against the winner of the second-round matchup between No. 7 seed Michigan State and 10th-seeded Penn State.

Rutgers (14-3, 10-3) earned the No. 3 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, ending the regular season on a nine-game winning streak to match the program’s highest finish (third) since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15. The Scarlet Knights will play in the last Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against either No. 6 seed Iowa or No. 11 seed Purdue on Thursday night, 25 minutes following the completion of Indiana’s quarterfinal.

Rounding out the top four seeds in this year’s Big Ten Tournament is Michigan (14-4, 9-4), which claimed the last of the tournament’s double-byes into the quarterfinal round by virtue of Saturday’s home win over Northwestern. The Wolverines have advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals the past two years and will open this year’s tournament slate Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals against No. 5 seed Northwestern, No. 12 seed Illinois or No. 13 seed Wisconsin, playing 25 minutes after Maryland’s game has concluded.

All 12 games of this year’s Big Ten Tournament will be televised live to a national audience, with the first round and opening two second-rounds games on Tuesday and Wednesday broadcast on BTN. FS2 then takes over as the presenting broadcast outlet, televising the remaining two second-round games, as well as the quarterfinals and semifinals from Wednesday through Friday. All BTN and FS2 games can also be seen live on the FOX Sports app. The Big Ten Tournament championship game will be played at 2 p.m. (ET) March 13 and will be televised live on ESPNU, as well as the ESPN app.

The Big Ten Conference has announced it will allow a limited number of fans to attend the 2021 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. Following approval by the Marion County Health Department, the decision to allow a limited capacity of 2,500 attendees was made jointly by the Big Ten Conference Directors of Athletics and the Council of President and Chancellors in consultation with the conference office.

A limited number of single-session tickets are now on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster and in-person at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse box office. Further details can be found on the official Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Central page at bigten.org/wbbt.

2021 Big Ten WBB Tournament Bracket