East-West Challenge returning to Sanford Pentagon
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Sanford Pentagon will host a two-day NCAA Division II men’s college basketball event Nov. 18-19 that matches two teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference against two teams from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The East-West Challenge presented by Sanford Health features Augustana University, Minnesota State Moorhead University, Black Hills State University and South Dakota Mines.
“We’re bringing some of the best teams from their respective conferences together for an early season preview of where they stack up against each other,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of operations for Sanford Sports. “Three returning NCAA tournament qualifiers and another that returns much of their team from last year should make for an exciting two days of matchups.”
Augustana is coming off a 26-4 record in 2021-22. The Vikings entered the postseason as the fifth-ranked team in the country and advanced to the Central Regional final before falling to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State at the Sanford Pentagon.
Minnesota State Moorhead is the defending champion of the NSIC/Sanford Health men’s basketball tournament, knocking off two top-12 teams on their way to the title. The Dragons fell in the first round of the NCAA Central Regional to Northwest Missouri State at the Sanford Pentagon.
Black Hills State is coming off a run to the NCAA DII Final Four, defeating four top-10 teams on their way to the semi-finals. The Yellow Jackets completed their season with 26-8 record which included a RMAC Conference Championship and a NCAA Regional Championship.
South Dakota Mines finished the 2021-22 season with a 10-18 record but ended on a high note with a 88-83 victory on the road against New Mexico Highlands University.
SCHEDULE
Nov. 18
11 a.m. - Augustana vs. South Dakota Mines
1 p.m. - Black Hills State vs. Minnesota Moorhead
Nov. 19
11 a.m. - Black Hills State vs. Augustana
1 p.m. - South Dakota Mines vs. Minnesota Moorhead
