INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Colorado Mesa University men's basketball team was named as one of the eight teams from the South Central region to make the NCAA DII Men's Basketball Championship this evening as announced by the NCAA in their selection show.
The Mavericks earn their 12th appearance in the tournament with this selection with it also being the first time they return after missing out last season. They have now made it into the tournament six times in the last seven seasons.
The Mavs are just one of two teams from the RMAC to make it into the Tournament with them joining Black Hills State who earned the automatic bid after winning the conference tournament. The Yellowjackets earned the No. 6 seed.
Colorado Mesa was named the final eight seed in this region with them earning an at-large bid after their performance this season.
They will take on No. 1 seed Dallas Baptist University in the first round with them serving as the host for the first three rounds.
DBU earns the No. 1 seed after winning the Lone Star Conference Tournament earlier today and being the other automatic qualifier to make it.
The two schools will meet on Saturday, March. 14 with this being the second time this season they will face off after the Mavs upset the Patriots in the first game of the season on a buzzer-beater win in Dallas.
Besides DBU and BHSU, the Mavs have faced off with three other schools who made this year's regional group as well with Lubbock Christian earning the No. 3 seed, Western New Mexico earning the No. 4 seed and St. Edward's earning the No. 5 seed.
All-time, Colorado Mesa is 5-11 in the NCAA Tournament with them having only won an NCAA Tournament game in three appearances.
They have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen twice in program history.
More information about the tournament and postseason details can be found at https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2026-03-01/2026-ncaa-dii-mens-basketball-championships-selection-show-info-bracket-and
