Mountain West–Missouri Valley Challenge

MW–MVC Challenge logo

The Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge was an in-season NCAA Division I men's college basketball series, matching up teams from the Mountain West Conference (MW) and the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The series began in November 2009 and featured all of the MW teams against most of the MVC teams.[1][2] The series was discontinued after the 2018 iteration.[3]

The first challenge was held in 2009. The conferences agreed to a four-year deal, extending the challenge through 2012.[4] The challenge was not extended beyond its original term and ended after 2012.[5] However, it was announced on April 2, 2015 that the conferences would renew the series in 2015.[6] Since the Mountain West now has 11 members to the MVC's 10, all Missouri Valley members were competing in the renewed series, with one MW team sitting out.

The MW–MVC Challenge occurred from late November through December. The games are hosted by each of the schools. The first two series had nine games played each year, leaving one team from the 10-team MVC without an opponent. In 2011, only eight games were played, leaving two MVC teams without an opponent. With changes to the conference schools, each Challenge since the renewal of the series in 2015 featured 10 games.

The MW leads the series with three wins, one loss, and two ties. New Mexico and Wichita State had the best records at 5–1 each. However, Wichita State will not participate in any future Challenges since the school joined the American Athletic Conference on July 1, 2017.[7]

Team records

[edit]

Mountain West Conference (3–1–2)

[edit]
Institution Wins Losses
Air Force Falcons 2 4
Boise State Broncos 4 1
BYU Cougars* 2 0
Colorado State Rams 3 3
Fresno State Bulldogs 1 2
Nevada Wolf Pack 2 1
New Mexico Lobos 5 1
San Diego State Aztecs 6 2
San Jose State Spartans 0 0
TCU Horned Frogs* 1 2
UNLV Runnin' Rebels 4 2
Utah Utes* 1 1
Utah State Aggies 1 1
Wyoming Cowboys 4 2
Overall 36 23

*School that has since left the MW.

Missouri Valley Conference (1–3–2)

[edit]
Institution Wins Losses
Bradley Braves 0 5
Creighton Bluejays* 1 3
Drake Bulldogs 2 4
Evansville Purple Aces 2 3
Illinois State Redbirds 2 3
Indiana State Sycamores 5 3
Loyola Chicago Ramblers 1 1
Missouri State Bears 2 4
Northern Iowa Panthers 3 3
Southern Illinois Salukis 2 3
Valparaiso Crusaders 2 0
Wichita State Shockers* 5 1
Overall 22 33

*School that has since left the MVC.

Results

[edit]

2009

[edit]
Date MVC team MW team Score Location Challenge
leader
Nov 13 Bradley BYU 70–60 Provo, UT MW (1–0)
Nov 20 Indiana State Colorado State 65–60 Terre Haute, IN Tie (1–1)
Nov 21 Southern Illinois UNLV 78–69 Las Vegas, NV MW (2–1)
Dec 5 Missouri State Air Force 58–48 Springfield, MO Tie (2–2)
Dec 12 Wichita State TCU 80–68 Wichita, KS MVC (3–2)
Dec 19 Creighton New Mexico 66–61 Albuquerque, NM Tie (3–3)
Dec 19 Illinois State Utah 73–63 Salt Lake City, UT MVC (4–3)
Dec 22 Drake San Diego State 76–73 OT Des Moines, IA Tie (4–4)
Dec 23 Northern Iowa Wyoming 72–54 Cedar Falls, IA MVC (5–4)
Bold Team denotes winner
  • Evansville did not participate in the 2009 Challenge.

2010

[edit]
Date MVC team MW team Score Location Challenge
leader
Dec 1 Creighton BYU 77–65 Omaha, NE MW (1–0)
Dec 1 Drake Colorado State 78–67 Fort Collins, CO MW (2–0)
Dec 1 Southern Illinois New Mexico 74–59 Carbondale, IL MW (3–0)
Dec 1 Illinois State UNLV 51–82 Normal, IL MW (4–0)
Dec 4 Indiana State Wyoming 81–51 Laramie, WY MW (5–0)
Dec 4 Northern Iowa TCU 64–60 Fort Worth, TX MW (5–1)
Dec 4 Bradley Utah 68–60 Peoria, IL MW (6–1)
Dec 4 Wichita State San Diego State 83–69 San Diego, CA MW (7–1)
Dec 5 Evansville Air Force 57–56 Colorado Springs, CO MW (8–1)
Bold Team denotes winner
  • Missouri State did not participate in the 2010 Challenge.

2011

[edit]
Date MVC team MW team Score Location Challenge
leader
Nov 30 No. 22 Creighton San Diego State 85–83 San Diego, CA MVC (1–0)
Dec 3 Drake Air Force 62–60 Des Moines, IA MVC (2–0)
Dec 3 Indiana State Boise State 74–65 Boise, ID MVC (2–1)
Dec 3 Northern Iowa Colorado State 83–77 Cedar Falls, IA MVC (3–1)
Dec 3 Missouri State New Mexico 76–60 Albuquerque, NM MVC (3–2)
Dec 3 Evansville TCU 70–68 Evansville, IN Tied (3–3)
Dec 3 Bradley Wyoming 66–49 Laramie, WY MW (4–3)
Dec 4 Wichita State No. 20 UNLV 89–70 Wichita, KS Tied (4–4)
Bold Team denotes winner
  • The Mountain West Conference had two member schools leave the conference (BYU and Utah) and added Boise State prior to the 2011 Challenge, leaving the MW with eight member schools. Accordingly, only eight games were played.
  • Illinois State and Southern Illinois did not participate in the 2011 Challenge.

2012

[edit]
Date MVC team MW team Score Location Challenge
Leader
Nov 17 Missouri State No. 23 San Diego State 60–44 Springfield, MO MW (1–0)
Nov 28 No. 11 Creighton Boise State 83–70 Omaha, NE MW (2–0)
Nov 28 Southern Illinois Fresno State 57–54 Carbondale, IL MW (2–1)
Nov 30 Drake Nevada 76–66 Reno, NV Tied (2–2)
Dec 1 Evansville Colorado State 79–72 Fort Collins, CO MW (3–2)
Dec 1 Indiana State No. 25 New Mexico 77–68 OT Terre Haute, IN MW (4–2)
Dec 2 Wichita State Air Force 72–69 Colorado Springs, CO MW (4–3)
Dec 4 Illinois State Wyoming 81–67 Normal, IL MW (5–3)
Dec 19 Northern Iowa No. 21 UNLV 73–59 Las Vegas, NV MW (6–3)
Bold Team denotes winner
  • The Mountain West Conference had one member leave the conference (TCU) and added Nevada and Fresno State prior to the 2012 Challenge, returning the conference to nine member schools. Accordingly, nine games were played.
  • Bradley did not participate in the 2012 Challenge.

2015

[edit]
Date Time MVC team MW team Score Location Television Attendance Challenge
leader
Nov 13 6:00 pm Southern Illinois Air Force 77–75 SIU Arena • Carbondale, IL ESPN3 4,759 MVC (1–0)
8:00 pm Illinois State San Diego State 71–61 Viejas Arena • San Diego, CA ESPN3 12,414 Tie (1–1)
Nov 14 10:00 AM Northern Iowa Colorado State 84–78 McLeod Center • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN3 4,455 MW (2–1)
Nov 16 5:00 pm Indiana State Wyoming 70–55 Hulman Center • Terre Haute, IN ESPN3 3,601 Tie (2–2)
Nov 18 7:00 pm Loyola–Chicago New Mexico 75–51 The Pit • Albuquerque, NM Root Sports 11,951 MW(3–2)
Dec 1 6:00 pm Missouri State Utah State 69–68 JQH Arena • Springfield, MO ESPN3 3,694 MW (4–2)
Dec 9 6:00 pm Wichita State UNLV 56–50 Charles Koch Arena • Wichita, KS ESPN2 10,506 MW (4–3)
Dec 12 5:00 pm Drake Nevada 79–71 Lawlor Events Center • Reno, NV 5,541 MW (5–3)
Dec 20 12:00 pm Bradley Boise State 90–70 Taco Bell Arena • Boise, ID Root Sports 4,405 MW (6–3)
2:00 pm Evansville Fresno State 85–77 Save Mart Center • Fresno, CA 5,251 MW (6–4)
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in MST.
The Challenge was not held between the 2012 and 2015 seasons. During this time period, Creighton left the MVC for the Big East in 2013 and was replaced by Loyola–Chicago, keeping the MVC at 10 members. The MW also added San Jose State and Utah State in 2013, expanding to 11 members.
Accordingly, 10 games were played in the 2015 Challenge.
San Jose State did not participate in the 2015 Challenge.

2016

[edit]
Date Time MVC team MW team Score Location Television Attendance Challenge
leader
Dec 3 12:00 pm Evansville Boise State 72–67 Ford Center • Evansville, IN ESPN3 3,773 MVC 1–0
1:00 pm Northern Iowa Wyoming 81–73 Arena-Auditorium • Laramie, WY MWN 5,539 TIE 1–1
1:00 pm Drake Fresno State 78–76 OT Knapp Center • Des Moines, IA MC22 2,633 MW 2–1
2:00 pm Loyola–Chicago San Diego State 65–59 Joseph J. Gentile Arena • Chicago, IL ESPN3 2,189 TIE 2–2
3:00 pm Wichita State Colorado State 82–67 Moby Arena • Fort Collins, CO CBSSN 6,918 MVC 3–2
7:00 pm Indiana State Utah State 62–61 Smith Spectrum • Logan, UT 7,064 MVC 4–2
6:00 pm Bradley Nevada 91–69 Carver Arena • Peoria, IL CSN+ 5,384 MVC 4–3
6:00 pm Illinois State New Mexico 79–74 Redbird Arena • Normal, IL CSN Chicago+ 6,056 MVC 5–3
7:00 pm Missouri State Air Force 83–70 Clune Arena • Colorado Springs, CO 1,986 MVC 5–4
Dec. 19 8:00 pm Southern Illinois UNLV 68–61 Thomas & Mack Center • Paradise, NV 11,758 TIE 5–5
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in MST.
San Jose State did not participate in the 2016 Challenge.

2017

[edit]
Date Time MVC team MW team Score Location Television Attendance Challenge
leader
Nov 28 6:00 pm Valparaiso Utah State 72–65 Athletics–Recreation Center • Valparaiso, IN ESPN3 2,949 MVC 1–0
6:00 pm Missouri State Colorado State 77–67 JQH Arena • Springfield, MO ESPN3 4,895 MVC 2–0
7:00 pm Loyola–Chicago Boise State 87–53 Taco Bell Arena • Boise, ID 3,738 MVC 2–1
Nov 29 5:00 pm Indiana State Air Force 74–64 Hulman Center • Terre Haute, IN ESPN3 3,797 MVC 3–1
6:00 pm Northern Iowa UNLV 77–68OT McLeod Center • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN3 4,546 MVC 4–1
7:00 pm Evansville New Mexico 78–59 Dreamstyle Arena • Albuquerque, NM AT&T 8,943 MVC 4–2
8:00 pm Illinois State Nevada 98–68 Lawlor Events Center • Reno, NV Stadium 8,293 MVC 4–3
Dec 2 2:00 pm Southern Illinois San Jose State 76–58 SIU Arena • Carbondale, IL ESPN3 4,026 MVC 5–3
4:00 pm Drake Wyoming 96–89OT Arena-Auditorium • Laramie, WY 4,853 MVC 5–4
Dec 3 4:00 pm Bradley San Diego State 75–52 Viejas Arena • San Diego, CA Stadium 11,102 TIE 5–5
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in MST.
Fresno State did not participate in the 2017 Challenge.[8][9]
San Jose State participated in the Challenge for the first time.
After the 2016–17 season, Wichita State left the Missouri Valley Conference to join the American Athletic Conference. Valparaiso replaced Wichita State, keeping the MVC at 10 teams.[10]

2018

[edit]
Date Time MVC team MW team Score Location Television Attendance Challenge
leader
Nov 27 8:00 PM Loyola–Chicago No. 5 Nevada 79–65 Joseph J. Gentile Arena • Chicago, IL ESPNews 4,963 MW 1–0
6:00 PM Drake Boise State 83–74 Knapp Center • Des Moines, IA ESPN+ 2,543 Tied 1–1
7:00 PM Southern Illinois Colorado State 82–67 Moby Arena • Fort Collins, CO 2,566 MVC 2–1
Nov 28 5:00 PM Evansville Wyoming 86–78 Ford Center • Evansville, IN 4,709 MVC 3–1
7:00 PM Northern Iowa Utah State 52–71 Smith Spectrum • Logan, UT 5,134 MVC 3–2
7:15 PM Missouri State Air Force 69–88 Clune Arena • Colorado Springs, CO 1,629 Tied 3–3
8:00 PM Indiana State San Jose State 86–57 Event Center Arena • San Jose, CA 1,523 MVC 4–3
8:30 PM Valparaiso UNLV 72–64 Thomas & Mack Center • Paradise, NV ATTSN 7,587 MVC 5–3
Dec 1 1:00 PM Illinois State San Diego State 65–75 Redbird Arena • Normal, IL ESPN+/ESPN3 6,245 MVC 5–4
6:00 PM Bradley New Mexico 75–85 Carver Arena • Peoria, IL ESPN+/ESPN3 5,494 Tie 5–5
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD.
Game Times in MST.
Fresno State did not participate in the 2018 Challenge.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Valley and Mountain West Announce Challenge Series". MVC-Sports.com. October 28, 2008.
  2. ^ TN, Streamline Technologies - Nashville. "Valley and Mountain West Announce Challenge Series". ArchMadness.com. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  3. ^ BrendanJPrice (2018-12-05). "MVC-MW No More, Now What?". Mountain West Connection. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  4. ^ "Missouri Valley, MWC to start basketball series". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
  5. ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (May 16, 2012). "Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge won't showcase top teams". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  6. ^ "MVC and Mountain West Renew Challenge Series". MVC-Sports.com. April 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "Shockers make move: Wichita State leaving MVC for AAC". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  8. ^ "Breaking: Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge matchups announced". Mountain West Connection. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  9. ^ "Matchups Set For 2017 Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge". www.fanragsports.com. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  10. ^ "It's Official. Welcome, Valparaiso" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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