NJCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship


The National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Division III Basketball Championships consists of eight teams playing over a three-day period in March to determine a National Champion. The tournament field is made up of teams that win either region or district championships that are required to earn entry into the tournament.

How The Tournament Works

The Tournament is a standard eight-team tournament. Each team will play three games in the Tournament to determine first through eighth places.
One qualifier will emerge from each of the following districts
District 1Region III
District 2Regions IV & VII
District 3Regions II & V
District 4Region XIII
District 5Region XV
District 6Region XIX
District 7Regions X, XVII & XX
District 8Region XXI

Before teams begin to qualify for the tournament, a Blind Draw is done to determine the match-ups between the different districts in the Quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
Game 1: Blind Draw vs. Blind Draw
Game 2: Blind Draw vs. Blind Draw
Game 3: Blind Draw vs. Blind Draw
Game 4: Blind Draw vs. Blind Draw

The Semi-Finals of the Tournament consist of the Winners of Game 1 and Game 2 of the Quarterfinals playing each other followed by the Winners of Game 3 and Game 4 of the Quarterfinals.
The Consolation Games consist of the Losers of Games 1 and 2 of the Quarters playing each other followed by the Losers of Games 3 and 4 of the Quarters playing each other.
Consolation Games & Semi-Finals
Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
Game 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
Game 7: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4

On the final day of the Tournament, teams play each other to find out which place they will finish.
Three teams ranging from 2nd place to 4th place are guaranteed to finish 2-1, with the National Title game loser finishing in 2nd.
Teams finishing from 5th place to 7th place will finish 1-2.
Only one team will finish 0-3 and that team will place in 8th.
The only team that finishes the tournament 3-0 will be the National Champion.
Championship Round
7th/8th Place Game: Loser of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6
4th/6th Place Game: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6
3rd/5th Place Game: Loser of Game 7 vs. Loser of Game 8
National Championship Game: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

Tournament Hosts

Sullivan County Community College
Rochester Community and Technical College

Past Tournament Results

The list of NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship winners, along with runners-up and final scores, follows.
YearWinnerRunner UpScore
2017North Lake CollegeElgin Community College66-56
2016Rock Valley CollegeRochester Community and Technical College88-75
2015Richland CollegeRock Valley College67-64
2014Rock Valley CollegeCaldwell Community College & Technical Institute79-69
2013Brookdale Community CollegeEastfield College61-55
2012Sandhills Community CollegeCedar Valley College101-86
2011Mountain View CollegeRochester Community and Technical College72-64
2010Joliet Junior CollegeRochester Community and Technical College94-82
2009Richland CollegeMinneapolis Community and Technical College58-57
2008North Lake CollegeJoliet Junior College73-70
2007Sullivan County Community CollegeNorthland Community and Technical College74-68
2006North Lake CollegeGloucester County College78-65
2005Hostos Community CollegeJoliet Junior College73-71
2004Suffolk County Community CollegeEastfield College83-81
2003Suffolk County Community CollegeCollege of DuPage61-56
2002College of DuPageSullivan County Community College73-58
2001Cedar Valley CollegeSullivan County Community College78-55
2000Roxbury Community CollegeCollege of DuPage103-79
1999Richland CollegeVermilion Community College80-76
1998Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeMonroe College94-85
1997Eastfield CollegeJefferson Community College79-75
1996Sullivan County Community CollegeGloucester County College74-63
1995Sullivan County Community CollegeCorning Community College93-80
1994Gloucester County CollegeSullivan County Community College71-69
1993Onondaga Community CollegeMinneapolis Community and Technical College84-78
1992Sullivan County Community CollegeEastfield College101-76
1991Herkimer County Community CollegeCommunity College of Rhode Island108-105

Championship Leaders