![NIACC set to host regional tournament](/sports/mbkb/2021-22/tourney_bracket_2022.png)
NIACC set to host regional tournament
MASON CITY - The post-season for NJCAA Division II men's basketball starts Friday in the NIACC gym.
NIACC is the host site for the NJCAA Region XI men's basketball tournament, which starts at 7 p.m. Friday with eighth-seed Iowa Central facing ninth-seed Northeast CC in the play-in game.
Four games first-round games will take place Saturday and the semifinals are set for Sunday. The championship game is set for March 3 at the site of the highest remaining seed.
Kirkwood (21-7) earned the top seed for the regional tournament. The 13th-ranked Eagles face the Iowa Central/Northeast CC winner at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
NIACC (19-11) earned the fifth-seed and faces fourth-seed Iowa Western (21-8) in its opening-round contest at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Admission for the tournament is $10 per day. Students with a current ID will be admitted for free.
NJCAA Region XI changed its tournament format for men's basketball in the 2021-22 season where the majority of the tournament, except for the championship game, will be held at one site. The 2022-23 tournament will be hosted by Iowa Lakes.
Friday's play-in game
7 p.m. - (8) Iowa Central (13-17) vs. (9) Northeast CC (5-22)
Saturday's first-round games
1 p.m. - (2) DMACC (22-7) vs. (7) Ellsworth (15-15)
3 p.m. - (3) Iowa Lakes (20-9) vs. (6) Southwestern (13-16)
5 p.m. - (1) Kirkwood (21-7) vs. Iowa Central/Northeast CC winner
7 p.m. - (4) Iowa Western (21-8) vs. (5) NIACC (19-11)
Sunday's semifinal games
5 p.m. - 2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner
7 p.m. - 1/8/9 winner vs. 4/5 winner
Thursday, March 3 title game
7:30 p.m. - At site of highest remaining seed
Future men's basketball regional tournament sites
2022-23 - Iowa Lakes
2023-24 - Southwestern
2024-25 - Ellsworth
2025-26 - Iowa Central
2026-27 - Kirkwood
2027-28 - DMACC