DES MOINES, IA – For the first time ever, Greater Des Moines will welcome ten teams for the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) DII Men’s Basketball Championship. The games, which run Wednesday, March 9 through Saturday, March 12, will be held at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny. The Des Moines Area Sports Commission, in partnership with the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce and Faith Baptist Bible College, submitted and secured the Championships for both 2016 and 2017.

“This is another great opportunity for sports lovers to see collegiate basketball in Greater Des Moines this March,” says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission. “Athletes competing for the NCCAA DII title can also participate in a skills competition and there’s also a charitable piece that makes this tournament unique.”

The skills competition will be held tonight, Tuesday, March 8 at 7:15 p.m. and feature three-point, dunk and hot shot contests. The following teams will compete for the NCCAA DII Men’s Basketball Championship title:  

  • Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (OK)
  • Manhattan Christian College (KS)
  • Grace Bible College (MI)
  • North Central University (MN)
  • Arlington Baptist College (TX)
  • University of Valley Forge (PA)
  • Pensacola Christian College (FL)
  • Johnson University (TN)
  • Central Christian College of the Bible (MO)
  • Faith Baptist Bible College (IA)

The tournament will partner with Kingdom Cares to provide socks, shoes and a meal for underprivileged children in Greater Des Moines. Each athlete will donate a pair of socks and each coaching staff will donate a pair of shoes. On Wednesday, March 9 tournament volunteers will prepare and serve a free meal at Kingdom Courts in Ankeny at 4 p.m. and then a free basketball clinic will be offered at 6 p.m. to children on Des Moines’ southeast side.

Tickets start at $10 per day for adults and can be purchased at the door. Games start at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9. A full schedule can be found at: fbbceagles.com/2016_NCCAA_Tournament/NCCAAtourneyschedule.

 

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, the parent organization of the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market the region as a visitor destination increasing economic growth and enhancing the visitor experience. The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission represent the following municipalities: Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Perry, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Polk County, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.