KANSAS CITY, MO. – The 87th annual NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship Final Site begins tomorrow afternoon at the historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. Just two weeks ago, 64 teams entered the national tournament field, but only 16 teams remain as they converge on one location with their sights set on one goal: to win four consecutive games in six days and be crowned national champions.
 
Follow along with all the action from inside Municipal Auditorium in a few different ways. You can watch live stats of all the games here, watch all 15 games for free on the NAIA Network or the Urban Edge Network, or you can come be part of the action and purchase a ticket to watch the action in person here. You can also follow all the action on the NAIA’s X/Twitter account @NAIA.
 
The 2024-25 NAIA Men's Basketball First & Second Round Schedule, presented by Ballogy, was held last weekend, Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15, at 16 sites around the nation, and there was no shortage of exciting games.
 
All but one team was able to punch its ticket to Municipal Auditorium without needing overtime. That one team needing extra time, Langston (Okla.). The Lions escaped with a four-point victory against Central Baptist in the Naismith Quadrant. Five teams are headed to Kansas City after their second-round upsets: Northwestern (Iowa), St. Mary-Woods (ind.), Southern Oregon, Keiser (Fla.), and Oklahoma Wesleyan.
 
Half of the teams at the final site were here just a year ago competing for a Red Banner with Grace (Ind.), Northwestern (Iowa), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Oklahoma Wesleyan, Langston (Okla.), Arizona Christian, College of Idaho, and Cumberlands (Ky.). The eight teams returning to Municipal for the second straight year also include all the 2024 Fab Four teams, Grace (Ind.), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (defending national champion), Langston (Okla.), and College of Idaho.
 
The four games a team needs to win here in Kansas City to claim the title of national champion are going to be tough. Besides the fact that a team has to go 4-0 over six days, the combined winning percentage of the remaining field is 83.4%, with a record of 432-86.
 
The Round of 16 schedule for Thursday, March 20, and Friday, March 21, are as follows:
 
Thursday, March 20
 
Cramer Quadrant
 
1 Arizona Christian vs 4 Cumberlands (Ky.), 1 p.m. CT
2 Grace (Ind.) vs 11 St. Mary-Woods (Ind.), 3 p.m. CT
 
Naismith Quadrant
 
1 College of Idaho vs 4 Langston (Okla.), 5 p.m. CT
2 Georgetown (Ky.) vs 6 Northwestern (Iowa), 7 p.m. CT
 
 
Friday, March 21
 
Duer Quadrant
 
1 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) vs 4 Life (Ga.), 1 p.m. CT
7 Keiser (Fla.) vs 11 Southern Oregon, 3 p.m. CT
 
Liston Quadrant
 
1 LSU Alexandria (La.) vs 4 Bethel (Ind.), 5 p.m. CT
3 Baker (Kan.) vs 7 Oklahoma Wesleyan, 7 p.m. CT
 
The schedule for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game are also set ahead of the 84th annual event tipping off.
 
Saturday, March 22
 
Quarterfinals
 
Naismith Quadrant 3 p.m. CT
Cramer Quadrant 1 p.m. CT
Duer Quadrant 5 p.m. CT
Liston Quadrant 7 p.m. CT
 
Monday, March 24
 
Semifinals
 
Naismith and Cramer Quadrant winners 5 p.m. CT
Duer and Liston Quadrant winners 7 p.m. CT
 
Tuesday, March 25
 
Championship 7 p.m. CT