MIAA basketball tournaments open Thursday at Municipal Auditorium
March Madness arrives in Kansas City this week as the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association holds its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments at Municipal Auditorium.
The men’s quarterfinals start at noon Thursday with top-seeded and regular-season champion Northwest Missouri, led by MIAA freshman of the year Justin Pitts, taking on No. 8 seed Washburn. The winner moves on to the semifinals against either No. 4 seed Lindenwood or No. 5 seed Pittsburg State, who tip off at 2:15 p.m.
In the night session, defending NCAA Division II champion Central Missouri, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, faces No. 7 seed Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m., and No. 3 seed Missouri Southern plays No. 6 seed Nebraska-Kearney at 8:15 p.m.
The women’s quarterfinals are Friday, starting with top-seeded Fort Hays State playing at noon. The men’s and women’s semifinals are Saturday and both championship games are Sunday.
Tickets are available at the Municipal Auditorium box office or through Ticketmaster. An all-session pass costs $65 and is good for each men’s and women’s game. Single-session tickets, which include two games, either the day or night session Thursday, Friday and Saturday or both championship games Sunday, are $20 and $10.50 for students.
MIAA men’s tournament schedule
At Municipal Auditorium
Thursday’s quarterfinals
▪ (1) Northwest Missouri vs. (8) Washburn, noon
▪ (4) Lindenwood vs. (5) Pittsburg State, 2:15 p.m.
▪ (2) Central Missouri vs. (7) Central Oklahoma, 6 p.m.
▪ (3) Missouri Southern vs. (6) Nebraska-Kearney, 8:15 p.m.
Saturday’s semifinals
▪ Northwest Missouri-Washburn winner vs. Lindenwood-Pittsburg State winner, noon
▪ Central Missouri-Central Oklahoma winner vs. Missouri Southern-Nebraska-Kearney winner, 2:15 p.m.
Sunday’s championship
▪ Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
MIAA women’s tournament schedule
At Municipal Auditorium
Friday’s quarterfinals
▪ (1) Fort Hays State vs. (9) Northeastern State, noon
▪ (4) Missouri Southern vs. (5) Central Missouri, 2:15 p.m.
▪ (2) Emporia State vs. (7) Missouri Western, 6 p.m.
▪ (3) Pittsburg State vs. (6) Central Oklahoma, 8:15 p.m.
Saturday’s semifinals
▪ Fort Hays State-Northeastern State winner vs. Missouri Southern-Central Missouri winner, 6 p.m.
▪ Emporia State-Missouri Western winner vs. Pittsburg State-Central Oklahoma winner, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday’s championship
▪ Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.
This story was originally published March 4, 2015 at 3:21 PM with the headline "MIAA basketball tournaments open Thursday at Municipal Auditorium."