Stance on anthem takes NAIA basketball tournament from Missouri to South Dakota

The NAIA Division II men’s basketball tournament has found a new home after a national anthem disagreement took the event out of Point Lookout, Mo.

The 2018 and 2019 tournaments will be held in Sioux Falls, S.D.

College of the Ozarks, near Branson, had been the site of the tournament for the previous 18 seasons. But the event was pulled — and the school said it requested the move — when the NAIA wouldn’t agree to have participating schools pledge to stand for the national anthem.

College of the Ozarks wanted standing to be a requirement. The school had revised its contracts in competition in all sports to reflect its pledge to support the anthem. Athletes and coaches from both schools will stand for The Star-Spangled Banner.

The NAIA said it encourages everyone to stand for the anthem but stopped short of making it a requirement in announcing last month that its tournament was leaving the College of the Ozarks.

The Sioux Falls Sports Authority, Dakota State University and Northwestern College (Iowa) will serve as co-hosts for the tournament at the Sanford Pentagon, a 3,200-seat facility.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Stance on anthem takes NAIA basketball tournament from Missouri to South Dakota."