The So Cal Challenge is an eight-team college basketball tournament held during Monday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week of the NCAA Division I men's basketball season, with the inaugural tournament taking place in 2021. Following games held at campus sites, teams are placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division and compete for the tournament title in their division. Semifinal and final games are held at The Pavilion at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano, California.[1] Each of the games played on campus in the days leading up to the main event involves one team from each division. The event is hosted by the Big West Conference.[1]

Brackets

2022

The 2022 tournament featured two Southern California teams: Cal State Northridge from the host Big West Conference and California Baptist, as well as Minnesota from the Big Ten Conference. On-campus games were hosted by the team listed second below. Following the on-campus games, teams were placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division without regard to the outcome of those games. Division semifinal winners met in the finals.

On-campus games

Game recaps: [2][3][4][5]

Sand Division

Game recaps: [6][7][8][9]

Semifinals
November 21 (FloHoops) 		Championship
November 23 (FloHoops)
    
Cal State Northridge 73
Tennessee State 74
Tennessee State 72
High Point 77
High Point 68
Central Michigan 67 Third Place (FloHoops)
Cal State Northridge 66
Central Michigan 82

Surf Division

Game recaps: [10][11][12][13]

Semifinals
November 21 (CBSSN) 		Championship
November 23 (CBSSN)
    
California Baptist 61
Minnesota 62*
Minnesota 62
UNLV 71
Southern Illinois 49
UNLV 56 Third Place (CBSSN)
California Baptist 61
Southern Illinois 64*

* – Denotes overtime period

2021

The inaugural tournament featured Cal Poly from the host Big West Conference, three other schools located in California and TCU from the Big 12 Conference. On-campus games were hosted by the team listed second below.[1] Following the on-campus games, teams were placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division without regard to the outcome of those games. Division semifinal winners met in the finals.

A women's beach volleyball event was held two weekends before the men's basketball tournament began.

On-campus games

Game recaps: [14][15][16][17]

* – Denotes overtime period

Sand Division

Game recaps: [18][19][20][21]

Semifinals
November 22 (FloHoops) 		Championship
November 24 (FloHoops)
    
Cal Poly 72
Nicholls 75*
Nicholls 63
Utah Valley 74
Utah Valley 83
Idaho 45 Third Place (FloHoops)
Cal Poly 67
Idaho 63

* – Denotes overtime period

Surf Division

Game recaps: [22][23][24][25]

Semifinals
November 22 (CBSSN) 		Championship
November 24 (CBSSN)
    
TCU 66
Santa Clara 85
Santa Clara 52
Fresno State 59
Fresno State 70
Pepperdine 63 Third Place (CBSSN)
TCU 73
Pepperdine 64

References

  1. ^ a b c "Southern California's Premier NCAA Division 1 Sports Challenge". Southern California Challenge. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Cal Baptist Downs Cal St. Northridge 62–55". ABC News. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Domask Scores 18, Southern Illinois Downs Tennessee St 57–44". The Associated Press. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "Dawson Leads Minnesota over Central Michigan 68–60". The Associated Press. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Harkless Propels UNLV to 78–68 Victory over High Point". The Associated Press. November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Fitzgerald Scores 17, Tennessee St Knocks off CSU Northridge". The Associated Press. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "House Scores 26, High Point Downs Central Michigan 68–67". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Randleman's 18 Lead High Point past Tennessee State 77–72". The Associated Press. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Zarzuela Puts up 21 as Central Michigan Wins 82–66". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Garcia Lifts Minnesota past Cal Baptist in OT, 62–61". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "UNLV Tops Southern Illinois 56–49, Improves to 5–0". KSNV. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "UNLV Moves to 6–0, Beats Minnesota 71–62 in SoCal Challenge". The Associated Press. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Southern Illinois 64, California Baptist 61, OT". Observer-Reporter. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "Aimaq Lifts Utah Valley over Pepperdine 86-74 in OT". ESPN. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Robinson Scores 27 to Carry Fresno State over Idaho 69-62". ESPN. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Miles Jr. Scores 16 to Carry TCU over Nicholls St. 63-50". ESPN. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Williams Scores 26 to Lift Santa Clara over Cal Poly 87-57". ESPN. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Gordon Carries Nicholls State past Cal Poly 75-72 in OT". ESPN. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Aimaq Carries Utah Valley past Idaho 83-45". ESPN. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Utah Valley's Quick Strike Downs Nicholls 74-63". ESPN. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Colvin Scores 28 to Lift Cal Poly past Idaho 67-63". ESPN. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Williams Scores 22, Santa Clara Scorches TCU 85-66". ESPN. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Robinson, Hill Lead Fresno State past Pepperdine 70-63". ESPN. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Fresno St. Takes Down Santa Clara 59-52 for 5-0 Start". ESPN. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  25. ^ "TCU Tops Pepperdine 73-64, Win No. 100 for Dixon". ESPN. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

External links