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The Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge was an in-season NCAA Division I men's college basketball series, pitting teams from the Mountain West Conference (MW) and the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The series began in November 2009 and featured all of the MW teams against most of the MVC teams. The series has not been extended since the conclusion of the 2018 offering.
The first challenge was held in 2009. The conferences agreed to a four-year deal, extending the challenge through 2012. The challenge was not extended beyond its initial term and ended after 2012. However, after a two-year hiatus, it was announced on April 2, 2015 that the conferences would renew the series in 2015 for another four years.
The MW–MVC Challenge occurred from mid-November through mid-December. The games were hosted by each of the institutions. Since its inception, one or more schools sat out each iteration due to unbalanced membership numbers. The first four series had at least one MVC squad without an opponent (including 2011 when two teams were not scheduled). Upon its resumption in 2015, it was the MW that had one team not participating.
The MW leads the eight season series with three wins, one loss, and four ties. Of the schools with more than two decisions, New Mexico (MW, .875) and Wichita State (MVC, .833) have the best percentages for their respective conferences.
Institution Records
Missouri Valley Conference
- (1-3-4)
| Institution | Wins | Losses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso Crusaders | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Wichita State Shockers * | 5 | 1 | .833 |
| Indiana State Sycamores | 5 | 3 | .625 |
| Southern Illinois Salukis | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | 4 | 4 | .500 |
| Evansville Purple Aces | 4 | 4 | .500 |
| Drake Bulldogs | 3 | 5 | .375 |
| Illinois State Redbirds | 2 | 5 | .286 |
| Missouri State Bears | 2 | 5 | .286 |
| Loyola–Chicago Ramblers | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Creighton Bluejays * | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Bradley Braves | 0 | 7 | .000 |
| Overall | 32 | 43 | .427 |
* Institution that is no longer a member of the MVC.
Mountain West Conference
- (3-1-4)
| Institution | Wins | Losses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young Cougars * | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| New Mexico Lobos | 7 | 1 | .875 |
| Nevada Wolf Pack | 4 | 1 | .800 |
| San Diego State Aztecs | 6 | 2 | .750 |
| Boise State Broncos | 4 | 2 | .667 |
| Wyoming Cowboys | 5 | 3 | .625 |
| Utah Utes * | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Utah State Aggies | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Nevada–Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels | 4 | 4 | .500 |
| Colorado State Rams | 3 | 5 | .375 |
| Air Force Falcons | 3 | 5 | .375 |
| Fresno State Bulldogs | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Texas Christian Horned Frogs * | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| San Jose State Spartans | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| Overall | 43 | 32 | .573 |
* Institution that is no longer a member of the MW.
Challenges
2009
- The Missouri Valley Conference had ten members schools and the Mountain West Conference had nine member schools; accordingly, only nine match-ups were scheduled.
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2009 7:30 PM, The Mtn. |
Bradley | at Brigham Young | 60–70 | MW (1–0) | Marriott Center (16,276) Provo, UT |
| November 20, 2009 5:05 PM |
at Indiana State | Colorado State | 65–60 | Tie (1–1) | Hulman Center (4,308) Terre Haute, IN |
| November 21, 2009 7:05 PM |
Southern Illinois | at Nevada–Las Vegas | 69–78 | MW (2–1) | Thomas & Mack Center (11,651) Paradise, NV |
| December 5, 2009 7:00 PM |
at Missouri State | Air Force | 58–48 | Tie (2–2) | JQH Arena (7,524) Springfield, MO |
| December 12, 2009 6:05 PM |
at Wichita State | Texas Christian | 80–68 | MVC (3–2) | Charles Koch Arena (10,506) Wichita, KS |
| December 19, 2009 4:00 PM, The Mtn. |
Illinois State | at Utah | 73–63 | MVC (4–2) | Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,403) Salt Lake City, UT |
| December 19, 2009 7:05 PM, The Mtn. |
Creighton | at No. 19 New Mexico | 61–66 | MVC (4–3) | The Pit (14,333) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 22, 2009 7:05 PM, Metro Sports |
at Drake | San Diego State | 73–76 | Tie (4–4) | The Knapp Center (4,012) Des Moines, IA |
| December 23, 2009 6:07 PM, CFU 15/ KWWL |
at Northern Iowa | Wyoming | 72–54 | MVC (5–4) | McLeod Center (3,102) Cedar Falls, IA |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- Evansville did not participate in the 2009 Challenge.
2010
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2010 6:00 PM, The Mtn. |
Drake | at Colorado State | 67–78 | MW (1–0) | Moby Arena (2,215) Fort Collins, CO |
| December 1, 2010 6:05 PM, KMTV |
at Creighton | No. 21 Brigham Young | 65–77 | MW (2–0) | CenturyLink Center Omaha (15,532) Omaha, NE |
| December 1, 2010 6:05 PM |
at Illinois State | No. 23 Nevada–Las Vegas | 51–82 | MW (3–0) | Redbird Arena (6,485) Normal, IL |
| December 1, 2010 6:05 PM |
at Southern Illinois | New Mexico | 59–74 | MW (4–0) | SIU Arena (4,531) Carbondale, IL |
| December 4, 2010 12:00 PM, The Mtn. |
Northern Iowa | at Texas Christian | 64–60 | MW (4–1) | Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (4,022) Fort Worth, TX |
| December 4, 2010 5:00 PM, The Mtn. |
Indiana State | at Wyoming | 51–81 | MW (5–1) | Arena-Auditorium (7,008) Laramie, WY |
| December 4, 2010 6:05 PM, WTVP |
at Bradley | Utah | 60–68 | MW (6–1) | Carver Arena (9,076) Peoria, IL |
| December 4, 2010 8:05 PM, The Mtn. |
Wichita State | at San Diego State | 69–83 | MW (7–1) | Viejas Arena (12,414) San Diego, CA |
| December 5, 2010 1:05 PM, The Mtn. |
Evansville | at Air Force | 56–57 | MW (8–1) | Clune Arena (1,148) Colorado Springs, CO |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- Missouri State did not participate in the 2010 Challenge.
2011
- The Mountain West Conference had two member schools (Brigham Young, Utah) depart the conference and one school (Boise State) arrive prior to the 2011 Challenge, leaving the MW with eight member schools; accordingly, only eight match-ups were scheduled.
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 30, 2011 8:30 PM, The Mtn. |
No. 22 Creighton | at San Diego State | 85–83 | MVC (1–0) | Viejas Arena (12,414) San Diego, CA |
| December 3, 2011 12:30 PM |
at Northern Iowa | Colorado State | 83–77 | MVC (2–0) | McLeod Center (4,015) Cedar Falls, IA |
| December 3, 2011 6:05 PM, Mediacom |
at Drake | Air Force | 62–60 | MVC (3–0) | The Knapp Center (3,583) Des Moines, IA |
| December 3, 2011 6:05 PM |
at Evansville | Texas Christian | 68–70 | MVC (3–1) | Ford Center (5,198) Evansville, IN |
| December 3, 2011 8:00 PM |
Indiana State | at Boise State | 65–74 | MVC (3–2) | Taco Bell Arena (5,342) Boise, ID |
| December 3, 2011 8:00 PM |
Bradley | at Wyoming | 49–66 | Tied (3–3) | Arena-Auditorium (4,643) Laramie, WY |
| December 3, 2011 8:00 PM, The Mtn. |
Missouri State | at New Mexico | 60–76 | MW (4–3) | The Pit (14,077) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 4, 2011 2:05 PM, Cox Kansas 22/ Cox Las Vegas 96 |
at Wichita State | No. 20 Nevada–Las Vegas | 89–70 | Tied (4–4) | Charles Koch Arena (10,466) Wichita, KS |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- Illinois State and Southern Illinois did not participate in the 2011 Challenge.
2012
- The Mountain West Conference had one member school (Texas Christian) depart the conference and two schools (Fresno State and Nevada) arrive prior to the 2012 Challenge, returning the conference to nine member schools; accordingly, nine match-ups were scheduled.
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 17, 2012 12:00 PM |
at Missouri State | No. 23 San Diego State | 44–60 | MW (1–0) | JQH Arena (7,272) Springfield, MO |
| November 28, 2012 6:05 PM, Cox Nebraska 78 |
at No. 11 Creighton | Boise State | 70–83 | MW (2–0) | CenturyLink Center Omaha (16,364) Omaha, NE |
| November 28, 2012 6:05 PM |
at Southern Illinois | Fresno State | 57–54 | MW (2–1) | SIU Arena (5,409) Carbondale, IL |
| November 30, 2012 8:00 PM |
Drake | at Nevada | 76–66 | Tied (2–2) | Lawlor Events Center (6,649) Reno, NV |
| December 1, 2012 12:05 PM, WTWO |
at Indiana State | No. 25 New Mexico | 68–77 | MW (3–2) | Hulman Center (6,080) Terre Haute, IN |
| December 1, 2012 2:30 PM |
Evansville | at Colorado State | 72–79 | MW (4–2) | Moby Arena (3,970) Fort Collins, CO |
| December 2, 2012 3:00 PM, Cox Kansas 22 |
Wichita State | at Air Force | 72–69 | MW (4–3) | Clune Arena (1,793) Colorado Springs, CO |
| December 4, 2012 7:05 PM |
at Illinois State | Wyoming | 67–81 | MW (5–3) | Redbird Arena (6,561) Normal, IL |
| December 19, 2012 8:00 PM, TWSN |
Northern Iowa | at No. 21 Nevada–Las Vegas | 59–73 | MW (6–3) | Thomas & Mack Center (14,484) Paradise, NV |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- Bradley did not participate in the 2012 Challenge.
2015
- The Challenge was not held as part of the 2013–14 or 2014–15 seasons. During this time period, the Missouri Valley Conference had one member school (Creighton) depart the conference and one school (Loyola–Chicago) arrive, maintaining the conference at ten member schools; the Mountain West Conference had two schools (San Jose State, Utah State) arrive, expanding the conference to eleven members. Accordingly, ten match-ups were scheduled.
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2015 6:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Southern Illinois | Air Force | 77–75 | MVC (1–0) | SIU Arena (4,759) Carbondale, IL |
| November 13, 2015 8:00 PM, ESPN3 |
Illinois State | at San Diego State | 61–71 | Tied (1–1) | Viejas Arena (12,414) San Diego, CA |
| November 14, 2015 10:00 AM, CSN Chicago |
at Northern Iowa | Colorado State | 78–84 | MW (2–1) | McLeod Center (4,455) Cedar Falls, IA |
| November 16, 2015 5:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Indiana State | Wyoming | 70–55 | Tied (2–2) | Hulman Center (3,601) Terre Haute, IN |
| November 18, 2015 7:00 PM, Root Sports |
Loyola–Chicago | at New Mexico | 51–75 | MW (3–2) | WisePies Arena (11,951) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 1, 2015 6:00 PM, KOZL |
at Missouri State | Utah State | 68–69 | MW (4–2) | JQH Arena (3,694) Springfield, MO |
| December 9, 2015 7:00 PM, ESPN2 |
at Wichita State | Nevada–Las Vegas | 56–50 | MW (4–3) | Charles Koch Arena (10,506) Wichita, KS |
| December 12, 2015 5:00 PM |
Drake | at Nevada | 71–79 | MW (5–3) | Lawlor Events Center (5,541) Reno, NV |
| December 20, 2015 12:00 PM, Root Sports |
Bradley | at Boise State | 70–90 | MW (6–3) | Taco Bell Arena (4,405) Boise, ID |
| December 20, 2015 2:00 PM |
Evansville | at Fresno State | 85–77 | MW (6–4) | Save Mart Center (5,251) Fresno, CA |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- San Jose State did not participate in the 2015 Challenge.
2016
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 3, 2016 12:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Evansville | Boise State | 72–67 | MVC (1–0) | Ford Center (3,773) Evansville, IN |
| December 3, 2016 1:00 PM, MC22 |
at Drake | Fresno State | 76–78 | Tied (1–1) | The Knapp Center (2,633) Des Moines, IA |
| December 3, 2016 2:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Loyola–Chicago | San Diego State | 65–59 | MVC (2–1) | Joseph J. Gentile Arena (2,189) Chicago, IL |
| December 3, 2016 3:00 PM, CBSSN |
Wichita State | at Colorado State | 82–67 | MVC (3–1) | Moby Arena (6,918) Fort Collins, CO |
| December 3, 2016 4:00 PM, MWN |
Northern Iowa | at Wyoming | 73–81 | MVC (3–2) | Arena-Auditorium (5,539) Laramie, WY |
| December 3, 2016 6:00 PM, CSN Chicago |
at Bradley | Nevada | 69–91 | Tied (3–3) | Carver Arena (5,384) Peoria, IL |
| December 3, 2016 6:00 PM, CSN Chicago Plus |
at Illinois State | New Mexico | 79–74 | MVC (4–3) | Redbird Arena (6,056) Normal, IL |
| December 3, 2016 7:00 PM |
Missouri State | at Air Force | 70–83 | Tied (4–4) | Clune Arena (1,986) Colorado Springs, CO |
| December 3, 2016 7:00 PM |
Indiana State | at Utah State | 62–61 | MVC (5–4) | Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (7,064) Logan, UT |
| December 19, 2016 8:00 PM |
Southern Illinois | at Nevada–Las Vegas | 61–68 | Tied (5–5) | Thomas & Mack Center (11,758) Paradise, NV |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- San Jose State did not participate in the 2016 Challenge.
2017
- The Missouri Valley Conference had one member school (Wichita State) depart the conference and one school (Valparaiso) arrive prior to the 2017 Challenge, maintaining the conference at ten member schools; accordingly, ten match-ups were scheduled.
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 28, 2017 6:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Missouri State | Colorado State | 77–67 | MVC (1–0) | JQH Arena (4,895) Springfield, MO |
| November 28, 2017 6:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Valparaiso | Utah State | 72–65 | MVC (2–0) | Athletics–Recreation Center (2,949) Valparaiso, IN |
| November 28, 2017 7:00 PM |
Loyola–Chicago | at Boise State | 53–87 | MVC (2–1) | Taco Bell Arena (3,738) Boise, ID |
| November 29, 2017 5:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Indiana State | Air Force | 74–64 | MVC (3–1) | Hulman Center (3,797) Terre Haute, IN |
| November 29, 2017 6:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Northern Iowa | Nevada–Las Vegas | 77–68 | MVC (4–1) | McLeod Center (4,546) Cedar Falls, IA |
| November 29, 2017 7:00 PM, AT&T RM |
Evansville | at New Mexico | 59–78 | MVC (4–2) | Dreamstyle Arena (8,943) Albuquerque, NM |
| November 29, 2017 8:00 PM, Stadium |
Illinois State | at Nevada | 68–98 | MVC (4–3) | Lawlor Events Center (8,293) Reno, NV |
| December 2, 2017 2:00 PM, ESPN3 |
at Southern Illinois | San Jose State | 76–58 | MVC (5–3) | SIU Arena (4,026) Carbondale, IL |
| December 2, 2017 4:00 PM |
Drake | at Wyoming | 89–96 | MVC (5–4) | Arena-Auditorium (4,853) Laramie, WY |
| December 3, 2017 4:00 PM, Stadium |
Bradley | at San Diego State | 52–75 | Tied (5–5) | Viejas Arena (11,102) San Diego, CA |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- Fresno State did not participate in the 2017 Challenge.
2018
| Date Time, Television |
MVC Opponent |
MW Opponent |
Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 27, 2018 6:00 PM, MC22 |
at Drake | Boise State | 83–74 | MVC (1–0) | The Knapp Center (2,543) Des Moines, IA |
| November 27, 2018 6:00 PM, ESPNews |
at Loyola–Chicago | No. 5 Nevada | 65–79 | Tied (1–1) | Joseph J. Gentile Arena (4,963) Chicago, IL |
| November 27, 2018 7:00 PM |
Southern Illinois | at Colorado State | 82–67 | MVC (2–1) | Moby Arena (2,566) Fort Collins, CO |
| November 28, 2018 5:00 PM, ESPN+ |
at Evansville | Wyoming | 86–78 | MVC (3–1) | Ford Center (4,709) Evansville, IN |
| November 28, 2018 7:00 PM |
Northern Iowa | at Utah State | 52–71 | MVC (3–2) | Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (5,134) Logan, UT |
| November 28, 2018 7:15 PM |
Missouri State | at Air Force | 69–88 | Tied (3–3) | Clune Arena (1,629) Colorado Springs, CO |
| November 28, 2018 8:00 PM |
Indiana State | at San Jose State | 86–57 | MVC (4–3) | Event Center Arena (1,523) San Jose, CA |
| November 28, 2018 8:30 PM, AT&T RM |
Valparaiso | at Nevada–Las Vegas | 72–64 | MVC (5–3) | Thomas & Mack Center (7,587) Paradise, NV |
| December 1, 2018 1:00 PM, ESPN+ |
at Illinois State | San Diego State | 65–75 | MVC (5–4) | Redbird Arena (6,245) Normal, IL |
| December 1, 2018 6:00 PM, ESPN+ |
at Bradley | New Mexico | 75–85 | Tied (5–5) | Carver Arena (5,494) Peoria, IL |
| Winner denoted in bold. (Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). | |||||
- Fresno State did not participate in the 2018 Challenge.
References
- "Valley and Mountain West Announce Challenge Series". MVC-Sports.com. October 28, 2008.
- TN, Streamline Technologies - Nashville. "Valley and Mountain West Announce Challenge Series". ArchMadness.com. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- BrendanJPrice (2018-12-05). "MVC-MW No More, Now What?". Mountain West Connection. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
- "Missouri Valley, MWC to start basketball series". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
- Eisenberg, Jeff (May 16, 2012). "Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge won't showcase top teams". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- "MVC and Mountain West Renew Challenge Series". MVC-Sports.com. April 2, 2015.
- "Creighton Announces Conference Change, Jays to Join Big East". www.GoCreighton.com. 2013-03-20.
- "Missouri Valley Conference Adds Loyola University Chicago". www.MVC-Sports.com. 2013-04-19.
- "Mountain West Chronology". www.TheMW.com. 2012-05-04.
- "Wichita State to Become Member of American Athletic Conference". www.TheAmerican.org. 2017-04-07.
- "It's Official. Welcome, Valparaiso". www.MVC-Sports.com. 2017-05-25.
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