SoCal Challenge

The SoCal 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]

SoCal Challenge

Sport	College Basketball
Founded	2021
No. of teams	8 plus one additional team playing in the Showcase
Country	United States
Venue(s)	The Pavilion at JSerra
Most recent champion(s)	Tarleton State (Sand Division, first title) Bradley (Surf Division, first title)
TV partner(s)	CBSSN, FloHoops
Official website	SoCal Challenge

Brackets

2023

The 2023 tournament featured one Southern California team: Cal State Bakersfield from the host Big West Conference as well as California from the Pac-12 Conference.^[2] 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. Following the tournament, the SoCal Showcase matched California and San Diego State.

On-campus games

Game recaps: ^[3][4][5][6]

On-Campus Game November 13 (P12N) Cal State Bakersfield 63 California 83

On-Campus Game November 14 (ESPN+) Tarleton State 63 Bradley 86

On-Campus Game November 17 (ESPN+) Austin Peay 63 UTEP 71

On-Campus Game November 17 (ESPN+) Sacramento State 57 Tulane 92

Sand Division

Game recaps: ^{[7][8][9][10]}

	Semifinals November 20 (FloHoops)				Championship November 22 (FloHoops)
	Cal State Bakersfield	75
	Sacramento State	71
					Cal State Bakersfield	40
					Tarleton State	59
	Austin Peay	59
	Tarleton State	66			Third Place
					Sacramento State	71
					Austin Peay	74

KiAndre Gaddy of Tarleton State was named most valuable player for the Sand Division.^[11]

Surf Division

Game recaps: ^{[12][13][14][15]}

	Semifinals November 20 (CBSSN)				Championship November 22 (CBSSN)
	California	72
	UTEP	75
					UTEP	59
					Bradley	63
	Bradley	80
	Tulane	77			Third Place (CBSSN)
					California	81
					Tulane	84

Malevy Leons of Bradley was named most valuable player for the Surf Division.^[16]

Showcase

Game recap: ^[17]

	Showcase November 25 (MWN)
	California	67
	San Diego State	76*

* – Denotes overtime period

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.^[18] 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.

A four-game boys' high school basketball showcase event was held at the tournament site two days before the main tournament began.^[18]

On-campus games

Game recaps: ^{[19][20][21][22]}

On-Campus Game November 15 (ESPN+) Cal State Northridge 55 California Baptist 62

On-Campus Game November 17 (ESPN+) Tennessee State 44 Southern Illinois 57

On-Campus Game November 17 (BTN) Central Michigan 60 Minnesota 68

On-Campus Game November 18 (MWN) High Point 68 UNLV 78

Sand Division

Game recaps: ^{[23][24][25][26]}

	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

Jaden House of High Point was named most valuable player for the Sand Division.^[27][28]

Surf Division

Game recaps: ^{[29][30][31][32]}

	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

Keshon Gilbert of UNLV was named most valuable player for the Surf Division.^[28]

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: ^{[33][34][35][36]}

On-Campus Game November 15 Utah Valley 86* Pepperdine 74

On-Campus Game November 15 Idaho 62 Fresno State 69

On-Campus Game November 18 (ESPN+) Nicholls 50 TCU 63

On-Campus Game November 19 Cal Poly 57 Santa Clara 87

* – Denotes overtime period

Sand Division

Game recaps: ^{[37][38][39][40]}

	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

Fardaws Aimaq of Utah Valley was named most valuable player for the Sand Division.^[41]

Surf Division

Game recaps: ^{[42][43][44][45]}

	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

Orlando Robinson of Fresno State was named most valuable player for the Surf Division.^[46]

References

1. "Southern California's Premier NCAA Division 1 Sports Challenge". Southern California Challenge. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
2. "Buckets & Beaches". Southern California Challenge. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
3. "Cone, Tyson Propel California past Cal State Bakersfield 83–63". The Associated Press. November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
4. "Bradley Earns 86–63 Victory against Tarleton State". CBS Sports. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
5. "Hardy Helps UTEP Secure 71–63 Victory over Austin Peay". The Associated Press. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
6. "James' 21 Lead Tulane past Sacramento State 92–57". CBS Sports. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
7. "Panopio's 13 Lead CSU Bakersfield over Sacramento State 75–71". The Associated Press. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
8. "Tarleton State Wins 66–59 against Austin Peay". The Associated Press. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
9. "Smith Scores 17, Tarleton State Beats CSU Bakersfield 59–40". The Associated Press. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
10. "Sharp Scores 33 As Austin Peay Downs Sacramento State 74–71". The Associated Press. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
11. "Tarleton State Takes Home SoCal Challenge Sand Division Championship against Cal State Bakersfield". Tarleton State University Athletics. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
12. "Hardy 3-Pointer Lifts UTEP over Cal 75–72 at SoCal Challenge". The Associated Press. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
13. "Leons Scores 18 to Lead Bradley over Tulane 80–77 at SoCal Challenge". The Associated Press. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
14. "Unbeaten Bradley Defeats UTEP 63–59 to Win SoCal Challenge Surf Division". The Associated Press. November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
15. "Cross Scores 27 Points, Leads Tulane Comeback to Beat Cal 84–81 at SoCal Classic". The Associated Press. November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
16. Diggle, Ben (November 22, 2023). "How Bradley Basketball Rode the Wave, Won the SoCal Challenge and Came Home Undefeated". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
17. "Ledee, Waters Deliver in OT, San Diego State Tops California 76–67". The Associated Press. November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
18. Cavanaugh, Zach (November 16, 2022). "SoCal Challenge Brings College Basketball Back to JSerra Next Week, High School Tip-Off Saturday". The Capistrano Dispatch. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
19. "Cal Baptist Downs Cal St. Northridge 62–55". ABC News. November 16, 2022. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
20. "Domask Scores 18, Southern Illinois Downs Tennessee St 57–44". The Associated Press. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
21. "Dawson Leads Minnesota over Central Michigan 68–60". The Associated Press. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
22. "Harkless Propels UNLV to 78–68 Victory over High Point". The Associated Press. November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
23. "Fitzgerald Scores 17, Tennessee St Knocks off CSU Northridge". The Associated Press. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
24. "House Scores 26, High Point Downs Central Michigan 68–67". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
25. "Randleman's 18 Lead High Point past Tennessee State 77–72". The Associated Press. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
26. "Zarzuela Puts up 21 as Central Michigan Wins 82–66". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
27. Snipes, Kadie (November 24, 2022). "SoCal Challenge Sand Division Champs!". High Point Panthers. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
28. @SoCal_Challenge (30 November 2022). "Announcement: Presenting Our 2022 #SoCalChallenge All-Tournament Teams!" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 November 2023 – via Twitter.
29. "Garcia Lifts Minnesota past Cal Baptist in OT, 62–61". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
30. "UNLV Tops Southern Illinois 56–49, Improves to 5–0". KSNV. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
31. "UNLV Moves to 6–0, Beats Minnesota 71–62 in SoCal Challenge". The Associated Press. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
32. "Southern Illinois 64, California Baptist 61, OT". Observer-Reporter. November 24, 2022. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
33. "Aimaq Lifts Utah Valley over Pepperdine 86-74 in OT". ESPN. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
34. "Robinson Scores 27 to Carry Fresno State over Idaho 69-62". ESPN. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
35. "Miles Jr. Scores 16 to Carry TCU over Nicholls St. 63-50". ESPN. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
36. "Williams Scores 26 to Lift Santa Clara over Cal Poly 87-57". ESPN. November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
37. "Gordon Carries Nicholls State past Cal Poly 75-72 in OT". ESPN. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
38. "Aimaq Carries Utah Valley past Idaho 83-45". ESPN. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
39. "Utah Valley's Quick Strike Downs Nicholls 74-63". ESPN. November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
40. "Colvin Scores 28 to Lift Cal Poly past Idaho 67-63". ESPN. November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
41. @SoCal_Challenge (November 24, 2021). "The Sand Championship Trophy is Heading to Its New Home in Utah!" (Tweet). Retrieved September 28, 2023 – via Twitter.
42. "Williams Scores 22, Santa Clara Scorches TCU 85-66". ESPN. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
43. "Robinson, Hill Lead Fresno State past Pepperdine 70-63". ESPN. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
44. "Fresno St. Takes Down Santa Clara 59-52 for 5-0 Start". ESPN. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
45. "TCU Tops Pepperdine 73-64, Win No. 100 for Dixon". ESPN. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
46. @SoCal_Challenge (November 25, 2021). "You're looking at the first ever SoCal Challenge Surf Division Champions: Fresno State Bulldogs!" (Tweet). Retrieved September 28, 2023 – via Twitter.

External links

• SoCal Challenge