BILLINGS, Mont. – As has become custom for Alterowitz Gym, the eyes of the Division II college basketball world will look once more towards Billings, as Montana State University Billings plays host to the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead from November 7-9.
 
The tournament will feature six men's and six women's teams, combining to create a 12-team, 18 game event that will take place in Alterowitz Gym on the campus of MSUB. Each gameday will open with three men's games, followed shortly by the three women's games on the schedule. Nine unique schools will make up the schools competing, with teams representing seven different states and four different conferences.
 
A full look at tournament information, including game schedules, tickets, live stats, and live video can be found on the Tipoff Classic Tournament Homepage.
 
Men's Teams
 
Angelo State University Rams
Location: Angelo, Texas
Conference: Lone Star Conference
Head Coach: Vinay Patel (4^th season)
2024-25 Record: 17-12 (13-9 LSC)
 
Head coach Vinay Patel and the Rams will be looking to continue their successful run of seasons after another trip to the Lone Star Conference Tournament last season, and were picked sixth in the LSC Preseason Coaches Poll. Just a year removed from qualifying for the South Central Regional in three consecutive seasons, the 2022-23 LSC Co-Coach of the Year sees many of the faces from last season's squad depart, returning just two faces from last season's team: Chace Fields and Darius Brady.
 
But Patel brings a new squad full of potential into the 2025-26 season, welcoming 13 new faces to the team. The Rams welcome five Division I transfers to the team. Four of those DI products are guards, including Kailon Nicholls, who averaged 5.4 points per game in the previous season at Northern Illinois, Jesaiah McWright, who played 88 career games and averaged 2.8 points a game at Tulsa, Quadir Pettaway, who averaged 3.5 points and 1.2 this past season at Presbyterian, and Jordan Crawford, a Louisiana Tech transfer who was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team after averaging 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds, becoming one of 19 freshman to record 95 assist and 35 steals. At forward, Jaqai Murray joins after a season at North Carolina Central, where he averaged six points and 4.5 rebounds game. He'll be accompanied by DII standout Ja'Queze Kirby, who joins the Rams following a three-year career at Augusta where he scored 1,113 career points, and helped the team qualify for the Elite Eight in 2022, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team. With a number of other experienced DII and JUCO transfers on roster, the Rams will look to channel that experience into success in the 2025-26 season.
 
University of Central Missouri Mules
Location: Warrenburg, Missouri
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Adam Bohac (3^rd season)
2024-25 Record: 15-15 (9-10 MIAA)
 
After leading the Mules to a .500 record and a conference tournament win in his second season with the program, Adam Bohac will look to continue to keep improving Central Missouri as he heads into year three with the Mules. The team was voted to finish seventh in the MIAA Preseason Polls, and the Mules will hope to outperform that prediction, led by last season's second leading scorer Kyran Tilley, who will look to build upon his 9.9 points per game and 36.2% three-point mark from 2024-25. Also returning is Jake Fritz, a sophomore guard who saw action in 27 games for the Mules in the last season, making five starts and averaging 4.5 points a game.
 
They'll be joined by a trio of junior DI transfers in Naz Brown, a transfer from Coastal Carolina who appeared in 30 games last season,  Jevon Hill, who played in 47 games and made four starts for South Dakota, and AJ Lux, who in two seasons at Bellarmine averaged 12.8 minutes a game and shot 34% from beyond the arc as a sophomore. Deshawne Crim enters from DII St. Thomas Aquinas, where he appeared in 62 games in two seasons and posted double-digit scoring 17 times, as well as Judah Sault, who makes his way to Central Missouri after leading Belmont Abbey in assists last season. That core will look to keep positive momentum rolling for the Mules, who have improved their record each season under Bohac.
 
Colorado School of Mines Orediggers
Location: Golden, Colorado
Conference: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Pryor Orser (25^th season)
2024-25 Record: 29-5 (18-2 LSC)
 
A former Yellowjacket star and member of the MSUB Hall of Fame and Distinction, head coach Pryor Orser has developed Colorado School of Mines into one of the region's most programs since beginning with the Orediggers, and will look to put together another successful year with last season's RMAC Champions. Following a 29-5 overall record and trip to the Sweet Sixteen, the Orediggers see many of the top options from last season move on, but remaining in the fold is junior Markus Pastorcic-Straun, who averaged 11.0 points last season and was named All-RMAC Second Team. Joining him is All-RMAC Honorable Mention Alex Romack, the team's leading rebounder with 5.0 a contest last season who also averaged 9.1 points a game.
 
The two will lead a group that also returns Janathan Moore, who saw action in 32 games and made 18 starts for Mines last season, along with other players who saw extended time in Caleb Clark, Dom Girish, Silas McCurin, and Derek Lamb. The Orediggers will also look to see second year players like Will Cordonnier, Matija Jordovic, and Braydon Jacob take a step forward. Also joining the fray this year as newcomers are Jackson Brennan, an All-Orange Empire Conference First Teamer at Santa Ana College who averaged 13.7 points per game. With a familiar group that added impact transfers, expectations are high for Order's squad, which was voted #10 in the NABC Preseason Top 25, and picked to finish second in the RMAC Coaches Poll.
 
Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets
Location: Billings, Montana
Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Luke Fennelly (3^rd season)
2024-25 Record: 21-12 (11-7 GNAC)
 
With three consecutive 20-win seasons, two of which coming under coach Luke Fennelly, the Yellowjackets will look to continue one of the program's most successful and consistent stretches in program history with another quality season in 2025-26. Picked third in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll, gone are many of the faces from the past few season's successes, but returning for Fennelly's squad are Pedro Ellery, a key piece off the bench in last season's rotation before injury halted a season in which he averaged 4.2 points and shot 42.1% from three, and hometown product Cooper Tyson, who played in 20 games for the Yellowjackets as a freshman. Alongside them, redshirts from last season and Billings natives in Gabe Hatler and Rhyse Owens will look to add skill and depth to the roster.
 
But the cupboard is hardly bare for the Yellowjackets, who added key transfers to replenish the team in every position. A pair of in-conference transfers in Mason Landdeck, last season's GNAC Tournament MVP who averaged 12.1 points per game and Jonas La Tour, who scored 10.1 points per contest, will look to convert the success they had with last season's GNAC Champions Seattle Pacific over to the Yellowjackets. Alongside them, MSUB gets a number of experienced DII transfers in Jakob Milling, who averaged 10.3 points a game with 5.9 rebounds at Sonoma State, Miles Gurske, who averaged 10.5 a contest on quality shooting numbers at Cameron, and Ty Cox, a junior guard from Regis University. Adding size to the roster is Ty's brother Croix Cox, who averaged a double-double at Grayson College, Brandon Tchouya, who scored 12 points a game at Central Methodist University, and Cam Malray, who spent last season at DI Cal Poly.
 
University of Nebraska Kearney Lopers
Location: Kearney, Nebraska
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Marty Levinson (2^nd season)
2024-25 Record: 12-16 (10-9 MIAA)
 
After an impressive second half rally saw Nebraska Kearney rally to earn the fifth seed in the MIAA Tournament under Marty Levinson, the Lopers will look to build on that late season success in year two under Levinson. The Lopers return three starters from last season's lineup, including point guard Ja'Bryant Hill, who led the team in minutes, assists, and steals while averaging 16.0 points per game, and forwards Taylor Harrell, who scored 8.3 a game with 5.9 rebounds, and Kendrick Gilbert, who averaged 7.7 with 4.6 boards. Alongside them, Clayton Moore, River Johnson, and last season's blocks leader DJ Jamerson give Nebraska Kearney a quality returning rotation heading into the season.
 
That group will be supplemented by forward Anthony Brown and Tom Connelly, both players coming off of medical redshirts. The Lopers also add three promising JUCO players to the rotation in Maal Jal, who averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds at Central Community College where he helped the team play for the Region IX title in 2023-24, Bryson Faines, who averaged 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and a block last season at Northeast Community College, and Phil March from Trinity Valley Community College. With an experienced core from last season, along with a new mix of players, Levinson will hope to continue to continue the improvement the Lopers showed last season into 2025-26, with the team selected to finish sixth in the MIAA Preseason Poll.
 
New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys
Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Conference: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Zach Settembre (1^st season)
2024-25 Record: 12-16 (5-15 LSC)
 
Heading into his first season in charge of the New Mexico Highlands program, Zach Settembre oversees a team that looks entirely different to the one that finished 5-15 in conference play last season. Not only is Settembre in his first season, but the roster doesn't return any of it's production from last season. Despite being picked 11^th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll however, Settembre is optimistic about his new roster's ability to compete.
 
New Mexico Highlands features a number of transfers, including DI movers such as former New Mexico forward Ibrahima Sacko, Derek Eide from William Penn, Donte Walker from Northwestern State, and Trey Tate from Mississippi Valley State. Also following Settembre from his previous role as assistant coach of Tarleton State is guard Tim Ferguson. They'll be joined by a gaggle of additional transfers such as Johannes Kirsipuu from Pittsburg State, and Ramiah Adedigba from Cal Poly Humboldt, along with five rostered freshmen getting a taste of their first college basketball experience.
 
Women's Teams
 
Colorado School of Mines Orediggers
Location: Golden, Colorado
Conference: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Brittany Simpson (13^th season)
2024-25 Record: 12-16 (10-10 LSC)
 
Going into year 13 under coach Brittany Simpson, Colorado School of Mines will look to build upon it's performance last season, which saw the Orediggers miss out on postseason play. Mines will have a solid base to build on, with both of it's top scorers returning from last season. Jenna Shandy returns after averaging 19.5 points per game last season, along with leading the team in assists and steals. Behind her is Emma Sixta, who scored 10.5 a game alongside her. The Orediggers will also return Jade Leon, who scored 4.8 points per game and played in 27 games last season, and Isa Hensley, who played around 9.6 minutes a game last season. Also rejoining the squad is Quincy Baum, who averaged 16.5 minutes a contest in 2023-24 for the Orediggers before redshirting last season.
 
Joining the squad for this season is Liv Loveland, a local Colorado player who began her collegiate carer last season at SIU Edwardsville, where she saw time in six games. In addition, DII transfers like Madison Gage, who played two seasons at Chaminade, and Emily Thomas, who swaps South Dakota Mines for Colorado School of Mines, give the Orediggers more experienced role players to fill out the roation. Also joining as a transfer is Sofia Baldessari, who averaged 8.5 points and 6.4 rebounds at DIII College of Saint Bennedict in Minnesota. With the team tapped to finish fifth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll, expectations and potential remain high for a quality Mines program ahead of the 2025-26 season.
 
Colorado State University Pueblo Thunderwolves
Location: Pueblo, Colorado
Conference: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Tommie Johnson (6^th season)
2024-25 Record: 18-11, 13-7 RMAC
 
Following a trip to the RMAC Tournament last season, CSU Pueblo was selected seventh in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Under head coach Tommie Johnson, the team will take on a new look from last season, with most of it's returning production graduating. Genesis Sweetwine remains after averaging 4.6 points a game and playing in 29 contests for Pueblo. After playing in 20 games the previous season, Brooklyn Meza is back for the Thunderwolves, while Destiny Smith will return after playing in 15 games last season.
 
New faces for the Thunderwolves include DI transfers in Seneya Martinez, who averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game last season at Appalachian State, and Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck, who averaged 2.5 points a game at Idaho State. Latai Charles, will join after averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 30 games at Murray State College, as will Anyla Owens, who scored 4.9 points and grabbed 5.8 rebounds per game last season at Otero Junior College. Joined by Malorie Byrne, who makes her way over from Chadron State, Wynter Jones who averaged 7.0 points a game at Blinn College, and Billings local Dasani Nesbit, who averaged 11.9 points and 10.1 rebounds over two seasons at Gillette College, the Thunderwolves will hope their new faces help the team improve in the 2025-26 season.
 
University of Mary Marauders
Location: Bismarck, North Dakota
Conference: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Head Coach: Rick Neumann (14^th season)
2024-25 Record: 16-12 (12-10 NSIC)
 
After a 6^th place finish and trip to the NSIC Championships in the 2024-25 season, longtime coach Rick Neumann and the Marauders will run it back this season with many of the pieces from last season's team. Voted to finish 6^th overall in the NSIC, and second in the conference's North Division, Mary comes into the season returning last season's leading scorer Bergan Kinnebrew, who earned All-NSIC First Team honors after scoring 15.5 points per game last season. Alongside her remains Chloe Pfau, who scored 8.8 points per game, and Emily Jaenke, who chipped in 7.3 points on average off the bench. Add in returning starting guard Eden Fridley, along with rising rotation options Anna Lenzen, Allison Undlin, and Cassie Erickson, the Marauders return a quality core from last season's roster.
 
New to the team are a number of freshmen looking to break out in their first seasons, many adding height to a towering Marauder's squad. 6-3 Tory Jennison and 6-2 Senna Mooijekind add to a deep forward group, while guards like Grace Richardson and Chloe Netzinger providing additional options for the Marauders.
 
Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets
Location: Billings, Montana
Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Kevin Woodin (22^nd season)
2024-25 Record: 25-8, 14-4 GNAC
 
A 25-8 record last season saw MSUB make the GNAC Championships, and qualify for it's third consecutive West Regional. But the Yellowjackets head into the regular season with a young roster, with Kevin Woodin welcoming eight newcomers to a team featuring just one senior. Despite that, MSUB carries with it a lot of promise heading into the 2025-26 season, with the Yellowjackets picked fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches poll. Back in the lineup is lone returning starter Kaitlin Grossman, who averaged 6.6 points and 5.5 boards last season. Alongside her, Layla Baumann will look to ascend into the starting lineup after playing in 32 games last season, averaging 7.0 points and shooting 36.6% from three-point range. And gaining experience as freshmen last season, players like Indie Browning, Camryn Koester, Alli Logocki, and redshirt Brooklynn Brennan will look to build upon their first years in the program.
 
Joining the Yellowjackets are a group of talented newcomers this season. NJCAA All-American Allison Kunze enters after scoring 12.7 points per contest and leading the NJCAA in shooting percentage with a 65.2% clip. Kyla Momberg joins after starting at Montana Western, while talented Billings natives like Tailey Harris and Rae Smart, alongside 6-2 Washington forward Cassie Chesnut headline a promising and talented crop of freshmen. Despite facing a great deal of change, coach Woodin and the 'Jackets look poised to continue MSUB's impressive run of success in the 2025-26 season.
 
University of Nebraska Kearney Lopers
Location: Kearney, Nebraska
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Drew Johnson (3^rd season)
2024-25 Record: 20-9, 13-6 MIAA
 
After a 20-win season and trip to the MIAA Tournament, Nebraska Kearney continues to be a consistent and quality program under head coach Drew Johnson. Picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, the Lopers are led by returning leading scorer Jillian Aschoff, who averaged 12.0 points per game last season for Kearney to go with 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Alongside her is forward Bailee Sobczak, who in 29 games off the bench last season scored 9.3 points per game and 5.6 rebounds. Also back is returning starter Brinly Christensen, who averaged 6.6 points for the Lopers, and bench depth in the form of guard Saniya Simmons and forward Jordan Sears.
 
In addition to a number of incoming freshmen, three transfers will also add to a talented Loper roster. Paige Horne drops down from DI University of Nebraska Omaha to be a sophomore, while Tara Biocanin comes in from Oral Roberts after two years with the program. In addition to them, in-conference transfer Malgorzata Byczkowska makes her way to the program from Missouri Western, after previously spending time at DI Tarleton State. With a deep group of returners and some talented newcomers, Nebraska Kearney will look to take another leap forward in the 2025-26 season.
 
University of Texas at Tyler Patriots
Location: Tyler, Texas
Conference: Lone Star Conference
Head Coach: Rebecca Alvidrez (5^th season)
2024-25 Record: 24-5 (20-2 LSC)
 
One of the perennial programs in DII women's basketball, UT Tyler comes off an impressive campaign which saw the program finish 24-5 overall, finishing third in the Lone Star and qualifying for their third straight South Central Region Tournament. The Patriots will look to continue that success under coach Rebecca Alvidrez, and retain many of the core pieces from last season's squad. All-LSC Polina Latysheva is back in the fold, after averaging 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and shooting 41% from the field and 35% from three last season. Alongside her return Mariah Neal, who had 34 steals and shot 43% last season, Mileina Sablinskaite who played in all 30 games last season shooting over 40$ with 3.8 rebounds, and KK Bass who averaged 10 minutes a game off the bench.
 
Joining them are a number of talented newcomers. Lilli Hakkarainen looks to make an impact after transferring in from New Mexico with DI and international experience, while JUCO transfer Nikolina Vukcevic is a capable scorer joining from Eastern Wyoming Community College. And a freshman class full of international flair including players like Jorja Hart from Canada, Leila Davis, Hayley Cumming, and Georgia Tomkins from Australia, and Edit Merivirta from Finland give the Patriots a lot of promise to live up to their preseason billing, which saw them picked third in the LSC Preseason Poll, and 20^th in the WBCA Top 25.