• DMACC will be seeded eighth in the tournament
• Bears will play ninth-seeded Pima Community College in first game
• DMACC captured the national title in 2021 and finished third in 2022

The DMACC men's basketball team has received an invitation to the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Men's Basketball Championship. The tournament will be held March 18 to 23 in Danville, Ill.

DMACC Men's Basketball Head Coach Blake Sandquist and his team received the news via the National Selection Show telecast by the NJCAA this afternoon.

"We're very proud to have an opportunity to keep playing," Sandquist said. "We're excited to get to Danville and see what this team can do."

DMACC's chances of qualifying for the tournament were seemingly gone after the Bears dropped a 76-62 decision to Ellsworth Community College (ECC) in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II Men's Basketball Championship March 3 at Creston. Traditionally, only the Region II champion advances to the national tournament but four at-large berths were available this year and DMACC was one of the recipients.

"When you don't win the (Region II) tournament you're always a wreck a little bit about getting in," Sandquist said. "But we knew our body of work was very impressive, which is a testament to our kids, our toughness and focus throughout the season, as well as to our tough our conference is and our strength of schedule."

DMACC, which closed the season at 28-4, was ranked fourth in the final Division II poll of the regular season and will be seeded eighth in the tournament. The Bears will open against ninth-seeded Pima Community College (PCC) March 19 at 1 p.m.

"We thought we'd be a little bit of a higher seed but you play the hand you are dealt," Sandquist said. "At the end of the day, you keep playing and have a chance to win a championship."

Sandquist said he gave his team a few days off following the loss to ECC before returning to practice. The Bears practiced a few days last week and will practice throughout the next week before leaving for Danville on March 16.

DMACC is making its fourth appearance in the tournament in the past five seasons. The Bears won the championship in 2021 and finished third in 2022.

For more information about the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, visit njcaa.org.