The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the 64-team field and pairings for the 2024 NAIA Men’s and Women's Basketball National Championship. The tournament will begin with the First & Second Rounds, presented by Ballogy, on March 15 & 16 at host sites throughout the country. The 2024 NAIA second round winners will meet in either Kansas City, Missouri (men) or Sioux City, Iowa (women), at the NAIA National Championship final site. The men's and women's national championship runs from March 21-26.
The Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) had a total of 10 teams qualify for the men's and women's opening round. The GSAC was second in the NAIA behind the Great Plains Athletic Conference which had 11 members qualify for the opening round.
Men's Opening Round
#3 Arizona Christian - 76, #14 Saint Katherine - 74 - 6:00 PM (PDT) | Duer Quadrant - Glendale, AZ
#5 The Master's - 90, #12 Webber International - 77 - 4:30 PM (PDT) | Cramer Quadrant - Miami Gardens, FL
#6 Hope International - 77, #11 Lewis-Clark State - 93 - 4:00 PM (PDT) | Naismith Quadrant - Butte, MT
#9 OUAZ - 85 #8 Union - 88 (Overtime) - 4:00 PM (PDT) | Naismith Quadrant - Winona Lake, IN
#16 Jessup - 73, #1 College of Idaho - 104 - 6:00 PM (PDT) | Liston Quadrant - Caldwell, ID
The field consists of 36 automatic qualifiers – given to conference regular season champions, regular season runners-up, tournament champions, or tournament runners-up, depending on the league. The number of teams in each league determines the number of automatic bids in each conference. Leagues with 10 or more schools receive two automatic berths, while conferences with less than 10 institutions receive one. At-large teams were determined by the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Selection Committee. The NSC consists of one representative from each geographic area, a representative from the National Administrative Council, the past president of the NAIA-Men’s Basketball Coaches Association and four at-large members.
Women''s Opening Round
#2 Vanguard - 71, #15 Saint Mary - 64 - 10:00 AM (PDT) | Liston Quadrant - Wichita, KS
#5 The Master's - 53, #12 Jamestown - 59 - 7:30 PM (PDT) | Naismith Quadrant - Lewiston, ID
#5 Menlo College - 74, #12 Lindsey Wilson - 67 - 4:00 PM (PDT) | Duer Quadrant - Ashland, OR
#10 Arizona Christian - 64, #7 Reinhardt - 65 - 6:00 PM (PDT) | Naismith Quadrant - Great Falls, MT
#10 Jessup - 72, #7 Oregon Tech - 79 - 4:30 PM (PDT) | Cramer Quadrant - Helena, MT
This year’s first round field includes 37 automatic qualifiers and 27 at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title or regular season championship, finished runner-up at the conference tournament or were otherwise selected by the conference. The NAIA Women’s Basketball National Selection Committee determined the at-large bids. The selection committee consists of one representative from each geographical area and six at-large members consisting of coaches and administrators from around the country.