Tip off the college hoops season in downtown St. Joseph as the D2CCA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tip Off Classic takes over Civic Arena from Friday, October 31 through Sunday, November 2. Twelve NCAA Division II programs compete across 12 games, four per day, with local favorites Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State in both the men’s and women’s fields. The men’s bracket features Minnesota State, Pittsburg State, West Texas A&M, and Missouri St. Louis. The women’s slate includes defending national champion Grand Valley State, Lubbock Christian, West Texas A&M, and Adams State. It is also the Griffons head coaching debut for Brooks McKowen on the men’s side and Luke Scheidecker on the women’s side. Expect high energy, real matchups, and zero preseason fluff. Ticket info will be released in early fall, with presale online and walk up available on game days at the Civic Arena box office.