Cancún Challenge

The Cancun Challenge (Spanish: Desafío Cancún) is a college basketball tournament organized by Triple Crown Sports which currently features eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams and ten women's basketball teams. The formats of the men's and women's tournaments have varied from year to year. The men's tournament currently splits the eight teams into two divisions of four and consists of games played in the United States at participants' campus sites followed by a bracketed tournament played in (or near) Cancún, Mexico. The women's tournament splits the ten teams into one division of six and one division of four and each features round-robin play in Cancún with no bracket, and therefore no champion. The two divisions in each tournament are the Riviera Division and the Mayan Division.

Cancun Challenge
Cancun Challenge Logo
Tournament information
SportCollege Basketball
LocationUnited States (campus sites)
Mexico (Riviera Maya)
Month playedNovember
Established2005 (Women's)
2008 (Men's)
FormatMTE
Teams10 (Women's)
8 (Men's)
Current champion
James Madison (Men's Riviera Division)
Radford (Men's Mayan Division)

The Mexico portion of the event has been held at multiple venues in and around Cancún. The inaugural 2005 tournament was relocated from the Moon Palace Resort to the Aventura Spa Palace Resort in Playa del Carmen shortly before it was scheduled to occur due to damage sustained at the original location from Hurricane Wilma.[1] The tournament was held at one of these two sites each year up until 2014, when it would be moved to the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, where it has been held since. CBS Sports Network televises the men's Riviera Division games. All Mexico games in the men's Mayan Division along with all women's games are streamed on FloHoops.

Previous men's champions include Vanderbilt (2008), Kentucky (2009), Missouri (2010), Illinois (2011), Wichita State (2012), Wisconsin (2013), Northern Iowa (2014), Maryland (2015), Purdue (2016), LA Tech (2017), Bradley (2018), West Virginia (2019), Clemson (2020), Saint Louis (2021) and Auburn (2022). Previous women's participating teams include marquee programs such as Arizona State, Baylor, Duke, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Maryland, Oklahoma, Purdue, Seton Hall, Stanford, UCLA, and Washington, among others.

Brackets

* – Denotes overtime period

2023

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Consolation
November 22
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Semifinals
November 21
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship
November 22
CBS Sports Network
22James Madison82
Southern Illinois76
Southern Illinois8122James Madison95
New Mexico State54Fresno State64
Fresno State81*
New Mexico State76
Mayan Division
Mayan Consolation
November 22
Flo Hoops
Mayan Semifinals
November 21
Flo Hoops
Mayan Championship
November 22
Flo Hoops
Morgan State72
Radford82
Morgan State83Radford79
Chicago State84Northern Colorado68
Chicago State77
Northern Colorado78

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
Creighton2–0
Georgia Tech1–1
James Madison1–1
Michigan State1–1
Montana State1–1
New Mexico0–2
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Maryland2–1
Washington State2–1
Green Bay1–2
UMass0–3

2022

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 22
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship
November 23
CBS Sports Network
      
 Bradley64
13Auburn85
13Auburn43
 Northwestern42
 Liberty52
 Northwestern66Riviera Consolation
November 23
CBS Sports Network
 Bradley44
 Liberty55
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 22
FloHoops
Mayan Championship
November 23
FloHoops
      
 Purdue Fort Wayne74
 Eastern Michigan67
 Purdue Fort Wayne58
 Southern Miss70
 Southern Miss77
 Winthrop52Mayan Consolation
November 23
FloHoops
 Eastern Michigan87
 Winthrop101

2021

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 23
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship
November 24
CBS Sports Network
      
 Stephen F. Austin79
 Buffalo78
 Stephen F. Austin68
 Saint Louis79
 Illinois State76
 Saint Louis82Riviera Consolation
November 24
CBS Sports Network
 Buffalo106
 Illinois State90
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 23
FloHoops
Mayan Championship
November 24
FloHoops
      
 Middle Tennessee60
 Rider54
 Middle Tennessee82
 Mercer58
 Bucknell68
 Mercer78Mayan Consolation
November 24
FloHoops
 Rider85
 Bucknell79

Women's

[2]All games streamed on FloHoops.com

Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Baylor2–0
Houston1–1
Arizona State1–2
Fordham1–2
Riviera Division
TeamRecord
UCF1–0
USC1-1
Seton Hall1–1
Toledo1–1
Idaho State0–2
Iowa0–0

2020 Space Coast Classic

Due to COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Cancún Challenge was not held, instead a 4 team tournament was branded as the Space Coast Challenge,[3] games were played at Titan Field House in Melbourne, FL.

Semifinals
November 24
CBS Sports Network
Championship
November 25
CBS Sports Network
      
 Clemson53
 Mississippi State42
 Clemson81
 Purdue70
 Liberty64
 Purdue77Consolation
November 25
CBS Sports Network
 Mississippi State73
 Liberty84

2019

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 26
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship
November 27
CBS Sports Network
      
 Wichita State70
 South Carolina47
 Wichita State63
 West Virginia74
 Northern Iowa55
 West Virginia60Riviera Consolation
November 27
CBS Sports Network
 South Carolina72
 Northern Iowa78
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 26
FloHoops
Mayan Championship
November 27
FloHoops
      
 UT Martin64
 Gardner–Webb81
 Gardner–Webb67
 Northern Colorado63
 Boston University55
 Northern Colorado78Mayan Consolation
November 27
FloHoops
 UT Martin76
 Boston University73

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
Creighton2–0
North Carolina2–0
New Mexico1–1
West Virginia1–1
Missouri0–2
Temple0–2
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Florida Gulf Coast3–0
South Dakota State2–1
Notre Dame1–2
South Florida0–3

2018

[4]

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 20
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship
November 21
CBS Sports Network
      
 Bradley75
 SMU62
 Bradley59
 Penn State56
 Wright State59
 Penn State77Riviera Consolation
November 21
CBS Sports Network
 SMU77
 Wright State76
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 20
Mayan Championship
November 21
      
 Western Carolina53
 Jacksonville State84
 Jacksonville State83
 North Florida78
 North Florida64
 Southern Miss48Mayan Consolation
November 21
 Western Carolina63
 Southern Miss68

Women's

Riviera Division

TeamRecord
NC State2–0
Georgia Tech2–0
Idaho State1–1
Michigan State1–1
Kennesaw State0–2
George Washington0–2

Mayan Division

TeamRecord
Syracuse3–0
DePaul2–1
Kansas State1–2
Princeton0–3

2017

[5]

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 21
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship game
November 22
CBS Sports Network
      
 George Mason64
 Louisiana Tech77
 Louisiana Tech63
 Evansville61
 Fresno State57
 Evansville59Riviera Consolation
November 22
CBS Sports Network
 George Mason75
 Fresno State79
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 21
Mayan Championship
November 22
      
 Binghamton64
 Montana State74
 Montana State88
 Southeast Missouri State82
 Cal State Northridge59
 Southeast Missouri State74Mayan Consolation
November 22
CBS Sports Network
 Binghamton70
 Cal State Northridge65

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
Tennessee3–0
Indiana State1–1
Marquette1–1
Oklahoma State1–1
South Dakota1–2
Montana0–2
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Mississippi State3–0
Green Bay2–1
Arizona State1–2
Columbia0–3

2016

[6]

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 22
CBSSN
Riviera Championship game
November 23
CBSSN
      
Auburn67
Texas Tech65
Auburn71
15Purdue96
Utah State64
15Purdue85Riviera Consolation
November 23
CBSSN
Texas Tech75
Utah State51
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 22
Mayan Championship
November 23
      
NJIT53
Georgia State74
Georgia State82
Eastern Kentucky65
Idaho State82
Eastern Kentucky91*Mayan Consolation
November 23
NJIT71
Idaho State67

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
UCLA2–0
Idaho State1–1
Iowa1–1
James Madison1–1
Toledo1–1
Davidson0–2
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Stanford3–0
Purdue2–1
Wichita State1–2
Northeastern0–3

2015

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 24
CBSSN
Riviera Championship game
November 25
CBSSN
      
Rhode Island66
TCU60
Rhode Island63
2Maryland86
Illinois State66
2Maryland77Riviera Consolation
November 25
CBSSN
TCU71
Illinois State60
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 24
Mayan Championship
November 25
      
Cleveland State57
Rider52
Cleveland State68
South Dakota State77
Houston Baptist68
South Dakota State92Mayan Consolation
November 27
Rider67
Houston Baptist56

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
Seton Hall2–0
Georgia Tech1–1
NC State1–1
Northern Iowa1–1
UAB1–1
High Point0–2
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Duke3–0
Idaho2–1
Iowa State1–2
Texas State0–3

2014

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 25
CBS Sports Network
Riviera Championship
November 26
CBS Sports Network
      
Virginia Tech54
Northern Iowa73
Northern Iowa61
Northwestern42
Miami (OH)46
Northwestern55Consolation
November 27
CBS Sports Network
Virginia Tech78
Miami (OH)63
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 25
Mayan Championship
November 26
      
Morgan State73
Elon74
Elon65
North Florida72
North Florida77
Liberty57Consolation
November 27
Morgan State51
Liberty50

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
Washington3–0
Florida State2–1
Furman1–2
Hartford0–3
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Princeton3–0
Wake Forest2–1
Montana1–2
Charlotte0–3

2013

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 26
Riviera Championship
November 27
      
West Virginia78
Old Dominion60
West Virginia63
Wisconsin70
Wisconsin63
Saint Louis57Consolation
November 27
Old Dominion52
Saint Louis62
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 26
Mayan Championship
November 27
      
Presbyterian45
Bowling Green67
Bowling Green56
Oral Roberts63
Oral Roberts67
Georgia Southern65Consolation
November 27
Presbyterian64
Georgia Southern78

Women's

Riviera Division
TeamRecord
Arizona State3–0
North Carolina2–1
Illinois1–2
Arkansas State0–3
Mayan Division
TeamRecord
Iowa3–0
USC2–1
Boston College1–2
UNC Wilmington0–3

2012

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 20
Riviera Championship
November 21
      
DePaul62
Wichita State75
Wichita State75
Iowa63
Iowa63
Western Kentucky55Consolation
November 21
DePaul61
Western Kentucky70
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 20
Mayan Championship
November 21
      
Austin Peay72
Western Carolina71
Austin Peay62
Gardner–Webb72
Howard43
Gardner–Webb55Consolation
November 21
Western Carolina69
Howard67

2011

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 22
Riviera Championship
November 23
      
Rutgers70
Illinois State76
Illinois State59
Illinois63
Richmond61
Illinois70Consolation
November 23
Rutgers53
Richmond58
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 22
Mayan Championship
November 23
      
SIU Edwardsville87
Lipscomb90
Lipscomb79
Sacred Heart77
Hampton71
Sacred Heart78Consolation
November 23
SIU Edwardsville64
Hampton68

2010

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 23
Riviera Championship
November 24
      
Wyoming62
Missouri72
Missouri83
La Salle71
La Salle84
Providence73Consolation
November 24
Wyoming77
Providence84

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals
November 23
Mayan Championship
November 24
      
Western Illinois53
Morgan State72
Morgan State52
North Florida59
Prairie View A&M66
North Florida84Consolation
November 24
Western Illinois69
Prairie View A&M63

2009

Men's

Riviera Division
Riviera Semifinals
November 24
Riviera Championship
November 25
      
Kentucky73
Cleveland State49
Kentucky73*
Stanford65
Stanford57
Virginia52Consolation
November 25
Cleveland State65
Virginia76
Mayan Division
Mayan Semifinals
November 24
Mayan Championship
November 25
      
Oral Roberts65
Sam Houston State71
Sam Houston State80
Rider68
Florida A&M73
Rider88Consolation
November 25
Oral Roberts72
Florida A&M51

2008

Men's

Riviera Division
Semifinals
November 29
Championship
November 30
      
Vanderbilt72
Drake57
Vanderbilt71
VCU66
VCU67
New Mexico57Consolation
November 30
Drake68
New Mexico62

References

External links