The Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge was an in-season NCAA Division I men's college basketball series, pitting teams from the Mountain West Conference (MW) and the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The series began in November 2009 and featured all of the MW teams against most of the MVC teams. The series has not been extended since the conclusion of the 2018 offering.
The first challenge was held in 2009. The conferences agreed to a four-year deal, extending the challenge through 2012. The challenge was not extended beyond its initial term and ended after 2012. However, after a two-year hiatus, it was announced on April 2, 2015 that the conferences would renew the series in 2015 for another four years.
The MW–MVC Challenge occurred from mid-November through mid-December. The games were hosted by each of the institutions. Since its inception, one or more schools sat out each iteration due to unbalanced membership numbers. The first four series had at least one MVC squad without an opponent (including 2011 when two teams were not scheduled). Upon its resumption in 2015, it was the MW that had one team not participating.
The MW leads the eight season series with three wins, one loss, and four ties. Of the schools with more than two decisions, New Mexico (MW, .875) and Wichita State (MVC, .833) have the best percentages for their respective conferences.
Institution Records
Missouri Valley Conference (1-3-4) Institution Wins Losses PercentageValparaiso Crusaders201.000Wichita State Shockers *51.833Indiana State Sycamores53.625Southern Illinois Salukis33.500Northern Iowa Panthers44.500Evansville Purple Aces44.500Drake Bulldogs35.375Illinois State Redbirds25.286Missouri State Bears25.286Loyola–Chicago Ramblers13.250Creighton Bluejays *13.250Bradley Braves07.000Overall3243.427 * Institution that is no longer a member of the MVC.
Mountain West Conference (3-1-4) Institution Wins Losses PercentageBrigham Young Cougars *201.000New Mexico Lobos71.875Nevada Wolf Pack41.800San Diego State Aztecs62.750Boise State Broncos42.667Wyoming Cowboys53.625Utah Utes *11.500Utah State Aggies22.500Nevada–Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels44.500Colorado State Rams35.375Air Force Falcons35.375Fresno State Bulldogs12.333Texas Christian Horned Frogs *12.333San Jose State Spartans02.000Overall4332.573 * Institution that is no longer a member of the MW.
Challenges
2009 The Missouri Valley Conference had ten members schools and the Mountain West Conference had nine member schools; accordingly, only nine match-ups were scheduled. DateTime, TelevisionMVCOpponentMWOpponentResultRecordSite (Attendance)City, StateNovember 13, 20097:30 PM, The Mtn.Bradleyat Brigham Young60–70MW (1–0)Marriott Center (16,276)Provo, UTNovember 20, 20095:05 PMat Indiana StateColorado State65–60Tie (1–1)Hulman Center (4,308)Terre Haute, INNovember 21, 20097:05 PMSouthern Illinoisat Nevada–Las Vegas69–78MW (2–1)Thomas & Mack Center (11,651)Paradise, NVDecember 5, 20097:00 PMat Missouri StateAir Force58–48Tie (2–2)JQH Arena (7,524)Springfield, MODecember 12, 20096:05 PMat Wichita StateTexas Christian80–68MVC (3–2)Charles Koch Arena (10,506)Wichita, KSDecember 19, 20094:00 PM, The Mtn.Illinois Stateat Utah73–63MVC (4–2)Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,403)Salt Lake City, UTDecember 19, 20097:05 PM, The Mtn.Creightonat No. 19 New Mexico61–66MVC (4–3)The Pit (14,333)Albuquerque, NMDecember 22, 20097:05 PM, Metro Sportsat DrakeSan Diego State73–76 OTTie (4–4)The Knapp Center (4,012)Des Moines, IADecember 23, 20096:07 PM, CFU 15/KWWLat Northern IowaWyoming72–54MVC (5–4)McLeod Center (3,102)Cedar Falls, IAWinner denoted in bold.(Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). Evansville did not participate in the 2009 Challenge.
2010 DateTime, TelevisionMVCOpponentMWOpponentResultRecordSite (Attendance)City, StateDecember 1, 20106:00 PM, The Mtn.Drakeat Colorado State67–78MW (1–0)Moby Arena (2,215)Fort Collins, CODecember 1, 20106:05 PM, KMTVat CreightonNo. 21 Brigham Young65–77MW (2–0)CenturyLink Center Omaha (15,532)Omaha, NEDecember 1, 20106:05 PMat Illinois StateNo. 23 Nevada–Las Vegas51–82MW (3–0)Redbird Arena (6,485)Normal, ILDecember 1, 20106:05 PMat Southern IllinoisNew Mexico59–74MW (4–0)SIU Arena (4,531)Carbondale, ILDecember 4, 201012:00 PM, The Mtn.Northern Iowaat Texas Christian64–60MW (4–1)Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (4,022)Fort Worth, TXDecember 4, 20105:00 PM, The Mtn.Indiana Stateat Wyoming51–81MW (5–1)Arena-Auditorium (7,008)Laramie, WYDecember 4, 20106:05 PM, WTVPat BradleyUtah60–68MW (6–1)Carver Arena (9,076)Peoria, ILDecember 4, 20108:05 PM, The Mtn.Wichita Stateat San Diego State69–83MW (7–1)Viejas Arena (12,414)San Diego, CADecember 5, 20101:05 PM, The Mtn.Evansvilleat Air Force56–57MW (8–1)Clune Arena (1,148)Colorado Springs, COWinner denoted in bold.(Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). Missouri State did not participate in the 2010 Challenge.
2011 The Mountain West Conference had two member schools (Brigham Young, Utah) depart the conference and one school (Boise State) arrive prior to the 2011 Challenge, leaving the MW with eight member schools; accordingly, only eight match-ups were scheduled. DateTime, TelevisionMVCOpponentMWOpponentResultRecordSite (Attendance)City, StateNovember 30, 20118:30 PM, The Mtn.No. 22 Creightonat San Diego State85–83MVC (1–0)Viejas Arena (12,414)San Diego, CADecember 3, 201112:30 PMat Northern IowaColorado State83–77MVC (2–0)McLeod Center (4,015)Cedar Falls, IADecember 3, 20116:05 PM, Mediacomat DrakeAir Force62–60MVC (3–0)The Knapp Center (3,583)Des Moines, IADecember 3, 20116:05 PMat EvansvilleTexas Christian68–70MVC (3–1)Ford Center (5,198)Evansville, INDecember 3, 20118:00 PMIndiana Stateat Boise State65–74MVC (3–2)Taco Bell Arena (5,342)Boise, IDDecember 3, 20118:00 PM, The Mtn.Missouri Stateat New Mexico60–76Tied (3–3)The Pit (14,077)Albuquerque, NMDecember 3, 20118:00 PMBradleyat Wyoming49–66MW (4–3)Arena-Auditorium (4,643)Laramie, WYDecember 4, 20112:05 PM, Cox Kansas 22/Cox Las Vegas 96at Wichita StateNo. 20 Nevada–Las Vegas89–70Tied (4–4)Charles Koch Arena (10,466)Wichita, KSWinner denoted in bold.(Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). Illinois State and Southern Illinois did not participate in the 2011 Challenge.
2012 The Mountain West Conference had one member school (Texas Christian) depart the conference and two schools (Fresno State and Nevada) arrive prior to the 2012 Challenge, returning the conference to nine member schools; accordingly, nine match-ups were scheduled. DateTime, TelevisionMVCOpponentMWOpponentResultRecordSite (Attendance)City, StateNovember 17, 201212:00 PMat Missouri State No. 23 San Diego State 44–60MW (1–0)JQH Arena (7,272)Springfield, MONovember 28, 20126:05 PM, Cox Nebraska 78at No. 11 CreightonBoise State70–83MW (2–0)CenturyLink Center Omaha (16,364)Omaha, NENovember 28, 20126:05 PMat Southern IllinoisFresno State57–54MW (2–1)SIU Arena (5,409)Carbondale, ILNovember 30, 20128:00 PMDrakeat Nevada76–66Tied (2–2)Lawlor Events Center (6,649)Reno, NVDecember 1, 201212:05 PM, WTWOat Indiana StateNo. 25 New Mexico68–77 OTMW (3–2)Hulman Center (6,080)Terre Haute, INDecember 1, 20122:30 PMEvansvilleat Colorado State72–79MW (4–2)Moby Arena (3,970)Fort Collins, CODecember 2, 20123:00 PM, Cox Kansas 22Wichita Stateat Air Force72–69MW (4–3)Clune Arena (1,793)Colorado Springs, CODecember 4, 20127:05 PMat Illinois StateWyoming67–81MW (5–3)Redbird Arena (6,561)Normal, ILDecember 19, 20128:00 PM, TWSNNorthern Iowaat No. 21 Nevada–Las Vegas59–73MW (6–3)Thomas & Mack Center (14,484)Paradise, NVWinner denoted in bold.(Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). Bradley did not participate in the 2012 Challenge.
2015 The Challenge was not held as part of the 2013–14 or 2014–15 seasons. During this time period, the Missouri Valley Conference had one member school (Creighton) depart the conference and one school (Loyola–Chicago) arrive, maintaining the conference at ten member schools; the Mountain West Conference had two schools (San Jose State, Utah State) arrive, expanding the conference to eleven members. Accordingly, ten match-ups were scheduled. DateTime, TelevisionMVCOpponentMWOpponentResultRecordSite (Attendance)City, State November 13, 20156:00 PM, ESPN3 at Southern Illinois Air Force 77–75 MVC (1–0) SIU Arena (4,759)Carbondale, IL November 13, 20158:00 PM, ESPN3 Illinois State at San Diego State 61–71 Tied (1–1) Viejas Arena (12,414)San Diego, CA November 14, 201510:00 AM, CSN Chicago at Northern Iowa Colorado State 78–84 MW (2–1) McLeod Center (4,455)Cedar Falls, IA November 16, 20155:00 PM, ESPN3 at Indiana State Wyoming 70–55 Tied (2–2) Hulman Center (3,601)Terre Haute, IN November 18, 20157:00 PM, Root Sports Loyola–Chicago at New Mexico 51–75 MW (3–2) WisePies Arena (11,951)Albuquerque, NM December 1, 20156:00 PM, KOZL at Missouri State Utah State 68–69 MW (4–2) JQH Arena (3,694)Springfield, MO December 9, 20157:00 PM, ESPN2 at Wichita State Nevada–Las Vegas 56–50 MW (4–3) Charles Koch Arena (10,506)Wichita, KS December 12, 20155:00 PM Drake at Nevada 71–79 MW (5–3) Lawlor Events Center (5,541)Reno, NV December 20, 201512:00 PM, Root Sports Bradley at Boise State 70–90 MW (6–3) Taco Bell Arena (4,405)Boise, ID December 20, 20152:00 PM Evansville at Fresno State 85–77 MW (6–4) Save Mart Center (5,251)Fresno, CAWinner denoted in bold.(Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). San Jose State did not participate in the 2015 Challenge.
2016 DateTime, TelevisionMVCOpponentMWOpponentResultRecordSite (Attendance)City, State December 3, 201612:00 PM, ESPN3 at Evansville Boise State 72–67 MVC (1–0) Ford Center (3,773)Evansville, IN December 3, 20161:00 PM, MC22 at Drake Fresno State 76–78 OT Tied (1–1) The Knapp Center (2,633)Des Moines, IA December 3, 20162:00 PM, ESPN3 at Loyola–Chicago San Diego State 65–59 MVC (2–1) Joseph J. Gentile Arena (2,189)Chicago, IL December 3, 20163:00 PM, CBSSN Wichita State at Colorado State 82–67 MVC (3–1) Moby Arena (6,918)Fort Collins, CO December 3, 20164:00 PM, MWN Northern Iowa at Wyoming 73–81 MVC (3–2) Arena-Auditorium (5,539)Laramie, WY December 3, 20166:00 PM, CSN Chicago at Bradley Nevada 69–91 Tied (3–3) Carver Arena (5,384)Peoria, IL December 3, 20166:00 PM, CSN Chicago Plus at Illinois State New Mexico 79–74 MVC (4–3) Redbird Arena (6,056)Normal, IL December 3, 20167:00 PM Missouri State at Air Force 70–83 Tied (4–4) Clune Arena (1,986)Colorado Springs, CO December 3, 20167:00 PM Indiana State at Utah State 62–61 MVC (5–4) Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (7,064)Logan, UT December 19, 20168:00 PM Southern Illinois at Nevada–Las Vegas 61–68 Tied (5–5) Thomas & Mack Center (11,758)Paradise, NVWinner denoted in bold.(Time is Mountain Standard Time (MST)). San Jose State did not participate in the 2016 Challenge.
2017 The Missouri Valley Conference had one member school (Wichita State) depart the conference and one school (Valparaiso) arrive prior to the 2017 Challenge, maintaining the conference at ten member schools; accordingly, ten match-ups were scheduled.