Cancún Challenge

Cancun Challenge
	Cancun Challenge Logo
Tournament information
Sport	College Basketball
Location	United States (campus sites); Mexico (Riviera Maya)
Month played	November
Established	2005 (Women's); 2008 (Men's)
Format	MTE
Teams	10 (Women's); 8 (Men's)
Current champion
	James Madison (Men's Riviera Division); Radford (Men's Mayan Division)

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.

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

2024

^[2]

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 26		Riviera Championship November 27

	Wyoming

	Tulane



	Loyola Marymount

	Belmont	Riviera Consolation November 27

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 26		Mayan Championship November 27

	Southeastern Louisiana

	Gardner-Webb



	Bethune–Cookman

	North Dakota	Mayan Consolation November 27

Women's

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Providence	0-0
San Diego State	0-0
VCU	0-0
Wisconsin	0-0

Riviera Division

Team	Record
BYU	0-0
Idaho State	0-0
Iowa	0-0
Rhode Island	0-0
Rice	0-0
Vermont	0-0

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



		22	James Madison	82

			Southern Illinois	76
Southern Illinois	81				22	James Madison	95

New Mexico State	54					Fresno State	64
		Fresno State		81*

		New Mexico State		76

Mayan Division


Mayan Consolation November 22 Flo Hoops		Mayan Semifinals November 21 Flo Hoops		Mayan Championship November 22 Flo Hoops



		Morgan State	72

		Radford	82
Morgan State	83			Radford	79

Chicago State	84			Northern Colorado	68
		Chicago State	77

		Northern Colorado	78

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
Creighton	2–0
Georgia Tech	1–1
James Madison	1–1
Michigan State	1–1
Montana State	1–1
New Mexico	0–2

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Maryland	2–1
Washington State	2–1
Green Bay	1–2
UMass	0–3

2022

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 22 CBS Sports Network			Riviera Championship November 23 CBS Sports Network

	Bradley	64

13	Auburn	85
			13	Auburn	43

				Northwestern	42
	Liberty	52

	Northwestern	66	Riviera Consolation November 23 CBS Sports Network


				Bradley	44

				Liberty	55

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 22 FloHoops			Mayan Championship November 23 FloHoops

	Purdue Fort Wayne	74

	Eastern Michigan	67
				Purdue Fort Wayne	58

				Southern Miss	70
	Southern Miss	77

	Winthrop	52	Mayan Consolation November 23 FloHoops


				Eastern Michigan	87

				Winthrop	101

2021

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 23 CBS Sports Network			Riviera Championship November 24 CBS Sports Network

	Stephen F. Austin	79

	Buffalo	78
				Stephen F. Austin	68

				Saint Louis	79
	Illinois State	76

	Saint Louis	82	Riviera Consolation November 24 CBS Sports Network


				Buffalo	106

				Illinois State	90

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 23 FloHoops			Mayan Championship November 24 FloHoops

	Middle Tennessee	60

	Rider	54
				Middle Tennessee	82

				Mercer	58
	Bucknell	68

	Mercer	78	Mayan Consolation November 24 FloHoops


				Rider	85

				Bucknell	79

Women's

^[3] All games streamed on FloHoops.com

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Baylor	2–0
Houston	1–1
Arizona State	1–2
Fordham	1–2

Riviera Division

Team	Record
UCF	1–0
USC	1-1
Seton Hall	1–1
Toledo	1–1
Idaho State	0–2
Iowa	0–0

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,^[4] games were played at Titan Field House in Melbourne, FL.

Semifinals November 24 CBS Sports Network			Championship November 25 CBS Sports Network

	Clemson	53

	Mississippi State	42
				Clemson	81

				Purdue	70
	Liberty	64

	Purdue	77	Consolation November 25 CBS Sports Network


				Mississippi State	73

				Liberty	84

2019

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 26 CBS Sports Network			Riviera Championship November 27 CBS Sports Network

	Wichita State	70

	South Carolina	47
				Wichita State	63

				West Virginia	74
	Northern Iowa	55

	West Virginia	60	Riviera Consolation November 27 CBS Sports Network


				South Carolina	72

				Northern Iowa	78

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 26 FloHoops			Mayan Championship November 27 FloHoops

	UT Martin	64

	Gardner–Webb	81
				Gardner–Webb	67

				Northern Colorado	63
	Boston University	55

	Northern Colorado	78	Mayan Consolation November 27 FloHoops


				UT Martin	76

				Boston University	73

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
Creighton	2–0
North Carolina	2–0
New Mexico	1–1
West Virginia	1–1
Missouri	0–2
Temple	0–2

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Florida Gulf Coast	3–0
South Dakota State	2–1
Notre Dame	1–2
South Florida	0–3

2018

^[5]

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 20 CBS Sports Network			Riviera Championship November 21 CBS Sports Network

	Bradley	75

	SMU	62
				Bradley	59

				Penn State	56
	Wright State	59

	Penn State	77	Riviera Consolation November 21 CBS Sports Network


				SMU	77

				Wright State	76

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 20			Mayan Championship November 21

	Western Carolina	53

	Jacksonville State	84
				Jacksonville State	83

				North Florida	78
	North Florida	64

	Southern Miss	48	Mayan Consolation November 21


				Western Carolina	63

				Southern Miss	68

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
NC State	2–0
Georgia Tech	2–0
Idaho State	1–1
Michigan State	1–1
Kennesaw State	0–2
George Washington	0–2

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Syracuse	3–0
DePaul	2–1
Kansas State	1–2
Princeton	0–3

2017

^[6]

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 21 CBS Sports Network			Riviera Championship game November 22 CBS Sports Network

	George Mason	64

	Louisiana Tech	77
				Louisiana Tech	63

				Evansville	61
	Fresno State	57

	Evansville	59	Riviera Consolation November 22 CBS Sports Network


				George Mason	75

				Fresno State	79

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 21			Mayan Championship November 22

	Binghamton	64

	Montana State	74
				Montana State	88

				Southeast Missouri State	82
	Cal State Northridge	59

	Southeast Missouri State	74	Mayan Consolation November 22 CBS Sports Network


				Binghamton	70

				Cal State Northridge	65

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
Tennessee	3–0
Indiana State	1–1
Marquette	1–1
Oklahoma State	1–1
South Dakota	1–2
Montana	0–2

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Mississippi State	3–0
Green Bay	2–1
Arizona State	1–2
Columbia	0–3

2016

^[7]

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 22 CBSSN			Riviera Championship game November 23 CBSSN

Auburn		67

Texas Tech		65
				Auburn	71

			15	Purdue	96
	Utah State	64

15	Purdue	85	Riviera Consolation November 23 CBSSN


			Texas Tech		75

			Utah State		51

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 22		Mayan Championship November 23

NJIT	53

Georgia State	74
		Georgia State	82

		Eastern Kentucky	65
Idaho State	82

Eastern Kentucky	91*	Mayan Consolation November 23


		NJIT	71

		Idaho State	67

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
UCLA	2–0
Idaho State	1–1
Iowa	1–1
James Madison	1–1
Toledo	1–1
Davidson	0–2

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Stanford	3–0
Purdue	2–1
Wichita State	1–2
Northeastern	0–3

2015

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 24 CBSSN			Riviera Championship game November 25 CBSSN

Rhode Island		66

TCU		60
				Rhode Island	63

			2	Maryland	86
	Illinois State	66

2	Maryland	77	Riviera Consolation November 25 CBSSN


			TCU		71

			Illinois State		60

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 24		Mayan Championship November 25

Cleveland State	57

Rider	52
		Cleveland State	68

		South Dakota State	77
Houston Baptist	68

South Dakota State	92	Mayan Consolation November 27


		Rider	67

		Houston Baptist	56

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
Seton Hall	2–0
Georgia Tech	1–1
NC State	1–1
Northern Iowa	1–1
UAB	1–1
High Point	0–2

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Duke	3–0
Idaho	2–1
Iowa State	1–2
Texas State	0–3

2014

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 25 CBS Sports Network		Riviera Championship November 26 CBS Sports Network

Virginia Tech	54

Northern Iowa	73
		Northern Iowa	61

		Northwestern	42
Miami (OH)	46

Northwestern	55	Consolation November 27 CBS Sports Network


		Virginia Tech	78

		Miami (OH)	63

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 25		Mayan Championship November 26

Morgan State	73

Elon	74
		Elon	65

		North Florida	72
North Florida	77

Liberty	57	Consolation November 27


		Morgan State	51

		Liberty	50

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
Washington	3–0
Florida State	2–1
Furman	1–2
Hartford	0–3

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Princeton	3–0
Wake Forest	2–1
Montana	1–2
Charlotte	0–3

2013

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 26		Riviera Championship November 27

West Virginia	78

Old Dominion	60
		West Virginia	63

		Wisconsin	70
Wisconsin	63

Saint Louis	57	Consolation November 27


		Old Dominion	52

		Saint Louis	62

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 26		Mayan Championship November 27

Presbyterian	45

Bowling Green	67
		Bowling Green	56

		Oral Roberts	63
Oral Roberts	67

Georgia Southern	65	Consolation November 27


		Presbyterian	64

		Georgia Southern	78

Women's

Riviera Division

Team	Record
Arizona State	3–0
North Carolina	2–1
Illinois	1–2
Arkansas State	0–3

Mayan Division

Team	Record
Iowa	3–0
USC	2–1
Boston College	1–2
UNC Wilmington	0–3

2012

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 20		Riviera Championship November 21

DePaul	62

Wichita State	75
		Wichita State	75

		Iowa	63
Iowa	63

Western Kentucky	55	Consolation November 21


		DePaul	61

		Western Kentucky	70

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 20		Mayan Championship November 21

Austin Peay	72

Western Carolina	71
		Austin Peay	62

		Gardner–Webb	72
Howard	43

Gardner–Webb	55	Consolation November 21


		Western Carolina	69

		Howard	67

2011

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 22		Riviera Championship November 23

Rutgers	70

Illinois State	76
		Illinois State	59

		Illinois	63
Richmond	61

Illinois	70	Consolation November 23


		Rutgers	53

		Richmond	58

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 22		Mayan Championship November 23

SIU Edwardsville	87

Lipscomb	90
		Lipscomb	79

		Sacred Heart	77
Hampton	71

Sacred Heart	78	Consolation November 23


		SIU Edwardsville	64

		Hampton	68

2010

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 23		Riviera Championship November 24

Wyoming	62

Missouri	72
		Missouri	83

		La Salle	71
La Salle	84

Providence	73	Consolation November 24


		Wyoming	77

		Providence	84

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 23		Mayan Championship November 24

Western Illinois	53

Morgan State	72
		Morgan State	52

		North Florida	59
Prairie View A&M	66

North Florida	84	Consolation November 24


		Western Illinois	69

		Prairie View A&M	63

2009

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 24		Riviera Championship November 25

Kentucky	73

Cleveland State	49
		Kentucky	73*

		Stanford	65
Stanford	57

Virginia	52	Consolation November 25


		Cleveland State	65

		Virginia	76

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 24		Mayan Championship November 25

Oral Roberts	65

Sam Houston State	71
		Sam Houston State	80

		Rider	68
Florida A&M	73

Rider	88	Consolation November 25


		Oral Roberts	72

		Florida A&M	51

2008

Men's

Riviera Division

Semifinals November 29		Championship November 30

Vanderbilt	72

Drake	57
		Vanderbilt	71

		VCU	66
VCU	67

New Mexico	57	Consolation November 30


		Drake	68

		New Mexico	62

References

^ Women's Hoops' Caribbean Classic to Relocate – Baylor University Athletics
^ "2024 Cancun Challenge releases US, Mexico game schedule". Cancun Challenge. Triple Crown Sports. August 8, 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
^ "Teams, schedules announced for 2021 Women's Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. Triple Crown Sports. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
^ "Clemson claims Space Coast Challenge championship". Space Coast Challenge. Triple Crown Sports. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
^ "Tourney officials announce eight-team field, matchups for 2018 Men's Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. TripleCrownSports. Retrieved 20 November 2018.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Field and Schedule Secured for Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. TripleCrownSports. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
^ "Field and Schedule Secured for Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. TripleCrownSports. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.

External links

Official website

[1] Women's Hoops' Caribbean Classic to Relocate – Baylor University Athletics

[2] "2024 Cancun Challenge releases US, Mexico game schedule". Cancun Challenge. Triple Crown Sports. August 8, 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.

[3] "Teams, schedules announced for 2021 Women's Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. Triple Crown Sports. Retrieved 17 June 2021.

[4] "Clemson claims Space Coast Challenge championship". Space Coast Challenge. Triple Crown Sports. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.

[5] "Tourney officials announce eight-team field, matchups for 2018 Men's Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. TripleCrownSports. Retrieved 20 November 2018.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[6] "Field and Schedule Secured for Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. TripleCrownSports. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.

[7] "Field and Schedule Secured for Cancun Challenge". Cancun Challenge. TripleCrownSports. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.

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