Helena Frye
The College of Idaho men's basketball team claimed their third NAIA national championship title in 2025. The team, led by coach Colby Blaine, dominated their competition throughout the tournament, outscoring opponents by a significant margin. This was their second championship win in just three years. The College of Idaho's victory adds to a rich history of the NAIA men's basketball national championship, which has been held annually since 1937 by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, with the exception of 1944 and 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Champion | College of Idaho |
| Runner-up | Oklahoma Wesleyan |
| Final Score | 93-65 |
| Top Scorers | Samaje Morgan (28 points), Dougie Peoples (21 points) |
| Number of Teams | 64 |
| Format | 16 separate sites for the first two rounds, final 16 teams advance to Kansas City |
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Venue | Municipal Auditorium |
| Dates | March 14 - March 25 |
| Number of Championships | College of Idaho's 3rd NAIA national title, 2nd in 3 years |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
College of Idaho wins 2025 championship
The College of Idaho has won the 2025 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship, claiming its second national title in three years. The No. 1 seed College of Idaho beat seventh-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan by a score of 93-65 to secure the championship. This was the team's third national title, having previously won the NAIA Division II championship in 1996 and a Division I title in 2023.
The 2025 tournament began with 64 teams playing in the first and second rounds at 16 host sites across the United States. The College of Idaho dominated the tournament, winning their four games in Kansas City by an average margin of 24.3 points. Their victory in the final game was their 25th straight win of the season.
The College of Idaho's victory was driven by strong performances from several players. Samaje Morgan scored a season-high 28 points, Dougie Peoples added 21 points and five 3-pointers, and Johnny Radford contributed 12 points. The team made 12 of their first 15 shots, including an impressive 8 out of 10 from beyond the 3-point line.
The College of Idaho's win was a testament to their hard work and determination throughout the season. Head coach Colby Blaine attributed the team's success to their consistent effort and focus: "Reminder that expectations don’t bring results—we have to do the hard work." The team's dedication and talent were evident as they claimed the championship title and celebrated with their dedicated fans.
The 2025 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship continues the legacy of the tournament, which has been held annually since 1937 by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The tournament was established to crown a national champion among smaller colleges and universities, and it has since become a prestigious event, with the 2025 edition marking the 87th annual championship.
Mastering DraftKings Basketball: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Tournament history and format
The NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics since 1937, with the exceptions of 1944 due to World War II and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities. It is mostly played at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, and has been held in Kansas City every year since the tournament began, except from 1994 to 2001 when it was played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2020, no tournament was held, but Kansas City will continue to host until at least 2024.
From 1992 to 2020, the NAIA sponsored two championships, one for its Division I members and another for its Division II teams. The Division I tournament was played in Kansas City, Missouri, while the Division II tournament moved locations several times, concluding in 2020 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 2018, the NAIA announced a new format for the 2021 tournament after the merger of D-I and D-II. Under the new format, the men's and women's tournaments each involve 64 teams, with the first two rounds played at 16 separate sites. Only the 16 winners at these sites advance to Kansas City.
The tournament MVP has been presented with the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player award since 1939. In 1948, the NAIA became the first national organization to open their intercollegiate postseason to black student-athletes, due primarily to the media attention surrounding the Manhattan Jaspers. This followed an incident in 1947, where Coach John Wooden of Indiana State refused an invitation to the NAIA National Tournament because Clarence J. Walker, the only Black player on his team, was not allowed to participate. Because of the stance taken by Manhattan and Harry Hansel, Coach Wooden was able to bring Walker to the 1948 tournament, where he became the first African-American student-athlete to play in the NAIA tournament. Walker helped the Sycamores finish as the NAIA's national finalist.
In 1957, Tennessee State became the first historically Black college to win a national championship and the first team to win three consecutive tournaments. As of 2017, Kentucky State is the only other school to accomplish this feat, winning in 1970, 1971, and 1972. Oklahoma City holds the record for the most tournament championships with six, and OCU also holds the record for most national championship titles in NAIA women's basketball.
Starting an AAU Basketball Program: A Beginner's Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Past winners
The NAIA Men's Basketball Championship has been held annually by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics since 1937, with the exceptions of 1944 (due to World War II) and 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities.
Tennessee State made history in 1957 by becoming the first historically black college to win an NAIA championship, and the first team to win three consecutive tournaments. As of 2017, Kentucky State is the only other school to have won three consecutive championships (1970, 1971, 1972). Oklahoma City holds the most tournament championships, with six wins.
In 2025, the College of Idaho won their third NAIA national title, beating Oklahoma Wesleyan 93-65. This was their second championship in three years. The College of Idaho previously won the NAIA Division II championship in 1996 and a Division I title in 2023.
The 87th annual NAIA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament was held in Kansas City in 2025.
LSU Men's Basketball: March Madness Contenders?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
2025 qualifiers
The 2025 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship was held from March 20 to March 25, 2025, at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The tournament crowned the 87th NAIA Men's Basketball National Champion.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 64-team field and pairings for the championship. The tournament began with the First and Second Rounds, presented by Ballogy, on March 14 at 16 host sites across the country. The 16 winners from each site advanced to the 2025 NAIA National Championship Final Site in Kansas City, Missouri.
The field consisted of 34 automatic qualifiers, given to conference regular-season champions, regular-season runners-up, tournament champions, or tournament runners-up, depending on the league. The Heart of America Conference led all conferences in representation, with seven teams qualified. They were followed by the Crossroads League and the Southern State Athletic Conference, with six teams each. There were 35 repeat qualifiers from the 2024 field, and five teams made their first-ever appearance in the national championship: UC Merced (California), Carolina (North Carolina), Middle Georgia State, William Woods (Missouri), and Johnson (Tennessee).
Georgetown (Kentucky) led the 64-team field with the most appearances in program history at 43, followed by Cumberlands (Kentucky) with 32 appearances. Six teams have taken a Red Banner back to their campus three different times: Georgetown (Kentucky), Oregon Tech, Cornerstone (Michigan), Bethel (Indiana), and two others.
Basketball Divisions: High School Determinants and Their Influence
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Location and venues
The NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1937, with the exceptions of 1944 due to World War II and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament is held to determine the national champion of men's college basketball among smaller colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
The NAIA Men's Basketball Championship is predominantly played at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City has hosted the tournament every year since it began, except from 1994 to 2001 when it was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2020, the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kansas City will continue to host the tournament until at least 2024. The first two rounds are played at 16 separate sites, with only the 16 winners advancing to Kansas City.
From 1992 to 2020, the NAIA sponsored two championships, one for Division I members and another for Division II teams. The Division I tournament was consistently played in Kansas City, Missouri, while the Division II tournament moved locations several times, with its final location being Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament was most recently held at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Montana.
Bill Russell's Basketball Career: The Year He Retired
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The College of Idaho won the 2025 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship, beating Oklahoma Wesleyan 93-65. This was their second NAIA championship win in three years.
64 teams competed in the 2025 tournament.
The 2025 tournament was held in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Municipal Auditorium.
