Kansas City, MO – Small College Basketball is extremely excited to announce that the 2022 SCB Tip Off Classic will be moving to Lakeland, FL. The tournament will be held in Jenkins Fieldhouse on the campus of Florida Southern College. Games will be played on Saturday and Sunday November 5th and 6th. The event will also be supported by Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing. John McCarthy had this to say about the SCB Tip Off Classic moving to Lakeland, FL:

 

“We are thrilled to bring the Small College Basketball Tip Off Classic to Lakeland,” stated McCarthy. “With the tremendous support from Florida Southern College and the Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, this will continue to be the most prestigious in-season event within NCAA Division II basketball. Together, we'll create a special experience for the student athletes, coaches and fans, right in the heart of the Sunshine State.  I'd also like to extend my gratitude to the NCAA D2 Conference Commissioners Association for their continued support of our event, as they've continued to extend the exemption for our event.”

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The 2022 event will be expanding to 10 teams. Lakeland, FL will be the third location to host the event, since its inception in 2016. Florida Southern Athletic Director Drew Howard had this to say about hosting the event:

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“Florida Southern College is proud to host this very special event,” stated Howard. “Small College Basketball and John McCarthy do an amazing job of promoting student - athletes at all levels. I am very excited to showcase elite NCAA Division II basketball in the George Jenkins Fieldhouse and bring this event to the Lakeland community.”

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Most recently the SCB National Hall of Fame Classic was held in St. Joseph, MO. After taking a year off in 2020, the event took place over the weekend of November 6th and 7th at the Civic Arena. With some of top NCAA Division II schools in the country taking part in the event, every game was exciting. Mark Jackson, Director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, is extremely excited to bring the event to Central Florida:

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“With its record of excellence, we’re thrilled to have The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic relocate to the Florida Southern College campus in Lakeland,” said Jackson. “The addition of this event to our already expansive slate of premier athletic events means more heads in beds for Polk County and more great basketball for Florida to enjoy.”

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Below are the matchups for the 2022 SCB Tip Off Classic. Each day will consist of five games. The SCB Tip Off Classic will be in Lakeland, FL for the next three years. For more information on Small College Basketball and the SCB Tip Off Classic, please head to smallcollegebasketball.com.

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Saturday, November 5, 2022

11:00    Hillsdale vs. Dallas Baptist

1:15       Nova Southeastern vs. Alabama-Huntsville

3:30       MN State-Moorhead vs. Valdosta State

5:45       Flagler vs. Florida Southern

8:00       Queens vs. NW MO State

 

Sunday, November 6, 2022

11:00    MN State-Moorhead vs. Alabama-Huntsville

1:15       Nova Southeastern vs. Dallas Baptist

3:30       Valdosta State vs. Hillsdale

5:45       Queens vs. Florida Southern

8:00       NW MO State vs. Flagler

 

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