The Cancun Challenge (Spanish: Desafío Cancún) is a college basketball tournament organized by Triple Crown Sports which currently features six 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 2025 tournament consists of teams playing in a set schedule of games at participants' campus sites and Cancún, Mexico with no bracket, and therefore no champion.

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. 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

2025

The 2025 Cancún Challenge features teams playing in a set schedule of games.

Men's

2025 Men's Cancún Challenge
DateAwayHomeSiteCity
November 19, 2025UC Irvine7279Utah ValleyUCCU CenterOrem, UT
November 21, 2025Georgia State58105South Dakota StateFirst Bank and Trust ArenaBrookings, SD
Samford7281New Mexico StatePan American CenterLas Cruces, NM
November 25, 2025Samford7863Georgia StateHard Rock Hotel Riviera MayaCancun, Mexico
Utah Valley7552South Dakota State
New Mexico State5742UC Irvine
November 26, 2025Georgia State5877New Mexico State
Samford4589Utah Valley
South Dakota State5264UC Irvine

Source

Women's

2025 Women's Cancún Challenge
DateAwayHomeSiteCity
November 27, 2025No. 12 North Carolina8348South Dakota StateHard Rock Hotel Riviera MayaCancún, Mexico
Columbia9295Kansas State
No. 25 NC State7967Green Bay
Southern Miss7277UAB
Richmond5288No. 8 TCU
November 28, 2025Kansas State7385No. 12 North Carolina
South Dakota State6780Columbia
No. 25 NC State11056Southern Miss
UAB6182No. 8 TCU
Green Bay5976Richmond
November 29, 2025South Dakota State8270Kansas State
No. 12 North Carolina8063Columbia

Source

2024

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 26Riviera Championship November 27
Wyoming64
Tulane63
Wyoming70
Loyola Marymount73
Loyola Marymount77
Belmont63Riviera Consolation November 27
Tulane66
Belmont89

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 26Mayan Championship November 27
Southeastern Louisiana69
Gardner–Webb73
Gardner–Webb79
Bethune–Cookman64
Bethune–Cookman79
North Dakota67Mayan Consolation November 27
Southeastern Louisiana76
North Dakota60

Women's

Mayan Division

TeamRecord
San Diego State2–1
Wisconsin2–1
Providence1–2
VCU1–2

Riviera Division

TeamRecord
Iowa2–0
BYU1–1
Idaho State1–1
Rice1–1
Vermont1–1
Rhode Island0–2

2023

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Consolation November 22 CBS Sports NetworkRiviera Semifinals November 21 CBS Sports NetworkRiviera 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 HoopsMayan Semifinals November 21 Flo HoopsMayan 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 NetworkRiviera 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 FloHoopsMayan 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 NetworkRiviera 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 FloHoopsMayan Championship November 24 FloHoops
Middle Tennessee60
Rider54
Middle Tennessee82
Mercer58
Bucknell68
Mercer78Mayan Consolation November 24 FloHoops
Rider85
Bucknell79

Women's

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, games were played at Titan Field House in Melbourne, FL.

Semifinals November 24 CBS Sports NetworkChampionship 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 NetworkRiviera 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 FloHoopsMayan 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

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 20 CBS Sports NetworkRiviera 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 20Mayan 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

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 21 CBS Sports NetworkRiviera 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 21Mayan 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

Men's

Riviera Division

Riviera Semifinals November 22 CBSSNRiviera 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 22Mayan 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 CBSSNRiviera 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 24Mayan 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 NetworkRiviera 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 25Mayan 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 26Riviera Championship November 27
West Virginia78
Old Dominion60
West Virginia63
Wisconsin70
Wisconsin63
Saint Louis57Consolation November 27
Old Dominion52
Saint Louis62

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 26Mayan 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 20Riviera Championship November 21
DePaul62
Wichita State75
Wichita State75
Iowa63
Iowa63
Western Kentucky55Consolation November 21
DePaul61
Western Kentucky70

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 20Mayan 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 22Riviera Championship November 23
Rutgers70
Illinois State76
Illinois State59
Illinois63
Richmond61
Illinois70Consolation November 23
Rutgers53
Richmond58

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 22Mayan 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 23Riviera Championship November 24
Wyoming62
Missouri72
Missouri83
La Salle71
La Salle84
Providence73Consolation November 24
Wyoming77
Providence84

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 23Mayan 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 24Riviera Championship November 25
Kentucky73
Cleveland State49
Kentucky73*
Stanford65
Stanford57
Virginia52Consolation November 25
Cleveland State65
Virginia76

Mayan Division

Mayan Semifinals November 24Mayan 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 29Championship November 30
Vanderbilt72
Drake57
Vanderbilt71
VCU66
VCU67
New Mexico57Consolation November 30
Drake68
New Mexico62

External links