2023 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament

The 2023 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament was the postseason tournament for the Big Sky Conference, held March 4–8 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. It was the 48th edition of the conference tourney, which debuted in 1976.

2023 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season2022–23
Teams10
SiteIdaho Central Arena
Boise, Idaho
ChampionsMontana State (4th title)
Winning coachDanny Sprinkle (2nd title)
TelevisionESPN+, ESPNU, ESPN2
2022–23 Big Sky men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Eastern Washington16–2 .88923–11  .676
Montana State †15–3 .83325–10  .714
Weber State12–6 .66718–15  .545
Montana10–7 .58817–14  .548
Idaho State8–10 .44411–21  .344
Sacramento State7–11 .38914–18  .438
Portland State6–11 .35312–19  .387
Northern Colorado6–12 .33312–20  .375
Northern Arizona5–13 .27812–23  .343
Idaho4–14 .22210–22  .313
† 2023 Big Sky tournament winner

Second-seeded Montana State defeated ninth seed Northern Arizona 85–78 in the final and received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Bobcats successfully defended their conference tournament title and earned a second straight NCAA appearance, their fifth overall.

Finalist NAU upset top-seeded Eastern Washington by a point in the quarterfinals and fourth seed Montana by twelve in the semifinals. The other semifinal was rematch of the previous year, with a similar result; this time, MSU needed double overtime to eliminate third seed Weber State 60–58. In 2022, they outlasted the Wildcats by three points in regulation.

Seeds

The ten teams were seeded by conference record; the top six teams received a first-round bye.[1]

Seed School Record Tiebreaker
1 Eastern Washington 16–2 —
2 Montana State 15–3
3 Weber State 12–6
4 Montana 10–7
5 Idaho State 8–10
6 Sacramento State 7–11
7 Portland State 6–11
8 Northern Colorado 6–12
9 Northern Arizona 5–13
10 Idaho 4–14

Schedule
Session Game Time Matchup Score Television Attendance
First round – Saturday, March 4
1 1 5:30 pm No. 9 Northern Arizona vs. No. 10 Idaho 87–79 ESPN+
2 8:00 pm No. 7 Portland State vs. No. 8 Northern Colorado 80–84
Quarterfinals – Sunday, March 5
2 3 5:30 pm No. 1 Eastern Washington vs. No. 9 Northern Arizona 80–81 ESPN+
4 8:00 pm No. 2 Montana State vs. No. 8 Northern Colorado 84–73
Quarterfinals – Monday, March 6
3 5 5:30 pm No. 4 Montana vs. No. 5 Idaho State 83–74 ESPN+
6 8:00 pm No. 3 Weber State vs. No. 6 Sacramento State 70–64
Semifinals – Tuesday, March 7
4 7 6:30 pm No. 9 Northern Arizona vs. No. 4 Montana 83–71 ESPNU
8 9:00 pm No. 2 Montana State vs. No. 3 Weber State 60–58 2OT ESPN2
Championship game – Wednesday, March 8
5 9 9:30 pm No. 2 Montana State vs. No. 9 Northern Arizona 85–78 ESPN2
Game times are in Mountain time; rankings denote tournament seeding.

Bracket
First round
March 4
ESPN+ 		Quarterfinals
March 5 & 6
ESPN+ 		Semifinals
March 7
ESPNU/ESPN2 		Championship
March 8
ESPN2
1 Eastern Washington 80
9 Northern Arizona 87 9 Northern Arizona 81
10 Idaho 76 9 Northern Arizona 83
4 Montana 71
4 Montana 83
5 Idaho State 74
9 Northern Arizona 78
2 Montana State 85
2 Montana State 84
7 Portland State 80 8 Northern Colorado 73
8 Northern Colorado 84 2 Montana State 60*
3 Weber State 58
3 Weber State 70
6 Sacramento State 64

Note: * denotes overtime

References
  1. "2023 Big Sky Men's & Women's Basketball Tournament Times Announced". bigskyconf.com. Retrieved January 28, 2023.

See also
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