The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, (MIAA) claimed the top men’s basketball attendance average for NCAA Division II conferences in the 2008-09 season, the NCAA recently announced.

The MIAA drew 266,320 fans to its 11 institutions’ 156 home games last season for an average of 1,707 fans per game. The average edged the 13-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which averaged 1,700 fans per game.

Leading the MIAA was Central Missouri. The Mules drew 50,697 fans in 17 home games for 2008-09,  an average of 2,982 fans, to rank third overall behind Northern (S.D.) State (4,735) and St. Cloud (Minn.) State (3,316) from the NSIC.

Missouri Western barely edged out Emporia State for 15th place — each school averaged 2,083 fans, but the Griffons’ average was slightly higher when extended to decimals.

Conference with total # of fans and average per game
1. MIAA 266,320 1,707
2. Northern Sun 297,459 1,700
3. Central Intercoll. 177,855 1,423
4. Southern Intercoll. 196,224 1,161
5. Great Lakes Valley 210,747 1,092

Top D-II schools in country w/# of games and total fans
1. Northern (S.D.) State [NSIC] 15 71,024
2. St. Cloud (Minn.) State [NSIC] 15 49,742
3. Central Missouri [MIAA] 17 50,697
4. Benedict (S.C.) [SIAC] 13 37,848
5. Morehouse (Ga.) [SIAC] 12 34,546





 

2008-09 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Attendance
                       Total   Games/  2008-09          Change
    By Conference       Teams Sessions  Attend.    Avg. In Avg.
1. MIAA                   11      156  266,320   1,707     +40
2. Northern Sun           13      175  297,459   1,700    +322
 3. Central Intercoll.     10      125  177,855   1,423     +54
 4. Southern Intercoll.    13      169  196,224   1,161     +86
 5. Great Lakes Valley     14      193  210,747   1,092    +142
 6. Peach Belt             10      140  131,526     939    +124
 7. Great Northwest         9      118  109,170     925     +38
 8. Lone Star              14      186  161,126     866     -35
 9. Gulf South             15      202  173,031     857     +85
10. Rocky Mountain         14      182  139,401     766    +130
      
   By Institution                      G/S Attendance    Avg. 1. Northern (S.D.) State [NSIC]         15     71,024   4,735
 2. St. Cloud (Minn.) State [NSIC]       15     49,742   3,316
3. Central Missouri [MIAA]              17     50,697   2,982
4. Benedict (S.C.) [SIAC]               13     37,848   2,911
 5. Morehouse (Ga.) [SIAC]               12     34,546   2,879
 6. Elizabeth City (N.C.) State [CIAA]   11     31,324   2,848
 7. Augustana (S.D.) [NSIC]              12     31,697   2,641
 8. Virginia State [CIAA]                16     40,747   2,547
 9. Southwest Minnesota State [NSIC]     16     38,961   2,435
10. Washburn [MIAA]                      13     31,376   2,414