It’s one of the best times of the DII sports’ year. Inside, men and women’s basketball teams are building tournament resumes, while outside, the baseball/softball diamonds are back in bloom, while the DII men’s and women’s lacrosse teams begin their journey to the tourney.
When you cover every DII sport, you have to narrow your focus. Here are just a few of the important games to watch this weekend.
What Wayne’s watching: Feb. 13-15
DII men’s lacrosee
Tampa at Flagler, Feb. 14. The Spartans, the reigning national runners-up, have yet another ranked test ahead of them in the Saints. Thus far, Tampa has defeated No. 19 Florida Tech 10-6, No. 13 Newberry 15-12 and No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne 13-10 in a perfect 3-0 start. Flagler, the PBC preseason favorites, are off to a 1-1 start after a strong 14-3 2025 campaign.
Lewis at Seton Hill, Feb 14. This top 10 battle is the first test for both teams this season. For the Griffins, it is their season opener. Seton Hill is coming off an 18-2 season that ended in the quarterfinals of the DII men’s lacrosse championship. Lewis, which finished at 12-5 a season ago, is off to a perfect start, with dominant wins over unranked Northwood (23-9) and Walsh (15-8). Paul Ruskoski has 13 goals in those first two games.
Wingate at Florida Tech, Feb. 14. This is another battle of nationally ranked lacrosse powers. The Bulldogs, who finished 15-5 with a trip to the quarterfinals in 2025, have played just one game, taking down unranked Florida Southern. This is a big matchup for Wingate, looking to keep the momentum going ahead of next week’s showdown with No. 1 Adelphi. No. 19 Florida Tech can’t afford another loss. The Panthers opened 2026 with a 10-6 loss to Tampa but rebounded with a convincing 13-9 win over Rollins. With No. 20 North Greenville looming, Florida Tech needs to stay competitive in this one.
Anderson (SC) at Embry-Riddle, Feb. 14. Yet another showdown of nationally ranked teams is on tap for a thrilling weekend in DII men’s lacrosse. Embry-Riddle is off to a red-hot start, with a win over nationally ranked Flagler, Montevallo and Alabama Huntsville. This is a team that started 1-3 a year ago, finishing 9-7 overall. The Trojans, a tournament team a year ago compiling a 13-5 record, is coming off a commanding 19-10 victory over nationally ranked North Greenville. Ryan Bitterman converted six of his 12 shots for goals in the opening win.
DII women’s lacrosse
Lynn at Florida Southern, Feb. 13. This Sunshine State showdown features a pair of preseason top 15 teams. No. 11 Lynn, coming off a 15-5 season that ended in the second round of the DII women’s lacrosse championship, has a huge test in the Mocs. No. 3 Florida Southern had a thrilling 11-10 victory over nationally ranked Wingate to open the season and look to stay hot against its conference rivals. The Mocs were one of the best in DII last year and with much returning, they look to improve on their national quarterfinals finish a year ago.
Tampa at UIndy, Feb. 14. The defending champion Spartans travel to Indianapolis in a 2025 semifinals rematch. Tampa beat the Greyhounds 13-8 in that matchup, propelling its way to its second-straight national championship. While this is the season opener for UIndy, the Spartans had a tuneup against Lincoln Memorial, which they won 25-1. Isabel McGarvey, Mary Kate Person and Josie Bullock totaled 13 of those goals, scoring at least four apiece.
Seton Hill at East Stroudsburg, Feb 14. This is the season opener for both teams and a potential preview of the PSAC championship. The No. 17 Griffins finished 13-6 last year, ending their season in the PSAC tournament, while No. 13 East Stroudsburg went 15-6, losing to Slippery Rock in the second round of the DII women’s lacrosse championship. Keep your eye on the Griffins’ Mila Udovicic, who was the PSAC West athlete of the year behind a 34-goal and league-best 56-assist 2025 season.
DII men’s basketball
Fairmont State at West Liberty, Feb. 14. This one should be a thriller. West Liberty is a Power 10 team while Fairmont State is the first one out. Both of these programs are likely headed to the tournament, but a win for the Falcons gives them the season sweep over West Liberty, and puts them in the driver’s seat for the MEC title. Both these teams are among DII’s best in lighting up the scoreboard — West Liberty is second in DII with 98.7 points per game, while Fairmont State scores 90.9, sixth most in DII — so expect a high-scoring affair that comes down to the wire.
DII women’s basketball
Gannon at Seton Hill, Feb 14. This is a big one in the PSAC. Gannon, which is coming off its third loss of the season, trails Indiana (PA) in the PSAC West by one game with a 13-2 conference record and 21-3 overall record. Right behind the Golden Knights? That’s right, Seton Hill, which is 12-3 in the PSAC. This is a rematch, with Gannon taking the first showdown 83-57 back on Jan. 14, so this game has huge PSAC and DII tournament implications.
DII baseball
Wingate at Lenoir-Rhyne, Feb. 13-14. The Bears, which had a record-setting season in its home-run smashing run to Cary, opened its season with a massive three-game sweep over Columbus State, a series with tremendous Southeast Region implications. Wingate, coming off a down 26-26 season, has been impressive thus far, sitting at 5-2 with wins over Lynn, Nova Southeastern and Mount Olive with a 2-1 series win over nationally ranked Millersville. It’s early, but in the Southeast Region, every game counts, and this series is a big one.
Northwood at Grand Valley State, Feb. 13-15. If you follow The DII Report, you know this is a showdown of the two teams expected to battle for the Midwest Region title. Grand Valley State returns 60 percent of its roster and is coming off a very strong 43-win campaign. Likewise, Northwood returns a bevy of its veterans from its historic run to Cary, looking to repeat as Midwest champs. This is the season opener for both teams, so neither will be at their best, but be sure to take notes, because these two are sure to meet again down the line.
DII softball
Rollins Round Robin, Feb. 14-15. Get your eyes on some of the best in DII in this mini tournament. Rollins, the host school, is off to a 2-0 start. The Tars welcome No. 1 Auburn Montgomery in a doubleheader on Saturday and then host No. 2 Angelo State for two on Saturday. The Warhawks, who also have Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech to face this weekend, were picked as the team to reach Chattanooga for the DII softball championship finals, and Angelo State, which will also battle Florida Tech, needs every win to keep it close with two-time defending national champion UT Tyler. This should be a great weekend of softball.
