The wait for the 2009-2010 Division III basketball season is over as men's and women's action is underway.

In fact, a handful of teams couldn�t wait for the fun to begin so they tipped off just after midnight at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Mennonite and Lancaster Bible gave midnight madness new meaning on the men's side (with Eastern Mennonite winning 96-53) and Chatham beat Wilson 66-26 at midnight on the women�s side.

Defending champion Washington U. began its quest for a third Walnut and Bronze by easily defeating MacMurray 88-53. No. 2 John Carroll also started the new season on the right foot, winning at Olivet 90-83. However, not all Top 10 teams were so fortunate.

Chris Beauchamp hit a three-pointer as time expired to lift Baruch over last year's runner-up and preseason No. 5 Richard Stockton, 68-67. Last season the Ospreys went 16-0 at The Sports Center. No. 9 Wooster met a similar fate at Albion where Chris Hutton nailed a three with 36 seconds to give the Britons a 57-55 victory. Hutton finished with 16 points. Austin rallied from an 11-point deficit to take out No. 12 Texas-Dallas in overtime, 79-77. Check out Sunday�s scoreboard.

In women's action, preseason No. 1 Washington U. also got underway by handling Augustana 71-36. No. 5 Scranton survived a trip to Montclair State, defeating the Red Hawks, who were 18-8 last season, 71-65. No. 21 TCNJ began life without the 2009 player of the year Hillary Klimowicz with a loss at Empire 8 champion Stevens, 48-46. Check on Sunday's women's openers.

&&f-boxr&&Back on the men's side, No. 10 UW-Stevens Point denied St. John's coach Jim Smith his 700th victory as the Pointers defeated the Johnnies 71-57. (Photo gallery) Last year�s HCAC champion Transylvania fell 76-54 at Carthage and Brockport State edged St. Lawrence 75-72 in a meeting of two teams that made the 2009 NCAA tournament. Division III scored a pair of wins over Division II as Concordia (Wis.) knocked off Division II UW-Parkside 86-81 in overtime and Buena Vista nipped Wayne State, 62-61.

In what might be a preview of next week's football playoffs, North Carolina Wesleyan lost to Wesley 90-73. The two schools are also matched up in next week's Division III football postseason. Sage played men's basketball for the first time and found RPI too much to handle in an 82-62 loss. (Photo gallery)

If your teams aren't underway, get caught up on our preseason coverage with the Preseason men's and women's All-Americans and school provided team previews.