Stillman captures No. 1 seed, Tougaloo, Dillard co-champions
NEW ORLEANS - February 21, 2025 - The Stillman College men's basketball team claims the top seed in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship and an automatic berth to the 2025 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Basketball National Championship Opening Round, while Tougaloo College and Dillard University also claim a share of the regular season title, the conference announced on Friday.
Stillman, Tougaloo and Dillard all finished HBCUAC play with four losses but the Tigers earned the top spot after defeating them in the first Crossover at New Orleans in December. They clinched on the final day of conference play with a 95-83 victory over Fisk University on Thursday.
The Tigers (17-10, 14-4), led by John Teasley, went 10-4 in the second half of the season. Calvin Finch Jr. is the leader for Stillman, winning multiple HBCUAC Weekly Honors. He averaged 13.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Michael Taylor is one of the top 3-point shooters in the conference hitting 42 percent and averaging 12.6 points per game. Tyler Martin is hitting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Stillman will play in the quarterfinals at 8 p.m. on February 28 in their own Birthright Alumni Hall against the winner of No. 8 seed University of the Virgin Islands (9-13, 7-10) and No. 9 seed Wiley University (9-13, 7-10), who play at 2 p.m. on February 27.
The Bulldogs (19-8, 13-4) claimed the tiebreaker over Dillard with its wins over Philander Smith University. Despite graduating significant pieces last season, the Bulldogs found themselves contending under the leadership of head coach Eric Strothers. Tougaloo went 7-3 against the West Division and 6-1 in Crossover play. Transfer Willie Anderson has made an immediate impact, as he garnered a couple HBCUAC Weekly honors and posted 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Antonio Patterson leads the team with 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Tougaloo will play at 4 p.m. on February 28 in the quarterfinals against the winner of No. 7 Wilberforce University (13-13, 9-9) and No. 10 Fisk University (9-18, 7-11), who play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Bleu Devils (17-10, 13-4) continued where they left off after making an impressive run to the championship game as the ninth seed last season. Under the leadership of head coach Joseph Price, they went 10-1 in HBCUAC play after the calendar flipped to 2025, including winning all four games at the Crossover hosted by Talladega College and Stillman College in January. The Bleu Devils have strong guard and post play. Tory Cargo is averaging 15.1 points per game and 2.7 assists per game. Bentravin Phillips is averaging 13.1 points per game. Khalif Allim records 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Armond Williams notches 10.8 and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Bleu Devils will play in the quarterfinals at noon on February 28 against the winner of No. 6 Southern University at New Orleans (11-16, 9-8) and No. 11 Rust College (8-16, 5-13), who play in the opening round at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Talladega College (19-8, 12-6) earned the No. 4 seed and will play No. 13 Oakwood University (4-24, 3-15) at 2 p.m. in the opening round on Tuesday. Corey Sands leads the Tornadoes with 13.1 points per game. He is followed by Shaun Walker with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds per game. Freshmen Jordan Brewer and Malachi Chavis have also been key contributors.
Philander Smith University (19-8, 11-6) secured the No. 5 seed and faces No. 12 Voorhees University (7-19, 4-14) in the opening round at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Raymond Reece is the go-to man for the Panthers, ranking fourth in the conference with 19.6 points per game and second with 12.1 rebounds per game.
The second automatic berth to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Opening Round will go to the tournament champion or the runner-up if Stillman advances to the championship game. Tickets are available to purchase online on the Tournament Central Page. All of the games will be streamed on the Urban Edge Network. Fans can download the free app to their streaming devices.
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About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.