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HBCU Athletic Conference

West No. 1 Tougaloo, West No. 4 SUNO set for Championship Showdown

Southern University at New Orleans reaches championship game for the first time since 2012.
Southern University at New Orleans reaches championship game for the first time since 2012.
March 1, 2026

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In the semifinals of the 2026 Hope Credit Union Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Basketball Championship, West No. 4 seed Southern University at New Orleans continued its run as it took control in the second half to defeat West No. 2 seed Philander Smith University. West No. 1 seed Tougaloo College returns to the championship after ending East No. 6 Oakwood University's tournament run Saturday at Stillman College's Birthright Alumni Hall.

WEST No. 4 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS 82, WEST No. 2 PHILANDER SMITH 70
Boxscore | Broadcast

  • The Knights rallied in the final eight minutes to clinch their first HBCUAC championship game appearance and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship berth since 2012.

  • Southern University of New Orleans jumped out early and led by as many as 14 in the first half.

  • 3-pointers by Evan Alexander and Kesean Washington started a rally for the Panthers.

  • Jaxon Hampton tied the game at the foul line.

  • An offensive putback by Raymond Reece gave Philander Smith a 36-34 lead which it took into halftime.

  • Hampton hit a 3-pointer with 15:48 remaining to increase the Panther's lead to six.

  • Trailing 57-53, Jermaine Lawrence hit a 3-pointer to cut the margin to one.

  • Jaylon Hicks got a steal and set up a bucket for Lawrence to give the Knights their first lead of the second half.

  • Donte Briggs hit a 3-pointer with 3:44 remaining to increase SUNO's lead to five.

  • Caleb Williams sealed the game with a 3-pointer that gave the Knights an eight-point advantage with 1:17 remaining.

  • Lawrence recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, adding four assists.

  • Briggs followed with 16 points on four three-pointers and contributed four rebounds and three assists

  • Dorian Booker provided 15 points and eight rebounds.

  • Hampton led Philander Smith with 18 points and three rebounds

  • Reece recorded a double-double with 17 points and 19 rebounds.

  • The Panthers finished 18-8. It's the first time since 2021, it didn't reach the championship.

 

WEST No. 1 TOUGALOO COLLEGE 80, EAST No. 6 OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY 71

Boxscore | Broadcast

  • Tougaloo clinched its 11th NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship berth.

  • Oakwood led by as many as three early in the game. Naftal Morara hit a jumper and a 3-pointer. 

  • Willie Anderson gave the Bulldogs the lead with an offensive tip-in with 13:38 left in the first half and they didn't give it up.

  • A layup by Jagger Young and a steal and score by Tyler Hudson put the Bulldogs up by double-digits. The Bulldogs held a 39-28 halftime lead.

  • Antonio Patterson hit his first three shots of the second half, with two of them from 3-point territory to increase the margin to 17.

  • Jordan Bell hit a couple shots and free throws to cut the deficit to six with 10:21 remaining. Anderson hit two shots, Patterson hit a jump shot and Tyler Hudson made a layup to stretch the margin to 16.

  • Three-pointers by Chase Jackson, Jason Griffin and Tahj Evans pulled the Ambassadors within seven. Tougaloo made its free throws to finish the game.

  • Patterson led all scorers with 29 points on an 8-for-12 shooting performance. He added seven rebounds. Anderson followed with 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

  • Oakwood was led by Jackson with 19 points and five rebounds.

  • The Ambassadors finished the season 11-19.

 

2026 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championship Game
West No. 1 Tougaloo College vs. West No. 4 Southern University at New Orleans | Live Stats | Broadcast

 

About the 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), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), 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 soccer, 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.