Four Teams, One Ticket to Kansas City: LSUS Hosts NAIA First and Second Rounds
SHREVEPORT, La. – The field is set for the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball First and Second Round – Shreveport Bracket, as No. 2 seed LSU Shreveport will host Morningside University, Texas Wesleyan University, and Tougaloo College on March 13–14 at The Dock on the campus of LSUS.
The Pilots enter postseason play ranked No. 13 in the NAIA after compiling a 26-5 overall record and a 20-2 mark in Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play. LSU Shreveport captured the RRAC Regular Season Championship and completed the sweep by winning the RRAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship, earning the opportunity to host the opening rounds of the national tournament.
LSUS has been one of the most productive offensive teams in the country this season, averaging 91.2 points per game while adding 42.4 rebounds, 17.4 assists, 7.4 steals, and 5.9 blocks per game across 31 contests. The Pilots are led by Hayden Brittingham, who averages 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while Alexzaye Johnson directs the offense with 5.2 assists per game.
The No. 7 seed Morningside Mustangs, representing the Great Plains Athletic Conference, enter the tournament with a 22-7 overall record and an 18-2 conference mark. Morningside reached the GPAC Semifinal, falling to Concordia (Neb.), 92-87.
The Mustangs average 89.2 points per game with 32.4 rebounds, 19.7 assists, 7.7 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. Alex Wilcoxson leads the team with 17 points, 5.6 assists, and 2 steals per game, while Caleb Dreckman anchors the glass with 5.2 rebounds per game.
The No. 10 seed Texas Wesleyan Rams, from the Sooner Athletic Conference, finished the season 19-9 overall and 15-7 in conference play. The Rams advanced to the SAC Tournament Semifinal, where they fell to Oklahoma City, 82-51.
Texas Wesleyan averages 74.5 points per game while contributing 37.6 rebounds, 11 assists, 8.3 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game. Daylan Hamilton leads the Rams with 14.4 points per game, while Montez Young Jr. averages 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Khalil Turner leads the team in assists with 2.3 per game, and Daniel Oravbiere adds 1.7 blocks per game.
The No. 15 seed Tougaloo College Bulldogs, representing the HBCU Athletic Conference, secured the HBCUAC Western Division title with a 19-9 overall record and a 10-2 conference mark. Tougaloo narrowly fell to Southern University at New Orleans in the HBCUAC Championship Game, 84-81.
Tougaloo averages 77.5 points, 37.3 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 9.2 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game. Antonio Patterson leads the Bulldogs with 20.3 points per game, while Jordan Ealey contributes 6.8 rebounds per game and Tyler Hudson averages 4.3 assists per contest.
The tournament begins Friday, March 13, with No. 7 Morningside University facing No. 10 Texas Wesleyan University at 5 p.m.. In the second game, No. 2 LSU Shreveport will take on No. 15 Tougaloo College at 7 p.m.
The winners of Friday's contests will advance to the Shreveport Bracket Championship Game on Saturday, March 14 at 5 p.m.
The bracket champion will advance to the 88th Annual NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Final Site, scheduled for March 19–24, 2026, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information and updates on LSUS Athletics please visit lsusathletics.com, 'like' us on Facebook at LSU Shreveport Athletics or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @lsusathletics.