NAIA COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON TIPPED OFF YESTERDAY

The 2026 basketball postseason has started in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

NAIA

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – Only one Upset in the HAAC Tournament Opening Round.

The rest was chalk as the top seeded GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS crushed the 8th seeded PERU STATE BOBCATS 95-68; the (2) WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN beat the (7) BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS 88-73; the (3) GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras) edged the (6) MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS 65-60; and the (5) CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES toppled the (4) MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SPARTANS 75-66.

THE SUN CONFERENCE – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE completely eviscerated the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS to the tune of 96-52; and the SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (should be Tomcats) edged the FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS by a final score of 76-73. On Friday Southeastern will play (1) Ave Maria University and St. Thomas will play (2) Keiser University.

SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – Yesterday saw the Play-In Round to the SSAC Conference Tournament. The (5 West) UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE-SOUTHERN FIREHAWKS managed to upset the (4 East) POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS by a final tally of 81-76; and the (4 West) UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE RAMS defeated the (5 East) THOMAS UNIVERSITY NIGHTHAWKS in a 73-69 affair. 

RED RIVER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The first two Quarterfinal games in this Conference Tournament were played yesterday. The number 1 seeds – the LOUISIANA STATE AT SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) – defeated the 8th seeded TEXAS A&M AT SAN ANTONIO JAGUARS by a Century Club count of 108-86; and the 5th seeded TEXAS A&M AT TEXARKANA EAGLES (should be Texarks) upset the 4 seeds – the OUR LADY OF THE LAKES UNIVERSITY SAINTS – by a tighter score of 83-75.