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SHREVEPORT, LA (KTAL/KMSS) — The 2026 NAIA men’s and women’s basketball tournament is set after Thursday’s selection show.
The night started with the LSU Shreveport men’s team (26-5, 20-2), as the Pilots captured the No. 2 seed.
LSUS enters the tournament winning both the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Regular Season and Tournament Championships, which gifted the Pilots the opportunity to host the first and second rounds at The Dock.
“For us to be able to host at home, we’re excited for the Shreveport-Bossier community, all of our fans and family and everybody, and we hope we can pack this place out,” head coach Kyle Blankenship said.
“That’s big because obviously we’re comfortable here, it’s hard to win here, the fans, they love it. It’s certain people that we see here every day that we don’t want to let down,” senior forward Hayden Brittingham said.
The Pilots bring in a well balanced team, that is top five in both shooting and defensive efficiency. As a team, they average 91.2 points per game.
No. 2 LSU Shreveport will take on No. 15 Tougaloo College on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. If the Pilots win, they will advance to the Shreveport Bracket Championship Game on Saturday, March 14 at 5 p.m.
The LSU Shreveport women’s team (27-4, 20-2) punched their ticket to the madness as the No. 7 seed in the Campbellsville Bracket. The first and second rounds will be held in Campbellsville, Ky.
“We could care less about the seeding, we just want to get to play, and I think we’ve had a great season so far. This group has been unbelievably resilient throughout the year. We’ve had injuries and things like that, but still rattled off about 20 straight wins, so we know what we’re capable of. So, at this point, it’s whoever’s sitting in front of us next is who we’re focused on,” head coach Tim Hays stated.
LSUS enters the tournament on a high note after winning both the RRAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships.
“To know that we were able to take care of the regular season and go in and finish off the conference tournament like that, I mean, it should bring a lot of confidence to everybody,” junior point guard Toni Coleman stated.
Although it’s a different team from last season, the pain from losing in the first round in 2025 is going to be used as motivation for the returning players.
“I feel like for me coming back my second year I’m like, okay, now this is kind of like a redemption kind of look for us. It’s a brand new team but same system, same program, so I’m looking for a good outcome,” guard Selma Markisic said.
No. 7 LSU Shreveport will take on No. 10 Benedictine College on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. If the Pilots win, they will play in the Bracket Championship Game on Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m.
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