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Photo courtesy of LSUS Athletics.
Photo courtesy of LSUS Athletics.
Posted: Mar 14, 2026

LSU Shreveport wins second round to advance to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship

SHREVEPORT, La. (March 14, 2026) – No. 2 seed LSU Shreveport advanced to the 88th Annual Men's Basketball National Championship by winning the second round of the Shreveport Bracket. The Pilots edged No. 10 seed Texas Wesleyan University, 70-66. The Rams end their season with a 20-10 record. LSUS prepares for "The Dance," beginning March 19 in Kansas City, Mo. Team matchups will be announced next week.
 
LSUS has ranked first throughout the RRAC season. The Pilots started 13-0 before losing to Jarvis Christian (Texas) in mid-January. Their second and final conference loss came in mid-February to Xavier (La.), finishing 20-2.
 
The reigning regular-season and tournament champion Pilots won four of the five top conference awards: Player, Defensive Player, Newcomer, and Coach of the Year, and placed five players on the All-Conference team. Players have won offensive player of the week six times and defensive player of the week five times - the most in the RRAC. In the postseason, the Pilots earned the MVP award, had three players named to the All-Tournament team, and outscored their conference opponents 266-211.
 
LSUS put a lot of confidence in the starting lineup – Alexzaye Johnson, Khi Wallace, Emareyon McDonald, Hayden Brittingham, and Thaddeus Johnson, as well as in their two reserves, Devonte Austin and James Johnson. A three from each team started the game, and LSUS blazed through the next five minutes, leading 12-3. A layup from Brittingham at the 11:54 mark pushed the Pilots to 20 points, while the Rams were just able to add their first double-digit score. Even though LSUS was ahead 33-20, the Rams kept their energy up and powered through. The Pilots' command was too much for the Rams to overcome as the Pilots ended the half with a 42-24 lead.
 
LSUS maintained a calm approach in the second half, allowing the Rams to pull within nine at 49-40 at 14:22. The Rams continued to close the gap. With just over two minutes left, Texas Wesleyan cut it to 65-60. With 11 seconds remaining, a missed Rams three-pointer squandered a comeback chance. LSUS then led 70-66, and another Rams miss at the four-second mark sealed the Pilots' win.
 
Individual leaders
 
Texas Wesleyan starters DaeVeon Scott and Montez Young Jr. each scored 18 points. Scott also had six rebounds and three assists. Daniel Oravbiere tallied six rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and nine points.
Four of five LSUS starters scored in double figures: Khi Wallace (23 points), Thaddeus Johnson (15 points), Emareyon McDonald (13 points), and Hayden Brittingham (10 points). Wallace also recorded 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Brittingham added nine rebounds and four assists.
 
Team totals
 
The Rams shot 48.1 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from three, and 58.3 percent from the line. They totaled 27 rebounds, nine assists, four steals, and three blocks.
 
Meanwhile, the Pilots shot 44.3 percent overall, 41.7 percent from three-point range, and 68.8 percent from the free-throw line, with 32 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and two blocks.