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HBCU Athletic Conference

Oakwood wins first postseason game since 2019, Wilberforce earns spot in Quarterfinals

Oakwood dominated the second half.
Oakwood dominated the second half.
February 25, 2026

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 2026 Hope Credit Union Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Basketball Championship tipped off with Oakwood University winning its first postseason game since 2019 and Wilberforce advancing to the quarterfinals Tuesday at Stillman College's Birthright Alumni Hall.



EAST No. 5 FISK 83, WEST No. 8 VIRGIN ISLANDS 72 | Box Score | Broadcast

  • Fisk's Kaleb Jeffries led all scorers with a 23-point performance (7-16 FG, 9-9 FT) in 37 minutes of action

  • Virgin Islands saw good bench production from Eliyah Stevens who provided a 12 point, 12 rebound double-double to go along with 2 steals off of the bench in only 16 minutes

  • Fisk trailed the entire first half until tying the game with 8 seconds left; second half began back and forth, but after being tied 58-58 at 8:51 remaining, Fisk outscored Virgin Islands 25-14 to close the game

  • Fisk will go on to play West No. 4 Southern University at New Orleans in the next round (Feb. 25, 12:00 PM)

  • Virgin Islands will end their season 3-14

EAST No. 7 RUST 67, WEST No. 6 HUSTON-TILLOTSON 61 | Box Score | Broadcast

  • Rust's Johnathon Molierce led his team with an efficient 13 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 3FG) in just 19 minutes

  • Shannon Robinson led the way for Huston-Tillotson with 17 points (led all scorers) as well as 7 rebounds and 2 steals off of the bench

  • In an incredible back-and-forth battle, Rust pulls through with a 20-3 run to close the game in the final 4:07

  • Free throw disparity was also a large aspect of the game: while Rust was 33-38, Houston-Tillotson was merely 13-25

  • Rust will move on to face East No. 3 Voorhees University (Feb. 25, 4:00 PM)

  • Houston-Tillotson will end their season 8-13

 

EAST No. 6 OAKWOOD 79, WEST No. 7 WILEY 66 | Box Score | Broadcast

  • Oakwood had 4 players in double digits, including Jordan Bell, who led all scorers with 25 to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals

  • The Ambassadors win a postseason game for the first time since 2018-19 when it won the United States Collegiate Athletic Association

  • Wiley saw good bench contribution from Dontae Stringfellow who poured in an efficient 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-5 3FG) in just 14 minutes

  • Despite a close first half that saw Wiley lead by 1 at the break, Oakwood came out looking strong past halftime and from the start of the second until 6:26, they would go on a 38-16 run that would be enough to keep them in the lead for the remainder of the game

  • Oakwood will play West No. 3 Dillard University in the second round at 8 p.m. Wednesday

  • Wiley will finish their year 1-21

EAST No. 4 WILBERFORCE 66, WEST No. 5 PAUL QUINN 65 | Box Score | Broadcast

  • Wilberforce was led by Eduardo Diaz, who scored 18 points (5-12 FG, 3-6 3FG, 5-5 FT), including hitting the game-tying floater before the game-winning free throw

  • Paul Quinn's Mekhi Johnson had 17 points to go along with a game-high 17 rebounds

  • In what was a nail biter all the way through, Paul Quinn looked like they would pull out the win late, leading by as much as 11 with just 9:06 remaining; late game heroics on both ends of the ball would end up having Wilberforce find victory in the end

  • Wilberforce will play West No. 1 Tougaloo in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Thursday.

  • Paul Quinn finishes their season 8-18

 

WEDNESDAY'S SECOND ROUND GAMES

12:00 pm Game 10: Men's W4 (SUNO) vs. E5 (Fisk) | Live Stats | Broadcast

4:00 pm Game 12: Men's E3 (Voorhees) vs. E7 (Rust) | Live Stats | Broadcast

8:00 pm Game 14: Men's W3 (Dillard) vs. E6 (Oakwood) | 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.