UJRGV downs Northwestern State 76-67

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 10, 2026) The No. 4 seed UTRGV Vaqueros made history Tuesday morning, picking up their first Southland Conference Tournament win with a 76–67 victory over No. 5 seed Northwestern State in the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference Basketball Championships 

In just their second season in the league, UTRGV advanced to the semifinals for the first time. Last year, the Vaqueros fell in their tournament opener.
The game stayed close early. UTRGV trailed 28–27 at halftime, but everything changed in the third quarter. The Vaqueros exploded for 30 points while holding Northwestern State to just 14. That big run turned a one-point deficit into a 57–42 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Jalayah Ingram led the way with 22 points. She was perfect at the free throw line, making all 12 of her attempts, and added eight rebounds and six assists. Charlotte O’Keefe grabbed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Gianna Angiolet scored 11 points, and Chazlyn Dettor added 10.
UTRGV shot 47 percent from the field and went a perfect 20-for-20 at the free throw line. That ties for the second-best free throw performance in Southland Conference Tournament history.
The Vaqueros also won the rebounding battle 36–30 and scored 32 points in the paint. Northwestern State got 30 points from Nya Valentine and 17 from Southland Player of the Year Vernell Atamah.
With the win, UTRGV improves to 20–12 and will face top-seeded McNeese in the semifinals Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

SFA Ladyjacks rally past Nicholls Colonels to reach semifinals of Southland Tournament

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 10, 2026)  The defending champion Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks showed why they are tough to beat in the Southland Conference tournament. They came from behind to beat the Nicholls Colonels 63–60 on Tuesday afternoon at the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Championship.

Nicholls started strong. Led by Sh’Diamond McKnight, the Colonels jumped out to a 17–9 lead after the first quarter. They pushed their advantage to 11 points in the second quarter and took a 29–23 lead into halftime. SFA struggled early, making only 33 percent of their shots in the first half.
The Ladyjacks exploded for 27 points in the third quarter. They played tough defense and pushed the ball fast in transition. Myka Perry and Harmanie Dominguez led the charge. SFA turned their six-point deficit into a 50–46 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The final period was full of excitement. Both teams traded baskets, but SFA kept finding answers. Perry hit a big three-point play late in the third to give her team some space. The Ladyjacks’ defense stepped up with key stops in the closing minutes to hold on for the win.
Myka Perry led SFA with 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. She controlled the boards during the comeback. Key Roseby added 13 points, and Harmanie Dominguez scored 11, including several important shots in the third-quarter run.
McKnight had a game-high 21 points for Nicholls, but SFA limited extra chances in the end.With the victory, the No. 3 seed Ladyjacks move on to the semifinals. They will face No. 2 Lamar on Wednesday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ in a rematch of last year’s semifinal.

Vaqueros dominate in historic tournament debut, Roll past Nicholls 86-68

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 9, 2026)  In their very first Southland Conference men's basketball tournament game, the UTRGV Vaqueros sent a loud message: "They belong here."

The No. 3 seed Vaqueros dominated from start to finish, cruising to an impressive 86–68 quarterfinal win over the Nicholls Colonels on Monday night.
UTRGV jumped out strong and never looked back. Sharp shooting and balanced scoring kept Nicholls on its heels all evening.
The Vaqueros finished the night red-hot, shooting 58.5 percent from the field and connecting on 50 percent of their three-point attempts. They were flawless at the free-throw line, going a perfect 12-for-12. Five players reached double figures as UTRGV's offense clicked on every level.
Filip Brankovic led the charge with 21 points, hitting 9 of 12 shots while adding five rebounds and three assists in a complete performance. Koree Cotton poured in 18 points and dished out five assists. Jaylen Washington added 15 points, Marvin McGhee III scored 13, and Julien Gomez contributed 12 to keep the scoring spread out.
The Vaqueros took control in the first half, building momentum and heading to the locker room with a 44–32 lead. They stayed aggressive after the break, shooting a sizzling 68 percent from the field in the second half and pushing the lead to as many as 25 points.
Nicholls grabbed a brief early lead, but UTRGV answered with a big run midway through the opening period. After that, the Vaqueros led for more than 39 minutes and never let the Colonels get closer than 10 points in the second half.
Trae English paced Nicholls with 17 points, and Jalin Rice added 13 for the Colonels.The victory improves UTRGV to 19–13 on the season and sends them into the semifinals for the first time in program history as Southland members.
Next up, the Vaqueros will take on No. 2 seed McNeese Cowboys on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. CT. A win would put UTRGV in the conference championship game.

Michelini-Jackson erupts for career-high 28 points in Islanders' tournament win

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 9, 2026)  Daniel Michelini-Jackson saved his best game for the biggest stage. 

The sophomore guard exploded for a career-high 28 points on Monday night, leading No. 4 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi to a 74–61 victory over No. 5 New Orleans in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Southland Conference Basketball Championships.

Michelini-Jackson, who usually scores just 4.8 points per game, was on fire from the start. He poured in 20 points in the first half alone. His scoring helped the Islanders build a solid 37–30 lead by halftime.

The Islanders played tough inside the paint too. They outrebounded New Orleans 41–29, grabbing lots of extra chances to score on second shots.

Texas A&M–Corpus Christi shot the ball well, making 52.8 percent of their field goals. They also knocked down 10 three-pointers and stayed ahead for more than 32 minutes of the game.

Sheldon Williams added 15 points for the Islanders. D.A. Houston chipped in 11 points and handed out six assists. The team pushed their lead to as many as 16 points early in the first half.

New Orleans (15–18) did not go down easily. MJ Thomas led the Privateers with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Coleton Benson also scored 17 points, and TJ Cope added 14. Midway through the second half, the Privateers cut the lead to just one point. But Corpus Christi answered right back with a strong run to seal the win.

This victory sends Texas A&M–Corpus Christi to the semifinals for the first time since 2024. The Islanders last played in the Southland Conference championship game back in 2023.

Next up, the Islanders will face top-seeded Stephen F. Austin in the semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.. 

Nicholls pulls away in second half to defeat UIW in tournament opener

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 9, 2026)  The No. 7 seeded Nicholls Colonels used a huge second half to defeat the No. 6 seed UIW Cardinals 81–55 on Monday afternoon in the opening round of the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Conference Women's Basketball Championships.

The win marks the second straight year the Colonels have earned a first-round victory as the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament.

Nicholls trailed by one point at halftime, 27–26, after a tight first half. Both teams struggled to create separation, and the Cardinals held a small edge heading into the break.

The game changed quickly in the third quarter.

Nicholls came out with strong energy and took control of the game. The Colonels outscored UIW 31–14 in the quarter and shot an impressive 66.7 percent from the field. They were also perfect at the free-throw line, making all 11 attempts during the period. By the end of the third quarter, Nicholls had built a comfortable double-digit lead.

The Colonels kept the momentum going in the fourth quarter. Their lead grew to as many as 26 points as they closed out the game in dominant fashion.

Sh’Diamond McKnight (No. 11, shown above) led Nicholls with a strong all-around performance. She scored 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting and went 10-for-11 from the free-throw line. McKnight also added three assists and three steals.

Anyra Wilson contributed 14 points and three assists, while Jesslynn Jalomo finished with nine points and four rebounds.

Nicholls shot 50 percent from the field and made 21 of its 23 free throws. The Colonels also forced 18 turnovers, turning those mistakes into 26 points.

UIW (13–17) was led by Brynn Lusby with 22 points. Madison Cockrell added 16 points. The Cardinals struggled from long distance, making just two of their 22 three-point attempts.

With the win, Nicholls moves on to face No. 3 seed Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks basketball in the quarterfinals Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

Atamah's heroics propel Northwestern State to comeback win

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 9, 2026)  In a thrilling start to the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Conference Women's Basketball Championships, the No. 5 Northwestern State Demons pulled off a stunning comeback. They defeated the No. 8 seeded East Texas A&M Lions 69-56 on Monday morning in the opening round.

The Demons (18-13) fell behind early. The Lions (13-17) jumped out to a 20-10 lead after the first quarter. They stretched it to 13 points in the first half, thanks to sharp shooting from beyond the arc. East Texas A&M looked strong and held the lead for most of the game.

But Northwestern State fought back steadily. By the end of the third quarter, they had narrowed the gap to just one point, 43-42. That's when Southland Player of the Year Vernell Atamah (No. 32 shown above) stepped up big time.

The senior guard dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of her 19 points. She hit key shots, including four three-pointers, and went 7-of-10 from the field. Her hot streak helped the Demons outscore the Lions 27-13 in the final period to seal the victory.

Teammates chipped in too. Nya Valentine added 17 points and four assists. Carla Celaya grabbed a double-double with seven points and 13 rebounds. Off the bench, Cimiya Rideaux surprised everyone. She averages less than one point per game but scored 10 points in just nine minutes, making four of seven shots.

The Demons ruled the rebounds, 53-26, and scored 36 points in the paint. For the Lions, Tiani Ellison led with 15 points, Ahmya Boyce had 13, and Nina Horvath added 12.

This win advances Northwestern State to the quarterfinal where they will face No. 4 UTRGV Vaqueros on Tuesday at 11 a.m. CDT.

Nicholls Colonels downs Northwestern State to advance in Southland Conference tournament

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 8, 202) Nicholls Colonels used a strong defensive effort to defeat the Northwestern State Demons 61–47 on Sunday night in the opening round of the Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at Townsley Law Arena.

The win was powered by one of Nicholls’ best defensive performances of the season. The Colonels held Northwestern State to just 28.6 percent shooting from the field and kept the Demons under 25 points in both halves. The 47 points allowed marked the fewest points Nicholls has given up in a game this season.

With the victory, Nicholls improved to 14–18 on the year and moved on to face the UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball in the tournament quarterfinals.

Offensively, the Colonels had several players step up. Sincere Malone led the team with 14 points and added three steals. Jalik Dunkley (No. 22, shown above) scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Jalin Rice finished with 12 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting performance. Jaylen Searles added nine points, and Grant Sanders contributed seven rebounds and four assists.

The game started slowly for both teams. Nicholls struggled to find its rhythm early and shot just 35.7 percent in the first half. Despite the slow start, the Colonels held a narrow 25–24 lead at halftime. Rice scored on a layup with 16 seconds left in the half to give Nicholls the one-point edge heading into the break.

Nicholls controlled the second half from the start. The Colonels held the lead throughout the period but finally pulled away midway through the half. Leading 40–34, Searles and Christian Winborne scored back-to-back baskets in the paint to extend the lead.

Moments later, Malone came up with a steal and raced down the court for a fast-break layup. He then knocked down a three-pointer to push the lead into double digits. Sanders later found Rice for a basket and a free throw, giving Nicholls a comfortable 51–35 advantage.

The Colonels kept the lead in double figures during the final eight minutes to secure the victory. Nicholls also completed a season sweep over Northwestern State with the win.

For the Demons, Izzy Miles led the team with 14 points, while Landyn Jumawan added 12 points. Despite those efforts, Northwestern State could not overcome the strong defense from Nicholls.

HCU ends Southland Conference tournament play with loss to New Orleans

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 8, 2026) The season came to an end for the Houston Christian University Huskies on Sunday night after a 73–60 loss to the New Orleans Privateers in the first round of the Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. The game was played at Townsley Law Arena on the campus of McNeese State University.

HCU stayed close early and trailed by just one point at halftime, 34–33. However, a strong second-half run by New Orleans helped the Privateers pull away and end the Huskies’ season.

New Orleans jumped out to a quick 6–2 lead early in the game, but Houston Christian responded with a strong run. A jumper by Trent Johnson and back-to-back three-pointers from D'Aundre Samuels (No. 5, shown above) helped the Huskies take an 18–14 lead midway through the first half.

The teams traded baskets through the rest of the half. Samuels continued his hot shooting and knocked down his third three-pointer late in the period. Houston Christian stayed within striking distance, and a short jumper by Kylin Green just before halftime cut the deficit to 34–33 at the break.

Houston Christian briefly took the lead early in the second half after a basket by Ryan Bartley. But New Orleans quickly answered with a big scoring run. The Privateers used a 12–0 stretch over three minutes to build a 46–35 lead. That run gave New Orleans control of the game.

The Huskies tried to fight back in the second half. A three-pointer by Samuels and a basket inside from Demarco Bethea  helped trim the lead, but the Privateers kept their advantage in double digits for most of the final period.

Houston Christian made one last push late in the game. A layup by Bethea and a three-pointer by Johnson cut the deficit to 10 points with less than two minutes to play. However, that was as close as the Huskies would get.

Houston Christian shot 50 percent in the first half but cooled off in the second. The Huskies finished the game shooting 40 percent overall, while New Orleans shot 46 percent. The Privateers also controlled the boards, holding a 43–27 rebounding advantage and winning second-chance points 11–0.

Samuels led the Huskies with 20 points while hitting four three-pointers. Green added 13 points and four assists, and Bethea finished with 11 points. Bartley chipped in nine points, four rebounds, and three assists.

New Orleans was led by Jakevion Buckley and Coleton Benson, who each scored 14 points. MJ Thomas recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The loss ended the Huskies’ season with a 12–20 record in their second year under head coach Craig Doty. Meanwhile, New Orleans improved to 15–17 and advanced to the tournament quarterfinals.

Nicholls advances in SLC Tourney with 66-63 win over UTRGV

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La VIta Loca Photography, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA  (March 10, 2025) The Nicholls Colonels women's basketball team (shown above) edged out the UT Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros with a 66-63 victory in the first round of the Southland Conference Basketball Championships.

The game was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Nicholls built a 16-12 advantage midway through the first quarter, but UTRGV's defense responded, holding the Colonels scoreless for nearly five minutes to regain momentum.

In the second quarter, the physicality intensified as both teams battled for control. UTRGV's O'Keefe showcased her strength inside, contributing crucial points to keep the Vaqueros competitive.

As the game progressed, neither team could establish a decisive lead. The final minutes were marked by intense back-and-forth action, with both squads displaying resilience and determination. Ultimately, Nicholls managed to secure the win with a late-game surge, advancing to the next round of the tournament.

This victory sets up a matchup between Nicholls and the Incarnate Word Cardinals, who recently notched their program's first Southland Tournament win by defeating Southeastern Louisiana 71-67 in overtime.

Lady Demons advance to 2nd round of SLC Tourney with 66-63 win over TAMU-CC

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loco Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUSIANA (March 10, 2025) The Northwestern State Lady Demons secured a thrilling 66-63 victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in the first round of the Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Basketball Championships. This win marked Northwestern State's first tournament triumph since 2015, propelling them into the second round to face No. 4 seed Incarnate Word on Tuesday at 11 a.m. on ESPN+.

The Lady Demons were led by standout performances from their key players. Sharna Ayres (shown above) delivered an impressive 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds, shooting 6-of-18 from the field, including 6-of-11 from three-point range. Vernell Atamah contributed 18 points and six rebounds, while Mya Blake added 18 points and seven assists.

Northwestern State came out strong in the first quarter, establishing a 21-11 lead, thanks in part to Ayres' hot shooting, which included four first-half three-pointers. However, the Islanders tightened their defense in the second quarter, forcing 12 turnovers and narrowing the gap to a 26-24 halftime deficit.

In the second half, Blake took charge for the Lady Demons, scoring 12 of her 18 points after the break. Despite a late surge from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which cut the deficit to one point in the final minute, clutch free throws from Atamah sealed the win for Northwestern State.

The Islanders were led by Paige Allen, who scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. Mireia Aguado added 12 points, and Nabaweeyah McGill contributed nine points and four rebounds

UIW upsets Southeastern Louisiana in OT in Southland Conference Tournament

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 9, 2025) In a thrilling overtime match at the Legacy Center in Lake Charles, No. 7 ranked University of the Incarnate Word  Cardinals secured an historic 71-

67 win over the number 6 ranked Southeastern Louisiana Lions in the Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Tournament's first round. This win marks UIW's first-ever triumph in the Southland Tournament.

The Cardinals were propelled by standout performances from guards Davion Bailey (No. 5, shown above) and Jalin Anderson, each contributing 20 points. Bailey showcased his shooting prowess by sinking six three-pointers, including two crucial ones in overtime that shifted the game's momentum. Anderson added seven assists to his 20-point tally, orchestrating the offense with precision.

Forward Dylan Hayman also played a pivotal role, adding 16 points and grabbing six rebounds. His consistent play provided stability on both ends of the court.

The game began with UIW dominating early, establishing a 29-11 lead. However, Southeastern Louisiana responded with resilience, eventually taking a four-point lead in the second half. The contest featured seven ties and 17 lead changes, highlighting the intensity and competitiveness of both teams.

For the Lions, Sam Hines Jr. delivered an impressive performance, leading all scorers with 27 points and securing eight rebounds. Jakevion Buckley and Jeremy Elyzee contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, showcasing the team's depth.

With this victory, UIW improves to a 17-15 overall record and advances to face the No. 3 in the tournament's next round. The Cardinals aim to build on this historic win as they continue their pursuit of the conference championship.