Knights Men's Squad Deals Loss to Top Seed in Quarterfinals
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
42 | 42 | 84 |
|
|
35 | 44 | 79 |
Team Stats
Southern University at New Orleans (LA)
Stillman
| Game Statistics | Southern University at New Orleans (LA) | Stillman |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (29-54) | (25-60) |
| Field Goal % | 53.7% | 41.7% |
| Rebounds | 29 | 36 |
| Assists | 18 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 17 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 16 | 17 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 13 | 12 |
| Pts in the Paint | 40 | 34 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 4 | 4 |
| Bench Pts | 24 | 30 |
01 — GAME STORY
The Upset Is Complete
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. [February 27, 2026]— In one of the most stunning results in recent HBCUAC tournament history, Southern University at New Orleans defeated top-seeded Stillman College 84-79 on Thursday night at Birthright Alumni Hall to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championship.
The Knights — an underdog playing on the road in front of a Tuscaloosa crowd hungry for a title run — came in with a chip on their shoulder and a game plan built on the principles that carried them all season: rebound the basketball, share the ball, and protect the paint. On Thursday, they executed every one of those pillars with championship-level intensity.
SUNO controlled the paint from start to finish, outscoring Stillman 40-34 in points in the paint and holding a 13-point lead as their largest advantage of the night. Stillman actually edged SUNO on the glass 36-29 — but the Knights won the game where it mattered most: ball security, shot-making, and interior defense. Both teams finished with 17 turnovers, but SUNO's 53.7% shooting from the field — on 9-of-17 from three — left Stillman chasing all night.
Stillman, which entered the tournament on an eight-game winning streak and had home court advantage on its side, could never find a reliable answer for SUNO's interior duo. The Tigers' guards had their moments — Josh Price and Dasean Sellers combined for big stretches in the second half to trim the deficit — but SUNO's bench depth and relentless effort on the boards made each Stillman run short-lived.
With the victory, SUNO improves to 15-13 overall and advances to the championship semifinals, where they will face the winner of the No. 3 East Voorhees- No. 2 West Philander Smith matchup. The Knights have now won three straight games and are playing the best basketball of the season at exactly the right time.
02 — GAME STATISTICS
By the Numbers
Bold values indicate the team with the edge in each category.
|
SUNO |
GAME STAT |
STILLMAN |
|
84 |
Final Score |
79 |
|
29-54 |
FG (Made-Att) |
25-60 |
|
53.7% |
Field Goal% |
41.7% |
|
52.9% |
3-Point% |
33.3% |
|
73.9% |
Free Throw% |
82.8% |
|
29 |
Rebounds |
36 |
|
18 |
Assists |
9 |
|
17 |
Turnovers |
17 |
|
11 |
Steals |
12 |
|
9 |
Blocks |
2 |
|
40 |
Points in Paint |
34 |
|
24 |
Bench Points |
30 |
|
13 |
2nd Chance Pts |
12 |
|
13 |
Largest Lead |
3 |
03 — KEY PERFORMERS
How They Won It
|
#1 JAYLON HICKS 19 PTS | 7 AST | 6 REB | 1 BLK Hicks was the engine. He scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, drained 3-of-4 from three, and distributed seven assists against just two turnovers. He hit back-to-back threes late in the first half to push the lead to 11, then made the two icing free throws with 11 seconds left. Every big SUNO moment ran through his hands. |
#10 DONTE BRIGGS 17 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL Briggs was the Knights' most consistent offensive force across both halves — 12 points in the first half alone on 5-of-7 shooting. He hit two triples, capped momentum-building runs with pull-up buckets, and knocked down 3-of-4 from the line in the second half when Stillman fouled to extend possessions. |
|
#4 JERMAINE LAWRENCE 10 PTS | 8 REB | 5 BLK | 2 STL Lawrence was the most impactful defender on the floor. His five blocks — including a rejection on Sellers at the rim and a game-sealing steal with no time remaining — completely erased Stillman's inside game. He also grabbed eight rebounds and converted the dunk that pushed SUNO's lead to 70-60 in the second half. |
#9 CALEB WILLIAMS 5 PTS | 5 AST | 3 REB | 5 STL Williams was SUNO's defensive heartbeat. Five steals repeatedly short-circuited Stillman transition opportunities and led directly to Knights fast-break points. He also dished five assists without a turnover in 36 minutes, serving as the primary connector in SUNO's ball-movement system. |
04 — TURNING POINTS
How the Game Unfolded
1. SUNO CONTROLS THE GLASS FROM TIP-OFF
The Knights established their rebounding identity immediately, refusing to give Stillman second-chance opportunities on the offensive end while generating extra possessions of their own. Their +8 rebounding advantage was the most decisive margin of the game and the foundation of the upset.
2. TURNOVER DISCIPLINE WAS THE DIFFERENCE-MAKER
Coming into the tournament averaging 17.2 turnovers per game, SUNO committed just 14 against Stillman — and forced the Tigers into 17 themselves. That net swing of five possessions essentially offset Stillman's home-court edge and kept the Knights in control throughout.
3. SURVIVING STILLMAN'S SECOND-HALF RUN
Stillman made a push late — Price and Sellers kept the Tigers in striking distance — but SUNO responded every time. The Knights never allowed the deficit to reach single possession territory, holding Tuscaloosa at bay with timely buckets and lockdown defense when it mattered most.
4. LAWRENCE ERASED STILLMAN'S INTERIOR GAME
Allister Dixon, Stillman's leading rebounder, and their paint attackers were consistently disrupted by Jermaine Lawrence's presence. With six blocks and a physical defensive effort, Lawrence made Stillman think twice about every drive, pushing their offense to the perimeter — where SUNO's guards were waiting.
WHAT'S NEXT
"We came here to win a championship — not just survive the tournament."