McNeese State University is set to host the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Conference Basketball Championship from March 8 through March 12 at the Townsley Law Arena in Lake Charles. This marks the fourth consecutive year that McNeese has served as the tournament venue.
Tickets for the championship are available online at the Southland Conference website (www.Southland.org/tickets) or can be purchased at the arena box office starting one hour before each day’s first game. Tickets are sold by session, with two games per session and each championship game considered its own session.
A new feature this year is the SLC Fan Fest, presented by Lake Charles Toyota. The event will take place in Lot A at Townsley Law Arena and will include live music as well as complimentary food and drinks. The organizers encourage fans and students from all participating schools to attend.
The lineup for Fan Fest includes performances by Alec Dean, John Guidroz Band, Dani Lacour, JM + The Backstabbers, Doc Wilder Trio, and DJ music across various days of the tournament.
The men’s tournament opens on Sunday evening with two first-round games: No. 5 New Orleans versus No. 8 HCU at 5 p.m., followed by No. 6 Nicholls against No. 7 Northwestern State at 7:30 p.m.
The women’s tournament begins Monday morning at 11 a.m., featuring No. 5 Northwestern State versus No. 8 East Texas A&M, followed by No. 6 UIW against No. 7 Nicholls at 1:30 p.m. Two men’s quarterfinal games are scheduled for later that day at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
