WINFIELD, Kan. — The Southwestern College men's basketball team has earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament and will enter the tournament as the No. 9 seed in the Waxahachie, Texas, opening round.

The Moundbuilders finished the season with a 21-9 overall record and placed fifth in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference standings. Southwestern advanced to the KCAC Tournament semifinals before falling to top-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Southwestern will face No. 8 seed Benedictine University Mesa on Friday, March 13, at 5:30 p.m. inside the Sheaffer Center on the campus of Nelson University. Benedictine University Mesa enters the National Tournament at 24-6 overall. 

The opening-round site in Waxahachie will be hosted by Nelson University. With a victory, the Moundbuilders would advance to the second round to face the winner of No. 1 seed Nelson University and No. 16 seed Arkansas Baptist College. The second-round contest is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at 5 p.m., also inside the Sheaffer Center.

Tickets for the opening round can be purchased online at https://vivenu.com/seller/southwestern-assemblies-of-god-university-z6n9/section/mens-basketball-gnu9.

Fans can watch the game through the Nelson University Sports Network on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@NelsonUniversitySports. 

Check the Builder Sports website and socials for all updates regarding the NAIA National Tournament.