LAKE CHARLES – McNeese will host the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Conference Basketball Championship beginning Sunday, March 8 and running through Thursday, March 12.
 
This is the fourth-straight year McNeese will host the tournament in the Townsley Law Arena.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at the Southland Conference website at www.Southland.org/tickets or at the Townsley Law Arena box office starting one hour before the first game of the day. Tickets are sold per session (two games) with each championship game counting as one session each.
 
New to this year's tournament will be the SLC Fan Fest presented by Lake Charles Toyota.
 
The tailgate will have live music along with free food and drinks located in Lot A at the Townsley Law Arena.
 
Fans and students from all schools are encouraged to experience the Fan Fest.
 
Lineup for the tailgate are as follows: March 9 from 12-7 p.m. – Alec Dean (3-5 p.m.) and John Guidroz Band (5:30-7 p.m.); March 10 from 12-8 p.m. – Alec Dean (12-3:30 p.m.), Dani Lacour (4-6 p.m.), JM + The Backstabbers (6:30-8 p.m.); March 11 from 12-4 p.m. – Doc Wilder Trio (2-4 p.m.); March 12 from 2-3:30 p.m. (DJ music).
 
The men's tournament will get underway on Sunday evening with two first round games beginning at 5 p.m. with No. 5 New Orleans taking on No. 8 HCU and followed by No. 6 Nicholls vs. No. 7 Northwestern State at 7:30.
 
The women's tournament will begin Monday morning at 11 a.m. when No. 5 Northwestern State plays No. 8 East Texas A&M. at 1:30, No. 6 UIW will go up against No. 7 Nicholls. Two men's quarterfinals games will follow at 5 and 7:30 p.m.