By: Leon Mitchell, GSU Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team enters the 2026 Pepsi Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Men's Basketball Tournament presented by Buick as the No. 9 seed and will open tournament play on Monday against No. 12 Mississippi Valley State at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (EST) and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Grambling State enters the tournament with a 13-18 overall record and a 7-11 mark in SWAC play, finishing the regular season on a one-game winning streak.
The Tigers posted a 7-5 record at home, while going 4-13 on the road and 2-0 at neutral sites this season.
Mississippi Valley State enters tournament play as the No. 12 seed after finishing 2-16 in conference play.
Grambling State claimed the regular season meeting between the two teams earlier this year, defeating Mississippi Valley State 83-62 on Feb. 23 inside the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The winner of Monday's matchup will advance to face No. 7 Jackson State in the second round on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. (EST).
The 2026 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament will be held March 9-14 at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
Bethune-Cookman enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after winning the SWAC regular season title with a 14-4 conference record.
Florida A&M earned the No. 2 seed, while Southern secured the No. 3 seed.
| DATE |
TIME |
MEN'S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE |
WATCH |
| March 9 |
2:00 pm |
Game One: No. 10 Alabama State vs. No. 11 Alcorn State |
ESPN+ |
| March 9 |
8:30 pm |
Game Two: No. 9 Grambling State vs. No. 12 Mississippi Valley State |
ESPN+ |
| March 10 |
2:00 pm |
Game Three: No. 8 Prairie View A&M vs. Winner Game One |
ESPN+ |
| March 10 |
8:30 pm |
Game Four: No. 7 Jackson State vs. Winner Game Two |
ESPN+ |
| March 11 |
2:00 pm |
Game Five: No. 1 Bethune-Cookman vs. Winner Game Three |
ESPN+ |
| March 11 |
8:30 pm |
Game Six: No. 2 Florida A&M vs. Winner Game Four |
ESPN+ |
| March 12 |
2:00 pm |
Game Seven: No. 4 Texas Southern vs. No. 5 Alabama A&M |
ESPN+ |
| March 12 |
8:30 pm |
Game Eight: No. 3 Southern vs. No. 6 Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
ESPN+ |
| March 13 |
2:00 pm |
Game Nine: Winner Game Five vs. Winner Game Seven |
ESPN+ |
| March 13 |
8:30 pm |
Game Ten: Winner Game Six vs. Winner Game Eight |
ESPN+ |
| March 14 |
7:30 pm |
Championship Game |
ESPNU |
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