Kennesaw State: 2026 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) Jaden Harris and Amir Taylor combined to score 35 points and No. 6 seed Kennesaw State defeated No. 4 seed Louisiana Tech to win their first Conference USA championship and clinch a berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Liberty: 2024-25 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

 

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WSET/Liberty Flames) — For a season with plenty of ups and downs, Saturday's Conference USA championship game never seemed in doubt.

No. 1 seed Liberty won its first Conference USA title, topping No. 2 seed Jacksonville State 79-67 in the 2025 CUSA Championship Final on Saturday night at Propst Arena.

The Flames improve to 28-6 on the season and punch their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Liberty will find out where it will be heading in the NCAA Tournament tomorrow night on Selection Sunday. The NCAA Selection Show will be carried live tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville State drops to 22-12 on the year. The Gamecocks will await their postseason fate.

This is Liberty's fourth conference championship title in the last seven years and seventh conference crown overall. The Flames now have 10 total titles (four conference tournament, six regular season and/or division crowns) over the last seven years.

Western Kentucky: 2023-24 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

 

When being on top of the hill isn’t high enough, you sit on top of the conference. 

WKU mens basketball defeated the University of Texas El-Paso Miners Saturday, 78-71, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013.

Before the game, it was announced that WKU guard Dontaie Allen had been ruled out, having left the team’s win Friday with a knee injury.

However, even without Allen, the Hilltoppers started the first half the way they ended the second half in their previous game against MTSU: Hot.

Opening up the game with a 17-4 run, the Hilltoppers defense shined, grabbing seven turnovers in the first ten minutes. However, the game very quickly shifted gears. 

Although the Miners started the game 0-10 from the field, they converted on nine of their next 11 attempts, bringing the game within just a single point with under five minutes to go.

A once ferocious WKU offense had seemingly gone ice cold. In the span of nine minutes, they were on the receiving end of both a 14-5 and 12-3 run. During these runs, the Hilltoppers shot a lowly 5-14 from the field.

However, with their backs against the wall, facing a one-point deficit with just three minutes to play, a familiar offensive presence took over. WKU ended the first half on a 9-3 run, securing a four-point lead heading into the break.

The first half MVP for the Hilltoppers was junior guard Don McHenry. McHenry’s 10 points, two rebounds, and one assist on 3-5 shooting from the field led both the explosive start and end for the WKU offense.

Yet, the success of the Hilltopper scoring attempts can be attributed to more than just an individual player. WKU’s interior strength and size led to 75% of their first half production coming inside the paint.

UTEP found their production coming from senior guard Zid Powell. Powell tallied 10 points on 3-6 from the field, and 2-3 from beyond the arch. Eight of the guard’s 10 points came during an 80-second span, where Powell scored on three consecutive possessions for the Miners.

Heading into the half, the Hilltoppers squeaked out a 40-36 lead.

Team First Half Statistics: 

WKU: 17-31 FG, 2-9 3FG, 4-4 FT | 17 Rebounds: 14 Defensive, three Offensive.

UTEP: 11-28 FG, 5-12 3FG, 9-12 FT | 16 Rebounds: 11 Defensive, five Offensive.

WKU could not bring their normal high tempo at the start of the second half. Opening up 1-8 from the field, with most of the misses coming off of good looks, the Miners took comfort in the speed of play, capitalizing with a 15-4 run to start the half.

In what was a rollercoaster of a game, the ride did not stop. Following UTEP’s run, they’d go on a five-minute scoring drought, giving the Hilltoppers a seven-point lead, on a 16-2 run for themselves. 

The drive would not stop. With just under five minutes to play, WKU advanced their lead to 10, with help from a 20-4 run.

The Hilltopper offense was once again dominated by McHenry in the second half. The guard’s 15 points, two rebounds, and three steals sealed the WKU victory and conference championship. In total on the night, McHenry had 25 points on 9-16 from the field, 2-8 from three, with four rebounds, and four steals. 

UTEP’s offense was still being led by Powell in half number two. Powell tallied 11 points in the half, giving him 21 points on the night. 

Team Second Half Statistics: 

WKU: 10-27 FG, 1-7 3FG, 17-23 FT | 23 Rebounds: 15 Defensive, eight Offensive.

UTEP: 12-32 FG, 4-12 3FG, 7-10 FT | 20 Rebounds: 13 Defensive, six Offensive.

With the win, the Hilltoppers claim their first C-USA title on their fourth attempt, and Coach Steve Lutz’s third straight conference title win.

Florida Atlantic: 2022-23 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

Florida Atlantic is headed to its first March Madness appearance since 2002 after beating UAB 78-56 in the C-USA championship game.

The Owls scored 46 points in the first half. Sophomore guard Alijah Martin led all scorers with 30 points in the contest. Johnell Davis also contributed 18 points for FAU.

Florida Atlantic was ranked as high as 19th in the AP Top 25 poll this season.

UAB was the C-USA's representative in the Big Dance last season, losing to Houston in the first round.

FAU lost to Alabama in its lone appearance in March Madness during the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

UTSA: 2022 Conference USA Football Champions

 

SAN ANTONIO – No. 23 UTSA (11-2, 8-0 C-USA) won its second consecutive Conference USA championship on Friday night, knocking off rival North Texas (7-6, 6-2 C-USA) 48-27 in front of 41,412 fans at the Alamodome. That marks the third-largest crowd in a C-USA Championship Game and UTSA history. QB Frank Harris was named the 2022 Ryan C-USA Championship Game’s Most Valuable Player. He completed 32-37 passes for 341 yards and a C-USA Championship Game record-tying five total touchdowns (four passing), while also rushing for 49 yards on 16 carries.

 

The Roadrunners jumped out to an early lead, courtesy of a Kevorian Barnes 27-yard touchdown run to open the scoring, capping off a seven-play, 75-yard opening drive to put UTSA on top in the opening minutes. Barnes finished with a career-high 28 carries for 175 yards and a touchdown.

 

North Texas answered back immediately to tie the game at 7-7, thanks to a two-yard touchdown run by Ikaika Ragsdale, who scored on fourth-and-goal. The Mean Green marched 70 yards in 11 plays.

 

The Mean Green came up with a big fourth-down stand at the goal line in the final minute of the first quarter and then turned it into a 95-yard scoring drive that was capped off by an Ethan Mooney 22-yard field goal to give UNT its first lead at 10-7.

 

UTSA forced the first turnover of the game as Clifford Chattman picked off Austin Aune and returned it 27 yards inside the Mean Green 20. It marked Chattman’s fourth of the season, and fourth in as many weeks for the Roadrunners, which is a program record. Harris capitalized for UTSA with an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Roadrunners on top 14-10 midway through the second quarter.

 

UTSA got the ball back with 37 seconds remaining in the half and Harris drove the Roadrunners 62 yards in three plays to extend the USTA lead to 24-10. He hooked up with Zakhari Franklin on a 32-yard scoring strike just before the break.

 

After the Mean Green opened the second half with a field goal, UTSA responded as Harris and Franklin connected for a second time, this time from 14 yards out, to push the Roadrunners to a 31-13 lead early in the third quarter.

 

North Texas wouldn’t go away easily, as Aune broke the single-season program record for touchdown passes (32) when he connected with WR Jyaire Shorter on a 36-yard touchdown toss to cut the deficit to 31-20. Aune’s record broke that of Mason Fine’s 2017 season, when the former C-USA Player of the Year threw 31.

 

Following a UTSA field goal, North Texas pulled within a touchdown at 34-27 as Isaiah Johnson scored from one-yard out to cap off an eight-play, 64-yard drive early in the fourth quarter.

 

The Harris-Franklin connection would not be denied, as the pair hooked up for the third time with 11:09 to go in the final frame, this time from 39 yards out. Franklin’s third touchdown grab of the night set a new C-USA Championship Game record for receiving touchdowns. Franklin finished with 10 catches for 144 yards and the three scores.

 

UTSA then picked off Aune for the second time on Friday night, as Ken Robinson came up with the interception. UTSA tacked on a pair of touchdowns to stretch its lead to 48-27, which was the final score.

 

Both UTSA and North Texas now await their bowl fates, which will be decided on Sunday, Dec. 4.

UTSA: 2022 Conference USA Football Champions

SAN ANTONIO – No. 23 UTSA (11-2, 8-0 C-USA) won its second consecutive Conference USA championship on Friday night, knocking off rival North Texas (7-6, 6-2 C-USA) 48-27 in front of 41,412 fans at the Alamodome. That marks the third-largest crowd in a C-USA Championship Game and UTSA history. QB Frank Harris was named the 2022 Ryan C-USA Championship Game’s Most Valuable Player. He completed 32-37 passes for 341 yards and a C-USA Championship Game record-tying five total touchdowns (four passing), while also rushing for 49 yards on 16 carries.

 

The Roadrunners jumped out to an early lead, courtesy of a Kevorian Barnes 27-yard touchdown run to open the scoring, capping off a seven-play, 75-yard opening drive to put UTSA on top in the opening minutes. Barnes finished with a career-high 28 carries for 175 yards and a touchdown.

 

North Texas answered back immediately to tie the game at 7-7, thanks to a two-yard touchdown run by Ikaika Ragsdale, who scored on fourth-and-goal. The Mean Green marched 70 yards in 11 plays.

 

The Mean Green came up with a big fourth-down stand at the goal line in the final minute of the first quarter and then turned it into a 95-yard scoring drive that was capped off by an Ethan Mooney 22-yard field goal to give UNT its first lead at 10-7.

 

UTSA forced the first turnover of the game as Clifford Chattman picked off Austin Aune and returned it 27 yards inside the Mean Green 20. It marked Chattman’s fourth of the season, and fourth in as many weeks for the Roadrunners, which is a program record. Harris capitalized for UTSA with an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Roadrunners on top 14-10 midway through the second quarter.

 

UTSA got the ball back with 37 seconds remaining in the half and Harris drove the Roadrunners 62 yards in three plays to extend the USTA lead to 24-10. He hooked up with Zakhari Franklin on a 32-yard scoring strike just before the break.

 

After the Mean Green opened the second half with a field goal, UTSA responded as Harris and Franklin connected for a second time, this time from 14 yards out, to push the Roadrunners to a 31-13 lead early in the third quarter.

 

North Texas wouldn’t go away easily, as Aune broke the single-season program record for touchdown passes (32) when he connected with WR Jyaire Shorter on a 36-yard touchdown toss to cut the deficit to 31-20. Aune’s record broke that of Mason Fine’s 2017 season, when the former C-USA Player of the Year threw 31.

 

Following a UTSA field goal, North Texas pulled within a touchdown at 34-27 as Isaiah Johnson scored from one-yard out to cap off an eight-play, 64-yard drive early in the fourth quarter.

 

The Harris-Franklin connection would not be denied, as the pair hooked up for the third time with 11:09 to go in the final frame, this time from 39 yards out. Franklin’s third touchdown grab of the night set a new C-USA Championship Game record for receiving touchdowns. Franklin finished with 10 catches for 144 yards and the three scores.

 

UTSA then picked off Aune for the second time on Friday night, as Ken Robinson came up with the interception. UTSA tacked on a pair of touchdowns to stretch its lead to 48-27, which was the final score.

 

Both UTSA and North Texas now await their bowl fates, which will be decided on Sunday, Dec. 4.

UAB: 2021-22 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

 

FRISCO, TX. (WBRC) - The Blazers are going dancing once again.

UAB defeated Louisiana Tech 82-73 Saturday, to win the Conference USA Championship. This was the Blazers first Conference USA Title since defeating Middle Tennessee in 2015.

The Blazers led the Bulldogs by ten at the half, but the Bulldogs fought back to make it a three point game in the second half. However, the Blazers held on to secure the win, and clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament

This was the third time the Blazers played the Bulldogs this season, with UAB winning both regular season matchups.

Jordan Walker led the Blazers with 27 points, while Michael Ertel finished with 15.

This is the first NCAA tournament appearance for the Blazers since 2015, when they made it to the round of 32. They will see who they play in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday.

Conference USA: 2021 Men's Basketball Champions

FRISCO, Texas -- — Javion Hamlet scored six of his 20 points after regulation, including the go-ahead basket with 13.9 seconds left, and North Texas beat Western Kentucky 61-57 in overtime on Saturday night to win the Conference USA Tournament title game.

The Mean Green (17-9) earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament, their first since winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 2010.

Mardrez McBride added 13 points and Zachary Simmons 12 for North Texas.

WKU's Jordan Rawls hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring in OT and there were three lead changes and three ties before Hamlet's left-handed runner in the lane made it 59-57. Thomas Bell blocked a potential tying layup attempt by Taveion Hollingsworth with four seconds left before James Reese made two free throws to cap the scoring.

Josh Anderson scored 14 points and Charles Bassey added 13 points and 11 rebounds for WKU (20-7).

The Mean Green jumped to a 17-0 lead about five minutes into the game as WKU missed its first eight shots, and McBride hit a 3-pointer to give the Mean Green a 10-point lead with 15 minutes left in the second half. But Anderson answered with a jumper before Bassey scored nine straight points to spark a 19-2 run that gave WKU a 48-41 lead — its first of the game — about 12 minutes later after Anderson capped the spurt with six consecutive points.

The Hilltoppers, who fell to 23-7 all-time against North Texas, used a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer by McBride to close regulation and force OT.

Western Kentucky has lost each of the last three C-USA title games, falling to Marshall in 2018 and Old Dominion in 2019. The 2020 conference tournament was canceled after the first round due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Old Dominion: 2018-19 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

FRISCO, Texas – Old Dominion is dancing! The Monarchs will make their return to the NCAA Tournament after an eight-year hiatus.

ODU defeated Western Kentucky  in the Conference USA Championship 62-56 on Saturday evening.

This will be the 11th NCAA Tournament appearance for Old Dominion, and the first since 2011. It’s also the first Conference USA title since joining the conference in 2013.

ODU last won a conference tournament title in the CAA back in 2011.

Xavier Green led ODU with 16 points. Ahmad Caver had a near double-double with 10 points and nine assists.

The Monarchs will find out their opponent and destination Sunday on News 3 at 6:00 p.m. during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

Marshall: 2017-18 Conference USA Men's Basketball Champions

FRISCO, Texas -- The long wait is over for Marshall after all those long shots by Jon Elmore.

Elmore scored 20 of his 27 points after halftime, with a Conference USA championship-game-record seven 3-pointers, and the Thundering Herd are going to their first NCAA tournament since 1987 after a 67-66 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday night.

"We earned it. We fought all year long," said Elmore, with a cut-down net draped over his shoulder.

After coming so close last year, losing in the C-USA title game, Elmore kept hitting long 3s in the second half for the Herd (24-10). He made six of his 3s after the break, including 11 straight points in a span of just more than two minutes.

"We talked about it before the season this year. We were thinking back about just how the season ended, just the feeling in the locker room," Elmore said. "Everybody's heads were down, people were crying, you could have heard a pin drop in there. ... We didn't want that again."

This time, tournament MVP Elmore described what he called an awesome scene with 70-year-old coach and Marshall alumnus Dan D'Antoni jumping around with his players.

"You can tell I'm happy. I'm happy for these kids, I'm happy for this school," said D'Antoni, the self-proclaimed country boy who wears T-shirts under his jacket while coaching. "A long time coming."

The Herd had a 67-55 lead when Elmore made his last 3 with 3:40 left. Western Kentucky (24-10) then scored the game's last 11 points before missing two shots in the final 20 seconds. Jannson Williams got the final rebound and managed to call timeout while falling to the court with 7.3 seconds left.

The Hilltoppers, with 10 wins against teams who have won at least 20 games, missed a chance to get back to their first NCAA tournament since 2013. Instead, they wait to see if they get an NIT bid.

"If you leave anything NCAA tournament in the committee's hands, you're in trouble. You have to win. Marshall won. They took it out of anybody's hands," WKU coach Rick Stansbury said. "I'm comfortable and confident that our team has done enough and deserves an NIT berth for sure."

Ajdin Penava added 16 points and nine rebounds for Marshall, who went into the tournament as the No. 4 seed.

Justin Johnson led WKU with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Josh Anderson and Lamonte Bearden both had 13 points.

BIG PICTURE


Marshall: The Herd were in the Southern Conference when they went to their last NCAA tournament 31 years ago. ... D'Antoni is a Marshall alumnus, and the brother of Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni, who was at the game since his NBA team was in town to play the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Western Kentucky: Freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth took a shot to the face while going for a rebound on the opening possession, and Stansbury said it's likely that the freshman broke his nose again. Hollingsworth, who was averaging 13.5 points a game, was 0-for-5 shooting and had two free throws while playing 35 minutes.

"He's a tough young man," Stansbury said.

SPREAD IT AROUND

Marshall became the 11th different school to win the C-USA title game in the league's 23 years.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers wait to see if they will play another game this season.

For the first time in 31 years, the Thundering Herd will be watching on Selection Sunday knowing they're in the NCAA tournament and waiting to see who will be their first-round opponent.

Tulsa: 2012 Conference USA Champions

Tulsa’s goal all season has been to win the Conference USA Championship. It did it with a 33-27 overtime win over Central Florida in the league title game Saturday at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

The Golden Hurricane (10-3) had to rally to win, which was done with Alex Singleton leaping over a pile into the end zone for the winning TD.

“I guess we had to find something to finish the game that we hadn’t done before,” Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship said. “Done about everything else. This team came from behind. They played in the lead. They’ve done all those things. And I just couldn’t be prouder. This is a great moment for these players and hopefully for the city.”

As the 2012 C-USA Champion, the Golden Hurricane will play in the Liberty Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Memphis, Tenn.

The Knights (9-4) had possession first and were forced to kick a field goal. Cory Dorris blocked Shawn Moffitt’s 38-yard attempt and the Hurricane only needed a score to win. on a one-yard TD.

The Hurricane led 21-14 at halftime but found itself down 27-21 after UCF quarterback Blake Bortles ran in 28 yards on a third down keeper.

Trey Watts scored a 54-yard punt return with 5:06 left in the game. But Tulsa could only tie the game at 27-27 since the extra point was blocked.

Watts rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries and was named Most Valuable Player. Singleton ran for 100 yards on 25 handoffs and two touchdowns.

After UCF jumped ahead to a 14-7, Tulsa answered back fast.

Trey Watts and Alex Singleton made big gains on the ensuing drive, with Singleton getting his 40th career TD on a seven yard run to tie it at 14-14 with 2:35 left in the first half.

The Golden Hurricane did not want to go into halftime up by three points. They wanted the seven and got it.

Cody Green hit Thomas Roberson with a deep pass to the two-yard line with two ticks left in the half. On the next play, Ja’Terian Douglas scored and Tulsa led 21-14 going into the locker room.