GREENVILLE, S.C. – The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men’s Basketball Championship opened with a pair of tight first-round contests on Sunday evening. Barton College, King University and Southern Wesleyan University all earned victories to advance to the second round.
No. 9 King def. No. 10 Mount Olive 95-94
In what was a shootout with King and Mount Olive combining to shoot 56.3 percent from the floor in the game, the team with the last shot escaped with a one-point victory. Jalen Royster knocked down a triple as the final buzzer sounded, giving King the 95-94 win, moving the Tornado into the second round.
Mount Olive shot 54.1 percent from the floor and King shot 58.2 percent in the contest that saw seven ties and 10 lead changes. The opening 20 minutes was played within six points as King scored the final eight points to take a 49-46 lead at the break.
The Trojans used a run early in the second half to take a 71-58 lead, but the Tornado eventually responded with a run. Trailing 84-72, King scored 14 of the next 15 points to pull within 85-84 before a Mount Olive basket. Mount Olive again led 91-86 with two minutes remaining before six straight points gave King a 92-91 lead with one minute remaining. The Trojans led 94-92 with nine seconds remaining before Royster connected at the buzzer, giving King the win.
Raul Perez led five Mount Olive scorers in double figures with 17 points while King was led by 23 points and eight rebounds from Lenier Pocknett and 22 points from Royster.
King advances to the second round to face fourth seed North Greenville University on Monday at 7:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday.
No. 8 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 11 Francis Marion 96-93
Southern Wesleyan escaped what was a tight contest that saw 13 lead changes and 11 ties. Both teams had leads of three possessions with the Warriors leading by as many as 12 and Francis Marion holding the lead by as many as eight points. Francis Marion controlled play in the final 10 minutes of the opening half and held a 40-34 lead at the break.
The Patriots scored the first points of the second half, gaining their largest lead before the Warriors started to chip away. Southern Wesleyan evened the tally at 46 five minutes into the half following a 12-4 run. Southern Wesleyan grabbed the lead and slowly extended the advantage, taking an 81-69 lead following a 12-3 run. Francis Marion responded with a 10-2 run to pull within 83-79 with three minutes remaining.
Francis Marion continued to fight back and eventually took a 91-90 lead on a Jaiden Cancela three-point play. Following two Warrior free throws, Clyde Mauldin gave the lead back to Francis Marion with a layup with five seconds remaining. Southern Wesleyan’s Malachi Cooper converted two free throws with three seconds remaining to put the Warriors back on top. Southern Wesleyan added two more free throws in the waning seconds to advance.
Will Little led four Southern Wesleyan scorers in double figures with 35 points while Jaquay Randolph added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Farid Saint Cyr Jr., led Francis Marion with 25 points.
Southern Wesleyan advances to the second round to face fifth seed Chowan University at 7:00 p.m. on Monday night. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday.
No. 7 Barton def. No. 12 Shorter 93-68
Barton scored the first eight points of the game and didn’t look back as the Bulldogs shot better than 50 percent from the floor and nearly 50 percent from three-point range. Shorter tried to work their way back, cutting the deficit to 20-13, but the Bulldogs scored the next 16 points to take a 36-13 lead. The Barton lead grew to 31 in the opening half and the Bulldogs led 53-24 at the half. Barton held a lead of at least 20 points in the second half to take the win and advance.
Trey Fields led five Barton scorers in double figures with 25 points to go along with nine rebounds. Trevur Smalls added 16 points and nine rebounds. Donovan Shangase led Shorter with 18 points and seven assists.
Barton advances to the second round to face sixth seed Emmanuel University at 7:00 p.m. on Monday night. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday.
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2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship
First Round – Sunday, March 1 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 9 King def. No. 10 Mount Olive, 95-94
BOX SCORE
No. 8 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 11 Francis Marion, 96-93
BOX SCORE
No. 7 Barton def. No. 12 Shorter, 93-68
BOX SCORE
Second Round – Monday, March 2 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 9 King at No. 4 North Greenville, 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Southern Wesleyan at No. 11 at No. 5 Chowan, 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Barton at No. 6 Emmanuel, 7:00 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 5-8-11 vs. Winner 4-9-10, 11:00 a.m.
Winner of 6-7-12 vs. No. 3 Ferrum, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 4-5-8-9-10-11 vs. No. 1 UNC Pembroke, 12:30 p.m.
Winner of 3-6-7-12 vs. No. 2 Young Harris, 2:45 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 8 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2, 1:00 p.m.