Higher Seeds Advance on Day 1 of HBCU Basketball Championships

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - All four higher seeds advanced on Tuesday in the opening round of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship. Stillman College is hosting the six-day, 24-game basketball championship through Sunday, March 2.

Philander Smith University's women defeated the University of Virgin Islands, 70-59, to start the day, while Fisk University moved past Voorhees University, 71-54, in the evening. The wins set up a 4-seed vs 5-seed match up on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Dasia Taylor was the women's top-scorer of the day with 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting to lead Philander Smith. Maliah LaCour of the Virgin Islands and Keeli Burton-Oliver each scored 19 points.

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On the men's side, Talladega College knocked out in-state rival Oakwood University, 71-59, to advance to a 4v5 pairing Thursday at 6 p.m. against the defending tournament champion Philander Smith, who defeated Voorhees University, 73-53.

Offensively, Raymond Reece was a standout performer for Philander Smith, scoring 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds, and stole the ball twice. Talladega College's Lamont Sams posted a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds to go alongside teammate Shaun Walker's 19 points and eight rebounds. Derek Burditt had 11 assists for the Tornadoes.

The tournament continues Wednesday with four games scheduled for noon, 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. At 4 p.m., the HBCU Athletic Conference will honor the regular season women's and men's championship teams from Stillman College and the co-champion men's teams from Dillard University and Tougaloo College. The All-Conference Teams, Players of the Year and Coaches of the Year will also be announced in a ceremony inside Birthright Alumni Hall.

Host Stillman College is the No. 1 seed in both the women's and men's brackets and will play their first games on Friday, Feb. 28.

For tickets and more information, visit HBCUAC.org/basketball.

TUESDAY RESULTS

WOMEN

No. 4 Philander Smith 70, No. 13 Virgin Islands 59

No. 5 Fisk 71, No. 12 Voorhees 54

MEN

No. 4 Talladega 71, No. 13 Oakwood 59

No. 5 Philander Smith 73, No. 12 Voorhees 53

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

Noon - Women - No. 6 Wiley University (12-13) vs. No. 11 Wilberforce University (11-15)

2 p.m. - Men - No. 6 Southern University at New Orleans (11-16) vs. No. 11 Rust College (8-16)

4 p.m. - HBCUAC Awards

6 p.m. - Women - No. 7 Rust College (11-15) vs. No. 10 Southern University at New Orleans (8-18)

8 p.m. - Men - No. 7 Wilberforce University (13-13) vs. No. 10 Fisk University (9-19)