Dillard University Bleu Devils

The Dillard Bleu Devils secured their first NAIA tournament berth since 2018 by clinching the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) championship. In a thrilling final, Dillard edged out Philander Smith College with a last-second layup, sealing a 19-11 season record. Entering the tournament as the 15th seed in the Duer Quadrant, they are set to face William Woods University (Mo.), a team riding a 23-game winning streak and boasting a 28-2 record. This matchup presents a formidable challenge for Dillard as they aim to make a deep tournament run. 

Florida Memorial University Lions

The Florida Memorial Lions earned an at-large bid to the tournament after a strong 23-7 season. Despite falling short in the Sun Conference semifinals to eventual champions Ave Maria University, their performance throughout the season secured them the 9th seed in the Naismith Quadrant. They will face Friends University (Kan.) in the opening round, a team that finished as runners-up in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championship. Florida Memorial’s consistent play and resilience position them well for a competitive tournament showing. 

Langston University Lions

Langston University, an HBCU powerhouse, continues its dominance with a third consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) tournament title, culminating in a 24-7 record. Their championship game showcased resilience, overcoming a late deficit to secure a 65-62 victory over Nelson University. Senior guard Mario McKinney’s clutch performance and Bryce Monroe’s tournament MVP honors highlight the team’s depth and experience. As the 4th seed in the Naismith Quadrant, Langston faces Saint Mary (Kan.), marking their return to the national tournament after a 12-year hiatus. Langston’s recent success and experience make them a team to watch in this year’s tournament. 

Stillman College Tigers

The Stillman Tigers return to the NAIA tournament for the first time since 2022, earning an at-large bid with an 18-11 record. Despite a semifinal loss in the HBCUAC tournament, their strong regular-season performance secured them the 16th seed in the Liston Quadrant. They are set to compete against LSU Alexandria, the Red River Athletic Conference champions with a formidable 28-2 record. This opening-round game presents a significant challenge for Stillman as they aim to advance further in the tournament. 

Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush

The Xavier Gold Rush continue their tradition of excellence with their fifth NAIA tournament appearance in six seasons, holding a 20-9 record. Despite an early exit in the Red River Athletic Conference tournament, their overall performance secured them the 14th seed in the Cramer Quadrant. They will face Ave Maria University (Fla.), the Sun Conference champions. Xavier’s experience and resilience make them a formidable opponent in the tournament. 

The inclusion of these five HBCU teams in the 2025 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship highlights the talent and competitiveness within HBCU athletics. As the tournament unfolds, these teams will not only represent their institutions but also the rich legacy of HBCU basketball on the national stage.

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Barnes said, “I am honored to have earned the trust and confidence of my colleagues for the purpose of leading the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference into the future. My commitment is to bring creative vision, excellence, direction, and strong partnerships that will advance the conference and the competitive landscape for our student-athletes. As I embrace this new opportunity, I am especially grateful to my colleagues, staff, and student-athletes at Dillard University for our collective work in rising from adversity to winning championships and becoming a national model of student-athlete success.”

Since 2006, Barnes has served as athletic director at Dillard University where she facilitated the return of the university’s athletic program, transformed the program into a national model of student-athlete success and community service, established new sports teams, and oversaw the founding of the university’s first endowed athletic scholarship. Throughout this time, she served as the only intercollegiate female athletic director in Louisiana.

“During Women’s History Month, it is fitting that we celebrate Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes. She made history as the first female and Black president of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and as the first Black woman commissioner in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics,” said Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, Sr., Philander Smith College President and Chairman of the GCAC Council of Presidents. “Now, as she assumes the helm of the GCAC full-time and permanently, I have the utmost faith that, as Commissioner, she will impeccably steer the conference to new heights and remain a trailblazer in collegiate sports.”

In 2019, the GCAC Council of Presidents appointed Barnes to serve as interim commissioner of GCAC–a position she has since held while simultaneously serving as athletic director at Dillard. During her stint as interim commissioner, Barnes has overseen the return of championships in a host of sports, while growing the conference through new members. This summer, the league will stand at eight teams, expanding back into Alabama with the addition of Oakwood University, into Texas for the first time with Wiley College and the return of athletics to Southern University at New Orleans. Barnes will officially assume the permanent commissioner role, becoming the third in the league’s history, following her transition from Dillard University at the end of the academic year.

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NEW ORLEANS- Last February, the Fisk University Bulldogs announced that they were rejoining the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. One of the exciting reasons for that move is that the teams would be going to travel to some of the most wonderful cities this country has to offer. One of those cities is New Orleans.

Today, the Bulldogs basketball teams will take on Dillard in New Orleans. Head Men’s Coach Kenny Anderson lived in New Orleans in 2006 while playing for the New Orleans Hornets. Though he loved being part of that organization, he has fonder memories of a trip he made to New Orleans as a college player at Georgia Tech.

“The Elite Eight was here and that brings back great memories,” said Anderson. “We played in the dome and went on to the Final Four. Whenever I come here, that’s the first thing I think about. When it was announced that we would be in the GCAC, I looked at the teams in the conference and was excited to know that we would come here. Great place to play basketball.”

Junior shooting guard Ralph Davenport (JR/Baton Rouge, LA.) hails from nearby Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He too was excited to know that Fisk was back in the conference. His family has only seen him play once since he has been to college. Davenport is injured and couldn’t make the trip. He still is excited about playing next year.

“When the schedule came out, I had that game circled,” said Davenport. “Unfortunately, I can’t make the trip. It would have been fun to be able to play in front of my family. Just didn’t work out. I will be ready next year though.

On the women’s side, Head Coach Janine Davis played her final collegiate game in the GCAC tournament for Fisk in 2014. In the first round, Davis had 32 points against Voorhees University to lead the teams into the quarterfinals. She followed that up with a 16-point performance the next day, but the team lost to Talladega. Winning her first GCAC game as a coach will be special. Win or lose today, memories of her college playing days will always be special.

“I have talked about my experience as a player at Fisk a whole lot,” said Davis. “Of course, the tournament is what is always a point for me to bring up. We were the lowest seed, but we got one win. I keep that in the forefront of discussion with my players. I will never forget New Orleans. I am glad to be back.”

Also making this trip special is Fisk having a strong alumni group in the New Orleans area. The team looks forward to being able to meet some of them. Also, the Fisk Cheer Squad made the trip with them. Women players Jaedyn Dunn (SO/Houston, TX) and Katia Cummings (SO/St. Paul, MN.) will have family there. All in all, this is a business trip, but you can’t help to be excited about playing in New Orleans.

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Gulf Shores, Alabama — Dillard’s men’s track & field program were in it to win it as the 4x100m relay team won their event to walk away with the national title and achieve All-American status on the third and final day of the 2021 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, May 28, at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The 4×100 relay team of senior Cody Branch (SR/Marrero, La.), sophomore Willie McCaulley (SO/Huntsville, Alabama), sophomore Kaleb McClendon (SO/Norfolk, Va,) and freshman James Ray Pennington III (FR/Lafayette, La.) raced around the track to win the event in a school-record time of 40.69. The group entered the competition finishing fifth overall in the trials for the event (41.09). It was also their third event victory of the 2021 season for the group.

Click here to see the victory or click on the video at the end of this story

The 4×100 relay team are the first Dillard Track & Field All-Americans since Akia Armstrong was an All-American for the women’s track & field program in the long jump in 2019. The men are first males to be All-Americans for Dillard since Quamel Sessoms was an All-American in the long jump in 2016. The group is the first 4×100 All-Americans for the school in at least the last 20 years and potentially ever. The relay group is the first time Dillard has had an entire team of All-Americans since the women’s 4×400 team of Sasha Newman, Kahlia Columbus, Tajdreana Hurst and Megan Reed achieved it in 2017. The last men’s relay team to achieve All-American status was the 4×400 relay team of Emory Nash, Matt Jones, Jevonte Ezzard and Kermit Buggage in 2014.

Junior Julian Williams (JR/Compton, California) also competed on the third and final day for Dillard and finished 16th in the triple jump with his leap of 14.46m achieved on his first attempt of the afternoon.

Next, Dillard’s men’s program heads into the off-season to enjoy their 4x100m event national title, their four All-Americans, their 2021 GCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship for the first time since 2014 and Coach Legania being named the GCAC Coach of the Year.

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