BULLDOGS ADVANCE TO HBCUAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, SECURE NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT BERTH

The Tougaloo College men's basketball team punched its ticket to the NAIA National Tournament and advanced to the championship game of the HBCU Athletic Conference Tournament with an 80–71 semifinal victory over Oakwood University on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs used a strong offensive performance and timely defensive stops down the stretch to secure the win and move one step closer to the conference title.

Leading the way for Tougaloo was Antonio Patterson, who delivered a dominant performance with 29 points, pacing the Bulldogs' offense throughout the contest. Patterson's scoring helped Tougaloo maintain control during key stretches of the game.

Tyler Hudson and Willie Anderson also played key roles in the victory, each contributing 14 points to give the Bulldogs balanced scoring in the semifinal matchup.

With the win, Tougaloo not only advances to the conference championship but also secures an automatic berth in the NAIA National Tournament, marking another major milestone in the program's successful season.

The Bulldogs will now face Southern University of New Orleans in the HBCU Athletic Conference Championship Game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Birthright Alumni Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The championship matchup will give the Bulldogs an opportunity to cap off their tournament run with a conference title as they prepare for national postseason play.