HOUSTON,TX- March Madness is officially here, and the University of St. Thomas will be at the center of the action as it hosts the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center (JAAC). Four teams—Hardin-Simmons, Cal Lutheran, Lewis & Clark, and UST—will battle for a spot in the next round of the national tournament.

 
Tickets (Sold at the door only)

• Children under 2: FREE
• Students: $10
• Adults: $15

With no presale options available, fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure their spot for the March Madness event!

Meet the Teams

Cal Lutheran (22-5)
A familiar face in the tournament, Cal Lutheran returns after competing in last year's NCAA postseason. The Kingsmen enter after a tough loss in the SCIAC Championship to Claremont but bring experience and firepower. Senior standout Von Lewis leads the team, averaging 22.5 points per game. Earlier this season, they edged out Lewis & Clark in a tight 83-79 battle and share a common opponent with UST in Mary Hardin-Baylor—the team responsible for the Celts' first loss this season.

Hardin-Simmons (18-9)
Hardin-Simmons enters the tournament as ASC Champions, earning an automatic bid. They are led by a balanced scoring trio: Chris Bryant (15.3 PPG), Austin Brewer (15.6 PPG), and Will Bartoszek (11.0 PPG). The Cowboys share several common opponents with UST, including McMurry, HPU, Trinity, Concordia, and UMHB. This marks their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2016-17 season.

Lewis & Clark (15-12)
The Pioneers punched their ticket to the tournament by winning the Northwest Conference Championship, marking their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 23 years. They have battled against some of the top teams in the nation, including a double-overtime thriller against #21 Whitworth. Lewis & Clark also faced Cal Lutheran earlier in the season, falling 83-79, and lost to UC Santa Cruz—a team UST defeated twice.

UST (25-2)
The SCAC Champions are making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, but for the first time in program history, they will host the opening rounds. The Celts have dominated throughout the season, powered by a strong core of Angel Johnson (13.6 PPG), Andrew Adebo (13.0 PPG), and Marion Williams (10.8 PPG). UST has proven its strength against common opponents, securing wins over Hardin-Simmons, HPU, LeTourneau, ETBU, Pacific Lutheran, and UC Santa Cruz.

Matchups & Schedule

Friday, March 7
Game 1 | 5:05 PM – Hardin-Simmons (18-9) vs. Cal Lutheran (22-5)
Game 2 | 7:35 PM – UST (25-2) vs. Lewis & Clark (15-12)

Saturday, March 8
Second Round | 7:35 PM – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

March Madness is here, and there's no better place to experience it than at the JAAC! Let's PACK THE JAAC and give the Celts the home-court advantage as they fight for a spot in the next round. Be there, be loud, and be ready—tip-off is at 7:35 PM on March 7!