Queens, High Point earn NCAA bids as three NC mid-major teams remain alive

Queens guard Jordan Watford runs a play against Arkansas during a game on Dec. 16, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

CHARLOTTE — With conference tournament play well underway, two of North Carolina’s 15 mid-major men’s basketball programs have secured NCAA Tournament bids, 10 have seen their March Madness hopes end and three remain alive.

Queens and High Point both punched their tickets to the 2026 NCAA Tournament by winning conference tournament championships, while Charlotte, Davidson and North Carolina Central still have a chance to join them.

As Atlantic Sun Tournament champions, the Queens Royals (21-13, 13-5 ASUN) are heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, notching their conference title four years after moving up from Division II in their first eligible season for the NCAA Tournament.

No. 3 Queens defeated No. 6 West Georgia 71-63 in the quarterfinals on Friday, then slipped past No. 2 Austin Peay 90-83 in the semifinals on Saturday before besting No. 1 Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime in Sunday’s championship game.

“What a weekend and what a ride,” Queens coach Grant Leonard said. “It was an amazing experience for not only our players, but the entire university and Myers Park community in Charlotte.”

It took an overtime victory for the Royals to rise above the top-seeded Bears in the title game.

“It wasn’t easy and it never is,” Leonard said. “It was a true testament to our guys’ fortitude, especially late in that game, when they could have given in. Instead, they pushed forward and finished the job. I just couldn’t be more proud of them.”

For the second year in a row, High Point is heading back to March Madness.

The top-seeded Panthers (30-4, 15-1 Big South) locked up a spot in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big South Tournament with a 91-76 victory over No. 2 Winthrop in Sunday’s championship game.

“It feels like I’m living a dream, and somebody’s going to pinch me and wake me up. I hope they don’t,” High Point coach Flynn Clayman said. “We preached all year that hard work, sacrificing for each other and being a part of something bigger than yourself is going to lead to something special. This stuff is special. It’s more important than any money they can make.”

High Point’s tournament run also ended the seasons of two in-state opponents, taking out the No. 9 Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-29, 1-15 Big South) 81-59 in the quarterfinals on Friday before topping the No. 4 UNC Asheville Bulldogs (15-17, 8-8 Big South) 75-71 in the semifinals.

Over in the Southern Conference Tournament, the No. 7 UNC Greensboro Spartans (15-19, 9-9 SoCon) were eliminated in the semifinals on Sunday with an 81-75 loss to No. 6 Furman. The No. 5 Western Carolina Catamounts (15-16, 10-8 SoCon) also saw their season end in the semifinals, losing 69-67 to No. 1 East Tennessee State.

Elsewhere, the No. 4 Appalachian State Mountaineers (19-13, 11-7 Sun Belt) were taken down in the Sun Belt Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday after an 86-73 loss to No. 8 Southern Miss.

Four North Carolina programs competed in the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament.

The No. 9 Campbell Fighting Camels (16-18, 8-10 CAA) made a surprising run before being eliminated in the semifinals on Monday night with a 74-64 loss to No. 4 Monmouth. Campbell defeated No. 8 Stony Brook 96-89 in the second round on Saturday and upset No. 1 UNC Wilmington (26-6, 15-3 CAA) 85-70 in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

The No. 11 Elon Phoenix (14-18, 6-12 CAA) were knocked out in the second round on Saturday with a 72-62 loss to No. 6 William and Mary, while the No. 12 North Carolina A&T Aggies (11-19, 4-14 CAA) were eliminated in the first round on Friday with an 88-72 loss to No. 13 Northeastern.

Three North Carolina teams remain alive entering conference tournament play this week.

In the American Athletic Conference Tournament, the Charlotte 49ers (17-16, 9-9 American) will look to keep their NCAA hopes afloat as the No. 5 seed; Charlotte won its first two tournament games and face USF on Saturday.

The East Carolina Pirates (11-20, 6-12 American) did not qualify for the tournament.

In the Atlantic 10 Tournament, the Davidson Wildcats (20-13, 10-8 Atlantic 10) won one game before falling.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Central Eagles (14-17, 8-6 MEAC) remain in contention in the MEAC Tournament. The No. 3 Eagles won their first two games and faced Howard, Saturday.