2021 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament: Matchups, players to know & more
Nicholls State and Abilene Christian are the top teams in the Southland Conference
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 2021 Southland Conference men’s basketball tournament will determine which team gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The conference tournament begins March 9 and runs through March 13. There will be 10 teams in the tournament with the two top teams getting a double-bye.
Up to 2,000 fans will be allowed at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, for the tournament. Social distancing will be implemented for the tournament. Masks and face coverings are mandatory for the arena.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Abilene Christian received the automatic bid.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MARCH 9 – FIRST ROUND
(8) Southeastern Louisiana def. (9) McNeese State, 71-68
(10) Houston Baptist def. (7) Incarnate Word, 80-68
MARCH 10 – SECOND ROUND
(5) New Orleans def. (8) Southeastern Louisiana, 80-65
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(6) Lamar def. (10) Houston Baptist, 62-52
MARCH 11 -- QUARTERFINALS
(6) Lamar def. (3) Sam Houston State, 70-69
(4) Northwestern State def. (5) New Orleans, 82-79
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MARCH 12 – SEMIFINALS
(1) Nicholls State def. (4) Northwestern State, 88-76
(2) Abilene Christian def. (6) Lamar, 93-71
MARCH 13 – CHAMPIONSHIP
(2) Abilene Christian def. (1) Nicholls State, 79-45
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5 PLAYERS TO KNOW
Najee Garvin, Nicholls State: Garvin has starred on one of the best teams in the conference. He averaged 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kolton Kohl, Abilene Christian: Kohl finished the regular season in the Top 20 in scoring. He averaged 12.1 points in the regular season.
Zach Nutall, Sam Houston State: Nutall was second in scoring in the Southland this season. He is averaging 18.9 points this season for the Bearkats.
Trenton Massner, Northwestern State: Massner helped Northwestern State to a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. Massner is averaging 12.9 points per game and nearly shot 50% from the field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Troy Green, New Orleans: Green is averaging 15.7 points per game this season. Green and New Orleans had a first-round bye in the conference tournament.