Fifth Seeded Dawgs Take on UVI in First Round Action

Game Information: 
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Venue: Birthright Alumni Hall
Watch: Urban Edge Network

Game 28 W8 University of the Virgin Islands (3-13) vs. E5 Fisk University Bulldogs (10-17)

 TUSCALOOSA, AL. - After a year filled with adversity, the Fisk University Bulldogs will need to deal with yet another obstacle. After a victory over Rust College, the Bulldogs found themselves as the number four seed in the HBCU Athletic Conference's East Division. A surprising decision by the conference has Fisk sitting as the fifth seed when the seedings came out on Sunday. Wilberforce University was awarded the fourth seed due to a forfeit against an unannounced conference team. Instead of matching up against Paul Quinn University at 9:00 p.m., the Dawgs will now face the University of the Virgin Islands at 9:00 a.m. Fisk will also have to play an extra game if they want to be conference champions.

"I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason," said Fisk head coach Jeremiah Crutcher. "The decision is out of our control. I teased the guys about this being like it was when they played AAU. Whether it's 9 a.m., noon, or midnight, we need to find a way to win. No time to cry over spilled milk."

UVI comes into the tournament with a 3-13 record. Due to a technicality, they did not play an official conference game, but they have a 2-5 record against HBCUAC schools, with victories over Oakwood University and Dillard University. Fisk comes in, averaging 80.2 points per game, the highest in the conference. Their balanced attack is led by freshman Kaleb Jeffries, who enters the game off a Fisk freshman record 40 points against Rust. The Bulldogs boast two other players, Kailon Benton-Hamilton and Nicholas Beaird-Kennard, both scoring threats. Athletic small forward Simeon Williams II is the second leading rebounder in the conference, while senior Mark Cooper runs the show, having finished the season as the top assist per game player in the country.

The winner will take on Southern University of New Orleans on Wednesday at noon.