Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Main Header

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS
MBB-25-44
Ali Nassir

Men's Basketball Kyle Taylor - Langston Athletic Communications

National Tournament Preview: LU Lions vs Rocky Mountain

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Langston University men's basketball continues their quest for the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship today, March 21 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Here's a quick preview and rundown of information for Lions fans to answer the most frequently asked questions leading up to the game.

The Matchup

The No. 4 seed Langston Lions (27-7) advanced to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament Quarterfinal Round after defeating No. 1 seed Oklahoma Wesleyan 56-55 last night in the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16. The Lions are set to face No. 2 seed Rocky Mountain (Mont.) College (31-3) at 7:30 p.m. today, March 21, inside the historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

About the Battlin' Bears

Rocky Mountain (Mont.) enters the Quarterfinal Round matchup at 31-3 after knocking off No. 14 seed Bellevue University 78-73 in overtime last night in the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16. The Battlin' Bears are based out of Billings, Montana and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament as an automatic bid after winning the Frontier Conference Regular Season championship.

Offensively, the Battlin' Bears are led by three players averaging double figures in Omari Nesbit (6-1, Guard), who is averaging 17.8 points per game, Royce Robinson (6-5, Forward) with 13.7 points per game and Sherman Royal III (6-6, Forward) who rounds out the trio with 10.1 points per game. Nesbit and Robinson were both named to the Frontier Conference First Team along with Carter McCoy (8.4 points per game) being named to the Frontier Conference Second Team.

Rocky Mountain is led by head coach Danny Neville, who in his first year leading the Battlin' Bears picked up the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year honors. Neville, who holds a career mark of 209-87, is no stranger to Langston University as he served on Lions' head coach Chris Wright's staff as the Associate Head Coach during the 2024-25 campaign where the Lions finished with a 26-8 record and advancing to the Round of 16 in the NAIA National Tournament.

About the Lions

Langston (Okla.) enters the Quarterfinal Round matchup at 27-7 overall after defeating No. 1 seed Oklahoma Wesleyan 56-55 last night in the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16. Langston qualified for the NAIA National Tournament as an At-Large big and is making their fourth straight tournament appearance under head coach Chris Wright. Saturday night's matchup marks the third time the Lions have made the quarterfinal round in program history.

Offensively, Langston boats three players averaging double figures in Orlando Thomas (15.7 ppg), Antonio Lewis (12.0 ppg) and Trey Clarke (11.1 ppg). Omar Henry is right behind them at 9.9 points per game. Thomas was named the Sooner Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and SAC All-Conference First Team; Henry was selected to the SAC All-Conference Third Team and Clarke was named to the SAC All-Conference Honorable Mention team.

The Lions are led by Chris Wright who is in his fourth year as head coach. Wright, his four years at the helm, holds a 119-20 win-loss mark at Langston University and has led the Lions to the quarterfinal round in two out of four seasons.  

Q: What time is the game?

The No. 4 seed Langston Lions (27-7) tip-off on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT against No. 2 seed Rocky Mountain (Mont.) College (31-3).

Q: Where is the NAIA National Tournament being held? How much are tickets?

The 88th annual NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship takes place in Kansas City, Mo. at the historic Municipal Auditorium.

Tickets for the men's tournament are $25 per day for adults, NAIA students with NAIA student ID are $12 per day (available at box office only), high school students with student ID are $10 per day (available at box office only), student (ages 5-12) are $6 per day and kids (ages 4 and under) are free.

Tickets are available at the Municipal Auditorium Box Office or at Ticketmaster.com. For additional ticketing information click here.

Q: I will not be able to attend the game, how can I stay updated?

The NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament will be streamed LIVE and for FREE on the Urban Edge Network at urbanedgenetwork.net. Live statistics are available at the link here and as always follow us on X (@langstonsports), Instagram (@langstonsports) and Facebook (@langstonsports) for the latest updates.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Orlando Thomas

#0 Orlando Thomas

G
6' 2"
Senior
Antonio Lewis

#3 Antonio Lewis

G
6' 2"
Senior
Omar Henry

#23 Omar Henry

F
6' 7"
Junior
Trey Clarke

#11 Trey Clarke

G/F
6' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Orlando Thomas

#0 Orlando Thomas

6' 2"
Senior
G
Antonio Lewis

#3 Antonio Lewis

6' 2"
Senior
G
Omar Henry

#23 Omar Henry

6' 7"
Junior
F
Trey Clarke

#11 Trey Clarke

6' 6"
Junior
G/F

Sponsors