Chaparrals Suffer Loss in Region 5 Championship Game, Awaits Possible At-Large Bid to National Tourney
The Midland College Chaparrals played to a halftime stalemate in Saturday's Region 5 Championship game. MC eventually lost by 10 points and will await a possible at-large selection to the national tournament.
NJCAA Region 5 Men's Basketball Championship Game
Saturday, March 14, 2026
at the Odessa College Sports Center
Odessa, TX
The Midland College basketball team will need to wait until Monday to find out if they will continue their season at the 2026 NJCAA Men's National Basketball Tournament. The Chaparrals, 27-6, suffered a ten-point loss to Howard College (82-72) on Saturday at the Odessa College Sports Center. Howard College (29-4) received an automatic berth into the National Tournament by winning the Region 5 Championship.
The Chaparrals will watch with bated breaths as the NJCAA Men's DI National Tournament Selection show will reveal the eight at-large qualifiers to the National Tournament. The NJCAA Men's Division I National Tournament will be played March 21-28, 2026 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, KS.
The NJCAA Men's Division I Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, March 16th @ 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT on the NJCAA Network. The Selection Show will reveal the eight at-large selections to the National Tournament as well as the seeding/pairing of all 24 teams in the event.
In the Region 5 Championship game the Chaps played the Hawks to a 28-28 tie at the intermission. Over the final 20 minutes the Chaps worked to remain within striking distance, trailing by as many as 14 points. When the final horn sounded the Chaparrals found themselves on the wrong side of the scorebook.
Midland College has a strong chance for an at-large berth in the national tournament as a team ranked 9th in the final NJCAA poll. MC also recorded wins versus Trinity Valley CC, South Plains College, New Mexico Junior College and Odessa College. Each of these teams were ranked in the Top 25 national polls during the season. TVCC is the defending national champions and were ranked No. 1 at the time of their loss to the Chaparrals.
Sophomore Duane Thompson posted a 20-point, four rebounds, two assist performance to lead Midland College versus the Howard College Hawks in the title game. MC's Solomon Ominu and Antoine Bo Hurns scored 12-points each in the contest.
Go Chaps!