FRISCO – The Southland Conference is proud to announce Air Force Reserve as the title partner of the 2026 Southland Basketball Championship, presented by Louisiana Office of Tourism. The partnership, secured through the league’s multimedia rights relationship with Van Wagner, further enhances the visibility and prestige of one of the premier postseason events in college basketball.
“Partnering with the Air Force Reserve represents more than just a sponsorship. It’s an alignment of values,” said Southland Commissioner Chris Grant. “Both of our organizations were built to serve by placing the needs of others above our own in the pursuit of excellence in all that we do. That’s how champions and heroes are made. This partnership allows us to celebrate those principles on and off the court, while creating opportunities to inspire future leaders to serve their communities and their country, and we will showcase that together in Lake Charles.”
As the entitlement partner, the Air Force Reserve will feature prominently throughout the championship, including on-court branding, fan engagement activations, and comprehensive digital and social media visibility across Southland platforms.
“This valuable partnership will help us highlight the multiple benefits of serving in the Air Force Reserve,” said Lt. Col. Jon Quinlan, Air Force Reserve Recruiting deputy commander. “Serving in the Air Force Reserve is much like playing on an award-winning sports team. We offer flexible service, stable benefits, and a purpose-driven mission to be part of defending our nation while staying connected to your community.”
The 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Basketball Championship presented by Louisiana Office of Tourism will take place March 8–12 at the Townsley Law Arena in Lake Charles, Louisiana. For the latest tournament information, visit the official championship page.
About the Southland Conference
The Southland Conference was founded in 1963. The 12 current full-time members have an average tenure of 25 years, providing remarkable stability.
The Southland comprises 12 schools within a driving range of the states of Louisiana and Texas as the conference celebrates regionality in college athletics, the “Gas Tank League,” making it more accessible and more manageable for family, friends, and fans to travel to away contests.
Those 12 institutions include East Texas A&M University in Commerce, Houston Christian University, the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Lamar University in Beaumont, McNeese State University in Lake Charles, the University of New Orleans, Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.
About the Air Force Reserve
The mission of the Air Force Reserve is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace, whenever and wherever needed. As a critical component of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Reserve supports global operations while remaining ready to respond to domestic emergencies and humanitarian efforts. It is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Reserve Citizen Airmen to execute a wide range of missions that contribute to national defense and global security.
The Air Force Reserve offers part-time and full-time service options, enabling individuals to serve while maintaining civilian careers or pursuing higher education. Each year, the Reserve recruits thousands of enlisted and officer personnel across core specialties including Aviation, Maintenance, Intelligence, Cyber, Medical, Security Forces, and Logistics. This flexibility allows members to develop valuable skills, gain leadership experience, and serve their country with pride.
More information about Air Force Reserve careers and opportunities is available at: https://www.airforce.com/ways-to-serve/air-force-reserve.