BRISTOL, Tenn. — King University men's basketball continues its postseason run on Friday as the Tornado advance to the 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship Quarterfinals, where they will face Chowan University. King enters the matchup riding significant momentum after winning its first two tournament games in dramatic fashion.
The Tornado, now 2–0 in postseason play, will look to keep their championship push alive as they meet a familiar conference opponent on a neutral floor.
Road to the Quarterfinals
King opened the tournament with back-to-back thrilling victories, showcasing resilience and late-game execution.
- Round One: King defeated the University of Mount Olive 95–94 in Bristol, battling a high-scoring battle to advance.
- Round Two: The Tornado followed with another tight win, taking down North Greenville 96–93 on the road.
Both games highlighted King's offensive depth and ability to close out tight contests—qualities that will be crucial against Chowan.
Earlier Meeting This Season
King and Chowan met once during the regular season on January 19, with Chowan earning a 100–91 win at home. King controlled the first half, leading 51–36, before Chowan surged with a 64-point second half to rally.
Despite the loss, King showed strong offensive rhythm and multiple scoring threats. The Tornado will look to replicate their first-half performance while tightening up defensively in the rematch.
Series History
The rivalry between King and Chowan has been one of the most competitive in the conference over the past six seasons.
- Last 10 matchups: Chowan leads 6–4
- First meeting: Jan. 11, 2020
- Largest King win: 103–84 (Feb. 15, 2020)
- Closest King win: 82–79 (Feb. 13, 2021)
- Average King scoring: 87.5 points per game
Many of the matchups have been decided by single digits, including multiple one-possession finishes. Friday's quarterfinal is expected to follow the same pattern.
Scouting Chowan
Chowan enters the quarterfinals with a physical frontcourt and a balanced scoring attack. In the January meeting, the Hawks were led by:
- BJ McLaurin: 27 points, 14 rebounds
- Jamal Thomas: 21 points off the bench
- Michael Kelly: 12 points, 6 rebounds
Chowan's rebounding advantage and second-chance scoring were decisive in the first matchup. King will look to limit those opportunities this time around.
Keys for King
To advance to the semifinals, King will focus on several critical areas:
- Rebounding control — limiting Chowan's second-chance points
- Balanced scoring — continuing the multi-threat offense shown in the first two rounds
- Tempo management — using guard play to dictate pace
- Defensive pressure — forcing turnovers and converting them into transition points
- Late-game execution — a strength for King throughout the tournament
With two postseason wins already under their belt, the Tornado enter the quarterfinals confident and battle-tested.
Tournament Structure
The winner of Friday's quarterfinal advances to the Conference Carolinas Semifinals, held at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The championship game will follow on Sunday, March 8.
All tournament games stream live on the Conference Carolinas Digital Network powered by Hudl. Brackets, schedules, and ticket information are available on the championship page.
TOURNAMENT PAGEÂ |Â BRACKETÂ |Â LIVE VIDEOÂ |Â FINAL SITE TICKETS
