TWU Scores Lone Upset of Quarterfinal Round

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - And then there were four.

On a day full of lopsided wins, No. 7 seed Tennessee Wesleyan scored the only upset with a hotly-contested battle with second-seeded Columbia International in the 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Basketball Tournament on Thursday.

The tournament is being held at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center.

Reshaun Hampton led a quartet of Bulldogs in double figures with 23 points, as Tennessee Wesleyan held off CIU 78-75. Down three with 6:19 to play, Tennessee Wesleyan closed out the game on a 13-7 stretch to pull out the win.

With the win, Tennessee Wesleyan advances to the semifinal round to face No. 3 seed Johnson, who defeated No. 6 seed Montreat 71-50.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 seed Pikeville and No. 4 seed Union Commonwealth posted 27- and 26-point victories, respectively, and will square off in Friday's first semifinal game.

Play resumes Friday at 2 p.m.

All games will be live-streamed here for free. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students each day. To purchase tickets, click here.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Game 1 - No. 9 Bryan (12-16) def. No. 8 Truett McConnell (12-16), 62-57 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (12-12) def. No. 10 Reinhardt (8-20), 81-80 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 26
Game 3 - No. 4 Union Commonwealth (14-15) def. No. 5 Columbia (13-16), 83-57 (box)
Game 4 - No. 1 Pikeville (26-3) def. No. 9 Bryan (12-17), 85-58 (box)
Game 5 - No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-12) def. No. 2 Columbia International (18-10), 78-75 (box)
Game 6 - No. 3 Johnson (16-13) def. 6 Montreat (15-13), 71-50 (box)

Friday, Feb. 27
Game 7 - No. 4 Union Commonwealth (14-15) vs. No. 1 Pikeville (26-3), 2 pm
Game 8 - No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-12) vs. No. 3 Johnson (16-13), 4 pm

Saturday, Feb. 28
Game 9 - Championship Game - Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 1 pm