Determined LSUS men's basketball bunch heads to Kansas City for NAIA Sweet 16

Determined LSUS men's basketball bunch heads to Kansas City for NAIA Sweet 16

SHREVEPORT - For a men's basketball program that's made the final NAIA National Tournament site in 21 of their 23 seasons in existence, one might expect this week's trip to Kansas City to be old hat - a simple routine.

But for the 15 Pilots loading up on a bus Monday morning on LSUS's campus, it's the first time they'll make the nearly nine-hour trip north.

After winning the first two games of the NAIA National Tournament in their home gym this past weekend, LSUS will bring an entirely new bunch of guys to the NAIA Sweet 16 in Kansas City.

The No. 2 seed Pilots (28-5) will play No. 3 seed Ave Maria (28-4) on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in historic Municipal Auditorium.

"Today is just as exciting as the first time I went as a player and as a coach," said LSUS men's basketball coach Kyle Blankenship. "Practice starts (Tuesday), so we'll get up there and have a nice team dinner tonight and then prepare for a very good Ave Maria team.

"I've always told my guys that winning the first game is the hardest, and we've already won two games here at home in this tournament. So we'll relax and play ball, and we're hoping to play well and win a few games up there."

Friday's game features two of the top scoring offenses in the nation with Ave Maria averaging 92.2 points per game (second nationally) and LSUS scoring 90.6 per contest (fifth nationally).

As LSUS makes its 22^nd appearance in the national tournament, the Pilots have made it to Kansas City in all but one season - last season.

Teams usually travel to Kansas City just by making the 32-team national tournament field, but when the field expanded to 48 and then to 64 teams starting in 2022, LSUS would have to win opening round games at a host site before heading to the hallowed halls of Municipal Auditorium.

The Pilots did that in 2022, 2023, and 2024, but lost in the first round of the 2025 national tournament.

LSUS rekindled the KC connection this year by winning two tournament games at The Dock, its first national tournament games ever in its home gym.

Coushatta native Emareyon McDonald, the only Pilot from North Louisiana, saw plenty of familiar faces from his hometown in the crowd.

"I had a lot of family there, and it's great to see the support, and it boosted my confidence," said McDonald, a senior who is in his first year at LSUS. "Coach Blankenship recruited the right guys, and this team has come together throughout the season."

LSUS fended off both of its opponents as a host, beating No. 15 seed Tougaloo and No. 10 seed Texas Wesleyan, in single-digit fashion.

Blankenship has guided LSUS to all three of its Elite Eight appearances (2012, 2013, 2018) and both Fab Fours (2013, 2018).

A win Friday night would mean a fourth Elite Eight for the program, and the Pilots aim to come home with a lot more than that.