Morningside Secures Top Seed in GPAC Men’s Basketball Tournament
(Sioux City, Iowa) – Morningside University will be the number one seed when the 2026 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Men’s Postseason Basketball Tournament begins on Wednesday, February 25. The Mustangs finished the regular season with an 18-2 GPAC record and an overall mark of 21-6, automatically qualifying for the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament.
Tournament Bracket Set
The tournament field is complete, with Northwestern earning the two seed, Mount Marty taking the third spot and Concordia claiming the fourth. The top four seeds will host first-round games this Wednesday. Rounding out the bracket are Dordt, Briar Cliff, Dakota Wesleyan, and Hastings as the 5-8 seeds. GPAC tiebreakers determined the seeds for the tournament
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Key Tournament Dates
- Quarterfinals: Wednesday, February 25 (at higher seeds)
- Semifinals: Saturday, February 28 (at the highest two remaining seeds)
- GPAC Championship: Tuesday, March 3 (at the highest remaining seed)
- NAIA First & Second Rounds: March 13-14 (four-team pods)
- NAIA National Championship: March 19-24, 2026 (Kansas City, Missouri, at Municipal Auditorium)
First Round Matchups
Here’s a glance at the first-round matchups:
#8 Hastings (8-20, 7-13 GPAC) at #1 Morningside (21-6, 18-2 GPAC), 7pm
#5 Dordt (16-12, 11-9 GPAC) at #4 Concordia (17-11, 11-9 GPAC), 8pm
#6 Briar Cliff (13-14, 10-10 GPAC) at #3 Mount Marty (15-10, 13-7 GPAC), 7pm
#7 Dakota Wesleyan (14-14, 9-11 GPAC) at #2 Northwestern (23-5, 15-5 GPAC), 7pm
Championship Implications
The winner of the GPAC Postseason Tournament receives an automatic berth to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament. But, if Morningside, as the regular-season champion, wins the tournament, the runner-up will earn the automatic bid. A total of 64 teams will participate in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Postseason.
FAQ
What is at stake in the GPAC Tournament?
An automatic berth to the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament.
When does the tournament begin?
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with first-round games.
Where will the NAIA National Championship be held?
Kansas City, Missouri, at Municipal Auditorium, from March 19-24, 2026.
The 2026 GPAC Men’s Basketball Tournament promises exciting competition as teams battle for a chance to represent the conference on the national stage. Morningside, with its top seed and automatic NAIA tournament berth, will look to continue its successful season.