LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A spot in the NCAA tournament will be on the line Sunday when the New Orleans Privateers and Houston Christian Huskies meet in the men’s Southland Conference championship game.

The game, scheduled for March 8, 2026, at the Lake Charles arena, pits the fourth-seeded Privateers (15-17) against the sixth-seeded Huskies (12-19). Both teams have navigated an unpredictable bracket to earn a chance at the league’s automatic bid.

New Orleans, the home team on the neutral floor, seeks its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996. Houston Christian, the visiting team, aims for its first-ever Division I tournament bid.

The teams split their regular-season series. The Huskies won the most recent meeting 61-60 at home on Feb. 14, a game decided by a last-second defensive stop. Houston Christian also won the first matchup 85-76 in New Orleans on Dec. 6.

A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top guards. New Orleans is led by dynamic point guard Jakevion Buckley, who is coming off a spectacular 28-point, 13-assist performance in a semifinal loss to Southeastern Louisiana. Buckley orchestrates the Privateers’ offense and is capable of a triple-double.

Houston Christian counters with steady guard Trent Johnson, who contributed nine points and three assists in the Feb. 14 win over New Orleans. Johnson’s poise and defense will be critical in containing Buckley.

The Huskies enter with momentum after a dominant 75-53 quarterfinal victory over Lamar, where Kylin Green (13 points) and Ryan Bartley (15 points) provided scoring support. New Orleans arrives after a high-scoring 82-78 semifinal defeat, where Coleton Benson scored 21 points alongside Buckley’s outburst.

Despite their sub-.500 overall records, both teams have shown they can win in March. The Privateers will rely on their offensive firepower, while the Huskies will depend on the defensive toughness that carried them through the bracket. The season for one will end in celebration, while the other will see its unlikely tournament dream fall just short.