Preview: Southern Union State Bison vs. Gadsden State Cardinals

GADSDEN, Ala. (Interstat) — The Gadsden State Cardinals will look to complete a season sweep and advance in the NJCAA South District Tournament when they host the Southern Union State Bison in a men’s junior college basketball game Thursday.

Tipoff is set for March 12, 2026.

The Cardinals (11-9) have defeated the Bison (7-19) twice this season, including a 97-78 victory just one week ago on their home floor. In that March 5 matchup, Gadsden State used a balanced attack to pull away from Southern Union.

The Bison enter tournament play seeking to reverse recent fortunes, having lost five of their last seven games. Their offense has been inconsistent, but they possess a potent scorer in Dash Thomas. The guard is coming off a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in the loss to Gadsden State and erupted for 36 points in a win over Coastal Alabama on March 2.

For Southern Union to have a chance, they will need more consistent support for Thomas. Isaiah Dennis (18 points) and Trevone Palmer (13 points) were productive in the last meeting and must replicate those performances.

Gadsden State has faced its own struggles, dropping three of its last four contests, including a 30-point road loss to Shelton State on March 2. Forward Marcus Towns, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds in that defeat, is a key interior presence for the Cardinals. The team will rely on its defense, which held Southern Union under 80 points in both prior matchups.

The Cardinals’ season has been marked by streaks, both winning and losing, but they have protected their home court effectively against the Bison recently.

This tournament elimination game presents a final opportunity for Southern Union to salvage its season with an upset, while Gadsden State aims to leverage its experience and home-court advantage to continue its postseason run. The Bison must solve the Cardinals’ defensive scheme and find scoring beyond Thomas to extend their year.