Preview: Trinidad State Trojans vs. Snow Badgers in NJCAA First Round

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Interstat) — A study in contrasts will tip off Sunday at the 2026 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship when the .500 Trinidad State Trojans face the powerhouse Snow College Badgers in a first-round game.

The No. 17-seeded Trojans (17-17) arrive as one of the tournament’s most unpredictable entrants, having won four straight games, including a 101-91 road victory at Northwest on March 14, to secure their spot. They will need that momentum against the No. 4-seeded Badgers (28-4), who dominated the regular season but enter having lost three of their last five.

Trinidad State’s hopes rest heavily on forward Manning Shareef, who is playing his best basketball of the season. In the team’s recent playoff-clinching win at Northwest, Shareef posted a dominant 31 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes. Over his last three meaningful games, he has averaged 20.7 points and 9.0 rebounds, providing a critical interior presence for the Trojans.

Snow, however, presents a formidable challenge. The Badgers boast a balanced attack and have been ranked among the nation’s elite all season. Their anchor is forward Brock McClure, a double-double threat who scored 32 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Utah State Eastern on March 6. In Snow’s last outing, a 64-60 loss to Southern Idaho on March 7, McClure still managed 17 points and 14 rebounds.

The matchup inside between Shareef and McClure will be pivotal. Trinidad State’s recent surge has been fueled by offense, averaging 88 points over their four-game win streak. Snow’s defense, which held opponents to an average of 71.4 points during the regular season, will aim to disrupt that rhythm.

History favors the Badgers, but the single-elimination format provides opportunity. Trinidad State, playing with house money, seeks a monumental upset. Snow, with Final Four aspirations, looks to reaffirm its status and advance.

The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The winner will advance to the second round of the national tournament.