NEWS RELEASE
Monday, February 23, 2026
AAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament returns to Kingsport; Brackets set
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament returns to MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center this week. Opening round is scheduled to begin Wednesday, February 25. The tournament runs through Saturday, February 28.
In men’s basketball, Pikeville won the regular-season championship with an 18-1 conference record and earned the No. 1 seed. In women’s basketball, Milligan is the regular-season champion with a 19-1 conference record and the No. 1 seed.
Teams playing in the women’s tournament are from: Milligan University (TN), Johnson University (TN), University of Pikeville (KY), Reinhardt University (GA), Montreat College (NC), Bryan College (TN), Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN), Columbia College (SC), Spartanburg Methodist College (SC) and Union Commonwealth University (KY).
Men’s teams are from: University of Pikeville (KY), Columbia International University (SC), Johnson University (TN), Bryan College (TN), Montreat College (NC), Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN), Truett McConnell University (GA), Reinhardt University (GA), Columbia College (SC) and Union Commonwealth University (KY).
In Women’s Basketball, the tournament seeds are as follows:
- Milligan (20-7, 19-1 AAC)
- Bryan (21-6, 18-2 AAC)
- Reinhardt (21-6, 18-2)
- Pikeville (15-13, 14-6)
- Tennessee Wesleyan (11-14, 10-10 AAC)
- Johnson (11-15, 10-10 AAC)
- Spartanburg Methodist (15-13, 9-11)
- Columbia (13-15, 9-11)
- Montreat (10-16, 8-12 AAC)
- Union Commonwealth (8-19, 7-13)
In Men’s Basketball, the tournament seeds are as follows:
- Pikeville (25-3, 18-1 AAC)
- Columbia International (18-9, 13-6 AAC)
- Johnson (15-13, 13-6)
- Union Commonwealth (13-15, 11-8)
- Columbia (13-15, 10-9)
- Montreat (15-12, 10-9)
- Tennessee Wesleyan (11-12, 10-9)
- Truett McConnell (12-15, 9-10 AAC)
- Bryan (11-16, 8-11 AAC)
- Reinhardt (8-19, 7-12 AAC)
There will be 18 total games played from Wednesday through Saturday, with the final game beginning at 3 p.m. on March 1.
Women’s Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Game 1 – No. 8 Columbia (13-15) vs. No. 9 Montreat (10-16), 2:30 pm
Game 2 – No. 7 Spartanburg Methodist (15-13) vs. No. 10 Union Commonwealth (8-19), 4:15 pm
Thursday, Feb. 26
Game 3 – No. 1 Milligan (20-7) vs. Game 1 Winner, 12 pm
Game 4 – No. 4 Pikeville (15-13) vs. No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan (11-14), 1:45 pm
Game 5 – No. 2 Bryan (21-6) vs. Game 2 Winner, 7:30 pm
Game 6 – No. 3 Reinhardt (21-6) vs. No. 6 Johnson (11-15), 9:15 pm
Friday, Feb. 27
Game 7 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 6 pm
Game 8 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 8 pm
Saturday, Feb. 28
Game 9 – Championship Game – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 3 pm
Men’s Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Game 1 – No. 8 Truett McConnell (12-15) vs. No. 9 Bryan (11-16), 11 am
Game 2 – No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (11-12) vs. No. 10 Reinhardt (8-19), 12:45 pm
Thursday, Feb. 26
Game 3 – No. 4 Union Commonwealth (13-15) vs. No. 5 Columbia (13-15), 8:30 am
Game 4 – No. 1 Pikeville (25-3) vs. Game 1 winner, 10:15 am
Game 5 – No. 2 Columbia International (18-9) vs. Game 2 winner, 3:30 pm
Game 6 – No. 3 Johnson (15-13) vs. 6 Montreat (15-12), 5:15 pm
Friday, Feb. 27
Game 7 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 2 pm
Game 8 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 4 pm
Saturday, Feb. 28
Game 9 – Championship Game – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 1 pm
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students each day. There will also be a live stream available. For more information, visit VisitKingsport.com.
