Last year, the Crimson Storm went 22-7 and captured the program’s fifth regular-season title. They return Baron Bracey, a Second-Team All-GAC selection. He averaged 13.8 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds per game. Tray Godfrey, Jr. averaged 9.7 points per game and shot 65.1 percent from the floor.
Oklahoma Baptist claimed second. The Bison collected a first-place vote. Terry Coner, Jr., a First-Team All-GAC performer who ranked eighth in scoring at 16.1 points per game, returns for his junior season.
Harding finished third and received one first-place vote. The Bisons won their second GAC Championship title by beating the Crimson Storm, 75-74, in the final. Keyln McBride, a First-Team All-GAC selection and the Tournament MVP, returns. He averaged 14.6 points and 4.8 assists per game. He shot a GAC-leading 46.4 percent from the 3-point arc.
Arkansas Tech edged Southwestern Oklahoma State for fourth. The Wonder Boys secured the final first-place vote. The Bulldogs’ Tobias Roland placed on the Honorable Mention All-GAC team after he averaged a team-leading 12.8 points. Elijah Jordan ranked third on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game. He shot 44.4 percent from the 3-point arc.
Henderson State finished one point ahead of rival Ouachita Baptist. The Reddies’ Deazhon Perkins averaged 10.9 points per game last season. The Tigers must replace Hobert Grayson. He claimed the league’s Player, Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year awards in his one season with the program.
Northwestern Oklahoma State placed eighth, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Rangers’ Max Alexander ranks as the league’s top returning scorer. He averaged 20.2 points per game. He added 4.4 assists per game. The Savage Storm’s DJ Dill averaged 12.4 points per game off the bench.
Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello and East Central rounded out the poll. The Muleriders feature 12 newcomers, including three from Division I institutions. The Weevils welcome back Isaac Jackson, who missed the 2024-25 season due to injury. In 2023-24, he averaged a league-leading 20.4 points per game. The Tigers’ Mark Rucha averaged 10.9 points per game.
The regular season begins on Friday, November 14 with all 12 teams taking to the court. Southern Nazarene and Southeastern Oklahoma State host weekend tournaments against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools. Oklahoma Baptist and Northwestern Oklahoma State will be at the Southern Nazarene event. East Central joins Southeastern in Durant.
The 2026 GAC Championship will take place at Northside Arena in Fort Smith. The top eight teams will compete for the automatic bid starting on Thursday, March 5 and concluding on Sunday, March 8.
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