By: Clint Neumann
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The brackets are set and both University of Sioux Falls basketball programs are preparing for postseason play as the 2026 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament tips off Wednesday, February 25. The Cougar men will host a first-round matchup inside the Stewart Center, while the women will hit the road as the No. 9 seed.
With spots at the Sanford Pentagon on the line, both teams enter the week battle-tested and familiar with their opponents.
Men's Basketball – #8 Seed
The USF men earned the No. 8 seed and will host No. 9 seed Wayne State Wildcats on Wednesday, February 25 at 6:00 p.m. inside the Stewart Center.
The Cougars and Wildcats split their regular-season meetings. Wayne State claimed a 91–79 win in Wayne on December 3, while USF responded with a 119–114 overtime thriller on February 18 in Sioux Falls.
The 8/9 seeding came down to strength of schedule after the teams split head-to-head, with USF earning the higher seed and the right to host.
The 2026 NSIC Men's Basketball Tournament features 12 teams seeded by conference record. St. Cloud State Huskies secured the regular season title and the No. 1 seed, followed by Augustana, Concordia-St. Paul, and Southwest Minnesota State, all of whom received first-round byes.
First-round games will stream free on the NSIC Network. Ticket information for Wednesday's home matchup will be announced soon.
Women's Basketball – #9 Seed
The USF women earned the No. 9 seed and will travel to No. 8 seed St. Cloud State Huskies on Wednesday, February 25 at 6:00 p.m. inside Halenbeck Hall.
The Cougars and Huskies split the regular-season series. USF claimed a 79–76 victory on December 18 inside the Stewart Center, while St. Cloud State earned a 72–56 win on February 7 in St. Cloud. Wednesday's matchup serves as the rubber match with a trip to Sioux Falls on the line.
The 2026 NSIC Women's Basketball Tournament also features 12 teams seeded by conference win percentage. Minnesota State claimed the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed, followed by Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota Duluth, and the University of Mary — all receiving first-round byes.
Seeding in the 8/9/10 range required tiebreak procedures, as St. Cloud State, Sioux Falls, and MSU Moorhead did not play an equal number of times. The Huskies earned the eighth seed, USF the ninth, and MSUM the tenth based on strength of schedule.
First-round games will stream free on the NSIC Network.
Looking Ahead: Sanford Pentagon
Quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship rounds for both tournaments will take place February 28 – March 3 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
All games played at the Pentagon will air exclusively live on Midco Sports and Midco Sports Plus. Midco subscribers can watch on channel 622 or stream via Midco Sports Plus. Fans without Midco can subscribe monthly to Midco Sports Plus to access all tournament contests and additional programming.
Men's Tournament Central
Women's Tournament Central
With postseason intensity set to begin, both Cougar squads will look to extend their seasons and make a run at the Sanford Pentagon.
