LC State Men's Basketball Edged by Corban in Overtime Conference Title Battle

Seventh-seeded Corban Warriors force overtime to defeat No. 23 LC State Warriors and earn NAIA tournament bid

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a close conference championship game, the seventh-seeded Corban Warriors outlasted the No. 23 LC State Warriors in overtime, 87-84, to earn a bid to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship. The game was back-and-forth throughout, with neither team leading by more than a single point for much of the second half before Corban forced overtime and pulled away late.

Why it matters

This game highlights the competitiveness of the NAIA conference tournament, where lower-seeded teams can pull off upsets and earn a spot in the national championship. The loss is a tough one for the regular season champion LC State Warriors, but they will still advance to the NAIA tournament as an at-large bid.

The details

Corban was led by a balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures. LC State was paced by Grayson Hunt's 22 points and John Lustig's 19 points and 8 rebounds. The game was tied 72-72 at the end of regulation before Corban took control in overtime, outscoring LC State 15-12 in the extra period.

  • The game was played on March 4, 2026.
  • LC State and Corban will both advance to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds on March 13-14.

The players

Grayson Hunt

A key player for the LC State Warriors, scoring a game-high 22 points.

John Lustig

Contributed 19 points and a game-high 8 rebounds for the LC State Warriors.

Tj Zimmermann

Hit a last-second shot to force overtime for the Corban Warriors.

Austin Johnson

The head coach of the LC State Warriors, who praised Corban's performance in the game.

Corban Warriors

The seventh-seeded team that pulled off the upset over the No. 23 LC State Warriors to earn a bid to the NAIA tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Credit to Corban. They were the tougher team and very deserving of the win. We were really out of sorts defensively which showed in their field goal percentage and total points. Our guys have responded at a high level all year and I have no doubt we'll respond the right way moving forward as we prepare for the national tournament.”

— Austin Johnson, Head Coach, LC State Warriors (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

LC State and Corban will both advance to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds on March 13-14, where the full tournament field will be revealed on Thursday.

The takeaway

This game showcases the unpredictability and competitiveness of the NAIA conference tournament, where a lower-seeded team like Corban can pull off an upset over a highly ranked opponent like LC State. Despite the tough loss, LC State will still have a chance to compete for the NAIA national championship.