Piney Woods to Palm Trees: Jacks MBB Accepts Invitation to 2026 Paradise Jam
4/9/2026 11:48:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball
SFA will be among eight teams in the annual MTE tipping off November 20 in the U.S. Virgin Islands
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The first official domino has fallen when it comes to Stephen F. Austin men's basketball's 2026-27 non-conference schedule: the Lumberjacks are heading to the Caribbean, specifically the U.S. Virgin Islands, as second-year head coach Matt Braeuer has accepted an invite to the 2026 Paradise Jam on November 20-23.
The Jacks will be among eight teams in the annual MTE which was first contested in 2001. It will mark the first trip outside the continental United States for SFA since hooping in the Cayman Island Classic in November of 2023.
In year one under Braeuer, SFA became the first Southland Conference program to reach 20 league wins in a single season which was capped by winning the SLC regular season title: the program's sixth such championship and the first since 2019-20. Runner-up in the SLC Tournament, the Jacks made the program's fourth trip all-time to the National Invitation Tournament; the first national postseason appearance for the program since the 2022 CBI. SFA lost an overtime bout with tournament runner-up Tulsa to conclude the season at 28-6 overall.
For more information on fan and donor engagement opportunities, fan packages, accommodations and more visit www.basketballtravelers.com/fans. Brackets and ticket packages will be announced later at the link above as well as on X @ParadiseJam.
ABOUT PARADISE JAM
The tournament will take place November 20–23, 2026 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, featuring an eight-team NCAA Division I field competing in a bracket-style format with three guaranteed games per team. Games will be played at the Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman's Reef and the Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports & Fitness Center on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
The event provides a neutral-site competition experience comparable to a traditional three-game road trip, both competitively and financially, while allowing teams to remain in one location. Matchups are structured to support early-season NET rankings, pairing programs against similar-caliber mid- and high-major opponents without buy-game dynamics.
Now entering its 27th year overall and its 26th men's tournament, the Paradise Jam is a well-established NCAA event with experienced operators and a proven track record of execution. All games will be streamed on ESPN+, offering broad visibility for participating programs, fans, and supporters.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA men's basketball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
THE 'JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Lumberjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
The Jacks will be among eight teams in the annual MTE which was first contested in 2001. It will mark the first trip outside the continental United States for SFA since hooping in the Cayman Island Classic in November of 2023.
In year one under Braeuer, SFA became the first Southland Conference program to reach 20 league wins in a single season which was capped by winning the SLC regular season title: the program's sixth such championship and the first since 2019-20. Runner-up in the SLC Tournament, the Jacks made the program's fourth trip all-time to the National Invitation Tournament; the first national postseason appearance for the program since the 2022 CBI. SFA lost an overtime bout with tournament runner-up Tulsa to conclude the season at 28-6 overall.
For more information on fan and donor engagement opportunities, fan packages, accommodations and more visit www.basketballtravelers.com/fans. Brackets and ticket packages will be announced later at the link above as well as on X @ParadiseJam.
ABOUT PARADISE JAM
The tournament will take place November 20–23, 2026 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, featuring an eight-team NCAA Division I field competing in a bracket-style format with three guaranteed games per team. Games will be played at the Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman's Reef and the Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports & Fitness Center on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
The event provides a neutral-site competition experience comparable to a traditional three-game road trip, both competitively and financially, while allowing teams to remain in one location. Matchups are structured to support early-season NET rankings, pairing programs against similar-caliber mid- and high-major opponents without buy-game dynamics.
Now entering its 27th year overall and its 26th men's tournament, the Paradise Jam is a well-established NCAA event with experienced operators and a proven track record of execution. All games will be streamed on ESPN+, offering broad visibility for participating programs, fans, and supporters.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA men's basketball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
THE 'JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Lumberjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
#AxeEm x #WinTogether
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