Paradise Jam Bracket Reveal: Jacks Draw Indiana State in Opener
7/30/2026 9:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jacks, Sycamores joined in top bracket by Temple, Middle Tennessee
EDMONDS, Washington – Announced in early April that the Stephen F. Austin men's basketball program would be among the eight teams headed to the Caribbean in the late November for the 2026 Paradise Jam, the field is now set and the Jacks have an opening round opponent in the Missouri Valley Conference's Indiana State. The announcement marks the first official opponent for the Lumberjacks in the 2026-27 season. The full schedule will be released soon on www.SFAjacks.com.
The Jacks and the Sycamores meet on November 20 at 2 p.m. (CT) in game two of the tournament. The two squads are joined on the top bracket by Temple and Middle Tennessee. The bottom bracket features UT Martin vs. Southern Illinois and East Carolina vs. Utah Valley.
It will mark the first meeting all-time between SFA and ISU. The Jacks have three recent meetings with Middle Tennessee having matched up against the Blue Raiders in 2021, 2022 and 2023. SFA has also played UT Martin (1983, 1996) and was former WAC foes with Utah Valley having met in 2022, 2023 and twice in 2024.
SFA's trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands will be the first outside of the continental United States since the Cayman Island Classic in November of 2023.
This past season, 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.
The Jacks have reloaded in year two under Braeuer and feature a roster highlighted by the addition of ten new faces to Nacogdoches as well as returners Narit Chotikavanic and Gediminas Alisas who each played in all 34 games a season ago.
For more information on fan and donor engagement opportunities, fan packages, accommodations and more visit www.basketballtravelers.com/fans.
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.
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.
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 and the Sycamores meet on November 20 at 2 p.m. (CT) in game two of the tournament. The two squads are joined on the top bracket by Temple and Middle Tennessee. The bottom bracket features UT Martin vs. Southern Illinois and East Carolina vs. Utah Valley.
It will mark the first meeting all-time between SFA and ISU. The Jacks have three recent meetings with Middle Tennessee having matched up against the Blue Raiders in 2021, 2022 and 2023. SFA has also played UT Martin (1983, 1996) and was former WAC foes with Utah Valley having met in 2022, 2023 and twice in 2024.
SFA's trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands will be the first outside of the continental United States since the Cayman Island Classic in November of 2023.
This past season, 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.
The Jacks have reloaded in year two under Braeuer and feature a roster highlighted by the addition of ten new faces to Nacogdoches as well as returners Narit Chotikavanic and Gediminas Alisas who each played in all 34 games a season ago.
For more information on fan and donor engagement opportunities, fan packages, accommodations and more visit www.basketballtravelers.com/fans.
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.
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.
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.
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