Air Force Reserve Announced as New Title Sponsor of 2026 Basketball Championships
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference is excited to announce
Air Force Reserve as the title sponsor of the conference’s 2026 Basketball Championships. The 2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be held March 4-8 at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tenn.
“We are elated to partner with the Air Force Reserve as the title sponsor of our premier basketball championships,” said Big South Commissioner
Sherika A. Montgomery. “The Big South Basketball Championships represent the pinnacle of excellence in basketball, celebrating the high-level competition and dedication of our basketball student-athletes. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to excellence, integrity, and providing an elevated postseason experience for student-athletes, coaches, fans, and communities across the Big South Conference footprint.”
As part of the 2026 Basketball Championship entitlement, Air Force Reserve will feature prominently through consistent branding, on-site engagement, and digital and social media messaging.
“This valuable partnership will help us highlight the multiple benefits of serving in the Air Force Reserve,” said
Lt. Col. Jon Quinlan, Air Force Reserve Recruiting deputy commander. “Serving in the Air Force Reserve is much like playing on an award-winning sports team. We offer flexible service, stable benefits and a purpose-driven mission to be part of defending our nation while staying connected to your community.”
The 2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Basketball Championships features 16 games over a five-day span to determine the conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournaments. The schedule and tentative game times are listed below, and tickets will go on sale on Monday, Dec. 1. Johnson City and Freedom Hall are hosting the league’s marquee event for the second consecutive year.
Wednesday, March 4 – First Round
5:00pm – Women’s No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed
7:30pm – Men’s No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed
Thursday, March 5 – Women’s Quarterfinals
11:30am – No. 1 seed vs. 8/9 Winner
2:00pm – No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed
6:00pm – No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed
8:30pm – No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed
Friday, March 6 – Men’s Quarterfinals
12:00pm – No. 1 seed vs. 8/9 Winner
2:30pm – No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed
6:00pm – No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed
8:30pm – No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed
Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals
12:00pm – Men’s 1/8-9 Winner vs. 4/5 Winner
2:30pm – Men’s 2/7 Winner vs. 3/6 Winner
6:00pm – Women’s 1/8-9 Winner vs. 4/5 Winner
8:30pm – Men’s 2/7 Winner vs. 3/6 Winner
Sunday, March 8 – Finals
TBD – Men’s Championship (ESPN2)
TBD – Women’s Championship (ESPNU)
Game times are subject to change, and will be finalized in the near future. Additional information about the 2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Basketball Championships is available online at
https://bigsouthsports.com/feature/hoopschamps26.
This partnership with Air Force Reserve is part of a national agreement secured by
Van Wagner, which manages the Big South’s partnership and corporate marketing program.
ABOUT AIR FORCE RESERVE
The mission of the Air Force Reserve is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace, whenever and wherever needed. As a critical component of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Reserve supports global operations while remaining ready to respond to domestic emergencies and humanitarian efforts. It is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Reserve Citizen Airmen to execute a wide range of missions that contribute to national defense and global security.
The Air Force Reserve offers part-time and full-time service options, enabling individuals to serve while maintaining civilian careers or pursuing higher education. Each year, the Reserve recruits thousands of enlisted and officer personnel across core specialties including Aviation, Maintenance, Intelligence, Cyber, Medical, Security Forces, and Logistics. This flexibility allows members to develop valuable skills, gain leadership experience, and serve their country with pride.
More information about Air Force Reserve careers and opportunities is available at
www.airforce.com/ways-to-serve/air-force-reserve.