The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)’s 2025 Starry SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament presented by Buick winner: Alabama State Hornets clinch first SWAC title since 2011
The Alabama State Hornets are back on top. In a hard-fought battle, Alabama State edged past Jackson State 60-56 on Saturday night at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park (GA) to claim their first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship since the 2010-11 season.
With the win, the Hornets punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years, marking a milestone for the program.
Alabama State’s path to the championship wasn’t easy. Facing stiff competition in the 2025 SWAC Tournament, the Hornets knocked off former ASU head coach Mo Williams and Jackson State in the final, securing the program’s long-awaited return to the Big Dance.
Jackson State, meanwhile, was seeking its first SWAC championship since 2007, when the Tigers entered as the No. 2 seed under then-player and current associate head coach Trey Johnson.
Southern, the 2025 SWAC regular-season champion (15-3 SWAC), entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed but fell to Grambling State in a stunning overtime upset in the quarterfinals.
Tournament Recap
Here’s a breakdown of how the SWAC Tournament played out:
First Round – Tuesday, March 11
- (8) Grambling State 73, (9) Alabama A&M 56
- (7) Florida A&M 75, (10) Prairie View A&M 66
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, March 12
- (8) Grambling State 65, (1) Southern 62 (OT)
- (2) Jackson State 91, (7) Florida A&M 76
Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 13
- (5) Alabama State 84, (4) Texas Southern 79
- (3) Bethune-Cookman 69, (6) Alcorn State 60
Semifinals – Friday, March 14
- (5) Alabama State 64, (8) Grambling State 62
- (2) Jackson State 71, (3) Bethune-Cookman 50
Championship – Saturday, March 16
- (5) Alabama State 60, (2) Jackson State 56
The Southwestern Athletic Conference remains one of the premier HBCU leagues in the nation. It consistently produces top-tier talent that transitions to the professional level. The conference expanded its tournament field from eight to 10 teams, enhancing the level of competition.
Commissioner Dr. Charles F. McClelland, who has led the SWAC since 2018, continues to push the conference forward, strengthening its presence in the college basketball landscape.
With the SWAC title secured, Alabama State now shifts its focus to the NCAA Tournament, where the Hornets will look to make a statement on the national stage.
Selection Sunday, the biggest night in college hoops, will decide which 68 men’s and women’s teams will battle for a shot at the national championship. Men’s Bracket Reveal: 6 PM ET on CBS & Paramount+.
Stay tuned—March Madness just got a whole lot more interesting.
