Tailgate, festivities accompany LSUS men's basketball's first-ever national tournament home game Friday

Tailgate, festivities accompany LSUS men's basketball's first-ever national tournament home game Friday

SHREVEPORT - The LSU Shreveport men's basketball team holds one of the longest consecutive national tournament appearance streaks at any collegiate level as the Pilots make their 22^nd straight NAIA national tournament field.

But this year is different as LSUS will be first- and second-round host for the first time in program history.

Before the No. 2 seed Pilots (26-5) take on No. 15 Tougaloo (19-9) on Friday at 7 p.m. at The Dock, fans and the Shreveport-Bossier community can come tailgate outside the gym with food trucks and other festivities planned.

"We are excited to host basketball for the first time in program history, and we enjoy trying to create that national championship experience right here," said Lucas Morgan, LSUS athletics director. "We've traveled to other places where it didn't feel special or any different than a regular-season game, so our goal is for all people - student-athletes and fans - to walk into an environment that feels special.

"This weekend will be the best bang for your buck that you can get with college basketball. Come watch as our No. 2 seed Pilots start the chase for a national championship right here in Shreveport."

The tailgate starts at 4 p.m. and will last until 7 p.m. as the first game of the night - No. 7 seed Morningside and No. 10 Texas Wesleyan - commences at 5 p.m.

Friday's winners will face off in the second round Saturday at 5 p.m. for the right to advance to the Sweet 16 at historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

"For us to be able to host at home, we're excited for the Shreveport-Bossier community, all of our fans and our families," said LSUS men's coach Kyle Blankenship, whose piloted the ship since 2012-13, which includes both of LSUS's Fab Four appearances and a third Elite Eight. "We hope we can pack this place out."

The Pilots packed out the win column in conference play, posting a 20-2 mark in the Red River Athletics Conference en route to regular season and conference tournament championships. It's the first time the LSUS men have captured both titles in the same year since 2008.

Senior Hayden Brittingham garnered RRAC Player of the Year honors, averaging nearly 18 points and nine rebounds per game.

"Playing at home is big because we're comfortable here," Brittingham said. "It's hard for opponents to win here, and our fans and the people we see around here - we don't want to let them down.

"Having a home game in the national tournament is big."

LSUS is 12-2 at The Dock this season with one of those losses coming to a No. 1 seed in Freed-Hardeman.

Fans watching the men from the stands can also keep track of the LSUS women's basketball team on their phones as the No. 7 seed Pilots (27-4) play No. 10 Benedictine College (24-7) on Friday at 7 p.m. in Campbellsville, Ky.

The Pilot women also captured RRAC regular-season and conference tournament titles with Selma Markisic taking Player of the Year honors.

Video feeds from every NAIA national tournament game can be found on urbanedgenetwork.net.

The LSUS men are one of 16 hosts across the country with these pod winners advancing to the Sweet 16 in Kansas City, Mo.