GEORGETOWN, KY. - The No. 14 seed IU Kokomo men's basketball team is set to return to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship for the first time since 2023 and the fifth time under head coach Eric Echelbarger, as the Cougars prepare to face No. 3 seed and No. 14-ranked Georgetown (Ky.) Friday evening on their home floor.

The Cougars will compete in the NAIA First and Second Rounds at the Georgetown, Kentucky host site, hosted by Georgetown University inside historic Davis-Reid Alumni Gym Friday and Saturday. The site is one of 16 Opening Round locations across the country, with four teams competing at each.

The winner of Friday's matchup between IU Kokomo and Georgetown will face the winner of No. 6 seed Bethel (Ind.) and No. 11 seed Life (Ga.), who are scheduled to play following the Cougars and Tigers on Friday night, for a spot in Kansas City and the "Sweet 16."

2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship First Round
Friday, March 13th • Georgetown, Kentucky • Davis-Reid Alumni Gym
#14 seed IU Kokomo at #3 seed Georgetown (Ky.) • 6:00 PM EST

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IU Kokomo (24-7, 12-4) punched its ticket to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship with an at-large bid after winning the River States Conference West Division during the regular season before falling to IU Southeast in the RSC Tournament Championship. The Cougars reeled off 18 straight victories at one point during the season, opening RSC play with a 9-0 record.

The Cougars are led in scoring by freshman guard Alonzo Clawson-Smith, who is averaging 18.8 points per game. Joseph Annan Jr. follows with 16.4 points per game, while Ty Wills averages 16.1. Both Evan Kretz and Jake McGraw contribute double-digit scoring, each averaging more than 10 points per game.

14th-ranked Georgetown (22–7, 8–4) earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship after falling in the Mid-South Conference Quarterfinals to Bethel (Tenn.). The Tigers finished second in the MSC regular season behind the NAIA's No. 1 overall seed Freed–Hardeman.

The Tigers are led in scoring by Isaiah Mason, who averages 15.6 points per game, followed by Rashad Bishop with 13.4. Darien Lewis contributes 11.6 points per game, while both Bubba Leavell and Aden Nykena provide double-digit scoring, each averaging more than 10 points per game.

Friday night's matchup with the Tigers will mark the first meeting all-time between IU Kokomo and Georgetown in men's basketball. Georgetown has faced common opponents with IU Kokomo 10 times this season, posting an 8–2 record in those games, while the Cougars went 8–3 against the same teams. IU Southeast defeated Georgetown on its home floor to open the regular season before later having to forfeit the game. 

Georgetown is 14–1 at home this season, while IU Kokomo brings a solid 9–3 record in true road games.

The Cougars will look to channel some of the opening round magic from the 2021–22 season, when IU Kokomo upset No. 1 overall seed William Penn on its home floor in the Second Round after outlasting Dordt (Ia.) in the First Round.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.