FORT MYERS, Fla. – Small College Basketball and founder John McCarthy announced last month that the Lander men's basketball team has been invited to play in the prestigious Division II Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic to kick off the 2026-27 campaign.

Lander will be making its first appearance in the 10th edition of the event, which takes place on Nov. 7 and 8 on the campus of Florida Southern in Lakeland. 10 teams will be participating as listed below along with this year's matchups.

"This field is loaded! Division II basketball fans rejoice!" McCarthy said. "Basketball fans from throughout the country will really enjoy watching some of the finest teams in all of NCAA Division II compete in the most prestigious in-season event in NCAA Division II basketball."

Lander head coach Omar Wattad expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play in the event.

"We are grateful and appreciative of John McCarthy for the invitation to the most prestigious exempt tournament in the country," Wattad said. "I was fortunate to be a part of it seven years ago and look forward to, once again, competing with the nation's best."

The 2026 national runner-up Bearcats, coming off the most accomplished season in program history, will battle Black Hills State to open the season. The Yellow Jackets amassed 30 wins last year en route to an Elite Eight appearance.

LU will wrap-up the tournament against fellow Final Four participant Oklahoma Baptist on Sunday.

The Hall of Fame Classic continues to stand as one of the premier early-season showcases in NCAA Division II men's basketball, annually bringing together top programs from across the country for a high-level competitive stage. The 2026 edition will once again feature a full slate of action, with five games tipping off on Saturday and another five contests set for Sunday. For additional details on the Hall of Fame Classic and all things Small College Basketball, visit smallcollegebasketball.com.

Saturday, November 7, 2026
11:00 Central Missouri vs. Gannon
1:15 Oklahoma Baptist vs. Cal State East Bay
3:30 Lander vs. Black Hills State
5:45 Florida Southern vs. West Liberty
8:00 Washburn vs. Point Loma Nazarene

Sunday, November 8, 2026
11:00 Oklahoma Baptist vs. Lander
1:15 Cal State East Bay vs. Central Missouri
3:30 Gannon vs. Point Loma Nazarene
5:45 Florida Southern vs. Black Hills State
8:00 Washburn vs. West Liberty