HBCU basketball didn’t ease into the 2026-27 season. Monday provided a little bit of everything: a game in the middle of the night, a monster scoring performance, a blowout victory, and an unexpected upset that deserves some attention.
Here are five takeaways from Monday’s action.
1. Grambling showed it can win when the game gets wild
An 89-87 victory over Northern Illinois at 3 a.m. Eastern? That’s one way to wake up HBCU basketball fans.
Grambling State opened its season with a thriller, and Isaiah Miranda made sure the Tigers had the firepower to survive it. The 7-foot-2 standout poured in 29 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots while shooting 10-of-12 from the floor.
And he wasn’t alone. Dwayne Pierce added 19 points and eight assists, giving Grambling a dynamic inside-outside combination.
The Tigers nearly let a 12-point second-half lead slip away, but they survived. The lesson? Grambling has offensive weapons, but closing out tight games will be something to watch.
2. Talladega College delivered the kind of win that gets people’s attention
Let’s give Talladega College its flowers.
The Tornadoes walked into Alabama A&M — the defending SWAC regular season champions from a year ago and earned a 59-53 victory. That’s no small accomplishment for an NAIA program facing a Division I opponent.
The game was tight throughout, with Talladega holding a slim 44-43 lead entering the fourth quarter. But the Tornadoes finished stronger, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-10 in the final period.
Aaliyah Golston led Talladega with 10 points and eight rebounds, while the team controlled the glass with a 40-30 rebounding advantage.
Alabama A&M had 14 points from Shun’teria Anumele, but the Bulldogs struggled to shoot efficiently.
This was an early reminder that HBCU basketball talent isn’t confined to Division I. Talladega deserves credit for going on the road and getting the job done.
3. Kiki McElrath gave Hampton a star-making performance
Hampton lost to Houston 73-65, but don’t let the final score overshadow what McElrath accomplished.
She exploded for a career-high 33 points, shooting 11-of-25 from the field and 9-of-10 at the free-throw line. She also reached 1,001 career collegiate points.
The Pirates trailed by as many as 20 points but made a push in the fourth quarter. McElrath was the engine behind that effort.
Hampton didn’t get the win, but it certainly found out what it has in its leading scorer.
4. Prairie View A&M looks like it still has offensive firepower
Prairie View A&M handled Paul Quinn 86-65, and Michael Eley wasted little time announcing his presence.
Eley finished with 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting and added four steals. Davian Williams and Elijah Mitchell chipped in 14 points apiece.
Even more encouraging, the Panthers got 35 points from their bench and forced 26 turnovers.
It’s only one game, but Prairie View — a season after an NCAA Tournament run and loss of nearly its entire roster — will need more of that to repeat in the SWAC.
5. South Carolina State showed what balanced basketball looks like
South Carolina State rolled past Morris College 94-55, and the most impressive part might have been how many players contributed.
Twelve Bulldogs scored, with 11 recording at least six points. Christian Barnes led the way with 12 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Bulldogs also dominated the boards 43-24 and collected 16 steals.
That’s the kind of balanced effort coaches love to see early in the season. South Carolina State didn’t need one player to carry the night.