We are one week into the 2025 calendar year, and the HBCU basketball season is starting to heat up as we enter conference play.
Here are the top storylines in HBCU Division II/NAIA basketball:
Jamal Gibson is a star
An argument could be made that Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) star Jamal Gibson has been the best individual performer in HBCU basketball this season.
The reigning HBCU Athletic Conference (formerly Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) Player of the Year averages 21.3 points, 15.3 rebounds (leads NAIA), 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks.
Gibson has opened 2025 with a bang, putting forth a pair of monster performances against Wilberforce and Rust, respectively.
He combined 67 points on 76% shooting, 37 rebounds, and four blocks, with the Knights securing wins in each contest.
SUNO sits at a 7-9 overall record, including a 6-1 record against HBCUAC competition. They are one win away from tying their win total from last season.
Edward Waters women’s turnaround
If there was a Most Improved Team award for the HBCU basketball season so far, it would probably go to Edward Waters’ women’s team.
In their first season under head coach Eric Jackson, the Lady Tigers have not wasted any time turning things around.
Edward Waters is 7-3 overall, with wins in four of its last five contests. It is two wins from tying its win total from last season.
The Lady Tigers have seen their greatest improvement on the defensive side of the ball. They went from surrendering 65.9 points per game last season to allowing 56.2 this year.
In addition to Coach Jackson being a top contender for the SIAC Coach of the Year award, Edward Waters is a sleeper contender for the SIAC title.
Langston has two national championship contenders
Of all the basketball programs at the Division II/NAIA level, Langston is one of the few that could contend for a national title for men and women.
Coming off their disappointing loss in the national championship game last season, the Langston men have shaken themselves off and gotten right back to business.
Despite losing most of their roster from last season, the Lions have still found ways to win, posting a 12-2 overall record. They are currently riding a seven-game win streak.
While the men are on a quest for their third straight 30-win season and a second straight NAIA national title appearance, the women are having their best start in 10 years.
They hold a 13-1 overall record, the second-best record among HBCU NAIA women’s basketball teams (Xavier University of Louisiana has a perfect 13-0 record).
The Lady Lions boast the number-one defense in the NAIA, allowing only 48.5 points per game. This includes allowing only three teams to reach 70 points and winning by an average margin of over 26 points.
If any team had the best chance to sweep their conference championships and potentially make a run to a national title, it would be the Langston Lions.
The CIAA has no favorite
While Virginia Union has briefly set itself apart from the competition on the women’s side, the men’s side has been highly competitive, with no clear favorite to be found.
Nine of the 12 conference teams have overall winning records, including five of the six teams in the CIAA North.
Even when looking at the conference records, we see that while two teams are fighting for the top spot, there is a convoy of teams behind them looking to knock them off.
Reigning CIAA champion Lincoln (PA) and Virginia currently sit atop the throne sporting respective 4-0 records against conference competition.
Outside of those teams, however, there is mass parity with five different teams sitting at .500. This includes four teams in the CIAA’s Southern Division with .500 conference records.
This year’s CIAA tournament is sure to produce some fireworks with no clear favorite amongst the pack.
XULA women have been perfect
In his 26th season at the helm at Xavier University of Louisiana, head coach Bo Browder has the XULA women looking like national championship contenders.
The Gold Nuggets have yet to lose this season, holding a perfect 13-0 record, including a 10-0 record against the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC).
They are the only undefeated team remaining in HBCU basketball and one of nine undefeated teams remaining in NAIA women’s basketball.
XULA has been a model of consistency under Coach Browder, having recorded a winning season every year since 2000.
Since returning to the basketball court after taking a year off in 2005, the Gold Nuggets have put up a 20-win season in 12 of the last 18 years.
Despite this, the Gold Nuggets have not been able to get over the hump in the NAIA National Tournament, going 11 years without winning a first-round game.
With their hot start to this season, XULA looks like they are ready to turn the corner to becoming national contenders.
