The best HBCU men’s basketball team isn’t in the MEAC or SWAC, or even the CIAA or the SIAC – its Langston University.
Langston University, located in Oklahoma, is currently the no. 2 team in the NAIA.
Monday night’s 90-54 win over Central Christian improved its record to 23-1 with a handful of games remaining in the regular season. Former New Mexico State guard Anthony Roy put up 18 points, just under his average of 19.1 points per game.
Former Sam Houston State guard Ronald Mitchell added 16 points after scoring 30 points in the previous win over Southwest Christian (OK). He averages 11.6 points per game.
Another Division I transfer, former Northwestern State forward Major Kuath, put up 13 points in the win. Several other Division I transfers, as well as former JUCO players, fill out Langston’s roster.
Langston is led by Chris Wright, who is one of the better kept secrets in college basketball. Wright led Talladega to a national championship berth two years ago. He then headed west to take over a program that was 1-27. The team went 31-3 last season, becoming the first ever HBCU to win the Sooner Athletic Conference regular season crown along with capturing the SAC Conference Tournament Championship. The Lions advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16 in Kansas City before falling to Georgetown College.
So far the team has been just as great this season as it will look to repeat as Sooner Athletic Conference champions and hope to become the first HBCU to win a national title since Virginia Union did it at the NCAA Division II level in 2005.