MCKENZIE, Tenn. — Four men's basketball programs will gather at Bethel University's Crisp Arena this weekend as the Wildcats host Ave Maria University, UT Southern and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in the Chick-fil-A Classic.
Friday's action begins with UT Southern facing Ave Maria at 6 p.m., followed by Bethel meeting Saint Mary-of-the-Woods at 8 p.m. Saturday's schedule features UT Southern against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods at 2 p.m. and Bethel against Ave Maria at 4 p.m. All times are Central.
The field brings together a returning national semifinalist, a Bethel squad coming off an NAIA tournament appearance, and two visiting programs looking to build on winning starts this season.
Bethel enters the weekend at 0–1 after dropping its opener to St. Thomas University, 99–71. Head coach Jeff Britt's Wildcats will look to get into the win column while continuing to develop against a challenging early schedule.
The Wildcats finished 19–13 last season, making a memorable run to the Mid-South Conference Tournament championship game. Bethel defeated Georgetown and Cumberlands before falling to Freed-Hardeman in the title contest. The Wildcats then advanced to the NAIA National Championship opening round, where their season ended with a 73–65 loss at Langston.
Ave Maria arrives from southwest Florida (Ave Maria, Florida) with a 2–0 record after edging nationally ranked Wayland Baptist, 82–81, and defeating Florida College, 99–80. The Gyrenes averaged 90.5 points in those victories and erupted for 57 first-half points against Florida College. Saturday's matchup will mark the first meeting between Bethel and Ave Maria.
Head coach Jamon Copeland's program is coming off a historic 2025–26 campaign. Ave Maria finished 30–5 and reached the NAIA national semifinals, establishing a new standard for the program. That postseason experience makes the Gyrenes a compelling test for the Classic field.
The Gyrenes also bring one of college athletics' most distinctive nicknames. "Gyrene" is a traditional nickname for a United States Marine. Ave Maria's connection comes through university founder Tom Monaghan, who served in the Marine Corps. The name reflects the determination, courage and service associated with that heritage.
UT Southern heads to McKenzie at 2–1. The Firehawks opened with home victories over Oakwood, 92–66, and Reinhardt, 71–60, before falling at Bryan, 82–67, Tuesday. The weekend provides an opportunity to respond against two opponents enjoying strong starts.
The Firehawks finished 14–16 overall and 7–11 in Southern States Athletic Conference play last season. Head coach Andy Sharpe is in his second stint leading the program and is its all-time winningest coach. He originally guided the team from 2007–12 before returning in 2024. Friday's contest also offers a rematch with Ave Maria, which defeated UT Southern in last season's NAIA "The Show" Classic.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods located in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, near Terre Haute, brings a 3–1 record and a three-game winning streak into the weekend. The Indiana program rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit Tuesday to defeat Northwestern Ohio, 81–78. EJ Reese supplied 23 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, while Mike Elliott delivered a tying three-pointer and the go-ahead layup in the closing moments.
Second-year head coach Maverick Harris leads a Pomeroy program that finished 14–15 last season and reached the River States Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is scheduled to play an exhibition at NCAA Division I Southern Indiana Wednesday before traveling to McKenzie.
And what exactly is a Pomeroy? The nickname honors Sister Mary Joseph Pomeroy, a Saint Mary-of-the-Woods alumna and former faculty member who championed athletics and physical fitness. The college adopted her name to represent athletic excellence and sportsmanship, giving this weekend's field another nickname with a meaningful story behind it.
Enjoy the classic!!