Brunswick Community College Men’s Basketball set for NJCAA championship run
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — The Brunswick Community College Men’s Basketball team is packing their bags and heading to Hutchinson, Kansas, as they prepare to compete in the 2026 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
The Dolphins are the No. 19 seed in the 24-team national tournament. The Dolphins (28-5) will face No. 14 Gulf Coast State in the opening round on Saturday at 8 p.m. CST. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+.
This national appearance follows a successful postseason performance by BCC, who captured the Region 10 Division I Atlantic District Championship in convincing fashion. The Dolphins won three tournament games by an average margin of 21 points, culminating in a 90–76 victory over No. 1 seed Gaston College in the championship game.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Walter Shaw, now in his 26th season with 524 career wins, the Dolphins continue to build on a legacy of sustained excellence. This year’s title marks the program’s second consecutive Atlantic District championship and the third since 2021. It is also BCC’s fifth Region 10 Tournament title and their fourth trip to Hutchinson, all under Shaw’s guidance.
With the victory, BCC became the first Region 10 program since 2019 to secure back-to-back championships and earn consecutive automatic bids to the national tournament.
“This group has really embraced what it means to be a team,” said Shaw. “We’ve had different players step up all season long, and that balance has been one of our greatest strengths. We’re excited for the opportunity to compete on the national stage.”
Despite returning just four players from last season, the Dolphins have thrived with a deep and balanced roster. Averaging 94 points per game, BCC features one of the most dynamic scoring attacks in the country, with 10 players averaging between 5 and 13 points per game. Nine different players have led the team in scoring throughout the season.
The team’s success has also been recognized with several postseason honors. Darius Kane earned First Team All-Region 10 recognition, while Alius “Junior” Bowser and Linwood Rowe were named to the Second Team. Kane and Bowser have committed to North Carolina Central University to continue their careers at the NCAA Division I level, while Rowe, the team’s leading scorer, has been named one of the Top 100 junior college players in the nation.
As the Dolphins prepare to travel to Kansas, the college is inviting the community to be part of the journey.
