OKLAHOMA CITY  – The Sooner Athletic Conference is proud to announce that the 2026 SAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships presented by Athletic Solutions will be held at the Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The championships will be held on February 25-27, with the conference championship games being played on Saturday, February 28.
 
"This new format creates a true championship atmosphere for everyone involved," said SAC Commissioner John Martin. "Having all eight men's and women's teams competing at the Abe Lemons Arena allows us to celebrate SAC basketball in one place, over one weekend, and we're excited to partner with Oklahoma City University to host what we believe will be a great event for our student-athletes and fans." 
 
The arena is named for legendary basketball coach Abe Lemons, who won 599 games in 35 years as a head coach from 1955-90. Lemons is the school's all-time leader in basketball coaching wins with 427, and also coached at Texas and Texas-Pan American. Lemons, known for his wit, was credited by USA Today with the coaching quote of the century: "Doctors bury their mistakes, mine are still on scholarship."
 
The arena seats 3,360 for basketball and can be expanded to more than 4,000 seats for graduation ceremonies and other activities. Approximately 250,000 visitors attend events at the arena each year.
 
Oklahoma City has also hosted the NAIA Wrestling Championships, NAIA Cheerleading and Pom/dance Championship Invitational, STUNT Championships, Women's College Wrestling National Championships, USA Junior National Wrestling Duals, USA Wrestling University Nationals, Mid-America Youth girls basketball national tournament, and the Sooner Athletic Conference basketball and volleyball tournaments at the arena. Abe Lemons Arena hosted the 2015 SAC men's and women's basketball tournaments and many of the SAC wrestling championships.
 
This will mark a change in the format that the conference tournament has had for the past seven years, as all eight men's and women's teams that qualify for the tournament will play at the same site.
 
The men's tournament will begin on Wednesday, February 25, with the semifinals taking place on Friday, February 27. The women's quarterfinals will be played on Thursday, February 26, with the semifinals taking place on Friday, February 27. The two championship games will take place, starting with the men's title game starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, while the women's final will start at 6 p.m.
 
"Partnering with the SAC means partnering with excellence," said Tom Feiden, President & CEO of Athletic Solutions. "Our mission is simple: empower athletes, inspire fans with great product, and elevate the spirit of college athletics. We're proud to partner with the SAC."
 
Game times for the quarterfinals and semifinals will be announced next week, as well as ticket prices for the event.