PLAINVIEW, Texas – Following an impressive 2025-26 campaign highlighted by 24 victories and a return to the national postseason stage, the Wayland Baptist University men's basketball team will enter the 2026-27 season ranked No. 24 in the Gared-NAIA Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday, October 21.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Clint Galyean, the Pioneers finished last season with a 24-8 overall record and a 16-6 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) play, earning a trip to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship and advancing to the second round of the national tournament.
Wayland's postseason success began in the SAC Tournament, where the Pioneers entered as the No. 3 seed and delivered a commanding 89-46 victory over No. 6 Mid-America Christian in the quarterfinals. Jamari Lawrence led the way with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Marcus Green added 21 points. The Pioneers connected on 13 three-pointers and dominated on both ends of the floor to secure a spot in the conference semifinals.
Wayland's conference tournament run came to an end against No. 2 seed Langston University, but the Pioneers' impressive regular-season resume earned them an opportunity to compete on the national stage.
The Pioneers made the most of that opportunity in the opening round of the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship in Chandler, Arizona.
Facing Carroll College (Mont.) as the No. 7 seed in their opening-round bracket, Wayland delivered one of its most impressive offensive performances of the season, defeating the Saints 116-94 to secure the program's first NAIA National Tournament victory since the 2017-18 season, when the Pioneers advanced to the Sweet 16.
Wayland shot an outstanding 54.3 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from three-point range while scoring 63 second-half points to pull away for the 22-point victory. Rico Yarbrough led the Pioneers with 26 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while Lawrence added 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including five three-pointers. Green contributed 17 points, Julian Perez finished with 14, and both Chuks Ejiofor and Brett Leach added 12.
The victory advanced Wayland to the second round, where the Pioneers faced No. 2 seed Arizona Christian University. Despite falling behind by 13 points at halftime, Wayland battled back and cut the deficit to a single point midway through the second half before ultimately falling 91-82. Lawrence finished with a team-high 18 points, while Green added 15.
Although the loss brought their season to a close, the Pioneers' national tournament victory and competitive showing against one of the nation's top programs highlighted a successful postseason run.
Wayland's success throughout the 2025-26 season was built on an efficient offensive attack and a disruptive defensive presence. The Pioneers averaged 83.1 points per game while allowing just 71.9, outscoring opponents by an average of 11.2 points per contest.
The Pioneers shot 47.5 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc, knocking down 269 three-pointers over 32 games. Wayland also averaged 37.0 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 3.9 blocked shots per game.
Individual success played a significant role in Wayland's outstanding campaign, with five Pioneers earning All-Sooner Athletic Conference recognition.
Jamari Lawrence earned First Team All-SAC honors and was named to the SAC All-Tournament Team after an exceptional season. Lawrence averaged a team-leading 19.7 points per game while shooting 41.6 percent from three-point range. He also contributed 4.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per contest, providing a consistent scoring and playmaking presence for the Pioneers.
Rico Yarbrough joined Lawrence on the All-SAC First Team while also earning a spot on the SAC All-Defensive Team. Yarbrough averaged 15.1 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 56.2 percent from the field. His impact extended to the defensive end, where he recorded 44 steals and 22 blocked shots during the season.
Brett Leach was recognized as the SAC Sixth Man of the Year and received All-SAC Honorable Mention recognition. Leach appeared in all 32 contests, averaging 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting an outstanding 45.0 percent from three-point range. His ability to provide scoring, energy and versatility gave the Pioneers a valuable presence throughout the season.
Marcus Green also earned All-SAC Honorable Mention recognition after averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Green shot 51.0 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, providing another reliable offensive threat.
Julian Perez rounded out Wayland's conference honorees with an All-SAC Honorable Mention selection. Perez averaged 10.0 points per game and finished with 86 assists, contributing to the Pioneers' offensive production and ball movement.
With the accomplishments of last season providing momentum, Wayland enters the 2026-27 campaign looking to build on its national tournament success and remain competitive in a challenging Sooner Athletic Conference.
The SAC features three teams in the NAIA preseason Top 25, with Nelson University ranked No. 6, Langston University at No. 8 and Wayland Baptist at No. 24.
Grace College (Ind.) occupies the top spot in the national poll, followed by defending national champion Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) at No. 2 and Arizona Christian at No. 3.
The Pioneers are scheduled to open their 2026-27 season Monday, October 26, on the road against New College of Florida before taking on Ave Maria University on October 27. Wayland's home opener is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, against Northern New Mexico College at 6 p.m. inside the Hutcherson Center.
The complete 2026-27 Gared-NAIA Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll can be viewed here.
