Penn State York Captures First Men's Basketball Championship, Adds to PSUAC Collection
BUFFALO, NY - Penn State York men's basketball wasn't quite perfect this season, but they ended the year with the perfect result, capturing the 2026 United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Men's Basketball National Championship on Saturday, March 7th in Buffalo, NY. York (30-4, 15-1 PSUAC) defeated defending champions Miami-Hamilton 56-48 to claim the crown and pick up the campus's first ever team title and the PSUAC's 17th USCAA National Championship.
York held a 25-19 lead at the half and despite both teams shooting just 32 percent from the field, was able to get to the free throw line 10 more times than Miami-Hamilton, leading to five more points from the charity stripe than their opponent. Along with their 45-32 advantage on the glass, it was the difference in the game as York became the second men's basketball team in PSUAC history to capture the national title, with Penn State Wilkes-Barre winning three times between 2019 and 2024.
John Godinez finished an excellent tournament with 15 points, but teammate James Barlow was the highlight in both the semifinals and final. A day after setting the tournament record for rebounds in a game with 25, Barlow pulled down 21 rebounds, including nine offensive, in the championship game while pouring in 15 points to earn Tournament MVP honors.
The championship win was an uncharacteristic one for York, as the 56 points represented the least they scored in any win this season and was only their second-lowest total of the year--their lowest was 53 in an opening game loss to NCAA Division I opponent UMBC. Miami-Hamilton, who won the 2025 title by keeping the score in the 50's against Penn State Schuylkill, has long played a hard-nosed brand of basketball focused on excellent defense and a slower tempo. York was unphased and maintained their composure, opening the game on a 19-4 run and holding off their challengers the rest of the way.
In the semifinals, York knocked off Southwestern Adventist University with a commanding 85-54 win on Friday night, just two nights after beating Kent State Tuscarawas 95-91 in the quarterfinals.
York's season wasn't perfect, but it was tremendously close. A loss in their opener to UMBC was followed by 12 straight wins before a heartbreaking two-point loss three days before Christmas. After a couple of wins, York lost to Bloomfield, a 2026 USCAA Division I semifinalist, before rattling off another 10 wins. Their only conference loss came in the regular season finale on the road against Penn State Hazleton, but they had already sewn up the division's top seed, finishing the conference slate an incredible 15-1.
All of that led to the most important streak of all--their final six-game winning streak, all postseason games, including the 2026 PSUAC Men's Basketball title followed by this weekend's USCAA championship run. A great reminder that a season doesn't have to be perfect to have the perfect ending.
For all the 2026 USCAA National Championship details and photos, visit www.uscaachampionships.com.