EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and WestStar have announced the four teams playing in the 65th Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, featuring both new and returning teams, with Howard, Kent State, Nebraska-Omaha and UTEP converging on the floor of the Don Haskins Center for the two-day holiday classic on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 20-21, 2026.
All four teams have a very deep basketball tradition and plenty of success.
“The WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the oldest collegiate holiday basketball tournament in the nation for a reason. Every team that has been here before is always excited to come enjoy the great competition as well as the Sun Bowl hospitality,” said Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We are excited for Kent State and Howard to return to the borderland and are thrilled to have Omaha for the first time. They will all leave with tremendous experiences and memories.”
Howard Bison
The Howard Bison, participants of the 2017 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, are looking to secure the first tournament title in their return to the Sun City. Coming off a 24-11 season, the Bison earned an MEAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship. This granted the program its third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years, and winning in the round of 64 against UMBC.
Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney is entering his 8th season at the helm for the Bison. The team secured three MEAC Tournament titles and earned three NCAA Tournament appearances, a historic first for the program. Blakeney has earned several accolades during his time with Howard, including the 2022-23 MEAC Coach of the Year, HBCU All-Stars Ben Jobe NCAA National Division I Coach of the Year, BOXTOROW HBCU Coach of the Year, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year, and HBCU Allstar Coach of the Year. Over five seasons (2021-26), Howard became the winningest Division I program in the DMV and the only team in the area to achieve three NCAA appearances.
The Bison look to maintain dominance in the conference after Bryce Harris, who led the MEAC in points and rebounds, was signed to the Oklahoma City Thunder as an undrafted free agent.
Kent State Golden Flashes
The Kent State Golden Flashes, the 2022 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Champions, are returning to the tournament seeking a second title. Last season, the program saw a 24-10 record with an appearance in the NIT.
Head Coach Rob Senderoff is entering his 16th season and will make his fourth appearance in the tournament. Last season, he led the Golden Flashes to their second consecutive NIT appearance. Senderoff is one of the few coaches who have not had a losing season during their head-coaching tenure (at least 10 seasons coached). This list includes Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Mark Few (Gonzaga), and John Becker (Vermont). He is a former MAC regular-season champion and a two-time MAC tournament champion. In 2022, he was honored as the MAC Coach of the Year.
The Golden Flashes aim to collect a second tournament title with incoming freshman Dhani Miller, who was listed in the 2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 for men’s basketball.
Omaha Mavericks
The Omaha Mavericks will be making their debut in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational this year. In 2025, the program saw its first NCAA Tournament berth.
Head Coach Chris Crutchfield is entering his fifth season with the Mavericks, bringing over 20 years of coaching experience. In his third season with the program, Crutchfield led the Mavericks to the Summit League regular-season and tournament championships, a first for Omaha. He was named 2025 Summit League Coach of the Year and the 2025 Ben Jobe Coach of the Year Award recipient.
The Mavericks hope to make an impact in their tournament debut with a revamped roster, headlined by Big Ten transfer Justin Bolis and top recruit Marcus Gillespie.
UTEP Miners
The UTEP Miners are 90-30 all-time in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational after falling short of a third consecutive tournament title last year. The program is entering its first year with the Mountain West Conference with a brand-new roster.
Head Coach Joe Golding is entering his fifth season with the Miners and has an 81-83 record with the program. He has won the tournament twice and has achieved four CUSA tournament victories during his head coaching tenure at UTEP.
UTEP is looking to establish a new identity entering the Mountain West Conference with a good showing in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. The revamped Miners roster is led by transfer Cam McDaniels and Leif Moeller.
For more information on the 2026 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, please go to www.sunbowl.org.
ABOUT THE SUN BOWL ASSOCIATION
The Sun Bowl Association is a volunteer-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Sun Bowl Association, with the help of over 700 volunteers, promotes and serves the El Paso community and features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl football game. Other Sun Bowl core events include the Nusenda Credit Union Sun Bowl Pickleball Tournament, the Glasheen, Valles, & Inderman Injury Lawyers Sun Bowl Parade, the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Basketball Invitational, the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta presented by El Paso LIVE, and the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Pregame Fan Party presented by Visit El Paso. Follow the Sun Bowl Association on Instagram (@tonythetigersunbowl), Facebook (Sun Bowl Association), and X (@TonytheTigerSB).
ABOUT WESTSTAR
Now, as the Borderplex region’s leading commercial bank, WestStar has assets of more than $3.1 billion and employs over 330 team members in branches stretching from Fabens, Texas to Las Cruces, New Mexico. As an active economic driver in our vibrant region, WestStar provides area businesses the capital they need to expand and thrive. In addition to banking services, WestStar also offers an array of financial products, including treasury management, investment, title, and insurance. At WestStar, we take great pride in serving not only as an active economic driver in our region, but also in being a responsible corporate citizen. We want the best for our region, and it drives us to be actively involved in many civic organizations and non-profit agencies through volunteer service, charitable fund-raising, and sponsorships. Our Board of Directors is home to some of the Borderplex’s largest charitable and civic supporters. As individuals, some of us sit as directors on boards, some serve as members, still others volunteer or contribute money. Regardless of our roles, we all share the commitment to serve.
