Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
Key takeaways
- Dallas Gardner missed the entire 2025-26 season while Georgia Southern finished 21-16 and made history winning five games in five days.
- At UNC Pembroke, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, shooting 48.5% FG, 31.3% 3PT, 74.1% FT.
- Scored double digits in all but three games, with six 20-point outings and two 30-point performances.
- Averaged 17.7 points per game in the Braves' NCAA DII Tournament run.
STATESBORO, Ga. – Fourth-year guard, Dallas Gardner, was selected as a second team preseason All-Sun Belt recipient on Monday afternoon, as the conference announced its three preseason teams, as well as the projected order of finish for men’s basketball this season.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native missed the entirety of the 2025-26 season, as Georgia Southern finished 21-16 and made history becoming the third team in NCAA history to win five games in five days. At UNC Pembroke, Gardner, appeared in all 32 games, making 29 starts and averaging 15.7 points. He added 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists, as the Braves facilitator on the court. He posted a 48.5 percent clip from the field, 31.3 percent from three-point range, and 74.1 percent from the free throw line.
During his final season at Pembroke, Gardner scored in double digits in all but three games, with six 20-point performances and two 30-point games. He added a perfect shooting night against Emmanuel in the Conference Carolinas Championship, going 9-for-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from three, and a perfect 14-for-14 from the line to post a career-best 34 points. In the Braves’ NCAA DII Tournament run, Gardner averaged 17.7 points per game.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (3) – 182
2. James Madison (9) – 176
3. Troy – 143
4. South Alabama – 136
5. Marshall – 125
6. Louisiana – 117
7. Southern Miss (2) – 109
8. App State – 105
9. Georgia Southern – 85
10. Georgia State – 79
11. Old Dominion – 76
12. Louisiana Tech – 64
13. Coastal Carolina – 58
14. ULM – 15
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native missed the entirety of the 2025-26 season, as Georgia Southern finished 21-16 and made history becoming the third team in NCAA history to win five games in five days. At UNC Pembroke, Gardner, appeared in all 32 games, making 29 starts and averaging 15.7 points. He added 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists, as the Braves facilitator on the court. He posted a 48.5 percent clip from the field, 31.3 percent from three-point range, and 74.1 percent from the free throw line.
During his final season at Pembroke, Gardner scored in double digits in all but three games, with six 20-point performances and two 30-point games. He added a perfect shooting night against Emmanuel in the Conference Carolinas Championship, going 9-for-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from three, and a perfect 14-for-14 from the line to post a career-best 34 points. In the Braves’ NCAA DII Tournament run, Gardner averaged 17.7 points per game.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (3) – 182
2. James Madison (9) – 176
3. Troy – 143
4. South Alabama – 136
5. Marshall – 125
6. Louisiana – 117
7. Southern Miss (2) – 109
8. App State – 105
9. Georgia Southern – 85
10. Georgia State – 79
11. Old Dominion – 76
12. Louisiana Tech – 64
13. Coastal Carolina – 58
14. ULM – 15
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
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