Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Set to Compete in 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis
7/1/2026 1:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Demon Deacons will return to The Bahamas for a second-straight year, this time competing in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS - The Wake Forest men's basketball team is set to return to The Bahamas this November, as the Demon Deacons will compete in the 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis at Imperial Arena. The three-day tournament will take place Nov. 25-27, as Wake Forest is joined by Penn State, Mississippi State and Memphis in one of two four-team brackets.
Opponents, tip-times and television information will be announced at a later date.
Penn State – a program Wake Forest has faced on four previous occasions – won 12 games last season including nine in non-conference action. Two of the previous three matchups have come on neutral courts in Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 30, 1989 and Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 10, 1960. The Demon Deacons are 5-2 against Big 10 opponents under head coach Steve Forbes with victories over Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Minnesota.
Mississippi State, meanwhile, is led by fifth-year head coach Chris Jans who led the Bulldogs to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a trio of 21-win campaigns from 2023-25. Memphis has earned three NCAA Tournament appearances under Penny Hardaway including a 29-win campaign in 2024-25.
Last season, Wake Forest competed in the Baha Mar Championship, as the Demon Deacons narrowly fell to then-No. 15 Texas Tech 84-83 before defeating Memphis 69-68 courtesy a perfectly executed end-to-end play with 1.5 seconds remaining.
About Imperial Arena
Imperial Arena, also known as the Imperial Ballroom, is a versatile event space located within the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Owned by Kerzner International and designed by HKS Architects, it opened in November 2007 and can accommodate up to 3,500 guests. While primarily serving as a ballroom and convention space, the Imperial Arena is renowned for its transformation into a basketball venue for the annual Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. This conversion involves installing a regulation basketball court and seating, creating an intimate setting with a 26-foot ceiling, one of the lowest among college basketball venues.
Opponents, tip-times and television information will be announced at a later date.
Penn State – a program Wake Forest has faced on four previous occasions – won 12 games last season including nine in non-conference action. Two of the previous three matchups have come on neutral courts in Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 30, 1989 and Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 10, 1960. The Demon Deacons are 5-2 against Big 10 opponents under head coach Steve Forbes with victories over Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Minnesota.
Mississippi State, meanwhile, is led by fifth-year head coach Chris Jans who led the Bulldogs to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a trio of 21-win campaigns from 2023-25. Memphis has earned three NCAA Tournament appearances under Penny Hardaway including a 29-win campaign in 2024-25.
Last season, Wake Forest competed in the Baha Mar Championship, as the Demon Deacons narrowly fell to then-No. 15 Texas Tech 84-83 before defeating Memphis 69-68 courtesy a perfectly executed end-to-end play with 1.5 seconds remaining.
About Imperial Arena
Imperial Arena, also known as the Imperial Ballroom, is a versatile event space located within the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Owned by Kerzner International and designed by HKS Architects, it opened in November 2007 and can accommodate up to 3,500 guests. While primarily serving as a ballroom and convention space, the Imperial Arena is renowned for its transformation into a basketball venue for the annual Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. This conversion involves installing a regulation basketball court and seating, creating an intimate setting with a 26-foot ceiling, one of the lowest among college basketball venues.
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