SIAC/CIAA races near completion
After this weekend, there will be only week left in the regular season for the CIAA and SIAC before they begin tournament play in the week beginning Monday, Feb. 27.
Here's how the races look.
SIAC
Benedict (18-4, 16-1) enters the last ten days of the men's SIAC regular season with a three-game lead over Paine (15-6, 13-4), but the Tigers have a rough five-game stretch, four of them on the road against its nearest competitors, to close out the season.
Benedict hosts Tuskegee Thursday, Feb. 16 and Stillman on Saturday, Feb. 18 before hitting the road for its final three games. Stillman is the only conference team with a win over the Tigers, a 70-53 decision on Feb. 6. After the rematch, BC then travels to fourth-place Albany State on Feb. 21 and to Fort Valley State on Feb. 23 before closing out the season at Paine on Feb. 25.
Fort Valley State (22-1, 16-0) has a three-and-a-half game lead over the ladies of Benedict in the women's race but, unlike the Benedict men, FVSU closes out its schedule with three of four tough games at home. The three home games are against fourth-place Albany State (Feb. 18), third-place Paine (Feb. 21) and second-place Benedict (Feb. 23). That road game is against last-place Clark Atlanta on Feb. 25.
CIAA
Virginia Union has already clinched one of the two East Division first round byes to the men's CIAA Tournament and can claim the No. 1 seed with a win in one of its final two division games. The Panthers (18-3, 7-1) had a date at Shaw (5-18, 3-5) Tuesday (Feb. 14) and finish their division schedule on Feb. 25 vs. Elizabeth City State (9-12, 3-4).
With its 75-63 upset win over then No. 1 ranked VUU on Feb. 7, Bowie State thrust itself back into the race for the second East Division bye and CIAA title. The Bulldogs (15-9, 4-3) are currently just one game ahead of Virginia State (6-17, 2-4) and ECSU in the loss column with key dates against those two coming up. BSU travelled to VSU on Tuesday, Feb. 14, hosts St. Paul's (9-13, 3-5) Thursday, Feb. 16 and closes out its division schedule hosting ECSU on Tuesday, Feb. 21. A loss by Bowie State in any of its final three division games would also give the top seed to VUU.
In the West Division, St. Augustine's (16-5, 7-1) has already clinched one of the two first round byes and can clinch the top seed with a win Tuesday at second-place Johnson C. Smith (18-5, 5-2). If the Falcons don't get it done there, they will likely do it when they close out the division schedule Saturday, Feb. 18 at Livingstone (6-17, 0-7), who is winless in the division. Tuesday's game vs. St. Aug's was critical for JCSU as it tries to hold off N.C. Central (8-13, 5-3) for the second seed and bye. The Golden Bulls lost big Saturday (81-57) to Winston-Salem State (14-9, 3-4). JCSU hosts Fayetteville State on Feb. 21 and closes out its season hosting NCCU at a possible showdown for the bye on Feb. 25 in Durham.
On the women's side, Shaw (20-4, 8-0) has clinched one East Division bye and looked to secure the No. 1 seed Tuesday at home against Virginia Union (11-11, 4-3). Shaw closes out its division schedule hosting Virginia State on Feb. 21.
Elizabeth City State (15-7, 5-2) held a one-game lead over VUU for the second seed headed into Tuesday's games. The Lady Vikings host Virginia State on Feb. 18, travel to Bowie State on Feb. 21 and close out the season hosting VUU on Feb. 25.
JC Smith (16-7, 7-0) has secured one of the West Division's first round byes. NC Central (17-4, 6-2) is in position to take the other and needs either a win Feb. 21 over Fayetteville State or a win Feb. 25 against JCSU or a loss by third-place St. Aug's or FSU to claim the second bye.
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