Hoops leaders in for tough tests
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
With its convincing 85-61 win over previously nationally-ranked St. Augustine's on Jan. 15, Virginia Union (12-2, 3-0) should join the nation's top ranked teams when the NCAA Div. II men's basketball Top 25 coaches poll is announced.
The Panthers were unranked last week while St. Aug's was ranked 23rd. The poll is released Tuesday afternoon.
Brothers, senior Brad (16.8 ppg., 8.2 rpg.) and sophomore Brandon (12.3 ppg.) Byerson, are leading the Panthers, whose only losses this season were a 74-69 home loss to Fayetteville State early in the campaign and a two-point loss (76-74) to nationally ranked (18th) Augusta State in mid-December. VUU avenged that FSU loss with a 72-68 road win on Jan. 8.
The Panthers will travel Sunday to face off against CIAA East Division rival Elizabeth City State in a rematch of last year's CIAA Tournament championship game and the featured games on this week's CIAA schedule. The game will be televised on the CIAA TV Network beginning at 4:05 p.m. The Vikings (9-4, 0-1) have a loss in the division to Virginia State (6-11, 1-2). ECSU senior forward Anthony Hilliard is having a great season following up on his CIAA Tournament most valuable player award from last year. Hilliard is currently second in CIAA scoring stats (18.3 ppg.), just ahead of Byerson, and leads the league pulling down 11.5 rebounds per game. Byerson is fifth in that category.
Elsewhere in the CIAA, In the MEAC, all eyes are likely to be
on Hampton Monday when the league-leading Hampton
Pirates (10-6, 4-0) host the Bears of Morgan
State (9-8, 4-1) at 8 p.m.
The match-up not only features two of the top scorers in the conference in Hampton senior guard Rashad West (18.1 ppg.) and Morgan State senior forward Jamar Smith (17.4 ppg.) but also will feature second-year coaches Kevin Nickelberry (HU) and Todd Bozeman (MSU) matching wits.
Both coaches have burst on the MEAC scene bringing fresh talent and new playing styles that have taken the conference by storm. Nickelberry's Pirates were the preseason pick of coaches to win this year's title with Bozeman's Bears fourth. Many feel this could be a prelude to the teams meeting in the tournament finals.
The only conference blemish on either's ledger so far is a last-second 71-69 loss by MSU at Norfolk State on Jan. 14.
Prior to their meeting Monday, Hampton hosts Coppin State (4-15, 0-5) while MSU is at Howard (4-14, 1-3).
Among other MEAC leaders, N. C. A&T (8-9, 3-2), fresh off a win over three-time regular season champ Delaware State Monday, has a non-conference game at nearby rival Winston-Salem State Saturday and hosts S. C. State Monday.
DSU (6-10, 3-1) is at Bethune-Cookman Saturday and at Florida A&M Monday. Norfolk State (7-9, 4-1) hosts SC State Saturday and plays at WSSU on Monday.
Alabama State (8-7, 4-1), who has gotten off to the best start and currently sits atop a tightly-bunched SWAC race, has two games on the road over the next week where wins in the SWAC are hard to come by.
The Hornets travel to Alcorn State (3-16, 2-4) Saturday before facing one of their closest pursuers, Southern (6-11, 4-2) Monday.
The Hornets are scoring at a 69.3 points per game clip, best in the conference, and are led by sophomore guard Andrew Hayles 13.1 points per game. Senior Brandon Gordon is also scoring in double figures at 11.7 ppg.. Point guard Brandon Brooks leads the league in assists (5.13 apg.) while 7-foot center Chief Kickingstallionsims is shooting a league-best 64.3% from the field.
Jackson State (6-13, 4-2), who holds the only win over 'Bama State, hosts Grambling (1-12, 1-5) Saturday.
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