CIAA Tourney tips in Charlotte

Lut Williams
BCSP Editor

The on-court excitement and off-court fun of the CIAA Basketball Tournament arrives this week in Charlotte as droves of fans descend on North Carolina's Queen City for the five-day extravaganza.

The men of St. Augustine's and women of Virginia State are the top seeds on the court looking to put a cap on outstanding regular season performances. Both should face stiff challenges.

Off the court, the headliners include gospel singer Yolanda Adams and comedian Steve Harvey, but there's plenty more for the expected crowd of over 150,000 fans that will inundate the city. Non-stop official activities (see sampling of official list below) and the equally non-stop unofficial events go on past Saturday evening's championship games.

Tuesday, February 23 W - #6 Eliz. City St. vs #11 Va. Union - 5p W - #8 Livingstone vs #9 St. Paul’s - 7p W - #7 Shaw vs #10 Chowan - 9p Wednesday, February 24 W - #3 St. Augustine’s vs #6/11 - 1p W - #4 Fayetteville St. vs #5 JC. Smith - 3p M - #6 Shaw vs #11 St. Paul’s - 5p M - #7 Eliz. City St. vs #10 Fayetteville St. - 7p M - #8 Livingstone vs #9 Va. State - 9p Thursday, February 25 W - #2 Bowie St. vs #7/10 - 8a W - #1 Virginia St. vs #8/9 - 10a M - #2 Bowie St. vs #7/10 - 1p M - #3 Va. Union vs #6/11 - 3p M - #4 Chowan vs #5 J C Smith - 7p M - #8/9 vs #1 St. Augustine’s - 9p Friday, February 27 W - #4/5 vs #1/8/9 - 1p W - #3/6/11 vs #2/7/10 - 3p M - #3/6/11 vs #2/7/10 - 7p M - #4/5 vs #1/8/9 - 9p Saturday, February 28 M - Championship Game - 6p W - Championship Game - 9p

St. Augustine's (17-3, 21-4), under second-year coach Lonnie Blow, Jr., won 14 of its last 15 games to take the men's regular season crown by three games over second-seed Bowie State.

The Falcons are led by 6-2 senior guard Chris Jordan (16.2 ppg.), the top 3-point marksman (40.9%) in the conference, and 6-5 junior forward Haywood Fain (11.7 ppg., 8.1 rpg.), both all-CIAA performers. SAC also leads the league in scoring (76.2 ppg.) and holds opponents to 36.2% shooting from the field, tops in all of Div. II basketball.

The Falcons' losses in conference play were to the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 seeds _ Bowie State (14-6, 16-9), Virginia Union (14-6, 19-8) and first-time tournament participant Chowan (13-7, 17-9). Two-time defending tournament champion Johnson C. Smith (12-8, 18-9) is seeded fifth.

Virginia State (16-4, 21-5) won nine of its final ten games to win the women's regular season title by one game over Bowie State (15-5,16-7). St. Augustine's (14-6, 18-9) and Fayetteville State (13-7, 17-9) followed closely behind.

VSU fourth-year head coach James Hill had only one player, 5-8 junior guard Rhon'neisha Taylor (14.9 ppg.) on the all-CIAA team but boasts an experienced team that led the conference in scoring (69.2 ppg.). Like the men, defending tournament champion Johnson C. Smith (11-9, 18-9) is the fifth seed.

Besides the coveted CIAA titles, the men's and women's teams are playing for the opportunity to advance to NCAA regional play. The tournament champs will receive automatic bids to the Atlantic Region tournament. Eight teams will make the region field

The 35th Women's Tournament tipped off Tuesday evening with three first round games. Women's quarterfinal action began Wednesday morning with three men's opening round games beginning Wednesday evening. Women's and men's play continues everyday thru Saturday's 6 p.m. men's final and the 9 p.m. women's championship game.

Thursday's four men's quarterfinal games and Friday's two men's semifinals will be carried live on TV One. Saturday's men's final will be carried live on ESPNU. The women's final will be carried on Comcast Sports Southeast (tape delayed Sunday) and on ESPNU.

Copyright © Azeez Communications, Inc.

Return to Front Page