SWAC, MEAC Tournaments under way
The Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference began basketball tournament play this week but not before some significant jockeying went on in the final week of the regular season.|
MEAC TOURNEY MONDAY WOMEN |
SWAC TOURNEY MEN SEMIS - FRIDAY FINAL - SATURDAY WOMEN SEMIS - FRIDAY FINAL - SATURDAY
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In the MEAC men's race, a season-ending loss to Norfolk State knocked two-time defending champion Hampton (13-5, 17-10) into a tie with Delaware State (13-5, 15-11) for second place behind S. C. State (15-3, 17-10). DSU's win over Hampton in their only meeting of the regular season netted the Hornets the second seed in the tournament.
Hampton (17-1, 20-8) is the top-seeded women's team followed by Delaware State (16-2, 18-9).
The MEAC's top five teams receive byes in the first round and began play Wednesday at the Richmond (Va.) Coliseum. Opening round play Monday and Tuesday saw no big upsets but did produce a tournament-record 49-point performance by Bethune-Cookman's Richard Toussaint in a 104-103 double overtime win against Morgan State.
In the SWAC women's race, after rolling through conference play with only one loss, Alabama State (15-3, 17-10) dropped its final two regular season games on the road to Jackson State and Alcorn State to fall into a tie with JSU (15-3, 22-5) for the regular season title. Alabama State retained the number one seed and pummelled Miss. Valley State, 89-52 in first round play Tuesday on its home court. The only upset in Tuesday's first round was fifth-seed Alcorn State winning at fourth-seed Southern, 62-50.
After several lead changes in the finals weeks of the regular season, Prairie View (14-4, 16-11), under first year coach Jerome Francis, Jr., emerged with its first regular season men's crown in 41 years and the top seed in the tournament. Fifth-seeded Alcorn State also pulled off the only upset in Tuesday's first round men's action winning at fourth-seed Alabama State, 58-55.
Semifinal and final play in the SWAC is Friday and Saturday in Birmingham at Fair Park Arena. Winners of all four tournaments will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Div. I Tournament.
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