BCSP IX-46: Black college hoop attendance scores

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Black college hoop attendance scores

Men's basketball attendance figures for the 2002-03 season were released Monday by the NCAA and show record numbers this year for the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference.

The MEAC drew a total of 263,070 fans, an average of 1,949 to their 135 home games. The MEAC ranked 24th in Div. I, just ahead of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The SWAC drew a total of 222,640, an average of 1,810 per game in 123 games.

The MEAC tournament in Richmond, Va., drew 34,101 fans while the SWAC tournament in Birmingham attracted 14,446. The MEAC played nine sessions in its tournament over six days while the SWAC tournament covered six sessions over three days.

Hampton University of the MEAC had the highest attendance amongst Div. I black colleges averaging 3,347 fans for its 14 home dates. N. C. A&T, also of the MEAC, was second with an average of 3,121 fans for 10 home dates. Alabama State had the highest average amongst SWAC schools at 2,889 per game over 12 games.

On the Div. II level, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association ranked third in total attendance amongst conferences with a 224,249 total in 144 games. The CIAA averaged 1,557 fans per game.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference finished sixth overall (145,275) averaging 1,109 fans for 131 games. Tournament figures were not available for Div. II schools.

Virginia State was ninth amongst team leaders in attendance drawing 31,820 fans to 12 home games, an average of 2,651 per game. Three other black colleges were among the top 20 team attendance leaders.

Attendance data from the 2002-03 season shows that Div. I men's basketball attendance topped the 25 million mark for the first time while the overall mark for all three divisions hit a record 30 million. The Div. I mark eclipsed a mark the division set last year of more than 500,000 over the 2001-02 season.

DIV. II TEAM LEADERS

RANK/TEAM	GAMES	TOTAL	AVG.
1. Neb.-Kearney	19	72,950	3,839
2. South Dakota St.	17	59,357	3,491
3. North Dakota	14	47,924	3,423
4. Ky. Wesleyan	17	55,800	3,282
5. Northern St.	16	50,451	3,153
6. St. Cloud St.	15	46,579	3,105
9. Virginia St.	12	31,820	2,651
14. Shaw	12	30,234	2,519
16. Winston-Salem	14	32,944	2,353
17. Bowie St.	15	33,617	2,241

DIV. II CONFERENCE LEADERS

RANK/CONF	GAMES	TOTAL	AVG.
1. North Central	133	328,903	2,473
2. Mid-America	135	235,682	1,746
3. CIAA	144	224,249	1,557
4. Great Northwest	137	159,956	1,168
5. Great Lakes Valley	165	185,860	1,126
6. SIAC	131	145,275	1,109
7. Rocky Mountain	183	197,725	1,080
8. Northern Sun	131	140,462	1,072
9. Lone Star	184	190,363	1,035
10. Great Lakes	177	154,113	871

DIV. I CONFERENCE LEADERS

RANK/CONF	TEAMS	GAMES	TOTAL	AVG	CHANGE
1. Big Ten	11	180	2,254,658	12,526	-836
2. Atlantic Coast	9	149	*1,719,813	11,542	851
3. Southeastern	12	192	2,132,439	11,106	199
4. Big 12	12	194	*1,961,380	*10,110	65
24. Mid-Eastern	11	135	*263,070	1,949	-63
25. Southwestern	10	123	222,640	1,810	10

* - New conference record

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