From MEAC Athletic Communications

The MEAC announced the 2011-12 basketball television schedule today with an exciting selection of men's and women's competitive matchups on multiple ESPN platforms.

As part of its agreement with ESPN, the MEAC will highlight four men's and two women's basketball regular season games. 

The 2012 MEAC Championship Tournament will also air on the ESPN networks with the men's and women's championship games televised live on ESPNU and ESPN2, respectively, beginning at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

The 2011-12 television schedule tips off on Monday, January 16 with the defending MEAC men's basketball champion Hampton Pirates traveling to Baltimore, Maryland to take on the Morgan State Bears.  In a rematch of last year's championship game, the teams will face off live at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Coppin State Lady Eagles will match up against the North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies Monday, January 23 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPNU in the first televised women's game of the season.  The action continues with Coppin State hosting the Aggies of North Carolina A&T in the second game of the doubleheader at 7 p.m.

In a men's and women's double-header on Monday, January 30, Hampton will host Morgan State with the women's game at 4:30 p.m. and the men's game immediately following at 4:30 p.m.

The Coppin State Eagles will also take on the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks in a Monday, February 13 game at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.

For the fourth straight year, the MEAC will participate in the annual Sears BracketBusters event, a three-day men's college basketball extravaganza pitting potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other.

The Morgan State Bears, who have competed as the MEAC's representative for four consecutive years, will be joined by Delaware State, and Hampton.  The DSU Hornets are competing in the event for the second straight year, while the Hampton Pirates are making their first-ever appearance.

For the seventh straight year, ESPNU will feature five Sears BracketBusters games, while ESPN or ESPN2 will television up to six and ESPN3 will carry two. The 13 Sears BracketBusters matchups will be announced Monday, Jan. 30 with dates, times and networks.

The 142-team field will feature teams from 16 conferences: 12 each from Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-American Conference and Southland; 11 each from Ohio Valley Conference and Big South; 10 each from Horizon League, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley and Summit League; nine each from America East, Big Sky and Big West; eight from the Western Athletic Association; four from the Southern Conference; three from the MEAC; and two from the West Coast Conference.

The 2012 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 5-10 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC. For more information on the MEAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, log on to www.MEAChoops.com.

2011-12 MEAC Basketball Televised Schedule

Men's Televised Schedule

Women's Televised Schedule