BOSSIER CITY, LA – The pairings have been set in next week’s Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament as the Southern Jaguars will be the top women’s seed and the Jackson State Tigers will be the top men’s seed.
The 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament will be played March 10-13 at CenturyTel Center in Shreveport/Bossier City LA. Both the women’s and men’s finals will be televised live next Saturday, March 13, beginning at 5 p.m. on ESPNU. Every game of the tournament will be broadcast live on the Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN).
Southern (20-8 overall, 14-4 SWAC ) are the regular season champs for the first time since 2005-06 when SU shared the title with Jackson State and are the outright champs for the first time since 2001-02. The Jaguars will face #8 seed Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Jackson State (19-11, 17-1) are the regular season champs for the first time since sharing the title with Mississippi Valley State in 1995-96. It is JSU’s first outright title since 1992-93. Jackson State will face #8 seed Grambling State Wednesday at 8 p.m.
WOMEN’S MATCHUPS
The top-seeded Jaguars, who finished two full games ahead of the pack, will take on #8 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-11 SWAC) on Wednesday. Southern swept the season series (60-53 at UAPB Jan. 16, 67-50 at SU Feb. 13).
The two-time defending champion Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers completed the regular season with a 12-6 SWAC record and will clash with #7 seed Alabama State. At 8-10 in the SWAC, Alabama State finished tied with Alcorn State but loses the tie-breaker between the two teams this season. Prairie View swept the season series (69-50 at ASU Feb. 1, 77-71 at PV Mar. 1).
The #3 Alabama A&M Bulldogs will meet #6 seed Alcorn State on Thursday. The Lady Braves return to the tournament for the first time since the 2008 season. The teams split the season series (Alcorn won at home 59-45 on Jan. 25, Alabama A&M won at home 78-70 on Feb. 22).
#4 Grambling State and #5 Texas Southern will battle in a clash of the Lady Tigers.The teams split the season series winning on the other’s home court (Texas Southern won at Grambling St. 78-72 in OT Jan. 16, Grambling St. won at TSU 59-52 Feb. 13).
MEN’S MATCHUPS
Jackson State will face Grambling State in the final game Wednesday night. JSU is 19-1 since starting the season 0-10. Jackson State has won 13 straight games and will face a Grambling team it swept this season (75-59 at home on Jan. 23, 84-79 in OT on the road on Feb. 20).
University Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s’ #2 seed is its highest since entering the SWAC and will take on #7 Mississippi Valley State. UAPB has won eight of its past nine games entering the tournament. The Golden Lions swept the Delta Devils this season (winning 69-68 in OT on Jan. 4, winning 84-68 Mar. 4).
Alabama State and Alabama A&M play in the opening round of the tournament for the second consecutive year, this time as the 3-6 matchup. The Hornets again swept the season series (83-69 at home Jan. 16, 80-76 on the road Feb. 13.)
Texas rivals Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern will also meet for the third time this season. The Panthers swept the season series, winning both games by five points (65-60 Jan. 16 at TSU, 63-58 at home Feb. 6.)
Wednesday, March 10
Noon Women #2 Prairie View A&M vs. #7 Alabama St.
2:30 p.m. Men #2 Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #7 Miss. Valley St.
5:30 p.m. Women #1 Southern vs. #8 Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
8 p.m. Men #1 Jackson St. vs. #8 Grambling St.
Thursday, March 11
Noon Women #3 Alabama A&M vs. #6 Alcorn St.
2:30 p.m. Men #3 Alabama St. vs. #6 Alabama A&M
5:30 p.m. Women #4 Grambling St. vs. #5 Texas Southern
8 p.m. Men #4 Prairie View A&M vs. #5 Texas Southern
