It was not a good weekend to be an HBCU Division I basketball conference contender as quite a few teams fell in what may or may not be considered upsets.
As we enter the final week of conference play across the country, most of these races are still unsettled, which could make for some fun basketball when everyone’s respective tournaments start.
Here’s a look at last week’s important events.
South Carolina State men making a name for themselves
South Carolina State’s third year under head coach Erik Martin is proving to be a transformational one.
The Bulldogs handed MEAC leader Norfolk State their second conference loss on Saturday afternoon. They improved to 9-3 in conference play, just one game behind the Spartans (10-2).
Five Bulldogs hit double figures, led by sophomore forward Drayton Jones’ 20 points off the bench. South Carolina State has home games remaining against defending conference champion Howard on Monday and North Carolina Central on Saturday.
If they win either one of those, they’ll clinch the conference tournament’s second seed, their highest since 2016.
Bethune cooks up a win over SWAC men’s leader
Bethune-Cookman denied Southern a chance to clinch the SWAC men’s regular season title thanks to a free throw by Kalil Camara with four seconds left to defeat the Jaguars 70-69.
Southern (18-10 overall, 13-2 SWAC) is two games up on second-place Jackson State with three games to play.
Reggie Theus’ Wildcats (11-5 in SWAC play) are a half-game behind the Tigers for second place and will finish out the regular season with home games against Grambling on Monday and bitter rival Florida A&M on Saturday.
NC A&T women lose but don’t lose first place
North Carolina A&T watched a 12-point lead disappear Sunday afternoon at Elon and the Phoenix made a free throw with 1.7 seconds left for a 70-69 win, snapping the Lady Aggies’ Coastal Athletic Association win streak at five.
The good news for N.C. A&T is that second-place Drexel lost to Campbell on Sunday. At 13-3 in the conference, they are still one full game ahead of both the Dragons and Camels.
The Lady Aggies finish out the regular season at home against William & Mary on Friday and UNC-Wilmington on Saturday afternoon.
SWAC women’s race coming down to the wire
Saturday, March 8, could be a very important day in HBCU hoops. SWAC women’s leader Southern will close out the regular season against second-place Alabama A&M, with the Bulldogs one game behind the Jaguars.
AAMU’s 71-63 at blood rival Alabama State Saturday clinched the first 20-win Division I season in program history, while Southern ran their current win streak to seven with a 62-54 win at Bethune-Cookman.
Southern (14-2) faces Alabama State at home on Thursday, while Alabama A&M (13-3) travels to Grambling before heading to Southern.
Tennessee State enters OVC Tournament hot
Big Blue wrapped up their regular season with wins over Morehead State (64-55) and Southern Indiana (74-69) to clinch the 3rd seed in this week’s Ohio Valley Conference tournament.
The Tigers will face the winner of No. 6 Lindenwood vs. No. 7 Morehead State on Thursday, March 6, at 8:30 EST on ESPN+.
