After day one of the 2026 MEAC Basketball Tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena, the Howard University women’s basketball team, University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team, and the Delaware State men’s basketball team have advanced to the semifinals and will play on March 13th.
Women: Howard vs. South Carolina State
The Lady Bison (#1) started off the tournament and defeated the South Carolina State Bulldogs (#8) 75-43. The teams met each other twice during the 2025-2026 regular season and the Bison won both games (January 3rd 68-64; February 7th 85-66).
“Just glad my team was able to take care of business,” said Bison Head Coach Ty Grace. “We got to play a lot of players today, and I felt good about the win.”
The Bison got an early lead with two 8-0 scoring runs, one to start the game then another to end the quarter with 3:30 left. The Bulldogs had nine of their points from second chance shots, but they had six turnovers where the Bison snagged 10 points and finished the quarter 21-9.
The second quarter started with two-point jumpers from both teams, and the three-point percentage was zero on both sides. While the Bulldog’s field goal percentage increased in the second quarter from 18.8% to 28.6%, the Bison’s percentage decreased from 56.3% in the first quarter to 42.1% in the second. That aside, the Bison still had a significant lead, ending the half with double the Bulldogs’ points 40-20.
Fighting to stay in the game, the Bulldogs almost scored as many points in the third quarter as the Bison, putting 13 points on the board to the Bison’s 14. Their field goal percentage continued to rise, reaching 33.3% and nearly matching the Bison’s which decreased to 35.3%. Still coming into the second half with a 20-point lead, the Bison stretched the gap to 23 points, but the Bulldogs knocked in a jumper and brought it back down to a 21-point game to end the quarter 54-33.
Like the second quarter, neither team successfully made any three-pointers, and both attempted five. They finished the game with the same 17.6% in three-point percentage, both making three out of the 17 attempts. They also finished with the same free-throw percentage of 85.7%, but the Bison made 12-14 of the shots and the Bulldogs made 6-7. The Bison gained their largest lead of the game with 24 points ahead and closed out the game 75-43.
“It’s been a great experience this week. This is my first year with this group of young ladies, but it’s definitely been a pleasure and a joy just coming to work every day and coaching them and preparing them for life after basketball,” said South Carolina State Head Coach Cedrick W. Baker. “Our goal was to come in and dominate at the foul line. We shot 85%, so that was a goal we accomplished.”
Bison forward Zennia Thomas was named “Player of the Game”, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Bulldogs guard Shaunice Reed led the team with 15 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
The Bison will play again at the Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday, March 13th at 12p.m. against the winner of game four between the Coppin State Eagles and the North Carolina Central Eagles.
Women: University of Maryland Eastern Shore vs Delaware State
In game two of the tournament, the Lady Hornets (#7) put up a good fight against the Lady Hawks (*2), but the Hawks came out on top 55-48. The teams recently played each other on March 5th, which ended with the same outcome and a similar score of 56-48.
“Playing any team three times, especially back-to-back twice, is really hard – I always say we’re going to try and hold you to under 50 and just hope that we score 51, that’s how I feel,” said Hawks Head Coach Malikah Willis. “I knew in the fourth quarter it was time for them to shine –I just said it was on them.”
There was a slow start to the game with only one-point on the board from the Hawks for the first four minutes of the match. As the Hawks extended their lead by six points, the Hornets made their first basket of the game with a three-pointer, bringing it back to a three-point game. The Hawks shot 35.7% in the field, outshooting the Hornets who had 18.2%, and finished the quarter on top 13-8.
Already beating the Hawks in three-point percentage, the Hornets started the second quarter with a three to close the gap. The Hawks gained their largest lead of the game with a nine-point gap, knocking in five free throws. That didn’t sit right with the Hornets, and they went on a 5-0 scoring run with three free throws and a layup, ending the half six points behind 28-22.
Quarter three was in the Hornets’ hands, and they scored more points than the Hawks with 15 points to their opponent’s 10 points. The field goal percentage was even, both shooting 40% making 4-10 shots, but free throws were just what the Hornets needed. They made 7-8 of free throws, and made it a one-point game to end the third quarter 38-37
The Hornets were resilient, starting the fourth quarter grabbing their first lead of the game 39-38 with a layup, then extending it to two-points with a free throw. The teams tied at 40 points, and the Hornets received a foul for unnecessary roughness, putting the Hawks at the foul line. This helped them regain their lead, where they held onto it and finished the game 55-48.
“This team has been relentless all season. They played hard, they competed, they stayed together – we faced a lot of adversity,” said Hornets Head Coach Jazmone Turner. “My upperclassmen came in and gave the program everything. We just felt a little bit short, but I’m proud of just their growth, individually and personally, and then our growth as a basketball club.”
Hawks forward Brianna Barnes received the “Player of the Game” honor, coming off the bench and finishing with 17 points, two assists, and three steals. Hornets forward Anise Geiger had a double-double finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals.
The Hawks will play the winner of game five between the Norfolk State Spartans (#3) and the Morgan State Bears (#6) on Friday, March 13th at 2p.m. at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
Men: Delaware State vs. Morgan State
To kick off the men’s tournament, the Delaware State Hornets (#7) prevailed over the Morgan State Bears (#2) 75-70 in an overtime battle. The Bears were victorious in both matches during the 2025-2026 regular season (January 17th 80-79; February 21st 82-68).
“Tonight, we did the things we felt like we needed to do – taking care of the basketball, getting stops, getting big rebounds and defending,” said Hornets Head Coach Stan Waterman. “It’s a MEAC Tournament, it’s a new season, everybody’s 0-0. You got to play the game like it’s your last one, because it could be your last one, and I thought both teams did that.”
The Hornets made the first basket of the game and got an early lead going on a 9-2 scoring run. Making free-throws was a challenge on both sides. The Hornets only made 2-7 and the Bears made 3-8 free throws.
Determined to stay in the game, the Bears closed the once seven-point gap to only two-points. Noticing their opponent getting closer, the Hornets went on a 10-1 scoring run, stretching to a 12-point lead to end the half 27-15.
Coming out of halftime, the Bears were on a mission to put on a better performance and made the first three baskets, going on a 8-0 scoring run. They ended the first half with a 0% three-point percentage and attempted nine threes, but that changed in the second half knocking 3-9 three-pointers in.
The Bears took their first lead of the game 46-45 with free throws, and out-scored the Hornets in the second half, resulting in a tie of 60-points at the end of regular regulation, and taking the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Bears scored the first points with two free throws but could not make any baskets fall the way they wanted to, ending overtime with 0% field goal percentage. The Hornets quickly took the lead and held onto it the remainder of the game to win in overtime 75-70.
“We scored 15 points in the first half tonight, and you can’t win games scoring 15 points in a half,” said Bears Head Coach Kevin Broadus. “For Morgan State, this is the end of the road for the MEAC part of it, so we’ll see what comes after this – winning and losing is a part of life, it’s what you do after.”
Hornets forward Miles Webb was named the “Player of the Game” and finished with a double-double of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. Bears guard Elijah Davis led his team with 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
The Hornets will be back at the Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday, March 13th at 8p.m. playing against the winner of game seven between the North Carolina Central Eagles (#3) and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (#6).
Spartan Echo 