March 4, 2010

Final Stats    Updated 31-game B-CU Stats (16-15, 7-9 MEAC)

Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -

Tallahassee, Fla.-

B-CU will play FAMU - Opening Game at the MEAC Tournament, Tues, March 9 - 6:30 P.M in Winston-Salem

Florida A & M shot lights out in the second half (15-22) field goals and buried 10 three-pointers in the game
to beat the Wildcats 69-64.  It was the 2009-2010 regular season final game for both teams and it sets up a re-match next Tuesday at the MEAC Conference Tournament in Winston-Salem, NC.

B-CU led by 13 points in the opening ten minutes (21-8) and the Rattlers closed to six down at halftime (28-22).

"We didn't sustain our attention to detail and didn't execute and keep up the level of play we did early. The first two threes they hit, we didn't execute the game plan," said B-CU Head Coach Cliff Reed. "300 plus Divison I teams all play hard and we need to sustain our cerebral play for 40 minutes to be successful. If we want to win the MEAC Tournament it will take 4 games, 160 minutes of sustained play and effort."

The Rattlers (9-21, 5-11 MEAC) out-scored B-CU 47-36 in the second half and led by nine points (58-49) with 5:17 left before the Wildcats got to within two points down 65-63 (with 34 seconds remaining on a long Kevin Dukes three-pointer) but A & M hit enough free throws down the stretch to win by five.

C.J. Reed with 17 points led three B-CU scorers in double figures (Alexander Starling 13, Kevin Dukes 12).

REED NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-MEAC ON THURSDAY

C. J. Reed, last year's MEAC Rookie of the Year, was named first team All-MEAC as the sophomore point guard leads the Wildcats in scoring (15.6), assists (4.0), free throw shooting (.745), and minutes played (37.5 minutes/game). "I am extremely proud of C.J, both as a son and for me as his coach. It is a team honor too as they do the dirty work and set the picks and help in all areas of the team for us to be 16-15 this season. He is our catalyst and our team MVP and we need him to make plays and hit shots for us to be successful. I applaud C.J. for  all the hard work he puts in and the time it takes to be a great basketball player," said Coach Reed.

MEAC MEN'S BRACKET SET FOR 2010 TOURNAMENT

Bears Earn Top Seed for Thirds Straight Year

Virginia Beach, Va., March 4, 2010 - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the men's pairings for the 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament following the conference's final regular-season matchups Tuesday night.  For the third straight season the Morgan State Bears earned the No. 1 seed and an early round bye to compete for the tournament title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. 

The 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 9-13 at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

In-state rivals Bethune-Cookman (No. 7) and Florida A&M (No. 10) opens men's play on Tuesday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m.  Howard (No. 8) and North Carolina A&T (No. 9) will face off in the final game of the night beginning at 9 p.m.

Wednesday's play begins with Maryland Eastern Shore (No. 6) squaring off against Coppin State (No. 11) beginning at 3 p.m. The defending tournament champion MSU Bears will take to the court at 7 p.m. The Bears will face the winner of the Howard/N.C. A&T matchup. 

The 2010 regular season champion, regular-season runners-up, first-team members and top honorees including Player, Rookie, Defensive and Coach of the Year selections, will be recognized in pre-game presentations prior to the honorees first games in tournament play.  Earlier today Morgan State swept conference honors earning the Coach (Todd Bozeman), Player (Reggie Holmes), Rookie (DeWayne Jackson) and Defensive (Kevin Thompson) Player of the Year honors.

Delaware State secured the No. 2 seed with an 11-5 mark.  The Hornets avoided sharing the 2010 MEAC Regular Season Runners-up trophy with the S.C. State Bulldogs (10-6) after defeating Maryland Eastern Shore, 57-37, earlier tonight.  DSU will take to the court for the first time in tournament play on Wednesday, March 10 at 9:30 p.m. against the winner of the Bethune-Cookman/Florida A&M matchup.

South Carolina State wrapped up the No. 3 seed early and will compete on Thursday evening beginning at 6 p.m. against the winner of the Maryland Eastern Shore/Coppin State game. 

Norfolk State (No. 4) will matchup against Hampton (No. 5) on Thursday night beginning at 8 p.m.  The Hampton Pirates (8-8) edged out the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (8-8) in the head-to-head tie breaker to earn the higher seed and face off against the local town rival. 

The 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off Tuesday, March 9, and will conclude on Saturday, March 13 with the men's and women's championship games.  The men's finale will tip off at 2 p.m. in a live nationally televised matchup on ESPN 2.  The women's championship game is set for 5 p.m. and will air taped delayed on ESPNU on Sunday, March 14 at 11 .m.  Check your local listing for channel information. 

Tickets are on sale now at www.MEAChoops.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or at any MEAC member institution.

For more information on MEAC men's basketball, visit www.MEACsports.com.