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| Justin Glover and Winston-Salem State will face Slippery Rock in the NCAA Playoffs. |
HBCUs will be well represented in the Division II Mens’ Basketball Playoffs, as three CIAA teams plus SIAC champion Benedict will be in the field of 64. Bowie State, Winston-Salem State and Livingstone all made it into the playoffs out of the CIAA and will compete in the Atlantic Region.
Bowie State had an up and down year, finishing the regular season 12-13. The Bulldogs caught fire just before the tournament, and continued their winning ways in Charlotte, winning four games in four days to claim their second CIAA title in school history. BSU will be rewarded by playing top-seeded West Liberty (30-1).
Winston-Salem State came into the season favored to win the CIAA, and spent most of it ranked in the Top 25. WSSU finished 21-5, losing two of its last three games. Those two losses were to Bowie State and Livingstone, the two teams who made it to the CIAA Championship Game. WSSU received a no. 2 seed, and will take on no. 7 seed Slippery Rock at West Liberty.
Livingstone shocked many observers by winning the CIAA Southern Division regular season championship, defeating WSSU in the season finale to clinch the title. Livingstone (22-5) rolled through their first two CIAA Tournament games before being blindsided by Bowie State in the CIAA Championship. Still, the Blue Bears managed to secure an at-large bid. Fourth-seeded Livingstone will play Fairmont State at West Liberty.
Benedict (20-6, 16-2) won the SIAC regular season title, and followed up by beating Morehouse for its second consecutive conference tournament title. The Tigers have won four conference tournament titles since 2004. They will face Eckerd.
On the women’s side, Shaw, Clark Atlanta and Tuskegee received invitations to the tournament. Shaw, the defending national champions, will open up against Glenville State. SIAC champion Clark Atlanta will face Nova Southeastern.Tuskegee was awarded an at-large bid and will face Alabama-Huntsville.
