The move to Grambling state comes on the heels of an interesting 50 weeks in Tallahassee. Crarey was initially named as FAMU’s head coach by Tiffani-Dawn Sykes and agreed to a three-year deal. However, the FAMU Board of Trustees pushed his contract into the summer and several board members openly questioned his credentials. A one-year, $150k contract was eventually approved by the BOT in late July.

Crarey led FAMU to a 13-16 record, winning 10 games in the SWAC after the program had won just seven games all the previous year. FAMU attempted to offer Crarey a two-year extension worth up to $170k earlier this year. The posting for the Grambling State job started at $230k.

Before coming to the HBCU ranks, Patrick Crarey built an impressive coaching resume marked by consistent success and player development. Most recently, he led St. Thomas University to back-to-back standout seasons. In 2023-24, the Bobcats finished 22-9, clinched the Sun Conference regular season title, and reached the second round of the NAIA Tournament, ending the season ranked 21st nationally. Crarey was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year, with five of his players earning All-Conference honors and standout Milton Matthews being selected to the NAIA All-American Second Team.

In 2022-23, Crarey guided St. Thomas to a program-record 26 wins and a Round of 16 finish in the NAIA Tournament. His squad set school records in home wins (15-1) and three-pointers made, with Dalon Dean and Milton Matthews becoming the first players in school history to hit 100 threes in a season. Fred Mulbah also set a single-season assist record with 241.

Crarey began his tenure at St. Thomas in 2021-22, producing four All-Conference players and three future professionals. Previously, he spent a decade at Washington Adventist University, where he won a national title in 2014 and earned two Coach of the Year awards while sending numerous players to pro careers across the globe.

Now he will take over a Grambling State program propped up by Jackson, another former NAIA coach that made the transition to success at an HBCU on the Division I level. 

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His arrival marks a new chapter for Fayetteville State, an HBCU program that D’Alessio helped elevate into perennial contenders. In five seasons, D’Alessio guided the Broncos to three CIAA title game appearances, winning the championship in 2022. He departs with a 103-52 record and was named the 2024-25 CIAA and HBCU All-Stars Clarence “Big House” Gaines NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.

Hoehn, who played at West Liberty and previously served on staff at Nova Southeastern, has earned a reputation for building high-powered offenses and coaching with an aggressive, intelligent defensive approach. He also developed standout HBCU talent, including 2025 CIAA and HBCU Division II Player of the Year Jordan Hines.

Fayetteville State, which emerged as a building basketball program under D’Alessio, now turns to Hoehn to continue the momentum. His passion, player development background, and commitment to fast-paced, disciplined basketball align with the program’s championship aspirations.

As one HBCU coaching era ends, another begins in Cumberland County. 

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Alcorn State is expected to hire Jake Morton as its next head coach, according to a report by Jon Rothstein. The move is the latest in a busy offseason across HBCU basketball, as Morton steps in to replace Landon Bussie, who left last month to take over at Chicago State.

Morton brings a deep resume to the HBCU ranks, having served as an assistant coach at numerous Division I programs and currently completing his first season at Florida State under Leonard Hamilton. His return to head a program aligns with Alcorn’s desire to maintain momentum after Bussie helped make the Braves a consistent force in the SWAC and the broader HBCU basketball landscape.

A former standout at the University of Miami, Morton played for Hamilton from 1989 to 1993, later returning to the Hurricanes as an assistant coach. He helped guide Miami to three straight 20-win seasons and a 2008 NCAA Tournament berth. His coaching path includes stops at East Carolina, Jacksonville State, Coppin State, and even an early stop at HBCU Bowie State, where he began his coaching career in 2000.

Morton’s time at Jacksonville State marked one of the most successful stretches in program history, including an Atlantic Sun regular-season title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. His teams averaged 20 wins per season, a level of consistency Alcorn State fans will welcome.

Alcorn State is aiming to stay competitive in the SWAC and nationally among HBCUs, and Jake Morton’s hiring signals a commitment to experience and proven results. As HBCU programs continue to raise their profiles and invest in high-level coaching talent, Morton’s arrival is both a reunion with his roots and a chance to lead his own program after one year at Florida State. 

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The Washington, D.C. native was lightly recruited prior to coming to Howard, but quickly became as force for the Washington, DC – based HBCU. 

Harper shot 44.7% from the field (182-for-407) and displayed a solid three-point stroke, connecting on 40 of his 99 attempts for a 40.4 percent success rate. He was also reliable at the free-throw line, making 221 of 268 attempts, an impressive 82.5%. Harper was active defensively, recording 31 steals and contributing on the boards with 197 total rebounds. His playmaking ability was evident with 110 assists, while maintaining strong defensive discipline with only five foul-outs.

Harper’s numbers weren’t only outstanding for HBCU basketball and the MEAC but across the NCAA as well. Harper was the 28th ranked scorer in all of Division I basketball, the only HBCU player ranked in the top 50.

While Maryland basketball may be on Blake Harper’s list, it doesn’t appear that he has made a commitment yet. 

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Her success was recognized with several honors, including CIAA Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year and HBCU All-Stars Lonnie Bartley NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.

“Morgan has always been a place where excellence is not only expected but cultivated—and that is exactly what we see in Coach Nadine Domond,” said Morgan State President David K. Wilson. “She brings a championship mindset, a proven track record of developing women both on and off the court, and a vision that aligns perfectly with our aspirations for the Lady Bears.”

Domond brings experience from every level of basketball. As a player, she starred at the University of Iowa under Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, where she was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection, a Big Ten champion, and a three-time NCAA Tournament participant. She also won a silver medal with USA Basketball in 1997 and was selected 19th overall by the New York Liberty in the 1998 WNBA Draft. She later played for the Sacramento Monarchs and was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Her coaching career began at Hampton University, another HBCU, and included stops at Rutgers, Grambling State—where she was named SWAC Coach of the Year in 2015—and most recently, Virginia State.

“Coach Domond brings a level of excellence that is consistent with the direction we are taking our athletic programs at Morgan,” said Dena Freeman-Patton, Morgan’s vice president and director for Intercollegiate Athletics.

“Her success as both a coach and a player, her ability to recruit and connect within the DMV, and her commitment to building young women into champions on and off the court made her the clear choice.”

Domond succeeds longtime head coach Ed Davis Jr., who retired following the 2024–25 season after a 33-year collegiate coaching career. Under Davis, the Lady Bears captured a share of the MEAC regular-season title in 2022 but have yet to earn a Division I NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I’m incredibly honored to join Morgan State University as the next head coach of the Lady Bears,” Domond said. “This opportunity comes at the perfect time—not just in my journey but in the evolution of women’s college basketball and the rise of HBCU programs across the country.”

Her hire is the fourth major coaching selection made by Freeman-Patton since 2022, following appointments in football, wrestling, and acrobatics and tumbling. Morgan State is expected to formally introduce Domond in a press conference on campus in the coming weeks.

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Here’s how the HBCU trail unfolds: Mississippi Valley State, an HBCU in the SWAC, defeated fellow HBCU Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff then beat Texas Southern, another proud HBCU program. Texas Southern took down Alabama A&M, another SWAC HBCU, who then beat Coastal Carolina. From there, the chain runs through Georgia State, Tulsa, and Temple before reaching Memphis, which beat Missouri—who, incredibly, handed Florida one of its rare losses during the season.

So, by the twisted logic of “team A beat team B” all the way up the ladder, Mississippi Valley State—again, the 364th team out of 364—can lay a humorous, if entirely unofficial, claim to being part of the national title conversation.

This chaotic chain reminds us of the deep interconnectedness of college basketball and how, on any given night, even a struggling HBCU can topple a giant—or at least someone who eventually helps topple a giant. While it doesn’t change the standings, it highlights the competitive spirit alive across all levels, including the HBCU ranks.

In a season where parity ruled and madness reigned, it’s only fitting that four different HBCUs helped form a chain that connects college basketball’s basement to its summit.

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THE HILL | Alabama A&M University President Dr. Daniel K. Wims and Director of Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant welcomed new AAMU head men’s basketball coach Donte’ Jackson during an introductory press conference at the Alabama A&M University Event Center on the campus of the HBCU.
 
“We welcome a coach with an outstanding resume, one that has won at the highest levels,” Dr. Bryant said.  Jackson, who has compiled a 263-185 career record in 15 seasons, is a three-time Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Coach of the Year honoree, guiding Grambling State to three regular-season conference titles in eight seasons, including a trip to the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. 

Excited to be on the Hill

“I’m incredibly thankful to Dr. Wims and Dr. Bryant for this opportunity,” Jackson said. “I am excited to be on The Hill and look forward to bringing a winning culture to this outstanding institution. I’m a program builder. It’s time to build this program into one of the best programs in the SWAC, the state, the region, and the nation…It’s time to build something that Bulldog Nation can be proud of… It’s time to build a winner, a championship program that can compete for titles each year.”
 
Jackson established himself as one of the best coaches in the HBCU conference during his first season at Grambling State. Where he helped the program win its first SWAC Regular Season Championship in nearly 30 years (1988-1989). During the regular season, Grambling State enjoyed the national spotlight as one of the teams in NCAA Division I with the longest winning streak, which reached as high as 11 games before a loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Success with a Rival

The Tigers reached new highs under Jackson during the 2022-23 HBCU basketball campaign. They finished the season 24-9, tallying their most wins in a single season since joining Division I in 1977.
 
GSU also defeated two Power 5 teams for the first time in school history. Earning wins over Colorado and Vanderbilt. The Tigers won the SWAC Regular Season Title and reached the 2023 SWAC Championship Game. Jackson produced the SWAC Player of the Year in Cameron Christon and won the coveted SWAC Coach of the Year Award.
 
Donte’ Jackson reached the pinnacle of the SWAC during the 2023-24 season, leading GSU to its first-ever SWAC Tournament Championship win and berth in the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. The Tigers went 21-15 overall and 14-4 in conference play. Grambling State defeated Texas Southern 75-66 in the SWAC Title game. GSU went on to defeat Montana State 88-81 in the NCAA First Four before falling to top-seeded Purdue in the first round.

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Following a national coaching search, Norfolk State University announced on Friday that Jermaine Woods will become the seventh head coach of the HBCU women’s basketball program, pending Board of Visitors approval. A proven leader with experience at several Power Four institutions, Woods will take over the reins of a distinguished group that produced 30 wins during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
“We are very excited to welcome Jermaine Woods to the Norfolk State family to lead our women’s basketball program,” NSU Director of Athletics Dr. Melody Webb said. “Coach Woods’ extensive experience as a head coach, recruiter, and leader has demonstrated his ability to elevate programs to new levels. I am confident that his skills will translate seamlessly to this team, continuing the historic trajectory these young women have set in place. I look forward to watching the Norfolk State community embrace Coach Woods and his family as he steps into this role.”
 
A Chesapeake native and Norfolk State alumnus, Woods boasts 23 years of coaching experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the Norfolk State women’s basketball program. Woods’ journey has included significant time at several ACC institutions (Wake Forest and Virginia Tech), as well as a stint close to home at Old Dominion.
 
“We are so happy for Coach Woods and his family to return to the Hampton-Roads area and continue the tremendous legacy that the Norfolk State women’s basketball program has built,” Norfolk State President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston said. “He has proven himself to possess an exceptional ability to find and recruit amazing student athletes, mentoring them into the best versions of themselves on and off the court.”
 
“I would also like to personally thank and acknowledge Larry Vickers for all his contributions to Norfolk State women’s basketball,” President Adams-Gaston said. “He transformed the program into a nationally acclaimed dynasty, connecting with Spartan fans throughout his tenure. His impact cannot be overstated, and we remain dedicated to continuing the standard that he created.”
 
Woods comes to Norfolk State after three seasons as the HBCU WBB head coach at Coppin State, leading the Eagles to their winningest season in over a decade. The Eagles secured an appearance in the WNIT Tournament, defeating Saint Joseph’s in the first round for the program’s second-ever postseason victory.

 
“I am thrilled to return home and lead such a distinguished program at Norfolk State University,” Woods said. “I want to thank Dr. Webb for this tremendous opportunity and Dr. Adams-Gaston for her belief and support. This program has surged into the national spotlight, building a winning culture through a consistent and unwavering standard. I cannot wait to meet the team and get to work.”
 
Woods has coached numerous players to extraordinary success while at Coppin State, guiding four HBCU WBB players to All-MEAC First Team selections as well as one All-MEAC Second Team honoree. Woods coached two MEAC Defensive Players of the Year and one MEAC Sixth Player of the Year, cementing himself as one of the best developers of talent in the conference.
 
Woods spent three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Wake Forest, specializing in working with players at the guard position. In his final season with the Demond Deacons, he helped lead the team to a pair of ACC Tournament wins and its first .500+ season since the 2016-17 campaign.
 
Woods worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons at Old Dominion prior to his time in Winsten-Salem. He helped build the Monarchs’ star studded 2016 class, highlighted by an ESPN top 100 prospect.
 
Woods got his NCAA Division I coaching start at Virginia Tech where he recruited the No. 19 ranked class by ESPNW, marking the highest rated recruiting class in program history at the time.
 
As a player, Woods spent one season at Belmont Abbey College before playing his final three seasons at Christopher Newport University. A D3Hoops.com All-American and two-time All-South region selection, Woods was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year and broke the school’s 3-point record as a junior and broke the school’s 3-point record in back-to-back seasons.
 
Norfolk State will hold a press conference to formally introduce Woods as its HBCU WBB head coach at 2 p.m. on Monday, Apr.7.

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Morant’s transfer adds a new chapter to her basketball journey. Which began with a standout high school career and continued with her commitment to play at the Division I level for an HBCU.

High School Career

At Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee, Teniya showcased her prowess on the basketball court. Standing at 5-foot-3, she played as a senior guard and was instrumental in leading the Mustangs to a 16-6 record during her senior year. She averaged 12.6 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.4 steals. Notably, she achieved a season-high of 22 points in a decisive 70-45 victory over St. Agnes Academy.

Teniya’s dedication and skill on the court did not go unnoticed. Despite not holding any offers early in her recruiting process, her performance on the court drew national attention. Reminiscent of her brother Ja Morants’ under-the-radar recruitment before his emergence at Murray State.

Commitment to HBCU Basketball

In May 2023, Teniya announced her commitment to Mississippi Valley State University, an HBCU in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). This decision was major for both Morant and the HBCU, as MVSU was the first Division I program to offer her a scholarship in January of that year. Her commitment was met with enthusiasm, especially given her family’s history with HBCU hoops, as her father, Tee Morant, played basketball at Claflin University.

MVSU’s women’s basketball program had faced an uphill battle coming into Morant’s freshman season. The Devilettes finished the previous season with a 2-27 record and a 0-18 standing in the SWAC. Teniya’s addition was seen as a potential catalyst for revitalizing the team’s performance. Her high school coach, Justin Lewis, praised her tenacity and work ethic in an interview with The Commercial Appeal, stating, “They’re getting a tenacious player that gives it her all on the floor. Somebody that’s going to be vocal. She’s going to work hard.”

Teniya Morant appeared in three games during the 2024–25 season for Mississippi Valley State. Logging limited minutes and recording no points, rebounds, or assists. Her time on the court included short stints against Lipscomb, Arkansas State, and Alabama A&M, with a total of just 12 minutes played.

Transition and Current Status

In an Instagram post from April 3rd, 2025, Teniya Morant announced that she had decided to enter the transfer portal and leave the MVSU women’s basketball program.

Teniya Morant’s journey underscores the dynamic nature of collegiate athletics, especially within HBCU programs. Her initial commitment brought hope and excitement to not only MVSU’s women’s basketball but HBCU women’s hoops as a whole. Now, her departure opens conversations about athlete transitions and the factors influencing such decisions.

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Norfolk State guard Christian Ings put on a show on national television, winning the State Farm College Slam Dunk Championship at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday night. Airing live on ESPN, the HBCU hoops star showed no fear on the bright stage. The graduate student used a pass from Creighton’s Steven Ashworth off the side off the backboard, corralling and slamming it down emphatically with one hand.

The dunk earned Ings a perfect score of 40 in the first round. Waiting over 30 minutes for his next opportunity, Ings couldn’t get his first two attempts to fall on the next opportunity. He eventually beat the buzzer, doing a 360-spin in the air for a score of 32.
 
Ings kept it going with his second semifinal dunk, third overall. Throwing himself a lob in the middle of the paint, he rose up for a windmill that brought flashbacks to one of his viral moments from the 2024-25 season.

Saving the best for last, Ings gave the crowd the closing act it had waited all night to see. Ings needed just one attempt for this one, jumping over 6 foot 8 Iowa forward Payton Sandfort to bring the house down.

SportsCenter Prequel

The HBCU basketball star used his Senior Night as a prequel to his State Farm College Slam Dunk Championship. Delivering two electrifying dunks that both would end up ESPN’s SportsCenter.

The first of Ings’ remarkable dunks saw him split two defenders in a pick-and-roll, soaring over a 6-foot-9 Morgan State player for a poster-worthy slam. Minutes later, he executed a flawless windmill dunk on a fast break, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. This windmill dunk was so spectacular that it claimed the number one spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays for February 25, 2025, while the first dunk came in at number three.

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The Norfolk, VA native recently led Coppin State to a 19-15 record, ending its season in the second round of the WNIT. One of those wins was against Arizona State.

Woods went 30-40 in his first two seasons at CSU. In his first season as head coach, Woods guided the Eagles to non-conference wins Winthrop, Saint Peter’s and St. Francis (Pa.) and a fifth seed in the MEAC Tournament. Mossi Staples and Jewel Watkins both earned Second Team All-Conference honors while Watkins was placed on the league’s defensive team.  In a victory over Delaware State, CSU set a then school-record with 12 3-pointers and the squad set a single-season record with 181 3-point field goals. 

During Woods’ second season as head coach, Coppin State advanced to the MEAC Semifinals for the first time since 2016 and posted impressive non-conference road wins at FIU and Pittsburgh. The victory against the Panthers was CSU’s first-ever against a Power Conference program. Earning the four seed in the MEAC Tournament, Laila Lawrence and Faith Blackstone earned major MEAC awards, 1st Team All-Conference accolades and BOXTOROW HBCU All-America honors. Angel Jones also picked up 2nd Team All-Conference recognition. 

Woods started his playing career at Belmont-Abbey before finishing out at Christopher Newport University where he was a D3 All-American. He started his coaching career at Virginia Tech before transitioning to Old Dominion and Wake Forest. He joined the Baltimore-based HBCU as associate head coach in 2020. 

Now he’s returning back home to take charge of a program that won 30 games and is the three-time defending MEAC Tournament champion. Last month Woods got a taste of being back home during the MEAC Tournament. 

“I didn’t sleep at all. I haven’t been sleeping. Haven’t eaten either. So I need to eat. I’m going to have a good meal today,” Woods said during the MEAC Tournament. “People are feeding us good. We have nice, fancy restaurants every day, and people are taking care of us.”

In addition to to eating well, Jermaine Woods now has the task of keeping Norfolk State on top of the HBCU and MEAC hill and keeping it as one of the best mid-major programs in the country. 

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Before Grambling State, Jackson made his mark at Stillman College, leading the program to a 27-6 record and a DII second-round appearance in 2015-16. He also had a successful run at Central State, establishing himself as a rising name in the HBCU coaching ranks early in his career.

With a career coaching record of 246-166 and a SWAC Tournament record of 9-5, Jackson is known for his ability to build programs and compete for championships. His 2022-23 Grambling team went 24-9 and finished tied for first in the league, showcasing his ability to bring consistency and success to HBCU programs.

Now, Jackson takes over an Alabama A&M program seeking to climb the SWAC standings. His appointment signals that Alabama A&M is aiming high and investing in a proven winner within the HBCU basketball fraternity. The move keeps one of the SWAC’s most experienced coaches in the league, as the HBCU basketball coaching carousel continues to turn.

Grambling State, meanwhile, will have to find another head coach. 

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While Smith made noise on the court at the Durham, NC-based HBCU, his journey off the court is just as compelling. Earlier this year, HBCU Gameday shared the emotional story of Smith’s family—highlighting the strength and resilience he’s drawn from his sister, who has been battling cancer. That story offered a deeper look at the motivation behind the forward’s relentless motor and mature perspective, traits that have helped him flourish in the HBCU ranks.

“My little sis, we’re very close, and my family is very devastated,” Smith said after a last-second win at the MEAC basketball tournament. “This is a very hard time, but basketball has become my escape, my therapy. I play for my sister because I know she’s watching.”

By transferring to Kennesaw State, Smith will be closer to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, offering an opportunity to continue his basketball career while staying near his support system. As he moves on from the HBCU spotlight to a new challenge in the Atlantic Sun Conference, he now leaves a hole for North Carolina Central head coach LeVelle Moton to fill. 

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Moore is currently in the transfer portal.

 
The Lou Henson award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.
 
Coach Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four appearance in 1989.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.

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SAN ANTONIO, TX– Norfolk State’s Larry Vickers is the recipient of the 2025 Kay Yow National Coach of the Year award. The award is presented annually to the top head coach in Women’s Division I college basketball. Someone who embodies a winning spirit while displaying great character on and off the court. Vickers led the Spartans to a 30-5 (14-0 MEAC) record this season and earned the HBCU program’s highest-ever No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Norfolk State became just the eighth team in MEAC history to go undefeated in conference play. The Spartans also made a mark on the non-conference slate. With the HBCU taking down two SEC opponents in Auburn and Missouri.

“The former walk-on at Norfolk State, who spent five seasons as assistant with the men’s program, completely turned around the women’s basketball at Norfolk State,” said Angela Lento, Vice President of CollegeInsider.com. “Larry Vickers took over a program that had just two winning seasons and turned it into one of the top programs in women’s college basketball. With a foundation built on hard work, discipline and good old fashion defense, there are a lot more wins in his future.”

A Banner Year

NSU, which cracked the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll for the first time in program history on Nov. 30, 2022, finished the regular season ranked No. 4. That’s the highest-ever ranking for an HBCU program, men or women.

Vickers received MEAC Coach of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. Becoming the second MEAC women’s basketball coach to receive the honor in three straight years.

Larry Vickers spent 10 overall and nine full seasons as the head coach of the NSU women’s basketball team. Producing a 177-99 record with a 97-41 mark in MEAC play. He led Norfolk State to three consecutive MEAC Tournament titles (2023, 2024, 2025) and four consecutive regular season championships (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).

Prior to taking over the women’s program, Vickers spent eight seasons as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball program. He served the last three as the associate head coach.

About Kay Yow

CollegeInsider.com pays tribute to one of the true icons of women’s college basketball with the Kay Yow Award.

Yow became the sixth head coach in the history of Division I women’s basketball to reach the 700-win plateau. Finishing with a sterling record of 737–344 in her 34 seasons at NC State.

She was the first women’s coach in ACC history to eclipse 600 wins at the same school and directed NC State to 19 top-three finishes in the ACC standings. Her 1997-98 squad advanced all the way to the Final Four in Kansas City.

She was wildly successful in every forum in which she coached. Leading gold medal winners at the 1981 World University Games, the 1986 Goodwill Games, 1986 World Championship Games and the 1988 Olympic Games.

As an assistant, Yow was on the Olympic gold medal winning 1984 coaching staff in Los Angeles. In addition, she was an assistant on the gold medal-winning teams at the 1979 World University Games, the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 R. Williams Jones Cup.

Coach Yow had been on a leave of absence from coaching since early January 2009 because of her battle with cancer. She passed away from stage 4 breast cancer on January 24, 2009.

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O’Neal is coming off the best season of his college career at Florida A&M, where he averaged 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. That included seven double-figure scoring outputs after having just one in his first two seasons. He scored a career-high 26 points against Trinity Baptist and scored 20 against Trinity, as well as a couple of double-figure games against SWAC competition. Shaq showed up in Atlanta to watch his son play in the SWAC Tournament earlier this month.

Listed as 6’7, 201 pounds out of high school, Shaqir O’Neal was a  three-star prospect in the Class of 2021 out of Union Grove Senior High School in Georgia and signed with another HBCU, Texas Southern. He redshirted the 2021-2022 season and made his college debut against San Francisco in Nov 2022.  He played in 20 games during the 2022-2023 season, averaging 1.4 points per game in just over seven minutes of action per contest. The best game of his Texas Southern career came against North American when he scored 12 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 28 minutes.

Shaqir averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in 20 appearances during the 2023-2024 season at Texas Southern. He played a season-high 23 minutes against Creighton and had his best game against Biblical Studies when he scored nine points and hit two three-pointers for the HBCU squad.

Now he will step out of the SWAC/HBCU landscape for the first time under a first time head coach looking to show that he’s more than just an NBA name. 

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As a top-100 recruit from DeSoto, Texas. Powell made headlines by committing to North Carolina A&T, becoming the highest-ranked American-born player to sign with an HBCU. His freshman year (2021-22) was marred by injuries, leading to a redshirt season. Returning in 2022-23, Powell earned a spot on the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Rookie team. He averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in his first season back on the court in over two years. ?

Mid-Major

During his tenure at North Carolina A&T, Powell starred in the HBCU Gameday Original Documentary “Mid-Major.” A collaboration with Duncan’s NIL agency, TLS Sports. Mid-Major gave an in-depth look at his time with the Aggies and showed fans his passions for dogs, music, and HBCU basketball.?

Powell played his only season at NC A&T without the coach who recruited him to the East Greensboro HBCU. Then-head coach Will Jones was let go a month before his freshman season was scheduled to begin. Powell transferred to Sacramento State for the 2023-24 season. As a redshirt Sophomore, he started 23 of 29 games, leading the Hornets with 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

In June 2024, Powell committed to Georgia Tech, taking his talents to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Throughout the 2024-25 season, he showcased the skillset that made him a top 100 player in his class. Powell averaged 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Earning accolades like the Lute Olson National Player of the Week award along the way. Powell scored 20 or more points in five games. Including a standout performance against NCAA Tournament top seed Duke in the ACC Tournament. He tallied 24 points against the Blue Devils after a 24-point effort in a win against Virginia in the previous round.

Chess Move

In March 2025, Powell declared for the NBA Draft while simultaneously entering the transfer portal. Keeping all of his options open in an era of college basketball where anything can change at any given moment.

In today’s college basketball landscape, NIL deals have significantly altered the decision-making process for high-level transfers like Duncan Powell. Top-tier players in the transfer portal can command substantial NIL compensation, often rivaling or even exceeding the earnings of an NBA rookie deal or a two-way contract. A late second-round NBA draft pick or an undrafted player on a two-way contract may earn between $500,000 and $600,000 annually. Some high-profile college transfers have secured NIL packages worth over seven figures.

Under NCAA regulations, college basketball players can declare for the NBA Draft and participate in pre-draft activities to assess their professional prospects. If they do not sign with an agent or maintain their amateur status. They have the option to withdraw from the draft and return to college basketball, provided they adhere to the NCAA’s withdrawal deadlines. This process allows players like Duncan Powell to explore professional opportunities while retaining the possibility of continuing their collegiate careers.?

For Powell, staying in college another year could allow him to maximize his earnings while further developing his skills and improving his draft stock. With the increasing financial opportunities in college basketball, many players now view the transfer portal as a strategic alternative to entering the NBA prematurely. Ensuring they are in the best position—both financially and developmentally—when they make the leap to the professional ranks.

Powell’s journey from HBCU to ACC reflects the evolving landscape of college basketball. Highlighting the trend of HBCU programs nurturing top-tier talent and creating dynamic pathways for student-athletes to navigate their professional aspirations.

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This season, Ings averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 48.9% from the field and 47.3% from deep. He helped lead the Spartans to their fourth MEAC Tournament title, scoring a team-best 16 points in the championship game.

Now, he’s one of just six players selected to compete in the slam dunk contest. Ings will represent the HBCU community on one of college basketball’s biggest stages, held this year at the Frost Bank Center—home of the San Antonio Spurs.

HBCU athletes continue to prove they belong in the national spotlight, and Ings’ invitation to this elite competition is another proud moment for the culture. From viral highlights to ESPN’s main stage, Christian Ings is ready to show the world what HBCU basketball is all about.

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The men’s game tips off at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the women’s game approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the men’s matchup.

The All-Star Games will showcase the nation’s top 24 men’s and women’s HBCU players, providing a platform to support their professional aspirations. Each team will be led by a distinguished HBCU coach and named after an HBCU basketball legend: Team Al Attles vs. Team Bob Love (men’s) and Team Yolanda Laney vs. Team Patricia Hoskins (women’s).

Featured Players

The men’s game is expected to include Alabama State’s T.J. Madlock, the SWAC Tournament champion and Carlos Rogers HBCU All-Stars NCAA Division I National Player of the Year. Madlock scored 11 points in Alabama State’s first-round loss to No. 1 Auburn in the NCAA Tournament. Norfolk State’s Christian Ings, who led the MEAC Tournament champions with 16 points in their first-round loss to No. 1 Florida, will also participate. Fayetteville State’s Tairell Fletcher, the Earl Lloyd HBCU All-Stars Division II National Player of the Year, will represent the CIAA regular season champions.

The women’s game will feature standout players from the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, and SIAC Tournament champions, including Taliah Wesley of Allen University, the Jackie Givens HBCU All-Stars Division II Women’s National Player of the Year.

Alumni Impact

The Men’s HBCU All-Star Game, now in its fourth year, has previously featured players who have gone on to professional careers, including G-League players Joirdon Karl Nicholson (Texas Southern), Javonte Cooke (Winston-Salem State), Christian Brown (Tennessee State), and Asanti Price (Benedict College), as well as Prince Moss (Grambling State), who currently plays for the Harlem Globetrotters. More than 50% of former HBCU All-Star participants are playing professionally overseas.

Broadcast Team

Brian Custer, a two-time Emmy Award winner, and veteran head coach Cy Alexander, who previously served as head coach at South Carolina State (1987–2003), Tennessee State (2003–09), and North Carolina A&T (2012–16), will call the men’s game. Nia Symone, Thai Floyd, and Symone Stanley will provide commentary for the women’s game.

Streaming Availability

NBC Sports NOW, a digital channel offering free video content, is available through Peacock, the NBC Sports app on mobile and tablet devices, and all major FAST Channel distributors, including the Roku Channel and Samsung TV Plus.

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NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State director of athletics Dr. Melody Webb has announced that head men’s basketball coach Robert Jones’ contract has been extended through the 2031-32 HBCU basketball season.
 
“We are ecstatic to announce this contract extension for men’s basketball head coach Robert Jones,” Webb said. “Coach Jones has been a part of every historic milestone this program has accomplished at the Division I level, building a winning culture that stands alone at the top of the MEAC. I am confident that this team will not only maintain the prestigious standard that Coach Jones has set in place but continue to grow and reach unprecedented heights.”
 
Accumulating over 230 wins across 12 seasons as the head coach of the Norfolk State men’s basketball program, Jones has guided the Spartans to their greatest run of the team’s Division I era. Most recently, NSU defeated South Carolina State 66-65 to win the 2025 MEAC Tournament Championship and advance into the NCAA Tournament.
 
“With success comes suitors, but I’m happy to be a Spartan,” Jones said. “Thank you to Dr. J and AD Webb for their continued support. Also, thank you to Spartan Nation for their unwavering desire to keep making this program great. Let’s do it again next year! BEHOLD!”
 
Three of the Spartans’ four MEAC Tournament titles have come during Jones head coaching tenure, and the other (2011-12) came while Jones served as the team’s associate head coach. Norfolk State has won five MEAC Regular Season crowns under Jones, owning a record of 135-45 in league play during his time at the helm.

Coach Jones Accolades

 
Jones continues to rack up team and individual accolades while representing Norfolk State in HBCU basketball. CollegeInsider.com named him a finalist for three prestigious accolades this season – the Hugh Durham, Ben Jobe, and Skip Prosser Man of the Year awards. He also earned MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach honors following the victory over SCSU.
 
Jones led Norfolk State to its first nonconference postseason championship in the program’s Division I history in the 2023-24 season, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne 75-67 in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) championship game. Christian Ings earned MVP honors for the event, helping the Spartans erase an 18-point deficit in the championship showdown.
 
Jones has been a frequent finalist for the Hugh Durham Award, winning the accolade in 2022. The Hugh Durham Award is presented annually to the top mid-major coach in college basketball.
 
Jones has received the MEAC Coach of the Year award three times—2019, 2022, and 2024—as well as the BOXTOROW HBCU Coach of the Year award in 2022 and 2024.

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Shortly after Norfolk State guard Brian Moore Jr. announced he was hitting the transfer portal on Tuesday, WAVY New’s James Kattato  posted an interview where Jones compared the state of mid-major college basketball to community college. 

“This is now a glorified JUCO. This is like Norfolk State Community College,” Jones said in the interview. “And when I say that, not because of the people or anything like that — but it’s just the way it is. JUCO coaches, I have so much more respect for them these days, because they have to get a new team every year/every two years. Now we gotta get a a new team every year/every too so we’re basically a glorifed JUCO.”

Moore came to Norfolk State from Murray State where he was a part-time starter during the 2023-2024 season averaging 9.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He was named first-team All-MEAC after averaging 19 points during the regular season before helping NSU win the MEAC Tournament a week later. He’s not alone — only one player eligible to return from the three MEAC All-Conference programs hasn’t hit the portal in the first few days. 

“Until mid-majors — and not just Norfolk State — get the money that high majors have, we’re never going to be able to keep kids for a long time. It’s easy to get ‘em but it’s hard to retain ‘em. You can get them because there’s a lot of kids that want the opportunities. But once they get the opportunity and they blow up, it’s hard to retain ‘em. Because now the big boys are going to come.”

Another example is former Norfolk State guard Jamarii Thomas. Thomas got inconsistent playing time at his first school — UNC-Wilmington. He transferred to the HBCU for the 2023-2024 season, had a breakout year and was named the MEAC Player of The Year. He hit the transfer portal following the season, first committing to VCU and ultimately landing in the SEC at South Carolina. 

Jones didn’t sound bitter in his comments, but he did express the feeling that many college basketball coaches in the HBCU and mid-major world are dealing with at the moment. 

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ORANGEBURG, SC – The South Carolina State (SC State) Athletics Department is mourning the passing of retired Hall of Fame HBCU basketball coach Lyman Foster. Foster, 76, died Monday evening at his Orangeburg residence. Arrangements will be announced later by Simmons Funeral Home and Crematory of Orangeburg.

“We are all saddened by the passing of Coach Lyman Foster,” SC State interim Athletics Director Oliver “Buddy” Pough said. “He was a part of the great athletic legacy here at SC State and will be missed. The University offers its condolences and support to his family and all who loved him. He was a great coach and an outstanding professor in the PE department. We ask prayers for the family from the community during this sad time.”

A Tuskegee, AL native, Foster began his SC State coaching career in 1974-1975 as an assistant to the late Willie Simon. When the University reinstated its women’s basketball program. As Simon’s assistant, he helped the Lady Bulldogs to 305 victories and just 93 losses during a 14-year stint (1974-1988). SC State became one of the most dominant women’s programs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the nation during his tenure as Simon’s assistant.

Stellar Career

During the period, the Lady Bulldogs won five MEAC championships. Several AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) state and regional titles. Captured the AIAW Division II National Crown during the 1978-79 season, after finishing as the national runner-up the previous year. In 1982-1983, the HBCU earned a berth in the NCAA playoffs when the Lady Bulldogs defeated LaSalle 85-67 on the road to become the first HBCU team – men or women – to win an NCAA postseason tournament game.

Foster, who also served as a physical education professor at SC State. Succeeded Simon as head coach following the 1987-1988 campaign. He went on to compile a five-year (1988-1983) 79-68 record and won three MEAC crowns. In addition, he was the men’s golf coach for the Bulldogs for five seasons (1988-1993) and guided SC State to three National Minority Collegiate Golf titles and two runner-up finishes.

Hall of Famer

He was inducted into the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame as an individual in 2004 after going in as a member of the AIAW National Championship Team in 2000.

The Alabama State graduate began his college coaching career at Coppin State in Baltimore, MD, as a men’s assistant for one season (1971-1972), before joining the Physical Education Department at SC State as an instructor.

Also, during a 13-year high school coaching career, which included stops at Scot’s Branch, Holly Hill-Roberts, and Orangeburg-Wilkinson, he won 270 games and reached the state championship finals three times. He later served three seasons (2012-2015) a volunteer assistant for the Claflin women’s team.

Foster earned a bachelor’s at Alabama State in 1970 and a master’s from Pittsburgh in 1971. He did further study at the University of Alabama,

He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for over 50 years, a longtime basketball official in the Palmetto State, and a member of several coaching and community organizations. Foster is survived by his wife, Linda W. Foster of the home; two children: Shana and Sean; a granddaughter and other relatives and friends.

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As No. 6 seed Ole Miss prepares to face No. 2 seed Michigan State on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the men’s NCAA Tournament, the 6-foot-4 senior guard hopes to help the Rebels continue their Cinderella run in March Madness. Friday’s contest marks Ole Miss’ first Sweet 16 appearance since 2001. In his lone season with the Rebels, Barnes is averaging five points and 3.2 rebounds, shooting 38.4% from the field and nearly 73% from the free-throw line in 20.3 minutes per game off the bench.

In the Rebels’ 91-78 second-round victory over No. 3 Iowa State, Barnes contributed four points, four rebounds, and one assist in 16 minutes off the bench. If Ole Miss can pull off an upset against the Spartans, the Rebels will advance to their first Elite Eight in program history.

Barnes’ HBCU Roots: Texas Southern Success

Before landing at Ole Miss, Barnes made a name for himself at Texas Southern, one of the most competitive HBCU programs in college basketball. A Memphis, Tenn., native, he played two seasons (2021-2023) at TSU, helping the Tigers win back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament championships and securing consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

During his time at Texas Southern, Barnes started in 32 of 50 games, averaging 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 43.7% from the floor. His strong performance at the HBCU level made him a key player for the Tigers, proving he could compete nationally.

A Brief Stop at Sam Houston Before the SEC

After his time at Texas Southern, Barnes transferred to Sam Houston State for the 2023-24 season, where he elevated his game further. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, showing his scoring ability against strong competition. His impressive season caught the attention of Ole Miss, leading to his move to the SEC.

Now, as Barnes competes in the NCAA Tournament once again—this time with Ole Miss—he carries the experience and grit he developed as an HBCU basketball player.

Tip-off for Friday’s matchup between Michigan State and Ole Miss is set for 7:09 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

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That lone holdout? Toby Nnadozie, Coppin State’s standout defender and third-team all-conference pick. The league’s Defensive Player of the Year, Nnadozie transferred into Coppin from Maryland Eastern Shore and is now the only all-league player expected to return in 2025—if he stays.

The rest of the list reads like a farewell tour.

The first team was headlined by Howard’s Blake Harper, the conference’s Player of the Year and a former Rookie of the Year. He’s in the portal. Brian Moore Jr., who averaged over 19 points per game to lead Norfolk State, is also seeking new
opportunities. South Carolina State’s Drayton Jones rounds out the underclassmen leaving early from the first team.

The second team was hit just as hard. North Carolina Central’s leading scorer the past two seasons, Po’Boigh King, has declared for the portal. Delaware State’s Robert Smith, Morgan State’s Will Thomas, and Howard’s Marcus Dockery were all seniors, having played out their eligibility.

On the third team, Kaseem Watson of Delaware State and KC Shaw of Maryland Eastern Shore—who led his team in scoring, rebounding, and assists—have also hit the portal.

The only players not heading elsewhere are those who’ve exhausted their eligibility: guys like Martaz Robinson and Kameron Hobbs, both respected veterans who helped carry their programs through grueling conference schedules.

For the MEAC—and for HBCU basketball in general—this wave of departures is more than just the usual offseason shuffle. It’s a talent drain that underscores the growing gap between resource-limited HBCU programs and larger, well-funded schools offering more NIL support and national exposure.

With so much star power now exploring other options, the MEAC faces a challenging rebuild. The conference that once prided itself on continuity and development now finds itself in survival mode—trying to hold on to the few rising stars it still has.

And right now, that list begins and ends with Toby Nnadozie.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Alabama A&M University Director of Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant announced a change in the leadership of its HBCU men’s basketball program with the accepted resignation of head coach Otis Hughley Jr. A focused national search for the Bulldogs’ next head coach will begin immediately as well.
 
“We want to thank Otis Hughley Jr. for his tenure at Alabama A&M University,” Bryant said. “We wish him well in all his future endeavors.”

Otis Hughley’s time with AAMU

Otis Hughley Jr. served as the head men’s basketball coach at Alabama A&M University from April 2022 until his resignation in March 2025. Over his three-season tenure, he compiled an overall record of 37 wins and 63 losses (.370 winning percentage). His Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) conference record was 25–29.

2022–23 Season:

• Overall Record: 15–18?
• SWAC Record: 10–8?
• Finished fifth in the SWAC standings.?
• Defeated Southern University in the first round of the SWAC tournament.?
• Eliminated by Texas Southern in the tournament semifinals.

2023–24 Season:

• Overall Record: 12–23
• SWAC Record: 9–9?
• Secured seventh place in the SWAC.
• Advanced to the SWAC tournament semifinals after a quarterfinal victory over Alcorn State.?
• Accepted an invitation to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), reaching the semifinals before falling to Norfolk State. ?

2024–25 Season:

• Overall Record: 10–22?
• SWAC Record: 6–12?
• Concluded the season in the lower tier of the conference standings. ?

A veteran developer of talent at the high school, college, professional, international, and Olympic levels, Otis Hughley, Jr. was named the 10th head men’s HBCU basketball coach at Alabama A&M on April 18, 2022, bringing with him a wealth of coaching experience and expertise. A versatile coach, Hughley has had tremendous success on the international stage with both men and women, having served more than a decade with the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) China Program. In July 2024, Hughley was appointed head coach of the Senegal women’s national basketball team in addition to his role at Alabama A&M.

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Coppin State, the last of the four HBCU women’s basketball teams competing in the postseason tournament, lost to Cleveland State 72-70 in overtime. Angel Jones led the Eagles (19-15) in scoring, finishing with 27 points, followed by Cire Worley and a 10-rebound performance from Laila Lawrence.

While all of the HBCU programs—Alabama A&M, CSU, Howard, and Texas Southern—have been eliminated, three of the four schools won at least one game among the 48 teams competing in the event. Chattanooga defeated AAMU 53-49 in the first round of the WNIT tournament.

Coppin State

CSU defeated Colgate 58-48 on Saturday to advance to the second round. However, the Vikings ended the Eagles’ season on Tuesday with the victory. The Eagles finished the 2024-25 season at 19-15 overall. 

Howard

HU defeated Siena 72-62 behind a strong third-quarter performance from the Bison. Four Howard players notched double-figure point totals in the contest. Zeenia Thomas led the way for HU with 19 points, followed by Saniyah King with 16 points and five assists, while Kaiya Creek and Destiny Howell finished with 11 points, respectively.

However, Charleston defeated Howard 76-56 in the tournament’s second round. Thomas led all Bison scorers with a double-double performance, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Howell, HU’s second double-digit scorer, tallied 13 points in the contest. The Bison finished the 2024-25 campaign at 22-12 overall.

Texas Southern

TSU defeated Saint Mary’s 54-50 in the opening of the tournament. Tigers’ Aylasia Fantroy delivered a double-double performance, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds as well as four steals and three assists in the victory. Treasure Thompson finished one rebound shy of a double-double, totaling nine to go along with 10 points for TSU.

Louisiana Tech defeated TSU 71-64 on Monday in the second round of the tourney, despite committing 27 turnovers. Four TSU (17-16) players finished in double figures. Fantroy led the way with 16 points, followed by a double-double from Jaida Belton of 12 points and 11 rebounds, Daeja Holmes with 11 points, and Thompson rounding out the team’s double-digit scorers with 10 points.

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“It’s your very first tournament and I’m super excited for you,” Reese said in a March Madness video on social media. “…We literally grew up together, literally were best friends growing up from third grade to high school. We was learning how to play basketball together, to winning championships together, to playing at high school together, to you going to college and I’m super proud of your growth on and off the court.”

While the Bruins defeated the Jaguars 84-46 in the opening round game, Gourdine finished with 10 points, two assists and one rebound. Prior to Southern’s first-round appearance in the tournament, the 5-foot-9 senior guard helped the Jaguars defeat the University of California San Diego 68-56 in the First Four round. 

She also helped Southern defeat Alcorn State 64-44 to capture the program’s second Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament crown in three seasons and earned MVP honors in the event.

Gourdine’s path to HBCU

Gourdine played her first two seasons at Temple University before transferring to SU ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Like Gourdine, Angel Reese played her final two seasons of college basketball at LSU — roughly 16 miles away from the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based HBCU — and helped the Tigers win the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament national championship.

Southern finished the season 21-15 overall and 15-3 in conference play.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. |  When the Alabama State women’s basketball team opens the 2025-26 season in November, the HBCU will have a new head coach for the first time in 27 years.

“Coach Freda Freeman Jackson’s 27 years of unwavering dedication at Alabama State University has shaped the future of countless student-athletes,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Jason Cable. “Her remarkable achievements, including multiple SWAC championships, induction into the SWAC Hall Fame, and the Alabama State Hall of Fame, speak to her talent, passion, and leadership.  Her legacy will inspire generations to come. Thank you for your phenomenal impact; you are an Alabama State treasure!”

Freda Freeman-Jackson, who has led the program since 1998-99, announced through a press release on Tuesday, March 25, that she would step down as the Lady Hornets’ head coach. The announcement ended a run that is unparalleled in ASU athletics. “As I stand here, reflecting on this incredible journey at Alabama State University, my heart is full of gratitude,” she said. “This program, this university, and this community have been my home, family, and purpose for so many years.

“Hornet Nation, you are one of a kind. Your energy, passion, and unwavering support fueled us every step of the way. This program is what it is because of you.” Freeman-Jackson led the HBCU program to 373 wins, three Southwestern Conference regular season titles, four conference tournament titles, and three trips to the NCAA tournament. She also led one team to the WNIT. 

Record breaker

With Freeman-Jackson at the helm, Alabama State made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 2002-03 season when the Hornets won the regular season title with a 20-11 record and 15-3 in conference play. They won the conference tournament and would face eventual NCAA runner-up Tennessee in the first round.

She followed the next year with a record-breaking 108th victory, the most in women’s basketball history at the school. The Hornets returned to the NCAA Tourney in back-to-back years in 2014-15 and again in 2015-16.  In 2011, Freeman-Jackson posted her 200th career win and four years later her 250th career win. Freeman-Jackson coached 29 players who earned All-SWAC honors in her career, plus two SWAC Players of the Year in Britney Wright (2016-17) and Ayana Emmanuel (2022-23).

In 2019, Freeman-Jackson was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame, joining her husband, Lewis, as the only active members still coaching in the conference at the time. She was inducted into the Alabama State Athletics Hall of Fame four years later. 

After competing with the Hornets as an HBCU basketball player between 1982 and 1984, Freeman-Jackson began her coaching career at the high school level at Loachapoka. She would join Johnny Mitchell’s staff as an ASU graduate assistant and then as an assistant to her predecessor, Ron Mitchell. She took over in 1998-99 and immediately led the Lady Hornets to a SWAC Tournament championship.

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Kyrell Shaw originally committed to Winston-Salem State last winter, but flipped his commitment to Maryland Eastern Shore when his brother transferred there.

After scoring 20 points just once in his first two seasons, Ketron Shaw hit that mark in six of his first seven games at the Division I level, including a 30-point performance against Old Dominion. He scored 20 or more points in half of his 28 appearances in the season while shooting 45 percent from the field and was named third-team All-MEAC after the season. He led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Kyrell Shaw, a 6’4 guard, averaged 6.7 points per game during his freshman campaign. He scored in double figures seven times, including a 31-point performance against Galladuet. 

Also hitting the portal from the HBCU is Jalen Ware. Ware averaged 3.3 points and four rebounds per game for UMES (6-25).

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Harper’s decision to join Klutch Sports is another indication that his career is heading to the next level. The agency has gained a reputation for being player-focused, helping athletes secure lucrative contracts, endorsements, and business opportunities, which is exactly what Harper is aiming for. The announcement about his signing came out on X (formerly Twitter) on March 24, 2025, just hours after he entered the transfer portal. The quick turnaround raised questions about what this deal means for his future.

HBCU star freshman

Blake Harper became a star at Howard University during his freshman year. He won the MEAC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year awards, proving himself to be one of the best college basketball players. His impressive scoring and playmaking skills got the attention of scouts and media.

HBCU Gameday featured Harper in an article titled “College Basketball World Eyeing HBCU Star Freshman.” The piece highlighted how Harper became one of the most talked-about players in the nation. With so much interest, it became clear that he was likely to take his talents to the next level.

In an emotional moment after losing in the 2025 MEAC tournament, Harper said in the post-game Press conference that it wasn’t about money but more about finding the right fit.

With the NCAA allowing student-athletes to profit from their NIL, Klutch Sports provides services such as:

• Brand Deals & Endorsements – Negotiating sponsorships with major companies like Nike, Adidas, Gatorade, and more.
• Marketing & Public Relations – Helping athletes build their personal brands through social media, interviews, and public appearances.
• Financial Guidance – Advising on money management, investments, and long-term financial planning.
• Legal & Compliance Support – Ensuring NIL deals follow NCAA and state regulations.
• Career Development – Preparing athletes for potential pro careers and business ventures beyond sports.

Klutch’s strong network in professional sports and entertainment gives its NIL clients a competitive edge in maximizing their earning potential while still in college. Blake Harper’s relationship with Klutch will boost his profile as he decides about his next college hoops home.

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CHICAGO – Chicago State University (CSU) is proud to announce the hiring of Landon Bussie as the new head coach of the Cougars men’s basketball program. Bussie, an accomplished leader with a strong record of success. Brings an HBCU championship pedigree and a passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the court.

“In our search for a head coach, we prioritized leadership, excellence, and a relentless drive to compete at the highest level. Coach Bussie embodies these qualities and more.,” said Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Monique Carroll. “With his championship pedigree and ability to develop top-tier talent, we are confident that he will build a culture of success that our student-athletes, fans and the Chicago community can be proud of.”

HBCU champion

Bussie joins CSU following a standout tenure as the head coach at HBCU Alcorn State University, where he led the Braves to back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular-season championships in 2022 and 2023. He was named SWAC Coach of the Year in both seasons, solidifying his reputation as one of the top coaching minds in college basketball. Under his leadership, Alcorn State consistently developed high-level talent, producing multiple All-Conference players and earning national recognition within HBCU basketball circles.

Before his time at Alcorn State, Bussie spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Prairie View A&M University. Helping guide the Panthers to multiple SWAC championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance. His coaching career also includes successful stops at Xavier University of Louisiana. Where he played a key role in the program’s sustained success.

“I am excited, grateful, and motivated to begin my journey at Chicago State University,” said Bussie.  “It’s an honor to be part of this great institution and to work under Dr. Carroll. Cougar fans, get ready for a lot of winning—both on and off the court! I am fully committed to giving my all to Chicago State University and its student-athletes. Working tirelessly to build this program into championship form.

Bussie, a Baltimore, Maryland native, earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Xavier University of Louisiana. His experience in player development, recruiting, and program building will be instrumental as he takes the reins at Chicago State.

Chicago State University looks forward to ushering in a new era of Cougars men’s basketball under Bussie’s leadership.

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AUBURN, Ala.—Larry Vickers, who has spent the past decade at Norfolk State leading the HBCU women’s basketball program to unprecedented heights, including three consecutive conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Has been named Auburn’s head women’s basketball coach, Athletics Director John Cohen announced Sunday. An 18-year coaching veteran, Vickers also spent eight years as a men’s assistant and associate head coach for the Spartans.

Since he took over, the program has achieved its most successful run in its Division I era. Posting a 177-99 record, including an 83-18 mark over the last three seasons. Prior to Vickers’ arrival, NSU finished with a winning record overall just three times. During last four years, his teams have had a 49-7 conference record, winning four regular season MEAC titles, along with three conference tournament titles. Combined with his time on the men’s staff, Vickers has been a part of nine conference championships at Norfolk State.

One name continually rose to the top

“Throughout the search process, one name continually rose to the top – Larry Vickers,” Cohen said. “Coach Vickers has an incredible technical understanding of women’s basketball. He demands excellence from his student-athletes, while fostering an environment for young women to succeed. His understanding of the new landscape of college athletics is impressive. No one has worked harder for an opportunity like this than Coach Vickers. I am excited to welcome LV, Charisse, and their family to the Plains.”

This season, Vickers led the HBCU to a program-record 30 wins, a perfect conference record and the MEAC regular season and tournament titles. The Spartans, who were undefeated in conference play, won 19 consecutive games entering the NCAA Tournament with the winning streak starting in late December with a victory at Auburn. Vickers also led the Spartans to a win at Missouri in November.

Words from coach

“I want to thank President Roberts, John Cohen and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead the Auburn women’s basketball program,” Vickers said. “Auburn is a great institution with one of the best athletics programs in the country. I am excited to get to work and help bring championship level success to our women’s basketball program. War Eagle!”

Vickers led Norfolk State to a then-Division I program-best 27-6 record and its second consecutive MEAC Tournament Championship in the 2023-24 season. NSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in school history and went 13-1 in MEAC play, winning the conference regular season title as well.

Vickers earned his second MEAC Coach of the Year recognition while coaching the MEAC Player of the Year and HBCU Player of the Year Kierra Wheeler and MEAC Newcomer of the Year Diamond Johnson. Additionally, Vickers coached one All-MEAC Second Team selection and two MEAC All-Rookie selections.

Read the full press release on Larry Vicker’s move from HBCU to the SEC HERE.

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WASHINGTON  – Junior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) scored 13 of her game-high 19 points to lead four Bison in double figures as the Howard University women’s basketball team defeated Siena College, 72-62, in the first round of the Postseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) in Burr Gymnasium on the HBCU campus of Howard University.
 
The game was historic for the Bison, who registered their first WNIT win in school history. It was evident from the opening tip that both teams were a bit anxious as they traded missing layups and turned the ball over. Siena set the tone by extending a 20-17 lead at the end of one quarter into a 36-30 lead at intermission.
 
Siena (17-14) took the lead courtesy of the play of their all-conference selection, Teressa Seppala. Seppala led the way with 11 points, eight rebounds, and some dominance on the offensive glass (13 offensive rebounds) for second-shot opportunities. The Bison had trouble finding the range, missing 25-of-39 shots, including 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.
 
Howard made some adjustments on the defensive end, turning them over while resulting in an 11-0 run near the end of the third quarter. Thomas, who was named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team, fueled the drive with her quick post moves and soft mid-range jumpers.
 
Graduate forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) came off the bench to score 11 points for her HBCU, six of them during a run when she hit back-to-back trey balls to help Howard close out the quarter with a 54-47 lead, heading into the fourth quarter. Siena was able to cut the lead to two points on three different occasions, but each time, Thomas and HBCU All-American guards Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) and Saniyah King (Washington) had an answer.

 
Down the stretch, the Howard defense made key plays, including Thomas’ two steals and two blocks by junior forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.). Thomas added seven rebounds to her stat sheet. King rebounded from a subpar tournament performance to score 16 points, five assists, and no turnovers. Howell contributed 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a solid all-around effort.
 
It must be noted that the Bison bench outscored their opponent 19-8, with Creek, senior guard Nyla Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.), and sophomore guard Janyah Bohanon (Cleveland) combining for all of their bench points. Siena was led by Seppala with a double-double (17 points & 13 rebounds), Ahniiysha Jackon (17 points), and Anajah Brown with a double-double & 12 points & 13 rebounds).
 
Howard moves on to the next round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament at the College of Charleston on Monday (March 24). Tipoff at 7 p.m.

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Though the greeting that Norfolk State got from its fans after the game didn’t suggest as much, the scoreboard of the 95-69 loss to the University of Florida was what you expect when a 16-seed takes on a number one. Florida was bigger and stronger than Norfolk State and the final result was pretty much sealed by the time the SEC squad went up 32 points with under five minutes left in the first half.

It was the classic David vs. Goliath matchup — and there was no magic slingshot for Norfolk State. But NSU head coach Robert Jones was adamant that his team shouldn’t have been seeded as low. 

“I stand by what I said, the initial conference,” Jones said. “I don’t think that we should even played Florida, to be honest with you.”

Jones acknowledged the healthy margin of victory — slightly below but not far the 28.5 underdog status his team held prior to the game. 

“I mean, most 16s have lost about 26. So that could have been anybody in the country that lost by 26. But we shouldn’t have been on that line. If you look at it like — I said once again, and maybe it’ll stick home this time —  is that out of all the 15/16 teams, we were the only one with a top 100 win.”

That win came against High Point, who won the Big South Conference and got a no. 13 seed. It also beat SWAC champion Alabama State, which won its First Four game. And it beat James Madison, the regular season winner of the Sun Belt Conference.

The elephant in the room, however, is not so much Norfolk State as it is its conference — the MEAC.

The HBCU league was once feared in March when it came to 15-seeds knocking off no. 2 seeds. Three times over 15 years, MEAC programs knocked off highly ranked NCAA Tournament teams — Coppin State beating South Carolina in 1997, Hampton beating Iowa State in 2001 and Norfolk State beating Missouri in 2012.

Jones was an assistant coach on that NSU squad which was one of the premiere upsets in college basketball history before Virginia messed around and lost as a no. 1 seed a few years back.

Since then, however, the MEAC has struggled to get out of the bottom of the barrel. Only one HBCU team from the MEAC has avoided the 16-seed. North Carolina Central got a no. 14 seed in 2014 with a 28-5 overall record, but it couldn’t pull off the MEAC magic against Iowa State.

Over the past decade, the MEAC champions have been stuck in 16-seed purgatory one way or another. Six times the MEAC winner has gone to the First Four, where they have faced teams with similar resumes. It has two wins over that span, with former member Hampton (2015) and Norfolk State (2021) getting wins before repeating and landing at a traditional no. 1 seed the following year. Both games resulted in predictable losses, as did Howard’s 2023 matchup against Kansas.

There are several reasons for this decline, but one key indicator is the conference’s NET ranking. Two MEAC HBCU programs — Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore — ranked in the bottom six of the entire NCAA Division I. Add in the loss of programs (the league has gone from 13 members a decade ago to just eight now) and those numbers are an albatross around the neck of the entire conference. Delaware State, North Carolina Central and Morgan State were all below the 300 mark in the 364-team Division I ranks. 

The only other conference with multiple teams in the bottom ten is its Southern HBCU counterpart — the SWAC. Seven of the SWAC’s 12 teams fall below the 300 mark. Alabama State’s NET was 274. 

Norfolk State finished with a NET ranking of 183. That number is 101 slots lower than High Point, which came in at 82. James Madison finished with a NET of 158 and failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Conference losses to NCCU (319) and Morgan State (332) likely kept Norfolk State from ending the MEAC’s decade-long streak of 16-seed appearances. 

(Go to Page Two to see what an HBCU can do to avoid a no. 16 seed)

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When Johnson — the youngest of six siblings — chose to bring her talents to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference powerhouse Norfolk State University after two Power Four tenures at Rutgers as a freshman and two seasons at NC State. The people closest to her failed to visualize her plan.

“[People] didn’t think leaving a bigger school for a smaller one was the best idea,” the Spartans’ fifth-year guard told HBCU Gameday. “My mom [Dana Brooks] questioned if I should have left, too. … At the end of the day, this is my journey.  They’re not going to experience the stuff I’ve experienced.”

“I found my voice here.”

After Diamond Johnson helped Norfolk State secure a 68-56 win against Howard for the program’s third straight MEAC tournament championship on March 15, the program became one of nine Division-I teams to collect 30 wins this season. On Sunday, the NCAA selection committee awarded the Spartans the No. 13 seed in this year’s tourney field. As the No. 13 seed Norfolk State (30-4, 14-0 MEAC) prepares to face No. 4 seed Maryland (23-7, 13-5 Big Ten) in the first round of the Birmingham 2 region of women’s NCAA tournament on Saturday, Johnson sits at peace with her decision. Her aim is to extend the Spartans’ trail of magic in March.

NSU’s postseason spot marked the highest received by a men’s or women’s HBCU basketball program in the last 10 years and the second-highest seed obtained by an HBCU since the women’s tournament expanded in 1994. The 5-foot-5 playmaker is ready to display her prowess on the hardwood, and it remains unmatched despite no longer playing in a Power Four league.

“It’s been the greatest two years of my college basketball career [at NSU],” Johnson said. “I’m glad I chose to do something different because I wasn’t happy at my previous [two] schools. …I found my voice here. … I’m the underdog, and I love being the underdog.”

However, Johnson’s unconventional trek didn’t start when she decided to leave New Jersey, North Carolina, nor when she departed the Tar Heel State to take her talents to familiar scenery in Norfolk, Virginia, ahead of last season. The genesis of her sacrifice and unique path started as a teenager.

“One of the best players I’ve ever coached.”

Diamond Johnson, a Philadelphia native, electrified crowds when she played in the Boo Williams AAU Summer League for three years. “Boo” Williams, who has been coaching for four and half decades and also coached Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, said there was never a question if Johnson would be a special player. His only critique of Johnson was that she gained more height.

“She’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Williams told HBCU Gameday. “She can score on all three levels. … She has that toughness and the game of an old-school basketball player from playing with boys in the playgrounds. Kids don’t do that as much anymore.”

After playing under Williams’ tutelage, Johnson started her high school career at Phoebus in Hampton, Virginia, a roughly 40-minute car ride from Norfolk. She averaged an impressive 31 points per game in two seasons at the public school. Amid her sophomore campaign, Johnson transferred to Neumann-Goretti — a private Catholic high school in south Philadelphia — to be closer to her father, James, who later died from complications from a stroke and other ailments.

By then, a five-star recruit, Diamond Johnson made an even bigger name for herself at Neumann-Goretti. She led the program to consecutive Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A championships and earned back-to-back Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Johnson solidified herself as one of the best players in the country alongside the likes of UConn’s Paige Bueckers, WNBA Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese. Her pedigree was unmatched.

“Going to Philadelphia helped with that,” Williams said. “She prided herself on studying the game, and her work ethic was relentless.”

“This was the perfect spot for me”

She started her college career playing for one of women’s college basketball’s most illustrious coaches, C. Vivian Stringer, at Rutgers. However, Johnson wasn’t satisfied despite earning all-freshman Big Ten honors and second-team All-Big Ten recognition. Diamond Johnson took her talents to NC State. 

There, she became the 2022 ACC Sixth Woman of the Year as a sophomore before earning second-team All-ACC honors her junior season, one where she averaged 12.3 points while shooting 41.6% from the floor, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 22 games due to an ankle injury.

Still, following her junior season, Johnson entered the transfer portal again. This time, NSU and how Spartans head coach Larry Vickers orchestrated the program piqued her interest. Norfolk State was a team coming off its first MEAC tournament championship and first NCAA tourney appearance since 2002. The Spartans possessed the championship mindset and was losing some fifth-year players following that season.

After lots of prayer, Johnson accepted the challenge to return close to home and play for NSU. She was already familiar with the Spartans’ facility from working out there when COVID-19 shut down the sports landscape. Since joining the program, Johnson has never looked back.

“The offense [the Spartans] ran to [Coach Vickers] and the coaching staff trusting me and pushing me because they know I have WNBA aspirations. This was the perfect spot for me,” Johnson said.

As much as Johnson wanted to play for NSU, Vickers was thrilled to have her at the HBCU program.

“She’s been gifted all her life. I’ve just tried to help her fine-tune things as a player and prepare her for the WNBA.”

“We don’t get Diamond [Johnson] if we were not a good basketball team,” Vickers told HBCU Gameday. “She spent hours researching us [Spartans] and watching the film more than any player I’ve ever recruited. … She’s been gifted all her life. I’ve just tried to help her fine-tune things as a player and prepare her for the WNBA.”

Johnson is the only active D-I women’s basketball player with at least 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 390 assists, and 300 steals. However, to Johnson, her stats are second to the success of one of the most dominant HBCU women’s basketball programs. She averages 19.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.7 steals while shooting 47.2% from the floor per contest this season.

“The only reason she doesn’t score over 20 points is her unselfishness,” Vickers said. “…That speaks to the locker room we have here. … She’s the highest-rated player we’ve ever had in the program. She earned the respect of her teammates and constantly leads by example.”

When she joined NSU before the 2023-24 season, she started a note in her old iPhone 13, typing a list of goals she wanted to accomplish while donning a green, gold, and gray uniform. Her aspirations included winning multiple MEAC regular season and tournament championships, defeating a Power Four program and shocking the world with a women’s NCAA tournament win.

This season, NSU upset two Power Four programs — Auburn and Missouri — never lost consecutive games and joined South Carolina, UCLA, UConn, Texas, TCU, Florida Gulf Coast, Grand Canyon, and Montana State as the only teams to have 30 wins before the start of the tournament. The only thing left to clear in her phone is a tournament victory that the Spartans could bring to fruition on the court inside the Xfinity Center. 

“I’ve been saying all season…we can beat anyone.”

But to accomplish the mighty feat, it will take a close-to-perfect game from the MEAC tourney MVP. NSU will also need substantial contributions from 6-foot-1 senior forward Kierra Wheeler (15.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.9 spg, 2.3 bpg), 5-foot-7 sophomore guard Da’Brya Clark (9.2 ppg), 5-foot-8 sophomore guard Anjanae Richardson (9.1 ppg), along with 5-foot-8 fifth-year guard Niya Fields and 6-foot senior forward Makoye Diawara.

Last year, NSU lost 79-50 to Stanford as a No. 14 seed in the tournament’s first round. After acquiring Power Four wins this season and losing some close non-conference affairs to Alabama and Green Bay — two teams in the Birmingham 2 region — Diamond Johnson feels that the Spartans have everything they need to secure a victory. 

“I’ve been saying all season, if we can put all the quarters together and keep up with a team for 40 minutes, we can beat anyone,” Johnson said. “Kierra [Wheeler] brings dominance in the post. Niya [Fields] is the glue to the team, and with all of my other teammates …we can do this.”

When Johnson discovered that she was facing a familiar Big Ten foe with her teammates at Roger Brown’s Restaurant & Sports Bar on Selection Sunday, it proved that God does not make mistakes. As Johnson bet on herself, she used her faith and God’s grace to steer her in the right direction.

“This team [Maryland], this is perfect,” Johnson said. “It is the perfect bracket. I remember feeling like they [the selection committee] might send us out west again. …Everything is flowing and coming to life. I wanted to highlight HBCUs to show that big things can happen beyond Power Four schools. Everything is working in God’s favor.”

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“I think we played exceptionally well for the first 15 minutes and kind of exhaled and — Norfolk’s good,” Florida head coach Tom Golden said after the game. “They’re quick. They’re really hard to keep in front. And I thought we our defensive intensity for the first 15 minutes of the game was elite. We did a great job of staying in front, guarding physicality.”

But the HBCU squad wouldn’t go away, managing to keep Florida on its toes for the rest of the game.

And then when we took a little bit of a breath, we actually had some bad turnovers that led to transition run outs and gave them a little juice, little confidence,” Golden said. “Coach Jones does a great job continuing to motivate and keeping them engaged in the game. And they got a little life, an 11-0 run. And you know, I thought, they did a good job taking advantage of that.”

Jones acknowledged that the slow start hampered his team, which never managed to get the lead below 18 points. 

“We didn’t take the punch well, but, I think that we showed after that punch that the team that we were — that we really are — that we really should have been the whole game,” Jones said.

Walter Clayton Jr. led the Florida Gators with 23 points, hitting four of his nine 3-point attempts. Alijah Martin added 17 points for Florida.

Grad student Christian Ings led Norfolk State with 16 points, hitting six of his 13 attempts in his final game.

“We knew that we didn’t start the game the way we wanted to,”Ings said. “But we knew we damn sure we’re gonna finish the way we wanted.”

Norfolk State finishes its season 24-11 overall. 

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Houston, TX—In a historic WNIT victory, the Texas Southern Lady Tigers defeated the Gaels of Saint Mary’s by a final score of 54-50 for the first WNIT win for the HBCU and its first postseason victory since 1981.

The Lady Tigers set the tone early with their intense defense, completely shutting down the Gaels’ offense initially. Despite this strong start, Texas Southern trailed 18-21 at halftime. However, they quickly regained momentum at the beginning of the second half. A layup and a successful free throw immediately tied the score, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.

Key Players

Nya Harmon emerged as a key player in the third quarter, showcasing her skills by dominating the boards and scoring crucial points. Her efforts and the Lady Tigers’ immaculate defense forced multiple turnovers from the Gaels, leading to significant scoring opportunities. A highlight of the quarter was a three-pointer from Aylasia Fantroy, followed by two made free throws from Anela Thomas, which stretched the margin to 33-23 in under a minute. By the end of the third quarter, TSU had established a solid 40-30 lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers were determined to seal the victory. They maintained their defensive intensity and continued to score effectively. With just 3 minutes left in the game, they led 51-44. However, the Gaels mounted a fierce comeback, cutting the deficit to just 3 points with 13 seconds remaining. Despite this late surge, the Lady Tigers held their ground and secured the win.

Leading the charge for Texas Southern, Aylasia Fantroy finished with an impressive 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals. Treasure Thompson made significant contributions with 10 points and 9 rebounds, while Daeja Holmes added 9 points. Jaida Belton and Nya Harmon both added 7 points each. Harmon was named impact player of the game by her teammates for her spark in the third quarter. Their combined efforts were instrumental in the historic first WNIT victory for the HBCU.

Coach Skeete commented, “We got to get this money. We are there; we have to perform. There is no running now. That’s what life is about, that’s what I hope to teach in every element…we got to get this money.”

Next, the Lady Tigers will face Louisiana Tech on Monday, March 24th, in Ruston, Louisiana.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. | Amarr Knox and TJ. Madlock scored in double figures, but Alabama State University fell short to top-seeded Auburn University at the NCAA Lexington Region at Rupp Arena. Knox scored 18 points with two steals, while Madlock scored 11 points with five rebounds to lead the HBCU in the NCAA Tournament.

THE FACTS
Score:  #1 Auburn 83 | Alabama State 62
Records: Hornets (29-6) | Tigers (20-16) 
City | Venue: Lexington, Kentucky | Rupp Arena 
NCAA Tournament First-Round

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Micah Octave canned a 3-pointer to stake the HBCU a 3-0 lead in the opening minute.
• A TJ Madlock jump shot tied the game 5-5 at the 17:25 mark.
• Mile Kelly made back-to-back 3-pointers to aid an AU 7-0 run and a 12-5 lead.
• Auburn took a 28-15 lead on a Chaney Johnson basket in the lane with 7:38 left in the first half.
• Alabama State went on an 11-1 run to cut the 29-27 with 3:59 left in the opening half.
• CJ Hines had two 3-pointers, along with baskets from Madlock, Amarr Knox, and Ubong, during the run to cut AU’s lead to 28-24 with 5:24 to go in the first half.
• Knox made a pair of layups to cut the deficit to 32-31 with under two minutes to go in the first half.
• Auburn used a 9-0 run to build the lead to 41-31 at halftime.
• The Tigers started the second half on a 6-0 run to build a 47-33 lead.
• AU’s lead grew to 58-38 after a Kelly jump shot at 13:02.
• The Tigers lead did not below 18 points the rest of the way.

TURNING POINT

• Alabama State cut the Auburn lead to 34-31 at 1:27 before Auburn closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 41-31 halftime lead.

GAME NOTES

• The Hornets made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2011
• It was the fifth appearance by the HBCU in the NCAA Tournament.
• Alabama State was 11-of-19 from the free throw line in the game.
• The Hornets shot 41 percent in the first half and equaled Auburn in the paint, 14-14.
• Knox led ASU with 18 points with two 3-pointers in the contest.
• The Hornets had 28 points in the paint to Auburn’s 30.
• ASU got 14 points from the bench.
• Auburn held a 46-36 edge on the board, including 14 offensive boards.

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Alabama State played Auburn close early in the first half before going down by as many as 13 points with eight minutes to play in the half. The Hornets would go on a run and found themselves down only three, 34-31, with just over a minute remaining until halftime. The upset alert was ringing loudly until Auburn closed out the half on a 7-0 run to give them a 10-point, 41-31 lead heading into halftime.

Alabama State came in as 32 points underdogs to Auburn, indicating that bookmakers expected a dominant performance from the Tigers. ?Can the HBCU hoops champion keep up the stellar play and pull off the historic upset?

Betting Odds Overview

• Point Spread: Auburn -32.5?
• Over/Under (Total Points): 149.5
• Moneyline: Auburn -8000; Alabama State +7000

These odds reflect Auburn’s strong season performance, boasting a 28-5 record and its status as a top seed. Conversely, Alabama State enters the tournament with a 20-15 record, having secured its spot by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship.

Historical Context: 16 vs. 1 Seed Upsets

Historically, No. 1 seeds have dominated their first-round matchups against No. 16 seeds, holding a 154-2 record since the tournament expanded in 1985. However, there have been two monumental upsets.

• 2018: The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) stunned the Virginia Cavaliers with a 74-54 victory, marking the first-ever instance of a 16 seed defeating a 1 seed. ?
• 2023: Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) shocked Purdue with a 63-58 win, becoming the second 16 seed to achieve this feat. ?

These rare upsets serve as motivation for teams like Alabama State, illustrating that while improbable, defeating a top seed is possible.?

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The report concerning Thornton comes nearly a week after the Bulldog’s HBCU hoops season ended in the 2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament in Atlanta. While a report has surfaced for Thornton as a potential candidate for the Razorbacks’ job, no official confirmation has surfaced that the Bulldogs’ coach is taking her talents back to The Natural State. 

Former Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors resigned from his coaching duties on March 11 after eight seasons leading the Razorbacks’ program.

20 wins in year one

Dawn Thornton recently finished her first season at AAMU, guiding the Bulldogs to a 21-10 record overall and a 14-4 mark in SWAC play. Before her first year at AAMU, she spent five seasons as the women’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, three seasons at Prairie View and one season at Division II Shorter University. During non-conference action in the 2023-24 season, Thornton led UAPB to a 74-70 victory against Arkansas.

AAMU finished third in the SWAC regular season standings in the 2024-25 campaign and earned the No. 3 seed in this year’s SWAC tournament. However, Alcorn State defeated AAMU 56-53 in the quarterfinals of the league’s postseason event. Despite the Bulldogs’ loss to the Braves, Thornton told reporters that she was excited about her team’s success this season — one that saw the program notch its first 20-plus win season at the Division I level — and was optimistic about the future of the program.

“We’re gonna get in the portal,” said Thornton after AAMU’s loss in the SWAC tourney quarterfinals. “That’s what my staff does. … We’ll go back and we’ll rebuild this team [Alabama A&M] next year. The thing that we will do differently, we’re gonna be able to get some kids that have more than one year. So we will do that as well.”

While the Bulldogs did not secure the automatic bid to the women’s NCAA tournament, the 20-win HBCU squad earned an at-large bid in the field of 48 teams competing in this year’s Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the program’s first appearance in the postseason event.

AAMU will travel to face SoCon foe Chattanooga (16-14) on March 22 at 2 p.m. ET at McKenzie Arena. The Bulldogs-Mocs contest winner will face Troy in the tournament’s second round.

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With two of the league’s best baseball teams, comparable basketball teams, and strong fanbases, the Hornets-Rattlers rivalry is steadily growing.

On Tuesday, however, the rivalry was tabled as HBCU love took center stage. The Hornets, winners of the 2025 SWAC Basketball Tournament, were in Dayton, Ohio, to play St. Francis in the “First Four” round of the NCAA Basketball “March Madness” tournament. When the Hornets arrived, they were greeted by FAMU alum Rachel Blanks, who was sporting black and gold gift bags for the team. 

Rivalry aside

“Orange and green run through my veins every day—FAMUly forever! But tonight, I’m all about that black and gold!,” Blanks said.  A member of the Greater Dayton Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association. Blanks has been a key component of the re-certification of the chapter that originally started in the 1960s, but was recently re-started.

The Alabama State Vice President of Institutional Advancement ties into the gesture.  Col. Gregory L. Clark is a graduate of FAMU and was President of the FAMU National Alumni Association.  The Dayton Chapter was formed under his leadership of the association.

“It’s one thing about unity among HBCUs, but it’s also about SWAC love,” Clark said.  For me to see my alma mater and a chapter that started under my leadership and do a great gesture to welcome the university I currently work at, it says a lot about character of the university, its grads, and the alumni association.  Coach Matlock really appreciated the gesture.  This chapter has been doing this year-after-year.  This is an annual thing with the group.  They stepped up and got it done.”

The Hornets would go on to defeat St. Francis 70-68 on a shot as time expired to advance to the field of 64.

The gesture has gone viral on HBCU social media.  The comments dig to the core of HBCU rivalries in that there is a point at which they don’t matter.

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“I’ve been a little angry,” Jones admitted. “And I’m angry about the way the point spread is and things like that. I know Florida’s really, really good, and they’re a great program with great players. But are we that bad that the point spread is like that?”  

Jones and his Spartans have thrived in these moments before. He was an assistant in 2012 when Norfolk State stunned the college basketball world by knocking off No. 2 Missouri. Seven years later, in 2019, they took down Alabama in the NIT. Now, facing one of the most dominant teams in the country, Jones knows the blueprint for an upset.  

“Any upset I ever had—2012 Missouri, 2019 Alabama—those were all close games in the first half,” he said. “And it gave us the confidence to kind of push it through the second half. That’s what we’re hoping for tomorrow as well.”  

The Spartans are more than just another HBCU team happy to be in the NCAA Tournament. Jones has built a program that has won 20-plus games in four consecutive seasons and that expects to win, no matter the opponent.  

“We’re starting to show that it’s not just about the MEAC or HBCUs — that we’re really one of the best mid-majors in the country,” Jones said.

Norfolk State has tested itself against top competition all season.  

“We played Tennessee pretty close. We played —  and we beat — High Point. We played Alabama State and a couple of those schools,” Jones noted. “This shouldn’t be a shell shock to us. We have to withstand that first blow. Because I know Florida’s playing for a national championship. But I told my team —  we’re one of the 68 teams here—we’re playing for a national championship too.”  

That mentality resonates throughout the Norfolk State locker room, especially with veterans like Christian Ings, a rare four-year Division I player in today’s transfer-heavy era.  

“Christian Ings is like a dinosaur—the last remaining four-year guy in Division I,” Jones said. “There are kids averaging four points a game transferring, but he’s stuck with us, and he’s been good to Norfolk State. I know he’d love to cap off his career with a win.”  

While many see this matchup as a David vs. Goliath story, Jones refuses to accept that narrative.  

“A lot of times in the MEAC, we’re always the hunted,” Jones said. “But out of conference, we’re the hunters. And that’s when we try to prove ourselves, to show that it’s more than just the MEAC, more than just being an HBCU.”  

As the Spartans prepare for tipoff, Jones has one message for his team.  

“No one in the locker room is scared. No one in that locker room is afraid,” he said. “We’re excited about the challenge of playing the University of Florida.” 

Norfolk State is set to tip off against Florida in the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 6:50 PM. The HBCU will look to once again show that it can be a giant killer against the odds. 

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Each NCAA conference earns a distribution from the “Equal Conference Fund” for participating in the tournament and sending their conference champion, considered the conference’s “automatic qualifier.” The pool is between $50 million and $60 million.

The NCAA Tournament Men’s Basketball Performance Fund pays conferences a “unit,” about $2 million, for each additional team they send to the Big Dance. Teams continue to earn units for each time they survive and advance, all the way up to the national championship game.

The two HBCU Division I league’s — the MEAC and SWAC — are one-bid leagues. Only the league’s champion goes historically. That means one chance a year to get those funds, which are vital in an age of rapid change in the college basketball structure. The SWAC has earned these bids in four of the past five seasons, and a total of five times since the First Four became a thing. The MEAC has three of them, including the first two with former members North Carolina A&T and Hampton.

HBCU NCAA Tournament First Four wins 

2025 — Alabama State beats Saint Francis 
2024 — Grambling State beats Montana State
2022 — Texas Southern beats Texas A&M — Corpus Christi
2021 — Norfolk State beats Appalachian State/ Texas Southern defeats Mount Saint Mary’s 
2018 — Texas Southern beats North Carolina Central 
2015 — Hampton beats Manhattan 
2013 — North Carolina A&T beats Liberty

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This move solidifies the BCIC as a unique postseason showcase for teams that frequently dominate their conferences but may not get at-large bids to the NCAA Division II Tournament. While the CIAA and SIAC champions receive automatic bids, other top-tier teams are often left out of the postseason picture.

The tournament will be played in Charlotte at the Bojangles Coliseum. It will start off with Clark Atlanta (23-7) against Virginia Union (21-7) in the women’s bracket at 12 PM. The 2 PM game will featured Claflin (18-10) vs. Central State (17-14) in men’s competition. Thursday night action tips off with the Johnson C. Smith women (7-18) vs. rival Livingstone College (11-16). The nightcap will see JCSU (14-12) take on Virginia Union (15-15) on the men’s side.

With this new focus, the BCIC aims to elevate the profile of Division II HBCU basketball, giving student-athletes and fans a true postseason experience. As the tournament tips off in Charlotte, North Carolina, it will serve as a reminder that HBCU basketball excellence extends beyond Division I.

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Here are the top six things you need to know about HBCU teams during March Madness 2025.

1. Norfolk State men’s basketball is back in the NCAA tournament

• Finished the season 24-10 (11-3 MEAC), winning the MEAC Tournament for the third time in five years.
• Return to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years and will face No. 1 Florida in the first round.
• Have built a reputation as a consistent mid-major power, with a historic 2012 upset over Missouri as one of the biggest tournament shockers ever.
• Key to the game: Limit turnovers, defend the three-point line, and win the rebounding battle.
• Game is on March 21 on CBS.

2. Norfolk State women’s basketball earns its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance

• Finished the season 30-4 (14-0 MEAC), going undefeated in conference play.
• Picked up two major non-conference wins over Missouri and Auburn from the SEC, showing they can compete against Power Five programs.
• Enter the tournament as a No. 13 seed and will face No. 4 Maryland in the first round.
• Key to the game: Force turnovers, control the tempo, and slow down Maryland’s transition offense.
• Game is on March 22 on ESPN2.

3. Southern women’s basketball heads to the First Four

• Won the SWAC Tournament and earned a spot in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
• Will play UC San Diego, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 UCLA in the first round.
• Have relied on defense and rebounding to win key games this season.
• Key to the game: Limit UCSD’s perimeter shooting, control the boards, and capitalize on second-chance opportunities.
• First Four game takes place on March 20 on TruTV.

4. Alabama State men’s basketball returns to March Madness after 20 years

• Won the SWAC Tournament, earning their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2005.
• Finished the season 21-12 (12-4 SWAC), using a strong defensive presence and physical inside play to win key games.
• Will face Saint Francis (PA) in the First Four, with the winner moving on to face No. 1 Auburn.
• Key to the game: Control the paint, limit fouls, and execute in the half-court offense.
• First Four game takes place on March 19 on TruTV.

5. Four HBCUs are competing in the WNIT

• Alabama A&M, Texas Southern, Howard, and Coppin State all earned WNIT bids.
• Matchups:
  • Alabama A&M vs. Central Arkansas – March 20
  • Texas Southern vs. Saint Mary’s – March 20
  • Howard vs. Siena – March 21 (Howard is hosting)
  • Coppin State vs. Colgate – March 22
• Key to success: Disciplined defense, ball control, and limit turnovers

6. North Carolina A&T earns a spot in the WBIT

• Won the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular-season title, finishing 22-9 (14-4 CAA).
• Earned a bid to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) and will face No. 1 seed Virginia Tech.
• Led by senior guard Jordyn Dorsey, who is close to becoming the first player in program history with 400 career assists.
• Key to the game: Limit turnovers, defend against three-point shooting, and control the tempo.
• Game is on March 20 on ESPN+.

HBCU teams are making their presence felt in March Madness 2025, with multiple programs competing across the NCAA Tournament, WNIT, and WBIT. Norfolk State, Alabama State, Southern, Howard, and Texas Southern have all earned postseason opportunities, highlighting the continued growth of HBCU basketball. As these teams take the national stage, they have the chance to showcase their talent and competitiveness. Follow HBCU Gameday for the latest updates.

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GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team is headed to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT). The Aggies, 2024-25 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular-season champions, will play at No. 1 seed Virginia Tech of the ACC on Thursday, March 20 at Cassell Coliseum. A time has not been determined. The game will air live on ESPN+. Thursday’s winner will play on March 23 against the Wyoming/Texas Tech winner. The Aggies were the only HBCU team selected for this year’s tournament field

Aggies vs Hokies

As the No. 1 seed in their bracket, the Hokies enter the WBIT as one of the last four teams left of the Field of 68 in the NCAA tournament. The Hokies, 18-12 this season, join Colorado, James Madison, and St. Joseph’s as No. 1 seeds. Virginia Tech will be the Aggies’ third ACC opponent this season after losing to SMU and the University of North Carolina (UNC).

The Aggies will enter the tournament 19-11. They went 15-3 in CAA play to win the regular season in only their third year in the league as one of two HBCU programs in the conference.  CAA tournament champion William & Mary eliminated the Aggies from the 2025 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament on Friday in the quarterfinals, 74-66, at CareFirst Arena in Washington, DC.

North Carolina A&T opened the season with a tough schedule, including NCAA tournament teams UNC, Liberty, Florida Gulf Coast, and Norfolk State. Over their first nine games, the Aggies went 2-7, but over their final 20 regular season games, they went 17-3. They won those 17 games by an average of 14.7 points. Included in those games were two wins over William & Mary, the CAA representative in the NCAA tournament.  

Senior guard Jordyn Dorsey leads the Aggies. She is a two-time first-team All-CAA performer and the Aggies’ all-time assist leader with 398. She needs two assists on Thursday to become the first Aggie in program history with 400 or more assists. Dorsey also made the CAA all-defensive team. She averages 2.17 per game.

A&T also features third-team all-conference performers in graduate guard Maleia Bracone and junior center Chaniya Clark.

Aggies no slouch

Tarrell Robinson, who is in his 13th season as A&T’s women’s basketball coach, won the 2024-25 CAA Coach of the Year award. This marks the first time in his career he has won conference coach of the year despite possessing five regular-season titles and three conference tournament titles during his time as an HBCU women’s basketball head coach.

The Aggies will make their eighth postseason appearance under Robinson, who has three NCAA appearances, four WNITs, and a recent WBIT bid. He is one win shy of his seventh 20-win season.

Virginia Tech went 9-9 in the ACC in 2024-25. The Hokies earned an impressive win over Georgia Tech, who was ranked at the time. They also beat NCAA-tournament-bound Louisville. They were 3-0 against CAA schools, including Elon, Campbell, and UNC Wilmington.

Four Hokies are averaging double-figures in scoring, led by Carleigh Wenzel at 14.5 points per game. Matilda Ekh is the main threat from 3-point range. She makes 40.1 percent (61-152) of her threes. The ACC squad shoots 38.6 percent from 3-point range, which ranks fourth nationally.

The HBCU program is also the 13th-best shooting team in the nation, making 46.8 percent of their shots. On the other hand, the Aggies rank 14th nationally in scoring defense, 38th in field goal percentage defense, and 20th in 3-point field goal percentage defense.

The Hokies lead the all-time series, 2-0. The last time the two teams played, the Hokies defeated A&T 58-39 on December 28, 2012, at Cassell Coliseum. Watch North Carolina A&T take on Virginia Tech at the WBIT on Thursday, March 20 at 6 pm on ESPN+.

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McClain shared a heartfelt statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, thanking the Tigers coaching staff, his teammates and the university.

“…I want to express my sincere gratitude to the coaching staff, the athletic trainers, academic support and my teammates at Texas Southern University for their unwavering support throughout my time here,” the statement read. “The experiences and relationships I’ve built during my time at TSU will always hold a special place in my heart. …Thank you, Texas Southern University, for everything. Excited for what’s ahead.”

https://twitter.com/901_king_k/status/1901719393450467762?s=46&t=RXv8mJIgMjiYS_7F7ucqgg

McClain departs Texas Southern with one year of eligibility remaining in his college basketball career. The Memphis, Tenn., native led TSU in scoring, averaging 13.6 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds while shooting 37.9% from the floor and 37.3% from three point range in 31 games during the 2024-25 season.

The second-team All-SWAC selection brought his talents to the Houston-based HBCU after spending one year at Abilene Christian and three seasons in the junior college ranks. Tigers head coach Johnny Jones acquired McClain to fill the void in the departure of former Tigers’ star and All-SWAC performer PJ Henry.

Texas Southern (15-17, 12-6) finished the 2024-25 season tied for fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings and earned the No. 4 seed in the SWAC tournament. However, eventual SWAC champion Alabama State defeated TSU 84-79 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

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NEW ORLEANS — Former HBCU, NBA basketball player Donald “Slick” Watts, one of the brightest HBCU basketball stars in Xavier University of Louisiana’s athletic constellation, died Saturday (March 15, 2025). He was 73 years old. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Watts’ health declined after a stroke in April 2021. He was a member of the first XULA Athletic Hall of Fame class—he attended that induction on Nov. 3, 2022, on the campus—and was one of the leaders of the renaissance of XULA men’s basketball during the early 1970s.

He played for the New Orleans-based HBCU from 1970-73 and produced 1,460 points and 331 assists—both XULA career records at the time and still among the best numbers at the HBCU. In each of Watts’ final two seasons, XULA won NAIA District 30 tournament championships and won at NAIA nationals. During Watts’ senior season, the Gold Rush upset unbeaten and top-ranked Sam Houston State 67-60 to reach the NAIA quarterfinals. No XULA men’s basketball team since then has advanced that far.

Survivors include a sister, Felicia Watts Wheatley, whose daughter, McKenna Wheatley, is a XULA junior and part of the No. 1 doubles team with Mbali Langa in the Intercollegiate Collegiate Tennis Association NAIA March rankings. Wheatley and Langa won the ITA Cup NAIA doubles championship in October.
       

More on Slick Watts:

        •  Played six seasons in the NBA (1973-79), starting with the Seattle SuperSonics as an undrafted free agent
        •  NBA career statistics: 437 games and per-game averages of 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals
        •  One of 16 selected in 2007 to the Seattle SuperSonics 40th-anniversary team
        •  Received the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for exemplary community service in 1975-76 . . . he was the second recipient of this award
        •  Also in 1975-76, he was chosen to the NBA All-Defensive team
        •  In 1975-76 with Seattle, he was the first to lead the NBA in steals and assists in the same season
        •  According to basketball-reference.com, he ranks seventh on the NBA/ABA career list with 2.20 steals per game and 57th with 6.13 assists per game through the 2023-24 season
        •  One of his Gold Rush teammates was Bruce Seals, also a 2022 Xavier University of Louisiana Athletic Hall of Fame inductee
        •  ESPN in 2004 ranked him among the 16 “coolest athletes of all time.”
        •  Credited for popularizing the wearing of the headband by basketball players
        •  Other inductions:
        — Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991
        — Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1996
        — Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2011
        •  Born in Rolling Fork, Miss.

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The WNIT committee awarded Howard (21-11) and TSU (16-15) automatic bids as they were the highest regular-season finishers in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference, respectively, that did not earn a bid into the women’s NCAA tournament or the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT). CSU (18-14) and AAMU (21-10) received at-large bids in the field of 48 teams competing in the tournament.

HBCU WBB teams in the WNIT

Texas Southern

TSU will begin first-round WNIT action on March 20 when the HBCU host Saint Mary out of the West Coast Conference at 7:30 p.m. ET at H&PE Arena. The winner of the Tigers-Gaels clash will play Louisiana Tech in the second round of the tournament. Texas Southern enters the tournament after losing to Alcorn State 65-55 in the semifinals of the 2025 SWAC Tournament.

Howard

HU will battle MAAC opponent Siena (17-13) in the first round of the tournament on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Burr Gymnasium. The winner of the Bison-Saints contest will go to battle against the College of Charleston in the next round. Howard enters the Women’s National Invitational Tournament tournament field after losing to Norfolk State 68-56 in the 2025 MEAC Tournament championship game.

Alabama A&M

AAMU will go on the road to face SoCon foe Chattanooga (16-14) on March 22 at 2 p.m. ET at McKenzie Arena. The winner of the Bulldogs-Mocs’ contest will face Troy in the second round of the tournament. Alabama A&M enters the tournament after a 56-53 loss to Alcorn State in the quarterfinals of the 2025 SWAC Tournament.

Coppin State

CSU will travel to Hamilton, N.Y., to face Patriot League foe Colgate (23-9) on March 22 at 5 p.m. ET at Cotterell Court. The winner of the Eagles-Raiders’ clash will play Cleveland State in the tournament’s second round. Coppin State enters the tournament field, coming off a 72-33 loss to Norfolk State in the semifinals of the 2025 MEAC Tournament.

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The NCAA women’s selection committee awarded both the Jaguars and the Tritons a No. 16 seed on Sunday in the Spokane I regional. The winner of the Jaguars-Tritons’ clash will face the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, UCLA, at 10 p.m. ET on March 21 at Pauley Pavilion,  an arena located in the Westwood Village district of Los Angeles.

The HBCU women’s basketball program will make its second women’s NCAA tournament appearance in the last three seasons under head coach Carlos Funchess and the program’s seventh since 2002. Southern (20-14) defeated Alcorn State 64-44 on Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s championship game to punch a ticket to this year’s field of 68. 

SU by the numbers

Southern enters Wednesday’s matchup averaging 57.2 points per game while only allowing its opponents 58 points per contest—ranked 40th in the country—due to its stifling pressure on the ball throughout games. According to HerHoopsStats, the Jaguars sit in the top 25 nationally in turnover rate for their opponents (24.4%) while their steal rate (13.6%) ranks 16th in the country. 

Aniya Gourdine and Soniyah Reed lead Southern in scoring. However, Funchess’ squad contains a plethora of players who contribute off the bench, a unit that averages 22.2 per game (46th nationally). 

Strength in numbers

“We continually put pressure on you with depth,” Funchess said after Southern’s win in the SWAC tournament title game. “I mean, we can go 11 deep every game with quality players. …That’s the difference between us and a lot of other teams.”

Gourdine, who earned MVP of the 2025 SWAC women’s tournament, averages 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per contest. The Temple University transfer finished with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Jaguars’ win against the Braves.

Reed, a key contributor off the bench, averages 9.2 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc, second-best on the team behind Jocelyn Tate. The women’s All-SWAC tournament team selection tallied 11 of the Jaguars’ 28 bench points in the contest.

Like Southern, UC San Diego (20-15) has a stout defense. The Tritons only allow 59.1 points per contest—ranked 57th nationally—and sit 28th nationally in defensive rating (82.5), 23rd in steals per game, and 26th in forcing their opponents to commit turnovers (19.6 per game).

While Sumayah Sugapong leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals (14.9 ppg, 3.5 assists, 2.6 steals), the Tritons have a bevy of other players who provide key contributions to their on-court success. Gracie Gallegos (9.9 ppg) and Sabrina Ma (9.9 ppg) nearly average double digit point totals. Ma also creates havoc defensively, averaging 1.8 steals (third best on the team) while also shooting a team-best 34.3% from three-point range.

Other notable Triton players to watch for include Parker Montgomery, Kayanna Spriggs, and Junae Manhan.

The HBCU women’s basketball team will tip off in the First Four matchup of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, March 19, at 9 p.m. EST on ESPNU.

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