SIAC Tourney tips in B’ham

After a week of action at the CIAA Basketball Tournament in Charlotte (see results below), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in Birmingham, Ala. takes center stage this week.

Women’s and men’s opening round play began Monday at the Bill Harris Arena and continued on Tuesday (see schedule below). The top two seeded teams for both women and men began play in quarterfinal action on Wednesday with the second-seeded teams getting into action on Thursday.

Semifinals for both women and men are on Friday with championship games set for Saturday at 4 p.m. (women) and 7 p.m. (men). Unlike the CIAA where men and women play in separate sessions, the SIAC format has women and men’s teams alternating games.

Benedict is the women’s top seed from the East Division with Central State top seed from the West. Claflin emerged from a three-way tie at the top of the men’s East standings to grab the top seed. Lane is the men’s top seed from the West. The teams are playing for an automatic berth into the NCAA Div. II South Regional that goes to the tournament winner.

Entering the SIAC Tournament, the Benedict women are the only conference team in the top ten, ranked sixth in the region. For the men, Morehouse, the East Division’s fourth seed, is the only team ranked in the top ten at ninth. Eight teams will make the Regional field.

Monday, February 27
WOMEN’S OPENING ROUND
#5E Albany State 61, #4W Kentucky State 59
#5W LeMoyne-Owen 67, #4W Paine 53
MEN’S OPENING ROUND
#5E Fort Valley State 79, #4W Kentucky State 73
#4E Morehouse 72, #5W Tuskegee 55
#5W LeMoyne-Owen 94, #7W Paine 82

Tuesday, February 28
WOMEN’S SECOND ROUND
#3E Fort Valley State vs. #6W Tuskegee – 1 p.m.
#3W Lane vs. #6E Clark Atlanta – 5:30 p.m.
MEN’S SECOND ROUND
#3E Benedict vs. #6W Central State – 3:15 p.m
#3W Miles vs. #6E Albany State – 7:45 p.m.

Wednesday, March 1
WOMEN’S QUARTERFINALS
#1E Benedict vs. #5E Albany State – 1 p.m.
#1W Central State vs. #5W LeMoyne-Owen – 5:30 p.m.
MEN’S QUARTERFINALS
#1E Claflin vs. #5E Fort Valley State – 3:15 p.m.
#1E Lane vs. #4E Morehouse – 7:45 p.m.

Thursday, March 2
WOMEN’S QUARTERFINALS
#2W Miles vs. FVSU/Tuskegee winner – 1 p.m.
#2E Claflin vs. Lane/CAU winner – 5:30 p.m.
MEN’S QUARTERFINALS
#2W LOC vs. Benedict/Central State winner – 3:15 p.m.
#2E Clark Atlanta vs. Miles/Albany St. winner – 7:45 p.m.

Friday, March 3
WOMEN’S SEMIFINALS – 1:00 and 5:30 p.m.
MEN’S SEMIFINALS – 3:15 and 7:45 p.m

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Saturday, March 4
WOMEN’S FINAL – 4 p.m.
MEN’S FINAL – 7 p.m.

LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor