The CIAA basketball tournament, an annual showcase of top HBCU basketball talent, has tipped off this week in Baltimore, marking its return to the city for the fifth consecutive year. The games, set to run from tomorrow to Saturday at the CFG Bank Arena, are particularly noteworthy this year as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament. A BmoreNews report confirms that, along with the basketball action, the week will also feature cultural celebrations in recognition of this significant milestone.
Fayetteville State University's men's and women's teams, having both clinched the Southern Division regular-season titles for the third year in a row, are entering the tournament with a significant advantage. According to the FayObserver, both teams have been seeded No. 1 and have earned first-round byes, putting them directly into the quarterfinals where the FSU women will face the winner of the Bluefield State-Johnson C. Smith matchup and the men will play against the victor of the Virginia Union-Shaw game.
This year's tournament also has a significant television presence, with both the women's and men's championship games scheduled to be broadcast on ESPNU. The women's final is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, immediately followed by the men's final at 4 p.m. As reported by The Sacramento Bee, seeding for the tournament was meticulously determined by divisional records, with critical tiebreakers being resolved by head-to-head results and point differential, this is ensuring a fair and competitive field for the 50th iteration of the women's tournament.
As the CIAA basketball tournament progresses, fans can catch live updates, scores, and schedules, for all the impending excitement, passion, and undeniable talents that will be on full display throughout the tournament.
