Latest news with #MEACChampionship
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU softball: Howard University heads to NCAA playoffs
Howard University softball will be representing HBCU softball and the MEAC in the NCAA Tournament. After dominating the MEAC with a 20-1 regular season record, the Bison entered the conference tournament with one thing on their minds-revenge. That one loss came back in March at the hands of South Carolina State. On Saturday, Howard got even and left with a trophy. The Bison took control early and never let up, cruising to a 6-1 win over South Carolina State in the MEAC Championship. The victory marked Howard's third tournament title in program history and first since 2022. Howard wasted no time asserting dominance. Senior Kenna Higa led off with a double, while MEAC Rookie of the Year Lauryn Jones followed with a bunt single and a stolen base. In just a few minutes, the Bison jumped to a 2-0 lead and silenced any nerves in the crowd. Although South Carolina State's Jamaria Charley hit a solo homer in the third to close the gap to 2-1, Howard didn't flinch. In the bottom of the third, Jones slid safely under the tag at home to extend the lead. Moments later, Alyssa Vasquez scored on a defensive miscue, and Merci Hart drove in another run to stretch the lead to 5-1. Then, in the sixth inning, Higa came through again. She drilled her second RBI double of the game, allowing junior Maryn Jordan to score from first and sealing a 6-1 advantage. Defensively, the Bison closed the door by retiring South Carolina State in order during the top of the seventh. Graduate pitcher Ameenah Ballenger earned her 12th win of the season and captured Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. Head Coach Tori Tyson received the Most Outstanding Coach award. Senior Mia Gonzales also landed a spot on the MEAC All-Tournament Team, joining a group that executed with grit and confidence. With the championship win, Howard (31-18) secured an automatic berth in the 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament. The HBCU squad will head to the Durham Regional and face No. 14 seed Duke University on Friday, May 16 at noon. The four-team regional-hosted by Duke-also includes Coastal Carolina and Georgia. The double-elimination format will determine who advances to the NCAA Super Regionals set for May 22–25. ESPN will carry coverage from all 16 regional sites, giving fans the chance to follow the HBCU squad toward NCAA glory. The post HBCU softball: Howard University heads to NCAA playoffs appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
NBC Sports
20-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Norfolk State vs Florida Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats for 2025 March Madness
The No. 16 Norfolk State Spartans (24-10) are set to face the top seed in the West Region, the Florida Gators (30-4) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Spartans clinched their spot in the tournament with a 66-65 win over South Carolina State in the MEAC Championship game. Brian Moore Jr. leads the team averaging nearly 19 points per game. The Gators secured a No. 1 seed with an 86-77 win over Tennessee in the SEC Championship game. Florida boasts a high-scoring offense, averaging 85 points per game, and a solid defense allowing just 69 points per game. Guard Walter Clayton leads the team with averages of 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. The winner of this game earns the right to play the winner of the UConn vs. Oklahoma game. Lets dive into the matchup and offer some information and possibly a sweat or two. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the opening tip, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Game details & how to watch Norfolk State vs. Florida Date: Friday, March 21, 2025 Time: 6:50PM EST Site: PNC Arena City: Raleigh, NC Network/Streaming: TNT Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest scores and player news. Check out our day-by-day NCAA Basketball Schedule Page that includes live game updates. Game odds for Norfolk State vs. Florida The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of BetMGM: Odds: Norfolk State Spartans (+3300), Florida Gators (-10000) Spread: Gators -28.5 Total: 153.5 points Expert picks & predictions for Norfolk State vs. Florida Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NCAA calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, injuries, and the schedule. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's Spartans & Gators game: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on Florida -28.5. Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 153.5. Norfolk State vs. Florida: Top betting trends and recent stats Norfolk State is 12-1 in their last 14 games Norfolk State is 1-7 against the spread in their last 8 games (17-11 ATS for the season) Florida has won their last 6 games Florida is 6-0 against the spread in their last 6 games (23-8 ATS for the season) The Game Total in each of Florida's last 6 games has cashed to the OVER If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NCAA Basketball Top Trends Tool on Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: · Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) · Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) · Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) · Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Associated Press
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Norfolk State Spartans play the South Carolina State Bulldogs in MEAC Championship
Norfolk, Virginia; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spartans -2; over/under is 144 BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State plays South Carolina State in the MEAC Championship. The Spartans have gone 13-3 against MEAC opponents, with a 9-7 record in non-conference play. Norfolk State scores 78.2 points and has outscored opponents by 8.7 points per game. The Bulldogs are 13-3 against MEAC teams. South Carolina State is second in the MEAC scoring 79.7 points per game and is shooting 46.9%. Norfolk State's average of 5.5 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 5.8 per game South Carolina State allows. South Carolina State averages 6.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer made shots on average than the 8.1 per game Norfolk State allows. The teams play each other for the third time this season. Norfolk State won the last matchup 67-65 on Feb. 1. Terrance Jones scored 20 to help lead Norfolk State to the victory, and Mitchel Taylor scored 15 points for South Carolina State. TOP PERFORMERS: Sin'Cere McMahon averages 1.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Spartans, scoring 5.7 points while shooting 29.5% from beyond the arc. Brian Moore Jr. is shooting 54.5% and averaging 18.1 points over the past 10 games. Drayton Jones is averaging 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Bulldogs. Omar Croskey is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Spartans: 8-2, averaging 80.0 points, 31.8 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.4 points per game. Bulldogs: 10-0, averaging 88.0 points, 34.6 rebounds, 19.0 assists, 10.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.7 points. ___
Associated Press
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Norfolk State Spartans square off against the Howard Bison in MEAC Championship
Howard Bison (21-10, 14-2 MEAC) vs. Norfolk State Spartans (29-4, 16-0 MEAC) Norfolk, Virginia; Saturday, 4 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State plays Howard in the MEAC Championship. The Spartans are 16-0 against MEAC opponents and 13-4 in non-conference play. Norfolk State is 25-2 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 13.2 turnovers per game. The Bison's record in MEAC action is 14-2. Howard ranks third in the MEAC with 12.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Zennia Thomas averaging 3.0. Norfolk State makes 43.9% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.1 percentage points higher than Howard has allowed to its opponents (35.8%). Howard averages 5.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than Norfolk State allows. The teams square off for the third time this season. Norfolk State won the last meeting 68-56 on March 6. Diamond Johnson scored 25 to help lead Norfolk State to the win, and Thomas scored 16 points for Howard. TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is scoring 19.3 points per game with 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Spartans. Kierra Wheeler is averaging 14.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 51.7% over the last 10 games. Thomas is averaging 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Bison. Destiny Howell is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Spartans: 10-0, averaging 82.1 points, 33.2 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 15.4 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 50.2 points per game. Bison: 9-1, averaging 70.3 points, 37.2 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 39.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 53.9 points.
Miami Herald
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU Basketball Showdown: Morgan State vs. Norfolk State in MEAC Semifinal
NORFOLK, Va. – The stage is set for an electrifying HBCU matchup as Morgan State and Norfolk State collide in the MEAC semifinal at Scope Arena. Both teams are determined to advance to the MEAC Championship, having split their regular-season contests and looking to settle the score once and for all. MEAC Matchup Breakdown Morgan State (14-17, 7-7 MEAC) enters with a potent offense that ranks among the best in the conference, averaging nearly 81 points per game. Norfolk State (22-10, 11-3 MEAC), on the other hand, showcases a robust defensive unit that has consistently held opponents under 70 points per the tournament's top seed, took care of business against Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday night and had Thursday off. Morgan State had to battle to the wire to defeat Howard University in the quarterfinals. Players to Watch Morgan State Bears' Standouts: Kameron Hobbs: Fresh off an impressive 33-point performance against Howard, Hobbs leads the Bears' attack with an average of 16.6 points per Thomas: A versatile forward averaging 14.3 points per game, essential for both scoring and Akitoby: A powerful presence on the boards, averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, crucial for second-chance State Spartans' Key Defenders: Brian Moore Jr.: Norfolk State's top scorer averaging 18.7 points per game, notable for his efficiency and clutch Ings: Exceptional sharpshooter, converting nearly 50% from three-point range, stretching opposing Myers: An influential player contributing 11 points and nearly six rebounds per game, vital for controlling the game's pace. Crucial Game-Changers Morgan State's Bench Production: Contributions from Amahrie Simpkins and Kiran Oliver will be critical to match Norfolk State's depth and sustain offensive State's Reserve Impact: Terrance Jones and Chris Fields Jr. must make significant bench contributions to ensure stability, particularly if starters encounter foul trouble. Winning Strategies Morgan State: The Bears must utilize their high-scoring offense to exploit the Spartans' vulnerability from beyond the arc and maintain defensive composure State: The Spartans need their stout defense to dominate the boards, limit Morgan State's second-chance points, and effectively defend the perimeter. The Stakes are High This semifinal showdown not only determines who advances to the MEAC Championship but also serves as a critical moment for each team's postseason aspirations. Norfolk State holds a slight edge due to its defensive discipline and the home-court atmosphere, but Morgan State's explosive offense could create the upset. Anticipate a very competitive HBCU basketball battle filled with passion, intensity, and possibly a dramatic conclusion. The post HBCU Basketball Showdown: Morgan State vs. Norfolk State in MEAC Semifinal appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
