CHARLOTTE, NC (January 19, 2023) — The interdivisional portion of the CIAA conference slate is over and now only home-and-away series are left as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Standings continue to shake out. With the 2023 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament nearly a month away, every game, every possession matters.
Women's Basketball
NORTHERN DIVISION
Lincoln (PA): 12-5 overall, 7-1 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
The defending conference champions have won seven straight games, including Wednesday's 52-51 road win over Virginia Union. It was a Madison Walker layup with two seconds remaining that kept the Lions win streak going. The win over the Panthers, plus Lincoln (PA)'s 83-62 victory over Bowie State has the Lions off to a 2-0 start in the Northern Division. Averaging a CIAA-leading 70.1 points per game, Lincoln (PA) is capable of getting buckets from a myraid of players, evidenced by its win over the Bulldogs when five Lions scored in double-digits. On Saturday, only one team will remain unbeaten in the North when the Lions welcome the Shaw Bears to Pennsylvania.
Bowie State: 9-8 overall, 5-3 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
Bowie State picked up a much-needed win at Elizabeth City State on Wednesday, 55-44. That victory had followed consecutive losses to Fayetteville State and Lincoln (PA) last week. With a game difference between second place in the North and fifth place, each divisional tilt means so much more and the Bulldogs will look to keep distance from their peers with games against Virginia Union and at Shaw coming up. Their defense playing like they did against the Vikings (holding ECSU to under 30 percent shooting from the field and four Bowie State players had multiple steals) would be a great start.
Shaw: 11-8 overall, 4-3 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
10 days ago, the Bears were sitting at the bottom of the division, albeit still very early in the conference slate. On Saturday, Shaw will go on the road to Lincoln (PA) after winning three straight and seven of its last eight contests. In the run, the Bears have held opponents to under 50 points four times, which has Shaw sitting second in the conference, allowing just 57.2 points per game. Led by Brittiney Seymour and her averages of 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game, the Bears will look to continue its ascension with dates against the Lions and Bowie State next up. With favorable results, Shaw could be looking at moving from last to first in the North.
Virginia State: 8-9 overall, 4-4 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
The Trojans are looking to rebound from its 54-43 loss to Shaw Wednesday with a win against visiting Elizabeth City State Saturday. Following the home date against the Vikings, Virginia State is on the road for its next three games, including games against Lincoln (PA) and Bowie State, which currently sits 1-2 atop the division. The Trojans are holding CIAA opponents to a conference-best 33.5 percent shooting but they have failed to string together consecutive league victories because of an offense that is shooting just 34 percent from the field, the worst mark in the league. That does not mean that Virginia State does not have scorers– in eight conference matchups, Sommer Blakemore is second in points per game with 16.8 and Kalyn Ervin is ninth with 13 ppg.
Elizabeth City State: 10-6 overall, 4-4 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
After going 4-2 in inter-division play, the Vikings dropped games against divisional rivals Shaw and Bowie State. Elizabeth City State has balance, thanks to a scoring offense and defense that both ranks fifth in the conference. The Vikings will need that symmetry, especially with a road date against Virginia State coming Saturday. Elizabeth City State has also been excellent at home as the Vikings are 7-0 inside the R.L. Vaughan Center. After the game versus the Trojans, ECSU has four straight home games, including conference matchups against Virginia Union and Lincoln (PA) and the Vikings will need that home-court magic.
Virginia Union: 8-9 overall, 2-5 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
The Panthers have lost three consecutive games in league action and sit bottom of the standings in the Northern Division, however they are just a few bounces away from a winning conference record. Late-game heroics saved Lincoln (PA) and Fayetteville State in games against Virginia Union and in a 69-64 loss to St. Augustine's, the Panthers were leading by as many as 17 points in the second half. Virginia Union, led by Ny Langley and her 16 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, will try to close out upcoming games on the road versus Bowie State and Elizabeth City State.
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Winston-Salem State: 10-6 overall, 6-2 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
The Rams have won four of their last five conference games, including three victories on the road. After dropping a game at Elizabeth City State, Winston-Salem State redeemed itself with wins over St. Augustine's and Claflin. The Rams also showed that it can win in a multitide of ways, cruising to a comfortable victory over the Falcons and then after watching their 15-point lead wilt away against the Panthers, the Rams recovered and closed out the game late to secure the victory still. As has been the case all season, Amaya Tucker (averaging a team-leading 16.6 points per game) led the way for Winston-Salem State in each of those games. She scored 18 versus St. Augustine's and 16 against Claflin. However, the Rams are also getting major contributions elsewhere as six players scored in double-digits against the Falcons and four reached double figures versus the Panthers. Saturday is a big test with significant divisional implications as Winston-Salem State hosts Fayetteville State. That game could determine who finishes atop the Southern Division when it is all said and done.
Fayetteville State: 10-6 overall, 6-2 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
The Broncos have the same conference and overall record as division-leading Winston-Salem State, however, Fayetteville State has already suffered one divisional defeat at the hands of Livingstone Wednesday. That loss snapped a three-game winning streak ahead of a big divisional tilt against the Rams on Saturday. In the loss against the Blue Bears, the Broncos failed to top 50 points, which also happened in Fayetteville State's loss to Lincoln (PA). Led by Morgan Graham and Aniylah Bryant, defense remains FSU's calling card as the Broncos are allowing just 56.1 points in their eight conference matchups, second in the league. Graham leads the CIAA with 21 blocks in eight CIAA games (2.6 average) and Bryant has 19 steals for an average of 2.4 per league contest. On the road against the Rams, followed by a home date versus Claflin, FSU will need Bryant and Graham and the entire defense.
Claflin: 9-7 overall, 3-5 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
Claflin has struggled, as of late, dropping four consecutive games and five of its last six contests. To be fair, three of those losses (Bowie State, Lincoln (PA), and Livingstone) came on the road but unfortunately, the Panthers still have a pair of road games (at St. Augustine's and at Fayetteville State) coming up next. Claflin will look to right the ship with the help of Nya Morris, who is averaging 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 48 percent from the field. In the last game against Winston-Salem State, Morris put up a hearty statline of 10 points, nine boards, five steals, and four assists.
Livingstone: 6-11 overall, 2-6 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
It was a rough stretch of inter-division play for the Blue Bears but they have fared better against their Southern Division foes. Livingstone has upset both Claflin, 60-55, and Fayetteville State, 56-48, in the past week. The Blue Bears will enter Saturday's matchup against host Johnson C. Smith with plenty momentum and confidence and will look to continue its surge and make noise in the standings. Instead of having a player average double figures, Livingstone has six players averaging at least 6.8 points per game and they are capable of taking over a game at any moment like Sha'Terra Ferrell's performance against Claflin when she went 8-of-10 from the field for 18 points.
Johnson C. Smith: 6-10 overall, 2-5 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
The Golden Bulls are still trying to recover from a six-game losing streak that extended from December to January, but their recent performance helps with two wins (Virginia State and St. Augustine's) in their last three games. Johnson C. Smith can score in bunches as they average 68.7 points per game, fourth in the conference this season. However, the Golden Bulls are also allowing a lot of points, a conference-high 70.2 per game. Behind Shaniya Jones and her conference-leading 19.1 points per game, Johnson C. Smith will look to add to its win totals with home dates against St. Augustine's and Livingstone coming next.
St. Augustine's: 5-10 overall, 1-6 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
The Falcons picked up their first conference win last Wednesday by defeating Virginia Union, 69-64. That victory can be attributed to the stellar play of Lauren Banks (23 points, six boards) and Taniyah Greene (19 points, six rebounds). In conference action only, Greene is leading the CIAA with 17.6 points per game. St. Augustine's will have to continue to rely on Banks and Greene as they play Claflin on Saturday and then go on the road to Livingstone next week.
Men's Basketball
NORTHERN DIVISION
Virginia Union: 15-4 overall, 5-2 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
Winners of four straight, Virginia Union defeated Virginia State in the Freedom Classic, 77-69, and then came out of overtime with a victory over Lincoln (PA), 74-72. (This veteran Panthers team is 3-1 in overtime games.) Robert Osborne is making his case for conference player of the year, dropping 26 points against the Lions and 27 on the Trojans. Osborne has upped his play in CIAA action, averaging a league-high 23.7 points per game. It is still relatively early in the conference slate but the Panthers are looking to hold its perch on the top by coming out ahead in its next two games, road contests against Bowie State and Elizabeth City State.
Virginia State: 12-6 overall, 5-2 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
The Trojans' sweltering start has cooled off a bit after consecutive losses to Virginia Union and Shaw. Despite Francis Fitzgerald's best efforts (21 points against the Panthers and 25 points and 10 rebounds versus the Bears), both games featured Virginia State having to try to climb out of early double-digit deficits. As long as the Trojans still have the duo of Terrence Hunter-Whitfield and Fitzgerald, they figure to be alright though. In CIAA action only, Hunter-Whitfield and Fitzgerald average a combined 38.5 points per game and sit 2-3 in points per game, respectively. Fitzgerald's 9.5 rebounds in CIAA play is tops in the league. Saturday, the Trojans can get back to winning when they host Elizabeth City State before a pair of road games at Bowie State and Lincoln (PA).
Shaw: 11-8 overall, 4-3 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
Ignore overall records as the Bears are just one conference win behind the Virginia schools for first place in the Northern Division. After dropping a division game to Elizabeth City State, Shaw recovered Wednesday with a win over Virginia State. In that game, Doriuntas Barnes scored 19 and Amir Waddell 18 and the scary part of that victory is that Waddell and Barnes are the Bears' fifth and ninth leading scorers, respectively, and their leading scorer (DJ Thomas) did not even play. However, before the Bears can look ahead to an important divisional clash against Virginia Union on January 28, they will first need to take care of business against host Lincoln (PA) Saturday and visiting Bowie State next week.
Elizabeth City State: 8-10 overall, 3-5 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
An excellent start to division play, opening with wins over Shaw and Bowie State, has the Vikings trending upwards. The 95-90 victory over the Bears was a thriller as Elizabeth City State outscored Shaw by 11 points in the second half. Jaquantae Harris scored a game-high 24 points and three other Vikings scored at least 13 points while Amadou Faye was a menace in the paint with 14 rebounds and seven blocks. Elizabeth City State will quickly find out where they stand in the conference race since their next two games are at Virginia State and against Virginia Union. The Vikings will need Harris, Faye, and the Vikings to replicate that Shaw performance.
Bowie State: 5-15 overall, 3-5 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
It has been a tough stretch for the Bulldogs with just one win (against Lincoln) in the past seven games. Their schedule is doing them no favors as Virginia Union waltzes into A.C. Jordan Arena Saturday, followed by a visit to Shaw next week. Alternatively, a good showing against the Panthers and Bears could swing momentum in Bowie State's favor leading up to February. Mark Bradshaw (shooting 43 percent from three) and Quinton Drayton (40 percent from deep) are firestarters tasked with guiding the Bulldogs.
Lincoln (PA): 8-11 overall, 3-5 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
Make no mistake, this Lions squad is dangerous. Their conference record is bogged down by the fact that they have lost three games by two or less points, including a 57-56 loss to Bowie State Saturday and a 74-72 overtime loss to Virginia Union Wednesday. Lincoln (PA) had a lead with under two minutes remaining in each of those contests. Korey Williams has been insanely efficient, averaging 16.2 points per game on 45 shooting from the field and 43 from deep. Sporting a 5-4 record at home and 2-7 mark on the record, the Lions host Shaw on Saturday and Virginia State next week inside the Manuel Rivero Gym.
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Fayetteville State: 11-9 overall, 6-2 in CIAA action, 2-0 in Division
The defending conference champions are perking up as of late, having won three straight in conference play. The Broncos scored only 44 points in a win over Johnson C. Smith and then after watching their 22-point lead against Livingstone Wednesday shrink to a tie game with 65 seconds remaining, Fayetteville State pulled out the 80-77 victory. Kaleb Coleman (22) and Jacob Crutchfield (20) combined for 42 to lift the Broncos over the Blue Bears. At the end of the day, a win is a win but the Broncos' next two games (at Winston-Salem State and home versus Claflin) project to be tougher battles than the Blue Bears and Golden Bulls.
Claflin: 13-3 overall, 5-3 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
A blistering start to the season was stymied by consecutive losses to Lincoln (PA) and Livingstone but Claflin has reset its winning streak to "one" with Wednesday's win over visiting Winston-Salem State. The defeats to the Lions and Blue Bears came on the road but the Panthers and Jailen Williams (averaging a team-leading 12.1 points and 3.4 assists per game) hope to cure their away game ills against St. Augustine's Saturday before a pivotal road matchup against Fayetteville State next week.
Livingstone: 8-8 overall, 4-3 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
Livingstone manages to make every game interesting. If it is not the frenetic pace and conference-high 85.6 points per game, then it is the overtime and one-score finals. Last week, the Blue Bears went into overtime against both Shaw and Claflin. Against the Panthers, Livingstone earned a 96-95 win after Khyree Temple, who scored a team-high 23 points, made the game-winning layup with less than two seconds remaining. Temple scored a team-high 19 against the Bears and then on Wednesday, he exploded for 35 points and 12 rebounds on 14-of-18 shooting. He helped Livingstone rally from a 22-point deficit against Fayetteville State and almost force a third consecutive overtime.
Winston-Salem State: 12-5 overall, 4-4 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
It has been a mixed bag in conference action for the Rams so far. Following consecutive wins over Elizabeth City State and St. Augustine's, Winston-Salem State dropped a game at Claflin Wednesday. That gives the Rams and the duo of Jaylon Gibson (13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game) and Jaylen Alston (13.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg) another chance to string together consecutive wins when Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith visit C.E. Gaines Center.
St. Augustine's: 5-11 overall, 2-5 in CIAA action, 0-2 in Division
It was a tough run away from home for the Falcons as they dropped four straight road contests. After having not played inside the Emery Gym since December 17, St. Augustine returns home to host Claflin Saturday. Five of the Falcons' next six games are at home, which gives St. Augustine's the perfect opportunity to build some momentum and potentially go on the road ahead of the tournament. The play of freshman Nemo Johnson might be a big factor in the success of the Falcons. Johnson is fresh off winning rookie of the week honors after posting a statline of 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks against Virginia Union last week.
Johnson C. Smith: 5-11 overall, 1-6 in CIAA action, 1-1 in Division
A 93-58 shellacking of visting St. Augustine's Wednesday gave the Golden Bulls their first win in conference action. A one-point game at halftime, Johnson C. Smith absolutely dominated in the second frame, outscoring the Falcons 60-26. Ezekiel Cannedy dropped a game-high 22 points and five assists and now the Golden Bulls and Cannedy will look to translate that stretch that excellent second half performance over 40 minutes against Livingstone on Saturday. After hosting the Blue Bears, Johnson C. Smith will go on the road for dates against Winston-Salem State and Claflin next week.