Your weekly news from around the MEAC!
Photo Courtesy of MEACsports.com
Florida A&M had something to cheer for this past weekend as Sr. guard Justin Ravenel set the record for most 3-pointers made. In the final home basketball game of the season, Ravenel against in-state rival Bethune-Cookman passed Terrence Woods as the all-time leader with 280 3-pointers made.
FAMU would go on to lose the game 67-54 despite Ravenel’s highlight performance and shooting 50 percent from deep. It was a bittersweet ending to senior night for the Rattlers as they lost the game and due to APR sanctions cannot contend for a championship despite an 8-6 conference record. Norfolk still leads the conference with a strong 12-1 conference record and are still riding a four-game win streak. However, NCAT is still knocking on the Spartans door with a conference record of 11-3. Norfolk is still the favorite going into the end of the season, but fans have seen from the football season that anything can happen to shake up the standings.
For the Women’s side of MEAC basketball, it has been a one-team show all year. NCAT after their 73-69 win over Savannah State the Lady Aggies clinched their first MEAC regular season title for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.
On the diamond this weekend despite several teams picking up wins this past weekend, it was all overshadowed by an altercation between BCU and Boston College. During the team’s game on Sunday, four BCU players including; Carlos Lequerica, Isaak Gutierrez, Seth Lovell, and Jordan Delucia have all been suspended for the teams next four games for fighting and leaving position to engage in a fight. It has not been released whether the three players from Boston College were suspended but they were all ejected from the game following the altercation.
FAMU in their first four-game series of the season was able to split the series against Alcorn State.
The preseason favorites in Coppin State and NCAT still lead the Northern and Southern Divisions respectively as they both have five wins to kick-off the 2019 season.
For softball, the season is still extremely young which is seen as three teams still haven’t even played their first game. Unfortunately, for the teams that have played only five of those nine teams have even recorded a win. Even though conference play hasn’t begun, it is still disappointing seeing that four teams are still winless. Being that it is still early, there is time to change the narrative.
In the Southern Division Bethune-Cookman is the hot team in the conference after major victories over powerhouse teams such as Virginia, Georgia, and Kansas.
In the Northern Division, Delaware State is the clear leader with an undefeated record at 1-0. Norfolk is the only team in the division with multiple wins at 3-6 so there is sure to be a change in the standings as Norfolk rides this streak after a dominating 5-1 victory over St. Bonaventure.
NCAT has the answers on how to create a dominant athletics program as seen through their recent success whether on the gridiron, diamons or the track. This past weekend yet again the Aggies won another Women’s Indoor title. FAMU made a run for the title racking up 118.5 points but NCAT burnt the competition by gaining 174 points on their route to the 2019 title.
For the third straight year, the NCAT men also received an Indoor Track Title. The Aggies dominated the competition and set a meet-record with 191 points. Standout Freshman Regan Kimtai took home three gold medals in the 800 meters, the mile and the 5,000 meters in his outstanding performance. If that wasn’t enough the Aggies set the record for the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:10.05 to end the meet in style.