BlflCK COI1CGE
SPORTS REVIEW
March 1996
PUBLISHER ? Ernest H. Pitt
PRODUCTION STAFF WRITER
Eric Grooms ? Design/Layout Langston Wertz.Jr.
Steve Moore ? Cover Design
Tk MEAC CentIemen
The first two MF.AC Basketball Tnnmamcnls were held at
Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham. North Carolina in
1 c>72 and 1973. Durham was home-base, for the conference
office from 1970 through March 1982. The conference office
then moved to Greensboro, the city that has hosted the most
MEAC Tournaments, with ten. After an initial two-year stint in
Baltimore (1974. 1975). the Greensboro Coliseum housed the
event from 1976 to 1979. again in 1983 and 1984. and finally
from 1987 to 1990. The other sites were Winston-Salem. NC
(1980-1982), Philadelphia, PA C1985 and 1986). Norfolk, VA
(1991-1993), and Baltimore again (1994. 1995).
North Carolina A&T's men, two-year defending champions
who have won 15 of 24 MEAC Tournament titlef games, also
received a MEAC record seven straight trips to the NCAA
Division I Basketball Championship from 1982 to 1988.
However, Howard secured the first ever MEAC automatic entry
in 1981 after winning its second straight league title. Howard
lost to Wyoming in the opening round. The MEAC has enjoyed
NCAA post-season play since that season, but is yet to post a
first round victory. Howard, which has appeared in 13 title
games, including nine straight (1979 to 1987), came back to win
it all again in 1992 but dropped a first round contest to Kansas.
NC A&T's first round opponents were: West Virginia,
Princeton, Morehead State, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama,
Syracuse, and Arkansas. South Carolina State broke NC A&T's
streak in 1989 with its only MEAC title run and lost to Duke in
the opener. Coppin State took the crowns in 1990 and 1993, and
faced Syracuse and Cincinnati. Florida A&M grabbed its lone
title in 1991. coming out of the fifth seed position and lost to NE
Louisiana. The other two MEAC Tournament championships
went to Maryland Eastern Shore in 1974 and Morgan State in
1977.
Morgan made a big splash by winning the 1974 NCAA
Division II National Title (beat SW Missouri in final) and its
star. Marvin Webster, became the first player selected during the
professional leagues' drafting process. y
Besides the NCAA appearances. MEAC teams have also
been invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) live
times, including last season. UMES's 1974 team also gained
national notoriety by entering the NIT from the Div ision II level
and defeating Manhattan before losing to Jacksonville. NC
A&T played in two. losing to Providence in 1976 and Duke in
1981. Coppin was invited in 1991 and lost to SW Missouri, but
returned last season to beat St Joseph's before losing at South
Florida.
Black Collage Sports Review is published by Black Sports Intc^
617 North Liberty Street, Winston-Saler\ N.C. 27101. UnsoliciWd
manuscripts and photographs will not be returned. Inquiries
should be addressed to Ernest H. Pitt, Publisher, Black College
Sports Review, P.O. Box 1636, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102
Cover Photo By
BCSR is a supplement to these newspapers: Atlanta Voice, The
Bulletin, Baltimore Atro-Amencan. Baton Rouge Community Leader,
Birmingham Times. Carolina Peacemaker, Carolina Times, Charleston
Chronicle. Charlotte Post. Dallas Texas Weekly, Iredell County News.
Philadelphia Tnbune, Pittsburgh Cabner, Richmond Afro-Amencan,
Washington Atro-Amer"-?n and the Winston-Salem Chronicle
Fort HAys State ObsTAclE foR Va. UnIon iN Tourney
Virginia Union may have
lost the CIAA title, but the
Panthers are now concentrating
on an even bigger fish: the
NCAA Division II national title.
And they have a great shot.
Dave Robbins' Union team
was ranked No. 1 for much of
the season. But their biggest
obstacle to gold this season may
be a little team from Kansas.
Fort Hays State is 29-0 this
season, ranked No. 1 in NCAA
Division II and the nation's only
unbeaten men's team in college
basketball.
"The fun's going to come
wTten the season's over," said
coach Gary Garner, who
coached Drake from 1981-88.
"We really don't have time to
enjoy it right now. "Our stu
dents and community have been
great. Our colors are black and
gold and they seem to be every
where. There are tiger paws
everywhere, in merchants' win
dows, on doors. It's great to see
the people respond this way."
Behind Alonzo Goldston's
32 points, 16 rebounds and four
blocks Saturday night, Fort
Hays overcame Nebraska
Kearney's seven-point halftime
lead and won a 85-79 victory in
the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference tournament champi
onship game.
Next up is the NCAA
Division II tournament begin
ning this weekend. If Fort
Hayes, as expected, gets to host
the early-round games, things
are certain to be rocking at
Gross Memorial Coliseum,
Gary Garner
masks.
Although
Garner insists
his team
caught some
breaks in a
few early
wins, statistics
indicate his
team is more
that lucky.
Fort Hays
State has
?utscored
opponents by
an average of
24 points^
scoring 94.5
while giving
UP just 70.4.
Its field goal
percentage of
55.1 is tops in
Division II.
Six of its top
seven players
are shooting
better than 50
percent. From
3-point range,
the team is hit
ting 43 per
cent.
S9
rami
Union & Co. hope to soar during the tournament.
Garner's
caution at the beginning of the
year was understandable.
Although the team was coming
off a second straight 20-win sea
son, the Tigers had lost both
starting guards and a starting
forward, including Dennis
Edwards, the two-time MVP of
the conference.
Goldston, a 6-foot-9 center,
and guard Geoff Eck were the
j i
/
Virginia Union Coach Dave Rohhins has his team set for a run at the
national title.
where fans have begun wearing only returning starters, although
point guard Chad Creamer had
started about half the time in
college transfer. Going into
the NCAA tournament, their last
loss was to Morningside
College, 85-82, in the regional
championship game a year ago.
After leaving Drake, Garner
was out of coaching for two
years before taking the job at
Fort Hays.
"I just really missed coach
ing," he said. "I guess I'm just a
dumb coach."
He caught the coaching bug
while servLfig as an assistant
under Norm Stewart for several
years at Missouri.
Stewart has been calling his
former assistant after every
game. Some of us associated
with different programs don't
always recognize what the other
person is doing," said Stewart,
the dean of Big Eight coaches,
"I can remember coaching at
Division II."
The 14=hour bus rides can
be a little long. But Gary's team
is the only team in the country to
go through the regular season
undefeated. I'm very happy for
him."