2026 Mideast Games Men’s Basketball Championship Basics
Format
Typically, the MEAC tournament features traditional bracket play with quarterfinal duals to protect the top two seeds, but this year, things are different with only seven teams participating. The first of the double sets was reduced to one match.
advertise
Place
Norfolk (Va.) Scope is home to the event for the 12th consecutive time.
participants
Coppin State (7-24, 5-9, t-6) will not participate as it is ineligible for the postseason due to an APR violation.
schedule
Downloadable PDF stand
TV/Streaming Information
Tournament numbers include the Women’s Championship.
Quarterfinals (Wednesday, March 3, 2011)
General Motors. 3: (7) Delaware 75(2) Morgan State (14-16, 10-4) 70 (overtime)
Quarterfinals (Thursday 3/12)
General Motors. 6: ((5) South Carolina 88(4) Norfolk State (15-17, 8-6) 82
General Motors. 7: (6) Maryland Eastern Shore (9-23, 5-9) 76, (3) Central North Carolina 83 (work overtime)
Semi-finals (Friday March 2013)
General Motors. 10: (5) South Carolina (10-22, 7-7) 61, (1) Howard 78
General Motors. 11: (7) Delaware (8-23, 2-12) 53, (3) Central North Carolina 59
advertise
Championship (Saturday 3/14)
General Motors. 12: (3) Central North Carolina (14-18, 8-6) 63, (1) Howard (23-10, 11-3) 70
potential for chaos
Data originally published by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter In 2020 I will be adding my own content for future seasons.
The MEAC’s top two seeds have won a combined nine championships in the past 14 editions, although Norfolk State’s 2022 win was the first time since 2017 that a No. 1 seed had been awarded. There hasn’t been a true No. 2 seed since 2012, as Norfolk State won as the No. 2 seed in the North Division in the COVID-affected 2021 tournament.
-
1 seed(7): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026
-
2 seeds(3): 2011, 2012, 2021 (zoning)
NCAA seeding records in the 68-team era
The NCAA’s winning days are behind us Bold.
-
No. 16 Seed(12): 2011, 2013 (top four), 2015 (top four), 2016, 2017 (top four), 2018 (top four), 2019 (top four), 2021 (top four), 2022, 2023, 2024 (top four), 2025
North Carolina Central has been the MEAC’s highest seed over the past 10 years, but Norfolk State has recorded the conference’s only road win against Dayton during that span, a 15-2 win over Missouri in 2012.
advertise
This year’s winner will likely be the MEAC’s 13th No. 16 seed since it expanded the field in 2011. It will also likely be held in Dayton.
Last NCAA Tournament appearance
Howard: 2026
Norfolk State: 2025 (16th seed, first round)
Central North Carolina: 2019 (16th seed, top four)
Morgan State: 2010 (No. 15 seed, first round)
Kepingzhou: 2008 (16th seed, first round)
Delaware: 2005 (No. 16 seed, first round)
South Carolina: 2003 (No. 16 seed, first round)
Maryland Eastern Shore He is the only member of the MEAC who has not participated in the NCAA Division I tournament.
