CIAA Tournament Pairings and Basketball Coaches of the Year Released

CIAA Tournament Pairings and Basketball Coaches of the Year Released

February 25, 2007

Charlotte, NC… The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, along with the CIAA Tournament Committee has released the 2007 CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament Pairings.

With the introduction of the 11-team bracket for this year’s tournament, the opening days for both the men’s and women’s tournament begin with three games: 3:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:00pm. Below is the listing of match-ups and game times.

Women
Monday
# 8 Virginia Union vs #9 Virginia State - 3:00pm
# 7 Livingstone vs # 10 St. Paul’s - 7:00pm
# 6 Johnson C. Smith vs # 11 St. Augustine’s - 9:00pm

Tuesday
# 4 Fayetteville State vs # 5 Bowie State  - 1:00pm
# 2 Elizabeth City State vs (Winner of 2/26 #7 vs #10)  - 3:00pm
# 1 NC Central vs (Winner of 2/26 #8 vs #9)  - 7:00pm
# 3 Shaw vs (Winner of 2/26 # 6 vs #11) - 9:00pm


Men
Wednesday
# 7 Elizabeth City State vs # 10 Livingstone 3:00pm
# 6 Bowie State vs # 11 Shaw 7:00pm
# 8 North Carolina Central vs # 9 St. Paul’s 9:00pm

Thursday
# 2 Virginia State vs (Winner of 2/28 #7 vs #10) 1:00pm
# 4 St. Augustine’s vs # 5 Fayetteville State 3:00pm
# 3 Johnson C. Smith vs (Winner 2/28 #6 vs #11) 7:00pm
# 1 Virginia Union vs (Winner of 2/28 #8 vs #9) 9:00pm

Brackets:  Women | Men

Coaches of the Year

Tony Collins of Virginia State University and Joli Robinson of North Carolina Central University are our Men’s and Women’s Coaches of the Year, respectively.

Coach Tony Collins, leader of the Virginia State University Trojans finished the regular season with a 20-7 overall, 15-5 conference record and enters the tournament as the # 2 seed. Collins is also credited with coaching one of the finest players in the CIAA this season, Defensive Player of the Year, Avis Wyatt. The Trojans meet their first match on Thursday, Mar. 1, at 1:00pm against the winner of the Feb. 28 game #7 Elizabeth City State vs #10 Livingstone.

Joli Robinson, at the helm of the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles, enters the women’s tournament at the #1 seed. Robinson and the Lady Eagles have finished their regular season with a 22-5 overall and 16-4 conference record. They are not only the Western Divisional Champions, but they have also earned a BYE into the second round. Their first competition is on Feb. 27 at 7:00pm against the winner of the Feb. 26 #8 Virginia Union vs #9 Virginia State contest.

The CIAA Basketball Coaches of the Year will be honored at the Women’s and Men’s Tip-Off Banquets on Feb. 25th and Feb. 27th respectively; Westin Hotel, 6:30pm. They will also be honored at the Annual Spring Coaches of the Year Luncheon in May.