The SWAC race has reached fever pitch, with Bethune-Cookman clinging to first place at 11-3 in conference play, just two games ahead with four remaining. Parity reigns supreme: every team except Mississippi Valley State has at least five SWAC wins, and upsets are commonplace. Alcorn State recently snapped Bethune-Cookman's eight-game win streak while holding them to a conference-low 55 points, underscoring that no lead is safe.
Offensive firepower is a conference hallmark, with four players ranked in Division I's top 50 scorers (three in the top 20).This week's action produced 14 performances of 25+ points, highlighted by Prairie View A&M's Dontae Horne earning SWAC Player of the Week honors after averaging 34 PPG, including a career-high 46 in a tough loss to Southern.
Home-court advantage remains massive: home teams went 11-5 this week, and the SWAC ranks top 8 nationally in home win%. With the regular season winding down and the tournament looming, the stretch run promises drama and any slip could shuffle the standings in this battle for supremacy.
Bethune Cookman’s Big Lead Shrinks
For weeks, Bethune-Cookman controlled the SWAC race with authority. Now, the cushion that once felt comfortable has tightened. The Wildcats endured a turbulent 1-2 week, with both losses coming on the road and snapping their eight-game win streak. They fell short in a low-scoring battle at Alcorn State, marking their conference-low output before rebounding with back-to-back 80+ point performances.
However, the skid continued with a 91-86 defeat at Jackson State, the most points allowed by them in SWAC play this season. This ended their momentum and marked their first back-to-back losses since non-conference action. They bounced back with a double digit win against a feisty Alabama State team which sets them up to re-gain momentum down the stretch.
Guards Jakobi Heady and Daniel Rouzan led the charge, each averaging over 17+ points and 5+ rebounds per game. The absence of the versatile Doctor Bradley (out since February 2nd) has been glaring; the team is 7-1 in games he's played, underscoring his two-way impact.
Despite the losing week, BCU holds on to first place but faces a critical stretch to maintain it: two upcoming games against pursuers in the standings including a rematch with Alabama A&M, and three of their final four on the road. Projections favor them at 3-1 in the remaining four, but securing the top spot likely hinges on next week's pivotal road matchup against Southern.
Mid-Tier Madness
Southern
The margin between chasing first place and owning it can be razor thin, and for Southern Jaguars, it was a single point. The Jaguars split their road games this week, dropping a heartbreaking 1-point decision to Texas Southern that prevented them from closing within one game of first place in the SWAC. They now sit firmly in second, showcasing balanced excellence as the conference’s only top 5 team in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Offensively, they averaged 80 points but allowed their opponents to average 78, something that will need to be cleaned up going forward in the SWAC race.
Senior forward Terrance Dixon Jr. dominated the week, posting 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on an impressive 75% field-goal shooting. Southern's home strength could prove decisive down the stretch. They're 4-2 in MEAC play at home (7-2 overall) and face three of their final five games in familiar surroundings, including a pivotal matchup against Bethune-Cookman.
They've already gone 4-1 against their remaining opponents with the lone loss coming on the road to Florida A&M. Projections suggest a 3-2 finish in these games, positioning them to potentially seize first place if they sweep their slate and Bethune-Cookman drops an additional game.
Jackson State
Jackson State snapped a prolonged win drought with a perfect 2-0 home week, marking their first back-to-back victories since mid-January. The highlight was a gritty revenge win over Bethune-Cookman, avenging a nearly-40-point January setback. Their offense exploded, averaging 85.5 points, the highest mark among HBCU programs this week.
Star guard Daeshun Ruffin continues his stellar season with another big week, averaging 26.5 points to crack the national top 10 in scoring. He's getting strong support from the rising duo of Jayme Mitchell and Dorian McMillan, who have lightened the load and fueled a more balanced attack.
The Tigers are one of two teams tied for second that split the season series with Bethune-Cookman. Jackson State remains in the hunt despite a challenging road-heavy close: three of their final five games are on the road, where they're 3-3 in SWAC play. The schedule favors them on paper, pitting them against three bottom-tier teams. They've previously gone 4-1 against these opponents, yet projections call for a tougher 1-4 slide in the stretch, setting up a critical test of their momentum and road resilience.
Alabama A&M
Momentum has fully arrived for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. A perfect 3–0 week stretched their win streak to four straight and vaulted them into sole possession of second place. What once looked like a crowded middle of the standings is now a legitimate push toward the top tier.
The offense is trending upward at the right time. Alabama A&M has scored 70+ points in two of its last three games, showing improved rhythm and shot selection. With three of their final four games coming at home where they’re 4–2 this season, the Bulldogs are positioned to control their own destiny down the stretch.
The charge has been led by Kintavious Dozier and James Graham. Dozier stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds this week, while Graham poured in 18 points per game, giving the Bulldogs a steady and reliable scoring tandem.
Projections have Alabama A&M finishing with 17 total wins, which would be the program’s highest win total since 2002. It would also mark their first overall winning season since 2005. For a program that has been chasing consistency for nearly two decades, this isn’t just a good week, its potentially a breakthrough season under new head coach Donte Jackson.
Texas Southern
The surge is real for the Texas Southern Tigers. A 3–0 week has pushed them into fifth place and extended their winning streak to three games, their longest run of the season. After navigating inconsistency earlier in the year, the Tigers are now playing their best basketball when it matters most.
Offensively, they’ve taken over as the most efficient scoring unit in the conference. Texas Southern averaged just under 80 points this week, showcasing pace, ball movement, and confidence on the perimeter. Jaylen Wysinger has been the engine. He averaged 21.3 points and 5.6 assists this week, orchestrating the offense while also shouldering the scoring load. His ability to both create and convert has unlocked the Tigers’ rhythm during this late-season push.
The schedule sets up favorably. Among the top five teams, they hold one of the easiest remaining schedules, with at least a 69%-win probability in each of their final four games. Three of those four contests are at home, and the lone road matchup comes against the team currently sitting at the bottom of the standings.
But the spotlight will shine brightest at the end of the month when they square off against Jackson State Tigers, a game that could significantly reshape the race in the upper half of the conference. As we get closer to March where you need to be playing your best, the Tigers are accelerating at the right time.
Week 7 in the MEAC: Parity Party
If there’s one word to describe this past week in the MEAC, it’s volatility. For the fourth time this season, a new leader has emerged at the top of the standings. This time it’s Howard seizing control of first place in a race that refuses to settle. Howard becoming the fourth different team to sit atop the MEAC standings is a testament to how competitive this conference has been this year. At the top of this league, separation is temporary and survival is earned nightly.
The top of the conference remains a brutal battleground: Morgan State (6-3), Norfolk State (6-4), and North Carolina Central (6-4) are all breathing down the Bison's necks, with just a game or two separating the contenders. Parity reigns supreme as no team is running away with it, and only Delaware State sits with fewer than four conference wins, underscoring how no team can take nights off regardless of opponent.
Howard Sits Alone Atop MEAC
Howard didn’t just climb the standings this week, they seized control of the conference. We highlighted them several times as they started their ascend to the top and now, they sit alone as number one … for now.
A dominant 2-0 stretch this week, with one win on the road and another at home, pushed the Bison from third place into sole possession of first. And they did it emphatically, outscoring their opponents 170–112, a staggering point differential that underscores just how overwhelming they’ve been. The dominance isn’t new; it just continues to escalate.
Howard secured its fifth MEAC victory by 20+ points, a total that exceeds the rest of the conference combined and stands as the most by any HBCU program this season. During their current five-game MEAC winning streak, the Bison are winning by an average of 26.6 points per game. That’s an absurd number that not many teams in the country can say they’ve done in conference play.
Under head coach Kenneth Blakeney, the standard has risen. Howard is projected to reach 10 MEAC wins, which would mark just the second time in the Blakeney era. The previous instance came in 2023 when the Bison punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Even more impressively, they’re tracking toward a 20-win season, which would be the best overall record of his tenure.
The individual accolades mirror team success. Cedric Taylor III and Bryce Harris earned back-to-back Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors, reinforcing Howard’s identity as a balanced force on both ends of the floor.
The road ahead won’t be forgiving. Three of their final four games come against top three teams in the standings. But if the Bison maintains this level of execution and defensive edge, they won’t just win the MEAC regular season, but they’ll be in position for a clean sweep, something they have not done since 2022-2023.
Coppin State’s Big Week
While most attention in the MEAC typically gravitates toward title contenders, Coppin State has quietly engineered one of the week's most impressive turnarounds. Typically mired at the bottom of the standings and out of the regular-season title conversation, the Eagles defied expectations by going 2-0 this week, both victories coming on the road.
This hot stretch has extended Coppin State's winning streak to three games, marking the first time this season they've won back-to-back contests. Their defensive turnaround has been the story: over the three-game run, they held every opponent under 60 points, vaulting them to the top spot in defensive efficiency in the MEAC for the week.
The contrast is stark. Prior to this defensive surge, the Eagles had allowed 70+ points in six consecutive games (with 80+ in half of those). Now, they've rediscovered their identity as a lockdown unit, particularly in the paint where they are holding opponents to just 46% shooting on two-point attempts, the second-best mark in the MEAC.
Offensively, Coppin State thrives without relying on a single star scorer. They boast no double-digit scorer, yet eight players average 6+ points per game. Their depth is unmatched nationally, ranking first in Bench Minute% with 13 players logging double-digit minutes. Guard DeMariontay Hall emerged as the spark this week, averaging 11.5 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting (with zero threes attempted). Hall has been a consistent performer lately, scoring 11+ points in five of the last six games.
The Eagles soar into the week with heavy momentum, however, a tough stretch looms, as they face three of the top four teams in the standings to end the regular season. Before February began, Coppin State had just one MEAC win (against last-place Delaware State). They have been competitive mostly throughout th season, evident by two of their six conference losses coming by a single possession. This does not include a heartbreaking one where they led North Carolina Central by as many as 15 before falling by 11.
This week's defensive masterclass and road grit have reignited hope for the Eagles. If they can sustain this identity against stronger opponents, Coppin State could play spoiler in a few weeks at the MEAC Conference Tournament in Norfolk, VA.
Still In Contention
Norfolk State: They are ascending at the perfect moment. The Spartans went 2-0 this week (one home win, one road victory), extending their winning streak to three games and jumping two spots in the standings. They're now just one game back of first-place Howard, with a golden opportunity to shake up the race. Their remaining schedule includes matchups against both teams (Morgan State & Howard) ahead of them. Both whom they lost against earlier this season and will be seeking revenge. After a shaky start to MEAC play, Norfolk State has found consistency, scoring 70+ points in three straight games while holding opponents under 70 in all three. Anthony McComb (18.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg this week) and Devon Ellis (17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg on 13-of-18 shooting) have led the charge.
North Carolina Central Eagles: It was a turbulent week for NCCU. The Eagles went 1-2, splitting at home and dropping one on the road. In just seven days they fell from first place to fourth, which shows how valuable every game is down the stretch. Playing three games in five days didn’t help, but the bigger issue remains consistent, particularly at the defensive end. They allowed 75+ points in two of their three games and continue to alternate wins and losses. The last time they won back-to-back games was January 10th and 12th. Yet amid the uneven stretch, Gage Lattimore has been brilliant. Over the past week and a half, he’s averaging 19.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2 steals while shooting 14-of-29 from three. His resurgence is giving the Eagles a reliable offensive anchor. Now comes the real test. Three of their final four games are on the road. They’re projected to split and finish 2-2, but if the defense doesn’t stabilize, that projection may be optimistic. The extended time off after a hectic week could be exactly what they need to reset before the stretch run.
Morgan State Bears: The Bears suffered a setback, going 0-1 with a road loss to NCCU that snapped their six-game winning streak. They remain in second place, one game back of Howard, a team they already beat once and host the Bison in a massive late-month showdown. Having played just three games in 2.5 weeks due to scheduling quirks, the Bears have leaned on Elijah Davis, who stuffed the stat sheet during the streak (16.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.0 apg over the last six). Offense has been potent (75+ points in eight straight), but defense remains a concern after giving up 75+ in six of those eight games. Interior force Marland Harris helps, but perimeter defense must tighten. With four of their last five at home (where they're 3-1 in MEAC play), Morgan State is poised for a late surge if they shore up the perimeter defense.
South Carolina State: The Bulldogs split (1-1) this week, including a key home win over NCCU. They're just one game back in the loss column from first place and own wins over two of the four teams ahead. Ranked second in conference defense, their offense has been streaky, failing to reach 60 points in two of their last three. The road ahead is brutal: four of their final five games on the road (where they're 1-4 in MEAC play), including three against top-four foes. A win this weekend at Norfolk State could thrust them into legitimate title contention and make the race electric. Projections see them dropping four of those five despite earlier success against those opponents, but their defensive identity gives them a fighting chance to defy the odds.
