2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics
Format
Usually, the MEAC Tournament features a traditional bracket with split quarterfinal doubleheaders to protect the top two seeds, but this year, there’s a twist with only seven teams involved. The first of those double sets is reduced to one game.
Site
The Norfolk (Va.) Scope is the home of the event for the 12th straight time.
Participants
Coppin State (7-24, 5-9, t-6th) will not participate as it is ineligible for the postseason due to APR violations.
Schedule
Downloadable PDF Bracket
TV/Streaming Info
ESPN+ ($) will stream all games before the championship.
Game numbering
includes the women’s tournament.
Quarterfinals (Wed. 3/11)
Gm. 3: (7) Delaware State (7-22, 2-12) vs. (2) Morgan State (14-15, 10-4), 6
The Bears swept: 80-79 (away) on 1/17 and 82-68 (home) on 2/21.
Quarterfinals (Thurs. 3/12)
Gm. 6: (5) South Carolina State (9-21, 7-7) vs. (4) Norfolk State (15-16, 8-6), 6
The Spartans swept: 89-82 (away) on 1/17 and 90-71 (home) on 2/21.
Gm. 7: (6) Maryland-Eastern Shore (9-22, 5-9) vs. (3) North Carolina Central (12-17, 8-6), 8:30*
The Eagles swept: 65-63 (home) on 2/2 and 77-73 (away) on 3/2.
Semifinals (Fri. 3/13)
Gm. 10: Gm. 6 winner vs. (1) Howard (21-10, 11-3), 6
Gm. 11: Gm. 3 winner vs. Gm. 7 winner, 8:30*
Championship (Sat. 3/14)
Gm. 12: Semifinal winners, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
Mayhem Potential
Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.
Over the past 14 editions, the MEAC’s top two seeds have managed to win a total of nine championships, though Norfolk State’s 2022 win was the first for a No. 1 since 2017. No true two seed has won since 2012, as Norfolk State won as the North Division’s 2 seed in a COVID-impacted 2021 edition.
- 1 seed (6): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2026
- 2 seed (3): 2011, 2012, 2021 (divisional)
- 6 seed (2): 2015, 2018
- 4 seed (1): 2024
- 3 seed (1): 2019
- 7 seed (1): 2013
NCAA Seeding Record In The 68-Team Era
Years with an NCAA win are in bold.
- 14 seed (1): 2014
- 15 seed (1): 2012
- 16 seed (12): 2011, 2013 (First Four), 2015 (First Four), 2016, 2017 (First Four), 2018 (First Four), 2019 (First Four), 2021 (First Four), 2022, 2023, 2024 (First Four), 2025
NC Central is responsible for the MEAC’s highest seed in the past 10 years, but Norfolk State has the conference’s lone win away from Dayton in that span, the Spartans 15-over-2 upset of Missouri in 2012.
This year’s champ is likely going to be the MEAC’s 13th 16 seed since the field expanded in 2011. It’s also likely going to Dayton.
Last NCAA Tournament Appearances
Norfolk State: 2025 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Howard: 2024 (16 seed, First Four)
NC Central: 2019 (16 seed, First Four)
Morgan State: 2010 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Coppin State: 2008 (16 seed, Opening Round)
Delaware State: 2005 (16 seed, 1st Round)
South Carolina State: 2003 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only remaining MEAC member without an NCAA appearance at the Division I level.
