Virginia Beach, Va., March 4, 2010 - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the men's pairings for the 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament following the conference's final regular-season matchups Tuesday night.  For the third straight season the Morgan State Bears earned the No. 1 seed and an early round bye to compete for the tournament title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. 

The 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 9-13 at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

In-state rivals Bethune-Cookman (No. 7) and Florida A&M (No. 10) opens men's play on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m.  Howard (No. 8) and North Carolina A&T (No. 9) will face off in the final game of the night beginning at 9 p.m.

Wednesday's play begins with Maryland Eastern Shore (No. 6) squaring off against Coppin State (No. 11) beginning at 3 p.m. The defending tournament champion MSU Bears will take to the court at 7 p.m. The Bears will face the winner of the Howard/N.C. A&T matchup. 

The 2010 regular season champion, regular-season runners-up, first-team members and top honorees including Player, Rookie, Defensive and Coach of the Year selections, will be recognized in pre-game presentations prior to the honorees first games in tournament play.  Earlier today Morgan State swept conference honors earning the Coach (Todd Bozeman), Player (Reggie Holmes), Rookie (DeWayne Jackson) and Defensive (Kevin Thompson) Player of the Year honors.

Delaware State secured the No. 2 seed with an 11-5 mark.  The Hornets avoided sharing the 2010 MEAC Regular Season Runners-up trophy with the S.C. State Bulldogs (10-6) after defeating Maryland Eastern Shore, 57-37, earlier tonight.  DSU will take to the court for the first time in tournament play on Wednesday, March 10 at 9:30 p.m. against the winner of the Bethune-Cookman/Florida A&M matchup.

South Carolina State wrapped up the No. 3 seed early and will compete on Thursday evening beginning at 6 p.m. against the winner of the Maryland Eastern Shore/Coppin State game. 

Norfolk State (No. 4) will matchup against Hampton (No. 5) on Thursday night beginning at 8 p.m.  The Hampton Pirates (8-8) edged out the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (8-8) in the head-to-head tie breaker to earn the higher seed and face off against the local town rival. 

The 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off Tuesday, March 9, and will conclude on Saturday, March 13 with the men's and women's championship games.  The men's finale will tip off at 2 p.m. in a live nationally televised matchup on ESPN 2.  The women's championship game is set for 5 p.m. and will air taped delayed on ESPNU on Sunday, March 14 at 11 .m.  Check your local listing for channel information. 

Tickets are on sale now at www.MEAChoops.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or at any MEAC member institution.

Click here to download a pdf version of the 2010 Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket.