The Southwestern Athletic Conference 2002-03 basketball regular season concluded Saturday with Prairie View A&M winning the men’s regular season championship, their first since 1962, and top tournament seeding.
On the women’s side, Jackson State and Alabama State finished as co-champions with identical 15-3 league records. Alabama State did gain the top seed of the SWAC Women’s tournament utilizing the SWAC tie-breaker procedure.
The 2003 SWAC Basketball Tournament format calls and includes the top eight teams in the 10 team conference, with the top four seeds hosting a first round (quarterfinal) game on Tuesday, March 11th. First round winners advance to Birmingham, Alabama for the semifinals and championship games on Friday and Saturday, March 14-15.
In the men’s pairings, Prairie View, put together a five-game win streak, to finish the season with a 14-4 SWAC record and overtake Mississippi Valley State (13-5 SWAC) for the regular-season championship in the last week of the season.
Alabama State and Texas Southern finished with identical 11-7 SWAC records, but Texas Southern gains the #3 tournament seed with the point differential tie-breaker. The remaining men’s seeds are; #5-Alcorn State (10-8), #6-Jackson State (9-9), #7-Grambling State (9-9) and #8-Southern (5-13). Seeding for numbers 6-7 were determined by tie-breaker.
In the women’s pairings, Jackson State (15-3) surged into a tie for the regular season crown with Alabama State (15-3), winning four of their last five games. Alabama State after rushing out to 13-0 league record, is 3-3 in the past three weeks of the season.
The Lady Hornets, however, still retain the #1 tournament seeding over JSU with the SWAC tie-breaker (point differential). Third seeded Grambling State (14-4), is riding a seven-game win streak that includes an 86-79 OT win at Jackson State (2/22).
Defending champion Southern (13-5) will enter the tournament as the #4 seed, is riding a 6-1 record over the last three weeks including a 60-58 win over Alabama State (2/22). The final women’s seeds are; #5-Alcorn State (11-7), #6-Prairie View A&M (7-11), #7-Alabama A&M and #8-Miss. Valley State.
SWAC TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS / TIMES
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
(Top Four Seeds Host) – All times CST
Women
#1 Alabama State (15-3, 17-10) #8 Miss. Valley State (4-14, 9-18) 6:00p.m.
#2 Jackson State (15-3, 22-5)) #7 Alabama A&M (5-13, 10-17) 7:00p.m.
#3 Grambling State (14-4, 18-9) #6 Prairie View A&M (7-11, 9-15) 7:00p.m.
#4 SOUTHERN (13-5, 17-7) #5 Alcorn State (11-7, 17-11) 7:00p.m.
Men
#1 Prairie View (14-4, 16-11) #8 SOUTHERN (5-13, 9-190 7:00p.m
#2 Miss. Valley State (13-5, 14-13) #7 Grambling State (9-9, 12-17) 7:00p.m.
#3 Texas Southern (11-7, 15-12) #6 Jackson State (9-9, 10-17) 7:00p.m.
#4 Alabama State (11-7, 14-14) #5 Alcorn State (10-8, 12-18) 7 p.m.
