Fuquay-Varina, NC – From day one, the Bears of Morgan State were considered by many as one of the best teams in black college basketball. Todd Bozeman's squad was the MEAC's preseason favorite to win the conference and their 2008-09 finish did nothing to disprove that notion.

The Bears went a school record 23-12 en route to a regular season and tournament MEAC championship. Despite a first round loss to Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament, Morgan completed the best basketball season in the school’s Division I history.

It's also no surprise that Bozeman and Morgan State finished as the No. 1 team in the final Boxtorow.com/BASN HBCU NCAA Division I Basketball Poll. MSU received all eight first-place votes in the inaugural poll.

Alabama State, the SWAC's tournament champions (22-10) are ranked second in the Division I poll with Jackson State (18-15) third followed by a pair of MEAC powers -- South Carolina State (17-14) and Hampton (17-15) respectively.

The second five includes Prairie View A&M (17-16) are number six, Bethune-Cookman (17-16) is seventh, North Carolina A&T (16-15) at eight, Savannah State (15-14) at nine, and Coppin State (13-19) at number ten.

On the non-NCAA Division I side, another school which enjoyed an historic season sits atop our other men's final poll. The Panthers of Claflin University (25-4), who finished their inaugural season as a member of the SIAC as regular season champions, were tabbed as the top team of that section.

Coach Ron Woodard's squad fell in overtime to LeMoyne-Owen in the SIAC tournament. However, the Panthers made the NCAA Tournament and reached the semifinals of the Division II South Regional. Just like Morgan State, Claflin was a unanimous top choice.

Another SIAC team, Benedict College (24-6) is ranked second followed by a pair of CIAA teams -- Johnson C. Smith (23-8) and Virginia Union (21-7) respectively. West Virginia State (24-6) rounds out the top five.

The rest of the poll has Talladega (21-8) at six, Tougaloo (22-11) is seventh, Lane College (22-8) sits at eight, Elizabeth City State (21-7) is ninth and Cheyney (18-9) rounds out the poll at tenth.

On the heels of DWCommunications, LLC’s two-year collaboration with Black Athlete Sports Network on the BoxToRow.com/BASN HBCU Top 10 Football poll, this season marked the release of the inaugural basketball polls. There are two separate weekly polls, one for NCAA Division I teams and one for Non-NCAA Division I teams (including NCAA Division II, NCAA Division II and NAIA Divisions I and II).

March 25, 2009 (Records through March 24)

Others receiving votes: Norfolk State (11-17) 2, Tennessee State (12-18) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)

The Boxtorow.com/BASN poll is a collaboration between boxtorow.com and Black Athlete Sports Network. The poll is voted on weekly by 8 of the top writers and media members who cover Black college basketball. For more information please email us at dware1[at]boxtorow.com

Boxtorow.com/BASN DI Basketball All-American team
Coppin's McKee headlines the Boxtorow.com/BASN All-American team

Fuquay-Varina, NC - Coppin State's Tywain McKee of Coppin State and sensational freshman Jamar Briscoe of North Carolina Central are among the members of the Inaugural BoxToRow.com/BASN HBCU NCAA Division I All-America basketball team which was announced Monday.

Joining McKee and Briscoe on the first team back court is senior Michael DeLoach of Norfolk State. The first team front court consists of Jackson State junior Grant Maxey, senior Jason Johnson of South Carolina State, and junior Darnell Hugee of Prairie View A&M.

Named 2009 MEAC Player of the Year, McKee led the Eagles in scoring (18.2, second in the MEAC), rebounding (5.7), assists (4.0) and steals (2.9). The 6-foot-2 senior from Philadelphia was tabbed as BTRC/BASN's Offensive Player of the Year as well.

Johnson, who led the MEAC in rebounding, was named Boxtorow.com/BASN's Defensive Player of The Year. The 6-foot-7 senior from Bronx, N.Y., led the MEAC in rebounding (8.2) and was 3rd in the league in blocked shots (1.4), while averaging 13.8 points per game for the Bulldogs.

A native of Baltimore, the 5-foot-10 Briscoe became the first NCCU freshman to score over 500 points finishing with 535 points. He led the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game and assists with 79.

DeLoach led all HBCU NCAA Division I players in scoring (21.5) and was third in the MEAC in steals (2.0). Maxey was 2nd in the SWAC in scoring (16.4) while averaging 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Hugee averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

As for the second team, Morgan State junior Reggie Holmes and senior Brandon Brooks of Alabama State make up the back court. Jackson State's Jeremy Caldwell, Neal Pitt of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Corey Lyons of Norfolk State are the front court second teamers.

In other awards, Morgan State's Todd Bozeman was tabbed as BTRC/BASN's Coach of the Year. The Bears went 23-12 en route to a regular season and MEAC tournament championship.

Under Bozeman, who was also tabbed as the winner of the national Hugh Durham Coaches Award, Morgan completed the best season in school history since becoming a Division I program.

On the heels of BASN's two-year collaboration with DWCommunications, LLC on the BoxToRow.com/BASN HBCU Top 10 Football poll, the 2008-09 season marked the release of the inaugural basketball polls and All-America teams.

There will be two separate teams announced -- one for NCAA Division I schools and one for non-Division I schools (including Division II, Division III and NAIA Divisions I and II).

The non-Division I team will be announced later this week.

BTRC/BASN HBCU NCAA DIVISION I

ALL-AMERICAN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

First Team

Back Court
Tywain McKee, Coppin State (6-2, Senior, Philadelphia, Pa.); x-Jamar Briscoe, North Carolina Central (5-10, Freshman, Baltimore, Md.); x-Michael DeLoach, Norfolk St. (6-0, Senior, Rocky Mount, N.C.).

Front Court
Grant Maxey, Jackson State (6-6, Junior, Toledo, Ohio); Jason Johnson, South Carolina State (6-7, Senior, Bronx, N.Y.); Darnell Hugee, Prairie View A.M., (6-7, Junior, Brooklyn, N.Y.).

Second Team

Back Court
Reggie Holmes, Morgan State (6-4, Junior, Baltimore, Md.); Brandon Brooks, Alabama State (6-2, Senior, Irving, Tx.).

Front Court
Jeremy Caldwell, Jackson State (6-8, Senior, Jackson, Ms.); Neal Pitt, Maryland-Eastern Shore (6-6, Junior, Fort Washington, Md.); Corey Lyons, Norfolk State (6-4, Senior, Bronx, N.Y.).

Honorable Mention

Back Court
Darrion Griffin, Jackson State; Chris Davis, Southern.

Front Court
Chief Kickstallionsims, Alabama State; Marquise Kately, Morgan State; Jason Flagler, South Carolina State.

x-tied in voting

AWARDS:
Player of The Year: Tywain McKee, Coppin State
Defensive Player of The Year: Jason Johnson, South Carolina State
Coach of The Year: Todd Bozeman, Morgan State