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The favorite
Livingstone: The surprising Blue Bears (20-5) won their first division title by sweeping seventh-ranked Winston-Salem State.
Team to watch
Winston-Salem State: The Rams have eight seniors, last year’s championship experience and a 20-5 record.
Dark horse
Lincoln (Pa.): The league’s other surprise team. The Lions won the North Division for the first time in school history.
Five players to watch
Trevin Parks, Johnson C. Smith, G, 5-11, Sr.: Two-time All-America averages 25.2 points and connects on 41.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Angelo Sharpless, Elizabeth City State, G, 6-4, Sr.: Player of the Year averages 21 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Mark Thomas, Livingstone, G, 5-10, Jr.: Point guard’s game improved as season went along, averaging 17.9 points.
Byron Westmorland, Bowie State, F, 6-4, Sr.: Second-leading scorer at 22.7 points per game and first in 3-pointers made (82).
Justin Glover, Winston-Salem State, G, 6-3, Sr.: Averages 16.8 points and leads the Rams in 3-point baskets with 55.
Did you know?
• No. 1 seeds Lincoln and Livingstone have never won a tournament title.
• Johnson C. Smith coach Steve Joyner has the longest tenure of current coaches (26 seasons).
• Bowie State is the highest-scoring team at 80 points per game. Lincoln is tops in team defense at 64.5 ppg.
• Chowan’s Kortez Smith was named the top rookie after earning five weekly honors.
• Winston-Salem State’s Marcus Wells led the league with an average of 2.6 steals per game.
Herb White
