HBCU ORIGINAL
Bluefield State Survives Virginia State Rally, Advances to CIAA Championship Game
BALTIMORE, MD — February 27, 2026
Bluefield State is headed to the CIAA Championship — but not without surviving one of the wildest semifinal battles of the tournament.
Inside CFG Bank Arena on Thursday afternoon, the Big Blue (16–14) held off a furious late push from Virginia State (20–10), grinding out a 71–66 victory to punch their ticket to Saturday’s CIAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game.
And at the center of it all was Food Lion Player of the Game Myles Pierre, who delivered a performance built for March.
Big Blue Set the Tone Early
From the opening tip, Bluefield State looked locked in defensively. The Big Blue overwhelmed Virginia State with length, physicality, and relentless rotations, holding the Trojans to just 16 first-half points on 17% shooting.
Every possession felt contested. Every rebound mattered.
On the offensive end, Anthony Davenport provided the spark, knocking down timely shots and finishing with 14 points, including three clutch three-pointers that helped Bluefield State carry a 27–16 lead into halftime.
Meanwhile, Pierre quietly controlled the tempo — attacking the rim, drawing contact, and living at the free-throw line.
Virginia State Storms Back
The second half told a completely different story.
Virginia State came out aggressive, erupting for 50 second-half points and turning the game into a track meet. Jared White ignited the comeback effort off the bench, drilling four three-pointers that energized the Trojan crowd.
Jacob Cooper pushed the pace and attacked downhill, finishing with 12 points as VSU chipped away at what once was a 17-point deficit.
With under four minutes left, the momentum inside the arena had completely shifted.
Back-to-back buckets cut the lead to six. Then another three. Then another.
Suddenly, it was a one-possession game.
Championship Composure
But every time Virginia State threatened, Bluefield State answered.
Ellija Preddy orchestrated the offense with confidence, dishing seven assists while hitting key mid-range shots. Warren Mouganda and Anthony Latty battled inside for second-chance points and critical rebounds, refusing to let the game slip away.
And when the pressure reached its peak, the ball found Pierre.
With seconds ticking down and the Trojans closing fast, Pierre calmly stepped to the free-throw line again and again — and didn’t miss when it mattered most.
He finished an incredible 17-for-18 from the stripe, repeatedly extending Bluefield State’s lead in the final minute.
In the closing seconds, Pierre sealed the moment with a steal, bringing the Bluefield State bench to its feet before Davenport added the final free throw to secure the 71–66 win.
By the Numbers
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Myles Pierre: 23 points, 17-18 FT, 2 steals
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Anthony Davenport: 14 points (3 threes)
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Ellija Preddy: 10 points, 7 assists
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Warren Mouganda: 9 points
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Anthony Latty: 6 points, 8 rebounds
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Tako: 6 points off the bench
Bluefield State now advances to Saturday’s championship matchup, where they will face the winner of tonight’s semifinal between Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith — with a CIAA title on the line.
One thing is certain after Thursday’s battle in Baltimore:
The Big Blue proved they can win ugly, survive pressure, and close like champions.
The SWAC delivered one of the biggest championship storylines of the season as Jackson State and Florida A&M claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles.
Jackson State shocked the conference by capturing the men’s championship, powered by explosive sprint performances and clutch relay execution. The Tigers built momentum throughout the meet and held off late pushes to secure a historic breakthrough title.
On the women’s side, Florida A&M continued its championship tradition, controlling the meet with consistent scoring across sprints, hurdles, and field events. The Rattlers’ depth once again proved decisive as they stayed ahead of a competitive field to claim another SWAC crown.
Two different stories — one breakthrough, one dynasty — defined the SWAC season.
The SIAC championships belonged to Morehouse and Tuskegee as both programs delivered complete team performances to claim the 2026 outdoor track & field titles.
On the men’s side, Morehouse controlled the meet from start to finish, scoring consistently across sprints, distance, and field events to build separation early. The Maroon Tigers maintained their advantage through the final events, sealing another conference championship built on depth and execution.
On the women’s side, Tuskegee continued its dominance with a back-to-back SIAC championship performance. The Golden Tigers delivered strong scoring across sprints, relays, and field events, holding off the field once again to repeat as conference champions.
Together, Morehouse and Tuskegee set the standard in SIAC track & field heading into postseason competition.
The HBCUAC championship meet marked a new era as Voorhees and Dillard claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles in defining early conference performances.
Voorhees secured the men’s championship through consistent scoring across sprints, middle distance, and field events, proving to be the most complete team in a tightly contested meet.
Dillard followed on the women’s side with a strong all-around effort, highlighted by relay execution and key individual performances that helped them control the championship race from start to finish.
The HBCUAC now begins its competitive identity with two early benchmark programs setting the standard.
HBCU ORIGINAL
OVC Outdoor Track & Field — Eastern Illinois & Southeast Missouri Take Control, Tennessee State Battles in the Mix
The Ohio Valley Conference delivered a high-level championship meet in Little Rock as Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles, while Tennessee State fought to stay inside the top tier.
Eastern Illinois captured the men’s championship with a powerful overall team performance, using depth across sprints, distance, and field events to hold off a competitive field. Southeast Missouri stayed right behind the pace, finishing runner-up behind a balanced scoring attack that kept pressure on throughout the meet.
On the women’s side, Southeast Missouri dominated the field to secure the OVC crown, led by consistent scoring across multiple event groups and a strong closing push in the final sessions. Eastern Illinois again finished near the top, locking in runner-up status and showing its program-wide strength on both sides of competition.
Tennessee State was the key HBCU presence in the conference, finishing in the middle of the standings on both the men’s and women’s side. The Tigers showed flashes in sprints, hurdles, and relays, but lacked the depth needed to break into the championship tier against the OVC’s top programs.
The meet reinforced Southeast Missouri’s growing conference dominance while Eastern Illinois remains a consistent championship contender on both sides.
The MEAC once again ran through two familiar powers as Norfolk State and Howard claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field championships in dominant fashion.
On the men’s side, Norfolk State continued its conference dynasty, securing its fifth straight MEAC outdoor title. The Spartans delivered across sprints, hurdles, and relays, using depth and execution in the final events to separate from the field and close out another championship run.
On the women’s side, Howard extended its own reign of dominance, stacking points across distance races, field events, and relays to secure another MEAC crown. The Bison’s balance and consistency across all disciplines once again proved too much for the rest of the conference.
MEAC dominance remains firmly in the hands of Norfolk State and Howard heading into postseason competition.
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