What Is 1999 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 1999 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament marked a historic moment for Howard University, which captured its first conference title in program history. The event was the culmination of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's postseason competition, determining which team would represent the MEAC in the NCAA Tournament.

Hosted at the Norfolk Scope Arena, the tournament featured eight conference teams competing in a single-elimination format. Howard’s victory was significant not only for the program but also for the broader landscape of HBCU athletics.

• Howard University won the championship by defeating Savannah State 74–69 in the final game on March 13, 1999, securing its first MEAC title.
• The tournament spanned four days, from March 10 to March 13, 1999, with early rounds leading up to the championship game.
• All games were played at the Norfolk Scope Arena, a 10,000-seat multi-purpose venue in Norfolk, Virginia, which frequently hosted MEAC events.
• Eight teams participated in the single-elimination tournament, seeded based on regular-season conference records.
• The winner received an automatic bid to the 1999 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, representing the MEAC on the national stage.

How the Tournament Worked

The MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament follows a structured format to determine the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. Teams qualify based on regular-season performance, with seeding determining matchups in the bracket.

• Format: The tournament used a single-elimination format with eight teams participating, all members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
• Seeding: Teams were seeded 1 through 8 based on their regular-season conference win-loss records, with tiebreakers applied as needed.
• Location: The entire tournament was held at a neutral site—Norfolk Scope Arena—to ensure fairness and centralized access for fans and teams.
• Championship Game: The final was played on March 13, 1999, where Howard defeated Savannah State 74–69 to claim the title.
• NCAA Bid: The winner earned the MEAC’s automatic bid to the 1999 NCAA Tournament, entering as a 16-seed in the West Region.
• Eligibility: Only MEAC member institutions were eligible, and teams had to meet NCAA Division I standards to participate.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1999 MEAC Tournament compared to other HBCU conference tournaments of the era:

This table highlights the MEAC's consistency in hosting its tournament in Norfolk and shows how Howard’s 1999 win broke Hampton’s recent dominance. It also illustrates the competitive balance among HBCU conferences during the late 1990s.

Why It Matters

The 1999 MEAC Tournament had lasting implications for Howard University and HBCU athletics as a whole. It underscored the growing competitiveness of mid-major programs and provided national exposure for student-athletes at historically Black institutions.

• Howard’s first title marked a milestone for the program, elevating its national profile and boosting recruitment.
• The NCAA Tournament appearance gave Howard a chance to compete against top-tier programs, despite a first-round loss to Duke.
• Increased visibility for HBCUs came through national broadcasts and media coverage of the MEAC championship.
• Player recognition followed, with Howard’s Greg Monroe earning Tournament MVP honors.
• Conference parity was demonstrated, as Howard broke Hampton’s two-year title streak, showing depth in the MEAC.
• Historic context places the 1999 tournament as part of a broader trend of HBCU success in NCAA postseason play.

The 1999 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament remains a landmark event in conference history, symbolizing both athletic achievement and institutional pride for Howard and the MEAC community.