(BALTIMORE – February 23, 2025) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament returns to Baltimore for the fifth year, bringing an exciting week of basketball and cultural celebrations. The tournament will be held at CFG Bank Arena from February 25 to March 1, 2025. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the CIAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, celebrating the incredible athletes who have shaped the sport.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s oldest Historically Black Athletic Conference, announces the brackets for its 2025 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. The single-elimination tournament will be held at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD, from February 25 to March 1st. Championship games will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. for the women, followed by the men at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1st. Each bracket is seeded based on the division record. If division records are tied, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head results followed by head-to-head point differential.
Virginia State University solidified the top seed in the Men’s field in the Northern Division by posting a 7-3 divisional record. The Trojans, led by Head Coach Lonnie Blow Jr., finished the regular season with a 13-3 record in CIAA action. The Trojans made it to the second day of last year’s quarterfinals before being eliminated. The No. 2 seed goes to Bluefield State. Under the guidance of head coach Devin Hoehn, the Big Blue finished regular season play with a 10-6 conference record, including 6-4 in the division. With a 3-way tie for the No. 3 seed, reigning champions Lincoln University (PA) take the third spot with a +1 point differential over Virginia Union and a head-to-head tiebreaker over Bowie State. With the Trojans at the No. 3 seed, Virginia Union edges out Bowie State with two head-to-head regular season wins and takes the No. 4 seed. Bowie State will sit at the No. 5 seed, with Elizabeth City State at No. 6.
Men’s Northern Division:
1) Virginia State University
2) Bluefield State University
3) Lincoln University (PA)
4) Virginia Union University
5) Bowie State University
6) Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State takes the top spot in the Men’s Southern Division for the 4th straight season. Claflin comes in at No. 2 for the second straight season with an 8-2 divisional record, and Johnson C. Smith grabbed the third spot after concluding the season with a .500 record. After a head-to-head point differential tiebreaker, Livingstone claims the No. 4 spot over Shaw University at the No.5 spot. Winston-Salem State rounds out the Southern Division at the No. 6 spot.
Men’s Southern Division:
1) Fayetteville State University
2) Claflin University
3) Johnson C. Smith University
4) Livingstone College
5) Shaw University
6) Winston-Salem State University
The first men’s game of the 2025 CIAA Basketball Tournament will be Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. when Livingstone takes on Bowie State. The full bracket can be found here.
Virginia State came out on top in the women’s northern division with a near-perfect 9-1 divisional record after defeating rival Virginia Union in their final regular season game. The Panthers, however, were close behind, as they’re locked into the second seed after posting an 8-2 divisional record on the season. Bowie State rounds out the top three of the northern division, finishing with an above .500 record at 6-4. Lincoln (PA) and Bluefield State come in next, respectively, with the Lions taking the fourth seed thanks to a +8 point differential over the Big Blue, who claim the fifth seed, while Elizabeth City State takes the sixth seed in the division at 1-9.
Women’s Northern Division:
1) Virginia State University
2) Virginia Union University
3) Bowie State University
4) Bluefield State University
5) Lincoln University (PA)
6) Elizabeth City State University
In the southern portion of the women’s division, reigning champions Fayetteville State finished where they left off, as their 9-1 record propelled them to the top spot. Livingstone, who showed much improvement from last year’s fifth-seed finish, jumped up all the way to the two seed, boasting a 7-3 record in the division. Claflin rounds out the top three as they finished with a record above .500, coming in at 6-4 in the division. The Bears of Shaw University have the four seed at 4-6. In comparison, Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State’s divisional records have them as the five and six seed, respectively, with the Golden Bulls finishing ahead of the Rams thanks to a +1 point differential.
Women’s Southern Division:
1) Fayetteville State University
2) Livingstone College
3) Claflin University
4) Shaw University
5) Johnson C. Smith University
6) Winston-Salem State University
The first women’s game of the 2025 CIAA Basketball Tournament will be Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. when Bluefield State takes on Johnson C. Smith. The full bracket can be found here.
All 22 games will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+ (https://plus.espn.com/), and the championship games will also be shown on ESPNU.
For the latest 2024 CIAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament information, visit ciaatournament.org or. You can also follow the CIAA on TikTok (@CIAASports), Instagram (@CIAASports), and Facebook (The CIAA), or search #FebruaryIsCIAA, #PaintingHERStory, or #CIAABasketball on all platforms.
Beyond Basketball: Events & Entertainment
- CIAA Fan Fest: Runs Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Battle of the Bands: Midday entertainment during the semifinals.
- Power Plant Live! Block Parties:
- Friday Night: 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
- Saturday Day Party: 2-7 p.m.
- Grand Finale Block Party: Saturday night.
- Featured Performers: Lloyd, Lady London, and Jeezy. DJ Quicksilva will perform throughout the week.
- Educational & Networking Events: Career Expo, Financial Literacy Breakfast, Health & Wellness Forum.
Baltimore’s Bid to Retain the CIAA Tournament
Baltimore’s contract to host the tournament ends after 2026, with competition from Charlotte, NC, a former host city. The CIAA tournament drew over 43,000 attendees in 2024, generating a $32.5 million economic impact while supporting 118 minority-owned businesses. With six of the conference’s 12 teams based in North Carolina and one in South Carolina, the competition to keep the event in Baltimore is high.
“This tournament has traveled from Raleigh to Richmond to Baltimore, and the energy remains unmatched,” said a CIAA representative.
Don’t miss out on this week-long celebration of basketball, culture, and community! Get your tickets now!
