Lincoln, Fayetteville State claim men, women CIAA basketball championships

BALTIMORE - Lincoln University and Fayetteville State fans reveled in their CIAA basketball tournament championships.

Lincoln edged Fayetteville State, 54-51, in the men's final on Saturday at CFG Bank Arena in downtown Baltimore. On the women's end, Fayetteville State defeated Elizabeth City State, 64-59.

Baltimore was filled with fan-friendly events, basketball and plenty of enthusiasm from fans and alumni.

"The energy was high, a lot of enthusiasm going on," fan Mahalia Ford said. "It was amazing."

Following an action-packed week of basketball, the festivities have ended.

The CIAA is the oldest Black athletics conference in the country.

Throughout the week, 13 men's and women's basketball teams went toe-to-toe for the title.

And when the games ended, Power Plant Live! was packed with fans celebrating the CIAA Tournament. 

The five-day tournament drew an estimated 100,000 people to Charm City. The schools' fans and alumni turned Baltimore into a week-long family reunion. 

"It's been a great experience networking, just seeing the scene, being around a lot of other HBCU colleges," Ford said. 

The CIAA Tournament moved to Baltimore in 2021 after spending years in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

 It has a deal to stay in Baltimore through at least 2026.