The Bears went a school record 23-12 en route to a regular season and tournament MEAC championship. Despite a first round loss to Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament, Morgan completed the best season in school history since becoming a Division I program.

It's also no surprise that Bozeman and Morgan State finished as the No. 1 team in the final BoxToRow.com/BASN  Black College Men's Division I Basketball Poll. MSU received all eight first-place votes in the inaugural poll.

On the heels of BASN's two-year collaboration with DWCommunications, LLC on the BoxToRow.com/BASN HBCU Top 10 Football poll, this season marked the release of the inaugural basketball polls.

There are two separate weekly polls, one for Division I teams and one for Non-NCAA Division I teams (including NCAA Division II, NCAA Division II and NAIA Divisions I and II).

Alabama State, the SWAC's tournament champions (22-10) are ranked second in the Division I poll with Jackson State (18-15) third followed by a pair of MEAC powers -- South Carolina State (17-14) and Hampton (17-15) respectively.

The second five includes Prairie View A&M (17-16) are number six, Bethune-Cookman (17-16) is seventh, North Carolina A&T (16-15) at eight, Savannah State (15-14) at nine, and Coppin State (13-19) at number ten.

On the non-Division I side, another school which enjoyed an historic season sits atop our other men's final poll. The Panthers of Claflin University (25-4), who finished their inaugural season as a member of the SIAC as regular season champions, were tabbed as the top team of that section.

Coach Ron Woodard's squad fell in overtime to LeMoyne-Owen in the SIAC tournament semis. However, the Panthers made the NCAA Tournament and reached the semifinals of the  Division II South Regional. Just like Morgan State, Claflin was a unanimous top choice.

Another SIAC team, Benedict College (24-6) is ranked second followed by a pair of CIAA teams -- Johnson C. Smith (23-8) and Virginia Union (21-7) respectively. West Virginia State (24-6) rounds out the top five.

The rest of the poll has Talladega (21-8) at six, Tougaloo (22-11) is seventh, Lane College (22-8) sits at eight, Elizabeth City State (21-7) is ninth and Cheyney (18-9) rounds out the poll at tenth.

FINAL BTRC/BASN HBCU

MEN'S BASKETBALL POLLS

(Records Through March 25)

Division 1                       W-L  Pts  LW
 
1. Morgan State (8)         23-12  80     1
2. Alabama State             22-10  71     2
3. Jackson State             18-15   63     3
4. South Carolina State   17-14   55     4
5. Hampton                    17-15   45     6 
6. Prairie View A&M     17-16   40     5
7. Bethune-Cookman     17-16   32     7
8. North Carolina A&T  16-15   26     8
9. Savannah State           15-14   20     9
10. Coppin State            13-19    5    10 

Others: Norfolk State (11-17) 2,  Tennessee State (12-18) 1.
 
Non Division I                W-L  Pts  LW
 
1. Claflin (8)                    24-5     80     1
2. Benedict College         24-6     70     2
3. Johnson C. Smith        23-8     66     3
4. Virginia Union             21-7     51     4
5. West Virginia State     24-6     46     5
6. Talladega                     21-8     35     6
7. Tougaloo                   22-11    27     7
8. Lane College              22-8     23     8
9. Elizabeth City State    21-7      18     9
10. Cheyney                  18-9      10   NR

Others: LeMoyne-Owen (17-13) 3, Xavier, La. (19-12) 3, St. Augustine's (19-10) 1.