For the fourth consecutive year, Baltimore will be the epicenter for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Twelve men’s and women’s teams from the nation’s oldest Historically Black athletic conference will descend upon CFG Bank Arena to capture the coveted championship. Last year, the Lincoln men earned their first CIAA title since rejoining the league in 2008, while the Fayetteville State women capped a 17-1 record in the conference to collect their fifth crown and first since 2020.

The CIAA Tournament runs Tuesday through Saturday and will serve as a stage for some of the top teams and players at the NCAA Division II level. Here is a primer on some of those teams and individuals coming to Baltimore for the CIAA Tournament.

Men’s tournament

Fayetteville State cemented the No. 1 seed in the Southern Division for the fourth consecutive year by going 9-1 this winter. The Broncos, who compiled a 12-4 record in the CIAA, went 11 games without a loss earlier in the season until Claflin ended their run on Feb. 19 by an 89-87 score.

Claflin trailed Fayetteville State with an 8-2 mark in the Southern Division for the No. 2 seed for the second straight season. The Panthers, who built an 11-5 record in the CIAA, won their last five games and split their season series with the Broncos.

Virginia State earned the top seed in the Northern Division with a 7-3 record. The Trojans, who went 13-3 in the CIAA, enjoyed a nine-game winning streak earlier in the season and finished the regular season with five straight victories.

Bluefield State grabbed the No. 2 seed in the Northern Division with a 6-4 mark. The Panthers, who finished at 10-6 in the CIAA, wrapped up the regular season on a three-game winning streak.

Fayetteville State guard Caleb Simmons is the only player in the CIAA to rank in the top three in points per game (third at 17.2), field-goal percentage (third, 51.8%), free-throw percentage (third, 82.8%) and rebounds per game (third, 9.3). The 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior has thrived with the Broncos since transferring from league rival Shaw after the 2022-23 season.

When it comes to pure scoring, Bluefield State guard Jordan Hinds has a claim to being the best by leading the CIAA in points per game (20.8) and ranking fourth in shooting percentage (49%) and ninth in free-throw percentage (77.9%). After leading the conference in scoring at 19.0 points per game last winter, the 6-4 senior also ranks sixth in steals per game (1.9).

Point guard Tairell Fletcher gives Fayetteville State a potent 1-2-3 (more on that below). The 6-2, 185-pound senior ranks second in the CIAA in points per game (17.6), fourth in assists (4.5), and fifth in both field-goal percentage (45%) and free-throw percentage (82.1%).

Guard Ezekiel Cannedy is the third most prominent cog in the Fayetteville State scoring machine.

The 6-2, 170-pound guard ranks sixth in the CIAA in points per game (16.0), has connected on three 3-pointers per game, and is nearly automatic at the foul line with a league-leading 88.8 success rate.

Bluefield State junior Terrell Williams has the resume to challenge Fletcher as the CIAA’s top point guard. The 6-3, 190-pounder ranks second in both assists per game (5.6) and steals (2.1) and 18th in points (12.8).

Women’s tournament

Virginia State took the No. 1 seed in the Northern Division courtesy of a 9-1 record. The Trojans went 14-2 in the CIAA and won 13 of their past 14 games.

The No. 2 seed in the division went to Virginia Union, which accrued an 8-2 mark. The Panthers, who built a 13-3 record in the CIAA, lost only three times in their last 19 games — twice to Virginia State and once to Fayetteville State.

Speaking of Fayetteville State, the reigning tournament champion collected the No. 1 seed in the Southern Division thanks to a 9-1 mark. The Broncos, who finished at 13-3 in the CIAA, completed their season riding a six-game winning streak and 10 victories in their last 11 games.

The No. 5 seed in the Southern Division a year ago, Livingstone grabbed the No. 2 seed after going 7-3. The Blue Bears, who amassed a 9-7 record in the CIAA, won seven of their last nine games.

Lincoln small forward Anyssa Fields is the only player in the CIAA to rank in the top six in points per game (third at 17.4), rebounds (third, 10.0), field-goal percentage (sixth, 43.6%) and 3-pointers per game (fourth, 1.9). The 6-foot senior has amassed 13 double-doubles this winter.

Claflin shooting guard Nya Morris has been the conference’s most prolific scorer, averaging 20.4 points. The 5-9 senior also led the league in shooting percentage (49.2%) and 3-pointers per game (2.5) and ranked second in steals per game (3.2).

Bowie State shooting guard Destiny Ryles ranked second to Morris in points per game (18.0), fourth in free-throw percentage (72.8%) and 10th in shooting accuracy (36.1%).

The 5-3 senior from Baltimore who graduated from St. Paul’s also led the CIAA in steals per game (4.2) and ranked fourth in assists per game (3.3).

Lincoln point guard Ciani Montgomery has been a solid complement to Fields. The 5-6 senior ranked fourth in the conference in points per game (16.1) and steals (2.8), second in assists (4.0) and seventh in field-goal percentage (42.7%).

Power forward Taniyah Greene has been the primary catalyst for Virginia Union. The 6-0 graduate student ranked fifth in the league in points per game (15.8), seventh in rebounds (7.9), third in field-goal percentage (47.3) and sixth in blocks (1.1).

Baltimore-area players

Men’s tournament: Jamal Cannady Jr., Livingstone (Dunbar); Elijah Davis, Bowie State (St. Frances); Jordan Downs, Bowie State (St. Frances); Che Evans, Virginia Union (Dulaney); Jordan Foster, Fayetteville State (Gilman); Caleb Johnson, Bowie State (Curley); CJ McCord, Elizabeth City State (Pallotti); Warren Mouganda, Bowie State (Pallotti); Travis Vaughn, Virginia Union (John Carroll)

Women’s tournament: Kaziah Akinniyi, Lincoln (Poly); Shanysse Alexander, Bowie State (Mount Carmel); Sydney Anthony, Bowie State (Pallotti); Aliyah Carroll, Bowie State (Forest Park); Gabrielle Clary, Bowie State (Pallotti); Breasia Colt, Livingstone (Western); Amaya Douglas, Bowie State (Old Mill); Anyia Gibson, Lincoln (Harford Tech); Maya Gray, Livingstone (Western); Anii Harris, Virginia State (Howard); Riley Holliday, Lincoln (Poly); Ariana Makumi, Lincoln (Poly); Zaynah Robinson, Bluefield State (Meade); Kristin Sterling, Bowie State (Pikesville); Chaniya Taylor, Bowie State (Forest Park); Talia Trotter, Fayetteville State (Marriotts Ridge)

Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.