Men's Basketball | 2/19/2026 2:25:09 PM
The MEAC will spotlight a marquee men’s basketball matchup on national television as reigning 2024-25 regular season co-champions Norfolk State University host South Carolina State University on Saturday, February 21 at 4 p.m. The contest will be featured across multiple ESPN platforms.
The game marks the third of four ESPN televised men’s basketball matchups this season as part of the MEAC’s ongoing multimedia partnership with ESPN, providing enhanced national visibility for the conference and its student-athletes. The final conference sponsored televised contest will feature South Carolina State at North Carolina Central on Thursday, March 5 at 5 p.m. on ESPNU.
Norfolk State enters the matchup riding a three-game winning streak, including a 70-66 road victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday. The Spartans are 13-14 overall and 6-4 in conference play. Norfolk State is led by Anthony McComb III, who averages 16.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
South Carolina State improved to 5-4 in the MEAC (7-18 overall) following an 85-72 win over North Carolina Central in its most recent outing. Preseason MEAC Player of the Year Jayden Johnson leads the Bulldogs with 13.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Saturday’s contest marks the second meeting between the two programs this season. Norfolk State secured an 89-82 victory over South Carolina State in mid-January.
The 2026 MEAC Basketball Tournament will also receive national exposure across the ESPN family of networks. All preliminary round games will stream on ESPN+ beginning Wednesday, March 11. The men’s championship game will air live on ESPN2 on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m., followed by the women’s championship game live on ESPNews at 4 p.m.
For additional information on MEAC men’s basketball and broadcast schedules, visit MEACSports.com. All games airing on ESPN networks will also be available through the ESPN App, giving fans access across computers, smartphones, tablets, and connected devices with a valid subscription.