Oct. 14, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host its annual basketball press luncheon beginning at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (460 North Cherry St., Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101/336-724-2300). MEAC head men's and women's basketball coaches will be in attendance to offer insight on the upcoming 2008-09 basketball season including the Hawks' Frankie Allen and Lady Hawks' Fred Batchelor.

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interview sessions by completing a credential application found under the media section of the conference website at www.meacsports.com. Credential applications may also be obtained by calling the Patricia Porter at (757) 416-7100. Head coaches of the women's programs will be available for one-on-one interviews beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by the head coaches of the men's teams beginning at 10:30 a.m. In addition to the one-on-one interview sessions, the MEAC will announce its men's and women's basketball preseason predicted order of finish and preseason teams during the press luncheon beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The 2008-09 MEAC basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 14 with 17 of the 22 MEAC men's and women's teams in action. The reigning MEAC men's tournament champion, Coppin State Eagles will travel to Dover, Delaware during opening weekend to compete against Delaware State, Cheyney University and Wilmington University in the Hornet Classic.

The Coppin State Lady Eagles, winners of the 2008 MEAC women's basketball tournament crown, will head to Washington, D.C. to open up their season on Monday November, 17 against George Washington.

The 2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 9-14 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.