NC A&T coach reprimanded by CAA
Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Commissioner Joe D’Antonio has issued a public reprimand to North Carolina A&T men’s basketball coach Montè Ross for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy during the Aggies’ home game against Northeastern on December 31, 2025.
Ross received a technical foul with :25 seconds remaining in the contest against Northeastern and then confronted the game officials on their way off the floor and in the locker room area. The Aggies lost the game 85-74 to Northeastern. After losing to Stony Brook 81-80 at home Saturday, the Aggies are 7-7 overall, 0-3 in the CAA.
“I’ve spoken with Coach Ross and let him know that his actions toward the game officials were unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” D’Antonio said. “Any further incidents during the remainder of the season will result in a more severe penalty.”
Opening salvos in MEAC men’s hoops
If results from the first week of men’s play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) are any indication, the 2025-26 race for league honors should be hotly contested.
Three of the four games on the opening week’s slate of games Saturday were decided by two points or less.
Defending men’s champion Norfolk State lost its MEAC season-opener at North Carolina Central Saturday, 69-67. A made free throw by Maryland-Eastern Shore transfer guard Dionte Johnson with :13 seconds left proved to be the difference. NCCU improved to 5-11 overall and 1-0 in conference play. NSU is at 6-11 overall.
2025 Tournament runners-up South Carolina State opened its 2025-26 MEAC season with a 58-57 home win vs. Howard. The Bulldogs were led by 6-1 sophomore guard Jayden Johnson who tallied 24 points and whose pull-up jumper with just :01 second left was the game winner. South Carolina State improved to 2–14 overall and 1–0 in MEAC play while Howard dropped to 9–7 and 0–1 in conference action.
Coppin State, in its first MEAC game under third-year head coach Larry Stewart, got a 53-51 road win at Delaware State. The Eagles fought from seven points down (38-31) in the second half to nip the Hornets. Tahj Thweatt’s tip in with 1:33 to play gave the Eagles a lead they would not relinquish. CSU moved to 3-15 on the season while the Hornets fell to 5-11.
Maryland-Eastern Shore’s 66-49 win over Morgan State was the only game decided by double-digits. Dorian Staples’ 16 points led head coach Cleo Hill Jr.’s Hawks (5-13, 1-0). MSU fell to 3-12, 0-1.
GAME:
A pull-up jumper by SC State’s 6-1 sophomore guard Jayden Johnson (#10) was the game winner vs. Howard. Johnson led all scorers with 24 points hitting 9 of 15 shots from the field.
