Top-seeded North Carolina A&T withdrew from the MEAC men's basketball tournament on Thursday following a positive COVID-19 test within the program.
The Aggies won the Southern Division's regular-season title after going 7-1 in conference play.
"Obviously, we are tremendously disappointed for the student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans for North Carolina A&T State," MEAC commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said. "They worked extremely hard to get where they are and to have to end [the season] this way is extremely unfortunate. But that's the world we live in today, and hopefully we will have no other positives moving forward for the basketball tournament."
A&T was scheduled to play Friday against Norfolk State, an 87-58 winner over North Carolina Central in a quarterfinal matchup Thursday. Norfolk State will now advance to the title game on Saturday.
Coppin State is the 1-seed on the other side of the bracket after winning the North Division.
A&T is the second team to withdraw from a conference tournament on Thursday; Duke dropped out of the ACC tournament on Thursday morning after a positive COVID-19 test.