Mid Eastern Athletic Conference

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland and Morgan State have agreed in principle to meet in football during the 2010 season, officials from the schools said Tuesday. It would be the first time the universities - located just 36 miles apart - have played in football. The game, which would be played at Byrd Stadium in College Park, would mean that Maryland's nonconference schedule would include two in-state schools. The Terps are already scheduled to face Navy next season at M&T Bank Stadium.

Maryland and Morgan State have agreed in principle to meet in football during the 2010 season, officials from the schools said Tuesday. It would be the first time the universities - located just 36 miles apart - have played in football. The game, which would be played at Byrd Stadium in College Park, would mean that Maryland's nonconference schedule would include two in-state schools. The Terps are already scheduled to face Navy next season at M&T Bank Stadium. Maryland is also scheduled to renew its rivalry with West Virginia next season in Morgantown.

Villanova (8-1) at Towson (2-7) Time: 1 p.m. Radio: 1570 AM Series record: Villanova leads 3-2 Last meeting: Villanova won, 34-31, on Nov. 15, 2008 What's at stake: It's Towson's home finale, not that anyone is clamoring to watch the Tigers close out one of their most forgettable seasons in memory. Towson has won one game in the Colonial Athletic Association - against winless Rhode Island - and the Tigers are heavy underdogs today. Villanova is ranked No. 1 in the country in the Football Championship Subdivision, having knocked Richmond off the hill last week - the same Richmond team that clobbered Towson, 42-14.

Morgan State is chafing to step onto the basketball court, having reached the NCAA tournament for the first time last year, where the perks piqued the Bears' appetite. "We had charter flights [to the game], police escorts to practice and workouts in front of the national media," said Ameer Ali, a sophomore forward. "Once you've been, there's no turning back." But Morgan is really driven by a deeper cause. The Bears, 23-12 last year, have dedicated their season to one of their own, 6-foot-10 Anthony Anderson, who was diagnosed with leukemia last month.

Coppin State vs. Mount St. Mary's 7:30 p.m. [ESPN] Let the Madness begin! Coppin State and Mount St. Mary's tangle in the play-in round of the NCAA tournament in Dayton, Ohio. Coppin State, the only team with a losing record (16-20) in the tournament, is a surprise guest at the Big Dance after upsetting Morgan State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament title game.

Jerrell Green scored 17 points and Marquise Kately added 12 to carry Morgan State past Bethune-Cookman, 63-52, last night. The win improved league-leading Morgan State to 16-9 overall and 10-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Bears have won nine of their past 10 games. Bethune-Cookman, which has lost four of its past six, fell to 10-16 overall and 4-8 in the conference. John Holmes led Bethune-Cookman with 17 points, with Dominique Whatley and Dewayne Pettus each adding 13. Two other Bears were in double figures, with Boubacar Coly and Jamar Smith each scoring 10. Coly also had a game-high 14 rebounds, as the taller Bears dominated the glass 31-21.

STATE DIVISION I COPPIN STATE Affiliation: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach: Derek Brown, eighth season (134-94) 2006-07 record: 25-8 (18-0, first-place MEAC) Arena: Coppin Center (1,720) Consensus MEAC favorite: Coppin State Starters lost: Two Outlook: With MEAC Player of the Year Rashida Suber among three returning starters for the Eagles, this looks like another league championship and possible NCAA tournament team for Brown. Suber, a senior guard, led Coppin in scoring last season with an 18.9 average.

A penalty on Morgan State's band almost cost the Bears a crucial Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game against visiting Florida A&M yesterday. Norfolk State @Morgan State Saturday, 4 p.m., 88.9 FM