BB& T Classic: 1 Day, 6 Local Teams

The 11th edition of the BB&T Classic will for the first time feature six local teams in a single-day tripleheader, organizers said yesterday.

Navy will play Howard at 4, George Mason will face American at 6:30 and Maryland will play George Washington at 9 on Monday, Dec. 5. All three games will be played at MCI Center and broadcast on Comcast SportsNet.

The tournament has in the past featured four teams playing two games each over two days, culminating in a championship game. But organizers have recently had difficulty convincing major conference teams to give up the chance to play two home games, according to John Feinstein , a board member of the Children's Charities Foundation, which benefits from the event. Feinstein, who is also a contributor to The Post, said the tournament will likely remain a one-day event in the future, although it could revert to a four-team field.

Navy, Howard and American have never appeared in the tournament, while George Mason, which went 0-2 last year, will play in its second BB&T. Maryland and George Washington have appeared in all 10 events.

-- Dan Steinberg