Sunday, January 8, 2012

It’s Not the Battle of the Bands; It’s the War of the States

MEAC CITY, USA - On Saturday Florida slipped into North Carolina and stole two wins. Savannah State, the lone Georgia school in the MEAC handled Coppin State and sent a clear message to the other Baltimore schools that they will not just be the new kids on the block. D.C.’s Howard University invaded Virginia and held the edge before succumbing to Hampton. Maryland Eastern Shore didn’t fare any better against Norfolk in Virginia. It was Morgan State, who saved the day for the state of Baltimore with a win at South Carolina State. Delaware State did not play on Saturday.

FAMU’s win against North Carolina Central must be considered an upset. In fifteen games FAMU had not beaten a Division 1 school, let alone a team that has been playing as well as North Carolina Central. The NCCU Eagles have been competitive against the likes of Wake Forest and Eastern Kentucky; and they even came close before losing by five points at the home of a good ACC team, North Carolina State. With a glaring weakness beyond the starting five, FAMU for the first time this season was able to maintain momentum with starters on the bench and finish the game with a win. Next up for FAMU is North Carolina A&T. Expect the Aggies to go after FAMU’s Stevens and Crowder early in the game to get them in foul trouble. Someone off the bench will have to become more than a role player in order for FAMU to win. My pick: FAMU will win the battle of the boards, but if A&T practices its foul shooting they will win the game. A&T by 10.

Playing without two of their key big men the NCAT Aggies dominated most of the game against Bethune before the Cookman Wildcats showed poised down the stretch to take the lead and the game in the last seconds. Ahead by six points with a minute remaining the Aggies allowed two BCU three pointers and missed two crucial free throws that would have tied the game. Next up for BCU are the North Carolina Central Eagles. BCU has the confidence and NCCU has the skills. My pick: NCCU will suffer a tongue lashing on Sunday and be better prepared on Monday. NCCU by 12.


Rae Corbo hits a 30-foot 3-point buzzer beater to give Norfolk State Women's Team the 61-58 victory over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, with Joe Cook with the call for the NSU Sports Network.

READ MORE at SPORTSEDIT.ORG 

No comments: