Tuesday, February 28, 2017

No. 2 Rush in NAIA's top 3 for 10th consecutive poll


NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana remained No. 2 Tuesday in the newest NAIA men's tennis coaches poll and made its 10th consecutive appearance in the top three.

Since the previous poll Feb. 14, the Gold Rush (5-3) have victories against an NCAA Division I opponent (Nicholls State), the NAIA's No. 3 team (Keiser) and NCAA Division III's No. 2 team (Emory). Since XULA's 5-4 victory at Emory Feb. 18, the Eagles have won the ITA's D3 national indoor championship.

Next for the Gold Rush will be a 1:30 p.m. Friday dual against NAIA No. 6 William Carey in Hattiesburg, Miss., at the Southern Miss Tennis Complex. The Crusaders (5-1) climbed one place in the poll. This dual originally was scheduled for XULA, but the schools agreed Tuesday to swap venues. The April 15 XULA-William Carey dual will move from Carey to XULA Tennis Center.
For the 22nd consecutive poll, Georgia Gwinnett is unanimous at No. 1. The Grizzlies defeated XULA 5-0 Feb. 19 at GGC's Grizzly Invitational.

Other XULA poll streaks:
• 80th consecutive appearance in the top 25 . . . streak began April 4, 2007.
• 71st consecutive appearance in the top 20 . . . streak began April 30, 2008.
• 56th consecutive appearance in the top 15 . . . streak began Feb. 1, 2011.
• 50th consecutive appearance in the top 10 . . . streak began May 3, 2011.
• 12th consecutive appearance in the top 5 . . . streak began Jan. 26, 2016.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold

www.facebook.com/xulagold 

XULA Rush, Tigers to lead off GCAC tourney at noon Friday

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball will lead off the 2017 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament with a noon game Friday against Edward Waters at Dillard's Dent Hall.

The GCAC announced seedings and pairings Tuesday for the seven-team event, which is being played in New Orleans for the fourth consecutive year.

The Gold Rush (10-19) are seeded fourth by virtue of their 6-6 conference record and fourth-place finish. Edward Waters (12-17, 5-7) tied for fifth place with Tougaloo. Edward Waters and Tougaloo split their two regular-season games, and the Tigers earned the fifth seed in a tiebreaker — their 1-1 record against third-seeded Talladega. Edward Waters and Tougaloo and had identical records against the GCAC's highest two seeds.

The XULA-Edward Waters winner will play top-seeded Dillard at 7 p.m. Saturday at XULA's Convocation Center. All semifinals and finals for the men and women will be played at XULA. Dillard, the regular-season champion, No. 1 seed and defending GCAC Tournament champion, has a first-round bye.

The other men's first-round matchups, also at Dillard Friday, will be Talladega vs. sixth-seeded Tougaloo at 2 p.m. and second-seeded Philander Smith vs. seventh-seeded SUNO at 5 p.m.

XULA and Edward Waters will meet in the GCAC Tournament for the first time. The Gold Rush are 13-2 all-time against the Tigers, including victories of 72-69 at XULA Jan. 21 and 65-61 at Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 4. The Gold Rush have not lost to the Tigers since Jan. 4, 1996, and have a current series win streak of 11.

XULA's leading scorers are 6-foot-4 junior guard/forward Jalen David (11.8 points per game), 6-1 senior guard Seth Jackson (9.8), 6-3 freshman guard Mike Williams (9.3) and 5-9 freshman guard Donovan Armstrong (8.1). Edward Waters' leading scorers are 6-4 senior guard Keith Williams (13.9), 6-6 senior forward Oshey Washington (12.0) and 6-3 junior guard/forward Charles-Eddie Smith (10.0).

XULA was the GCAC Tournament runner-up in 2016, 2015, 2011 and 2008. The Gold Rush have not won this event since 1996.

2017 GCAC Men's Basketball Tournament

First Round — Friday, March 3 (Dillard's Dent Hall)
#4 XULA (10-19) vs. #5 Edward Waters (12-17), noon
#3 Talladega (21-9) vs. #6 Tougaloo (10-15), 2 p.m.
#2 Philander Smith (13-12) vs. #7 SUNO (4-20), 5 p.m.

Semifinals — Saturday, March 4 (XULA's Convocation Center)
Talladega-Tougaloo winner vs. Philander Smith-SUNO winner, 2 p.m.
XULA-Edward Waters winner vs. #1 Dillard (22-7), 7 p.m.

Championship — Sunday, March 5 (XULA's Convocation Center)
Semifinal winners, 4:15 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold

www.facebook.com/xulagold 

FAMU rallies to beat Mercer in baseball

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M (6-2) rallied from an early four-run deficit and handed Mercer (7-1) its first loss of the season, 10-7, at Moore-Kittles Field Tuesday afternoon.

Aubrey McCarty’s grand slam highlighted a six-run sixth inning for the Rattlers, who won their fourth consecutive game.

FAMU recorded 11 hits for its sixth double-digit hitting performance of the season.

Second baseman Kaycee Reese went 3-for-3 for the winners, who scored 10 runs over their final three at-bats.

First baseman Austin Michaud added three hits and three RBIs for FAMU.

FAMU third baseman Ben Ellzey extended his hitting and on-base streaks to 29 and 35 games, respectively, with a 2-for-4 performance.

CONTINUE READING

Future NFL Draft prospect Devante Kincade, Grambling State will carry FCS torch

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- 2018 NFL Draft prospect Devante Kincade will try to emulate his 2016 success. If he continues his play, he”ll likely get a decent selection in the draft.

When players transfers from FBS to FCS competition, they typically become a lower priority to the NFL. However, many recent drafts have proven FCS quarterbacks can be drafted early. Obviously, Carson Wentz just went second overall in last year’s draft.



Joe Flacco, Steve McNair, Doug Williams and Phil Simms are a few of the other notable selections. The next quarterback in that prestigious line could be Grambling State’s Devante Kincade. The Dallas Skyline product still has his senior season to prove he’s worth such an investment, but his efforts in 2016 were admirable.

Kincade transferred from Ole Miss after the 2015 season. He saw snaps in each of his first two seasons, but he would’ve sat behind Chad Kelly in 2016. And he would have to battle five-star quarterback Shea Patterson in his final season just to start one year. He made the right decision to leave and it paid off well.

CONTINUE READING

Monday, February 27, 2017

Gold Nuggets win at Tougaloo to close regular season

TOUGALOO, Mississippi — Freshman point guard Maya Trench scored 16 points Saturday, seven during a decisive third-quarter run, to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 62-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

The Gold Nuggets (17-12, 6-6) snapped a two-game losing streak in their regular-season finale. They'll play Friday in the opening round of the GCAC Tournament at SUNO — time and opponent are still to be determined. Game times at The Castle will be noon, 2 and 5 p.m.

After Tougaloo's Shenequa Foster made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the score at 25 at 8:11 of the third quarter, XULA pulled away for good with a 16-3 run. Trench and Mikayla Bates made 3-pointers during the run, and Trench's deuce at 2:26 gave the Gold Nuggets a 41-28 advantage.

For the third time this season, XULA outscored its opponent in every quarter. The Gold Nuggets led 23-20 at halftime.

Bianca Brown and Trench were the only Gold Nuggets with more than six points. Brown had nine points, eight rebounds and a career-best three blocked shots.

Ahsia Clayton made 4-of-7 3-pointers and scored 17 points for Tougaloo (10-14, 5-6), which never led.

XULA outshot the Lady Bulldogs 37.9 to 33.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-23.

XULA beat Tougaloo for the 14th consecutive time and the 27th time in their last 28 meetings. Tougaloo will close its regular season at home Monday against Dillard.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold

www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Gold Rush fall at Tougaloo; GCAC tourney starts Friday

TOUGALOO, Mississippi — Andravious Smith had 23 points, 17 rebounds and three steals Saturday to lead Tougaloo in a 73-57 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

Denarius Odell also scored 23 for the Bulldogs (10-14, 5-6), who beat the Gold Rush (10-19, 6-6) for the first time in their last 13 meetings.

Smith, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward, produced his fourth consecutive double-double against XULA and the fifth of his career. It was the third consecutive time he reached 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Gold Rush. His rebound total is the most by a XULA individual opponent since Tougaloo's Patrick Bass grabbed 18 on Jan. 15, 2004.

Seth Jackson scored 12 points for XULA. Donovan Armstrong and Jalen David scored 11 apiece, and Leland Alexander scored 10. Mike Williams grabbed seven rebounds and had three steals to match his career highs, and Alexander grabbed six rebounds.

Tougaloo never trailed and led 40-30 at halftime. The Bulldogs outshot the Gold Rush 46.9 to 35.1 percent from the floor.

Both teams will play Friday in the opening round of the GCAC Tournament at Dillard's Dent Hall. Pairings have not been determined. Tougaloo will close its conference schedule Monday at home against GCAC regular-season champion Dillard, which has a first-round tournament bye. Friday's games are scheduled for noon, 2 and 5 p.m.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold

www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Sunday, February 26, 2017

2017 SIAC Basketball Tournament Brackets Released


ATLANTA, Georgia – Lane and Claflin secured the No. 1 seeds in the 2017 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Basketball Tournament, announced on Friday, Feb. 24 by the league office.

Men's bracket | Women's bracket

Lane, the 2017 SIAC men’s basketball regular season champion dominated the west division and finished the regular season 17-9 overall and 14-3 in the conference to claim the west division title. Lane earned a first-round bye and will meet the winner between No. 4 Morehouse/No. 5 Tuskegee on Wednesday, March 1 at 7:45 p.m. The Maroon Tigers (16-9 overall, 10-7 SIAC) finished fourth in the east division and takes on Tuskegee (8-18, 6-10) who finished fifth in the west on Monday, Feb. 27 at 4:45 p.m.

The Panthers (17-9) finished first in a three-way tie to clinch the east division title. Claflin recorded a 12-5 SIAC record and will receive a first-round bye. The Panthers play on Wednesday, March 1 at 3:15 p.m. against the winner between fourth-seeded Kentucky State (10-16, 7-10) of the west division and fifth-seeded Fort Valley State (9-17, 6-10) of the east division. Kentucky State and Fort Valley State are set to open the 2017 SIAC Basketball Tournament on Monday, Feb. 27 at 12:15 p.m.

Clark Atlanta (18-11, 12-5) finished second in the east division to earn a first-round bye. The Panthers face the winner of No. 3 Miles/No. 6 Albany State on Thursday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. Miles (7-19, 7-9) and Albany State meet Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:45 p.m.

LeMoyne-Owen (9-18, 8-9) finished second in the west division and will play Paine (2-23, 0-17) who finished seventh in the east divison on Monday, Feb. 27 at 9:15 p.m.

Benedict (15-11, 12-5) earned the No. 3 seed in the east division and will face No. 6 Central State (10-18, 6-11) from the west division on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 3:15 p.m.

On the women’s side, Benedict, the 2017 SIAC women’s basketball regular season champion claimed the top seed in the east division after finishing with a 15-1 mark in conference play. The Tigers (18-7 overall) won their third consecutive east division title and enter the tournament on a 12-game winning streak with their last loss on Dec. 18. Benedict earned a first-round bye and will face the winner between No. 4 Kentucky State/No. 5 Albany State on Wednesday, March 1 at 1 p.m. The Thorobrettes (11-14) finished fourth in the west division with a 7-9 record in the SIAC while the Golden Rams (6-19) posted a 5-10 mark in league games to finish fifth in the east division. Kentucky State and Albany State tip-off on Monday, Feb. 27 at 2:30 p.m.

Central State (18-7) finished first in the west division to clinch its first conference divisional title since becoming an exclusive member of NCAA Division II. The Marauders finished 12-4 in the SIAC and earned a first-round bye. Central State will take on the winner of the No. 4 Paine/No. 5 LeMoyne-Owen game on Wednesday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. The Lions finished the regular season with an overall record of 11-15 and were seeded fourth in the east division with a 5-10 record. The Magicians (5-22, 5-10) were seeded fifth in the west and will meet Paine on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Claflin (14-11, 9-6) and Miles (14-12, 9-6) secured the No. 2 seeds out of the east and west divisions respectively. Claflin’s opponent will be determined on Thursday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. by the winner of the Lane and Clark Atlanta game set for Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. The Dragons (12-14, 9-6) finished third in west while the Panthers (9-16, 4-11) were sixth in the east division.

Miles is scheduled to face the winner of the No. 3 Fort Valley State/No. 6 Tuskegee game on Thursday, March 2 at 1 p.m. The Wildcats (8-16) finished third in the east division with a 7-8 rescord while Tuskegee (10-15) was sixth in the west division with a 5-10 record.

SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

FVSU Football Signs 32 Student-Athletes to National Letters of Intent

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- With just under 55 players returning from last year's championship team, Fort Valley State's Head Coach, Kevin Porter has announced the signing of 32 student-athletes to the 2017 Wildcats recruiting class.

"We are happy with the young men that we have attracted. We set out to find as many high academic student-athletes that we could and to improve the athleticism on our football team," FVSU head football coach Kevin Porter said.  "I feel like our coaching staff did a great job targeting local young men within a thirty to forty mile radius which helps us in many different ways."



2017 Fort Valley State Football Signees (February 21, 2017)
 
NAME:  SHERROD AGEE
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-0
Weight:  240
Hometown:  Calhoun, Ga.
Previous School:  Sonoraville High School
 
NAME:  ZACH ANDERSON
Position:  Defensive Back     
Height:  5-11
Weight:  185
Hometown:  Cairo, Ga.
Previous School:  Cairo High School
 
NAME:  MALIK ARSTRONG
Position:  Quarterback          
Height:  6-3
Weight:  230
Hometown:  Temple, Ga.
Previous School:  Temple High School
 
NAME:  ZAQUAN BALDWIN
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-0
Weight:  205
Hometown:  Macon, Ga.
Previous School:  Southwest High School
 
NAME:  BLANE BROWN
Position:  Offensive Lineman
Height:  6-2
Weight:  290
Hometown:  Blairsville, Ga.
Previous School:  Union County High School 
 
NAME:  VINCENT BUCKLEY
Position:  Offensive Lineman
Height:  6-3
Weight:  340
Hometown:  Kennesaw, Ga.
Previous School:  Sprayberry High School 
 
NAME:  KOBY BULTER
Position:  Running Back        
Height:  5-10
Weight:  205
Hometown:  Camillia, Ga.
Previous School:  Mitchell County High School 
 
NAME:  PAYTON CHIVERS
Position:  Offensive Lineman
Height:  6-3
Weight:  330
Hometown:  Carrollton, Ga.
Previous School:  Carrollton High School
 
NAME:  ADDISON FORD
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-2
Weight:  210
Hometown:  Covington, Ga.
Previous School:  Covington High School
 
NAME:  NATHANIEL FREENEY
Position:  Defensive Lineman           
Height:  6-2
Weight:  235
Hometown:  , Ga.
Previous School:  Twiggs County High School
NAME:  RASHAAD GATES
Position:  Offensive Lineman
Height:  6-3
Weight:  290
Hometown:  Fairburn, Ga.
Previous School:  Creekside High School
 
NAME:  ANTONIO GOLDEN
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-3
Weight:  230
Hometown:  Midway, Ga.
Previous School:  Liberty County High School
 
NAME:  MAJESTE HANSBERRY
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-2
Weight:  220
Hometown:  Atlanta, Ga.
Previous School:  North Atlanta High School
 
NAME:  KYMELE HART
Position:  Offensive Lineman
Height:  6-6
Weight:  315
Hometown:  Tift, Ga.
Previous School:  Tift Area High School
 
NAME:  MICHAEL HICKS, JR.
Position:  Defensive Back     
Height:  6-0
Weight:  190
Hometown:  Hollywood, Fl.
Previous School:  American Heritage High School
 
NAME:  STACY IVEY, JR.
Position:  Defensive Lineman
Height:  6-3
Weight:  315
Hometown:  Macon, Ga.
Previous School:  Southwest High School
 
NAME:  TAY JARRELL
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-1
Weight:  210
Hometown:  Forsyth, Ga.
Previous School:  Mary Persons High School
 
NAME:  JAYLEN LOWDER
Position:  Tight End
Height:  6-3
Weight:  225
Hometown:  Bonaire, Ga.
Previous School:  Veterans High School
 
NAME:  EVAN MANN
Position:  Full Back    
Height:  5-11
Weight:  215
Hometown:  Fairburn, Ga.
Previous School:  Creekside High School
 
NAME:  JEREMY MCCANTS
Position:  Running Back        
Height:  6-1
Weight:  210
Hometown:  Anniston, Ga.
Previous School:  Anniston High School
 
NAME:  KAMARIE MULLINS
Position:  Running Back        
Height:  6-1
Weight:  190
Hometown:  Lithonia, Ga.
Previous School:  Lithonia High School 
 
NAME:  ISAIAH NELSON
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-2
Weight:  215
Hometown:  Jonesboro, Ga.
Previous School:  Community Christian High School
 
NAME:  JACQUEZ OLIVER
Position:  Tight End   
Height:  6-2
Weight:  240
Hometown:  Cairo, Ga.
Previous School:  Cairo High School
 
NAME:  JOSE PASCUAL
Position:  Offensive Lineman
Height:  6-2
Weight:  315
Hometown:  Hollywood, Fl.
Previous School:  Mcarthur High School
 
NAME:  JAHSEARI PATTERSON
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-2
Weight:  220
Hometown:  Cairo, Ga.
Previous School:  Cairo High School
 
NAME:  BRANDON PERRY
Position:  Defensive Lineman           
Height:  6-0
Weight:  285
Hometown:  Perry, Ga.
Previous School:  Kipp Atlanta College
 
NAME:  KE'ANDRE RUTLEDGE
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-1
Weight:  225
Hometown:  Selma, Al.
Previous School:  Southside High School
 
NAME:  VANN SCOTT
Position:  Defensive Lineman           
Height:  6-3
Weight:  250
Hometown:  Thomasville, Ga.
Previous School:  Thomas County High School
 
NAME:  JUAN TUCKER
Position:  Full Back    
Height:  5-11
Weight:  230
Hometown:  Stockbridge, Ga.
Previous School:  Lamar County High School
 
NAME:  TREVEON WALKER
Position:  Linebacker
Height:  6-4
Weight:  225
Hometown:  College Park, Ga.
Previous School:  Upson Lee High School
 
NAME:  GERALD WILLIAMS
Position:  Defensive Lineman           
Height:  6-0
Weight:  260
Hometown:  Ludwici, Ga.
Previous School:  Long County High School
 
NAME:  JAYLEN WINGFIELD
Position:  Defensive Back     
Height:  6-3
Weight:  195
Hometown:  Hagan, Ga.
Previous School:  Claxton High School
 

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

North Carolina Central Eagles Capture MEAC Regular Season Championship against B-CU

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University clinched its third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season title in the last four years by defeating Bethune-Cookman, 78-65 at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25 for Senior Day.

NCCU (22-6, 13-1 MEAC) will be the top seed in the upcoming MEAC Basketball Tournament in Norfolk, Virginia, and will play the winner between the eight- and nine-seed matchup on Wednesday night, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Scope Arena.



The first half went back and forth between the Eagles and B-CU (7-21, 4-10 MEAC), as the lead changed hands four times and the score was tied on five occasions.

Senior Del'vin Dickerson (Houston, Texas) had a strong start for NCCU as he put in eight points with four rebounds in the first half, but Diamante Lewis (Ocala, Fla.) was the driving force for the Wildcats with 10 points and five boards.

The Eagles really came alive in the second half, and expanded the lead to as many as 20 twice on the way to the eventual 15-point win. The seniors really led the charge for the maroon and gray, as Dickerson and Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) teamed up to produce the second tandem double-double this season. Dickerson finished with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Cole picked up 13 points with 11 assists on several flashy passes.

Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) knocked down five three-pointers on his way to 17 points and a joint game-high four steals, and Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) made all 10 of his free throw attempts to collect 14 points and six assists. Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) was another big senior contributor with game-highs in blocks with four and rebounds with 13, and also put in six points.

Lewis finished with a team-high 17 points for the Wildcats with six rebounds and four assists, followed by Jeff Altidort (Coral Springs, Fla.) with 14 points, and Quinton Forrest (Windermere, Fla.) with 10 points and five rebounds.

The Eagles close out the home schedule on Monday, Feb. 27 against Savannah State at 7:30 p.m. before ending the regular season on Thursday, March 2 at North Carolina A&T.

BOX SCORE

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bowie State Bulldogs Capture CIAA Championship With 62-54 Win Over Fayetteville State

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Bowie State won the battle of attrition against Fayetteville State and captured a CIAA Men's Basketball Championship because of it.

Tournament MVP junior Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) scored 20 points as the Bulldogs outlasted the Broncos 62-54 at the Spectrum Center on Saturday (2/25) night. The conference crown was the first since 2013 and the third overall for the Bulldogs, who gained the automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament that goes with winning the championship.

The Bulldogs (16-14 overall), seeded fourth in the Northern Division, won the title by exhibiting the toughness that has marked the program since Darrell Brooks became head coach. They won four games in four days in the tournament including victories over Northern Division top seed Virginia Union and Southern Division No. 2 seed Livingstone.

"It was one of those games where you had to be gritty," said Brooks, who captured his second CIAA championship at Bowie State. "It wasn't pretty. Both teams struggled offensively due to good defense. We just stuck with it."

Their opponent on Saturday was equally tough as the Broncos (13-16), seeded fourth in the Southern Division, also played their fourth game in four days. The low-scoring contest featured seven lead changes and three ties but the Bulldogs made key plays in the second half that turned the game in their favor.

The biggest plays occurred early in the second half with the Bulldogs nursing a 27-26 lead. After two free throws by senior Enuoma Ebinum (Greenbelt, Md.), the Bulldogs converted two steals off inbound passes into an Omari George (Baltimore, Md.) layup and a Wilson three-pointer to extend the margin to 34-26. It was the cushion they needed to stay ahead even though the Broncos pulled within three points twice.

But after the score was 52-49 on Josh Bryant's layup, standout point guard Josh Dawson, who averaged 17.5 points the previous three games, was whistled for his fifth foul at the 2:12 mark. With the Broncos floor leader and catalyst watching from the bench, the Bulldogs finished with a 10-5 run to put the game away.

"Thank God!," said Wilson afterward when asked about Dawson fouling out the game.

Dawson, guarded tightly by a stout Bulldogs defense, scored nine points but added four assists and five rebounds.

"We wanted to keep a fresh body on him," Wilson said. "He scored 28 the previous night. We didn't want him to go off."

Both George and Ebinum added 11 points each for the Bulldogs with Ebinum collecting three blocks including a couple down the stretch to ward off a late Broncos run. Senior Michael Briscoe (Baltimore, Md.) contributed nine points, eight rebounds and two steals for the Bulldogs, who shot 39.3 percent but scored 18 points off 16 Bronco turnovers. George and junior Dayshawn Wells (Baltimore, Md.) combined for six of the Bulldogs' 10 steals.

Bryant produced 14 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos, who shot 37.7 percent. Michael Tyson added 10 points and eight rebounds while William Tibbs and Jyonte Raynor scored eight points apiece for the Broncos, who outrebounded the Bulldogs 40-33.

Playing four consecutive days seemed to catch up with both teams early on. Neither team provided much fireworks offensively as the Bulldogs shot 32.1 percent and the Broncos 24.1 percent. The point total was the second-lowest for the Broncos and the fourth-lowest for the Bulldogs this season.

The Bulldogs managed to generate some offense midway in the half. A three-point play by George capped a 10-4 run which gave the Bulldogs an 18-12 lead with 4:08 left. The Broncos came back with an 8-3 run capped by two Dawson free throws to trim the margin to 21-20 at halftime.

Wilson scored six points and George added five points and three steals while Briscoe snatched six rebounds for the Bulldogs, who forced nine Bronco turnovers for nine points. Bryant scored seven points and corralled six rebounds and Tibbs chipped in six points for the Broncos, who outrebounded the Bulldogs 24-18.

Though the Bulldogs claimed the championship, the Broncos felt a sense of accomplishment after defying the odds and reaching the title game. They knocked off Southern Division top seed Shaw and No. 2 Northern Division seed Virginia State, the defending champion, on the way to the finals.

Both teams displayed fortitude in the tournament, but the Bulldogs finished strong in the closing minutes.

Wilson was one of 10 players selected to the CIAA All-Tournament team. The others are Briscoe of Bowie State, Dawson, Tyson and Bryant of Fayetteville State, David Duncan of Livingstone, Quincy January of Saint Augustine's, Elijah Moore and Richard Granberry of Virginia State and Robert Davis of Johnson C. Smith.

BOX SCORE

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION