FAMU athletics expects return of postseason football

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. came prepared to a meeting of the university's Board of Trustees' Special Committee on Athletics.

Overton and his deputy Elliot Charles made several announcements during a Friday conference call that left trustees pleased. Chief among those announcements was Charles' declaration that "no sport will be unable to participate in the postseason" next year.

FAMU's football team and the entire men's track program (indoor, outdoor and cross country) have been banned from the postseason for years. Charles said all of FAMU's programs will be postseason-eligible -- it'll be the first time that's been the case since 2013.

Overton also provided an update on Bragg Memorial Stadium. Repairs to the stadium are expected to begin April 1, and the total cost of repairs has gone down. The latest projected cost, per Overton, is $450,000, down from $622,000 when the problems with the stadium were first announced. Overton said the athletic department has already secured $200,000.

Plus, the athletic department is inching closer to breaking even at the end of the fiscal year. The projected athletics revenue shortfall is now $122,883. Originally it was at $651,724. FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson announced the athletic department will receive $300,000 of its Florida Classic game guarantee sooner than expected, too.

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Florida A&M guard Craig Bowman to transfer

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M men’s basketball guard Craig Bowman on Thursday confirmed he’s transferring from the program.

Bowman, who was a starter in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, played in 19 games for the Rattlers (7-23) this season. He started seven games and averaged 5.8 points per game. He averaged 8.9 points per game in his sophomore year and 7.6 points per game in his first year with the Rattlers.

"I just want a different opportunity," Bowman said. "I feel like we accomplished a lot since I’ve been here. I just wanted a new opportunity. A new chance to compete against some different talent.

"I just want to think everybody for the opportunity. It was a pleasure. I’ll always be a Rattler. I’m just thankful for the opportunity."

Bowman’s first season with the Rattlers was also FAMU head coach Byron Samuels’ first year at the helm.

The Rattlers’ 2016-17 season ended in disappointment. FAMU, playing in the postseason for the first time since the 2013-14 season, lost to South Carolina State 82-78 in overtime in the first round of the MEAC tournament.

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FAMU parts ways with basketball coach Byron Samuels

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- After three seasons at the helm, Florida A&M head basketball coach Byron Samuels' contract will not be renewed.

Samuels was 17-71 as FAMU's head coach. He essentially had to build a team from scratch before the 2014-15 season after FAMU's coach was fired and most of its players left the program.

The Rattlers went 7-23 this season and lost to South Carolina State in the first round of the MEAC tournament.

"After review and evaluation of the Florida A&M University men’s basketball program, FAMU Athletics has decided to take its program in a different direction," Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. said in a statement.

"Restructuring our program with a continued emphasis on academic achievement and competitive success will be key components in moving FAMU basketball forward. We would like to thank Coach Byron Samuels for his contributions to our men's basketball program and student-athletes over the past three seasons. Assistant Coach Lamont Franklin will lead our program as the interim head coach while a national search is conducted for a replacement.

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David Six proves to be a steady winner as Hampton women's coach

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Eight years ago, Hampton University was in the market for a women’s basketball coach.

One of the applicants offered a résumé that included a .780 winning percentage and multiple championship rings.

One problem: He was a high school coach who had never worked at the college level, not even as an assistant.

Yes, David Six was something of a risky hire at the time. But here he is, headed to the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in eight years as the Lady Pirates play Duke Saturday night in Durham, N.C.

“Obviously, he saw something,” Six said, referring to HU president William Harvey. “But how often do you hear someone go from high school to head coach in college without ever being an assistant? You just don’t see it.

“He didn’t have to do that. He could have hired someone with more experience, and nobody could have faulted him for that.”

With no crystal ball available, Harvey had no way of knowing Six would win six Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in eight years. Five came in his first five seasons. The sixth, and most improbable, came last weekend.

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JCSU Announces 2017 Football Schedule

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith University has finalized the dates and opponents for the upcoming 2017 football season.

The Golden Bulls, under the direction of third-year head coach Kermit Blount, will host five games inside the friendly confines of the Irwin Belk Complex, including the season opener on Sept. 2 against local rival Wingate.

The following week JCSU will welcome Virginia State to Charlotte for a nonconference game with the Trojans. It marks the first meeting between the longtime CIAA rivals since 2013.

Following the meeting with the Trojans, JCSU will hit the road for the first time, traveling to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on FCS opponent South Carolina State. The meeting marks the first time JCSU and SCSU has faced off since 1998.

The Golden Bulls will then open CIAA play with a road trip to Elizabeth City State on Sept. 23, followed by a home date with Chowan on Sept. 30.

JCSU will then travel to take on the defending CIAA champions in Winston-Salem State on Oct. 7.

The home portion of the schedule concludes with two straight home games, the first on Oct. 14 against CIAA Southern Division foe Fayetteville State and concludes with the annual homecoming game on Oct. 21 against Shaw.

The Golden Bulls will then close out the season on the road, traveling to St. Augustine's University on Oct. 28 and a trip to Salisbury, N.C. on Nov. 4 to renew the long-standing rivalry with Livingstone in the 7^th Annual Commemorative Classic

Game times for those not already listed will be announced at a later date.
 

Date	Opponent	Time
Sept. 2	Wingate	TBA
Sept. 9	Virginia State	TBA
Sept. 16	at South Carolina State	6:00 p.m.
Sept. 23	at Elizabeth City State*	TBA
Sept. 30	Chowan*	TBA
Oct. 7	at Winston-Salem State*	1:30 p.m.
Oct. 14	Fayetteville State*	TBA
Oct. 21	Shaw* (Homecoming)	1:00 p.m.
Oct. 28	at St. Augustine's*	TBA
Nov. 4	at Livingstone* (Commemorative Classic)	TBA
Nov. 11	CIAA Championship Game	TBA

* denotes CIAA game
Home games in bold

JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling State Lady Tigers Defeat Ole Miss, Face Tulane for Second Round of WNIT

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OXFORD, Mississippi – In dramatic fashion, with only two seconds on the clock, the Grambling State University women's basketball team held the ball to defeat the University of Mississippi, 78-75, in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. The Lady Tigers continue to make history as they pick their first post season win in a major tournament in the modern era.

With the win, GSU moves to 19-14 on the season. Ole Miss finishes their season with a record of 17-14 and is eliminated from tournament play.

In the first half of play, Grambling came out with a tenacity unmatched and put Ole Miss on the run. The Lady Tigers were able to gain a 15 point lead over the Rebels. Takerra Parsons nailed a jumper with 1:15 left in the second quarter to make the score, 43-28. The half ended with Taylor Manuel of Mississippi making a fast break jumper to set the halftime score at 45-33.

The Rebels opened the second half of play by starting quickly and trying to catch the Lady Tigers off guard. Manuel helped cut GSU's lead and tied the game, 48-48, with a lay-up at the 5:57 mark in the third quarter.

The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the third quarter and the fourth quarter. Ole Miss's Shandricka Sessom scored a bucket to make the score, 75-72, at the 1:51 mark in the fourth quarter and put Grambling on their heels. Ten second later, Jazmine Torian turned the lights on and drained a critical three pointer to knot the game up again, 75-75. It would be John'ea Thompson who stepped up and make a mid range jumper to give the Lady Tigers the lead, 77-75. Erika Sisk of the Rebels fouled Monisha Neal who went 1-of-2 at the free throw line and sealed GSU's win.

Torian was the point leader for Grambling with her season high of 23 points. She was followed by Shakyla Hill and Neal with 17 points each. Thompson finished with 10 points. Chantiara Lewis cleaned up the boards with eight rebounds and dished out a team high 11 assists.

The Rebels were led by Manuel with 28 points and Sessom with 18 points. Shequila Joseph finished night with 11 boards and Sisk had nine assists.

Grambling will continue WNIT play on Sunday as they travel south to face Tulane University in New Orleans, La. at 4 p.m. (CT).

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Dream season comes to an end as Dillard falls to Langston 84-74 in the round of 16 at the NAIA national championship

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- No. 6-seeded Langston (Okla.) recorded its second-straight upset, earning an 84-74 victory over No. 2-seeded Dillard (La.) in the second round of the 2017 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Lions advance to the quarterfinal round and will play the winner of No. 1-seeded William Penn (Iowa) and fourth-seeded Georgetown (Ky.) on Saturday, March 18 at 2:15 p.m., CST.

"I thought it was more back and forth, but our guards never could get in a flow," said Dillard head coach Mike Newell. "JJ (Morris) played well, but other than that, their guards totally dominated our guards, and that was the difference in the ball game."

In what has become a trend in several tournament games, the eventual winning team was forced to dig out of a double-digit deficit in the first half. Langston (24-9) was no different as it found itself down by a dozen points at the 10:38 mark of the first half after a three-pointer by Demetric Austin (SR/Washington, D.C.).

Renard Green canned a trey of his own to begin the long road back for the Lions, sparking a nine-point burst to trim the deficit to three in less than two minutes. After taking the lead in the latter stages of the first half, the Lions went to the break trailing by a point, 42-41.

The teams traded the lead early on in the second half and were tied with 8:50 remaining before Langston took control of the game for good. Jones scored inside and Harris hit from outside for a quick five-point surge to break the deadlock. Myles Elgin added a pair of field goals to stretch the lead to nine at the 7:03 mark, and the Bleu Devils got no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Langston did significant damage in the paint, scoring 48 points inside to just 28 for Dillard. The Lions also took advantage of a 25-11 advantage in points off turnovers thanks to a 17-5 ledger in giveaways.

The Lions shot 17 of 33 (.515) in the second half and finished 49.3 percent (33 of 67) overall from the field. Dillard posted a 39-34 rebounding advantage that included an 11-9 edge on the offensive glass, but Langston had seven steals to just one for the Bleu Devils.

James Morris Jr. (JR/Peoria, Ill.) led all scorers with 27 points for Dillard, hitting 4-of-9 from three-point range and 10-of-16 overall. Austin finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Bleu Devils.

"Demetric had a good first half, but struggled a little bit in the second half," said Newell. "We couldn't penetrate and we had problems passing the ball in to him, but they are a good basketball team. It's one of those games that you wish you could get back, but we gotta hit the recruiting trail now. We lose some really good seniors, and we've got a strong nucleus coming back, and now we have to get two or three key players and shore up some depth."

Dillard finished its season with a record of 25-8.

DILLARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION