Xavier loses 6-3 to No. 3 team in NCAA Division II

PENSACOLA, Florida -- Xavier University of Louisiana won a pair of doubles matches Friday in a 6-3 men's tennis loss to West Florida.

The Gold Rush (2-5), ranked eighth in the NAIA, built a 2-0 lead before the Argonauts (6-0), ranked third in NCAA Division II, won 5-of-6 singles matches. But Xavier won as many matches as the Argonauts' first five opponents combined -- a list which includes three top-40 NCAA DII schools and NAIA No. 2 Auburn Montgomery.

"We gave a great effort today and played some really good doubles," XU coach Alan Green. "West Florida was just too much for us in singles."

Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer scored Xavier's first point of the dual and improved to 6-0 this season with their 8-4 victory against Bruno Savi and Carlos Moura at No. 1 doubles. Then newcomers Tushar Mandlekar and Kevin Chaouat, paired for the first time at Xavier, rallied from a 7-2 deficit -- and saved three match points -- in a 9-7 victory against Alex Peyrot and Domenico Sano at No. 2. Peyrot and Sano are NCAA D-II's 10th-ranked tandem.

Elio Latella and Felipe Frattini prevented an XU doubles sweep by defeating Viktor Svoboda and Adam Albrecht 9-7. It was the first collegiate doubles match for Albrecht, a freshman.

Montrel, Soifer and Vincenzo Ciccone lost to nationally ranked singles opponents. The only XU player to win a set was Svoboda, who defeated Douglas Boe 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 1-0 (12-10) at No. 4. It was Svoboda's first singles victory in three attempts this season.

"Viktor played well," Green said. "He is beginning to find his rhythm on the court."

Savi, ranked first in NCAA D-II, beat Montrel, ranked 39th in the NAIA, 6-3, 6-1.

Green said Xavier's men's and women's duals against Fisk and Tougaloo in Jackson, Miss., scheduled for Saturday, were postponed. Next competition for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will be at 9 a.m. Friday against Coastal Georgia in the opening round of the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala.

Results

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Shaw Advances To CIAA Championship Game With 60-59 Win Over #10 Virginia State

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- The Shaw University Lady Bears clinched a spot in the CIAA Championship game with a 60-59 win over #10 Virginia State University Friday afternoon in Time Warner Cable Arena.

 

With Virginia State trailing by three, Cana Marriott launched a long jumper as time expired, but it was ruled a two-point basket, sending the Lady Bears to their ninth conference final in 12 years.

 

The Lady Bears will compete for their fourth straight CIAA Championship and take on Fayetteville State University on Saturday at 5:00pm.

 

Shaw entered the contest as the number two seed out of the Southern Division while Virginia State was the top seed out of the North.  The Lady Trojans suffered just two losses on the season, both to Shaw, and end the year with a 25-2 overall record.  Thursday's contest came down to the wire and featured five ties and four lead changes.

 

Jacques Curtis, head coach of the Lady Bears stated, "It was a fans' game.  We had a game similar to this during the regular season…[Virginia State] is a very good team.  We got off to a good start and we felt like we needed to have a good start today in order to win…We just held on until the end…Tomorrow is going to be another quality game."

 

"We knew it was going to be a hard fought game all the way until the end.  We knew it was going to be a battle.  We knew both teams were going to make runs and it was going to come down to who could make defensive stops late in the game," Lady Trojans' head coach, James Hill Jr. noted.

 

Diamond Mitchell paced the Lady Bears with 12 points in the win.  Micah Brooks and Verdine Warner each notched 11 points apiece while Ariel Hatcher chipped in 10 of her own.  Warner also hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds (three offensive, seven defensive).  Kamiya Burwell had nine assists to pace the Lady Bears.

 

Pryncess Tate-Dublin led all players in the game with 21 points in the loss for Virginia State.  Alexandria Massado added 11 points in the effort.

 

Bryann Guyton opened the contest with a jumper for the Lady Bears.  Tate-Dublin answered with a jumper of her own for Virginia State on the next possession.  A bucket by Brooks for Shaw sparked a 6-0 run and handed the Lady Bears an 8-2 lead with 16:53 on the clock.  Lamesha Deal's layup on the next possession ended a five minute scoring drought for the Lady Trojans.

 

Leading 8-4, a 5-0 run by Shaw quickly put the Lady Bears ahead 13-4 midway through the first half.  The Lady Trojans managed to hold Shaw scoreless for the next two minutes as they clawed their way back to pull within three points (13-10) with 7:32 left to play.

 

A layup by Warner followed by back-to-back buckets by Mitchell returned the momentum to Shaw and left Virginia State with a nine point deficit.  Down 21-15, the Lady Trojans outscored the Lady Bears 6-2 over the next three minutes to make it a two point game (23-21) at the 1:40 mark.

 

Virginia State was unable to hold on to the momentum and the Lady Bears closed out the half leading 28-23 after three made free throws by Brooks and a layup by Henry.  Tate-Dublin's bucket for Virginia State at the start of the second half put the Lady Trojans within three points (28-25).

 

Both teams exchanged baskets until Kamiya Burwell's three-pointer with 14:49 on the clock gave Shaw a six point (37-31) advantage.  Jessica Lyons answered with a basket and Tate-Dublin followed with a layup for the Lady Trojans, but Ariel Hatcher nailed a deep three at the 10:34 mark allowing Shaw to pull away 44-37.

 

The Lady Trojans resiliently battled back to change the momentum of the game just under the midway point of the second half.  Trailing 46-39, Virginia State rattled off nine unanswered points capped by a Tate-Dublin three to take their first lead of the game (48-46) with 6:58 left in the contest. 

 

The score was tied four times in the final six minutes of play and neither team led by more than three points.  With the score tied 57-57 and 40.7 seconds on the clock, Warner sank two free throws for a 59-57 lead for Shaw.   The Lady Bears capitalized on another free throw opportunity as Warner made good on the attempt to give Shaw a 60-57 lead with 17 seconds left in the game.

 

Marriott hit the jumper right at the buzzer and just in front of the three point arc, allowing the Lady Bears to take the 60-59 win and advance to the CIAA Championship.

 

The Lady Bears return to the championship for the nine time in the last 12 years, and are undefeated in finals the school's history.

 

Shaw and Fayetteville State met twice this season, with each team claiming a victory.  The two were tied in the southern division at the end of the regular season, but a coin flip gave FSU the number one seed in the south.

BOX SCORE
 
COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION 

Fayetteville State Ends VUU Lady Panthers CIAA Tourney Run

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Amber Calvin scored 19 points to lead Fayetteville State University to its second straight CIAA Tournament championship game with a 64-57 women's basketball semifinal victory over Virginia Union University 64-57 at Time Warner Cable Arena on Friday, February 28, 2014.

 The Lady Broncos (21-6) will play in the finals on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Southern Division champions, the Lady Broncos are shooting for their fourth CIAA title and first since 2010.

Akysia Resper added 14 points and Je'lena Robertson chipped in 12 points for the Lady Broncos, who made 16-of-19 free throws for 84 percent. They knocked down 6-of-6 free throws in the final minute to hold off the pesky Lady Panthers, who struggled at the free throw line. The No. 3 Northern Division seed, the Lady Panthers were 13-of-31 from the charity stripe for 42 percent.

"In close games, it is going to come down to rebounding and free throws," Fayetteville State Head Coach Eva Patterson-Heath said. "Fortunately, we hit our free throws."

The quintet of Robertson, Calvin, Resper, Deja Middleton and Bria Robinson combined to make 16-of-16 free throws with Robertson hitting 6-of-6. Her two free throws with four seconds left iced the game for the Lady Broncos.

Missed free throws prevented the Lady Panthers from catching the Lady Broncos. Down 58-49 with 4:03 left, the Lady Panthers were 2-for-10 down the stretch. Despite the missed free throws, the Lady Panthers still had a shot with Melyse Brown drilled a three-pointer from the corner to pull within 60-57 with 35.4 seconds remaining. The Lady Broncos sealed the win on two free throws apiece by Middleton and Robertson in the final 17.6 seconds.

"Free throws were the issue today," Virginia Union Head Coach Barvenia Wooten-Cherry said. "We missed a lot of free throws."

Brown paced the Lady Panthers (11-16 overall) with 16 points. The trio of Ashle Freeman, Lady Walker and Jasmin Dancy each scored 11 points. Walker pulled down 13 rebounds for a double-double and Freeman had four assists and four steals. She set the school record for steals in the contest.

Trailing by two at halftime, the Lady Panthers jumped out to a 37-31 lead in the second half. The Lady Broncos gained momentum with a 19-3 run to go up 50-40. Calvin scored eight points and Resper added seven points during the spurt including a three-pointer for a 40-39 Lady Broncos lead.

The Lady Panthers stayed in striking distance by controlling the boards. They outrebounded the Lady Broncos 47-30 overall which led to a 34-26 scoring advantage in the paint and a 13-4 edge in second-chance points in the game. The free-throw shooting accuracy of the Lady Broncos prevented the Lady Panthers from making a comeback.

Calvin scored seven points and Robertson had six in the first half for the Lady Broncos, who were in front 25-23 in the first half.

Walker had nine points and nine rebounds for the Lady Panthers.

Led by six points from Walker and five from Brown, the Lady Panthers led 17-15 in the first 10 minutes.

The Lady Broncos kept pace behind the shooting of Calvin, who had seven points.

The Lady Broncos led 22-20 on a jumper by Robertson, but Walker scored on a layup to tie the game.

Resper hit a three for a 25-22 Lady Broncos' lead. A free throw by Walker pulled the Lady Panthers within two at 25-23 at halftime.

COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Willie Totten named to Black College Hall of Fame

COACH WILLIE TOTTEN
Courtesy AAMU Athletics
 

Black College Football Hall of Fame 2014 Inductees

NORMAL, Alabama  -- It was announced that former Mississippi Valley quarterback and Alabama A&M quarterbacks coach  Willie Totten will be inducted into the Black College Hall of Fame on March 1, 2014 in Atlanta.

He will join A&M Hall of Famer and NFL Hall of Famer John Stallworth who was also selected for the honor.

The Class of 2014 includes six players and one coach. The inductees were selected from a list of 25 finalists who had been determined earlier by the Black College Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee is comprised of black college football sports writers, analysts and commentators Roscoe Nance (Chairman), Donald Hunt, Ty Miller, Charlie Neal and Lloyd Vance former NFL General Managers Ernie Accorsi and Gil Brandt, long-time NFL scouts Charles Bailey and Charles Garcia, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture Lonnie Bunch, and historian Michael Hurd.

The Class of 2014 includes Robert Brazile (Jackson State University), Leroy Kelly (Morgan State University), John Stallworth (Alabama A&M University), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern University), Willie Totten (Mississippi Valley State University), Doug Wilkerson (North Carolina Central University) as player inductees and Marino Casem (Alcorn State University) as a coach inductee.

These men will be honored at the Fifth Annual Enshrinement Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons on March 1, 2014. The event will take place at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia in conjunction with Black College Football weekend.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established to honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Each inductee's college or university will receive a $5,000 grant to support continuing academic and athletic opportunities at their respective institutions.

About Totten
Quarterback, Mississippi Valley State University (1982-1985)
First Team All-American in 1984 … Set more than 50 Division I-AA passing records … Team averaged 59 points per game … Threw for a record 58 touchdowns in one year … Division I-AA's all-time leader and ranks second in career passing yards (12,711) and single-season passing yards (4,557 in 1984) … Twice led the nation in passing efficiency … Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame (2005) … Buffalo Bills (1987) … One season … Played a season in CFL (Toronto Argonauts), and three seasons in Arena Football League (1988-1989, 1991) … Born July 4, 1962 in Leflore County, MS.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern baseball lineup work in progress

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern baseball coach Roger Cador’s lineup card is still very much a work in progress.

He can pencil in D.J. Wallace in right field and Lance Jones in center field.

“Everything else is up in the air,” Cador said.

He’ll continue trying to sort out the rest of the lineup when the Jaguars (2-2) open a three-game series against Northwestern State (3-4) at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches.

Cador did a lot of experimenting during two exhibition games against Baton Rouge Community College last weekend. He said he did a lot of things that he wouldn’t have done in a game that counted in the standings, such as leaving left-handed batters in to face left-handed pitchers, just to see how players handled them.

CONTINUE READING

TSU Basketball teams set to face Alabama State Saturday at 5:30 and 7:30 pm

HOUSTON, Texas  --  The Texas Southern Men's and Women's basketball teams will continue conference play this upcoming week as they both get set to face Alabama State at home at the H&PE Arena.

This women's game will start at 5:30 pm followed by the men's contest at 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 1^st. A complete listing of TSU home basketball games can be found by clicking the schedule links located at www.tsuball.com.

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jeff Stubbs, Derrell Taylor stayed at Jackson State despite odds

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- When Wayne Brent was hired as Jackson State’s basketball coach and held his first workout in March of last year, he had 10 players show up.

By the fall, Jeff Stubbs and Derrell Taylor were the only major contributors left from that initial group.

Brent, though, has never asked why they decided to stay.

“I probably would have never had a conversation with them because my thing has always been, ‘This is the way we’re going to do it, and if you don’t want to do it like this, there’s almost 300 other schools you can go to,’” Brent said. “If you come to practice and put up with what we can do, you got to be a tough-minded individual.”

CONTINUE READING

Jackson State's Julysses Nobles adjusts to role as a reserve

HEAD COACH WAYNE BRENT

JSU now starting five freshmen

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Julysses Nobles was a starter.

The senior transfer from Arkansas was one of the few players on Jackson State who had collegiate experience. He also played under JSU coach Wayne Brent at Callaway and understood his offense.
Yet in the last two games, the point guard has come off the bench as an effective sixth man.

“We’re going to continue to bring him off the bench,” Brent said. “Now, he may start Senior Night (on Monday), but he’s been more productive, (and) he’s been more focused off the bench.”

It’s part of a new freshmen formula Brent tried last week, when he started five rookies in road games against Texas Southern and Grambling State. The new lineup is 2-0 so far. Nobles had 19 points in his last game off the bench.

CONTINUE READING

Mizzou Baseball Cancels Alabama A&M Series

COLUMBIA, Missouri -- With cold weather and a winter storm forecasted for the Mid-Missouri area, the Mizzou baseball team has cancelled it series with Alabama A&M, scheduled for March 4 and 5 at Taylor Stadium. No makeup dates have been announced. The Tigers will play three games at UALR this weekend and the home opener is scheduled for next Friday (March 7) at Taylor Stadium.

For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MUTigerBaseball.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Watch Friday's CIAA Baskeball Tournament Live @ Livestream

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is down to the Final Four for its 2014 Men's and Women's Basketball Championship, February 25 through March 1, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Tournament tickets are still available for purchase by visiting the Ticketmaster website.

Women's Bracket | Men's Bracket

Twitter Updates

Watch the action live at our Livestream feed below:

ciaa on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Friday, February 28 - The Final Four

 

Women’s Semifinals
Virginia Union vs. Fayetteville State, 1:00 p.m.
Virginia State vs. Shaw, 3:00 p.m.

Men’s Semifials
Fayetteville State vs. Livingstone, 7:00 p.m.  BOUCE TV
Johnson C. Smith vs. Winston-Salem State, 9:00 p.m.  ASPiRE TV

Saturday, March 1

Women’s Championship - 5:00 p.m.

Men’s Championship - 8:30 p.m.

COURTESY THECIAA.COM

Two SC State Standouts Among SIAC Centennial Hall Of Fame Class Honorees

ATLANTA,  Georgia – Former Bulldog standouts David "Deacon" Jones and Samuel "Herc" Goodwin will be among 15 persons inducted into the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Hall of Fame during the league's one hundredth anniversary celebration week March 3-8 in Birmingham, Alabama.

The SIAC's Centennial Hall of Fame Class, which will be held on Mar. 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Civic Center in Fairfield, Alabama, will include former Bulldogs David "Deacon" Jones (deceased) and Samuel "Herc" Goodwin among few with a distinguished group of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

The inductees were selected by the SIAC Hall of Fame Selection Committee, a body of athletic administrators representing former and current member institutions.  Tickets can be purchased online at: http://thesiactickets.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=143&cid=27

The slate also includes, among others,  Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State) , along with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Andre "The Hawk" Dawson (Florida A&M), former Temple University head basketball coach John Cheney (Bethune-Cookman), Betty Austin (Alabama A&M), Hampton "Hamp" Smith (Albany State), Lonnie Bartley (Fort Valley State), Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State), Tyrone Poole (Fort Valley State), Clemon Johnson (Florida A&M), Willie "Galloping Gal" Galimore (Florida A&M), William Nicks (Morris Brown), Donn Clendenon (Morehouse),  and Harold Ellis (Morehouse).

David "Deacon" Jones (South Carolina State): Jones, was an All-SIAC performer as a defensive end for South Carolina State in 1958. After transferring to Mississippi Vocational School (Mississippi Valley State), Jones was drafted in the 14th Round of the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. From there Jones emerged into the most fierce pass rusher in the NFL. Jones won unanimous all-league honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970. He also played in seven straight Pro Bowls, 1965-1971, and was selected to an eighth in 1973. In both 1967 and 1968, he was chosen the top defensive player in the NFL by one major news service. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Samuel "Herc" Goodwin (South Carolina State): Goodwin was one of the top male athletes in the 1960's, as a linebacker and defensive lineman for South Carolina State University. Goodwin was a three-time All-SIAC selection, as well as being named to the Pittsburgh Courier All-American team in 1964.SC State compiled a 22-14 record during his playing days, including an 8-2 (1963) and 7-2 (1964). In addition, he was inducted into the SC State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, and also to the SC State Centennial (1907-2007) Football Team.

 The event will coincide with the 81st SIAC Basketball Tournament, which will be held from March 3 through March 8, at Bill Harris Arena in the Birmingham Crossplex. The 2014 SIAC Basketball Tournament will feature both men's and women's basketball teams from the 14 members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC).

For more information or to request media credentials for the tournament, visit www.thesiac.com. For the latest updates on the SIAC Tournament, "Like" the SIAC Tournament on Facebook and follow the SIAC on Twitter www.twitter.com/thesiac.

EVENT:  SIAC Hall of Fame Gala
DATE:  Wednesday, March 5
VENUE:  Fairfield Civic Center
LOCATION: 6509 EJ Oliver Boulevard, Fairfield, Alabama 35064
TICKET PRICE: $50
CONTACT: Tina Jones, tjones@thesiac.com

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Miller Beats Buzzer, TSU Beats MSU 70-68

MOREHEAD, Kentucky  --  Patrick Miller scored a career-high 38 points including the game-winning three-pointer with two seconds left to lead the Tennessee State men’s basketball team to a 70-68 victory over Morehead State on Thursday night.

Miller was 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the field and made 4-of-5 triple attempts for his sixth 30-point game of the season.

M.J. Rhett was the only other Tiger in double figures, finishing with 12 points and four rebounds.

Tennessee State (5-24, 4-11 OVC) forced 17 turnovers, leading to 27 points. The Tigers only committed seven of their own.

Morehead State (19-11, 10-5 OVC) led 16-4 through the first seven minutes of the game, but TSU went on a 16-3 run to take the lead with six minutes to play before halftime.

The Tigers extended their lead to five at one point in the first period, but a Rhett free throw gave Tennessee State a 34-31 lead heading into the break.

A Kennedy Eubanks jumper at the 10:18 mark put TSU up by 14 and TSU held the advantage all the way up until MSU’s Angelo Warner canned three free throws with 19 seconds to go to make the score 68-67 in favor of the visitors.

That set up Miller’s timely three-pointer to give TSU its first two-game winning streak this season.

TSU shot 39.3 percent in the first half, but upped that to 50 percent in the second. Miller also made all four of Big Blue’s threes during the final 20 minutes.

The Tigers will go for their third straight win on Saturday when they travel to Eastern Kentucky. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

BOX SCORE

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

 

Late Push Leads to TSU Road Win at Morehead State

MOREHEAD, Kentucky  -- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team used a rally in the second half to take control of the game despite having to hold off Morehead State down the stretch in a, 71-66, win Thursday night in Johnson Arena.

The victory snapped a four-game road losing skid for Tennessee State (11-17, 8-7 OVC).

Chelsea Hudson led TSU with 21 points and seven rebounds while Jayda Johnson recorded 12 points and three steals. Alana Morris finished the game with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Morehead State (11-17, 5-10 OVC) was paced by Almesha  Jone’s  25 points as Mackenzie Arledge was the only other MSU player to reach double-digits with 11.

Much like the last three outings, Tennessee State got off to a slow offensive start. Midway through the opening frame, TSU had only shot 33.3 percent from the field while Morehead State connected on 60 percent from the floor.

Before the final media timeout of the half, TSU had fallen behind, 30-20. From there, however, the Lady Tigers made six of their next seven field goal attempts and used a 13-5 run to pull within two, 35-33, before the halftime break.  

Five quick points from Jayda Johnson to start the second half erased TSU’s deficit and put the Lady Tigers on top, 38-35.

Morehead State regained the advantage, 47-40, before Chelsea Hudson made a free-throw to end a three-minute scoring drought for TSU.

Over a span of six minutes TSU clawed from behind and knotted the score at 54-all with 7:31 remaining.

TSU took the lead on the next play following a jumper by Brianna Lawrence in the paint. Two more buckets from Alana Morris and Chelsea Hudson made the score, 60-54, in favor of the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers maintained the lead for the rest of the game but the Eagles stayed within striking distance. MSU buried a triple with 1:01 on the clock to cut the deficit down to two, 66-64.

On TSU’s next trip down the floor, Rachel Allen scored in the paint to give the Lady Tigers a four-point cushion. Following a missed shot by the Eagles on their next possession, Allen made one free throw.

Morehead State missed its next few shot attempts before committing a turnover. Alana Morris stepped up and made two free-throws to put the game away.

TSU outrebounded the opponent, 38-29, and forced MSU into 21 turnovers.

Tennessee State returns to action on Saturday, March 1 for the final regular season game of the 2013-14 campaign. TSU will face EKU on the road at 4:15 p.m. ET in McBrayer Arena.

 

FINAL STATS

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

West Virginia State to Host Dedication and Opening of new Walker Convocation Center

The Walker Convocation Center will feature a 1,350-seat-arena, and an athletic
court that will be home to men’s and women’s basketball as well as volleyball.

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE ATHLETICS

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – A dedication and opening ceremony has been set for Friday, Feb. 28, for the new D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center at West Virginia State University (WVSU).

“This is truly a historic event for West Virginia State University,” said President Brian O. Hemphill. “Fleming Hall was built in 1941 and served the University well for 70 years, but it was in need of renovation to bring it up-to-date with the standards that today’s student-athletes expect. With the Walker Convocation Center, we are now more than able to provide premier academic as well as athletic and training space for our students.”

The Convocation Center is named in honor of longtime Kanawha Valley civic leaders D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker.

“This Convocation Center is really a symbol of the future of this school. Having a place like the Convocation Center in today’s education system gives us a good athletic facility, a place for large gatherings, and a place that we can all be proud of, and my wife, Diane, and I are proud to have our name associated with it, very much so,” said D. Stephen Walker.

Construction on the $19 million expanded academic and athletic space began in 2012 after the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, then-Governor Joe Manchin and the West Virginia Economic Development Authority approved the issuance of Lottery Revenue Bonds to support capital improvement projects located at higher education institutions across the state. The largest part of the WVSU renovation and expansion project – the Walker Convocation Center – will feature a 1,350-seat-arena, and an athletic court that will be home to men’s and women’s basketball as well as volleyball. The renovations of the academic areas in Fleming Hall enable students pursuing Health and Human Performance degrees to learn using state-of-the-art technology in the classroom.

Supported by the National Basketball Association, the lobby of the Convocation Center will pay tribute to legendary WVSU basketball player Earl Lloyd, the first African-American to play in a NBA game. A statue of Lloyd will be located in the lobby and was supported by the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, Mannie Jackson.  Artist Brian Hanlon of Hanlon Sculpture Studio created the bronze statue.

“I am honored to be a part of this great day celebrating Earl Lloyd and his profound impact on breaking the color barrier in the NBA,” said Hanlon, who is the official sculptor for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Earl is the epitome of a basketball pioneer and I hope this monument inspires and educates visitors on his importance to the game of basketball.”

A private, invitation-only dedication will take place on Friday, Feb. 28, to give distinguished supporters of the Convocation Center a chance to tour the facility.

On Saturday, March 1, the public will have a chance to view the Convocation Center as both the Yellow Jackets men’s and women’s basketball teams will be in action for the first time on the center’s new athletic court. The Lady Yellow Jackets tip off at 2 p.m. followed by the men at 4 p.m.

Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook and Twitter @WVStateU.


WATCH IN 720p HD, WIDE SCREEN

West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, West Virginia.  As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

West Virginia State University Women’s, Men’s Basketball Games Sold Out

INSTITUTE, West Virginia – West Virginia State University's (WVSU) women's and men's home basketball games to be held Saturday, March 1, at the new D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center have sold out.

The Lady Yellow Jackets tipoff at 2 p.m. for the first game in the new Walker Convocation Center. The men's basketball game will tipoff at 4 p.m.

The Lady Yellow Jackets enter the game with an 18-9 record including a 14-7 mark in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. The men's team is 12-13 and 8-13 in MEC play.

Tickets previously reserved in advance are now available for pickup in the Athletic Department office, located on the second floor of Fleming Hall. Reserved tickets not picked up prior to game day will be available at Will Call beginning at 12:30 p.m. on March 1 at the Walker Convocation Center. Any reserved tickets not picked up by 3:30 p.m. on Saturday will be made available for sale to the public for $5 per ticket.

Saturday's games are the last of the regular season for WVSU.

The postseason tournament for the MEC will begin Tuesday, March 4, with preliminary round games played on campus sites.

Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook and Twitter @WVStateU.

West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.
 
COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Coppin State AD seizes every opportunity

Former NFL player has raised the bar at Coppin State and made graduating a top priority for student-athletes.

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- Derrick Ramsey believes in the axiom that timing is everything.

His experiences have taught him that, and he is now passing along that message from his position as the director of athletics at Coppin State.

Before Ramsey arrived at his current job, the school’s Graduation Success Rate was 58 percent. That number has grown to 75 percent, which is part of a culture change he has instilled that emphasizes graduating over staying eligible.

Ramsey is an example of what can happen when a strong work ethic meets opportunity.

He was a standout quarterback at Kentucky, played nine years in the NFL as a tight end, purchased and managed properties in the real estate business, then returned to his alma mater as an administrator. He also has served as deputy secretary of commerce for the state of Kentucky and has run athletics departments at two HBCUs.

CONTINUE READING

NCAA Final Decision: SU Will Not Participate in Post-Season Opportunities

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern University, in conjunction with the NCAA, issued the following joint statement to address details surrounding the academic inquiry and the current post-season ban for all athletic programs, including the men's and women's basketball programs.

The NCAA staff continues to work closely with Southern University to resolve issues with the data the school submitted through the Academic Performance Program. Currently, all Southern University athletics teams are ineligible for NCAA postseason opportunities because the eligibility and retention data for its student-athletes are incomplete and inaccurate.

The records in question are used by the NCAA to determine the Academic Progress Rates for each team. Because Southern’s data was deemed unusable, the school currently has no verified APRs for any of its teams. Without accurate APRs, the Committee on Academic Performance, a membership group that oversees the Academic Performance Program, cannot determine if the teams meet the minimum academic standard for postseason competition required of all Division I teams.

Southern was informed of its post-season ineligibility status in December 2013. At this time, the administration was required to notify its student-athletes of this status, and allow them the opportunity to transfer at mid-year. Since this December notification, Southern’s submissions have been incomplete or inaccurate at deadline.

A significant amount of work must be completed before NCAA postseason eligibility for Southern’s teams can be restored. Therefore, it is not feasible for Southern’s winter sports to participate in post-season competition. Both Southern’s administration and the NCAA staff are now focused on assisting the institution with meeting its NCAA membership requirements in time for spring sports to be restored to post-season eligibility.

Southern will exhaust every effort to comply in order to reverse the post season ban.

“The NCAA has informed us of the enormity of the challenge before us, but we continue to work exhaustively in our efforts to comply with their requests, and share in their goals to provide the best institutional support for student athletes,” said William Broussard, athletics director at Southern. “As stated in the initial press conference to announce the post-season ineligibilities due to the ongoing data review, the NCAA has partnered extensively with our coordinated, campus-wide effort to report data from previous years accurately, perform and recommend corrections, and re-design policies and procedures for reporting accurate data in the future.”

NCAA staff members began working closely with Southern in March 2013 in an effort to help the school resolve its data issues. Staff also expedited internal deadlines and continues to work on a compressed timeline in all matters related to the school’s athletic teams.

“Our staff is committed to working with Southern on its data issues,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs. “We hope the result of this collaboration is a fully-functioning, robust system of tracking retention and eligibility on Southern’s campus, to help student-athletes achieve academically and get the support they need to succeed.”

The data review process is a collaborative one that requires a school to supply quality, accurate documentation that follows the school’s internal policies and procedures. Often, these requirements are not met initially, and deadlines and requests must be revised to allow the school additional time to fulfill the requests fully and accurately. However, unusable data status, as determined by the membership body that oversees the process, does not occur frequently .

One of the cornerstones of the Academic Performance Program is its reliance on the correct and complete data submitted by each school. Without accurate data from the schools, the system of recognition for high achievers and penalties for low achievers suffers.

Beginning in 2007, the Committee on Academic Performance requested the staff review the data of all Division I schools to ensure data are accurate and complete. Southern’s data challenges were discovered through such a review. The staff conducts intensive reviews of between 30 and 40 schools per year and each school provides supporting documentation when requested. Within the next three years, all Division I schools will have participated in the review process.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Winston-Salem State Rams Outlast ECSU Vikings, 74-70

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  The Rams of Winston-Salem State secured a spot in the CIAA Tournament semi-finals with a 74-70 win over Elizabeth City State on Thursday evening.  Marquez Jones poured in 25 points while Preston Ross and WyKevin Bazemore notched 17 and 13 respectively en-route to the win.

 

The Rams, the number two seed out of the Southern Division, advance with a 17-10 record and will take on Johnson C. Smith on Friday at 9:00pm. 

 

Bobby Collins, head coach of Winston-Salem State commented, "I was very pleased with the discipline that my team had tonight…it's ironic that we played Elizabeth City State tonight.  They beat us earlier this season so I didn't have to do much to motivate my players."

 

The third seed out of the Northern Division, Elizabeth City State, ends their season with a 14-13 overall record.  Dominique Byrd scored a team-high 12 points for the Vikings while Shaquil Barber added 10 in the effort. 

 

Shawn Walker, head coach of Elizabeth City Sate noted, "We just got beat by a better team tonight.  Their top three players pretty much dominated us. 

 

Overall I'm not disappointed with our effort, we just couldn't stop them…I told my team tonight that the team that wins tonight's game will win the championship.  I definitely think Winston-Salem State will win and I wish them the best."

 

The Rams jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead thanks to two layups and a free throw from Jones.  Miykael Faulcon responded with a dunk to put the Vikings on the board two minutes into the contest.  A 4-0 run by Elizabeth City State made the score 9-2 at the 14:44 mark but a three pointer by Basnight quickly put the Vikings back in the game. 

 

Winston-Salem maintained a narrow lead for the next three minutes of play.  With the Rams leading 17-13 and 11:04 remaining before halftime, Barber completed the three-point play and Byrd drained a free throw for Elizabeth City State to knot the score 17-17 at the 10:18 mark.

 

Glenn Patterson's three-pointer capped a 7-0 run for the Vikings and gave Elizabeth City State their first lead of the game (20-17) with 9:57 left to play. The Rams responded with a layup and made free throw to make the score 20-20.  The Vikings maintained a narrow lead until the 3:58 mark when Winston-Salem State tied the score 30-30 on a made free throw by Tyre Desmore.

 

With the score tied 33-33 and 1:21 on the clock, two made free throws by Brachon Griffin put Elizabeth City State ahead 35-33 heading into halftime. 

Both teams came out strong at the start of the second half.  At the 16:42 mark Preston Ross hit a layup for Winston-Salem and followed with another on the next possession to return the advantage (42-41) to the Rams.

 

Barber's layup for the Vikings followed by a LaShawn Alexander dunk handed the 45-43 lead back to the Elizabeth City State with 14:13 left in the game. A Viking foul with 11:26 remaining in the contest led to Ross sinking two fouls for the Rams and Winston-Salem taking a 48-46 lead.   Griffin hit a three-pointer with 10:23 left in the game to hand the advantage back to Elizabeth City State. 

 

Javan Wells responded with a trey on the Rams' next possession but DeCarlos Anderson promptly responded with one of his own at the 9:40 mark to give Elizabeth City State a 52-51 lead.

 

With the score tied 52-52 and 8:20 left to play, a Desmore three-pointer and dunk by Ross provided a five point lead and some momentum for the Rams. Faulcon answered with a three-pointer for the Vikings but Winston-Salem stole the momentum right back with a bucket by Jones at the 6:15 mark.

 

Down 63-59 after a dunk by WyKevin Bazemore, Basnight netted a three-point basket for the Vikings with 3:39 in the game to cut Elizabeth City State's deficit to one point (63-62).  At the 1:21 mark, Jones completed the three-point play for Winston-Salem to push the lead to 69-64. 

 

Faulcon came up big for the Vikings with a deep three-pointer to make the score 69-67 with just 57 seconds left in the game. 

 

An Elizabeth City State foul sent Ross to the line to shoot two for Winston-Salem State.  He made good one of two attempts.  Ross made two more free throws for the Rams with 13 seconds left in the game but Patterson calmly drained a wide-open three-pointer with six seconds left to keep Elizabeth City State's hope alive.  Javan Wells closed out the game with a resounding dunk to confirm the 74-70 win for the Rams. 

 

Box Score

 

Story Courtesy of Allie Kolezynski on behalf of CIAA

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FSU Broncos Outlast Lincoln 81-74 to Advance to CIAA Semifinals

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Anthony Shelton and Juwan Addison came off the bench to score 16 points apiece as Fayetteville State University downed Lincoln (Pa.) University 81-74 in a men's basketball quarterfinal contest in the CIAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on Thursday, February 27, 2014.

The Broncos (19-9 overall) will meet Livingstone College in one semifinal game on Friday at either 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. The Blue Bears are the top seed in the Southern Division and the Broncos are the No. 3 seed. The Broncos lost twice to the Blue Bears during the regular season in two high-scoring games (95-92 and 116-101).

All-CIAA forward Tyrrell Tate added 14 points and Joshua Dawson registered 13 points for the Broncos, who shot 52 percent and outscored the Lions 30-16 in the paint. The Broncos relied on their bench production to keep their distance from Lincoln (Pa.), the No. 2 seed in the Northern Division.

Led by Shelton and Addison, the Bronco reserves outscored the Lions' bench 41-19. The duo combined to score all but nine of the bench points.

"We think if we have 10 guys to your five, then we have a chance," Fayetteville State Coach Alphonza Kee said.

The Broncos needed a balanced scoring attack to offset the brother guard tandem of Justin and George Jackson of Lincoln (18-9 overall). Justin Jackson led all scorers with 29 points and George Jackson added 16 points. The Broncos did limit All-CIAA guard Derrick Washington to eight points.

Justin Jackson scored 17 points in the first half including five points in the early moments for a 13-10 Lincoln lead. It was at that point the contest turned in the Broncos favor. The Broncos gained their first lead at 14-13 on a layup by Addison and a dunk by Quentin Underwood.

The Lions led briefly at 17-16 on two Justin Jackson free throws. That would never lead again as the Broncos began to assert themselves.

The Broncos finished the half outscoring the Lions 25-17 for a 41-34 halftime lead. Shelton tallied nine points including a three-pointer before time expired. Eight different Broncos scored during the run.

The Broncos built a 45-36 lead early in the second half on a Tate layup. The Lions quickly closed within 45-44 on two three-pointers by George Jackson and a jumper by Justin Jackson for an 8-0 run.

The Broncos never panicked as they went on an 8-0 run of their own for a 53-44 lead. The big plays during the surge were a three-pointer by Devin Thompson and a three-point play by Dawson.

The Lions whittled their deficit three points twice, but the Broncos managed to maintain a working margin of four to 10 points the rest of the way.

Addison scored a layup for a 71-61 Broncos' lead with 2:57 remaining. A three-pointer by Justin Jackson brought the Lions within 72-67, but the Broncos pushed their lead to 80-72 on two Shelton free throws with 38 seconds remaining.

The Broncos won despite committing 25 turnovers which led to 22 Lions' points. The Lions committed 17 turnovers, but Head Coach John Hill says they occurred during key stretches of the game.

"We had turnovers at critical times," Hill said. "We killed our own momentum by throwing the ball away."

Final Stats

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Momentum Carries JCSU Golden Bulls Past Bowie State in CIAA Tournament Quarterfinals

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Johnson C. Smith established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on Thursday afternoon in Time Warner Cable Arena. The Golden Bulls knocked off the top seed from the Northern Division and defending CIAA Tournament Champion Bowie State University with an 81-77 win over the Bulldogs.  They secured a spot in Friday's semi-final game with the victory.  

Johnson C. Smith, the fifth seed out of the South, will take on the winner of Thursday night's quarterfinal contest between Winston-Salem State and Elizabeth City State.  The Golden Bulls advance to the semi-finals with a 15-13 record.

Golden Bulls assistant coach Mark Sherrill stated, "This was a great win for us today.  We executed well and anticipate taking the momentum into the next round."

Coming off the 2013 CIAA Tournament Championship and NCAA DII Atlantic Regional appearance, the Bulldogs' year comes to a disappointing end with a 17-12 overall finish.

Darrell Brooks, Bowie State head coach stated, "Tough way to end the year.  I thought the guys did a great job in the second half of coming back.  I don't feel like we did a good job defending at all.  I give Johnson C. Smith credit; they made tough shots when they had too.  I'm still really proud of my guys.  They did a good job fighting through adversity.  I'm proud; it's just tough to end the year this way."

Ray Gatling led all players in the contest with 23 points in the loss.  Carlos Smith and Cameron Knox added 12 and 11 points respectively.  LaMarquis Letchaw paced the Golden Bulls with 20 points followed by Emilio Parks with 19.  Antwan Wilkerson added 12 points in the victory.

Parks welcomed the Bulldogs to Time Warner Cable Arena with a dunk within the first ten seconds of the game.  A layup by Letchaw put the Golden Bulls ahead 4-0 at the 18:48 mark but a three-pointer by Gatling put Bowie State on the board, and cut the deficit to one point.  Both teams battled to establish consistency and control but Johnson C. Smith led 11-7 at the first media time out of the game.

After Gatling's free throw at the 15:28 mark, a jumper by Raston Brown for the Golden Bulls sparked an 8-0 run, handing Johnson C. Smith the 19-8 advantage with 13:33 left in the half.  A three-pointer by Cameron Knox ended the scoring drought for the Bulldogs but Parks promptly responded with a bucket to build Johnson C. Smith's lead to 21-14 at the 12:01 mark.

Bowie State worked to stay within striking distance and pulled within three points (21-18) using Brian Freeman's jumper at the 10:45 mark.  A layup by Letchaw with 7:12 left in the half gave the Golden Bulls a 28-18 advantage, their largest of the half up to that point.

Johnson C. Smith held on to a lead of eight points or more and extended their advantage to 13 points (41-28) with 1:01 on the clock after a layup by Parks.  Bowie State trailed 41-32 heading into halftime.

Carlos Smith started the second half with a bucket for the Bulldogs.  Joshua Linson responded with a three-pointer and Letchaw followed with a free throw to give the Golden Bulls a 45-34 advantage.  Johnson C. Smith kept a tight grip on the advantage, leading 49-36 at the 17:30 mark.

Gatling hit a three-pointer for Bowie, Smith drained a free throw and Gatling netted a jumper with 15:50 remaining in the game to cut the deficit to seven points (49-42).  David Golladay's layup capped an 8-0 run for Bowie State and made the score 49-44, restoring faith in the Bulldog crowd.

The rally was short lived as Johnson C. Smith pushed their lead to 11 points (60-49) at the 9:12 mark.  Down but not out, the Bulldogs scraped and clawed their way back to pull within five points (67-62) just after the five minute mark. A tip in by Trawn Rogers for the Bulldog with 4:13 on the clock forced the Golden Bulls to take a timeout.

Although Johnson C. Smith held on to the lead, the Bulldogs refused to go away quietly.   With the score 75-68 and 1:45 left on the clock, Zafir Williams made a layup and Gatling drained two free throws, allowing Bowie State to pull within five points.  Trailing 77-72, Knox used a three-pointer to move the Bulldogs within a mere two points of Johnson C. Smith (77-75).  The teams exchanged baskets in the final minute of play, with the Golden Bulls earning the 81-77 victory.   

Box Score    

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
 

Livingstone Advances to Semi-Finals, Defeats SAU 75-63

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- CIAA Player of the Year Mark Thomas scored a game-high 28 points and backcourt mate Jody Hill added 19 points to lead Livingstone College to a 75-63 men's basketball quarterfinal win over Saint Augustine's University in the CIAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on Thursday, February 27, 2014.

The victory sends the Blue Bears (19-7 overall) to Friday's semifinals against either Fayetteville State University or Lincoln (Pa.). The Blue Bears, the top-seeded Southern Division team, are looking to reach the championship game for the third time in four years including last year.

Tashaun Stockdale and Joel Kindred scored 13 points apiece for the Falcons (13-16 overall), the No. 6 seed in the Southern Division. Amere May added 10 points.

Thomas, named Food Lion MVP of the game, scored 18 points in the second half to ignite the Blue Bears, who shot 49 percent in the final 20 minutes. Hill added seven points as the Blue Bears opened the half with a 19-10 run for a 49-38 lead with 13:40 left in the game. Thomas scored eight points during the spurt including a layup that put the Blue Bears up by 11.

The Falcons climbed back within four points at 57-53 on Kindred's layup with 6:22 remaining. His basket completed a 15-8 run.

The Blue Bears pulled away with a 10-2 run for a 67-55 lead with 3:41 left. Thomas scored eight points during the run. Kindred scored for the Falcons with 1:48 remaining to cut their deficit to eight at 69-61, but they would get no closer.
The Blue Bears shot 43 percent from the floor overall while the Falcons shot 33 percent. Most of the Blue Bears' points came in the paint, where they held a 40-24 advantage.

"We didn't get off to a great start, but Saint Augustine's had something to do with that," Livingstone Head Coach James Stinson said. "Once we started getting in transition, it started to loosen up for us."

The Falcons carried the momentum of Wednesday's second-round victory over Chowan University into the first half. The Blue Bears led 5-2 early, but the Falcons opened a 17-7 lead on a 15-2 run. Stockdale scored five points during that stretch for the Falcons.

"The guys were ready to play," said Saint Augustine's Head Coach Tony Sheals, whose squad lost twice to the Blue Bears including a one-point overtime defeat at home on February 19. "We knew we could play them, and it would be a dogfight."

The Blue Bears pulled within 17-13, but May knocked down two free throws for a six-point Falcons' lead. The Blue Bears seized control late in the half when Hill scored 10 points during a 17-9 run in the last 6:26 for a 30-28 halftime lead.

Hill and Thomas had 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the first half for the Blue Bears, who shot 37 percent. Stockdale and May each had seven points for the Falcons, who shot 28 percent. There were two lead changes and the score was tied three times in the first 20 minutes.

The Falcons won the rebounding battle 25-21 in the first half including a 9-5 edge o
n the offensive boards. It led to an 8-6 edge in second chance points for the Falcons.  The Blue Bears outscored the Falcons in the paint 14-10.
COURTESY LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE BLUEBEARS SPORTS INFORMATION
 

Florida A&M receives historic $85 million gift

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced it received an in-kind software grant from Siemens Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software, with a commercial value of more than $85 million.

The in-kind grant gives students access to the same technology that companies around the world depend on every day to develop innovative products in a wide variety of industries, including: automotive, aerospace, machinery, shipbuilding and high-tech electronics.

Graduates with this type of software training are highly-recruited candidates for advanced technology jobs.

“As product complexity continues to grow, students who are able to use PLM software technology are expected to be highly recruited,” said Bill Boswell, Siemens PLM Software senior director of partner strategy. “Siemens PLM Software is honored to have Florida A&M University as one of our academic partners to help build the next generation of engineers.”

"FAMU to Use Same Technology in Classrooms that Companies Worldwide Depend on to Design Today’s Most Sophisticated Products"

The in-kind grant was provided by Siemens PLM Software’s academic program that delivers PLM software technology to more than one million students yearly at more than 12,000 global institutions. The software provided is used at every academic level – from grade schools to graduate engineering research programs.

Siemens PLM Software is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with 7 million licensed seats and more than 71,000 customers worldwide, delivering open solutions to help its customers make smarter decisions that result in better products.

The in-kind grant for FAMU includes Siemens PLM Software’s Teamcenter® portfolio, the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management software; Tecnomatix® portfolio, the industry-leading digital manufacturing software; NX™ software, a leading integrated solution for computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE) and the Fibersim™ portfolio of software for composites engineering.

According to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Professor Tarik Dickens, Ph.D., participating in the Siemens partnership and grant program is not only an opportunity for FAMU to provide world-class training and resources for its students and faculty, but also an opportunity to help address the growing opportunities and challenges in the manufacturing industry.

“This generous gift will provide engineering students with state-of-the-art software for digital manufacturing, thus making our students more attractive to the industry and providing a greater academic platform,” said Dickens, who completed the research and grant application for the Siemens academic partnership on behalf of the university. “This partnership is vital in training our engineers as they enter the workforce, and thus enabling them to continue the push for engineering excellence.”

According to Vice President for University Advancement Thomas Haynes, Ph.D., the in-kind grant award from Siemens will be a key component in continuing FAMU's mission to produce world-class innovators in the STEM areas.

“This landmark partnership with Siemens will be a great asset to FAMU’s continued quest to be the best in its class when it comes to supporting faculty and their work, as well as developing students with cutting-edge skills and technology access,” Haynes said. “This partnership helps to position FAMU to support Florida’s growing manufacturing sector and to become a world leader in meeting the growing needs of employers and preparing students for significant, high-paying STEM careers.”

Founded on October 3, 1887, Florida A&M University is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more than 125 years, FAMU has served the citizens of the State of Florida, the nation and the world through its preeminent educational programs. FAMU, “Florida's Opportunity University,” is committed to meeting the challenges and needs of future generations.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU Rattler Hoopsters Breeze Past EWC Tigers 104-69

Hot-shooting FAMU scorched the nets for 54 percent shooting from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range as they coasted to a Wednesday night win

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – Red-hot shooting by the Florida A&M University Men’s Basketball team boosted them to a 104-69 runaway win over visiting Edward Waters College at the Al Lawson Center Wednesday night.

The homestanding Rattlers (12-16) got off to the races from the opening tip, shooting 56.4 percent (22 of 39) from the floor and 61.5 percent (8 of 13) from three-point range to race to a 54-32 halftime lead.

FAMU’s dynamic duo of Reggie Lewis (17) and Jamie Adams (16) combined for 33 of the Rattlers’ 54 first-half points. Lewis finished with a game-high 25 points, followed by Adams with 24, who also dished out 10 assists.

Three other Rattlers scored in double figures led by Pierre Crawford’s 13 points and 12 points each from Jomari Bradshaw and Christopher Rozier.

Reggie Lewis knocked down back to back three pointers to open the game for FAMU, as he and Adams sparked the Rattlers to an 11-pointlead, 19-8 with 14:33 left, an the race was on.

A Bradshaw three-pointer with 7:10 left extended the FAMU lead to 36-15, and a layup by Adams with 1:22 left in the half extended the Rattlers’ edge to 28, at 54-26.

Edward Waters (16-10), could make no headway against the Rattler attack, adding fuel to the fire by committing 19 turnovers while shooting just 39.7 percent from the floor.

Antonio Valiente tied for game high scoring honors with Lewis, finishing with 25 points to lead the visiting Tigers. Nathaniel Hill scored 14 points and Carlton Darling and Robert Ellis each tossed in 10 .

In the second half, the game got completely out of hand as all 10 Rattlers scored.

Trey Kellum’s layup with 15:21 to play extended the FAMU lead to 30 points, 66-36, and Christopher Rozier’s three-pointer with 7:58 pushed the edge to 41, at 94-53, and his jumper with 4:25 left gave the Rattlers 100 points on the night.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Rattlers travel to Baltimore to take on Morgan State at Hill Fieldhouse Monday night, before closing the regular season at home next Thursday against Bethune-Cookman.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU's Amber Hughes Named OVC Female Freshman of the Year

AMBER HUGHES (Center)
Freshman Hurdler/Jumper
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
High School: Frederick Douglas
COURTESY SAM JORDAN/TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Just prior to the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship, Tennessee State student-athlete Amber Hughes was named Female Freshman of the Year by the league office on Thursday.

Hughes was one of the Tigerbelles’ top performers this season and recorded the best finish in the OVC in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.37 seconds at the Southern Miss Cupid Classic two weeks ago.

At the same invitational, the Atlanta, Ga, native clocked a 24.64 in the 200-meter dash, which is the fourth fastest time in the league.

The freshman also played a part in the Tennessee State 4x400-meter relay team taking top marks in the conference with a 3:24.55 showing at the Samford Multi and Invitational Indoor on Feb. 7.

Hughes and the rest of the TSU track and field team will compete tomorrow in the 2014 OVC Indoor Track and Field Championship hosted by Tennessee State. The events will kick off at 9 a.m. and continue until Saturday night.

Fans can watch the Championship, here.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION