Lady Hornets bring home SWAC Golf Championship

ALEXANDRIA, LA - It came down to the last two scorecards of the tournament one from Alabama State's Amelie Buhl and one from Jackson State, but it was Buhl's final round 75 on the final card of the day gave the Lady Hornets the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship. ASU's two-day total of 654 defeated last year's champion Jackson State University by only six shots (660).

It was a day where all of the teams struggled with wind gusts that reached 40 mph over the course of the day, and Buhl was able to shoot an even-par 36 on the back nine. She was the only golfer able to shoot even-par over the final nine holes of the championship which showed how well she played. Buhl shot a 77 on the first day of the championship and finished the championship with a 152 which earned her the low-medalist honor, as well as being the low freshman medalist. She was also named First-Team All-SWAC.

 2011 SWAC Women's Golf Championship -- FINAL RESULTS

Photo Gallery

Individual Honors

Coach of the Year: Gary Grandison, Alabama State

Medalist and Low Freshman Medalist: Amelie Buhl, Alabama State

First-team All-SWAC: Amelie Buhl, ALST; Aileen Meredith, ALST; Erica Payton, JKST; Jennifer Sells, JKST; Cami Stith, JKST

Second-team All-SWAC: Shanequa Valentine, PVAM; Peni Sanjoto, PVAM; Danielle Robinson, ALST; Tyler Lawrence, TXSO; Jessica Williams, ALST

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Los Angeles Lakers Sign JSU's Trey Johnson

EL SEGUNDO, CA (April 13, 2011) - The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Trey Johnson, it was announced today.  Johnson rejoins the Lakers after spending the 2010 preseason with the team before being waived on October 21, 2010. In five preseason games, he averaged 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 8.8 minutes.

A 6’5” guard out of Jackson State, Johnson has spent the last four seasons playing for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. A 2011 D-League All-Star West Team selection, Johnson did not play in the game after being called up to the Toronto Raptors and signing a pair of 10-day contracts with the team. In seven games with the Raptors this season, Johnson averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.6 minutes.

Lakers sign Trey Johnson and recall Derrick Caracter from Bakersfield Jam

In a move to address their depleting roster, the Lakers signed Trey Johnson and recalled Derrick Caracter from the Bakersfield Jam and will be available to play in the team's season finale Wednesday against the Lakers.

These movies coincide with a number of absences that began plaguing the Lakers before their 102-93 victory Wednesday over the Spurs. The Lakers are without Lakers reserves Steve Blake (chicken pox) and Matt Barnes (sore right knee) for an undetermined amount of time, while center Andrew Bynum plans to have an MRI today after hyperextending his right knee.



Lakers adding D-Leaguer Johnson

The two-time NBA champ Los Angeles Lakers are shorthanded. Steve Blake(notes) is out indefinitey with the chicken pox. And the right knee of Matt Barnes(notes), which has undergone surgical repair in the past, is so sore that when he woke up Tuesday he couldn't move easily, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Plus, it's unclear if Andrew Bynum(notes) and his knee will be ready to go when the playoffs start. Not a great way to finish out the season and start the postseason, right?

Lakers Call-Up Trey Johnson From NBA D-League's Bakersfield Jam

Trey Johnson spent the preseason with the Los Angeles Lakers and, after playing the regular season with the NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam, it looks like he'll spend the postseason with the Lakers as well.

Johnson will be signed for the remainder of the season by the Lakers, a source close to the situation told Ridiculous Upside, after averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 39 games for the Jam during the regular season. In Bakersfield's lone playoff game so far this season, Johnson scored 29 points to lead the Jam to a 110-105 upset victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

This will be his second call-up of the season after...

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JSU Tiger blissful at free safety

JSU Tiger blissful at free safety

Jackson, MS - Tim Dandridge is back where he feels he belongs - roving in the secondary, frantically screaming out formations, putting teammates in the correct places. To Dandridge, this is where it's at: free safety. "I think I fit in good there," he said. "That's my natural position."

Dandridge's move this spring from outside linebacker/cornerback to free safety is one Jackson State hopes will strengthen a defense that struggled last season. Dandridge and his D have a chance to prove they're better than last season - and last week - at noon today during JSU's spring game.



JSU set for Tiger Fest 2011

JACKSON, Mississippi - The Jackson State football team will complete its 2011 spring practice sessions with its annual "Blue and White" spring game Saturday, April 16 at the JSU practice field. The spring football game is held in conjunction with the 2011 Tiger Fest sponsored by the JSU Tiger Fund.

Tiger Fest activities officially got under way with the annual Rick Comegy Golf Tournament played at LeFluer's Bluff Golf Course on Friday.

Saturday (April 16) activities will begin with the JSU Lady Tigers Volleyball "Spring Fling" Tournament at 9 am in the T.B. Ellis Gymnasium. The JSU Legends "Flag Football" game will take place at 10 am on the JSU practice field.

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Bahamas star Russell doing it all for Jackson State Tigers

Jackson, MS - Desmond Russell arrived in Jackson from his homeland of the Bahamas in August 2009, toward the end of Mississippi's sweltering summer. In his first trip to the Deep South, a couple of things surprised the Jackson State pitcher.

One: "It was kind of cold. It will be cold one moment, and it will be hot right away." Two: "There's no conch."

Born and raised on a tropical island, Russell had to get accustomed to Mississippi's sporadic temperature drops - even in the summer - and its lack of the popular Bahamian sea snail dish. But, Russell seems to be fitting in quite nicely here.

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Jackson State University: "Talent Has No Color"

It was a frustrating afternoon for Jackson State golfer Tim O'Neal. He was having one of his best days striking the ball from tee to green. Just one thing was missing.

"I couldn't putt it in the ocean," the 37-year-old former PGA and Nationwide Tour golfer says of his frustrating performance at a tournament at SMU roughly 15 year walked over to Coach Payton and said, `Coach I cannot make a putt.' He thought a moment the offered: `Hit it closer to the pin.'"

The instance illustrates Eddie Payton's practical blend of coaching skill, task mastering and sense of humor. Since 1986, the former NFL punt and kick returner has been forging men's and women's championship golf teams at Jackson State University, the Historically Black College in Jackson, Miss.



Outside the Lines: Eddie Payton

His younger brother, Walter, was perhaps the greatest running back ever, but Eddie Payton has devoted his life to a sport in which the only thing that gets hit is a dimpled ball.

For the past quarter century, Payton has been the head golf coach at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., where he has led the historically black school to 24 conference titles in 25 years. He's the Eddie Robinson of college golf.

Yet Payton says he feels like a failure. Every time he turns on the television, he sees only one African-American representative on the PGA Tour.

["I've been coaching 25 years," he says, "and I have not turned out one."

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NCAA grants Jackson State full waiver from academic penalties

Jackson State University has received good news from the organization that had threatened to level harsh penalties against the school's football program.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has agreed to waive, for now, penalties the team faced for poor academic performance, according to documents obtained by The Clarion-Ledger.

Without the waiver, JSU likely would have been banned from post-season participation this fall and faced other punishment, including the loss of scholarships and even expulsion from Division I, the NCAA's highest classification for athletics. JSU's football program is in trouble because it has routinely fallen below the NCAA's benchmark score of 900 for Academic Progress Rate (APR)...


Videographer: JSUTigers1877; JSU Day at the Capitol w/ the Sonic Boom of the South

NCAA gives Jackson State more time to improve football team's academics

JACKSON, Miss. — The NCAA has given Jackson State University more time to improve the football team's academic performance.

The Clarion-Ledger reports documents it obtained through a public records request shows Jackson State will not be banned from postseason play this season and will get a break on scholarship reductions. Earlier reports were the academic performance rate by JSU was below — for a third straight year — what the NCAA required.

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Prairie View men end season with loss to Jackson State

GARLAND – Prairie View A&M had a comeback in its sights after pulling within three points of Jackson State with nine minutes left in Wednesday’s Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament first-round matchup. And then suddenly, the Panthers went ice cold.

The seventh-seeded Prairie View men made just one field goal over the final 9:08 against No. 2 seed Jackson State, ending their season with a 50-38 loss at the Special Events Center.

The Panthers (10-22) shot only 31 percent and hit only two of 13 3-pointers. Prairie View fell behind 30-21 at the start of the second half, but quickly closed the gap, pulling within 38-35 on a layup by Duwan Kornegay at the 9:08 mark.

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Prairie View women win SWAC tourney opener

GARLAND, Texas – Prairie View A&M was challenged by Jackson State in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s tournament but held on for a 56-40 win Wednesday morning at the Special Events Center.

Dominique Smith scored a game-high 17 points, and Siarra Soliz had 15 points to help the second-seeded Panthers (19-11) advance to Friday's SWAC semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 seed Alcorn State and No. 6 Grambling State. Robin Jones also had a monster game for Prairie View, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals.



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Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeats Jackson State 62-56

UAPB Coach George Ivory

Savalace Townsend scored 21 points and Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Jackson State 62-56 on Monday night.

Townsend's layup with 3:55 left gave the Golden Lions (7-22, 7-10 SWAC) the lead for good at 51-50. He scored 16 of his 21 points after halftime, when Pine Bluff trailed 29-24. Allen Smith had 13 points and Terrell Kennedy 12 for Pine Bluff.

Jenirro Bush led Jackson State (15-13, 11-5) with 16 points and Grant Maxey scored 12. The Tigers shot 32 percent from the field while the Golden Lions made 40 percent of their shots.

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Jackson State to play six at home in 2011

Jackson, MS - A three-game homestand comprises half of the six that Jackson State football will play at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium during its 11-game schedule this season.

Jackson State will kick off the season on Sept. 3 against Division III Concordia College in the fourth annual W.C. Gorden Classic. The Tigers will play one other non-conference game, Sept. 10 against Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis.

The Tigers' remaining five home games are against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents, including...

2011 Jackson State University Football Schedule
Date    Opponent            Site      Time
September
3    Concordia College “Hornets” (Selma, AL)     Jackson, MS    1:30 PM
(4th Annual W.C. Gorden Classic)  
10    Tennessee State “Tigers”        Memphis, TN    6:00 PM
(Southern Heritage Classic)
17    Southern “Jaguars”          Baton Rouge, LA TBA 
24    Alabama State “Hornets”        Jackson, MS    4:00 PM

October
1    Texas Southern “Tigers”        Jackson, MS    4:00 PM
8    Arkansas‐Pine Bluff “Golden Lions”      Jackson, MS    4:00 PM
(Homecoming)
15    Mississippi Valley State” Delta Devils”    Itta Bena, MS    TBA
22    OPEN
29    Prairie View A&M “Panthers”       Prairie View, TX TBA

November
5    Grambling State “Tigers”        Jackson, MS    2:00 PM
12    Alabama A&M “Bulldogs”        Huntsville, AL    TBA
19    Alcorn State “Braves”         Jackson, MS    1:00 PM
(Capital City Classic)

December
10    SWAC Championship Game        Birmingham, AL TBA

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JSU football could face loss of NCAA membership

Coach Rick Comegy is in final year of contract

Jackson State University's football team will be banned from postseason play this fall and the athletic department's membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association is likely to be restricted by 2012 if the NCAA does not grant the school's waiver request.

The team's Academic Progress Rate, a rolling, four-year figure that calculates academic performance, has fallen below a critical benchmark for the third straight year, according to documents obtained recently by The Clarion-Ledger through a public records request.

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JSU LATEST NCAA APR REPORT: CLICK HERE

JSU 2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
09/03/11 Concordia (Selma, AL) Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 1:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11 vs. Tennessee State Memphis, TN 6:00 p.m. CT
09/17/11 at Southern Baton Rouge, LA TBA
09/24/11 vs. Alabama State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11 vs. Texas Southern Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/08/11 vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS TBA
10/29/11 at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX TBA
11/05/11 vs. Grambling St. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 2:00 p.m. CT
11/12/11 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL TBA
11/19/11 vs. Alcorn State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 1:00 p.m. CT

Jackson State fires assistant baseball coach

FORMER JSU Coach Kevin Whiteside

JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State University Interim Athletics Director Robert Walker announced that the university has terminated second-year JSU Assistant Baseball Coach Kevin Whiteside. The termination follows an on-field altercation on Saturday, Feb. 19 which involved a student athlete from an opposing team.

Suspensions and Fines for PV / JSU Baseball Altercation

Birmingham, Ala. (Feb. 21, 2011) - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced today that four student-athletes and one assistant coach have been suspended for their participation in an on-field altercation Saturday, February 19 between the Jackson State and Prairie View A&M baseball teams. Each of the five individuals were ejected from Saturday’s game and per NCAA rules on fighting ejections, will serve a mandatory suspension without appeal.

Jackson State assistant coach Kevin Whiteside has been suspended by the league for six games and fined $2,000.00 for his involvement in the altercation.

Two Jackson State players, Kendall Logan and Marshum Hall, have been suspended for three games, and the university fined $1,000.00 for their involvement in the altercation.

Two Prairie View A&M players, Evan Richard and Andre Oliver, have been suspended for three games, and the university fined $1,000.00 for their involvement in the altercation.

The actions taken by each individual were in direct violation of the league’s policy prohibiting coaches and student-athletes from displaying unsportsmanlike behavior, which is subject to the league’s Schedule of Penalties approved by the SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors.

“The Southwestern Athletic Conference holds its coaches and student-athletes to a high standard, and we expect sportsmanship between our member institutions to be a high priority,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “Two of our baseball teams, while representing their respective universities, displayed completely unacceptable behavior. The integrity and reputation of the Southwestern Athletic Conference is too important to condone these actions.”

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READ RELATED BLOG: Stemming from fight: JSU fires assistant coach; SWAC suspends players (UPDATED)

JSU Baseball Opens 2011 Campaign with Home Tournament

JSU Tournament Schedule

Fri., Feb. 18 Jackson State vs. Florida A&M - 12 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 18 University Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. FAMU - 3 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 18 JSU vs. UAPB 6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 19 FAMU vs. Prairie View A&M - 12 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 19 UAPB vs. FAMU - 3 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 19 JSU vs. PVAM - 6 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 20 JSU vs. PVAM - 12 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 20 UAPB vs. PVAM - 3 p.m.

Jackson State, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Omar Johnson, will open its 2011 season with its annual JSU Tournament from Friday, Feb. 18-20 at Robert "Bob" Braddy Field.

On Friday the Tigers will play FAMU at noon, followed by a nightcap against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Tigers will face Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m., followed by a single-game on Sunday to close the weekend at noon against a second game against Prairie View A&M.

Click here to read the 2011 JSU Baseball outlook.

FAMU begins new era of Rattlers' baseball

During the wee hours of Thursday morning, sleep finally began to settle in for David Duncan. The thought of being the pitcher who would start the Brett Richardson era at Florida A&M kept Duncan awake several hours past his normal bedtime. He will be making his first start 23 months after he suffered an injury to his pitching arm that required Tommy John surgery.

"I'm trying to stay cool about it but last night I was just thinking about it for hours," Duncan said. "I probably stayed up until about 2. "It's just exciting. I can't wait and I'm ready to go out there and give it all I've got."

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Maxey, Tigers rip Jags, set up SWAC showdown

Grant Maxey scored 20 points and had 14 rebounds and Jackson State rebounded from Saturday's loss at rival Alcorn State with a 72-43 whipping at Southern University on Monday night.

"Every one's a big win for us," JSU coach Tevester Anderson said on his postgame radio interview. "You need big wins when you're competing for a championship."

With Mississippi Valley State's loss Monday, the Tigers (13-10, 9-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) now hold sole possession of second place in the conference standings with a home showdown against SWAC-leading Texas Southern set for Saturday.

"It should be a big game. I hope our fans will come out," Anderson said. "We'll be competing for first place. They win, they'll take a two- game lead."

SU back in top gear; Jaguars ride big 2nd half to run over Jackson State

The slump is over. The streak lives. And the Southern women’s basketball team may be close to reaching its full potential — just in time for the stretch run.

Locked in a tight game against Jackson State on Monday night, the Jaguars used a sharp, timely second-half run to pull away for a 72-55 victory inside the F.G. Clark Activity Center, extending their winning streak to eight games and maintaining their grip on first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings.

But it wasn’t just that Southern (13-8, 10-1) put an opponent away. It was how the Jaguars did it, using the talents of four seniors to stretch out their advantage. Leading 52-46 with less than six minutes remaining, the Jaguars went on a 16-0 run.


Videographer: tarentulami; Southern University Drumline performs in Algeria.

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Jackson State Athletic Director Retires

Jackson State University announces that Athletics Director Robert Braddy has retired.

“The entire Jackson State University family joins me in thanking Coach Braddy for his more than 30 years of service to this university,” said Carolyn Meyers, university president. “I know that all who know him join the university in wishing him and his family well.”

Braddy, affectionately known as “Coach,” started his retirement February 1.

Having served as athletics director for five years, Braddy previously served as the Tigers’ baseball coach for 28 years. A 1964 JSU graduate, Braddy also served as the university’s interim director of athletics in 2000. Under his leadership, the JSU athletics programs have won 17 SWAC titles and captured the Commissioner’s Cup (the James Frank Award) four times, as well the men’s and women’s all sports awards.

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Jackson State signs 16 to Scholarships on National Signing Day

JACKSON, Miss. - The Jackson State University football team has officially signed 15 football players to National Letters of Intent. One recruit received an academic scholarship to JSU to make 16 the total number of players to officially commit to play for the Tigers Wednesday.

Head Coach Rick Comegy looked to strengthen the offensive line as well as shore the linebacker and defensive back positions.

Below is the complete list of the newest members of the JSU football program:

Sterling Wright, DB, 6-1, 190, Coral Reef High, Miami, FL

Zion Pyatt, OL, 6-6, 280, Lackawanna CC, Baltimore City College HS, Baltimore, MD

Maurice Brooks, OL, 6-2, 295, Coahoma CC, Charleston HS, Charleston MS

Reuben Corley, FB, 6-1, 235, MGCCC, South Panola HS, Batesville, MS

Jeff Travillion, OL, 6-2,305, Hendricks HS, Hendricks, TX

Jordan Helm, DE/OLB, 6-1, 220, Marshall HS, Missouri City, TX

Kris Selita, K/P, 6-1, 175, Dakota HS, MaComb, MI

Jahmal Jones, TE, 6-3, 240, Livingston, Livingston, AL

Alvin Kelly, OL, 6-3, 350, Hahnville HS, Louisiana

Danny Williams, OL, 6-3, 320, Tuscaloosa County, AL

Remund Jackson, OL, 6-4, 295, Tuscaloosa County, AL

Darreon Atkins, DB, 6-0, 170, Round Rock HS, Round Rock, TX:

Mike Johnson, ATH, 5-8, 170, Booker T. Washington High, Tuskegee, AL

*Willie Bell, III, LB, 6-2, 215, Murrah High, Jackson, MS

Tedarian Johnson, LB, 6-3, 230, Murrah HS, Jackson, MS

Mark Webster, DT, 6-2, 265, Pensacola HS, Pensacola, FL

Preferred Walk-Ons
*Eric Wills, 5-8, 185, RB, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
*Illiard Kelly, 6-3, 260, DE, Raymond
*Rashard Davis, 5-11, 185, CB, Mansfield, Texas
*Joseph Perry, 5-10, 185, CB, Natchez
*Denotes - Academic Scholarship recepients

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By Jackson State University Athletic Office of Media Relations

JSU signs Concordia for football opener

Jackson State has agreed to play Concordia College at home in the 2011 football season opener, athletic director Bob Braddy confirmed Saturday. The deal is not finalized and details of the contract were not available. The full 2011 football schedule is expected to be released this week.

Concordia, a historically black college in Selma, Ala., fielded its first football team in 2005 and plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the lowest level for four-year schools. The Hornets were beaten 35-0 by Grambling last season.

JSU's basketball team played Concordia in an exhibition game this season. JSU beat the Hornets 97-54.

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Credits:
1. JSU Sonic Boom Band: Written, produced and edited by JSU Mass Communications seniors Tiffany Edmondson and voiced by Candace Sims, Videographer: UTUBEJSU22
2. JSU Sonic Boom Band performance at 2011 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational; Videographer: Jarquavius101

Jackson State QB's recovery is 'going well'

Quarterback Casey Therriault's recovery from a broken collarbone is "going well," Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said.

A right-handed thrower, Therriault broke his right collarbone in the second quarter of JSU's season-ending win over Alcorn State. Comegy said his quarterback is no longer wearing an arm sling and should participate in spring practice. "We're going to be very careful with him," Comegy said.

Therriault finished with the second most passing yards in the Football Championship Subdivision last season and a school record-tying 31 touchdowns.



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Panthers Fall 70-63 To Jackson State

Jackson State outscored Prairie View A&M 11-3 over the final 5:36 as the Panthers dropped 70-63 nationally televised heartbreaker on Monday evening in the William Nicks Building.

Playing before an ESPNU television audience and a spirited dome crowd that topped 3,800 spectators, Jackson State threatened to blow the game away early as they stormed out to a 10-3 lead five minutes in. Prairie View fought back via two huge treys from senior Trant Simpson to remain close but JSU continued to lead as they upped its margin to 27-17 after a Raymond Gregory basket at the 5:33 mark.

The roles began to reverse from that point as Prairie View A&M found its groove as junior Beloved Rogers scored five consecutive points to begin a huge half-ending spurt. JSU added a Rod Melvin free throw after the basket but PV went back to work offensively as they outscored JSU 6-2 to go into the half down 30-28.

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Jackson State offers Therriault an oasis

Therriault's Journey To Redemption

In this unlikely story of redemption, Casey Therriault, a white QB from Michigan finds a home and fans at Jackson State a historically-black university.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice."

-- Martin Luther King Jr., Aug. 28, 1963

JACKSON, Miss. -- Scenes from an oasis:

A fence separated the old black woman from the football field, but it didn't stop her. She wanted to meet the young white quarterback. She asked the coach to bring him over. If you don't have a place to go for Thanksgiving, the old woman told the quarterback through the fence, we will feed you.

In the stands in Memphis, Tenn., weeks earlier, a black stranger struck up a conversation with the white quarterback's father. He was easy to pick out, after all, a pale face in a section full of dark faces. By the end of the game, the quarterback's father had been invited to stay at the stranger's house for the next home game.

Everyone wanted to reach out to the white quarterback. He had come hundreds of miles from his native Michigan to this strange place -- to Jackson State University....

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Note: Exceptionally great story coming from the Southwestern Athletic Conference on quarterback Casey Therriault and the Jackson State University Tigers. Beautiful job by Pat Forde, ESPN.com.