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Showing posts with label NCAA Division II Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCAA Division II Basketball. Show all posts
TUSCALOOSA, AL | Kevin Johnson’s road to Stillman College and a potential Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball championship has been a winding one, to say the least.
In the seven years since graduating from Akron High School, Johnson has played at three different local colleges and worked in the restaurant business, the auto parts industry and at a local fast food chain.
At Stillman, as a senior, he has finally found his niche. He and the Tigers are on the verge of the 2011 SIAC regular-season championship. The Tigers are 20-5 overall and 19-4 in SIAC play and, with a win at Tuskegee today, Johnson and his teammates will own a share of the championship.
The road to this season's CIAA Southern Division title goes through Fayetteville.
Winston-Salem State, tied for first place, can win the division title with a win today at Fayetteville State. The Rams (18-6, 6-3 Southern Division) also can lose the game and win the title if Shaw loses tonight to St. Augustine's.
Tipoff for the game between WSSU (18-6, 6-3) and Fayetteville State (13-12, 4-5) in Capel Arena is 5 p.m.
WSSU is coming off one of its most impressive wins of the season, 59-49 over Shaw at the Gaines Center. Six seniors got a win in their final home game and can add to their success with a division title and first-round bye in the CIAA Tournament.
ALBANY, GA - Sharod Minus scored 27 points off the bench for the Stillman College Tigers, including 7-for-8 shooting from 3-point range, in a 90-71 victory Thursday night over Albany State in men's basketball action.
Rakee Anderson added 18 points and six assists for the Tigers, while LaJay Sears scored 17 with four assists. Lee Riley contributed 10 points and six rebounds.
Albany State was led by Oscar Morris with 16 points. Stillman (20-5, 19-4 SIAC) plays at Tuskegee at 3 p.m. Saturday.
ALBANY, Ga. — And that’s why you don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Just ask the Albany State women’s basketball team, which thought it would lock up the No.1 seed in next week’s SIAC Tournament with a win against Stillman on Thursday, but after a second-half meltdown — ending in a 75-67 loss — all the Lady Rams can now look forward to is the No. 2 seed.
“We had a lack of execution on offense (Thursday night),” said Lady Rams coach Robert Skinner, whose team watched Stillman blow the lid off a game that was all knotted up at 29-29 at halftime. “We just didn’t play good defensively."
Columbia, SC (WLTX) --- Xavier Collier scored 25 points and five assists to lead Benedict to a 72-63 win over Morehouse College Tuesday night, clinching the SIAC regular season title for the Tigers.
Marcus Goode, the reigning SIAC player of the week, scored 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for Benedict which won its fourth SIAC regular season championship in the Fred Watson era.
Saint Augustine’s College swept the CIAA basketball rookie of the year awards Tuesday for the second time in four seasons.
Freshman guard Joel Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) was named the men’s top rookie and freshman center Umeka Benson (Charlotte, N.C.) was voted the women’s best rookie Tuesday by the CIAA-Sports Information Directors Association. The last time a CIAA school produced two rookie of year winners in the same year was 2008 when Allison Sikes (women) and Hayward Fain (men) of Saint Augustine’s College took freshman honors.
Both Kindred and Benson were also named to their respective All-CIAA rookie teams. Redshirt freshman Chris Johnson (Hampton, Va.) of the Falcons joined Kindred on the men’s rookie squad.
Kindred was a unanimous choice for men’s rookie of the year. A 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard, Kindred leads CIAA freshmen in scoring (13.2 ppg) and is also the Falcons’ best rebounder (5.0 rpg). He shoots 44 percent from the floor and has scored in double figures 17 of 25 games including five games of 20 or more points. His play this season was reflected in the voting for CIAA rookie of the week which he won a league-high seven times.
“This is a great honor for Joel, the basketball program, Saint Augustine’s College and the community,” said Ken Spencer, the first-year head men’s coach at Saint Augustine’s College. “He is the type of player I want to bring in. Joel represents the basketball program well on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”
Kindred is the first Falcon to win the honor since Fain in 2008. He played high school ball last season in Raleigh, N.C., at Word of God Academy, which produced NBA rookie standout John Wall. Current Falcon assistant coach Erasto Hatchett was Kindred’s head coach at Word of God.
“I am thankful for winning the award,” Kindred said. “I thank the coaches, my teammates, my brothers and my mom for pushing me.”
Kindred is the younger brother of former Falcon high jump standout Joe Kindred, a track and field All-American and national Division II champion who won national field performer of the year honors. Joel’s brother Jon Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) also plays for the Falcons’ basketball team.
Benson is the latest Lady Falcon to win the rookie honor since Keyona Bryant (2009) and Sikes (2008), making it three out of four seasons a Lady Falcon has claimed the award. A 6-0 center, Benson leads CIAA freshmen in scoring (10.0 ppg) and ranks second among CIAA rookies in rebounding (8.6 rpg). She debuted with 21 points against Davis & Elkins in the season opener and went on to reach double figures in points 10 times and rebounds eight times. A tenacious and athletic player in the paint, Benson has tallied four double-doubles for the Lady Falcons, who are 17-9 overall and tied for second in the CIAA’s Southern Division with one regular-season game to play.
“I am so excited for Umeka,” said Rachel Bullard, the first-year women’s head coach at Saint Augustine’s College. “She has worked very hard and has grown as a person and player throughout the year. What an awesome honor for her and the team.”
Benson plays her best against top-level competition. She had 10 points and 15 rebounds on Nov. 13, 2010, against West Liberty, currently ranked second in the Atlantic Region. Benson had 16 points and 14 rebounds on Feb. 12 in the first meeting against Johnson C. Smith. In the rematch Monday, Benson put up 12 points and 10 rebounds against JCSU, ranked seventh regionally and 24th nationally. The Lady Falcons won both games against JCSU, which is located in Benson's hometown of Charlotte, N.C.
“I am excited and caught off guard about receiving rookie of the year,” Benson said. “I am grateful to my team because I could not have won this award without them. I give thanks to my family, coaches and Saint Augustine’s College. We are looking forward to the CIAA Tournament.”
Johnson rebounded from knee injury last season to become a contributor for the Falcons. A 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward, Johnson averaged 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16.7 minutes of action. His rebounding average is fourth-best on the Falcons, and he is the team’s second-best offensive rebounder.
Johnson scored a season-high 14 points in a January win over Shaw. He pulled down 11 rebounds against Armstrong Atlantic State in December 2010.
The rookies of the year and All-CIAA rookie teams will be recognized at the league’s Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tip Off Ceremonies on Feb. 27 and March 1 in Charlotte, N.C.
By Sports Information Office Saint Augustine's College
Women: Umeka Benson Saint Augustine's College - CIAA Women's Rookie of the Year
Umeka Benson Saint Augustine's College C 6-0 Charlotte, NC
Alisha Hardley Saint Paul's College F/C 6-0 Stafford, VA
Racquel Davis Johnson C. Smith University F 6-0 Bamberg, Germany
Leslie Slayton Virginia Union University G 5-5 Clinton, MD
Cynthia Johnson Lincoln University (PA) PG 5-7 Randallstown, MD
Joel Kindred
Men: Joel Kindred Saint Augustine's College - CIAA Men's Rookie of the Year
Joel Kindred Saint Augustine's College G 6-4 Raleigh, NC
Chris Johnson Saint Augustine's College G/F 6-5 Hampton, VA
Tyrell Tate Fayetteville State University F 6-5 Raleigh, NC
Rasheem King Bowie State University F 6-4 Brooklyn, NY
James Theus Virginia Union University G 6-4 Portsmouth, VA
ETTRICK, VA - Displaying an ability to find a way to win when things go awry is the mark of a good team. Having the wherewithal to do so late in the season and against a divisional foe, doubly so.
The Virginia State University women's basketball team did just that in a CIAA clash with Bowie State at Daniel Gymnasium on Saturday. The Lady Trojans overcame a first half in which they shot 17 percent from the field to win 50-43.
Spurred by solid team defense and a double-double from senior Rhon'Neisha Taylor, the Lady Trojans kept pace with the Lady Bulldogs and found a finishing kick from the bench to pull ahead late in the game.
The Bowie State men's basketball team came into Daniel Gymnasium as the top-ranked team in the CIAA and played like it in a 92-71 win over Virginia State.
The Bulldogs never trailed and overcame a streaky showing from the Trojans with a consistent and well-balanced offensive effort.
"I thought we played well in spots," said interim coach Gene Thompson. "And then there were some situations where some people took a break and that is what killed us. You have to sustain it all the way."
The Bulldogs quickly extended an eight-point halftime advantage to 11 after the break but the Trojans assembled a run that led the VSU faithful to believe a season-defining win was on the horizon. D'Angelo Johnson drained a 3-pointer, Brandon Plummer knocked down a 12-foot jumper and Chris Washington came up with a backcourt steal and layup that cut the deficit to 63-58 with 11:04 remaining.
Eric Salley's playing days with Claflin University are apparently over and teammates and coaches were placed under a self-imposed gag order by the administration about commenting about the ongoing controversy which abruptly ended his college basketball career.
"I have no comments about it," Claflin men's basketball coach Ron Woodard said. "All the issues with him should be directed to (Claflin Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing Sonja) Bennett."
Yet as the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference guard inconspicuously sat in the Jonas T. Kennedy Center stands Saturday afternoon as the Panthers trailed Albany State by 11 points in the second half, his on-court non-presence was not easy to ignore.
Marcus Goode had a triple-double with 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks to power Benedict to an 83-70 victory over Paine College on Saturday.
Former Laney standout Xavier Collier had 23 points for the Tigers (19-6, 18-4 SIAC). Tony Baker led the Lions (10-15, 9-14) with 16 points. Thomas Broughton and Mario Jordan each had 15.
In women's game, Brittany Jackson had 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Benedict to a 65-47 win over Paine.
Alexus Jones had a game-high 15 points for the Lady Tigers (17-9, 15-7). Antionette McPhail scored 14 points to lead Paine (3-24, 2-19).
FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- Some would likely say that the hard part should have come somewhere over the course of the last 23 games.
No doubt, the seemingly endless drills at practice, the pounding that comes with the travel and the pressure of the games themselves would take a toll on anyone. And with the regular season winding down, one could hardly be blamed if he wasn’t at least considering the charm of the impending calm and slowing of pace that comes with the time of year known as “the offseason.”
A college basketball season is a grind. Few would dispute that. But for all of the work and resulting success the Fayetteville State Broncos have endured and enjoyed over the last few months, none of that was the hard part. For the Broncos have played themselves into a position to challenge not for mere improvement -- they have already accomplished that – but for the chance to actually win the CIAA’s Southern Division.
It had been 25 days since the Kentucky State men’s basketball team last played in the Exum Center, a place where the Thorobreds have lost just once this season. Wednesday’s game against Morehouse College is a perfect example why.
Despite having senior starters Tony Johnson and Alex Somerville tied up with fouls for much of the first half, K-State stuck with Morehouse, wearing the Maroon Tigers down in the final three minutes of the game to earn an 82-75 win.
All 10 of KSU’s available players played in the game, and all 10 Thorobreds got on the board, including a game-high 18 points from sophomore Patrick Dawson. “We’re a team that does it by committee,” KSU coach Clarence Moore said. “A lot of guys need to do a lot of things for this team to win. Obviously they did that tonight.
Atlanta, GA — The 78th annual SIAC Basketball Tournament will return to Atlanta, Georgia, Monday, February 28th through Saturday, March 5th in the Atlanta University Center.
The first two rounds of men’s and women’s action will take place March 2nd and 3rd at Clark Atlanta University’s L.S. Epps Gymnasium and Morehouse College’s Frank L. Forbes Arena. All games will then move to Forbes Arena on March 4th and 5th for the semifinal round and championship games.
This year’s tournament will also feature the SIAC college fair on February 28th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as the SIAC cheerleading & dance competition on March 1st at 7 p.m. Both events are open to the public.
Last year’s tournament and events drew nearly 11,000 patrons throughout the week.
2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament Schedule of Events:
Monday, February 28th, 2011
SIAC Basketball Tournament College Fair
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Clark Atlanta University Student Center
Note: Live remote by V-103
Contact: Tina Jones, 404-221-1041, Email: tjones@thesiac.com
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
SIAC Cheerleading & Dance Competition
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: L.S. Epps Gymnasium at Clark Atlanta University
Note: Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Tickets on sale at the door (Admission is $3)
Contact: Tina Jones, 404-221-1041, Email: tjones@thesiac.com
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
Opening Round of the 2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament
Time: *12 p.m., **2 p.m., **4 p.m., **6 p.m., and **8 p.m.
Locations: Frank L Forbes Arena at Morehouse College & L.S. Epps Gymnasium at Clark Atlanta University
Note:*There is only one game in this time slot which takes place at Forbes Arena, **There are two games in this time slot
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Quarterfinal Round of the 2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament
Time: **2 p.m., **4 p.m., **6 p.m., and **8 p.m.
Locations: Frank L Forbes Arena at Morehouse College & L.S. Epps Gymnasium at Clark Atlanta University
Note: **There are two games in this time slot
Friday, March 4th, 2011
Semifinal Round of the 2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament
Time: 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m.
Location: Frank L Forbes Arena at Morehouse College
Note: 2-hour remote with Greg Street & V-103
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
Championship Saturday
Time: 5 p.m. (Women’s) & 8 p.m. (Men’s)
Location: Frank L Forbes Arena at Morehouse College
Note: V-103’s Greg Street will broadcast live from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Ticket Info: General Admission: $15, Student Admission: $10, Advance General Admission tickets on sale at http://www.thesiactickets.com/.
TUSCALOOSA, AL | Currently at the top of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Stillman College men’s basketball team proved why when it took on the Claflin University Panthers on Monday. The Tigers beat the Panthers on Senior Night, 62-55.
“We really played together as a team tonight,” Stillman coach Michael Grant said. “We did a pretty good job of taking care of the basketball, we just really took our time and then we hit our open shots. Any time you can get hit your open shots and hit your free throws, you have a shot and that’s what we did tonight.”
After a slow start where both teams remained scoreless for the first five minutes, Claflin scored first with a basket by senior center Efe Uwadiae. Stillman (17-5, 15-4 in SIAC) answered back a just 35 seconds later on a field goal by Tiger senior guard Rakee Anderson.
Columbia, SC- The electricity was building since 10:30 a.m. and by tip off time the pitch was deafening. For Claflin University and Benedict College the moment had come. A nationally televised men’s basketball game carried on CBS Sports network. An opportunity that comes rarely to NCAA Division II programs that had been afforded to these two prestigious institutions.
Crucial free-throw shooting by the Benedict Tigers (16-6, 16-4), foiled all hopes of a miraculous comeback by the Claflin University Panthers (9-14, 8-13). Benedict went 6-6 at the line in the final minute and took the 69-65 SIAC win over Claflin.
The Panthers began the second half down by seven points, and again came out slowly, which quickly put the Tigers up again by double-figures, 39-29 with just one and a half minutes had ticked off the second half clock. But the Panthers never said die and began to cut the Tiger lead inside of ten points 47-54, with: 25 remaining.
And after a steal Claflin’s Stacy McAlister was fouled and he made both free-throws to pull the Panthers to within five points, 49-54. Benedict’s Antrjuan Albright quickly responded with a three point basket to push their lead back to eight points, 49-57, at the 5:13 mark.
Columbia, SC- The air calmed down considerably, but the game began hot for the Lady Panthers taking a commanding 19-3 lead early. However Benedict tried to make a comeback but could only get as close as eight points 19-11 with six left in the first half. The teams ended the half on even terms scoring 10 points each for the 29-21 halftime score.
Claflin shot a sizzling 42 percent form the floor compared to just 17 percent for Benedict. Claflin was also 60 percent from beyond the arc (3-5) while Benedict was poultry 16 percent.
Natalie Davis went 3-4 from three point land for nine points. Santeria Grooms also scored nine points for Benedict, by intermission.
RALEIGH -- The race for the CIAA's Southern Division title just got a little more interesting. Shaw made all the right moves on Saturday night to come away with a 77-64 victory against Winston-Salem State at sold-out Spaulding Gym. One Shaw official was asked how many Spaulding actually seats. His reply: "It seats 1,000. … Well, it seats 1,000 skinny people."
The Rams were a little shell-shocked out of the gate playing in such a small gym and fell behind by 17, thanks to the Bears (15-7, 4-2 Southern Division) scoring on 10 of their first 13 possessions. The Rams (16-5, 4-2) finally did get it together late in the first half.
"This was the smallest, hottest gym I've ever been in," said forward McIntoche Alcius of the Rams. "And it was a tough crowd out there."
(Raleigh, NC) - Shaw got zero points from its bench Saturday night, but four of the five starters scored 17 points or more to lead the Bears past Winston-Salem State 77-64 in a CIAA divisional game played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium.
Shaw (15-7, 8-5 CIAA) built a big lead early, and while Winston-Salem State (16-5, 9-4 CIAA) tied the game with their first bucket in the second half, they did not hold a lead at any time in the game.
The Bears seemed equally comfortable from the arc and the paint, hitting nine of 23 three-point attempts and garnering 32 points in the paint (versus 22 for the Rams).
Coming off a career-high 27-point performance against Livingstone Monday night, Dwight Bell started the game hot – scoring Shaw's first eight points, on the way to what would become a 16-2 lead with 14:40 remaining in the first.
(Raleigh, NC) - The Shaw women's basketball team used a 34-9 scoring run at the start of the second half to power past Winston-Salem State 73-53 in a CIAA divisional contest played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium.
Shaw (14-10, 7-6 CIAA) and Winston-Salem State (14-8, 9-4 CIAA) played a see-saw first half, but the Lady Bears stormed through the opening ten minutes of the second half to build a lead that never fell below 20 in the last eight minutes of the game.
The Lady Rams opened the game with a hot shooting hand from the three-point line, with Jasmine Newkirk hitting three three-pointers to build an 11-2 lead with 15:33 left in the half.
Demaria Liles, in her first game for the Lady Bears, hit two unanswered buckets, then Kyria Buford added two more – one a three pointer – to tie the game at 11. Aslea Williams would then add four unanswered points of her own, allowing Shaw to take a 15-11 lead with 9:05 left in the first.
Albany, Ga. - Good things come to those who wait. Just ask the Albany State women’s basketball team, which had to wait a little over a month to get another crack at Fort Valley State after the Lady Wildcats handed the Lady Rams their first conference loss (74-69) in early January.
So when the time finally came for ASU to take the court against one of its fierce rivals, the Lady Rams did not hold anything back, especially Kourtney Alexander who scored a career-high 35 points, as ASU soundly defeated FVSU, 82-69, Saturday night.
“We needed this win,” ASU coach Robert Skinner said of the victory, which propelled into sole possession of No. 1 in the SIAC. Skinner than added: “This is what we have been waiting for, a chance to get an opportunity to get Fort Valley back in Albany and it feels good and we are really pleased with the win (Saturday night).”
The win gives ASU (15-9, 14-4 in the SIAC) sole possession of the No. 1 spot in the conference, while FVSU (15-9, 13-5) drops to the second spot.
Today’s Game
WHO: Claflin (9-13, 8-12 SIAC) at Benedict (15-6, 15-4)
WHEN: Noon today
WHERE: HRC Arena, Benedict College
TV: CBS College Sports (channel 537 on Time Warner digital cable)
It’s been a long journey but Marcus Goode feels likes he has finally found a home. The much-traveled former Mid-Carolina star has landed less than 45 miles from his home and is leading a resurgent Benedict team to the top of the SIAC standings. Benedict is tied for the SIAC lead going into today’s game against Claflin at noon. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS College Sports.
“I went through a lot to get here,” Goode said of his journey. “I finally made it and I’m trying to stick with it. I’m here now and I just want to get my grades right and play ball.”
Goode’s travels have covered five schools. After playing at Mid-Carolina for two years, he transferred to the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., his final two years to try and get his grades in order.
The 6-foot-10, 295-pound center signed with Marshall but had to sit out his first year because of his grades. He played one semester during the 2008-09 season, averaging 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds and eight minutes per game.
Demand for tickets to the 66th annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament is running ahead of last year’s pace. With former members Lincoln (Pa.) and Winston-Salem State universities rejoining the league, ticket sales are up, according to CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. The men's and women's tournaments will take place Feb. 28-March 5 at Time Warner Cable Arena – their sixth year in Charlotte.
The CIAA consists of 13 schools – 12 of them historically black colleges and universities – from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Charlotte organizers and league officials have agreed to an extension of the tournament through 2014, the first time a host site has secured the event for nine straight years.
“Ticket sales are strong,” CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said at a press conference Feb. 10 at the Charlotte Convention Center. “Almost $2 million in ticket sales, that’s up from last year. What makes the CIAA go and what makes this great is the community, and the connection we have with the city.”
The tournament concludes March 5 with the women's final at 5 p.m. and the men’s final televised on ESPNU at 8 p.m. TV One will broadcast the men’s quarterfinals and the semifinal rounds.
CIAA alumni may buy tickets from their respective schools; the general public can buy them online at www.ciaatournament.org or Time Warner Cable Arena box office.
HAMPTON, VA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) welcomes seven individuals as its 2011 class of inductees into the John B. McLendon, Jr. Hall of Fame. The honorees will officially be enshrined on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Charlotte Convention Center at 11:00am- as part of the CIAA Tournament’s week of events.
This year’s class is filled with star-power, exceptional talent and inspiring dedication to the conference through corporate support.
Anita Cooper Epps led the Lady Pirates Basketball Team to two Virginia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (VAIAW) state championships; a CIAA tournament title, and to two appearances in the NCAA Division II national tournament. At the end of the 1986 season, Epps was named Kodak first team All-American and the American Women's Sports Foundation's Regional Player of the Year. She was voted to the All-CIAA team for the second time, captured Kodak All-District III honors and was named to the first team All-America by the Black College Sports Information Directors Association and made the National Association for Women's Sports All-America team. She currently holds the Hampton University career field goal record with a percentage of .542, is second in career field goals with 762 and is third in the Hampton University record book for career scoring with 1,795 points.
Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson spent 30 years coaching the nationally recognized Virginia State University “Woo-Woos” Cheering Squad. Setting the standard for HBCU cheering programs, the Woo Woos and Dr. Johnson have been featured on the BET television network, Urban Sports Network, ESPN and have had numerous appearances on locally based television stations. In the 1990's the squad performed at a boxing match staged by the legendary promoter Don King. In 1999, the Mayor of the City of Petersburg established “Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson Day”. Johnson is noted as the first female athletic director in VSU history and coached the VSU softball team to win its first CIAA Softball Championship. In the conference she was the first president and founder of the CIAA Cheerleader Coaches Association. She is 2003 inductee of the VSU Wall of Fame.
Gregory Hines is a four- year starter and men’s basketball letterman (1979-1983) for Hampton University. He is the university's second all-time scorer with 1,967 points and rebounder (1,254). Hines is ranked in the Top 30 of CIAA All-time career scorers and is 11th in CIAA career rebounding. He has been named as a three time All-American; CIAA Rookie of the Year (1980); CIAA MVP (1982), and is a member of both the 1982 and 1983 CIAA Championship teams. Even after his years as a Pirate, Mr. Hines continued to excel in his sport as an NBA draft choice for the Golden State Warriors. His professional sports career spanned for more than 12 years and included playing in Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, and Israel. Gregory Hines was inducted into the Hampton University Hall of Fame in 2009.
Charlie Neal began his broadcasting career over 30 years ago as a radio disc jockey before turning to television as a sportscaster, working for several affiliates in the Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets. In 1980, Charlie Neal commentated the first nationally televised regular season CIAA Basketball game and became the television voice and face of Black College Sports. Neal and Black Entertainment Television (BET) provided a platform to bring the CIAA into American homes. Neal became a part of the CIAA by serving as an emcee for tip-off banquets and refereeing CIAA All-Star games.
Yancey Thigpen was named to the All-CIAA Football teams of 1989 and 1990. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 4th round of the 1991 NFL Draft. After being drafted, he spent six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1992-97); breaking and recording several records which are still unbroken today. As a Steeler, he was a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams before emerging as one of the best receivers in the NFL. This two-time Pro Bowl honoree and most sought after free agent wide receiver, signed with the Tennessee Oilers; becoming the highest paid wide receiver in the league. Thigpen spent the next three years with the Oilers, assisting them in reaching the Super Bowl. Yancey Thigpen retired after the 2000 season with 313 career receptions for 5,081 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for four yards, returned two punts for 30 yards and gained 188 yards on eight kickoff returns.
Richard Franklin, Coca-Cola’s then African-American Consumer Marketing Manager, managed its corporate sponsor relationship with Commissioner Leon Kerry for a span of 18+ years. In 1998, he was involved in securing the first HBCU Conference $2 million dollar sponsorship commitment with the CIAA. He was also able to secure the first tournament visit of a Fortune 500 company president with the tournament participation of Coca-Cola Company President Jack Stahl. In 2003, he was instrumental in renewing the commitment for $3 million dollars and five more years. Under his guidance, Coca-Cola initiated numerous marketing programs such as the Ball Boy/Ball Girl program, the Slam Dunk Competition, the CIAA Step Show, High School Day sponsorship, the men's and women's tournament championship awards presentation, the Big House Gaines Men's Commemorative Championship Trophy and the Football Championship MVP trophies and hospitality tent.
James Morgan holds the CIAA Basketball Career rebounding record with 1,741rebounds (1967-70). While starring at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), he was a member of the CIAA’s first undefeated regular season basketball team in 1969-70, with a regular season record of 29-0. Morgan was named to the All-CIAA team in 1970 and the CIAA All-Tournament Team 1969 and 1970, where he was second in the NAIA in rebounds during the 1967-68 season (23.3). He played in the NAIA quarter finals in 1970 and was a 7th round draft pick for the Seattle Supersonics; but played in the Continental Basketball Association. Morgan was inducted into the UMES Hall of Fame in 1984.
Peay, a freshman basketball player at Winston-Salem State, probably knows more about the history of WSSU than anybody on campus. Peay, a former star at Reagan, has been deeply schooled in WSSU's storied history. His parents, William and Brenda, are 1974 graduates of WSSU and have been active boosters for many years.
"It's amazing," Peay said. "I didn't know I'd wind up here but I always wanted to come; and so when I got the chance, I was ecstatic with the opportunity."
There aren't a lot of young players who dream of one day putting on the WSSU uniform. But Peay is different. If his mother and father weren't regaling him with tales of their time in school — when Big House Gaines ruled the CIAA in basketball and Bill Hayes ruled the CIAA in football — his godfather, Devaldean Penn, was telling him one of his countless stories.
That was the reaction of Albany State women’s basketball coach Robert Skinner on Tuesday night after his Lady Rams narrowly pulled out a key SIAC win against Clark Atlanta on the road, 84-78, in overtime, to maintain its top spot in the conference race. Albany State is 12-4 and is tied with Fort Valley for first, and as long as FVSU takes care of business at home on Thursday against Claflin, it will set up a showdown for the regular-season SIAC title Saturday at HPER when the two teams meet for the second time this season.
“We got pushed to the limit (Tuesday night),” Skinner said. “No one’s going to make it easy on us.”
WINSTON-SALEM — The Livingstone men’s basketball team pulled off a big road upset Saturday against Winston-Salem State 81-73.
With the victory, James Stinson’s Blue Bears (12-5, 7-3 CIAA) improved to 3-1 in the division and move into a tie with the Rams for first place in the Southern Division at 3-1. The Rams (15-4) came into the contest as the fourth-ranked team in the latest NCAA Atlantic Region rankings.
Donte Durant had his best offensive output of the season, leading the Blue Bears with 18 points. Darius Cox fell just short of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds while Quentin Redfern added 13 points with 11 of them coming at the charity stripe.
Winston-Salem State failed to answer the bell against Livingstone on Saturday night at the Gaines Center. Playing their sixth straight home game the Rams thought they could turn it on whenever they needed to but that wasn’t the case as the Blue Bears won 81-73. It was the Blue Bears first victory at the Gaines Center since the 1997-98 season.
“We can’t just flip a switch,” said guard Shelton Carter of the Rams, who was one of many who struggled and scored just seven points. “We need to defend better and not just in spurts – we need to do that the entire 40 minutes.”
The Rams (15-4, 3-1) finally flipped the switch late but...
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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Fayetteville State vs. Winston-Salem State 1/28/11
TUSCALOOSA, AL | Kevin Johnson’s road to Stillman College and a potential Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball championship has been a winding one, to say the least. 
