Nuggets' 1st-quarter run sparks 75-62 victory at SUNO

NEW ORLEANS --  Kiera Robinson and Whitney Gathright led a lengthy first-quarter run, and Donyeah Mayfield produced her fourth double-double of the season in Xavier University of Louisiana's 75-62 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against SUNO at The Castle.

The Gold Nuggets (15-8, 4-3), ranked 24th in NAIA Division I, snapped a two-game losing streak and won on the road for the first time in three GCAC games.

Gathright had seven points and Robinson six during an 18-0 run that gave Xavier a 20-2 lead at 4:41 of the first quarter. The Gold Nuggets led 28-6 at the end of that period -- their largest lead -- and 39-25 at halftime. Xavier finished with a 12-5 run after SUNO cut the lead to 63-57 with 3:44 remaining.

Robinson, a freshman, scored a career-high 18 points -- she was 9-of-11 from the floor -- grabbed eight rebounds and had two steals. Gathright made 3-of-4 3-pointers and had 16 points and six assists, and Mayfield had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Also in double figures for Xavier were Trana Hopkins with 11 points and Jasmine Bush with a career-high 10. Hopkins had a career-best five steals. Reserve center Kelsee Singleton had five points, seven rebounds, four blocks and a steal.

Rayvin Miller and Deja Young scored 14 points apiece for the Lady Knights (8-10, 3-4), and Micah Brooks had 12 points and five assists. Miller had 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals in her second double-double of the season, and Young's points were a career best.

Xavier outshot SUNO 43.8 to 37.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Knights 46-33. The Gold Nuggets made 5-of-9 treys for a season-beCst 55.6 percent, and their 12 fouls were a season low.

Xavier ended a four-game losing streak against the Lady Knights and leads the series 63-13.

Xavier will play GCAC rival Dillard at 3 p.m. Saturday in the first game of the Crosstown Classic doubleheader at XU's Convocation Center. Advance tickets are available all week in room 322 of the Convocation Center Annex.


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

Alcorn State to name new football coach on Tuesday

Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Time: 3:00PM
Location: Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
The press conference will be streamed on www.alcornsports.com.

LORMAN, Mississippi -- It didn't take long for Alcorn State to find its next football coach, now it's just a matter of revealing who it is.

The university issued a press release stating that it'll announce its new coach at a press conference at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The vacancy for the Braves' coaching job was created when Jay Hopson, who had coached the team the past four seasons, was named Southern Miss' coach late Saturday night.

Derek Horne, Alcorn State's athletic director, tabbed assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Fred McNair as the Braves' interim coach shortly after Hopson departed.

CONTINUE READING

ASU baseball coach officially loses interim title

ALBANY, Georgia -- Daniel Stockdale entered Albany State's media day with big news. He lost the interim tag that lingered throughout last season even after he carried his Golden Rams to an SIAC championship.

"Grateful, appreciative, but we just continued to work throughout the interim tag," said Stockdale. "We never really worried about that. Individually my family and I we just continued to work hard every day and I'm happy to be officially the head coach."

The second year coach is confident in his squad as they are less than 2 weeks away from their home opener against Georgia Southwestern.

"What we're really looking for is professional and personal development of all of our student athletes," said Stockdale. "Having an All-American on our team this season is really going to do our school and our team a lot of good."

"This group and the ones that are getting ready for pitches right now," said All-American infielder Terrence Worthy. "We are the hardest working team that I ever been on. To have a hard working coach, I mean he's out there running with us."

CONTINUE READING

Donated TVs help with recruiting at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s football has faced several sanctions from the NCAA in recent years and, despite applications for waivers from new AD Milton Overton Jr. and Deputy AD Elliot Charles, the program will have to operate without spring practice.

It’s another negative recruiting blow for a team that also can’t participate in the postseason. It’s also a challenge for Parker Brooks, the new director of FAMU’s strength and conditioning program.

Brooks said he wants to make changes to FAMU’s field house, which hasn’t been renovated since it was opened in 1983. First and foremost, he’s looking to add to what the Rattlers can show potential recruits who visit the facilities.

To help, the 220 Quarterback Club, a group of FAMU athletics enthusiasts, donated four 42-inch high-definition flat screen televisions to the athletic department. Three went to the field house and one to Gaither Gymnasium.

The contribution was worth just over $1,100.

CONTINUE READING 

St. Augustine has 5 players commit to Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State

NEW ORLEANS -- Four St. Augustine players committed to Mississippi Valley State on Sunday, joining a teammate who pledged to another SWAC school last week.

Running back/wide receiver Darrell Landry, defensive end/tackle Lawrence Adams, center Brian Watson and tackle Evan Raymond all pledged to the Delta Devils. Landry announced the the commitments on his Twitter page.

Meanwhile, offensive lineman Darius Joseph announced he committed Jackson State last week.

Landry, 5 feet 9, 170 pounds, had 49 carries for 339 yards and three touchdowns and caught 36 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns in his senior season. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns

Adams, 6-3, 275, finished his senior season with 35 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown. He could play inside or outside on the defensive line at the next level.

CONTINUE READING

What's next for Alcorn State?

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Jay Hopson inherited Alcorn State's football program while it was, in his own words, at "rock bottom."

After four seasons, he left the Braves at the top of the SWAC with back-to-back conference championships.

Following Hopson's hiring as Southern Miss' coach, Alcorn State is tasked with finding the coach who can keep pushing the program's momentum forward.

Shortly after the news was released about Hopson's departure on Saturday night, Derek Horne, Braves athletic director, appointed assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Fred McNair as Alcorn State's interim coach.

In a university press release, Horne stated a national search for Hopson's permanent replacement would start immediately.

CONTINUE READING

Restivo leaves S.C. State to coach defense at McNeese State

COACH TOMMY RESTIVO
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State Bulldogs football team knew at the end of the 2015 season that eight of the 22 players on the defense’s two-deep roster had played their final games in an SCSU uniform.

Replacing those players and their experience was a known need that SCSU Head Coach Buddy Pough knew he would encounter during this offseason and heading into the 2016 SCSU preseason workouts.

As of this week, the Bulldogs defense has lost another key component, as second-year defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo was announced on Tuesday as the new DC at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

In the 2015 campaign, Restivo steered the Bulldogs defensive unit to performances that led the nation (FCS rankings) in sacks, tackles for loss, pass efficiency defense and third-down defense. The Bulldogs also finished the season nationally-ranked third in passing defense, fourth in scoring defense, sixth in total defense and 25th in rushing defense.

"Tommy did a fine job for us and we appreciate it," Coach Pough said on Thursday. "This sort of thing happens when you hire high-end guys; people will try to come get them."

CONTINUE READING

Yahkee Johnson Heads to Hampton University

JUCO Running Back Yahkee Johnson

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Former L.C. Bird running back Yahkee Johnson has made a few statements in his career.

But this past week, the former standout, made his biggest statement – a commitment to where he would be finishing up his college career.

The 5-8 bolt of lightning has decided on Hampton University.

“Yahkee Johnson is one of the finest young men I have ever coached,” said L.C. Bird coach, David Bedwell. “Hampton got a great football player but an even better young man. Expect big things to come.”

Part of Johnson’s success at L.C. Bird had to do with the trust that he built with Bedwell, calling him someone who is there for him to this day. During his senior year, Johnson broke Jason Snelling’s all-time record for total rushing yardage in a game when he gashed Midlothian for 302 yards. The record has been broken multiple times since, with Paul Robertson being the current record holder, with 426 yards.

CONTINUE READING

Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey Tops $3 million in cash donations to 'Home By the Sea'

Dr. and Mrs. William R. Harvey

HAMPTON, Virginia -- With Dr. and Mrs. William R. Harvey’s latest $100,000 gift to the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, HU’s University President has given more than $3 million to the institution of higher learning that has grown exponentially under his leadership. That personal donation dollar amount is $3,066,327. The gift speaks to the couple’s heartfelt commitment to the “Standard of Excellence” that is Hampton University. Dr. William R. Harvey and Mrs. Norma B. Harvey are more than President and First Lady of the Hampton University community. They have dedicated their lives to the success of the university.

All university presidents are called upon to enhance the quality of the university’s student population, academic programs, faculty, physical facilities and financial base. That’s the job. What Dr. Harvey has done extends beyond any official expectation. His giving is best described as ‘not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.’ He has done all that is in his power to support the historic institution, from the Emancipation Oak to the shoreline that hugs the campus on three sides.

As a visionary, Dr. Harvey, has embraced HU founder General Samuel Chapman Armstrong’s mission to have everything at Hampton University excel. And excel it has under Dr. Harvey’s leadership. The Harvey years, 38 and counting, will grace the record books as an unparalleled accounting of mega success, not just for the HU students, faculty and staff whose lives give testimony to the results of his labor; but for the global community of stakeholders who will continually reap the benefits of his astute leadership for generations to come.

Dr. Harvey has introduced innovations, which have solidified Hampton University’s stellar position among the nation’s colleges and universities. Seventy-six new academic programs, satellites on active missions in space, the largest free-standing proton therapy cancer treatment center in the world, all of what Dr. Harvey has accomplished speaks to his desire to leave the world better than he found it.

The Brewton, Alabama native is a servant leader who faces each day determined to enrich the lives of others. His blessed path led him from a small town in Alabama to the coveted classrooms of Harvard University. With his Ivy League degree in hand, Dr. Harvey could have taken any one of so many prestigious university offers. However, Dr. Harvey, the true educator, chose to lead at an HBCU where he could make a real difference in the academic worlds of young people who yearned for better lives. Dr. Harvey, the businessman, put his acumen to work placing Hampton on the fast track for growth and development as a world-class university.

Dr. Harvey has reached into his own pocket several times to help members of the university community. He has covered salary increases during the lean financial periods. For example in 2011, Dr. and Mrs. Harvey gave a gift of $1 million to be utilized as incentives to increase faculty salaries. In 2011 and again in 2014, the Harveys gave donations of $166,000 and $108,403 respectively, to support wage increases for full-time permanent HU staff. The Harveys also made a generous donation to scholarships in 2001. That year they gave a gift of $1 million to fund scholarships for students interested in becoming K-12 teachers.

“My parents were my first role models,” Harvey said. “Establishing the W.D.C. Harvey Endowed Scholarships in my father’s name is my way of honoring all of the life lessons they shared. They taught my sister Anne and me the benefit of giving and sharing to improve the world we live in. The scholarships will assist in making it possible for the next generation of leaders to emerge.

This latest gift of $100,000 will provide an endowment of at least $3,000,000 in scholarships for students to attend the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute (WRHLI). The students will become “Harvey Scholars” after a rigorous selection process. Upon completion of the program, the fellows receive an 18-hour-minor in leadership studies.

The WRHLI was the brainchild of Dr. Harvey who convened several of his closest academic advisors with the clear purpose of creating an institute with a curriculum focused on character development, critical thinking, leadership theory and application, ethics and policy development.

Dr. and Mrs. Harvey’s most recent personal contribution of $100,000 will support scholarships for 25 “Harvey Scholars” each year over a period of four years for a total of 100 scholarships. The Institute provides an impressive curriculum designed to teach Dr. Harvey’s ten-point leadership model--vision, work ethic, academic excellence, team building, innovation, courage, management, fairness, fiscal conservatism, and results.

The proof of performance for the William R. Harvey Leadership Model is in the career stories of executives who have studied the model under Dr. Harvey’s mentorship and as a result reached the height of their careers. An unprecedented 17 executives attribute their positions as President or C-E-O of a university or institution, to Dr. Harvey and the effectiveness of his leadership model.

The newly financed William R. Harvey Leadership Scholarships will be awarded in Fall 2016.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Hampton Pirates Bounce Back Battle of the Bay Win

HAMPTON, Virginia -- With first place on the line Saturday evening at the HU Convocation Center, the Hampton University men's basketball team defeated rival Norfolk State 86-76 in the first installment of this season's Battle of the Bay.

The Pirates (12-8, 8-1 MEAC) have won seven of their last eight games.

Reginald Johnson, Jr. led four Pirates in double figures with 29 points, going 10-for-20 from the floor, while also dishing out a team-high five assists. Quinton Chievous and Brian Darden each added 16 points, with Chievous grabbing seven boards and doling out four assists.

Lawrence Cooks dropped 12 points, and Dionte Adams grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Pirates shot 44.1 percent (26-for-59) from the floor – including a 46.7 percent clip (14-for-30) in the first half – and made eight of their 21 3-pointers (38.1 percent). Hampton was also 26-for-34 (76.5 percent) from the free throw line.

Chievous gave the Pirates a 54-47 lead with a layup with 15:54 remaining in the second half, before the Spartans responded with nine unanswered points to take a 56-55 lead after a three from Jeff Short at the 10:42 mark.

From there, the two teams traded the lead back and forth on six straight possessions – before Chievous put the Pirates back on top 61-60 with 8:03 left to play. That ignited an 8-0 Hampton run, putting the Pirates up 67-60 after a Johnson fastbreak layup at the 6:10 mark.

Norfolk State never got any closer than within seven points for the rest of the game. In the game's final 2:23, the Pirates – who struggled at the free throw line in Monday's loss to South Carolina State – went 8-for-10 from the free throw line.

Chievous added a two-hand slam with 23 seconds left, putting Hampton up 83-70.

Norfolk State held an early 27-20 lead, taking that advantage with 6:03 left in the first half after a trey from Short. But the Pirates answered with a 20-4 run, taking a 40-31 lead with 1:30 left in the half after a fastbreak layup from Johnson.

Johnson later hit three free throws with 48 seconds left to put Hampton up 43-33.

The Spartans scored the next four points to cut the lead to 43-37, before Darden sank a long three near the buzzer to send the Pirates into the break with a 46-37 lead.

Darden, who hit four 3-pointers, had 14 points at the half.

Norfolk State (10-13, 6-2 MEAC) shot 39.4 percent (26-for-66) from the floor, but made just four of 20 3-pointers (20.0 percent).

Short came off the bench to lead four Spartans in double figures with 23 points.

The Pirates will play host to Washington Adventist on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in their non-conference finale. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Thinking of his father, WSSU's Wilhelmi emotional after victory

SALISBURY — Coach James Wilhelmi of Winston-Salem State kept apologizing for the tears.

After the Rams beat the Livingstone Blue Bears, the two-time defending CIAA champions, 81-79 in overtime, emotions got the best of Wilhelmi.

During a tearful post-game interview Wilhelmi talked about his dying father in Madison, Wisc., who has about 48 hours left to live. Jeff Wilhelmi, 67, has been fighting the late stages of stomach cancer, but that fight is almost over.

“He’s got two days to live so I have to fly up there,” Wilhelmi said just outside the Rams’ locker room at New Trent Gym. “Before the game I just told the guys that I was dedicating this game to him.”

Wilhelmi said he’s checked flights to the Midwest and could fly home Sunday to be with his
family. It’s likely he will miss Monday’s home game against Virginia Union.

CONTINUE READING

Fred McNair named Alcorn's interim head coach

INERIM HEAD FOOTBALL COACH FRED MCNAIR
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

LORMAN, Mississippi -- After Jay Hopson took the head coaching job at Southern Miss, Alcorn State elected to name Fred McNair as its interim coach, the school announced on Saturday night.

McNair had been on the Braves' staff since Hopson arrived in 2012. He was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. He oversaw the development of quarterbacks John Gibbs Jr., who was SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, and Lenorris Footman when Gibbs went down with an ankle injury halfway through the 2015 season.

According to a release from Alcorn State, Derek Horne, Braves athletic director, said they'll go through a national search for Hopson's permanent replacement and that the search would begin "immediately."

With national signing day coming up this Wednesday, Alcorn State was placed in a tough spot following Hopson's departure.

Under McNair's watch, Gibbs passed for 2,482 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,006 yards in 2014. In 2013, Gibbs passed for 2,567 and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 455 yards.

CONTINUE READING

Briana Green leads the offense as Southern women defeat Alcorn State 66-57

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- With Britney Washington in foul trouble and Cortnei Purnell struggling with her shot, it was up to Briana Green to lead the Southern women’s basketball team’s offense.

She did just that, scoring a game-high 20 points and making 9-of-14 field goals in 36 minutes.

Washington managed 15 points in 24 minutes and Purnell was scoreless after missing all nine of her shots but was a primary factor in Norianna Haynes, the leading scorer in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (21.4 ponts per game), scoring just eight points on 3-of-18 shooting for the Lady Braves.

It all added up to a 66-57 Jaguars victory Saturday afternoon in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Southern (7-2 in the SWAC and 10-8 overall) visits Grambling on Saturday.

Alcorn is 2-7 and 4-15.

PHOTO GALLERY

CONTINUE READING

The cost of getting recruited

Earning a Division I scholarship in football is more expensive than you think.

JACKSON, Mississippi -- In three days, Nigel Knott will be one step closer to playing college football. The four-star Germantown cornerback is among a handful of Mississippi’s Division I prospects who will sign a letter of intent on Wednesday’s national signing day, choosing from a long list of in-state and national powers.

At the same time, former Callaway safety Dwayne Pickett Jr. will have likely wrapped up a workout at Hinds Community College, hoping to one day earn his dream offer from a Power 5program. Meanwhile, Madison-Ridgeland Academy slot receiver Karter Bounds is enjoying the final few months of his senior year, having hung up his cleats for a final time months ago.

At first glance the three have little in common, other than sharing a birth year and their sport of choice. But while their immediate futures may be very different, all three had the same goal — to play college football — and their parents quickly realized that little about the recruiting process comes free. Parents can spend thousands of dollars traveling to the various combines and camps hoping that their child will perform well enough to be noticed.

“If I had of known, I wouldn’t have gave that kid a football,” said Sabrina Givens, Knott’s mother, with a laugh. “We would’ve took up something else. I don’t know, maybe he could’ve collected baseball cards?”

CONTINUE READING 

Christopher Hyder, Trelun Banks and Adrian Rodgers lead Southern to their seventh straight win, 75-64 over Alcorn State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Christopher Hyder, Adrian Rodgers and Trelun Banks are Southern’s most reliable offensive players, and they showed why Saturday night.

Hyder orchestrated the offense expertly during his 39 minutes of play, Banks’ scoring helped the Jaguars grab the lead in the second half and Rodgers’ contributions were the key to extending it in a 75-64 victory against Alcorn State in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

“That’s our role,” Banks said. “Those guys are seniors, I’m a junior and we’re all returning starters. Our teammates look for us to make big buckets, and we look for them to do their roles.”

Banks, who finished with 12 points, led an early-second-half surge that put Southern on top for good. Rodgers scored 13 of his 20 points during a five-minute stretch in which the lead expanded from seven points to 13. Hyder finished with 16 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.

“Rodgers went off for a period of time, and Trelun went off for a period of time,” coach Roman Banks said. “Then once we started scoring inside, it opened things up and Hyder was able to finish it at the foul line.”

CONTINUE READING

ASU Hornets Fall by Three to SWAC-Leading Texas Southern

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- It's a broken record, but once again the Hornets get close only to lose the Texas Southern 75-72.

It was a game that was decided at the free throw line.  ASU hit seven of their eight free throws, but TSU was able to shoot 26 free throws hitting 23.  ASU was outscored by 16, which was more than the difference in a three point game.

The Hornets (6-14/1-7) made a mad rush in the final 30 seconds.  Trailing 73-67 Terrence LeFlore was able to score with 23 seconds left and after a turnover on the throw in, Jamel Waters hit a long three to cut the lead to 73-72 with 14 seconds left, but that would be the final points ASU would score.

After two David Blanks three throws with 12 seconds left to make it 75-72, Steve Rogers had a good look at a three, but it went in and came out and with it the Hornets chances of getting the game into overtime.

"We closed the gap and I know it sounds like a broken record with the outcome of these last five ball games, but we are playing with good energy, good effort and good intensity we just have to stay poised and stay patient," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.

Waters led ASU with 18 points and a game-high eight assists.  He also had two steals.  Corvon Butler, who continues to play with a bad back, had a double-double for ASU with 15 points and 14 rebounds.  He also had four blocked shots and two steals.

"I take my hat off to Corvon Butler," Jackson said.  "He is out there playing with a bad back and we try to get him in and take him out, but he gives us great effort when he is on the court."

Torloft Thomas was the third Hornet to reach double digits as he finished with 12 points to go with his three assists and two steals.

ASU shot 39 percent from the field and hit nine of their 22 three point field goals for 41 percent.  Their 88 percent free throw shooting was strong, but once again they only had eight attempts.

Derrick Griffin was the big play man for the Tigers tonight.  He finished with a game-high 19 points and another game-high with 15 rebounds.  Malcolm Riley also had a double-double for TSU with 17 points and 10 rebounds.  Blanks finished the game with 14 points.

TSU (9-11/8-0) shot 36 percent from the field and was four-of -21 from beyond the three point line for 19 percent.  They came into Montgomery shooting 61 percent from the free throw line, which was eighth in the SWAC, but tonight their 89 percent on the 26 attempts turned out to be the difference in the game.

The first half saw the visitors head into the locker room with a 37-30 lead.  The game was fairly close in all the stats except the Hornets did not attempt a free throw while the Tigers were able to get to the free throw line where they made 10 of their 11 attempts.

TSU shot 36 percent from the field with Griffin's 11 points leading the way.  He also had eight first half rebounds as TSU was able to out rebound the Hornets 26-20.

ASU shot 35 percent from the field with Waters and Butler scoring eight points each and Butler's five rebounds leading the Hornets.

The Hornets will be back in action Monday when they host Prairie View A&M.  Opening tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Virginia State Men’s Basketball Secures Victory Over LU Lions

LINCOLN, Pennsylvania -- The VSU Trojans men's basketball team secured a 81-63 victory over the Lincoln University Lions on January 30 in their CIAA Northern Division contest.

The win catapults the Trojans to a 14-4 overall record, 9-1 in the conference 4-1 in the CIAA Northern Division.

VSU ended the night shooting 42.6 percent (26-61) from the field, 37.5 percent (9-24) from behind the arc, and 71.4 percent (120-286-19) at the line.

Junior All-CIAA Preseason pick Elijah Moore (Yorktown, VA) led the game with 17 points while juniors Kevin Williams (Franklinton, NC) and Marcus James (Baltimore, MD) rounded out the double digit scoring with 10 points each.

After Kevin Williams secured the first basket of the game, the Trojans gradually gained momentum to dominate the game. Senior Javon Moore (Fairfax, VA) sunk a 3-pointer with 14:19 left in the half to give VSU a chance to pull away. The Trojans quickly expanded the scoring gap going into halftime with 20 point lead, 43-23.

VSU continued to control the game in the second half to take the 81-63 win.

The Trojans will take the court on Wednesday, February 3 in Raleigh, NC to face the Bears of Shaw University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars for the Trojans next home game on Saturday, February 6. VSU will be celebrating their Alumni Winter Festival at the Orange Out game.

The Virginia State Department of Athletics annual 1,000 cans, 1 goal campaign initiative is underway. The canned food items collected will be donated to the local food banks. The Department encourages all fans, alumni, faculty and friends to bring a canned food item to all of the home basketball games this season.

For more information on VSU Trojans men's basketball, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Wiley Wildcats fall at No. 13 Langston

LANGSTON, Oklahoma – The Wiley College men's basketball team trailed most of the game in an 80-57 loss to National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics thirteenth-ranked Langston University Saturday in a Red River Athletics Conference game.

The Wildcats (11-8, 4-7 in RRAC) had a small lead at the beginning of the game. Langston University steadily built its lead and held a 41-26 halftime advantage.

"We got beat in every phase of the game," coach Jameus Hartsfield said. "We have to go back to the drawing board."

George Page (JR/Winnfield, LA) led the team with 12 points and eight rebounds. Andre Jackson (SO/Natchitoches, LA) recorded a team high with two assists.

The Wildcats will begin a four-game home stand with the University of Saint Thomas at Houston. Wiley lost the first meeting 52-49 on December 4.

"I'm glad we get to come home, practice and find some chemistry," Hartsfield said. "We will be ok."

FULL STATS

COURTESY WILEY COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Rush record first victory; Nuggets win their opener

NEW ORLEANS — NAIA-ranked Xavier University of Louisiana defeated city rival Loyola Saturday in the first dual matches of the spring semester at XU Tennis Center. The Gold Rush won 8-1, and the Gold Nuggets won 9-0.
    
The XU men (1-2), ranked fourth, got singles and doubles victories from Karan Salwan, Tushar Mandlekar, Kevin Chaouat and Adam Albrecht. For the XU women (1-0), ranked 11th, Charlene Goreau, Jana van der Walt, Brandi Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins won in singles and doubles.
    
Also scoring for Xavier were Kyle Montrel and Manav Chakma in men's singles and Dasia Harris in women's singles.
    
"It was a good day overall," 13th-year XU coach Alan Green said. "The women took care of business. Our men had one hiccup in doubles as we're still trying to figure out our best lineups."
    
Salwan, ranked eighth among singles players by the ITA, defeated Steven Le 6-3, 6-0. Montrel, ranked 10th and a three-time All-American, beat Maxime Rumeau 6-0, 6-0. Mandlekar, ranked 43rd, clinched the dual by beating Sean Presti 6-1, 6-0.
    
Albrecht defeated Ernesto de Diego 6-3, 6-1, Chaouat defeated Ricardo Mercado 6-3, 6-1, and Chakma beat George Fourmaux 6-1, 6-1.
    
"I was impressed with Kevin Chaouat," Green said. "He played pretty good singles. He didn't play a lot of singles for us last year, but I'm looking for him to maybe stay in our lineup this year. He's been working hard a lot on his singles, so we'll see."
    
Salwan and Mandlekar, the NAIA's 13th-ranked doubles team, defeated Le and de Diego 8-2.

Chaouat and Albrecht defeated Sebastian Gomez and Mercado 8-0. But Loyola (0-2) recorded its first-ever on-court victory against the Gold Rush in six duals when Presti and Rumeau beat Montrel and Chakma 8-5 at the second flight.

The Gold Nuggets lost two games in seven played matches. Loyola (0-2) had five players and defaulted matches at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
    
Goreau, a freshman in her XU debut, beat Margaret Adams 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and teamed with Nelson for an 8-0 victory against Adams and Lauren Rosales at the top doubles flight.
    
Also winning 6-0, 6-0 were Nelson against Rosales, van der Walt against Alexa Mancuso and Bruins against Madeline Smith. Harris beat Wesley Dejoie 6-2, 6-0. Nelson clinched the dual.
    
In doubles, Bruins and van der Walt defeated Mancuso and Dejoie 8-0.
    
The Rush and Nuggets will play William Carey — whose women are ranked sixth in the NAIA and whose men are seventh — at 11 a.m. next Saturday at XU Tennis Center. Admission is free to all XU home tennis events.

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

Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm Undisputed Winner of 2016 Honda Battle of the Bands Showcase

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

COURTESY: ShowtimeWeb 

Tennessee State Big Blue to Face Vanderbilt, Georgia State

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State football announced the addition of a pair of FBS opponents to future schedules. The Tigers will face Southeastern Conference opponent Vanderbilt and Sun Belt member Georgia State in the upcoming years.

“Vanderbilt is a good opportunity for our players to compete against an FBS opponent without having to leave the city,” said Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips. “Georgia State is an opportunity for us to get back to Atlanta. We played in the Atlanta Classic for so many years, and we have a lot of alumni in that area. It’s a good recruiting base for us student wise, and we’re excited for the opportunity to go back to Atlanta.”

TSU will face the Commodores twice in the next three years. The first matchup is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2016, with the second matchup set for 2018. Both games are slated to be played at Vanderbilt. The Tigers last faced the Commodores in 2006, a 38-9 loss.

The Big Blue will travel to Atlanta to open the 2017 season at Georgia State. It will be the first meeting between the two programs. The game is scheduled for Sept. 2, 2017 with a venue to be determined.

The Tigers last played an FBS opponent in 2011 when they faced Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo. TSU fell to the Falcons, 63-24.

The 2016 slate is in the finalization stage and will be released in the following weeks.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Former TSU Star DRC Added to 2016 Pro Bowl Roster

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Former Tennessee State standout Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was added to the 2016 Pro Bowl roster on Tuesday morning. This is his second Pro Bowl game in during his seven year career. He last went in 2010, his rookie season, as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Rodgers-Cromartie collected three interceptions and 13 passes defended in his second year as a member of the New York Giants. He returned one interception for a touchdown against the Cowboys on Oct. 25. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown in the season opener in Dallas.

DRC is one of four Giants to be named to the Pro Bowl this season, which will be played on Sunday, Jan. 31, and will be televised live on ESPN. The game will be held at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawai’i and will serve as the signature event to kick off Super Bowl week.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Tennessee State Sprints Past Jacksonville State, 78-53

JACKSONVILLE, Alabama – Balanced scoring and a dominant rebounding performance lifted the Tennessee State men’s basketball team to a 78-53 road victory over Jacksonville State on Saturday at the Pete Mathews Coliseum. The win improves TSU to 15-6 on the season, tripling last year’s win total of five.

Tahjere McCall (Philadelphia, Pa.) led five TSU players scoring in double figures with 18 points to go with eight rebounds, while Wayne Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded his ninth double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Marcus Roper (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.) and Xavier Richards (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) scored 12 points apiece with Keron DeShields (Baltimore, Md.) adding 10. Aiding the offense was Armani Chaney (Chicago, Ill.), who led the Tigers with a career-high five assists.

The Tigers (15-6, 6-2 OVC) held a 42-27 rebounding edge over Jacksonville State (8-17, 4-6) and finished with a 44-10 advantage in points in the paint.



“I thought we came out a little sluggish in the first half offensively, but once we stopped turning the ball over, we were able to get some separation,” second-year Head Coach Dana Ford said. “Our defense was pretty consistent for 40 minutes. I thought their guys played really hard. They’re a little bit short handed today, and we were able to take advantage of that.”

After falling behind early, McCall drove the lane and delivered a two-handed dunk to level the scoring at 6-6. Later on, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Roper for a 19-10 lead at the midway point of the first half.

When the Gamecocks cut the TSU lead down to four at 31-27, the Tigers reeled off seven-consecutive points for their largest lead of the half of 11 points with the score at 38-27 in the final minute. Jacksonville State’s Erik Durham finished a layup on the last possession of the half to put the score at 38-29 through 20 minutes.

TSU kept Jacksonville State without a field goal in the first 5:37 of the second half as the visitor’s edge ballooned to 53-31. McCall came up with another dunk on a putback for a 58-39 lead with just under 10 minutes left.

The Tigers led by double figures for the entire second half and outscored Jacksonville State by a 40-24 in the closing 20 minutes.

Jacksonville State, which shot 32.7 percent from the field, was led by 13 points from DelFincko Bogan.

TSU is back in action on Thursday, Feb. 4, for a home game versus Eastern Kentucky at the Gentry Center at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES: TSU moves to 16-11 in the all-time series versus Jacksonville State… TSU tripled last year’s win total of five games… TSU improves to 8-5 away from home and 6-5 in true road games… Wayne Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded his ninth double-double of the season and third of Ohio Valley Conference play.

Tennessee State Head Coach Dana Ford

“That makes us a better team when opponents can’t zero in on a couple guys. We know we have guys who are capable of big nights, and there are going to be times when we need them to have big nights. Tonight was just a little bit more of a balanced attack and we need to get some of our younger guys who aren’t playing as many minutes a little confidence heading down the stretch.”

•On TSU’s Balanced Scoring

“I think it was huge. Our guys showed a lot of character tonight. Just two nights ago, we had a heartbreaking loss and we could have hung our head and let that affect us, but I thought we got past that.”

•On coming back from a loss at Tennessee Tech

“We’re happy. If you want to have a chance to win the league, you have to win on the road. Now, it’s up to us to go back home and protect our home court with three straight home games.”

•On a convincing road win

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Tenney Named Chowan Head Volleyball Coach

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina -- The Chowan University athletic department announced the hiring of Melody Tenney as Head Volleyball Coach on Wednesday.

Tenney noted, "I'm very excited to be joining the staff at Chowan University. I look forward to building on the previous success of the Hawks' volleyball program while maintaining a winning tradition. I love the family atmosphere that Chowan has on campus."

Vice President/Director of Athletics Ozzie McFarland added, "When Meredith Long and I began looking for volleyball coaches, we wanted an enthusiastic coach who had previous head coaching experience on a similar level, and who knew how to manage a team. Melody Tenney fits that description perfectly. I am so excited about what she brings to both our volleyball program and our University. Her Christian witness, academic expectations, and emphasis on being successful exemplify exactly what I feel our University stands for."

Tenney spent the past two seasons as Head Coach at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia. After inheriting a team that won five games in 2013, Tenney doubled the program's number of wins in her first season (10-26) and advanced to the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time in program history. The Lady Bears also produced two NAIA Academic All-Americans that same season.

In 2015, Tenney led the Lady Bears to a school-record eleven wins. The team also saw several student-athletes earn individual honors with two All-AAC Freshman Team honorees (including AAC Freshman of the Year Jocelyn Mahayag), one AAC First Team recipient and three AAC All-Academic Team members. Truett-McConnell posted an 11-19 overall record over the course of the season and finished 7-13 in AAC play during Tenney's final season with the squad.

Prior to her time at Truett-McConnell, Tenney gained experience as an assistant coach at Piedmont College. There, Tenney helped the Lions earn a 28-9 overall record during the 2013 season highlighted by a school record 13-match win streak.

Tenney prepared herself to coach at the collegiate level through head coaching positions with the Orlando Volleyball Academy and Club Bomba. She also served as head coach of the varsity volleyball program at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Florida.

Tenney began her college playing career at Warner University before transferring to the University of Mobile. In three seasons with the Rams, Tenney earned Setter of the Year and All-Conference accolades while ranking as high as third in the NAIA for service aces (75). Tenney also set school records for assists per match (55), assists per season (1,376) and ranks second all-time with 2,755 total assists and third all-time in total aces (187) and aces per season (75).

Tenney earned a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting from the University of Mobile in 2012 and obtained a Masters of Business Administration from Piedmont College in 2014.

The Tallahassee, Florida native currently resides in Murfreesboro.

COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern Mississippi names Jay Hopson head football coach

HEAD COACH JAY HOPSON LEAVES ALCORN STATE
WITH A 32-17 CAREER RECORD
 

Official Twitter of Southern Miss Athletics
Bill McGillis ‏@SouthernMissAD 30m30 minutes ago

Welcome Jay Hopson to the @USMGoldenEagles #SouthernMiss family. Recruit Sunday. Team Sunday. Press Conference Monday!

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Jay Hopson is coming back to Hattiesburg.

Hopson has been hired to replace Todd Monken as Southern Miss football coach.

It’s the third stint with the Golden Eagles for the 47-year-old, who spent a combined six seasons in Hattiesburg as defensive backs coach from 2001-03 and defensive coordinator from 2005-07 under former Southern Miss head coach Jeff Bower.

Hopson is the 21st head coach in Golden Eagle history.

The Vicksburg native has spent the past four seasons at Alcorn State as the Braves’ head coach. During his tenure in Lorman, Hopson led the SWAC squad to a 32-17 overall record at and back-to-back conference championships in 2014 and 2015. Hopson, the first white football coach in SWAC history, led Alcorn State to the SBN Sports College Football National Championship in 2014.

CONTINUE READING