TSU Drops 73-71 Decision to EIU in OVC Tournament First Round

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY - by Sam Jordan | RADIO CALLS

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT – FIRST ROUND
Final Score: (#6 Seed) Tennessee State 73 - (#7 Seed) Eastern Illinois 71 
Records: TSU (15-15) – EIU (12-18)
Venue: Ford Center
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Attendance: 654

EVANSVILLE, Indiana --- The Tennessee State men’s basketball team fell by a 73-71 final score to seventh-seeded Eastern Illinois on Wednesday night at the Ford Center in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Senior Delano Spencer scored a team-high 17 points to lead the sixth-seeded Tigers.

Redshirt junior forward Christian Mekowulu posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Armani Chaney finished with 15 points and six assists on the night.

TSU (15-15) nearly overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half, closing the gap to two points in the final minute. The Panthers (12-18), who shot 31 free throws, shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the floor and held on down the stretch.

Spencer scored the game’s final five points, but the comeback fell two points short.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU LEADERS
  • POINTS – Delano Spencer - 17
  • REBOUNDS – Christian Mekowulu - 12
  • ASSISTS – Armani Chaney - 6
• Christian Mekowulu scored in double figures for the 19th time this season.
• Mekowulu recorded his ninth career double-double.
• Armani Chaney reached double-digit points for the ninth time on the year.
• Delano Spencer scored 10 or more points in a game for the 26th time this season.
• 
  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Panthers took an early 11-5 lead, Christian Mekowulu scored the game’s next six points to level the scoring at 11-11 with 11:16 left before halftime.
• EIU went on a mini run of its own, scoring the next seven points to take a 20-13 lead.
• The Tigers worked their way back into the game by going down low to Mekowulu, who had 13 points and five rebounds at halftime. TSU, which held the Panthers without a field goal for the final five minutes of the half, trailed EIU by a 24-22 margin through 20 minutes.
• A pair of Armani Chaney free throws just over four minutes into the half gave the Tigers a 29-28 edge.
• The Panthers were able to stretch their advantage up to 11 on a jumper from Montell Goodwin with 5:09 left for a 61-50 edge.
• A corner three from Stokley Chaffee Jr. put the Tigers down just three at 65-62 with 1:37 to play, but on the next possession, Mack Smith banked in a three to put the score at 68-62.
• After EIU’s Ray Crossland made two free throws with 15 seconds left for a 73-66 lead, Delano Spencer hit a three and a layup to close the gap, but EIU was able to survive on TSU’s final possession.

QUOTES

HEAD COACH DANA FORD

“I think we cut it down to one possession then I think they banked one in. I think prior to that maybe they got fouled and it was an and-one. You’ve got to give them credit. They were able to answer all of our challenges, but I was proud of our guys for consistently challenging them down the stretch.”
- On EIU having an answer to TSU’s runs

“We needed to make some shots. I guess they were doing a good job down on (Christian) Mekowulu, especially in the second half. He couldn’t really break loose, and in order to free him up, you have to have a couple guys step up and make a few shots and I thought our guys did that. Again, I thought our guys competed and tried to make the plays to win.”
- On players stepping up to hit shots

“Honestly, I have to watch the tape to give you the true answer. I don’t know if EIU did a lot to stop Mekowulu. I don’t know. I’ve got to go back and watch the tape.”
- On what EIU did to stop Christian Mekowulu in the second half

“We don’t want it in anyone else’s hands there. He’s made big shots for us. He’s our best shooter. I’m glad you asked about him. I think he’s an all-league guard. I don’t know why I wouldn’t want the ball in an all-league guard’s hands with the game on the line down two. He shoots 42 percent from three, averages 16 points a game. That’s who I want to take it.”
- On Delano Spencer taking the last shot

“Crossland. I tip my hat to that kid tonight. He guarded Delano Spencer like I’ve seen players in our jerseys guard other people. He did a fantastic job. He did it legally. He showed his hands. He was there on every catch. That’s how you win. That’s how they won, they did a good job. Obviously, Delano has the respect of their coaching staff for them to guard him that way.”
- On the defense of EIU’s Ray Crossland

ARMANI CHANEY

“Of course. We are a never-quit group. We’ve always been a never-quit group. Coach always tells us, ‘keep grinding. Pound the rock. It’s going to break on day.’ So, of course, we always feel like we’ve got a chance to win a game, regardless of what the score is.”
- On if the team always thought they could win

GAME NOTES

• TSU is now 12-26 all time in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
• Tennessee State was making its 28th appearance in the OVC Tournament.
• The Tigers are 29-24 in the all-time series versus Eastern Illinois.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC/SWAC Challenge stage set for Atlanta, ESPN

ATLANTA, Georgia – The matchup of the 14th MEAC-SWAC Challenge was officially announced on Wednesday as the Prairie View A&M Panthers will take on the North Carolina Central Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Georgia State Stadium.

Game time is TBA, and the game will be televised live on ESPN2.

The Wednesday press conference was moderated by ESPN's Jay Harris.



“It’s huge for our program because it creates excitement for our players and gives them exposure,” said PVAMU Head Football Coach Eric Dooley said. “More than that, it again gives Prairie View A&M University exposure on a national platform. It’s a great venue for the game, I’m excited for this opportunity, and looking forward to coming back in September.”

Dooley along with PVAMU Vice President / Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson were in attendance along with North Carolina Central head coach Granville Eastman, SWAC Interim Commissioner Edgar Gantt and MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas.

It’s the second appearance for the Panthers in the game, who first played in the Challenge in 2011.



“We’re really excited to be here for the official announcement of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge and to be able to open the HBCU College Football season in Atlanta,” said John Grant, Executive Director of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl.

“We could not think of a better place to make this happen. Now that we are opening the season with this game and closing it with the Celebration Bowl here in Atlanta, we are truly excited to bring this to the citizens of this city.”

The Panthers will open the 2018 season at Rice on August 25 in Houston.

Prairie View A&M Sports Information

2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament: Opening Rounds (Day 2) Recaps

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) kicked off their second day of opening rounds for the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament.
 
Game 5 (Men): No. 2 Lane 80, No. 7 Paine 60
Box Score | Lane Recap |  Paine Recap
 
Jalen Lewis led the Dragons with 21 points to fire through Paine Lions, 80-60. Defensive Player of the Year, Kendarius Ash led closely behind as he posted 18 points to add to his 22 rebounds. Despite starting with a technical foul, the Lane Dragons led the entire game as most of their post came from off the bench which accounted for 35 of their points. Paine struggled shooting from the field as they only managed to post 39 percent of their shots which caused their fall to 6-21 on the season. Lane Dragons will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face the Claflin Panthers on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. CST. 
 
Game 6 (Women): No. 3 Claflin 68, No. 6 Lane 51
Box Score | Claflin Recap |  Lane Recap
 
Dominique Williams led the Lady Panthers to their first win in the opening rounds of the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament as they defeated the Lane Dragons, 68-51. Williams (19), Fields (18), and Stokes (14) all led the Lady Panthers in double-digit scoring. Twenty-three of Claflin’s points came from Lane’s turnovers which gave them an advantage over the Lady Dragons. Destiny Irvin led in scoring with 18 points for the Lady Dragons while Antrice McCoy and Mariah Hopkins both added 10 a piece. The Lady Panthers will advance to the quarterfinals as they face No. 2 LeMoyne-Owen College on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CST. 
 
Game 7 (Men): No. 3 Claflin 73, No. 6 Tuskegee 62
Box Score | Claflin Recap |  Tuskegee Recap
 
Claflin’s Triston Thompson and Benjamin Williams were the leading scorers for the Panthers as they posted 15 points each in their 73-62 win over the Tuskegee Golden Tigers. The Panthers managed to shoot 50 percent from the floor which attributed for 40 of their points. Tuskegee’s James Eads led the Golden Tigers as he shot 53 percent from the floor, 71.4 percent from the 3-point line, and 75 percent from the free-throw while adding 24 total points and a rebound which allowed them to lead for most of the game. A change came late in the second half when Claflin took the lead and ran slashing the Golden Tigers. Claflin advances to the quarterfinals as they face No. 2 Lane on Thursday, March 1 at 3:15 p.m. 
 
Game 8 (Women): No. 3 Kentucky State 81, No. 6 Paine 58
Box Score | Kentucky State Recap |  Paine Recap
 
Jordan Campbell led the Thorobreds with 21 points which included shooting 60 percent from the floor and perfect shooting from behind the arc and the charity line. The Thorobreds led for most of the game until the Paine Lady Lions gained on them coming within one point in the third quarter. Keondra Archie, who earned a spot on the all-conference team, led the Lady Lions by posting a game-high 14 points and 10 rebounds. In spite of everything, the Lady Thorobreds held the Lady Lions to a 27.9 percent shooting from the field as they took advantage and managed to finish shooting 42.9 percent. The Kentucky State Lady Thorobreds advance to the quarterfinals as they face No. 2 Albany State on Thursday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Game 9 (Men): No. 3 Kentucky State 79, No. 6 Albany State 92
Box Score | Kentucky State Recap |  Albany State Recap
Randy McClure had an all-around excellent performance for the Golden Rams as he led shooting 69.2 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the free throw line which attributed to his 27 points. In the first half, Kentucky State was in one point of the Golden Rams as Ray Croon was hot shooting leading with 13 points most of which were made in the paint. As the second half opened up, Albany State improved their shooting and made a run of 15 points lifting them over the Kentucky State Thorobreds. Kentucky State finished with a 9-18 record overall on the season. Albany State Golden Rams will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face No. 2 Lane on Thursday, March 1 at 7:45 p.m. 

For more information on the tournament, CLICK HERE!



SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament: Opening Round Recaps

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (February 26, 2018) – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) kicked off their opening rounds for the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament.

Game 1 (Men): No. 5 Fort Valley State 88, No. 4 Miles 82
Box Score | FVSU Recap | Miles Recap

Jamaal Garror led the Wildcats in scoring as he led them to their first win over Miles Golden Bears, 88-82, to kick off the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament at Bill Harris Arena. Tyler Edwards (24) and Jaylon McMillan (16) trailed closely behind, both scoring in double-digits. Walter Foster, who made the SIAC All-Conference Team, led the Wildcats in rebounds as he posted 13 during the opening game. Garror posted his first double-double in the tournament as he finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats are scheduled to face No. 1 Morehouse Maroon Tigers on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 3:15 p.m. CST as they advance to the quarterfinals. The Golden Bears finished their season with a 7-20 overall record.


Game 2 (Women): No. 4 Miles 66, No. 5 Fort Valley State 45
Box Score | FVSU Recap | Miles Recap

Ashley McCrear and Amoni Walker led the Lady Bears to their first win in the opening round of the tournament as they both posted a game-high 14 points. Miles (9-20) shot 50.0 percent from behind the arc and 57.1 percent from the free-throw line in their 66-45 win over Fort Valley State. McCrear posted her first double-double of the tournament as she posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Golden Bears. Fort Valley’s Alicia Franklin scored 17 of the Lady Wildcats points while Nola Carter followed closely with 11 points. Fort Valley was held to shooting 21.8 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from the 3-point line. Fort Valley Lady Wildcats finish their season 4-23. Miles Lady Golden Bears will advance to face Clark Atlanta Lady Panthers on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. CST.


Game 3 (Men): No. 4 Benedict 72, No. 5 LeMoyne-Owen 69
Box Score | Benedict Recap | LeMoyne-Owen Recap

Three players finished in double digits in scoring as Benedict Tigers defeated the LeMoyne-Owen Magicians, 72-69. Cairo Brown led his team in scoring with 22 points as Brandon Morris (19) and Jelani Watson-Gayle (12) followed closely behind. The Tigers averaged 41.0 percent from the field while shooting 62.3 percent from the free-throw line. Morris managed a double-double in the opening game as he posted 19 points and 13 rebounds. As the game continued, LeMoyne-Owen improved their field shooting from 34.6 percent in the first half to 55.6 percent in the second half allowing them to gain on the Tigers. Four players managed double-digit scoring for the Magicians, but came up short against the Tigers. Benedict Tigers advances to the quarterfinals as they face No. 1 Central State on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7:45 p.m. CST.

Game 4 (Women): No. 4 Benedict 80, No. 5 Tuskegee 69
Box Score | Benedict Recap | Tuskegee Recap

Ay’Anna Bey finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds lifting the Benedict Tigers over Tuskegee’s Golden Tigers, 80-69, in the opening round. Despite the many turnovers, Benedict recovered by shooting 78.7 percent from the free-throw line. As Bey led the team in scoring, MiKeisha Moore (18), Jabree Jones (11), and Shirvel Luke (10) all contributed critical points throughout the game. Benedict led throughout most of the game until Tuskegee made a run in the third quarter as they scored 31 points of Benedict’s 39 turnovers. Benedict responded in the fourth quarter by shooing 81.5 percent from the free-throw line lifting them over No. 5 Tuskegee. The Lady Golden Tigers finished their season 6-20. The Lady Tigers will advance to face No. 1 Central State University on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. CST. 

For more information on the tournament, CLICK HERE!



SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Joseph Williams voted into NABC-NAIA Slam Dunk Contest

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Joseph Williams was a landslide winner in online fan voting for next month's 2018 NABC-NAIA Shoot & Slam presented by U.S. Bank.
     
Williams — a 6-foot-6 senior forward from Memphis, Tenn., a graduate of Lausanne Collegiate School and a transfer from Freed-Hardeman University — received 79.8 percent of the nearly 3,000 votes cast in a three-person race. Williams received 2,341 votes, followed by Tyler Bell of Jarvis Christian (Hawkins, Texas) with 398 votes/13.6 percent and Marcus White of Dickinson State (Dickinson, N.D.) with 195 votes/6.6 percent.     



Voting concluded Monday, and the NAIA announced Williams's victory Tuesday. Williams will be the first from XULA to compete in this event, scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday, March 17 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
     
Also in the dunk contest will be Arsenio Arrington of Aquinas (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Titus Rice of Ottawa (Ottawa, Kan.) and DeShun Patterson of Tabor (Hillsboro, Kan.) Those three were selected by a committee of NAIA Division I and II coaches.
     
The NABC-NAIA Shoot & Slam will be sandwiched between four quarterfinal games of the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. Williams and his XULA teammates, 21-7 this season, will try to qualify automatically for the tournament by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend or by an at-large bid. Tournament dates are March 14-20.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Gold Nuggets close with 7th straight GCAC victory

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore point guard Maya Trench had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists Wednesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-52 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball against Talladega.
     
The Gold Nuggets (14-11, 7-5) closed the regular season with seven straight GCAC victories and six straight overall.
     
XULA won every quarter and shot 56 percent from the floor in the second half.
    
Essence Wells scored 10 points for XULA. The Nuggets' two seniors, Ireyon Keith and Angelle Simon, combined for 14 points — eight by Keith and six by Simon. They were honored in a ceremony after the game.
     
Deshanna Cook scored 12 points and Courtnee Williams eight for the Lady Tornadoes (17-13, 7-5).
     
XULA won the tiebreaker with Talladega for the No. 3 seed in the GCAC Tournament. The Nuggets will play No. 6 seed Tougaloo at 2 p.m. Friday at SUNO's The Castle. All women's and men's semifinals will be this weekend at XULA's Convocation Center.

BOX SCORE

GCAC Tournament

WOMEN
Friday first round at SUNO
Noon — 4-Talladega vs. 5-Philander Smith
2 p.m. — 3-XULA vs. 6-Tougaloo
5 p.m. — 2-Edward Waters vs. 7-SUNO
1-Dillard has bye

Saturday semifinals at XULA
Noon — 1-Dillard vs. Talladega-Philander Smith winner
5 p.m. — XULA-Tougaloo winner vs. Edward Waters-SUNO winner

Sunday championship at XULA
2 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Rush earn share of GCAC regular-season championship

NEW ORLEANS — Virgil Davison scored a career-high 26 points, 18 in the second half, to help NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana rally Wednesday for a 74-62 men's basketball victory against Talladega and grab a share of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship.
     
XULA (22-7, 9-3) shared the title with Dillard, which will have a first-round bye in the GCAC Tournament. The Gold Rush will be the No. 2 seed and play seventh-seeded Edward Waters Friday at Dillard's Dent Hall. The GCAC will announce the bracket and times Thursday.
     
The Gold Rush trailed 14-2 after seven minutes and 30-25 at halftime. But XULA shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the second half and outscored the Tornadoes (19-10, 8-4) 49-32 in that period.
     
Davison's fourth 3-pointer put XULA ahead to stay at 59-56 with 3:10 remaining.
    
 Galen Smith scored 10 points for XULA, which was 10-20 last season.
     
Devonte Dixon scored 18 points, Arcuas McGhee and and Khaliel Spearman had 13 apiece, and Carl Taylor scored 10 for Talladega. McGhee grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots.
     
Seniors Jalen David, Elex Carter, Joseph Williams and Rondell Best were honored in a pregame ceremony. All four started the game. It was the first-ever XULA appearance for Best, who has battled injuries since transferring from NCAA Division III Daniel Webster. Best played the first minute and 42 seconds and grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot.   

XULA has won 20 championships at the confBOXerence or district level. This is the first Gold Rush title since the 2013-14 GCAC regular season. 



BOX SCORE

GCAC Tournament


MEN
Friday first round at Dillard
Noon — 4-Philander Smith vs. 5-Tougaloo
2 p.m. — 3-Talladega vs. 6-SUNO
5 p.m. — 2-XULA vs. 7-Edward Waters
1-Dillard has bye

Saturday semifinals at XULA
2 p.m. — 1-Dillard vs. Philander Smith-Tougaloo winner
7 p.m. — XULA-Edward Waters winner vs. Talladega-SUNO winner

Sunday championship at XULA
4 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

FAMU splits road series, beats FIU, 8-4

MIAMI, Florida -- Florida A&M entered Wednesday’s game looking to redeem itself after dropping game one of its two-game series here with FIU.

The Rattlers accomplished their goal.

FAMU (4-5) scored in the first five innings to defeat FIU, 8-4, Wednesday afternoon at the FIU ballpark.



The Rattlers out-hit FIU 9-7, with four players - Jordan Curtis, John Capra, Kaycee Reese andd Brett Maxwell - finishing with two hits each. Capra and Jacky Miles Jr. each knocked in two runs.

Starter Josh Wilson earned his first victory, allowing three earned runs in 5.2 innings.

Jeremiah McCollum closed out the sixth inning and recorded two outs in the seventh without giving up a run. Jamie Grant recorded the last out of the seventh and went on to throw a scoreless eighth before giving way to Dylan Carlson in the ninth.

The Rattlers drew first blood in this one, putting up two runs in the first inning.

CONTINUE READING

Livingstone Outlast the Vikings of Elizabeth City State to Advance ro Championship Quarterfinals

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Blue Bears of Livingstone College, the No. 3 seed
in the Southern Division, continued their impressive run in 2017-18 improving to 12-12 and will face the No. 2 seed in the Northern Division, Bowie State University, on Thursday at the Spectrum Center at 9:00 p.m. Elizabeth City State University (12-14) closes the book on their season, despite an impressive game only falling by four points.

Cameron Burhannon led the way for the Blue Bears with season/career-high 33 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Roger Ray finished the contest with 21 points and four assists. Lydell Elmore chipped in with 15 points. Ramel Belfield finished the contest with 10 points and two assists. Navar Elmore chipped in with eight points. Malik Smith secured five points.

Elizabeth City State's Zaccheus Hoobs and Shyheid Petteway were the leading scorers for the Vikings with contributing 29 points each respectively. Corey Mendez (15), John Maynor (14), and Charles Woods (4) chipped in with adding points to the book.

Shyheid Petteway scored the opening basket at the 19:35 mark to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead. Navar Elmore added a basket and one for LC to tie the game three all. Zaccheus Hobbs then added a three-pointer to edge the Vikings 6-5 at the 17:46 mark. At the 13:49 left in the first half Ramel Belfield added a three-pointer to tie the game for the third time 10 all. The back-and-forth battle continued as Livingstone converted 3-of-5 from the three point line and continued to add points to the board to take a 40-39 lead into the locker room.

BOX SCORE

Shyheid Petteway scored the opening basket for ECSU to give the Vikings a 41-40 lead at 19:17. Over the next four minutes the Blue Bears added points to the board taking a 51-43 advantage at the 15:14 mark. Livingstone College secured the lead and never turning it over the remainder of the game. Petteway added a three-pointer to cut LC's lead 77-67 with 4:06 left on the clock. Elizabeth City State University continued to play hard continuing to cut the Blue Bears lead in the remaining minutes. Despite the loss the Vikings fell only by four points to the Blue Bears by collecting its final three-pointer with 00:05 seconds left. Livingstone wrapped up the contest with shooting 56 percent (28-for-50) from the field overall, 62.5 percent (5-for-8) from 3-point range and 79.2 percent (38-for-48) from the free throw line.

Elizabeth City State wrapped up the contest with shooting 50 percent (31-for-62) from the field overall, 46.4 percent (13-for-28) from 3-point range and 87 percent (20-for-23) from the free throw line.

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE BLUE BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION

Virginia Union Surge Past Chowan in CIAA Tourney Opener

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- In a battle between two of the top teams in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region, it was the Virginia Union Lady Panthers (26-2) who were able to claim the 89-58 win over the Chowan Hawks (19-9) and advanced to the semifinal round of the tournament. After a close first half of play, the Panthers broke the game open with a strong second half effort that included a dominating third quarter effort.

"I'm very proud of our young ladies and the way they fought from beginning to end," Virginia Union head coach AnnMarie Gilbert said after the win. "This is Lady Panther basketball team that I'd like to see more of over the next few games."

The game saw some great play from both teams as both the Lady Panthers and the Hawks both turned in great efforts. The Lady Panthers finished the game shooting a scorching hot 45.8% (33-of-72) from the floor while the Hawks struggled shooting 32.0% (24-of-75). Freshman guard Shameka McNeill and senior forward Alexis Johnson led the way for the Lady Panthers with 19 points each while senior forward Dhyamond Crenshaw and junior forward Danielle Weldon both scored 12 points in the game. Weldon also led the team's rebounding effort with seven rebounds in the game.

The game opened with a strong start from the Panthers, but the Hawks showed a lot of mettle to make the first quarter a thrilling one. The Panthers opened the game with a 6-1 run, but the Hawks answered in a hurry with an eight-point run that included a pair of McNeill three-pointers. The last one came with 00:38 left in the quarter and gave the Lady Panthers a 22-12 lead before a Williams lay-up cut the Hawks' deficit down to eight points, 22-14 at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter saw a much harder fought effort from the Hawks as they battled their way back into the game. After falling into the double-digit deficit, the Hawks fought back when a three-pointer from junior forward Jada Lee pulled the Hawks to within five points, 24-19 with 7:49 left in the second quarter. Once again, the Lady Panthers went on to pull away from the Hawks with a 9-2 run that was capped by a Johnson lay-up with 4:05 left in the quarter and gave the Lady Panthers a 33-21 lead. In the final minutes, the Lady Panthers went ahead by as many as 13 points, 37-24, following a lay-up from junior forward Rachel Pecota with 1:22 left in the second quarter. A Lee three-pointer answered the run, but in the end, the Lady Panthers took the 38-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.

It was in the third quarter that the Lady Panthers really took over the game. The team outscored the Lady Hawks 31-19. The quarter included a 15-4 run to open the quarter and left the Lady Panthers on top, 53-33, after a pair of McNeill free throws with 6:04 left in the quarter. The final minutes of the quarter were especially impressive for the Lady Panthers as the team held the Hawks without a score for the final two minutes of the quarter and took a 69-39 lead heading into the fourth.

"We know that this is the CIAA tournament and we knew that Chowan was going to fight us tooth and nail for at least a half. The third quarter is when you see teams start to either run out of gas or flip the switch and push the pedal to the metal and that was our goal," Gilbert added. "We knew we had a little more depth than Chowan and we wanted to push hard and heavy on every possession."

BOX SCORE

Though the game appeared out of reach for the Hawks, the team continued to battle as they outscored the Lady Panthers 20-19 in the fourth quarter. They were able to work their deficit down to as few as 26 points, 74-47, after a Lee free throw with 5:03 left to play. From there, the fatigue set in for the Hawks and the Lady Panthers continued to pour it one as a Johnson lay-up with 1:46 left to play gave VUU an 86-50 lead, their largest lead of the game. The remainder of the game turned out to pretty much ceremonial with the Hawks whittling their deficit down to 31 points and ending the day with the 89-58 loss.

With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 26-2 for the season and will advance to the semifinal round of the 2018 CIAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. It will be the Lady Panthers' third straight trip to the semifinal round of the tournament as they await the winner of the Lincoln (Pa.)/Joohnson C. Smith game tomorrow. With the loss, the Hawks' season likely ends with the team posting a 19-9 overall record.

VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

FSU Broncos Survive & Advance with a 62-55 Win over Lincoln (Pa.)

Final Stats

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- he Broncos are off on another tournament run!

Fayetteville State, the CIAA Southern Division No. 5 Seed, survived the first round of the tournament with a 62-55 win over Lincoln (Pa.) in the Bojangles’ Coliseum.

“Make sure that you play harder than them and smarter than them,” said Head Coach Ken Spencer in his locker room pre-game pep talk.

“It's been a tough year for us during the regular season,” said Coach Spencer in the post-game interview. “Our guys really came and showed a lot of character tonight. We were able to grind out a win. It doesn’t matter how you get it, as long as you survive and advance. Our guys played to the end. We did enough just to win a basketball game.”

Fayetteville State dived for balls, scrapped for jump balls, and played above the rim for rebounds all game.

FSU was off to its usual start, trailing Lincoln (Pa.) by nine points (13-4) in the first five minutes of the game. Following the first media timeout, Willie Gilmore’s (Fayetteville, NC) dunk sparked a 10-1 Bronco run that would tie the game at 14-14 with a dunk by Javen McNeil (West End, NC).

The Broncos would keep the game close going into halftime trailing by two (28-26).

Lincoln (Pa.) opened the second half with an 8-1 run to lead 35-29 in the first three minutes.

Still down by six (37-31) at the 15:54 mark, Willie Gilmore drained two three-pointers which led to a 15-2 run by Fayetteville State and a 46-39 lead with 10:50 remaining. The run ended with another three-pointer by Gilmore.

The Lions worked its way back into the game, trailing by one (46-45), on a layup by Gevon Arrington with 8:30 left in the game.

Gilmore answered the call with his fourth three-pointer of the half to trigger an 8-0 run and a 54-45 lead with 5:14 left. The Broncos would maintain the nine-point cushion until the 1:01 mark of the game.

Lincoln (Pa.) would only be able to muster up four free throws as Javen McNeil ended all scoring with an off the rim dunk with 16 seconds left in the game.

Willie Gilmore’s career-high 26 points and Josh Bryant’s (Fayetteville, NC) 17 was enough to advance the Broncos into the second round and a Southern Division matchup against the No. 1 Johnson C. Smith University.

Fayetteville State forced Lincoln (Pa.) into 20 turnovers and limited itself to nine mistakes.

Gevon Arrington led the Lions with 21 points and Elijah Bush finished with 13.

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January, Bryant Lead Balanced SAU Attack In CIAA Tourney Men's Basketball Victory Over Chowan

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men's Basketball Championship Tournament saw the Falcons of St. Augustine's defeat the Hawks of Chowan University 75-55, in the second game of the tournament at the Bojangles' Coliseum on Tuesday.

The Falcons of St. Augustine's University, the No. 4 seed in the Southern Division, continued their impressive run in 2017-18 improving to 14-14 and will face the No. 1 seed in the Northern Division, Virginia State University, on Wednesday at the Bojangles' Coliseum. Chowan University closes the book on their season at 11-12.

Kasey Bryant led the way for the Falcons with 16 points five rebounds and seven assists. Quincy January finished the contest with a double-double performance with12 points and 15 rebounds. Ishmael Baldwin chipped in with 12 points. Tyre Gathright finished the contest with 13 points and two rebounds. Kenneth Collins chipped in with 11 points. Rashad George secured six points.

BOX SCORE

Chowan's Demetrius Sanders led all scorers for the Hawks with 11 points and four rebounds. Dino Muminovic (10), Tim Hewett (9), and Robert Grubbs (8) chipped in with adding points to the book.

Kasey Bryant scored the opening basket at the 19:44 mark to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead. Demetrius Sanders secured a three-pointer for CU to tie the game three all. Robert Grubbs then added a three-pointer to edge the Falcons 6-3 at the 17:03 mark. At the 13:14 left in the first half Kenneth Collins added a three-pointer to tie the game for the second time 10 all. The back-and-forth battle continued as St. Augustine's converted 5-of-8 from the three point line and continued to add points to the board to take a 39-21 lead into the locker room.

St. Augustine's continued with the same momentum coming into the second half. Kasey Bryant scored the opening basket for SAU to give the Falcons a 41-26 lead at 19:18. Over the next four minutes the Falcons continued to add points to the board taking a 46-33 advantage at the 15:08 mark. St. Augustine's secured the lead and never turning it over the remainder of the game. Bryant added three from the free throw line grew SAU's lead 56-47 with 7:49 left on the clock. From that point hot shooting helped the Falcons secure the 75-55 victory over Chowan University. The Falcons finished the contest with going 12-of-13 from the free throw line. St. Augustine's wrapped up the contest with shooting 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the field overall, 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from 3-point range and 75 percent (12-for-16) from the free throw line.

Chowan wrapped up the contest with shooting 36.2 percent (17-for-47) from the field overall, 33.3 percent (7-for-21) from 3-point range and 66.7 percent (14-for-21) from the free throw line.

SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Lincoln Lions Defeats Livingstone Blue Bears to Advance to CIAA Quarterfinals

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Basketball Championship Tournament saw Lincoln (Pa.) University defeat the Blue Bears of Livingstone College 76-58, in the second game of the tournament at the Bojangles' Coliseum on Tuesday.

The Lions of Lincoln (Pa.) University, the No. 3 seed in the Northern Division, continued their impressive run in 2017-18 improving to 17-10 and will face No. 2 seed in the Southern Division, Johnson C. Smith, on Thursday at the Spectrum Center. Livingstone closes the book on their season at 6-21.

Shahra Madison (Chesapeake, Va./Norfolk Collegiate School (Chesapeake College)) led the Lions with 16 points (7-9 FG) and eight rebounds. Brianna Logan (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley (Siena)) added 13 points while Shecquan Bailey (Salisbury, Md./Snow Hill (Baltimore City C.C.)) chipped in ten points, five assists and five steals. DeeDee Irwin (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) had three three-pointers for nine points.

Taylor Perkins led Livingstone with 26 points and 13 rebounds. I'Keya Bland added 10 points.

Both teams had to shake off their CIAA Tournament jitters as Lincoln led Livingstone 10-9 after the opening 10 minutes of action in a cold shooting first quarter. The teams were a combined 6-34 (17.6%) from the floor.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Livingstone converted 4-4 from the charity stripe to take a 13-10 lead just a minute into the quarter. Lincoln battled back to take an 18-15 advantage following an Irwin three-pointer midway through the quarter.

The Blue Bears took the advantage back from the Lions on a Taylor Perkins jumper with 2:54 remaining. Livingstone would take a 27-25 lead into the break.

BOX SCORE

Lincoln would take hold of the contest in the second half outscoring Livingstone 25-12 in the third quarter. The Lions used an 8-3 run to take the lead, 33-30, and never relinquish.

The Blue Bears attempted to chip away at the deficit but the Lions answered at every turn as Michelle Fitzgerald (Baltimore, Md./Md. Academy of Tech & Health Science (N.C. A & T)) gave the Lions a double-figure lead into the final quarter, 50-39.

The Lions maintained their double-figure lead in the fourth quarter. Blue Bears' Taylor Perkins scored the final nine points for Livingstone but was not enough as Lincoln's lead was too large.

The game was a tale of two halves - shooting wise for the Lions, who made just 25.7% (9-35) of their shots in the first two quarters. Things turned around in the second half as the Lincoln shooters found their mark, making 58% (18-31) of their shots in the final two quarters. Lincoln also took advantage of 24 Blue Bear turnovers, scoring 32 points off them. Lincoln's bench also outscored the Livingstone bench 26-7.

BOX SCORE

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY LIONS SPORTS INFORMATION

Bowie State oDefeat Shaw Lady Bears 56-47 in CIAA Tournament Opening Round

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Basketball Championship Tournament tipped off Tuesday morning as Bowie State University and Shaw University squared off at the Bojangles Coliseum. Bowie State used strong second and third quarters and held off a Shaw rally in the fourth to come away with a 56-47 win.

The Bulldogs, the #4 seed in the North Division, improve to 18-8 and will face the #1 seed from the South division Fayetteville State on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Bojangles Coliseum. Shaw concludes their season with a 6-23 record.

Senior Kyah Proctor (Capital Heights, Md.) scored 19 points while graduate student Sade Chatman (Minneapolis, Minn.) added ten to pace the Bulldogs offense. Redshirt junior Pere Alexander (Baltimore, Md.) added eight points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Senior Kiara Colston (Burtonsville, Md.) led the Bulldogs with five assists.

Lervencia Johnson (Many, La.) recorded a double-double for the Bears, scoring 12 points while grabbing ten rebounds. Emily Davis (Cleveland, Ohio) also had 12 points for the Lady Bears.

The two teams played a closely contested first quarter with neither team leading by more than one possession over the first six minutes. The Bulldogs used a 7-1 run to break a 9-9 tie and open a 16-10 lead with 1:31 to go before Johnson's jumper pulled Shaw within two 16-12 at the end of the period.

The Bulldogs scored four of the first six points in the second quarter to take a six-point lead before the Bears scored on two straight possessions to pull within two 20-18. Bowie State used a 7-2 run over the final 4:31 of the second quarter to open their biggest lead of the first half, 27-20. Chatman provided the first four points of the run and a three-point basket by senior Lisa Jing (Laurel, Md.) at the buzzer capped the run.

An 11-4 run by Bowie State over the first five minutes of the third quarter pushed the Bulldogs lead to double digits, 38-24 midway through the third quarter. Shaw countered with a 10-5 flourish to end the quarter to cut the lead back to single digits, 43-34.

Raquel Kellow (Conroe, Texas) opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to bring Shaw within six, 43-37. Alexander and Proctor answered with back to back three-pointers to again give Bowie a double-digit lead 49-37. The Lady Bears clawed back within seven, 54-47 with a 10-5 run with just 39.2 seconds left. Colston sank two free throws with 11 seconds left to provide the final points of the game and seal the 56-47 win for the Bulldogs.

The teams were relatively even shooting wise, with the Bulldogs having the slight advantage, making 19-of-57 shots (33.3 percent) to Shaw's 16-of-49 (32.7 percent). The Bulldogs were 13-of-16 at the free throw line (81.3 percent) while the Lady BearXs made 13-of-20 (65 percent). Bowie State also held a 39-36 rebounding edge.

BOX SCORE

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Coach Gilbert and Coach Blow Named CIAA Basketball Coaches of the Year

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), with its Men's and Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association, announces the 2018 Men's & Women's Coaches of the Year. These outstanding coaches were formally recognized today during the annual Tip-Off Awards Luncheon.

After finishing No. 1 in the Northern Division, Coach AnnMarie Gilbert of Virginia Union University has earned her third consecutive Coach of the Year honor. This season Coach Gilbert has led her team to a 15-1 record in conference play while marking an overall record of 25-2. Coming into this year's tournament ranked No. 1 and being ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region, Coach Gilbert and her Lady Panthers are picked to be the top contenders for this year's tournament. Coach Gilbert is looking forward to a comeback the 2017 CIAA Tournament when her team was eliminted, yet went on to finish Runner-Up in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship. The Lady Panthers are set to play Wednesday, February 28, 2018 versus the winner between Saint Augustine's University and Chowan University. Tip-off is set for 2:20 PM in Charlotte, NC at Bojangles' Coliseum.

In his fourth season with Virginia State University, Coach Lonnnie Blow, Jr. has earned his third Coach of the Year honor. Coach Blow led his program to a 13-3 record in conference play and a 23-3 overall record this season. The Trojans have had some major victories this season including wins over Norfolk State University, Pitt-Johnson University, and Indiana (PA) University. Coming into this year's tournament ranked No. 1 and being ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic Region, Coach Blow and the Trojans are picked to be the top contenders in this year's tournament. The Trojans are set to play Wednesday, February 28, 2018 versus the winner between Saint Augustine's University and Chowan University. Tip-off is set for 6:40 PM in Charlotte, NC at Bojangles' Coliseum.

For more information regarding the 2018 CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit ciaatournament.org. Follow the CIAA on social media via Facebook (TheCIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), Instagram (@CIAASports), or download the CIAA mobile app available for Apple and Android devices.

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CIAA Announces 2018 CIAA Rookies and Players of the Year

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), with its Men's and Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association, announces the 2018 Women's and Men's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. These outstanding student-athletes were formally recognized today during the annual Tip-Off Awards Luncheon.


Alexis Johnson, a senior forward from Virginia Union University, has been named Women's CIAA Player of the Year and Women's Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson is an offensive threat, ranked second in the conference in points per game and averaging seventeen points per game. She is currently fifth in the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 51.1 percent. This season alone she has recorded 80 blocks against opponents and she averages 9 rebounds per game.

Rookie guard, Shareka McNeill of Virginia Union has earned Women's Rookie of the Year honors. The Charlotte, NC native averages 12.7 points per game, while shooting 41.2 percent from the field. She also adds 42 steals, 54 assists, and 71 rebounds on the season.

Johnson C. Smith University's senior guard, Robert Davis III, has been named Men's CIAA Player of the Year. This season Davis has topped the conference in total points scored with 590. He carries his team with an impressive 21.9 points per game and he is leading the conference in free throw percentage with 88.2 percent.

Senior forward Quincy January of Saint Augustine's University has been named Men's Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. January has always produced impressive defensive numbers and this year is no different. He leads the conference in rebounds per game with eleven and his 264 rebounds on the season ranks him second among CIAA competitors. He also has 16 steals and 21 blocks for the season.

Rookie guard Zaccheus Hobbs has been a great addition for Elizabeth City State University and has earned the Men's Rookie of the Year honor. Hobbs has scored 327 points this season, averaging 12.6 points per game. He has also recorded 36 steals and 91 assists in his first CIAA season.

For more information regarding the 2018 CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit ciaatournament.org. Follow the CIAA on social media via Facebook (TheCIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), Instagram NW(@CIAASports), or download the CIAA mobile app available for Apple and Android devices.

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Nuggets crush Lady Bulldogs for 6th straight GCAC win

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore forward Gina Smith had career highs of 23 points and four blocked shots Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 76-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

Smith was 11-of-15 from the floor in 24 minutes and grabbed eight rebounds in the Gold Nuggets' sixth consecutive GCAC victory. Smith's previous point high was 14 as a freshman.

Mikayla Bates and Dasia Pitre scored 14 points apiece for XULA (13-11. 6-5). Bates and Maya Trench grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Trench had eight assists.

Debraia Bell had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs (10-15, 4-7), and Melissa Creese had nine points and six assists.

XULA led the final 37 1/2 minutes and built its largest lead, 76-42, on Nicole Swift's basket with three minutes remaining.

The Gold Nuggets outshot the Lady Bulldogs 45.9 to 34.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 51-25. XULA had eight first-half blocks and 11 for the game, its most since blocking 11 at Lee (Tenn.) on Nov. 15, 2008.

XULA will close the regular season with a 5:30 p.m. Wednesday GCAC home game against Talladega, then play Friday in the GCAC Tournament first round at SUNO's The Castle.



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Gold Rush acquire a Berry good player from Cecilia

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball landed its first recruit for the 2018-19 season when Jevon Berry of Cecilia (La.) High School signed an athletics scholarship Thursday.

Berry is a 6-foot-3 guard/forward who is averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals per game this season. Cecilia is the No. 21 seed in the LHSAA Class 4A playoffs and will visit No. 12 Salmen in the first round at 7 p.m. Friday in Slidell.

"Jevon is the best player in our district," Cecilia coach Scotty Borel said. "I love his versatility. He can play inside or outside depending on the opponent and play all five positions in high school. He can make shots from the outside or attack the basket. He's a great kid from a great family."

Berry as a junior was All-District 5-4A honorable mention. The 2017-18 all-district team has yet to be announced.

"He's a DI (NCAA) player," Borel said, "but it's a blessing to put Jevon in a great situation like Xavier. I coached your assistant coach, Tyrone Mitchell, when he played AAU ball a few years ago."
Cecilia is in St. Martin Parish and approximately 15 miles northeast of Lafayette.

XULA is 20-7 and ranked 22nd in the NAIA. It is the NAIA's 15th-winningest program all-time.

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Rush beat Bulldogs to set up title showdown Wednesday

NEW ORLEANS — Jeff Dixon had career highs of 25 points and 11 assists Saturday to lead NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana in an 84-79 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

Dixon, a junior point guard, did not commit a turnover in 34 minutes.

XULA will close its regular season with a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday home game against Talladega. The winner will earn a share of the GCAC regular-season championship with Dillard. The GCAC Tournament will begin Friday with three first-round men's games at Dillard's Dent Hall. Dillard has clinched the No. 1 seed for the tournament, and the XULA-Talladega winner will be the No. 2 seed.

Dillard has concluded its conference schedule at 9-3, and Talladega is tied for second with XULA at 8-3. Talladega began the day in sole possession of first place but lost 69-64 at Philander Smith while Dillard won 76-50 at Edward Waters.

There were seven ties and 10 lead changes in the second half. Dixon's basket with 3:58 remaining put the Gold Rush (21-7) ahead to stay at 76-74.

Rayshawn Mart and Jalen David scored 18 points apiece for XULA, and Virgil Davison had 16.
Denarius Odell scored 21 points, Tonzell Handy 19 and Dearius Griffin 10 for the Bulldogs (15-8, 6-5).

XULA led 46-40 at halftime after leading by 14.

Dixon became the first Gold Rush player to reach 20 points and 10 assists in the same game since Shaun Dumas had 30 and 12 against Tougaloo on Feb. 5, 2007, at The Barn. Dumas, now the boys basketball coach at Crescent City Christian School in Metairie, La., was in attendance Saturday.



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HU, Morgan State await ruling from MEAC over bizarre finish

HAMPTON, Virginia -- What is currently listed as a 57-38 win by Hampton University over Morgan State came to a bizarre and premature end Saturday night at the Convocation Center.

According to the play-by-play information from the box score, Bears coach Todd Bozeman and forward David Syfax were ejected with 13:33 remaining in the game. This followed a foul that had been called on the Pirates Eugene Marshall III.

Bozeman then took his team off the floor and refused to continue playing, according to reports from the game.

MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said the conference will have an announcement this afternoon regarding the incident.

NCAA rules mandate that when a game never reaches the 10-minute mark of the second half, a forfeit is declared and the final score is recorded as 2-0. Under that scenario, Hampton (16-14, 11-4 MEAC) would get the win and Morgan State (10-17, 6-8) the loss. No statistics (points, rebounds, etc.) would count.

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