Maynor says he's ready for the MEAC

Former WSSU coach will now try to build a winner at Hampton

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Before his final media conference at Winston-Salem State this week, Coach Connell Maynor sat in his office answering congratulatory phone calls from friends and family.

In between calls, Maynor was reminded that he’ll have 63 scholarships — the maximum for the Football Championship Subdivision — to work with as the head coach at Hampton. Given the increase from the 30 scholarships Maynor had at WSSU, out of the Division II maximum of 36, it was suggested that he might actually recruit a placekicker for field goals.
 
“Now that’s just crazy talk,” he joked.

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Boulware among candidates to get interviews for WSSU job

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Kienus Boulware, Winston-Salem State’s defensive coordinator the past four seasons, will be one of four or five candidates who will be interviewed for the school’s vacant head-coaching job, according to Athletics Director Bill Hayes.

Hayes said that Boulware, 39, will be interviewed in the next two weeks or so.
 
“Coach Boulware will be officially interviewed along with three or four others,” Hayes said Friday in an email.

After Connell Maynor resigned earlier this week to become the head coach at Hampton, Hayes said he has been impressed with Boulware’s coaching abilities over the past four seasons. Boulware’s defense was ranked No. 1 in Division II most of this season.

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Ram Ramblings: Maynor will have to adjust to Hampton and it's president

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- It’s not everyday that the two most high-profile coaches in athletics at a college or university get along so well. But for Connell Maynor and Bobby Collins at WSSU they were each other’s biggest supporters.

Since Maynor arrived in 2010 he and Collins were quick to form a friendship and it’s something that Collins says will last a long time. Maynor has left to take the job at Hampton, and Collins made sure to let me know that he wanted to wish Maynor well in his new job.

“Connell is an incredible person,” Collins said earlier this week. “He’s very competitive and I feel like I’m having a brother leave for college. I know I’ll still see him from time to time but he’s a very good friend and we’ve supported each of our programs very well. I’m going to miss him.”

 

When Maynor said good-bye in his final news conference at WSSU he thanked everybody at WSSU and made it a point to say he was going to miss Collins.

 

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Kansas State Visits Hampton Before Holiday Break

Wildcats to make first appearance in Virginia since 1984

Game 9 Kansas State at Hampton
Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 | 3 p.m. (CT)
HU Convocation Center (7,200) | Hampton, Va.

Team Information
Kansas State Wildcats (5-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Head Coach: Deb Patterson (Rockford ‘79)
Career Record: 344-210 (.621) 18th year
School Record: Same
Last game: W, 73-64 vs. UCSB on Dec. 15, 2013
website: www.kstatesports.com
Twitter: @kstatesports, @kstate_gameday, #KStateWBB

Hampton Lady Pirates  (8-3, 2-0 MEAC)
Head Coach: David Six (Hampton ‘09)
Career Record: 107-33 (.764) 5th year
School Record: Same
Last game: W, 50-47 at Drexel on Dec. 18, 2013
website: www.hamptonpirates.com
Twitter: @Hampton_WBB

Series History and Notes
Kansas State leads the series, 1-0... K-State won the last meeting between the schools, 78-42, on Feb. 20, 1996 in Manhattan... Head coach Deb Patterson is facing Hampton for the first time... K-State is 2-0 against schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)... K-State’s last game against a MEAC school came on Nov. 30, 2005 against Delaware State, a 78-30 win for K-State in Manhattan... This will be K-State’s first visit to the state of Virginia since Jan. 5, 1984 when K-State played Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va.

Game Information
TV: None
Radio: K-State Sports Network (PbP: Brian Smoller; Color: Claire Coggins)
Internet: Free live audio & free live stats at www.kstatesports.com
Tickets: Visit www.hamptonpirates.com or call (757) 728-6828
   
MANHATTAN, Kansas –  Kansas State will hit the road before the holiday break, as the Wildcats travel to the state of Virginia for the first time since Jan. 5, 1984 to face Hampton on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT). The Wildcats will bring a season-high three-game win streak to Hampton, which is the longest winning streak since K-State won seven straight to open the 2012-13 season. K-State will look to snap a seven-game road losing streak.

Saturday’s game will be available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com, as the award-winning Brian Smoller delivers the play-by-play and former K-State letter winner Claire Coggins drops in with the color analysis. Fans can also follow the live stats at kstatesports.com, and receive updates on Twitter by following @kstate_gameday.

Kansas State (5-3) captured its third straight game with a 73-64 win over UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 15. For the seventh time this season, K-State’s bench outscored its opponents’ bench, 29-11. The Wildcats’ bench has outscored its opponents’ bench, 224-114, this season. The 224 bench points are the most through eight games since the 2005-06 squad registered 315 bench points after eight games.

For the second time this season, K-State had three players reach double figures in scoring with Leticia Romero notching 15 points, Ashia Woods tallied 13 points and Bri Craig came off the bench to card 11 points. Romero, a freshman guard from Las Palmas, Spain, is averaging team-highs of 11.8 points, 5.4 assists and 2.3 steals and is second on the team with 5.9 rebounds. Romero is the only freshman in the Big 12 and the first freshman in the Deb Patterson era to average at least 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals after the first eight games of the season. She has led the Wildcats in scoring four times and assists seven times as she dished out five assists against the Gauchos to lead the Wildcats.

Romero’s points per game ranks 20th in the Big 12, while she is sixth for all players in the league, 55th in the nation and is the top freshman in the Big 12 for assists per game. Over the last five games, she has dished out 28 assists which are the most for a K-State freshman over a five-game span since Shalee Lehning handed out 36 assists from March 17-31, 2006.

In addition to Woods recording 13 points, she also hauled in seven rebounds and tied for the team season-high and equaled her career-high for the third time with five steals. In the four games since she returned from her ruptured Achilles tendon rehabilitation (which took her 310 days) on Nov. 28, Woods is averaging 8.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists.

Craig came off the bench to register her first game in double figures since March 4, 2013 at Baylor. The sophomore guard from Lincoln, Neb., tallied a 3-of-3 performance from beyond the arc and was 2-of-2 from the foul line. Over the last two games, Craig is averaging 8.5 points and is shooting .625 from the 3-point line.

At a Glance: Hampton
Hampton (8-3, 2-0 MEAC) enters Saturday’s game with a three-game winning streak and have won five of their last six games. In their last outing, the Lady Pirates held off Drexel in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, 50-47. Hampton ranks 53rd in the nation and second in the MEAC in scoring defense at 58.2 points per game. They are also holding foes to a 3-point field goal percentage of .287 to rank 77th in the nation.

A season ago, the Lady Pirates led the NCAA in scoring defense at 47.8 points per game and finished third in the nation in opponent field goal percentage (.320) and 3-point field goal percentage (.243). Over the last two years, the HU Convocation Center has been a difficult place to play for opponents, as Hampton has won 18 of its last 19 home games.

The Lady Pirates are led on the sidelines by fifth year head coach David Six. The 2009 graduate of Hampton owns a 107-33 (.764) record during his time at his alma mater, including a 58-6 (.906) mark in the MEAC. Six guided Hampton to a school record for wins in a season with a 28-6 mark, including a 16-0 record in the MEAC, and captured both the regular season and postseason MEAC titles. The Lady Pirates earned a No. 15 seed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament and fell to No. 2 seed Duke in Durham, N.C., 67-51. Six has led Hampton to four straight MEAC tournament titles, which have resulted in four straight NCAA tournament appearances.

On the floor, Hampton features three players on its roster averaging double figures. Leading the way is freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas with 18.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. The product of Harrisburg, Pa., is fifth in the MEAC for points per game and third in the league in 3-point field goals made per game (2.4)..

Just behind Tate-DeFreitas in double figures are senior forward Alyssa Bennett and senior guard Nicole Hamilton. Bennett is averaging 17.4 points, a team-high 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Bennett tallied 13 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals at Drexel on Wednesday.

Hamilton is third on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), third in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and leads the team in assists (5.6 apg). At Drexel, Hamilton led the Lady Pirates with 18 points, six assists, three steals, two blocks and also pulled in five rebounds.

Wildcats on the RoadK-State has a 247-251 (.496) record in road games during the program’s 46-year history. During the 21st century, K-State owns an 87-71 (.551) mark in road contests and are 104-105 (.498) during Deb Patterson’s 18 seasons on the K-State bench. K-State is currently in the middle of a seven-game road losing streak.

K-State notched a 10-5 (.667) record on the road in 2008-09 to break the previous school record of nine (1982-83 and 2001-02).

Wildcats Goose Egg Cavs, Gauchos From Distance
The Wildcats’ perimeter defense was stout at the Junkanoo Jam on Nov. 28-29, as K-State held SMU and Virginia to 5-of-28 (.179) shooting from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are fourth in the Big 12 and 49th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.263; 25-of-95). Over the last four games, K-State has held its opponents to 7-of-36 (.194) shooting from beyond the arc.

K-State has held two opponents (vs. Virginia, Nov. 29; UCSB, Dec. 15) to zero connections from the 3-point line this season, the first time the Wildcats have done this since the 2011-12 season. Kansas State has now held opponents without a 3-point field goal 11 times in the last eight seasons, including nine times in the last five seasons. Kansas State held Virginia without a connection on 10 attempts, while the Wildcats held UCSB to zero makes on just one attempt.



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GW Women's Hoops Tips Off Saturday Doubleheader Against North Carolina A&T

WHO: GW Women's Basketball (6-4)
WHAT: Game #11 vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (7-1)
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338), 600 22nd Street NW
Directions to Smith Center | Parking Options | Public Transportation
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m.
HOW: Buy Tickets
VIDEO: Free on RaiseHigh Live and A-10 Mobile App
STATS: GameTracker
AUDIO: WRGW Sports
TWITTER: @GW_WBB | @GWGeorge | #RaiseHigh
NOTES: GW Notes
PROMOTION: Holiday Hoops Doubleheader - GW Men's Basketball vs. UMBC at 2:30 p.m. | Tickets for either game are good for both games

WASHINGTON, D. C.  --  The George Washington women's basketball team goes for its third straight win when it hosts North Carolina A&T in the first game of a holiday hoops doubleheader at the Charles E. Smith Center on Saturday. The Colonials will face the Aggies at 12 p.m. ahead of the GW men's basketball game against UMBC, which will tip off at approximately 2:30 p.m. Tickets for either game are good for both contests.

GW (6-4) has not played since a 75-60 win over Morgan State last Saturday at the Smith Center. Graduate student Megan Nipe led four Colonials in double figures with 18 points, with 13 coming during GW's second-half comeback in which the Colonials outscored the Lady Bears, 43-25.  Sophomore Alexis Chandler had a career day with 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals against Morgan State, while freshman Caira Washington matched her career high with 15 points.

Washington was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Monday. She is averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds and shooting 61.8 percent (21-34) with a pair of double-doubles in her last four games. The freshman from Brandywine, Md., is GW's top rebounder (7.9 rpg) and second-leading scorer (10.4 ppg), and she ranks sixth in the A-10 in shooting percentage (.500, 42-84), eighth in rebounding and ninth in blocked shots (1.0 bpg).

GW has averaged 72.5 points per game this season behind five players who are averaging better than seven points per game, including three in double figures. Nipe leads the way and ranks fourth in the A-10 with 18.1 points per game, as has scored in double figures in every game but one this season, while topping 20 four times. Nipe also ranks seventh in the league with 2.1 three-pointers made per game.

Graduate student Danni Jackson is averaging 10.0 points per game and ranks seventh in the A-10 in assists (4.4 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). She needs one helper to become the seventh Colonial ever with 400 assists in her career.

Saturday's game marks the GW debut for sophomore Jonquel Jones, who transferred to Foggy Bottom from Clemson last winter and had to sit out until the end of the Fall 2013 semester due to NCAA transfer rules. The 2012 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year and Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year at Riverdale Baptist, Jones averaged 9.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in eight games at Clemson before transferring to GW.

GW and North Carolina A&T will face off for just the second time on Saturday. The teams met for the first time ever on Jan. 6, 2013, in Greensboro, N.C., a 67-56 win for the host Aggies.

At 7-1, A&T is off to the best start in program history. The Aggies defeated UNC Asheville, 83-57, on Tuesday for their seventh straight victory, as their only loss on the year came to Quinnipiac in the season opener.

Tracy King paces the Aggies with 13.9 points per game, followed closely by Christina Carter's 13.8 points per contest. Both players are shooting better than 51 percent from the floor. In addition, Carter leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 5.6 assists per game, and King is tops with 3.6 steals per outing. A&T has outscored its opponents by 18.3 points per game this season and boasts both the top scoring offense and defense in the MEAC, averaging 73.1 points per game while allowing just 54.9. The Aggies also leads the league in field goal percentage (.456), assists (15.0 apg) and steals (11.9 spg).

After advancing to the 2013 WNIT with a 22-10 overall record, A&T - under the direction of second-year head coach Tarrell Robinson - was picked to finish second in the MEAC preseason poll.

Sophomore center Eboni Ross, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year, was named to the Preseason All-MEAC first team, while King was tabbed to the second team.

COURTESY THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATION

Delaware State On-Deck for Marshall Herd

GAME 10: DELAWARE STATE (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) vs. MARSHALL (4-5, 0-0 C-USA)
Saturday, Dec. 21 | Noon ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Radio | Twitter | Game Notes


HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Looking to build off a 71-56 win over Wofford (Dec. 19), Marshall women’s basketball (4-5, 0-0 C-USA) will play host to Delaware State (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) at Cam Henderson Center, Saturday, at noon.

Live stats and live video will be available through the women’s basketball schedule page at HerdZone.com. The official live radio broadcast can be found online or through WMUL 88.1 FM, and live updates will be available through @HerdWBB on Twitter.

HAVE YOU HERD?
For the second consecutive game, sophomore Norrisha Victrum (Columbia, S.C.) led the Thundering Herd offensively with career-highs of 24 points, eight assists and a 12-of-14 mark from the free-throw line in a 71-56 win over Wofford, Dec. 19. Each of her marks are the most by a Herd player in coach Matt Daniel’s two seasons.

Her 24 points are the most by a Marshall player since Tynikki Crook scored 25 in a 71-67 home win over Cleveland State, Dec. 18, 2010, and her 12 free throws are the most since Sikeetha Shepard-Hall hit 15 in a February 2006 win over UAB.

Marshall’s 48 second-half points were a Herd high since the team scored 57 in the first half of a 93-55 triumph over Kent State to open the 2011-12 season. It was the high for a Herd second half since Dec. 30, 2010 when Marshall scored 49 in a 79-69 home win over Elon.

OTHER NOTABLES:
-          Junior AJ Johnson (Silver Spring, Md.) scored 18 points, a career-high, and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.
-          Marshall is without junior post player Chukwuka Ezeigbo (Trenton, N.J.), who has returned to Nigeria for a 17-day span to attend the funeral of her father, who died of cancer last month.

CHANGING IT UP
Coach Matt Daniel has started five different combinations over nine games, and each of the Herd’s four wins have come with different starting lineups. Only redshirt senior guard Erica Woods (St. George, Bermuda) has started every game for Marshall so far.

MAKE IT RAIN
Against WVU Tech, Dec. 9, the Herd totaled 13 treys (13-of-36), the most scored since sinking 14 versus West Virginia, Jan. 18, 1995. Freshman McKenzie Akers (Princeton, W.Va.) made a career-high four treys against the Golden Bears, going 4-of-10. She became the 15th Herd player all-time to attempt 10 threes in a single game. Marshall’s mark of 6.8 made three-pointers per game ranks second in Conference USA.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
Marshall’s defensive performance has been one of the most effective in the nation so far this season. Limiting opponents to just 59.1 points per game and 36 percent from the field (as of Dec. 18), the Herd’s scoring defense ranks 55th among NCAA DI schools.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Prior to the neutral-site matchup with West Virginia, Dec. 14, the Herd hadn’t hit the road since Nov. 12, when Marshall took a trip to Robert Morris in Coraopolis, Penn. From Dec. 19 through 31, the Herd will play four home games, and Marshall will not travel again until the new year, when it makes a trip to NJIT, Jan. 5.

CAM’S ADVANTAGE
Since Cam Henderson Center opened in 1981, the Herd holds a home record of 256-153 (.626 winning percentage) in 33 seasons. In coach Matt Daniel’s two seasons, the Herd is 10-10 at ‘the Cam.’ Last season, Marshall was 3-2 at home versus non-conference opponents.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Delaware State (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) is looking to snap a three-game skid when it visits Huntington, Saturday. Three of the Hornets’ six losses have come at No. 25 Vanderbilt (Nov. 14), No. 8 Maryland (Dec. 14) and most recently, West Virginia (Dec. 18). DSU has just one road win on the season, an 80-69 victory at Manhattan, Nov. 26.

The Hornets are averaging 69.7 points on 39 percent from the field, including 23 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing opponents 84.9 points per game. Junior Tierra Hawkins contributes a team-high 23 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, but hasn’t played since Dec. 7.

Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Marshall and Delaware State.

UP NEXT
The Herd will have a week-long holiday hiatus before hosting Navy at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, at Cam Henderson Center. For all the latest information about Herd women’s basketball, follow @HerdWBB on Twitter.


COURTESY MARSHALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

NCCU's Jerry Mack hits ground running in search of aides

DURHAM, North Carolina  — A “Help Wanted” sign hanging outside the office of newly hired N.C. Central football coach Jerry Mack probably wouldn’t attract the labor force he needs to handle business with the Eagles.

NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree announced the appointment of the former South Alabama wide receivers coach to the NCCU head job on Thursday. And he comes without a staff.
Often when schools hire active head football coaches, they bring many of their assistant coaches with them.

Since Mack was an assistant himself, he doesn’t have a staff to bring to Durham. He has to put one together, and it would not be out of the question for one or more of his former fellow South Alabama assistants to join him at NCCU.

Mack, 33, said he’s been getting recommendations about potential assistants who are worth vetting.

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New HU football coach Maynor blunt, funny and successful

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Connell Maynor talked about winning championships and educating young men and joked that Hampton University might need a bigger stadium to accommodate the crowds that will come to see the football team.

Maynor was funny, serious and blunt as a blackjack Friday at his introductory press conference in the Armstrong Stadium team room, just days after he was named the 20th coach in the program's history.

"I want to do all I can to get this program back to winning championships, the way that it's used to," Maynor said. "I think the last championship was '06. That's too far apart for Hampton and our tradition and what we want to do. So we're going to try to get it back to winning championships back-to-back, to-back, to-back, to-back, to-back."

Yes, he said six championships in a row. He spoke openly of ...

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Associated Press Names Four TSU Tigers All-Americans

COURTESY TSU ATHLETICS
 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Daniel Fitzpatrick, Anthony Bass, Kadeem Edwards and A.C. Leonard of the Tennessee State football team were named to the 2013 Associated Press Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-American Team.

Fitzpatrick was the lone Tiger chosen to the AP’s First Team and was second on the team in tackles with 75. He led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with eight interceptions on the year and the Fort Wayne, Ind. native broke up eight passes in 14 games.

 

Bass made the Second Team and was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 10 sacks, 34 stops and 14.5 tackles for loss. The junior also forced and recovered a pair of fumbles on the campaign.

 

Edwards was also placed on the Second Team after being selected to the All-Ohio Valley Conference Team for the third consecutive time following a season in which he started 13 games at left guard. The four-year starter accepted an invitation to the 2014 Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this month.

 

Leonard was the lone tight end on the Second Team and finished second on the Tigers with 34 receptions and 441 yards for an average of 13 yards per catch. The junior also added five touchdowns, placing him third on the squad.

 

Tennessee State made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 in 2013 and won a playoff game for the first time since 1986. The Tigers were the first OVC team to win a road playoff game since 1986 and the first HBCU to win a postseason contest since 1999.

 

WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

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Faulkner beats XU Rush in matchup of ranked NAIA teams

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana, down three points twice in the final four minutes, lost 62-53 to Faulkner on Thursday in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I men's basketball teams.

Xavier Rogers scored 17 points for the Gold Rush, ranked 25th, and Sydney Coleman and Wesley Pluviose-Philip scored nine apiece. Pluviose-Philip grabbed eight rebounds.

Jake Mitchell scored 15 points and Stephen Strachan 14 for 17th-ranked Faulkner, and Cyrille Sandjon had nine rebounds.

Both teams are 9-4.

Xavier trailed 53-43 after Strachan's basket with eight minutes remaining, but the Gold Rush closed the gap to 54-51 on Morris Wright's basket with 3:52 remaining. Faulkner followed with a turnover, but Xavier missed a 2-pointer.

It was 56-53 after a Rogers basket with 1:53 remaining, but the Gold Rush turned it over after another defensive stop. Faulkner then outscored Xavier 6-0 in the final minute, all on free throws.

A Rogers basket at 4:52 of the first half gave Xavier its final lead, 24-22. Faulkner led 35-29 at halftime and did not lose its lead in the second half.

Both teams shot less than 40 percent from the floor. Faulkner made 25-of-33 free throws -- 19-of-24 in the second half -- and Xavier made 16-of-28. Faulkner outrebounded Xavier 40-30.

It was the final game before Christmas for the XU men, whose next game will start at 2 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Belhaven. The next Gold Rush home game will be Jan. 11 against SUNO.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Southern men fall at top-ranked Arizona

TUCSON, Arizona — Southern gave Marquette and Florida a bit of trouble in road games earlier this season.

But once the Jaguars got behind No. 1 Arizona, they didn’t stand much of a chance.

Southern tried to fight back from a big early hole but struggled from the 3-point line and at the free throw line in a 69-43 loss to the Wildcats on Thursday night.

“My team is trying to find an identity, and we have a long way to go,” Southern coach Roman Banks said. “My concern is that we didn’t show character; we floated all night long. Arizona is a great basketball team, but I thought we played on our toes.”

Coming off a comeback road win over Michigan on Saturday, Arizona (12-0) raced to a 15-point first-half lead over the Jaguars despite having to shift players to new positions with 7-foot center Kaleb Tarczewski out.

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Rena Wakama Scores 21 in Western Carolina 73-69 Loss at NC Central

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Western Carolina women's basketball (6-4) had its six-game winning streak snapped with a 73-69 loss at North Carolina Central (5-4) Thursday in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

The Catamounts wat
ched its 10-point, 39-29, lead erode in the second half. WCU gave up 44 points in the second half to North Carolina Central.  Western Carolina didn't seem to have an answer for the double-threat tandem of the Eagles' Jessica Freeman, who lead the game with 26 points, and Racquel Davis who had 21. The duo combined for 47 of North Carolina Central's 72 points.  Western Carolina connected on a season-high 11 three pointers but couldn't overcome the 33 trips to the free throw line North Carolina Central was awarded. The Eagles hit 23-of-33 from the charity stripe accounting for almost a third of its points in the game.

Western Carolina came out with a fire in the first half, led by the explosive play of senior guard Rena Wakama. The Raleigh, N.C. native scored 18 first half points and connected on four three pointers in the opening 20 minutes.  Wakama scored just three points in the second half and ended the contest with 21 points, just two shy of tying her career-high of 23. She was the first player this season to score 20 or more points.

Shauna Terry's lay-up, to open the second half, gave Western Carolina a 12-point, 41-29, advantage, its largest lead of the game. Freeman answered with a three-pointer for North Carolina Central and Terry struck again with a field goal. After Terry's bucket, the Eagles scored seven unanswered points to cut the Catamount lead to four, 46-42.  Western Carolina clung to its lead for most of the second half, even building its lead back to seven, 57-50 off a pair of free throws by Justin Taylor. However, North Carolina Central kept pressing and cut the Catamount lead to one three times before tying the game at 63 off a lay-up by Tiffany Gary.

Senior guard Hana Haden hit Western Carolina's 10th three-pointer in the game, with 2:05 remaining, to give WCU a 66-63 advantage. A jumper by Kyra Conerly and a 1-of-2 free throws by Davis tied the game at 66 with 1:07 remaining.

Davis struck again when she connected on a lay-up with 55 seconds left, giving North Carolina Central its first lead of the game, 68-66. The Eagles would not cough up the lead again. The Eagles outscored Western Carolina 5-3, in the final 30 seconds, to cling to the lead and the win. North Carolina Central was 4-for-4 from the free throw line, in the final 14 seconds, to keep WCU at bay.

Junior guard Justin Taylor hit a three-pointer, with three seconds left to slice the North Carolina lead to 71-69 but two made free throws by Gary kept the game out of reach for Western Carolina. Three Western Carolina players scored in double figures paced by Wakama with 21. Taylor added a season-high 17 and Haden had 11. Rebounds were even, at 35, with Western Carolina holding North Carolina Central to nine offensive boards. The Catamounts shot 43.9 percent from the field and the Eagles 46.

North Carolina Central got 30 of its points inside the paint. Western Carolina will take nine days off before returning to action on Dec. 28 at the Miami Holiday Tournament in Coral Gables, Fla. The Catamounts are scheduled to play New Mexico at 3 p.m. in the second game of the two-day tournament. Western Carolina will face either host Miami or Morgan State on Dec. 29.
Box Score

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Players, coaches laud Dawson Odums’ return to Southern

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Just a few days after securing its first conference title in 10 years, the Southern football program secured its leader for the foreseeable future Thursday by agreeing to a three-year contract extension with coach Dawson Odums.

Odums had received interest from his alma mater, North Carolina Central. But, with a hefty raise coming his way, Odums decided to remain with the Jaguars after, in his first full season, he led them to a 9-4 record and a 34-27 double-overtime win over Jackson State in the SWAC title game.



The news of Odums’ decision came as a positive for the coaching staff, current players, incoming recruits and Athletic Director William Broussard.

Broussard said that not only would Southern benefit from retaining the North Carolina native, but Odums likewise would benefit from staying on The Bluff.

“That is only one tie,” Broussard said of Odums’ connections to North Carolina Central. “There’s more to be considered than the tie to your alma mater. Coach Odums has short-term and long-term aspirations as a football coach. I offered to him that he could achieve those with a better degree of reliability being the head coach of Southern.”

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Southern Jaguars AD says next goal is to keep Odums’ staff

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern Athletic Director William Broussard knew another university was going to show interest in football coach Dawson Odums.

He knew it before Odums’ alma mater, North Carolina Central, called him at the beginning of the month to get permission to interview Odums.

He knew it before Southern defeated Jackson State 34-27 in double overtime to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship Dec. 7 in Houston.

So when Odums and his staff finished hosting recruits last weekend, Broussard was ready with a contract offer that he presented Tuesday to Odums’ agent, Burton Rocks.

Two days of negotiating ended Thursday morning when the coach agreed to a three-year extension to the one year remaining on his contract. His base salary increases 25 percent to $175,000 a year.

Odums’ $140,000 base salary this season was boosted by $52,500 in incentives that he earned.
Broussard said the total incentive package shrinks from just under $60,000 to just under $50,000 as a trade-off for the increased base salary.

The agreement is subject to the approval of ...

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SWEET HOMECOMING: Savannah native Rion Brown scores 13 as Miami tops SSU 68-51

SAVANNAH, Georgia  -- A small sea of green found its way onto campus at Savannah State University on Thursday night. A favorite son, Rion Brown, had come home.

“It was a great thing they did for me,” said Brown, a Savannah native and former Liberty County High School star, who returned to his neighborhood and scored 13 points while helping the Miami Hurricanes to a 68-51 victory over Savannah State.

Miami coach Jim Larranaga said the game was scheduled in Savannah as a tribute to Brown, who has meant so much to the program.

The 6-foot-6 shooting guard was the featured attraction Thursday night, along with a rare opportunity to see a big-time program like Miami, and a crowd of 3,370 took advantage.

Brown made 5 of 11 shots from the field, 1 of 5 3-pointers and had five assists and two steals.

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SSU women defeat Charleston Southern 72-63

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Savannah State women’s basketball team went wire to wire in downing host Charleston Southern 72-63 on Thursday night.

Ezinne Kalu poured in 19 points and a team-high five assists for the Tigers (5-5), while teammate Tiyonda Davis had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

CSU (3-6) got a game-high 25 points from Tatum Jarvis, who also had a team-high nine boards.

The Tigers had a 41-32 advantage at halftime a
nd maintained the nine-point margin in the second half when each squad scored 31 points. SSU had more points in the paint (30-14), off turnovers (25-21) and on fast breaks (8-4).

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Seattle U Men’s Basketball Pulls Off Comeback Win Over NSU

KENT, Washington  -- The Seattle University men’s basketball team once again showed its fight and resilience, coming back from a double-digit deficit to defeat Norfolk State, 70-67, Thursday night in the third annual ShoWare College Classic at the ShoWare Center.

Down 56-45 with 10:52 left in the second half, the Redhawks scored seven unanswered points over the next three minutes to pull to within four at 56-52. Norfolk State held off Seattle U’s comeback attempt over the next four minutes, trading baskets with the Redhawks and opening a seven-point advantage at 67-60 with 3:19 remaining on a layup by Anell Alexis, the last points the Spartans would score.

Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) hit a free throw, and after the Redhawks forced a turnover, Clarence Trent (Tacoma, Wash.) hit his third three-pointer of the night to close the deficit to four at 67-63. The Spartans missed two shots and committed another turnover, and Umipig nailed a three-pointer to pull Seattle U to within one at 67-66 with 1:13 left in regulation.

Trent pulled down the rebound off a Spartan missed three-pointer and, after a timeout, D’Vonne Pickett Jr. (Seattle, Wash.) drove the lane and hit a layup to give the Redhawks their first lead since the score was 13-12 five-and-a-half minutes into the first half.

Norfolk State missed a shot on the ensuing possession, but was able to pull down the offensive rebound for a second chance. Deshaun Sunderhaus (Conyers, Ga.) blocked a shot attempt by Malcolm Hawkins, and Umipig made two free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining on the clock to complete the comeback and extend Seattle U’s winning streak to five games.

“It took a lot of guts and a lot of scrapping tonight. We tried to contain them in the first half, but they had a good rhythm. In the second half, we turned the pressure up on them and created some turnovers. On offense, we resisted the urge to go too fast and really played sound basketball. Once we got into the bonus, we continually attacked the basket and saw success,” Seattle U head coach Cameron Dollar said.

Sunderhaus and Umipig each finished with 18 points, with Sunderhaus shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line to go along with a team-high five rebounds. Trent contributed 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and as a team, the Redhawks shot 44 percent (22-of-50) from the field and 77.8 percent (21-of-27) from the free throw line.
For Norfolk State, Hawkins led all players with 22 points, with Alexis collecting 11 points and Brandon Goode contributing 10 points. After shooting 51.5 percent from the field (17-of-33) and committing only three turnovers in the first half, the Spartans fell victim to Seattle U’s pressure defense, hitting only 38.1 percent (8-of-21) of their second half field goal attempts and turning the ball over 13 times after halftime, leading to 21 Redhawk points in the second half.

Box Score: Seattle U 70, Norfolk State 67

Game Notes - Norfolk State (Dec. 19, 2013)

Seattle U scored the first three points of the game on a jumper by Jack Crook (Manchester, England) and a free throw by Umipig, but Norfolk State answered with six straight points. Back-to-back three-pointers from Trent put the Redhawks ahead, 11-10, but Pendarvis Williams hit two free throws as the Spartans retook the lead five minutes into the game, 12-11.

Norfolk State (8-4) went on a 13-3 run to pull out to a 28-18 lead, starting with a three-pointer by Zieyik Estime and featuring two three-pointers and a layup by Hawkins. Three-pointers by Trent and Umipig pulled the Redhawks to within six, but the Spartans extended their lead back to 13 thanks to consecutive layups by Alexis and a three-pointer by Williams. Norfolk State went into the locker room at halftime on top, 41-30.

In the second half, after four made free throws by Hawkins increased the Spartan lead to 12, the Redhawks cut the lead in half thanks in part to four points from Sunderhaus. Back-to-back layups by Marese Phelps gave the Spartans another 12-point lead at 51-39, and the two teams would trade baskets for the next five minutes.

Seattle University (8-3) heads to Omaha, Neb., for a contest against the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks Sunday, Dec. 22, starting at 4 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Pacific time). Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. will broadcast the game live on 770 AM KTTH The Truth, starting with the pregame show shortly before tipoff.

NSU will face Virginia for the second time in less than a year when the Spartans head up to Charlottesville for a 7 p.m. contest on Monday.

COURTESY SEATTLE UNIVERSITY ATLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

JSU Men’s Basketball gets first home win, beats ULL 73-70

JACKSON, Mississippi -- With 1.6 seconds left on the scoreboard senior guard Julysses Nobles hit the game-winning three-pointer to give the Jackson State men’s basketball team its first home victory of the 2013-14 season, as the Tigers beat Louisiana Lafayette 73-70 Thursday night at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.

On ULL’s ensuing posses, with 1.6 seconds left on the game clock, Nobles picked off the in-bound pass to preserve JSU’s win. With the win the Tigers improve to a 4-7 record and ULL falls to 8-4.

Nobles led JSU with a 14 point; seven-rebound and six assist effort. BJ West, who recorded his sixth double-double of the season, recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds. West was 4-8 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line. He also finished with a game high four blocked shots. Javeres Brent added 11 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and Derell Taylor chipped in 10 points and five rebounds. Marcus Love scored nine points, going 5-8 from the free throw line

Elfrid Payton led ULL with 22 points.

JSU scored 48 points in the paint and held ULL to 24. The Tigers also had 22 points off the bench and ULL hand nine.

With 11:28 left in the game, ULL held a 47-49 advantage. By the 8:21 mark the Tigers regained the lead (51-50) and never relinquished it until ULL tied the game at 70-70 with nine seconds left in regulation.

For the game, JSU shot 45.9% from the field (28-61), 25% in three-pointers (2-8) and 75% from the line (15-20). ULL made 37.9% of its field goals attempts (22-58), 34.6% of its threes 99-260 and 63% of its free throws (17-27).

The Tigers shot a scorching 55.2% from the floor (16-29) in the first half. JSU led 39-33 at halftime.

JSU returns to action Dec. 28 when the Tigers travel to Memphis, Tennessee to face the University of Memphis. Tip-off is set for noon. The game will be JSU’s final non-conference game of the regular season.

    ULL at J-State Box Score





COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

USF edges FAMU in fourth straight nail-biter, 73-70

TAMPA, Florida  -- If USF keeps prevailing like this, coach Stan Heath won't just need a bracketologist. He'll need a cardiologist.

Depending on one's perspective, the Bulls (8-2) either played down to their opposition or up to their propensity for high drama, or both, Thursday against Florida A&M. Either way, their 73-70 victory was their fourth in a row by one possession. That hasn't happened for this program since 1979.

Only the latest escape left Heath far more flummoxed and, at times, furious than inspired.

"I wish I could explain our team, but I can't," said Heath, whose squad boards a plane this morning for Las Vegas, where it faces Mississippi State on Sunday in the third round of the Las Vegas Classic. "Florida A&M outhustled us, outworked us, outscrapped us. It hurts me to my heart to say that, but we slipped out with the win."

Two nights after needing double overtime and a waved-off buzzer-beater to defeat Florida Gulf Coast 68-66, and before that Alabama 66-64 and George Mason 68-66, the Bulls got a baseline 3-pointer from Corey Allen (career-high 22 points) with 37 seconds to play to put them ahead 72-70.



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Jerry Mack named NC Central's new football coach

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- N.C. Central’s new head football coach will be Jerry Mack, wide receivers coach at South Alabama, university officials announced Thursday.

“His energy during his interviews and how he articulated his vision, not just academics but everything,” Athletic Director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said. “His presence and how he’s been prepared professionally, that’s what you want for our young men and women. That type of knowledge.”

Mack, 33, who has no head coaching experience, will have the challenge of rebuilding a program after the firing of Henry Frazier III. He has also been an assistant at four other D-I programs: Jackson State, Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Memphis, dating back to 2006. Mack was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2010, where the offense ranked in the top 30 in the country at the Football Championship Subdivision level.

He spent two years at South Alabama, helping three individuals finish among the top five on the school’s season record lists for receptions and receiving yards.

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Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/19/3473065/south-alabama-mack-expected-to.html#storylink=cpy

Alcorn State president resigns amid investigation

M. Christopher Brown II

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II has resigned amid an investigation into university purchasing practices.

The resignation was announced Thursday by Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds.

Bounds said a continuing investigation into purchasing practices has already led to the resignation of two other Alcorn employees. They include special assistant for university initiatives Jeremy Mason and former Chief Financial Officer Betty Roberts.

Bounds said the College Board has turned over its findings to state Auditor Stacey Pickering and the state Ethics Commission. That's an indication that civil or criminal penalties could be pending against those involved.

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Message from Dr. Hank M. Bounds, Commissioner of Higher Education

Lorman, Miss. (December 19, 2013) - Good afternoon. While change is not always easy, we all understand that it is part of life. Alcorn State University is a strong institution that has weathered many changes during its history and has always held firm to its mission of teaching, research and service. The close of this semester brings change to the university, but I have no doubts that the university will continue serving its students and community with the commitment and dedication that is such a part of the fabric of Alcorn State University.

Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II stepped down today. The Board of Trustees and I appreciate his service to the university.

Dr. Norris Edney, former Interim President for Alcorn State University, will serve as Acting President, effective immediately. I appreciate his willingness to serve in this important role.

Board President Bob Owens will appoint a search committee and begin the search process in the very near future.

Alcorn State University does an excellent job of serving our state, particularly the residents of Southwest Mississippi. You have an important mission and play a vital role in our university system. I want to assure the faculty, staff, students and alumni that the Board is committed to moving quickly to begin the search process for the next President of Alcorn State University.

Thank you for your commitment to Alcorn State University and helping to write the next chapter in the institution’s history.

Alcorn State University is a premier comprehensive land-grant university that develops diverse students into globally competitive leaders, and applies scientific research through collaborative partnerships that benefit the surrounding communities, state, nation, and world.

ON TV TONIGHT: Miami Hurricanes at Savannah State Tigers - 7PM ET

Dec. 19, 2013 | 7 p.m.
Savannah, Ga. | Tiger Arena

TV:  CSS  |  CSN California | CSN Mid-Atlantic | TCN Philly

Radio: 640 WMEN | Sirius 85 | XM 85
Web: http://wftlsports.com

Miami 5-5

Game Notes | Stats | Record Book | Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results

The GameMiami hits the road to face Savannah State in Georgia on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.

The Series
Miami is 3-0 in the all-time series against Savannah State, which dates back to the 1988-1989 season. The Canes are 3-0 against the Tigers at home. Miami was won three straight matchups against Savannah State, defeating the Tigers, 107-98, on March 2, 1989; on Nov. 30, 2002 they defeated Savannah State 91-57, and most recently downed the Tigers 105-65 on Jan. 3, 2004, all in Coral Gables.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on CSS with Mike Morgan and Bobby Cremins making the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki.

The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 524-359 overall record in his 30th season as a head coach. He is 54-25 in his third season at the University of Miami.

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables - 78/72. Savannah, Ga.- 70/53.

Up Next
Miami returns to the BankUnited Center for a pair of non-conference matchups against La Salle on Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. and Loyola at 7 p.m. on Dec. 30.

Rion Brown Returns to Georgia
Senior guard Rion Brown returns to his home state of Georgia when the Canes play Savannah State. Brown grew up in Hinesville and played for Liberty County. His father, Tico, played at Georgia Tech and in the CBA, primarily for the Savannah Spirits.

Miami in National Stats
The Canes are ranked No. 47 nationally in turnovers per game, with just 10.7 per game. Miami has had less turnovers than its opponent in six games, and is forcing opponents into 11.6 turnovers per game.

Round Two with Savannah State
This fall the then-ranked No. 16/17 Miami football team defeated Savannah State 77-7 on Sept. 21, 2013.

COURTESY Hurricanesports.com Release

SU unveils logo to commemorate 2013 SWAC title

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The significance of claiming the program's first SWAC championship since 2003 will now be forever immortalized for Southern football fans who witnessed the Jaguars crowning achievement inside Reliant Stadium.

Southern University athletics and Harley Creative have partnered to create the school's 2013 SWAC Champions logo which commemorates the Jaguars 34-27 double overtime win over Jackson State to claim the league's title in Houston Dec. 7. The Jaguars, which finished 9-4, 7-2 in SWAC play, recorded the program's first winning season in three seasons.

The mark, which features the Eddie Robinson trophy and the interlocking "SU" logo in a columbia blue and gold palette, was developed by Harley Creative, a Smyrna, Ga. based graphic design company which has created similar national championship artwork for the University of Alabama (2011) and Auburn (2010).

Harley Creative also has an extensive working relationship with the Southwestern Athletic Conference dating back to 2008, providing several championship logos including the 2013 SWAC Football Championship and Battle of the Bands and the 2014 SWAC Basketball Tournament.

"I’ve been working with the SWAC on their championship marks for quite a number of years, so it was a real thrill to get the call to work with one of their institutions,” said T.J. Harley, owner of Harley Creative.

Championship merchandise with the new logo are available for purchase online at GoJagsGear.com at a 10 percent discount for fans for a limited time. Retailers interested in selling the gear with the official championship logo must be licensed CLC vendors in order to acquire the mark.

Harley Creative  

SU 2013 SWAC Football Championship Merchandise

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU basketball continues road stretch at USF today

TAMPA, Florida  -- There’s no championship on the line and even with the odds against FAMU for its men’s basketball game tonight against South Florida, the Rattlers’ fans are planning to make their team feel at home in the Sundome.

For more than a week, FAMU alum Michael Reid has been encouraging FAMU fans in Tampa and surrounding area to show up in support of the Rattlers. His appeal comes at a time when the Rattlers are in the midst of a four-game road trip that began Tuesday in Mississippi and will end Dec. 24 after a tournament in Las Vegas.

Having a larger-than-usual crowd of supporters on the road couldn’t come at a better time, said coach Clemon Johnson. The Rattlers (2-7) were headed to Tampa on Wednesday morning after playing in Starkville, Miss., where they lost 78-65 to Mississippi State.

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Southern University signs football coach Dawson Odums to a three-year extension

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern University and football coach Dawson Odums have agreed in principle to a multi-year contract extension that will keep the 2013 SWAC Coach of the Year in Baton Rouge through 2017, the school announced Thursday.

Terms of the extension included a three-year extension in addition to the one-year remaining on his contract, at a base salary of $175,000.

Athletics Director Dr. William Broussard is expected to present the contract for final approval at the SU Board of Supervisors meeting in early January 2014.

"I'm pleased to extend this offer to Coach Odums as a commitment to continued student-athlete success at Southern," said Broussard. "We look forward to continuing to win and win the right way with him at the helm of the program."

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