Stillman axes athletic events

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Stillman College plans to cancel many non-conference athletic events and play only Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests, the school announced on its website Thursday.

“Like most private institutions around the country, Stillman Athletics acknowledges the financial challenges facing the college at this time and has embarked upon cost-saving measures,” a message on the Stillmanathletics.com website said. “These measures included the cancellation of non-conference events and do not jeopardize the postseason eligibility of the Tigers and Lady Tigers.”

Neither Stillman President Peter Millet nor Cassandra Moorer, the school's interim athletics director, were available for comment. Moorer was named interim athletics director last August.

Stillman's 2015 football schedule has not been released, but no games are expected to be canceled. .

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Behind Texas Southern, a Lowly Conference Rides High

PORTLAND, Oregon — Among the few constants in college basketball is the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s position at the bottom. The conference, consisting of historically black colleges, is perennially the lowest-rated league in the country. Of the 351 teams ranked in the Basketball Power Index, only one SWAC team is higher than No. 261.

That is Texas Southern, seeded 15th in the West Region and matched against No. 2 Arizona on Thursday. And while it is unlikely that the Tigers (B.P.I.: 210) will become the first SWAC team since 1993 to win a round-of-64 game in the N.C.A.A. tournament, they have the attention of big-name programs.

Coach Mike Davis coached at Indiana for six seasons, leading the Hoosiers to the 2002 championship game. This season, Davis’s third with the Tigers, Texas Southern beat Michigan State and Kansas State on the road, part of an intentionally brutal nonconference schedule intended to make up for the anchor effect of playing in the SWAC.

“My vision for the program is to one day get it to the level of an at-large bid,” Davis said Wednesday.

The nonconference schedule included games at Indiana, Tennessee, Southern Methodist, Baylor, Florida, Gonzaga and Auburn. That helps the strength-of-schedule component of the rankings, of course. But the goal is winning.

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Timing is everything: Senior guard Ezinne Kalu has led Savannah State to the NCAA tournament

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- It was a timely announcement that paid off multiple times for Savannah State.

Ezinne Kalu learned she had the same birthday as former Tigers football star Shannon Sharpe when she came on a recruiting visit.

It was the same day SSU announced it would retire Sharpe’s No. 2 jersey later in the season.

“Coach, you’re going to do the same thing for me?” Kalu asked Tigers women’s coach Cedric Baker.

“You’re coming?” Baker asked.

“Coach, I’m coming,” Kalu said.

Baker remembers the conversation clearly. Mark the date — June 26 — the day the SSU women’s basketball program took a leap toward competitiveness. With Kalu in the lineup, the Tigers are 70-61. But without Kalu during Baker’s 11-year tenure, SSU has gone 56-138.

Before Kalu, the Tigers experienced 11 straight losing seasons. Now with Kalu leading the way, the women’s program finds itself mentioned with the nation’s elite. The Tigers will play top-seeded South Carolina at 5 p.m. on Friday in Columbia in the first round of the women’s NCAA tournament.

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NCCU raises its Tobacco Road profile

"I hope we proved to America that we’re not an HBCU, we’re a Division I basketball team.”

MIAMI, Florida — In its physical form, Tobacco Road is a 100-mile stretch that spans the distance between North Carolina, Duke, N.C. State and Wake Forest.

It’s a familiar landmark for the college basketball community, representing some of the biggest blue bloods of the sport and the incredible level of competition between the programs.

But after another year of North Carolina Central’s unprecedented success under coach LeVelle Moton, there’s another program fighting to erect a permanent mile-marker of its own along the historic trail.

If the program’s first perfect conference record wasn’t enough to earn respect and attention, surely Tuesday night’s performance in a 75-71 loss Miami in the first round of the NIT should certainly start some conversation about the Eagles.



“The truth of the matter is, no one expected them to do what they do or did what they did,” Moton said. “No one expected that team to go 16-0. You’re looking at a team that’s playing without their best post player, without their back up point guard, out with a broken foot.

“We just had to find a way. It’s tough for them to receive the proper respect. There was so much being said about Central not being deserving of an NCAA bid and there were flukes. It’s unfortunate that we can spend five or six months working to establish a body of work and no one cares except for one day in the tournament. Where else do they do that? "

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Hampton not counting on Jesus' help vs. UK

LEXINGTON, Kentucky -- Jesus never called Edward Joyner back, but Hampton University's basketball coach doesn't think it'll take divine intervention to knock off overall No. 1 seed Kentucky in Thursday night's round of 64 NCAA tournament game at the KFC Yum! Center.

Joyner had 297 text messages awaiting him after the Pirates, a No. 16 seed one game below .500, upset Manhattan in a play-in game Tuesday in Dayton. Some texts had to do with what's ahead – a date with 34-0 UK – but the coach's quote on the Wildcats caught on more.

"Hold on, I told y'all I had Jesus on speed dial," Joyner said, pretending to make a phone call. "Hey, Jesus. First of all, you can't play, so I am not worried about you being hot. OK? Fine. They want to know how much of a mountain and what are our odds. Hello? Hello? I guess he'll get back to me."

Joyner said Wednesday inside the Yum! Center that Jesus finally responded, but only via email. Hey, that's progress. And some words from above left him hopeful even as a 31-point underdog.



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Ram Ramblings: Blount could wind up back in the CIAA

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- It’s getting down to the wire as to who the next football coach will be at Johnson C. Smith but Kermit Blount, the all-time leader in wins at WSSU, is still a candidate.

Blount appears to be among the final two for the job along with Adrian Jones, an assistant coach at N.C. Central. As somebody who has covered the CIAA and WSSU for 19 years you hear things - even if you aren’t looking to hear things. I’ve got it on good authority that Blount and Jones are the finalists.

It’s already been decided that J.C. Smith will not have spring football so whoever the new coach is will have his work cut out for them this fall.

I have no idea what might happen as to who J.C. Smith will select but knowing Blount for a long time I can say it wouldn’t be a bad place for him to wind up. I covered Blount for all but three of his 16 seasons at WSSU and if there’s one thing I learned is he is old school when it comes to discipline.

He graduated a lot of players, and didn’t cut corners when it came to running his program.

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Hampton U. women refocused for WNIT opportunity

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- When Hampton University women's basketball coach David Six addressed his players earlier this week in preparation for the Women's NIT, he invoked one of the Pirates' men's players.

Not leading scorer and rebounder Dwight Meikle. Not MEAC tournament MVP Deron Powers or kinetic wing Quinton Chievous. He brought up senior forward Emmanuel Okoroba.

"I thought Emmanuel Okoroba played a great championship game," Six said. "I told them he played like it was his last game, and we have to do the same thing, because it could be our last game."

Indeed, Okoroba was a key contributor in the Pirates' run to the MEAC title. Despite seeing his playing time reduced through the course of the season, he was critical in the semifinals and final. He played double-figure minutes versus both Norfolk State and Delaware State, in Meikle's absence, and totaled 14 points and six rebounds, and provided a defensive presence around the basket.

Six said that he and the players moved on from last week's disappointing MEAC tournament quarterfinal loss to Maryland Eastern Shore. Thursday's NIT game at Drexel (7 p.m.), and the entire tournament, are chances to extend their season.

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Florida A&M Rattlers adjusting to new coaching staff, practice schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Akil Blount has plenty to get used to in his final year with Florida A&M’s football team.

The senior linebacker took the practice field for the first time Wednesday morning almost 12 hours before last year’s afternoon practice time. FAMU’s new coaching regime has brought some changes, and the first is the team’s new 5:30 a.m. practice time.

Blount, along with the rest of the Rattlers’ spring roster, took to the field with enthusiasm, despite the sun not shining until the very end of practice — around 8 a.m.

“I feel like that sets us apart from a lot of other teams in the country,” Blount said. “Not too many other teams are up at 4:30 a.m. That’s what’s going to set us apart.”

First-year head coach Alex Wood said he felt good after watching his team in action.

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UMES Hawks fall in CIT Opening Round at High Point, 70-64

HIGH POINT, North Carolina -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team finished its incredible campaign with a first round loss in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, 70-64 against the High Point Panthers. UMES (18-15, 11-5) ended its season with the loss, but the year culminated in a winning record and a postseason bid for the first time in three decades.

With an invite to the CIT, UMES earned a postseason berth for the first time since the 1980-81 season. Previous Hawks teams had competed in NAIA postseasons with only the 1973-74 team competing in an NCAA postseason in that year's NIT. In search of their first postseason victory in 34 years, UMES traveled to the Tar Heel State to take on the Big South's regular season co-champion.

In the opening minutes, it looked like the Hawks might run the 22-win High Point Panthers out of their own gym. UMES did not allow a point in the first five minutes, leaping out to a 9-0 lead. After a three-pointer by Iman Johnson, his first attempt and make of the season, UMES led 24-9 with eleven minutes to go in the first period. The 15-point lead began to dissipate as the Panthers' offense rounded into form. High Point closed the first half on a 13-2 run to tighten the gap to a one-point Hawks' lead at 32-31.

After halftime, the Hawks finally relinquished the lead with High Point's charge continuing. With 12:46 remaining, John Brown, the Panthers' leading scorer, tied the game at 40 with an emphatic dunk. Devante Wallace followed with a jumper to give High Point its first lead of the night, 42-40 with 12:07 left. Despite the momentum swinging the opposite way, UMES hung tough to keep the game tied at 45 until the under-8 media timeout. From there, High Point rattled off a crucial 11-1 run to open up a double-digit lead. UMES missed free throws down the stretch, an Achilles' heel at times throughout the season. Battling to the final whistle, the Hawks pulled with two possessions in the final 30 seconds, but it wasn't enough.

Both Mike Myers and Devin Martin finished with 13 points to lead UMES. Ishaq Pitt closed his Hawks' career with 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Brown for High Point, a First Team All-Big South selection each of the last three years, racked up 23 points including 11-of-12 free throws. Wallace made 3-of-5 three-pointers on his way to a 19-point performance.

While the teams' overall shooting percentages roughly matched up, the difference came at the foul line. High Point made 26-of-32 foul shots (81.3%), including the impressive mark from Brown. UMES, meanwhile, made just 8-of-17 (47.1%) from the charity stripe. The Hawks also committed 18 turnovers compared to just a dozen for High Point. While UMES held the rebounding advantage, it was not enough to overcome the deficits in other facets of the game.

The Hawks conclude their year with an 18-15 overall record, the most wins by a UMES men's basketball team in 41 years. Though a first round exit in the CIT, the Hawks still managed to earn a postseason berth for the first time since 1981. The winning mark is the first above .500 record for a UMES team since the 1993-94 season, while the third-place finish in the MEAC is the best since that same year. The incredible turnaround year also saw widespread recognition of the accomplishments in Princess Anne with Bobby Collins winning MEAC Coach of the Year, as well as freshman Ryan Andino winning MEAC Rookie of the Year. Myers remains in the running for National Mid-Major Player of the Year for both CollegeInsider.com and CollegeCourtReport.com.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

DSU falls to Radford in CBI opener

DOVER, Delaware -- Wednesday night Delaware State made history by hosting the program's first postseason game.

Unfortunately, it was a performance the Hornets would love to forget. Radford defeated the DSU 78-57 in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational at Memorial Hall.

The Hornets were without three starters as leading scorer Amere May was dinged up and wearing street clothes. Kendal Williams was in a walking boot, and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Defensive Player of the Year Kendall Gray dressed, but did not play due to an illness.

"I hate that we came to postseason play bitten by the injury bug, but those are things you have to deal with," said DSU coach Keith Walker. "You have to persevere and continue to move on."

"Kendal Williams had an ankle injury during the last game of the (MEAC) tournament. Amere May tore his calf muscle, and Kendall Gray was sick."

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Hampton basketball: A collect call to Jesus before playing Kentucky

DAYTON, Ohio -- Ed Joyner had Jesus on speed dial after Hampton knocked off Manhattan in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Tuesday night. The messiah answered, but once the Pirates’ head coach asked about his team’s chances of knocking off their next opponent, undefeated Kentucky, Jesus hung up on him.

At least, that’s the story Joyner told in the post game press conference.

It comes with Hampton basketball’s new standing in the hoops world: Straight underdog status, the term guard Reggie Johnson used to describe his team’s upcoming game against Kentucky.

After defeating Manhattan 74-64, the Pirates will now try and pull off one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history and hand the No. 1 seed Wildcats their first loss of the season.



“We got nothing to lose,” Joyner said. “We’re gonna’ go out and play, try to execute our game plan and try to win the game.”

Against the offensive juggernaut that head coach John Calipari has assembled down in Lexington, Joyner may need Jesus on his side to simply have a prayer against the Wildcats.

Led by future lottery picks Will Cauley-Stein (7’) and Karl Anthony-Town (6’11”), the Wildcats went 34-0 in the regular season, winning all 18 games in conference play before taking home the conference tournament title.

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Texas Southern looks to muster 'phenomenal will' against Arizona

PORTLAND, Oregon -- The Texas Southern men's basketball team was midway through another lengthy road trip. Four days removed from a 40-point shellacking at No. 8 Gonzaga, the Tigers stared down No. 25 Michigan State at a raucous Breslin Center.

Mike Davis knew his group needed a spark. So the head coach enlisted the help of Eric Thomas, a motivational speaker based in East Lansing. Thomas told Texas Southern about dropping out of high school and struggling with homelessness. Then he detailed his master's degree from Michigan State and his dinner with Warren Buffett.

"If you have average skills," Thomas said, "you have to have a phenomenal will."

The Tigers' season shifted in those 12 words. Within eight days, they had stunned the Spartans and Kansas State. They won the Southwestern Athletic Conference's regular-season and tournament crowns.

On Thursday, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Moda Center, No. 15 seed Texas Southern will face its toughest test yet: a No. 2-seed Arizona stockpiled with NBA talent. Davis harbors no delusions about the matchup. He said it's an opportunity to cherish, one whose significance extends far beyond a win or loss.



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TSU women learn post-brawl lessons, receive WNIT assignment

COACH JOHNETTA HAYES-PERRY
Courtesy: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

HOUSTON, Texas -- Last Tuesday, Johnetta Hayes-Perry walked out to center court in a black dress and held a funeral.

It was a much different mood Monday night, when the Texas Southern women's basketball coach learned the Tigers' assignment in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, which they will play in for the second time in her two years at the helm.


TSU (19-10) will travel to Southern Mississippi (22-10) on Thursday for its first game since a March 7 matchup with Southern ended with an embarrassing on-court brawl that resulted in 15 total suspensions and dashed NCAA Tournament dreams.

"We put things behind us," Hayes-Perry said. "We make mistakes. We learn. We grow. That's kind of been our motto."

Hence the funeral, a private ceremony during practice three days after the incident, which happened at the 12:36 mark of the second half and led to the SWAC office's ruling the game a double forfeit.

hen they saw her, TSU's players asked, "Coach, I'm so sorry. Who died?"

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Arizona Wildcats face feisty Texas Southern Tigers in second round cat fight

PORTLAND, Oregon — Arizona men’s basketball’s road to the Final Four begins Thursday morning with Texas Southern, a team without a famous name but quality wins.

On Thursday at 11:10 a.m. MST on TNT, the second seeded Wildcats (31-3) face No. 15 seed Texas Southern (22-12) in the second round of the NCAA tournament West Region in Portland, Ore.

The Tigers, who went 16-2 in the SWAC, are 118th in the RPI but beat Michigan State 71-64 on the road and won 58-56 at Kansas State. MSU (23-11) made it to the NCAA tournament as a seven seed.

“I always like to watch Michigan State play,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said at the Wednesday press conference. “So when I saw [Texas Southern’s] name came up, I guess you probably get a sick feeling in your stomach because you know anybody that can go to East Lansing and can play that well against Michigan State, a team that's very well-coached.”

Arizona is 8-3 under Miller in the NCAA tournament, with three Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights. TSU is in the Big Dance in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995 and the second time overall.

The Wildcats are 22.5 point favorites. No. 2 seeds are 113-7 against No. 15 seeds all-time, but Arizona, in 1993 to Steve Nash and Santa Clara, was one of those twos to fall.

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MEAC & SWAC to Play in Newly Created Celebration Bowl

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will meet in the newly created Celebration Bowl postseason gameon Dec. 19, 2015, pitting the conference champion from these two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, on an ESPN network.

The Celebration Bowl is committed to providing the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and their alumni, fans and sponsors a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the legacy, values and traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Events surrounding the game will include a kickoff luncheon, VIP event, community outreach and family events.

ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, also owns and operates the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, which is played annually over Labor Day weekend. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris plays a significant role in the weekend’s events, and was emcee at the announcement of the Celebration Bowl.

For additional information, please visit www.theCelebrationBowl.com or follow on twitter @CelebrationBowl.

Quotes from Key Stakeholders

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that this bowl game is a reality. It’s a testament to the collaborative spirit of both the MEAC and SWAC and their respective commissioners that the Celebration Bowl will take place. This game will give a platform to these student athletes – to showcase their talents, their bands and their traditions. The Georgia Dome is the perfect venue for the Celebration Bowl – and we hope that fans across the country will take advantage of this experience.” – Pete Derzis, Senior Vice President, ESPN Events

“As part of the conference’s continued efforts in branding and increasing its exposure on a national platform, I am elated that champions from the MEAC and the SWAC will compete in a bowl game, during the most exciting time of the year for collegiate football. Our continued partnership with ESPN will give our coaches, student-athletes and fans an opportunity to participate in an exciting bowl game, on a national stage, which will showcase their institutions and talented football programs. Adding a national television opportunity for our champion, during this time of year, only furthers our branding and marketability.” – Dennis Thomas, MEAC Commissioner

“This is a great opportunity for our schools and student-athletes to compete on a national stage and showcase the talent that exists within HBCUs. And to have it during bowl season, the most exciting time in college football, is a bonus.” – Duer Sharp, SWAC Commissioner

“We are excited to work with ESPN to begin a new tradition of celebrating the best in Historically Black College and Universities football while continuing our commitment to the countless students, parents and community members who we serve daily. Our organization has the recipe for creating the right kind of change in the African American community, and ESPN certainly has the recipe for delivering the best college football experience. Our relationship with ESPN will help us continue our longstanding tradition of uplifting the African American community.” – John Grant, Chief Executive Officer, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.

“We’re honored and excited to be involved in the inaugural Celebration Bowl which will feature the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Falcons have long been strong advocates for historically black college football with our close partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner each year. We are pleased to partner with ESPN and the Georgia Dome to provide game day services and promotional support in order to help make Atlanta the long term home for this game.” – Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons President and CEO

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

NCAA Tournament game day: No. 15 Texas Southern vs. No. 2 Arizona

No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Texas Southern

When: Thursday at 11:10 a.m.

Where: Moda Center, Portland

Coaches: Sean Miller, sixth year at Arizona (160-51 at Arizona and 280-98 overall); Mike Davis, third year at Texas Southern (58-41 at Texas Southern and 295-193 overall)

On air: Television on TNT and national radio on Westwood One

Records: Arizona (31-3, 16-2 Pac-12); Texas Southern (22-10, 16-2 SWAC)

Projected starters: Arizona: F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (10.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg), F Brandon Ashley (12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), C Kaleb Tarczewski (9.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), G TJ McConnell (9.8 ppg, 6.4 apg), F Stanley Johnson (14.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Texas Southern: C Nick Shepherd (2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), F Chris Thomas (12.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg), F Malcolm Riley (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), G Madarius Gibbs (14.1 ppg, 4.3 apg), G Deverell Biggs (11.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Line: Arizona by 23 points

Xavier's Gathright earns WBCA All-America honorable mention

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Whitney Gathright received honorable mention Tuesday on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association NAIA All-America team.

Gathright, a 5-foot-4 junior point guard from New Orleans and a graduate of John Curtis Christian School, averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game this past season. She led the Gold Nuggets in scoring, assists and steals for the second consecutive year, made 47 3-pointers and 76.9 percent of her free throws.

Gathright, who has 924 career points, was one of 48 to receive honorable mention from NAIA divisions I and II.

Xavier was 18-15 and finished second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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MEAC chooses bowl deal over FCS playoffs

Photo courtesy of: MEAC Media Relations

NORFOLK, Virginia -- A MEAC football championship no longer means getting a shot at a national title, but it does mean a unique experience for the winning team.

Beginning this fall, instead of moving into the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the MEAC champion will play the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion in the newly created Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Georgia Dome, the leagues announced Wednesday.

The conferences signed a six-year agreement to play in the bowl game, matching opponents from two HBCU schools, beginning Dec. 19. It will be broadcast on one of ESPN's outlets.

MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said the game will create additional exposure for the league and allow FCS players an experience they wouldn't otherwise have.

"It's an exciting time," Thomas said. "It gives us another platform. As you know, most FBS teams want to play in a bowl game. Even though we are FCS teams, we have an opportunity now to play in a postseason bowl game, and we think that is absolutely great."

The champion will not have the option of competing in the playoffs, but other MEAC teams with a resume good enough can accept at-large bids to the FCS postseason.

Norfolk State officials say they voted in favor of the bowl.

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Daring non-conference strategy leaves TSU unfazed by Arizona

PORTLAND, Oregon  --The Madness didn't begin in March for Texas Southern. It came in November and December.

Looking back, third-year TSU basketball coach Mike Davis admits it all seems a little crazy. Load up the non-conference schedule with name-brand schools and pray for an upset along the way.

"People thought I was out of my mind playing a tough (non-conference) schedule," Davis said Wednesday on the eve of the Tigers' NCAA Tournament opener against second-seeded Arizona at the Moda Center.

The method to Davis' madness is all part of a long-term "vision" for TSU, which is the West Regional's No. 15 seed, matching the highest in school history.

The Tigers' non-conference schedule was the toughest in the nation this season, according to ratings by KenPom.com. TSU (22-12) faced five teams that made the NCAA Tournament field: Indiana, Baylor, Gonzaga, Michigan State and New Mexico State. The Tigers also played Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Kansas State.

On Dec. 20, TSU upset Michigan State 71-64 in East Lansing, a win described as "monumental and historic" by athletic director Dr. Charles McClelland.

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Albany State releases 2015 football schedule

ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State University Golden Rams have unveiled their football schedule for the 2015 season, ASU Athletics Director Dr. Richard H. Williams and interim head coach Dan Land announced Wednesday afternoon. Highlighting the nine-game slate is a game with a familiar non-conference opponent, seven SIAC conference games, two classics, and matchups with three teams that made appearances in the 2014 NCAA Division II football playoffs.

"Albany State has generated a challenging schedule that will provide a lot of excitement during the 2015 season," said Williams. "Our Golden Rams are making great preparations, and they are ready to deliver some solid football action this season."

Land believes the competition is stiff, but he believes Albany State will benefit from the tough tasks on his team's schedule.

"To get better as a team during the course of the season, it's important to play against good programs," Land said. "All the teams on our schedule have good coaches, good players and winning attitudes. "We have a tough schedule, but we'll definitely put in the hard work this offseason and prepare for each of them."

The Golden Rams, who finished their 2014 season at 7-3 and lost to Tuskegee in the SIAC Championship, will kick off the season on September 5 in Albany, Georgia against the Valdosta State University Blazers. Valdosta State, a member of the Gulf South Conference, went 8-2 and made the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs last season. Last year, ASU lost to the VSU 38-10.

Albany State will open SIAC play and continue a rivalry when it faces the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on September 12 in the 2nd Annual White Water Classic in Phenix City, Alabama. Tuskegee, who made an appearance in the 2014 NCAA Division II Playoffs, finished last year with a 9-2 overall record and defeated the Golden Rams 47-41 in the 2014 SIAC Championship game. The Golden Tigers also beat ASU in 20-12 in last season's classic. The Tuskegee game is the first of two West Division crossover games.

Albany State returns on September 19 against the Stillman College, who finished the 2014 season at 5-6. The Tigers, a member of the SIAC West Division, last played the Golden Rams in 2010 when Albany State won 44-5.

ASU has another early season road test scheduled for September 26, as the Golden Rams travel to Cleveland, Mississippi to face the Delta State Statesmen. Gulf South member DSU, 9-1 in 2014, made the second round of the 2014 NCAA playoffs.

After an open date, the Golden Rams will visit Fairfield, Alabama to face the Miles College Golden Bears. Albany State defeated the SIAC West Division opponent 14-7 in last season's meeting in Albany. The Golden Bears finished the 2014 season with a 6-4 record.

The Golden Rams will take on four SIAC East Division opponents beginning Oct. 17. They will battle with the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College as part of the university's annual homecoming celebration. Albany State defeated Morehouse 31-14 in the 2014 contest. The Maroon Tigers were 6-4 last season.

Albany State will then journey to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Clark Atlanta University Panthers on October 24. ASU beat CAU 30-7 in route to the Panthers' 3-7 overall record.

Albany State will return to the friendly confines of Albany State University Coliseum on October 31. ASU will host the Benedict College Tigers. The Golden Rams defeated Benedict 40-14 in last year's meeting, and the Tigers finished with a 4-6 overall record.

The two biggest rivals in the SIAC, Albany State and Fort Valley State University, will close its regular seasons in the 26th Annual Fountain City Classic on November 7 at the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia. The Golden Rams defeated the Wildcats (6-4 overall last season) 32-21 in the 2014 classic game. The FCC is touted as one of the biggest and best HBCU football classics in the nation.

The winners of the SIAC East and West divisions will play for the 2015 SIAC Championship game. The site, date, and time will be determined at a later time.

For more information about the Golden Rams 2015 football schedule, contact Stan McCormick at (229) 420-7013 or stanley.mccormick@asurams.edu.

Albany State Golden Rams 2015 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Place Time
9/5 Valdosta State University Albany, GA 7 p.m.
9/12 Tuskegee University Phenix City, AL 3 p.m.~
9/19 Stillman College* Albany, GA 7 p.m.
9/26 Delta State University Cleveland, MS 2 p.m.
10/3 OPEN
10/10 Miles College* Fairfield, AL 4 p.m.~
10/17 Morehouse College* ** Albany, GA 2 p.m.
10/24 Clark Atlanta University* Atlanta, GA 2 p.m.
10/31 Benedict College* Albany, GA 2 p.m.
11/7 Fort Valley State Univ.*# Columbus, GA 2 p.m.
11/14 SIAC Championship TBA TBA

*SIAC Game
**Homecoming
#Fountain City Classic
~Central Time

Dr. Arthur N. Dunning, Interim President
Dr. Richard H. Williams, Athletics Director
Stephanie Harrison-Dyer, Assistant Athletics Director
Dan Land, Interim Head Coach
Steve Smith, Anthony Kelly, Uyl Joyner, Bokowski Daniels, Chris Henderson, Assistant Coaches
Stan McCormick, Sports Information Director
Phone: (229) 420-7013
Fax: (229) 434-7049
Email: stanley.mccormick@asurams.edu
Facebook: ASU Ram Nation
Twitter: @ASUGoldenRams
Instagram: asu_ram_nation

COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU coach Alex Wood pleased with first spring practice

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M's football team was hard at work at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday for the group's first spring practice session, and head coach Alex Wood said he felt good after watching his team in action.

"We had a chance to get players acclimated to what the expectations are in terms of our system on the field," he said. "Just stations and transitioning from one station to another, those kinds of things. We had a chance to coach them on fundamentals and the tempo of how we coach fundamentals. It was a good morning."

Wednesday practice was noticeably up-tempo, something senior linebacker Akil Blount said was good for the team. Blount led the Rattlers defense last season with 72 tackles and is one of the leaders on a team with an almost entirely-new coaching staff.

"The coaches are really high-intensity," he said. "They're moving fast with a lot of energy. It was a good first day, we just need to continue to learn and build off that."

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Gold Rush, Gold Nuggets lose at Nicholls State

THIBODAUX, Louisiana -- Sam Meessen defeated Vincenzo Ciccone 6-3, 6-0 Tuesday to clinch Nicholls State's 4-3 men's tennis victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

Nicholls State's women defeated Xavier 4-0.

Nicholls' men (3-7) rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits.

The Gold Rush (8-3) won the doubles point. Kevin Chaouat and Adam Albrecht defeated Evan Karatzas and Meessen 8-5, and Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer beat Partha Adavelly and Lukas Clemens 8-5. Montrel is 11-0 this semester in doubles, 7-0 with Soifer.

In singles, Montrel beat Adavelly 7-5, 6-1, and Karatzas retired because of injury while trailing Soifer 6-2, 5-7, 3-0.

In the women's dual, Xavier's Nour Abbes and Carmen Nelson defeated Marie Aubert and Milou Pietersz 8-6, but the Colonels (8-2) won the doubles point when Kateryna Nakonechna and Isla Brock beat Caroline Vernet and Simone-Alyse Ewell 9-8 (7-2). Ewell lost for the first time in 21 doubles decisions dating to February 2014.

Nakonechna clinched the dual when she defeated Brandi Nelson 6-4, 6-2.

Both XU teams maintained their positions in the NAIA coaches polls announced early Tuesday evening. The Gold Rush are sixth, and the Gold Nuggets are seventh. The next polls will be released March 31.

Both XU teams will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play NAIA-ranked William Carey at 3 p.m. Thursday.

The NAIA women's top 25:

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
3. Auburn Montgomery
4. Lindsey Wilson
5. Brenau
6. SCAD Savannah
7. Xavier
8. Northwood (Fla.)
9. Arizona Christian
10. Oklahoma Baptist
11. Westmont
12. Concordia (Calif.)
13. Graceland
14. Indiana Wesleyan
15. Vanguard
16. Cardinal Stritch
17. Coastal Georgia
18. Davenport
19. Lewis-Clark State
20. William Carey
21. Cumberland
22. Olivet Nazarene
23. Southeastern (Fla.)
24. Northwestern Ohio
25. Evangel

The NAIA men's top 25:

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
3. Auburn Montgomery
4. Vanguard
5. Lindsey Wilson
6. Xavier
7. Bethany (Kan.)
8. Westmont
9. Concordia (Calif.)
10. Northwestern Ohio
11. Belhaven
12. Northwood (Fla.)
13. (tie) Graceland
13. (tie) Coastal Georgia
15. San Diego Christian
16. Dalton State
17. SCAD Atlanta
18. Oklahoma Baptist
19. Lewis-Clark State
20. Campbellsville
21. William Carey
22. SCAD Savannah
23. Indiana Wesleyan
24. Olivet Nazarene
25. Aquinas


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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3 from Xavier receive GCAC's weekly player awards

Devinn Rolland

Joseph Moses III

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana received three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Athlete/Performer of the Week awards for March 9-15: Devinn Rolland in women's outdoor field, Joseph Moses III in men's outdoor track and Caroline Vernet in women's tennis.

Rolland, a senior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School in New Orleans, long-jumped 5.57 meters (18 feet, 3 1/4 inches) to finish seventh Saturday at the McNeese Cowboy Relays in Lake Charles, La. Rolland reached the B-qualifying standard for the NAIA National Championships.

Moses, a freshman from Baton Rouge, La., and a graduate of Christian Life Academy, placed sixth in the 100-meter dash at McNeese. His time of 10.65 seconds met the NAIA's national A-qualifying standard. Moses finished ahead of 27 NCAA Division I sprinters in that event.


Caroline Vernet

Vernet, a home-schooled freshman from Lyon, France, won in doubles and singles Sunday in the Gold Nuggets' 4-3 victory at NCAA DI Southern University. Vernet's 6-3, 6-1 victory against Laura Syori at the No. 1 flight improved her singles win streak to six.

Rolland extended her GCAC career record for most weekly field awards, 11. Moses won for the first time, and Vernet won for the second consecutive week and the third time overall.

Xavier's men's and women's tennis teams will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for 1:30 p.m. Thursday dual matches against William Carey. Competition will begin 90 minutes earlier than originally scheduled. All four teams are in the NAIA's top 25.

XU's men's and women's track and field teams will travel to Lafayette, La., for the Louisiana Classics meet Friday and Saturday.
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NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Caroline Vernet and Tushar Mandlekar are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Week in tennis for March 2-8. Both are two-time recipients this season.       Vernet, a home-schooled freshman from Lyon, France, won all three of her singles matches this past week and is 7-2 this semester. Sunday she defeated Auburn Montgomery's Paula Diaz, No. 21 in the ITA's NAIA rankings, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5) at the AUM Invitational in Montgomery, Ala.       Mandlekar, a sophomore from Bhilai, India, and a graduate of Deepak Nagar, went 3-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles at the AUM Invitational. He was the lone Gold Rush player to win in singles and doubles Sunday at NAIA No. 3 Auburn Montgomery. His current win streaks are eight matches in singles and, with Manav Chakma, seven matches in doubles.       Mandlekar won the GCAC award for the second consecutive week and has four in his career.       The Gold Nuggets' next dual match will start at noon Sunday at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. The XU women are 9-6 and ranked xseventh in the NAIA. Next for the Gold Rush will be a 3 p.m. Thursday dual (March 19) at 11th-ranked William Carey in Hattiesburg, Miss. The XU men are 8-2 and ranked sixth. Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAATHLETICS XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  https://twitter.com/xulagold https://www.facebook.com/

Hampton takes down Manhattan 74-64 in NCAA Tournament opening round

DAYTON, Ohio --For just the second time in school history, the Hampton University men’s basketball team won a NCAA Tournament game. The 16-seed Pirates’ remarkable run, which started with four straight MEAC Tournament wins and the tournament crown, continued with a 74-64 take down of Manhattan.

Quinton Chievous and Reginald Johnson led the Pirates with 15 points a piece, while Brian Darden added 13 points in a wire-to-wire win. Chievous, who made it to last year’s Sweet 16 as a member of Tennessee last season, also ripped down 13 rebounds.

Up next for Hampton is date with Kentucky (34-0), who’s trying to ...

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Shaw Men's Basketball Coach Contract Not Renewed

Raleigh, North Carolina – Shaw University will not renew the contract of Men's Basketball Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr., school athletic officials announced today. Hill's contract expires on June 30, 2015.

"We thank Coach Hill for his service to the men's basketball program over the past seven years," said Athletics Director Marcus Clarke. "We wish him well in his future endeavors."

Hill guided the Bears to a 13-16 record this season, including a 6-10 mark in the CIAA. He has a 116-67 career record in seven seasons as the head coach.

Prior to being named head coach at Shaw, Hill served for five years as the men's head basketball coach at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania. A search for Hill's successor will begin immediately.

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION