MSU Hosts Hampton on ESPNU Monday Night

Game Dates: Monday, February 16, 2015
Opponent: Hampton Pirates (10-14, 6-5 MEAC)
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 9:05 p.m.
Television:  ESPNU - Dr. Jerry Punch (Play by Play), Stan Lewter (Color Analyst)
Record:  MSU 7-18 (5-6 MEAC)
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman (150-134 - 9th yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com/www.hamptonpirates.com

MSU Notes | Hampton Notes | Watch Live |  Live Stats  |  Live Audio  |  Twitter Updates 


BALTIMORE, Maryland –The Morgan State men's basketball team (7-18, 5-6) will try to win its fourth straight game on Monday when it hosts Hampton (10-14, 6-5), a team the Bears lost to on December 8 at HU Convocation Center. The game marks the finale of a 4-game home stretch for the Bears. Tip-off is set for 9:05 p.m. at Hill Field House. MSU enters the contest coming off a 73-70 win against Norfolk State. The Pirates will enter the ballgame fresh off a 6-game layoff and riding back to back wins. Monday night's game will be televised live on ESPNU and available on the WatchESPN App.

IT'S OK TO BE A FOLLOWER 
MSU men's basketball fans can follow their favorite team, or any of the other MSU athletics programs on Twitter through the handle @MorganStBears.

LAST TIME OUT
Feb. 14, 2015 -- Andrew Hampton hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points -- both career highs -- andCliff Cornish hit two free throws and blocked a shot in the final seconds to help Morgan State upset Norfolk State 73-70. Hampton, a sophomore walk-on, had played just 28 minutes and scored nine points all season before hitting 6 of 7 field goals, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Cedric Blossomscored 19 and Emmanuel Matey had seven points and eight assists.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES
• The Pirates welcomed back 11 letterwinners and four starters, from a squad that posted a 18-13 overall record, and finished 2nd place with an 13-3 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
• Edward Joyner Jr. (Johnson C. Smith '95) enters his sixth season as the Pirates head men's basketball coach. He currently holds a 92-92 record as a head coach.
• Dwight Chievous leads the Pirates by averaging 12.8 ppg and a team-best 7.3 rpg. Quinton Chievous (10.8)and Reginald Johnson (10.7) are also averaging double-digits for the Pirates. Deron Powers leads the Pirates in assists by averaging 3.7 dishes per contest.

FOR THE RECORD
MSU will square off against Hampton for the 39th meeting in history between the two schools.
• The Pirates lead the series 24-14.
• Deron Powers had 17 points, Quinton Chievous scored 13 and Hampton held on to beat Morgan State 62-58 on Dec. 8, 2014.
• The last win against the Pirates was on Feb. 4, 2014 when the Bears held on for a 94-92 double-overtime win in an ESPNU nationally televised game at Hill Field House.

MORGAN STATE TABBED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
Morgan State was picked to finish third in the 2014-15 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball preseason poll behind defending regular season champion North Carolina Central.

BLAKE BOZEMAN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior guard Blake Bozeman was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Third Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.

BOZEMAN IN THE MEAC FACTS
Morgan State has made six MEAC Tournament Championship appearances in eight seasons under head coach Todd Bozeman.
• The Bears have won a pair of MEAC Tournaments titles (2009 & 2010).
• Bozeman has led the Bears to 17 of the school's 32 MEAC Tournament wins.
• He was the 2009 and 2010 Outstanding Coach of the MEAC Tournament.
• Morgan State has advanced to the MEAC Semifinals seven times in the last eight seasons under Bozeman.

COMFORTABLE AT HILL FIELD HOUSE
Todd Bozeman has won at least 10 home games in three of his eight seasons in Baltimore. The 2007-08 (12-1) and 2009-10 (11-1) squads finished with just a single loss, while the 2010-11 squad went 10-2. Bozeman has led the Bears to a 71-28 (.717) overall home record at Hill Field House. The Bears are 5-3 at home so far this season.

ROAD UNKIND
The Bears finished 5-9 in true road contests and 3-3 on neutral floors in 2013-14 and posted a 5-3 road conference ledger.
• This season's schedule will send MSU on the road for 20 games, including a trip to Cancun, Mexico.
• The Bears captured its first road win of the season with a 73-69 win at Delaware State (Jan. 10), MSU is 1-13 on the road.

FRESH FACES
Morgan State's roster includes eight (8) newcomers in graduate students Jordan Omogbehin (C) andZech Smith (C), redshirt sophomore Cliff Cornish (F), and freshmen Jamar Redmond (G), Conrad Chambers (G), Clive 'C.J.' Vaughan Jr. (G), Jeremiah Curtis (F) and Anthony 'A.J.' Vernon (F).

BEWARE THE BEAR
Under the direction of Todd Bozeman, Morgan State has collected a couple of memorable wins against big-time opponents. The Bears have recorded historic wins against: Long Island (2009); Manhattan (2009); Arkansas (2009); DePaul (2008); and Maryland (2009).

 COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Race is factor in South Carolina State ‘mess’

Phil Noble
Businessman
Co-founder, Envision South Carolina

By Phil Noble

CHARLESTON, South Carolina --Let’s begin with the obvious: South Carolina State University is a mess. No, it’s way beyond a mess; it is on life support and its very existence is in grave danger.

But it can be fixed and, in fact, the solution is fairly straightforward. It’s not rocket science; if GM can go from the brink of extinction to making a profit in less than 24 months, then S.C. State’s problems can be solved.

The barriers to these solutions are politics, race, intransigence, corruption and political dysfunction — sort of a microcosm of the problems that are afflicting our state today and have been for generations.

This is not the place to recount all the problems of S.C. State; that would take a book. Suffice it to say, the finances have been incompetently — if not criminally — mismanaged for years. Corrupt politicians have tried to use S.C. State as their own profit center, triggering some, though not nearly enough, jail terms for a number of school officials. It is hemorrhaging students, with a 40 percent drop in enrollment since 2007.

CONTINUE READING

Phil Noble is a businessman in Charleston and serves as president of the SC New Democrats, an independent reform group founded by former Gov. Richard Riley. He is co-founder of Envision South Carolina and author of "A New Golden Age for South Carolina."

SCSU supporters suing state: Legal action claims S.C. has caused problems via segregated system

 “If it shuts down, it will never re-open — not a chance.”

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- A group of former and current South Carolina State University students is suing the state, claiming South Carolina has caused the institution’s financial problems by funding competing programs at traditionally white schools.

Using the same approach as similar lawsuits in Mississippi and Maryland, Orangeburg attorney Glenn Walters says the state has perpetuated a segregated system in violation of federal law.

At the same time, he says there have also been mistakes at S.C. State, a historically black university.

“There has to be this mea culpa – everybody has to admit their sins. ... What we want is a constructive dialogue and in order to have that dialogue, we have to be honest about the past,” he said.

The lawsuit was filed Friday at the end of a tumultuous week for S.C. State. A House subcommittee called for the closure of the debt-ridden university for two years while its finances are straightened out, citing a lack of transparency. That isn’t expected to happen.

CONTINUE READING

South Carolina must prove it wants to save SCSU

Dr. Kofi Lomotey
Bardo Distinguished Professor
Western Carolina University

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A South Carolina State House of Representatives subcommittee and the House Ways and Means Proviso Subcommittee want to close South Carolina State University (an HBCU) for two years — firing all trustees and employees and starting anew in two years.

While I do not know as much as many with regard to the circumstances surrounding the issues on this particular campus, I do know there has never been an instance where a state has closed down an HBCU (temporarily or otherwise) seeking to make the institution better. This situation smells of politics, nay, racism.

Have you ever heard of such a proposal for another public institution of higher education? In fact, it appears to be an effort to permanently close another HBCU. Moreover, it sets a dangerous precedent; What will happen to the numerous other black institutions that are struggling? Will other states try to close them also, claiming to seek to save them — with little or no input from the people on the campuses?

Actually, I believe there are some colleges and universities — including some HBCUs — that have some grave problems that in many cases have persisted for decades with no serious corrective actions. But the proposed solution in South Carolina is not the answer.

CONTINUE READING

Dr. Kofi Lomotey has taught at SUNY-Buffalo and LSU. He was Provost at Medgar Evers College-CUNY and at Fisk University. He served as Chancellor at Southern University and President at Fort Valley State University. Kofi earned a PhD, Stanford University,1985; MEd, Stanford University,1981; MA Cleveland State University,1978; and BA Oberlin College,1974.  BIO 

Livingstone College women forfeit 18 games

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE
OFFICIAL RELEASE

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Livingstone’s women’s basketball team, which was 22-0 and ranked No. 5 in the nation, has reported to the CIAA and the NCAA the use of an ineligible player.

According to a release sent out by Livingstone the school determined that the player — Kyra Crosby, a senior from Atlanta who was the team's leading scorer at 14.8 points a game — was improperly certified for this season. Crosby transferred to Livingstone before the season from Alabama.

Livingstone’s president, Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., said in the release that the school will forfeit the 18 games Crosby competed in. The CIAA confirmed that Livingstone’s record now stands at 4-18.

We rely on our athletics department to ...

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE OFFICIAL RELEASE

CONTINUE READING 

Serious allegations leveled against ASU football coach

The contract ASU trustees approved will pay Jenkins a first-year salary ($175,000) that's $90,000 less than what he was earning at Bethune-Cookman ($265,000).

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins turned the Bethune-Cookman University football program into a winner, but off the field former players and coaches say the program was rife with rules violations and teetering on the edge of dysfunction because of the animosity between them and Jenkins, who is the new head coach at Alabama State University.

In the past month, the Montgomery Advertiser was contacted by, or made contact with, more than a dozen former players and four former coaches from the school in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With one exception, they independently provided nearly identical details of rules violations and what they felt was Jenkins' mistreatment of players.

Allegations against Jenkins and his program include:

•Improper benefits provided to players;

CONTINUE READING 

Offense leads Southern past UAPB

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern followed its lowest point total in a conference game this season with one of its highest.

The Jaguars bounced back from a 62-52 home loss to Jackson State on Monday by beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 74-56 on Saturday night in the H.O. Clemmons Arena. They scored their second-most points in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game this season.

Southern beat Mississippi Valley State, which it visits Monday, 79-55 on Jan. 19. The Jaguars improved to 9-3 and 12-14 overall. The Golden Lions are 5-7 and 8-18.

“We showed great effort tonight,” Southern coach Roman Banks said. “I’m really proud of how we responded. There’s no question we were disappointed with the way we played in our last game, but I think that made us focus better and we played with a much more consistent effort.”

CONTINUE READING

4-point play gives Panthers 61-60 victory against Rush

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Teviin Morris' 4-point play with two seconds remaining Saturday lifted Philander Smith to a 61-60 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana.

RJ Daniels fouled Morris as he made a 3-pointer to tie the score at 60. Morris then made a free throw, and Xavier's Morris Wright missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Morris scored 22 points — he made all nine of his free throws — for the Panthers (16-6, 6-3 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference). Aquill Baynard had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Sydney Coleman scored a career-high 23 points, 16 in the second half, for the Gold Rush (19-8, 8-3), and Wright scored 16. Wesley Pluviose-Philip grabbed a season-high-tying nine rebounds.

Xavier trailed 35-30 at halftime and 48-38 with 13:05 remaining, but the Gold Rush rallied to lead 60-57 on Wright's two free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

Xavier produced a season-best 10 steals and outshot the Panthers 38.6 to 31.4 percent from the floor. Philander Smith made seven 3-pointers, four more than Xavier.

For the second straight game, Xavier was denied its 20th victory of the season. The loss dropped the Gold Rush into third place in the GCAC. Xavier will visit the new second-place team, Tougaloo, at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Xavier's next home game will start at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

Box score

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

FAMU Rattlers Defeat A&T Aggies 57-50 For First Win of Season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Rattlers (1-23, 1-10 MEAC) got their first win of the season in a 57-50 win over the Aggies of North Carolina A&T (6-20, 3-8 MEAC). Jermaine Ruttley and Jorge Rosa combined for 46 points to lead all scorers in the game.

Ruttley, shot .500 from the field, going nine-of-18 from the field, including four-of-seven from the three-point arc. Rosa, went six-of-14 from the field, three-of-nine from three-point range. Rosa also went seven-of-eight from the free throw line. Ruttley also led the Rattlers with nine rebounds.

Denzel Keyes was the only Aggie in double-figures with 13 points. He rounded out his double-double with 12 rebounds.

Jermaine Ruttley scored 24 points to lead all scorers.
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

FAMU jumped out to a 10-point lead, scoring the first 10 points behind hot shooting from Ruttley. They would not relinquish the lead until the second half. That was only momentarily as they took the lead again and held on until the end.

Several times this season, the Rattlers have outscored their opponents in the second half, but dug such a steep hole in the first half, the lead was too much to overcome. “I felt I needed to come out aggressive if we were to win tonight,” Ruttley said. “I felt like if I could get it going, Jorge would feed off of that and it worked out tonight,” he added.

“These kids…if you could see how they get after it and battle in practice, you would not be surprised at the outcome tonight,” head coach Byron Samuels said.

The Rattlers led by as many as 13 points in the game. While NCA&T held a 24-18 point lead in points in the paint and a decidedly lopsided 18-0 in points in the paint, FAMU’s 38.8 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 70.6 percent from the free throw line, were the stories of the game. The Rattlers were able to come up with key buckets when they needed to.

What’s next for the Rattlers: FAMU will take on the defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central University Eagles, Monday at 8 p.m.in the Lawson Center.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rush and Nuggets win duals against William Carey

XU women's tennis vs. William Carey Photo Gallery

photos by Yamlak Tsega

NEW ORLEANS -- Both Xavier University of Louisiana tennis teams earned dual-match home victories Saturday against William Carey. The Gold Rush won 7-2, and the Gold Nuggets won 6-3.

It was the second victory of the season for the XU men (3-1) against a ranked NAIA opponent. The Gold Rush, ranked eighth in the NAIA, are 3-0 at home.

Kyle Montrel, Nikita Soifer, Manav Chakma and Tushar Mandlekar won in doubles and singles for the Gold Rush. Chakma clinched the dual with his 6-2, 6-2 victory against Andreas Brune at No. 5 singles. Soifer, unbeaten in doubles and singles this semester, and Montrel dropped a combined four games at the top two singles flights.

The Gold Nuggets (4-3), ranked third, got doubles and singles victories from Sha'Nel Bruins. Freshman Caroline Vernet clinched with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles against Caroline Vernet. NAIA champion Nour Abbes improved her XU career singles record to 34-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 decision against Audrey Leitz.

William Carey's men are 0-1, and its women are 0-2. William Carey will play host to both XU teams at 3 p.m. March 19 in Hattie
sburg, Miss.

Both Xavier teams will break for Mardi Gras. The Nuggets will return to the court at 3 p.m. Saturday at the University of New Orleans. The next Gold Rush dual will be 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at home against Alcorn State.

Facebook photos:  Men    Women

Results:  Men    Women

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

Davis and Morrow Lead TSU in Win over EKU

Nashville, Tennessee -- Tennessee State had two players to score at least 20 points in an, 86-74, win over Eastern Kentucky, Satuday night in the Gentry Center.

The victory extended TSU’s winning streak to four games and improved the team’s overall record to 12-12 (9-4 OVC).

Tennessee State trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but outscored Eastern Kentucky, 48-33, in the second frame.

Briana Morrow led the charge for the Lady Tigers posting a career-high 24 points to go with 13 rebounds for a double-double. I’mani Davis also registered a career-high with 23 points. Chelsea Hudson notched her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 boards.

Eastern Kentucky was led in scoring by Michaela Hunter’s 19 points while Shelly Harper and Shameekia Murray each tallied 14. Harper also pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double.

TSU got off to a slow start and fell behind, 11-4, early in the half. The Lady Tigers responded with an 8-2 run to pull within one, however. After briefly taking a one-point lead, another scoring drought saw the home team sink into a, 32-19, hole.

Brianna Lawrence knocked down a three-pointer from the corner to end a four and a half minute scoring skid but the Lady Tigers still trailed by double-digits.

A steal and break-away layup by Lawrence cut the deficit down to seven before the Lady Tigers rallied to go into the halftime break only down by three.

TSU scored the first four points of the second half to go ahead, 42-41, and from there, the teams traded buckets.

The Lady Tigers were able to create a small five-point cushion after back-to-back triples from I’mani Davis. The six-point spurt forced an EKU timeout.

The Lady Colonels scored out of the timeout to make the score, 53-50, but consecutive buckets from Briana Morrow followed by a Jayda Johnson layup gave TSU a double-digit lead with 11:04 remaining.

By the 7:35 mark, TSU had built its advantage up to, 70-56. Despite a late push by the opponents, the Lady Tigers maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way.

TSU outscored EKU, 44-26, in the paint and held a, 57-42, advantage in rebounds.

Tennessee State will have a week off before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Jacksonville State. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. in Pete Mathews Coliseum.  

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Lady Panthers defeat Gold Nuggets 81-79 in overtime

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Jerrica Scott's two free throws with one second remaining in overtime gave Philander Smith an 81-79 women's basketball victory Saturday against Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Lady Panthers (16-6, 5-4 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) extended their home win streak to 13 games. They rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final 4 1/2 minutes of regulation and from four down in the first minute of overtime.

Scott's winning points followed Xavier freshman Daylin Boatner's tying 3-point play with 43 seconds remaining.

Caryan Jones scored 25 points, six in overtime, for Philander Smith. Scott had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six steals, and Brittany Leonard scored 14 points.

Vinnie Briggs had her third double-double of the season -- a career-high-tying 20 points plus 10 rebounds -- for the Gold Nuggets (14-13, 7-4). Whitney Gathright scored 17 points, and Boatner had a career-high 16 points.

Donyeah Mayfield grabbed 10 rebounds and became the first XU rebounder since the start of 2003-04 season to reach double figures in four consecutive games.

Philander Smith led 33-29 at halftime. Xavier rallied and led for nearly 13 consecutive minutes -- 64-56 with 4:37 remaining -- before Jones' 3-point play tied the score at 69 with 36 seconds remaining. The Gold Nuggets missed a shot and committed a turnover in the final 20 seconds of regulation.

Xavier outshot the Lady Panthers 36.2 to 33.8 percent from the floor, outrebounded them 48-39 and made a season-high 27 free throws. But the Gold Nuggets committed a season-worst 28 turnovers, which resulted in 26 Philander Smith points.

The loss dropped the Gold Nuggets into third place in the GCAC. They'll stay on the road and visit Tougaloo at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Tougaloo, Mississippi.

Box score


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

ASU Hornets plates three in sixth to top No.23 Cal State Fullerton

Joseph Camacho 

CLEARWATER, Florida  – Joseph Camacho pitched seven strong innings and Hunter Allen's two-run single in a three-run sixth inning lifted Alabama State to a 3-2 win over #23-ranked Cal-State Fullerton in the Opening Weekend Challenge.

It is the second ranked team Alabama State has defeated in theMervyl Melendez era, including the victory at #4 Miami last season. The Titans (0-2) have appeared in the last 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and 36 of 40 overall.

"I'm excited first because we got in the win column early," said Melendez of his 1-1 Hornets. "This is an NCAA Regional-type setting (at Bright House Field, Philadelphia Phillies' spring training home) playing very good teams. Louisville is an outstanding team. Cal-State Fullerton is an outstanding team, and South Florida, who we'll face tomorrow, has a very good team. This is a regional. Playing well and being able to win really means a lot for our players and our program who have worked so hard."

Trailing 2-0 after five innings, the Hornets rallied in the sixth. P.J. Biocic led off by being hit by pitch. Einar Munizdoubled off the left field wall, scoring Biocic to get ASU on the board. Waldyvan Estrada was then hit by pitch to give the Hornets two on with no one out. After a double play groundout which moved Muniz to third, Gustavo Rios walked before Allen hit a 1-2 pitch into center field to score the winning runs.

"Hunter has done a good job through the entire year, starting in the fall with the scrimmages," said Melendez of Allen, who is now 3-for-5 on the season with three RBI. "In the scrimmages this spring, he's continued that. He's had good at bats, has squared the ball often, and I was happy he came up in a crucial situation. That's what you want, for your better hitters to come up when the game is on the line and produce."

Camacho (1-0) went seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs, with one walk, and nine strikeouts. He threw 77 of his 106 pitches for strikes, including striking out the side in the second with two on and none out.

"He picked up where he left off," head coach Mervyl Melendez said of Camacho, the 2014 SWAC Pitcher of the Year and the preseason selection in 2015. "Camacho threw three pitches for strikes. He was very tough today. I'm glad we were able to come back from a 2-0 deficit and win, because he earned it, he actually earned it. He pitched out of a couple of tough jams for us."  

Jorge Pantoja pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, setting the stage for Armando Ruiz, who sat down the Titans in order in the ninth for his first save.

"They were tough," said Melendez of his closing duo. "(Pitching coach) Matt Crane has done a really good job in developing those guys over the last few years to help them get where they are right now. Their velocity is crisper and has increased quite a bit. They've put in a lot of work to get where they are right now. When they came in today, all they needed to do was throw strikes and they did that."

The Hornets will face South Florida Sunday at 2 p.m. CT, and the contest can be heard live on bamastatesports.com/showcase.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hot-shooting Bulldogs knock off Alabama State

MONTGOMERY -- Ladarius Tabb led four Alabama A&M players in double-figure scoring and the Bulldogs shot nearly 50 percent from the field in taking a 80-71 win over first-place Alabama State.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-6 as they rebounded from Monday's loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff where they shot 38 percent.

The Hornets fall to 10-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Tabb scored 24 points, Nick West had 17, Rakiya Battle added 12 points and Justin Colvin scored 11.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 19-7 lead early in the game and held off the Hornets to lead 39-35 at the half.

Alabama A&M also hit 6 of 19 three-point shots and was 22 of 34 from the free-throw line.

The Bulldogs continue on the road with a game at Southern University next Saturday and at Alcorn State on Feb. 23.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU Contains B-CU 65-51

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman briefly took the lead after trailing by 12 at halftime, but North Carolina Central regained control and pulled away to a 65-51 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday in Moore Gym.

Trailing 33-21 to start the second half, the Wildcats (8-17 overall, 4-6 MEAC) took the lead on a pair of free throws by Brandon Stewart to make it 42-41 with 11:00 left.

Nimrod Hilliard scored on a layup to make it 46-42 and the Eagles pulled away down the stretch.

Stewart got the Wildcats within 48-47 on a lay-up with 7:23 remaining, but the Wildcats managed just four Ricky Johnson points down the stretch.



BOX SCORE

Among the top field goal shooters in the country (62 percent), Jordan Parks knocked down 6 of 7 shots from the field and was 4 of 5 from the free-throw line to lead the Eagles (19-6, 11-0) with 16 points.

Stewart had 17 and Johnson 13 to lead the Wildcats. Delino Dear made all three shots for six points and led the team in rebounding with nine.

The Wildcats host North Carolina A&T Monday.

HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG 
"One possession game with 4:30 left, you have to be able to close. We missed some wide open shots and free throws.

"You have to make big shots to be a number one team."

RICKY JOHNSON
"[NCCU'S] game plan was to not let me get the ball back."

"Once we took the lead, it gave us motivation. What got us to the lead was full court pressure and man."

"NCCU is disciplined. They didn't have a lot of breakdowns. That's good on their part."



COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton Wins 2015 MEAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship

2015 MEAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO GALLERY

LANDOVER, Maryland – Hampton captured its fifth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) indoor crown as the Lady Pirates won the 2015 MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.

The Lady Pirates won their 13th overall MEAC indoor crown with a total of 112.5 points, while Bethune-Cookman finished second with 108.5 points. North Carolina A&T State placed third with 89 points.

Judith Kibii of Florida A&M finished with 27 points to earn Outstanding Runner after winning the 5,000m and 3,000m.

Bethune-Cookman’s Deidra Jordan garnered Outstanding Field Athlete with 19 points after winning the high jump and long jump in the pentathlon.

Hampton head coach Maurice Pierce earned Outstanding Coach honors.

“This was by far the hardest championship we ever had to win,” Pierce said. “I knew it was going to come down to the mile relay but I didn’t know it was going to come that close.”

Hampton trailed Bethune-Cookman by three points going into the final event, the 4x400 relay. The Lady Pirates closed out the championship with a first-place finish in the event to secure the title.

Women’s 2015 Final Results

1. Hampton 112.5 points

2. Bethune-Cookman 108.5 points

3. North Carolina A&T State 89 points

4. Florida A&M 84 points

5. Maryland Eastern Shore 64 points

6. Norfolk State 54 points

7. Morgan State 47 points

8. North Carolina Central 33.5 points

9. Coppin State 30 points

10. Howard 19 points

11. Delaware State 11 points

12. Savannah State 5.5 points

13. South Carolina State 5 points.

Women:
All-MEAC First Team

Judith Kibii, Florida A&M (5000m, 3000m); Darlene Girardeau, North Carolina Central (LJ); Deandra Daniel, Coppin State (HJ); Deidra Jordan, Bethune-Cookman (Pen.); Ce’aira Brown, Hampton (800m, 1 Mile, 4x400); Taniya Mitchell, Hampton (WT); Jheniel Kelly, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Shantol Hemley, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Rachel Halmon, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR), Barbora Blahutova, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Tiara Davis, Norfolk State (PV); Desiree Richardson, Bethune-Cookman (SP); Malekah Holland, Hampton (400m, 4x400); Morgan Knight, North Carolina A&T State (60mH); Tristie Johnson, Bethune-Cookman (60m); Ashley Ciacomucci, Florida A&M (TJ); Le’Quisha Parker, Hampton (200m, 4x400); Tanisha Greene, Hampton (4x400).

All-MEAC Second Team

Ishakeema Swain, Morgan State (5000m); Imani McGhee, North Carolina A&T State (LJ); Qizeah Jackson, North Carolina A&T State (HJ, 60m); Hanah Billups, Howard (Pen.); Jheniel Kelly, Maryland Eastern Shore (800m); Desiree Richardson, Bethune-Cookman (WT); QuanDra Shanks, Florida A&M (DMR); Jharna Alston, Florida A&M (DMR); Destiny Johnson, Florida A&M (DMR); Judith Kibii, Florida A&M (DMR); Jessica DeRoux, Bethune-Cookman (PV); Jess St. John, Morgan State (SP); Amber Brooks, North Carolina Central (1 Mile); Tanisha Greene, Hampton (400m); Summer Brown, Bethune-Cookman (60mH); Kaydianne McKenzie, Norfolk State (TJ); Tristie Johnson, Bethune-Cookman (200m); Amanda Delacruz, Hampton (3000m); Alexis Marsh, Coppin State (4x400); Melissa Caddle-Hope, Coppin State (4x400), Miriam Ekwuru, Coppin State (4x400); Tanaya Yarde, Coppin State (4x400).

All-MEAC Third Team

Barbora Blahutova, Maryland Eastern Shore (5000m); Deidra Jordan, Bethune-Cookman (LJ); Sherhae Holloway, North Carolina Central (HJ); Kasie Trigg, Bethune-Cookman (HJ); Reneazia Collins, North Carolina A&T State (Pen.); Tere Cooley, Morgan State (800m, DMR); Kiara Howell, Norfolk State (WT, SP); Karen Escobedo, Morgan State (DMR); April Steward, Morgan State (DMR); Ishakeema Swain, Morgan State (DMR); Morgan Knight, North Carolina A&T State (PV); Jheniel Kelly, Maryland Eastern Shore (1 Mile); Melissa Caddle-Hope, Coppin State (400m); Ashley Ivey, Florida A&M (60mH); India Brown, North Carolina A&T State (60m); Siobhan Ford-Holland, Hampton (TJ); Qizeah Jackson, North Carolina A&T State (200m); Nyajock Pan, Bethune-Cookman (3000m); Jasmine Smith, Florida A&M (4x400); Destiny Johnson, Florida A&M (4x400); Jharna Alston, Florida A&M (4x400); Raven Diggs, Florida A&M (4x400).

Click Here to View Final Results of the 2015 MEAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships.

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS 

B-CU wins first MEAC indoor track and field title

MEAC CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS
Courtesy MEAC

LANDOVER, Maryland – Bethune-Cookman captured its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men’s indoor crown on Saturday at the 2015 MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championship with a total of 126.5 points at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.

North Carolina A&T State finished second with 125 points, 1.5 points from tying for the title, while Maryland Eastern Shore placed third with 108 points.

Maryland Eastern Shore’s Khalil Rmidi Kinini earned Outstanding Runner honors after compiling 32.5 points and four first-place finishes in the 5,000m, 3,000m, 1 Mile and Distance Medley Relay.

Teammate Dillon Simon was named the Outstanding Field Athlete after recording 20 points, winning the shot put and weight throw. Simon broke his own meet record in the shot put, with a toss of 19.22m (63-00.75 ft.).

Bethune-Cookman head coach Donald Cooper received his first Outstanding Coach honor.

“It was amazing,” Cooper said. “I have a group of young guys who just kept believing in what we were doing. When our back was against the wall, they just kept pushing. The young guys stepped in to fill some spots.”

North Carolina A&T State’s Desmond Lawrence set a meet record in the 60m, with a time of 6.64. The previous record of 6.69 was held by Hampton’s Reggie Dixon (2011).

Cameron Hall of Savannah State also set a meet record, with a time of 7.85, in the 60m hurdles. The previous mark was 7.86 set by Bethune-Cookman’s Darrell Ash (2009).

Men’s 2015 Final Results

1. Bethune-Cookman 126.5 points

2. North Carolina A&T State 125 points

3. Maryland Eastern Shore 108 points

4. Hampton 98 points

5. Florida A&M 73 points

6. Howard 34 points

7. South Carolina State 29.5 points

8. Morgan State 27 points

9. Savannah State 18 points

10. Coppin State 16 points

11. North Carolina Central 5 points

** Norfolk State and Delaware State were ineligible

Men:
All-MEAC First Team

Khalil Rmidi Kinini, Maryland Eastern Shore (5000m, DMR, 1 Mile, 3000m); Frank Quarles, North Carolina A&T State (LJ); Todd Townsend, North Carolina A&T State (Hep.); Edose Ibadin, Hampton (800m); Ed’Ricus, Bethune-Cookman (HJ); Dillon Simon, Maryland Eastern Shore (WT, SP); Oussama Chouati, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Taj Showalter, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Sodiq Amusat, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Troy Polland, Florida A&M (400M); Cameron Hall, Savannah State (60mH); Robert Mercer, Howard (PV); Desmond Lawrence, North Carolina A&T State (60m); Chidi Okezie, Hampton (200m, 4x400); Keenan Smith, North Carolina A&T State (TJ); Rayon Black, Hampton (4x400); Justin Beatty, Hampton (4x400).

All-MEAC Second Team

Darren White, North Carolina A&T State (5000m); Jared Kerr, Maryland Eastern Shore (LJ); Nnamdi Davis, Bethune-Cookman (Hep.); Troy Pollard, Florida A&M (800m, 4x400); Nehemiah Lipford, North Carolina A&T State (HJ); Brandon Perry, South Carolina State (WT); Mohamed Bah, Howard (DMR); Basil Niccolls, Howard (DMR); James Carey, Howard (DMR); Giovani Mowatt, Howard (DMR); Giovani Mowatt, Howard (1 Mile); Chidi Okezie, Hampton (400m); Trey Holloway, Hampton (60mH); Princy Dorsainvil, Bethune-Cookman (PV); Angelo Cabrera, Bethune-Cookman (60m); Sulaiman Fared, Hampton (SP); Desmond Lawrence, North Carolina A&T State (200m); Oussama Chouati, Maryland Eastern Shore (3000m); Michael Tiller, Bethune-Cookman (TJ); Dennis Pugh, Florida A&M (4x400); Isaiah Smith, Florida A&M (4x400); McDaniel Oliver, Florida A&M (4x400).

All-MEAC Third Team

Oussama Chouati, Maryland Eastern Shore (5000m); Demek Kemp, South Carolina State (LJ); Christian Kinney, Hampton (Hep.); Ricy Brown, Bethune-Cookman (800m, 1 Mile); Clifford Obodo, North Carolina A&T State (HJ); Keith Davis, Morgan State (WT); David Conner, North Carolina A&T State (DMR); Barry Harris, North Carolina A&T State (DMR); Corey Aiken, North Carolina A&T State (DMR); Saeed Jones, North Carolina A&T State (DMR); McDaniel Oliver, Florida A&M (400m); Tremayne Banks, Bethune-Cookman (60mH); Omozopia Olumese, North Carolina A&T State (PV); Maurice Eaddy, North Carolina A&T State (60m); Barry Kimbrough, Bethune-Cookman (SP); Jasper Savoy, Hampton (200m); Darren White, North Carolina A&T State (3000m); Jimel Wright, Bethune-Cookman (TJ); Haneef Hardy, Morgan State (4x400); Evan Johnson, Morgan State (4x400); Onyx Johnson, Morgan State (4x400); Joel Roberson, Morgan State (4x400).

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Shaw gets revenge, tops Saint Augustine’s, 52-41

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- When you’ve lost seven of your past eight games, a tough win over your rival may be just the ticket to getting back on track.

Shaw used a stifling defense and rode the backs of its three leaders to defeat Saint Augustine’s 52-41 Saturday at Emery Gymnasium. The victory was revenge from the Bears’ Jan. 24 home loss to the Falcons.

Shaw held St. Aug’s to its lowest output since a 76-47 loss to Chowan on Jan. 15.

“We haven’t been playing ...

READ MORE

Golden Bulls withstand late rally, beat Livingstone

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- J.C. Smith’s home finale wasn’t for the faint of heart.

The Golden Bulls outlasted CIAA South rival Livingstone 108-106 Saturday at Brayboy Gym in a game of breath-taking offense. J.C. Smith (13-12, 7-7) led by as many as 16 points and hit 70.4 percent of its second-half shots, yet had to withstand a furious Blue Bears rally that closed the gap to a point with 4.4 seconds left.

“We’re happy for the seniors, we’re happy we had a successful night,” JC. Smith coach Steve Joyner said. “We’re certainly not pleased with a second half where Livingstone scored 65 points and we had to score 59.”

CONTINUE READING

CIAA Indoors Championships will be at Winston-Salem's JDL Fast Track

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Many of the best athletes in the country will be on display Sunday and Monday in the CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the JDL Fast Track.

Coach Inez Turner of the WSSU women says her team is just as talented as St. Augustine’s, the two-time defending champion.

“We don’t back down to anybody,” Turner said. “I’m very excited about how well we have trained — and they are ready to have a good couple of days.”

What gives Turner’s 20 athletes a shot of confidence is how they did last month in winning a meet in Geneva, Ohio; the Rams piled up 165 points to beat 11 other Division II schools.

“We had a lot of good performances in that meet and I think that will get them believing a lot more as we head into the CIAA championships,” Turner said.

CONTINUE READING