Big Games from NSU's Gaston, Taylor, Thomas Lead to 99-81 Win over CSU

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- The trio of RaShid Gaston, D'Shon Taylor and Malik Thomas could not be stopped on Saturday afternoon, and the Norfolk State men's basketball team scored its most points all season in a 99-81 victory over Coppin State at the Physical Education Complex.
 
Even a nearly two-hour bus ride for NSU to go five miles from the hotel to the arena, delaying the start of the game, could not prevent the Spartans from coming out on fire. The Spartans shot 34-of-55 overall (61.8 percent) to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 10-3 in conference play, 17-11 overall.
 
It marked the fifth game this year NSU has shot at least 60 percent from the field. The Spartans also set the Division I record with 26 assists.
 
Gaston tallied a career-high 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting with 10 rebounds. He also hit 8-of-9 from the free throw line to top his previous career best of 28 points. Taylor added 23 – the second most in his career – on 9-of-14 shooting with eight boards, three assists and two steals.
 
Thomas, meanwhile, tied his career high with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting. He scored all 21 in the second half, giving NSU three 20-point scorers in the same game for the first time since the 86-84 upset of Missouri in the NCAA tournament in 2012.
 
The victory kept NSU two games ahead for second place in the MEAC with just three games left in the regular season. The Spartans scored their most point in a regulation game against a Division I opponent since a 102-86 victory over UMES on Feb. 12, 2000.

The victory also clinched a winning season for NSU for the fourth straight season.
 
CSU stayed in the game thanks to a 12-of-31 effort from the 3-point line. NSU, not to be outdone, hit 9-of-16 from beyond the arc to break a four-game slump in long range shooting. The Spartans were also solid from the free throw line for the third straight game, hitting 22-of-25 (88.0 percent) against the Eagles, the seventh-best percentage in NSU's D-I history.
 
Coppin State dropped to 6-21 overall and 5-9 in conference play. Sterling Smith shot 9-of-17 overall, including 5-of-10 from 3-point land, for a career-high 28 points to pace CSU.
 
The Spartans also outscored the Eagles 44-26 in points in the paint and held a 36-24 edge on the glass.
 
CSU only led at the start of the game, but the Eagles did trail by just one early in the second half. After being held scoreless in the first half, though, Thomas picked up his play in the second half. He accounted for nine points during a 12-4 run that pushed NSU's lead to nine, 51-42, at the 16:31 mark. In less than three minutes, Thomas sank two more treys, and in between shoveled a pass to Taylor for the easy dunk, all to put the Spartans up by 14, 59-45.
 
Coppin State scored nine of the next 12 points in the game, and Smith twice cut the NSU advantage to six with less than 10 minutes left in the game.
 
Gaston's dunk pushed the lead back to double digits, 75-64, at the 6:48 mark. CSU, though, used a 10-2 run to get to within three, 77-74, with just 5:10 left. Smith drained a 3-pointer and Taariq Cephas hit a long two at the end of the spurt, getting the Eagles as close as they would get for the rest of the game.
 
NSU scored seven straight over the next minute and a half, part of a 12-2 run that essentially sealed the contest for the Spartans. They also scored 10 of the last 12 points of the game to finish with the 18-point margin of victory, the second-largest ever against CSU in 36 all-time meetings behind the 19-point win earlier in the year.
 
Junior Jeff Short scored 13 points to go with seven assists and five rebounds. He and Thomas both shot 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
 
Coppin State hit a pair of treys to grab an early 8-2 lead to start the game, but the Spartans answered with a 9-0 run. Short hit a 3-pointer in transition to finish that spurt and put the Spartans up by three. A little later, Taylor's thunderous alley-oop dunk had the entire hoop apparatus shaking and NSU holding a 17-13 edge.
 
Freshman Jordan Butler later found Taylor open for a trey to push the advantage to 10, 23-13, at the 10:39 mark. Smith converted a pair of treys for Coppin State, and Daquan Brickhouse sank another 3-pointer to cap an 11-4 run for the Eagles. CSU later scored seven straight to tie it up at 33-33 with a little more than three minutes to go in the half.
 
After a layup and pair of free throws by Gaston in the last minute, Brickhouse hit CSU's eighth 3-pointer of the half right before the buzzer to shrink NSU's lead to 39-36 at the break.
 
Taylor and Gaston combined for 32 points and 11 rebounds in the first stanza.
 
For the game, the Eagles hit 29-of-64 overall (45.3 percent).
 
NSU finished with 12 fouls, the second-fewest on the season.
 
NSU will host Delaware State on Monday at Joseph Echols Hall for Senior Day. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

Box Score

By Mike Bello, Asst. SID

COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU Baseball Sweeps FAMU In Home Openers

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The Alabama State baseball team swept Saturday's home openers against Florida A&M, winning 11-3 and 7-1 at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Waldyvan Estrada homered twice as the Hornets (3-3) rolled to a season-high 19 hits in game one and used timely hitting in game two to take both games from the Rattlers (1-4).
 
"We have been taking better at bats," said head coach Mervyl Melendez of his team, which hit three home runs in the doubleheader. "It showed today in both games."
 
Defensively, Alabama State allowed just four runs and struckout 22 hitters.
 
"Our pitchers made great adjustments today, especially with the wind blowing out," Melendez said. "On a day like today, we needed to keep our pitches down in the zone and all of our pitchers were able to do so."
 
Game three of the series in Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Game 1 -  Hornets 11, Florida A&M 3: Cesar Rivera, Einar Muniz, P.J. Harris and Yamil Pagan each had three hits, and Harris and Waldyvan Estrada each homered in the win.
 
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, the Hornets scored four times in their first at-bat. With one out, P.J. Biocic singled to right field, before Muniz doubled down the left field line to score Biocic. Estrada then homered on the first pitch of the at-bat to left field to give the Hornets to lead for good.  Chris Biocic then singled, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error. Harris' sacrifice fly scored Biocic for a 4-2 Hornets lead.
 
Leading 6-3 after three innings, Alabama State broke the game open with four-run fifth. Chris Biocic singled up the middle and advance to second on a balk, and scored on a double to right center field by Hunter Allen. Harris then drilled a two-run homer to left center field, scoring Allen. With two outs, Rivera walked and P.J. Biocic was hit by a pitch. Muniz then singled to center field, scoring Rivera to give the Hornets a 10-3 lead.
 
T.J. Renda (1-1) went six innings, allowing eight hits, three runs with one walk and seven strikeouts.
 
Game 2 – Hornets 7, Florida A&M 1:  Joseph Camacho allowed just three hits in 6 2/3 innings,while Estrada again homered and had three hits in the nightcap.
 
After allowing a first-inning run, Camacho walked one and struck out eight.
 
In the bottom of the first trailing 1-0, Rivera led off with a double to left center field. After an infield single by P.J. Biocic, Muniz' RBI on a fielder's choice scored Rivera. After Estrada singled moving Muniz to third, the Hornets pulled off a double steal with Muniz swiping home and Estrada second for a 2-1 lead.
 
In the second inning, Rivera's RBI double and P.J. Biocic's RBI single gave the Hornets a 4-1 lead. Estrada's two-run homer in the sixth extended the lead 6-1.

BOX SCORE 1     BOX SCORE 2

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

CIAA Sports Information Directors Announce 2015 All-Rookie Basketball Teams

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- The 2015 CIAA All-Rookie Basketball Teams along with their respective Rookies of the Year have been selected by the CIAA Sports Information Directors' Association.

The 2015 CIAA Women's Rookie of the Year is Breona Jones of Elizabeth City State University. Named the CIAA Rookie of the Week three times this season, Jones, a native of Henderson, North Carolina (Southern Vance HS), has had an outstanding rookie campaign having started in all 24 of ECSU’s games this season. She led all CIAA freshmen in minutes played, points scored and scoring average. Jones scored in double figures seven times, matched a personal best of 4 steals three times and registered a career best 6 assists on three occasions.

Quincy January of Saint Augustine's University has been voted 2015 CIAA Men's Rookie of the Year. The Atlanta, Georgia (Riverdale HS) native was tabbed CIAA Rookie of the Week four times this season. He has scored in double figures in 16 of 25 games including nine straight from January 11 through February 12. The high-leaping forward leads the CIAA in field goal percentage with many of his points coming on crowd pleasing dunks.

The Men's and Women's All-Rookie Basketball teams will be honored at the CIAA Tournament Tipoff Luncheon, Monday, February 23 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

2014 CIAA Women's All-Rookie Team

# NAME SCHOOL POS HOMETOWN
43 Alexis Fowler Livingstone F Lexington, NC
30 Teira Pendleton Lincoln (Pa.) F/G Baltimore, MD
34 Dhyamond Crenshaw Chowan F Burke, VA
12 Kyah Proctor Bowie St. G Capital Heights, MD
2 Breona Jones Elizabeth City St. G Henderson, NC
Women's Rookie of the Year - Breona Jones, Elizabeth City State University

2015 CIAA Men's All-Rookie Team

# NAME SCHOOL POS HOMETOWN
12 Quincy January Saint Augustine's F Atlanta, GA
15 Tyler Peterson Virginia St. G Virginia Beach, VA
33 Dedric Byrd Winston-Salem St. F Fuquay Varina, NC
3 Ahmaad Wilson Bowie St. G Baltimore, MD
2 Terrell Leach Winston-Salem St. G High Point, NC
Men's Rookie of the Year - Quincy January, Saint Augustine's University

For more information on this year's CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit TheCIAA.com/bballtournament.

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

CIAA Announces 2015 All-CIAA Basketball Teams

Hampton, Virginia  --  The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors have selected the 2015 slate of All-Conference honorees. This season’s line-up features Men’s Player of the Year, Cameron Knox of Bowie State University and Verdine Warner of Shaw University as Women’s Player of the Year.

Knox, a senior forward from Baltimore, Maryland, is a three-time CIAA Player of the Week and leads the conference in points scored (461). He ranks in the top 5 in field goals made, three pointers made, steals and points per game. He has only one disqualification in the 26 games he started.

Warner, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, West Indies, is second in the conference in scoring average, first in total points, first in rebounds per game, third in field goal percentage and tied for second in blocked shots per game. She averaged 27.5 points per 40 minutes in the 27 games she's played.

Knox and Warner are joined by Tyrece Little (Virginia State) and Deja Middleton (Fayetteville State) as Defensive Players of the Year. All four honorees and their fellow All-Conference selectees will be formally recognized at the Men’s and Women’s Tip-Off Awards Luncheon scheduled for Monday, February 23 in Charlotte.

For more information about the CIAA Tournament, visit TheCIAA.com/bballtournament.



2015 All-CIAA Men’s Basketball Team
# NAME SCHOOL CL POS HOMETOWN

FRONTCOURT
#22 WyKevin Bazemore Winston-Salem St. Senior F Kelford, NC
#3 Hakeem Jackson Livingstone Senior F/C Live Oak, FL
#20 Darrell Ward Elizabeth City St. Senior F White Plains, NY
#23 Stedmon Lemon Johnson C. Smith Junior F Lithonia, GA
#34 Eric Mayo Livingstone Senior F Shelby, NC
#1 Tyrece Little Virginia St. Senior F Greenville, NC
#5 Donta Harper Winston-Salem St. Senior F Greenville, NC's

BACKCOURT
#4 Cameron Knox Bowie St. Senior G Baltimore, MD
#4 Eric Dubose Livingstone Junior G Brooklyn, NY
#3 Raheem Jolliffe St. Augustine's Senior G Fayetteville, NC
#3 Lamar Kearse Virginia St. Senior G Syracuse, NY
#4 Kyree Bethel Chowan Senior G Fayetteville, NC

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cameron Knox, Bowie State University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tyrece Little, Virginia State University

2015 All-CIAA Women’s Basketball Team
# NAME SCHOOL CL POS HOMETOWN

FRONTCOURT
41 Verdine Warner Shaw Senior C St. Vincent and the Grenadines, WN
23 Tiffanie Adair Virginia St. Senior F Spartanburg, SC
32 Zephrah Pam Lincoln (Pa.) Senior C Syracuse, NY
21 Deja Middleton Fayetteville St. Senior C Richmond, VA
11 Alisha Mobley Chowan Junior F Winchester, VA
14 Dionna Scott Winston-Salem St. Senior F South Riding, VA
21 Donia Naylor Bowie St. Senior F Washington, DC

BACKCOURT
4 Jadda Jefferies Elizabeth City St. Senior G Burlington, NC
4 Ashle Freeman Virginia Union Senior G Richmond, VA
00 Dashae Jones Virginia St. Senior G Norfolk, VA
3 Ty-Nita Baker Bowie St. Junior G Houston, MS
23 Cierra York Livingstone Senior G Winston-Salem, NC

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Verdine Warner, Shaw University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Deja Middleton, Fayetteville State University

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

Bowie State Bulldogs Clinch CIAA North Crown with 89-77 Win at Elizabeth City State

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina  --  The Bowie State University men's basketball team closed out its 2014-15 regular season with an 89-77 victory over Elizabeth City State University on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 21-7 overall, 13-3 in league play and 8-2 in the North. The win also clinches the CIAA Northern Division title for the Bulldogs.

Senior and CIAA Player of the Year Cameron Knox led five Bowie State players in double-figures with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Freshman Dayshawn Wells (Baltimore, Md.) netted a career-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and junior Andre Jackson (Baltimore, Md.) added 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

Junior Justin Beck (Ellicott City, Md.) and freshman Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) chipped in 11 points apiece in the win.

Elizabeth City State (9-20, 2-14 CIAA, 0-10 North) was led by Brachon Griffin with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go along with six rebounds, four assists and a game-high five steals. Darrell Ward notched a double-double of 19 and 10 rebounds for the Vikings and added five assists, two blocks and three steals. John Tatum recorded 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.

The Bulldogs led by as much as 17 in the first half (42-25) before a Griffin layup at the 2:09 mark stopped the run. Elizabeth City State closed the first half with a 12-5 run to set the score at 47-37 in favor of Bowie State at the break.

Both teams shot the ball well in the first 20 minutes. Elizabeth City State made 15-of-27 from the field (55.6 percent) while Bowie State made 66.7 percent of their field goals (18-of-27), which included 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) beyond the arc.

Bowie State opened the second half with a 22-7 burst to take a game-high 19 point lead (65-46) by the 12:09 mark and maintained a double-digit lead until Elizabeth City State made one final push.

The Vikings trimmed the deficit down to 81-75 with 4:18 remaining, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-6 over a four minute stretch. However, the Bowie State defense clamped down and ended the game with an 8-2 run to seal the deal.

Bench scoring was huge for Bowie State as the Bulldogs outscored the opponents bench 51-9.

The Bulldogs will have four days off from competition before opening CIAA Tournament quarterfinal play as the #1 seed in the Northern Division.

BULLDOG BOX SCORE

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton U. women turn back Delaware State 74-61

HAMPTON, Virginia — Hampton University women's basketball coach David Six spent portions of the second half seated on the bench, head down, staring at the floor.

Such was his irritation that the first-place Lady Pirates surrendered fast breaks, easy shots and found themselves in a tight game with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's last-place team.

Hampton displayed just enough at both ends of the floor to turn back Delaware State 74-61 Saturday at the HU Convocation Center.

"We played down to the level of the opponent," Hampton's Malia Tate-DeFreitas said, "and that makes him upset when we do that."

The Lady Pirates (14-11, 10-2 MEAC) won their fourth in a row and 13th consecutive game against Delaware State, but not without some anxious moments.

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NCCU Eagles Extend Nation’s Third-Longest Home Win Streak to 33 Games

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University clinched at least a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title on Saturday by defeating Morgan State 74-59 inside McDougald-McLendon Gym, where the Eagles have won 33 home games in-a-row.
 
NCCU (21-6, 13-0 MEAC) also extended the nation's longest conference win streak to 31 games and earned the No. 1 seed in the MEAC Tournament.
 
Jordan Parks topped the Eagles with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. NCCU point guard Nimrod Hilliard added 19 points, seven assist and five boards, senior shooting guard Anthony McDonald sank three 3-pointers for nine points, and the Eagles' other two starters, Karamo Jawara and Dante Holmes, chipped in eight points each.

Morgan State (7-20, 5-8 MEAC) was led by Blake Bozeman with 18 points, while Andrew Hampton came off the bench for 17 points.
 
NCCU dominated the inside, out-scoring the Bears 48-8 in the paint, and shot 57.1 percent (32-for-56) from the field.
 
Up next, NVCU welcomes Bethune-Cookman to McDougald-McLendon Gym on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m.  An Eagles victory or a Norfolk State loss clinches the regular-season title for NCCU in back-to-back years.

BOX SCORE

EAGLES PHOTO GALLERY

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

UNO defeats Gold Nuggets 6-1; Abbes wins in singles

Nour Abbes

NEW ORLEANS -- Coach Alan Green was hoping for more but got only Nour (Abbes) in Xavier University of Louisiana's 6-1 women's tennis loss Saturday at the University of New Orleans.

Abbes, the NAIA's No. 1 singles player, scored the Gold Nuggets' lone point of the dual match when she defeated Soledad Calderon Arroyo 7-5, 6-4. Abbes is unbeaten in singles this semester against the city's NCAA Division I members, UNO and Tulane, and she is 35-1 in singles in her XU career.

Brion Flowers was the only other Xavier player to win a set, but she lost her match 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5) to Yasmine Rashad at No. 5 singles. Caroline Vernet led 5-2 at No. 2 before losing 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to Marta Sans.

Xavier (4-4), ranked third in the NAIA, is 0-4 this semester against NCAA Division I opponents.

UNO (5-4) won at No. 1 and 3 to earn the doubles point and clinched the dual at No. 4 singles when Anna Segarra Rius defeated Jana van der Walt 6-1, 6-4.

"I thought we let this one get away from us," Green said. "We got off to a slow start in doubles. Then we started to pick it up, but it was too little, too late.

"I thought we matched up well with UNO, but we didn't get the job done. We talked for awhile afterward. We talked about making adjustments. We're going to make those adjustments and move forward from there. We have some concerns, but no one is pushing the panic button."

Xavier will play NAIA No. 7 Brenau at 2 p.m. Monday in Mobile, Ala., a neutral site. It will be the Gold Nuggets' first dual of the season against a ranked opponent. The next home dual for the Gold Nuggets and the Gold Rush will start at 2 p.m. Tuesday against Alcorn State at XU Tennis Center.


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

TSU Lady Tigers Defeat Gamecocks in Overtime

Jacksonville, Alabama --The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team defeated Jacksonville State, 74-66, in a hard-fought overtime victory Saturday afternoon in Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The win was TSU’s (13-12, 10-4 OVC) fifth straight and keeps the Lady Tigers in third place of the OVC standings.

Five Lady Tigers scored in double-figures led by Jayda Johnson and Chelsea Hudson’s 14 points each. I’mani Davis, Briana Morrow and Rachel Allen each chipped in 11 points.

Jacksonville State was led by Candace Morton’s 20 points while Courtney Strain added 10.

 TSU was down, 13-10, in the first half before using an 11-0 run to capture a 21-13 lead over JSU. The opponents responded and cut the deficit down to two points moments before the half ended and the Lady Tigers only held 25-23 advantage at the break.

The second frame was a battle from the onset as neither team would let up. TSU and JSU traded buckets and played to a 30-all stalemate by the 16-minute media.

The game was locked in yet another tie when JSU scored seven unanswered points to build a, 48-41, cushion. On the Lady Tigers’ next possession Briana Morrow connected in the paint to end a four-minute scoring drought.

TSU trailed for the next several minutes but stayed within striking distance.

With time winding down and the Lady Tigers behind, timely buckets from Jemilah Leonard and Rachel Allen helped TSU take a 55-54 lead.

Holding on to a one-point advantage, TSU had the ball with 32.3 seconds remaining. JSU was forced to foul and sent Leonard to the line.

The sophomore made the first to give TSU a 56-54 lead. The Lady Tigers committed a foul on the next possession but the Gamecocks only managed to connect on one of the freebies. TSU regained the ball and JSU had to foul again.

Jayda Johnson stepped up to the line for TSU with 6.8 seconds remaining and sank both free-throws. TSU was up, 58-55, with only seconds remaining but JSU drove the length of the floor and banked in a three-pointer to force overtime.

In the extra period, Rachel Allen buried a triple from the top of the key before a Jayda Johnson jumper gave TSU a, 67-60, lead. The Gamecocks threatened but the Lady Tigers were able to keep them at bay.  

Tennessee State outrebounded Jacksonville State, 49-36 and shot a scorching 71.4 percent from the field in overtime.

Tennessee State returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25  for the final home game of the season. The Lady Tigers will welcome the Eagles of Morehead State to the Gentry Center on Senior Night. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.

 

 FINAL BOX

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Terrence Tusan was a beacon in life. His death is shrouded in mystery

ARLINGTON, Texas — The many who knew Terrence Tusan cannot reconcile the nature of his life with the nature of his death. Much of the information seems to sow confusion. How did a 22-year-old Howard University running back with a raved-about smile, a diplomatic way, a buoyant view of his own future and no police record wind up dead outside a Texas apartment after allegedly taking part in a home invasion?

The news made Tusan’s lifelong friend Greg Pinckney pull off the road into a grocery parking lot. It made Tusan’s high school coach say, “How could that be?” It made family friend Gina Scott say, “One and one is not two.”

“It doesn’t make sense at all,” said Kelvin Williams, Tusan’s trainer.

The known details of Tusan’s death comes from a police investigation. On Dec. 21, Tusan, who was home from Howard on holiday break, watched the Dallas Cowboys game with his mother, Donna, at her comfortable house in Arlington. Later that afternoon, he joined three other men, including a childhood friend, for a drive to North Texas University in Denton, 45 miles north. At 5:38 p.m., 911 calls reported gunshots at the gigantic CastleRock apartment complex in Denton. Two minutes later, police arrived. They found two tenants with minor gunshot wounds in an apartment, and two alleged intruders dead, including Tusan just outside the apartment in the breezeway.

CONTINUE READING

150th anniversary highlights Shaw U's 2015 football schedule

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- The Shaw University Department of Athletics has released the 2015 football schedule highlighting the University's 150th anniversary. This year's schedule features six games away and four home competitions. The home games include the 150th Homecoming anniversary game on November 7th against cross-town rival Saint Augustine's University.

Last season, the Bears finished the season at 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the CIAA.

Shaw will begin the 2015 season by traveling to Greensboro, NC to take on the Aggies of North Carolina A & T State University on Saturday September 5th. The Bears follow that with a home opener against Wingate University. Both games will kick-off at 6:00 pm.

Shaw will then hit the road for two straight weeks; first against UNC-Pembroke in Pembroke, NC on September 19th, and then The Lincoln University for their first conference matchup in Lincoln University, PA on September 26th.

The second cross-divisional CIAA contest will take place on October 3rd at 1:00 pm as the Bears host Virginia Union University.

In the CIAA Southern division race, the Bears will travel to Fayetteville State University October 10th, and then play host to Livingstone College on October 17th at 1:00 pm.

Shaw continues on with the southern division trek with two road games; the first against Johnson C. Smith University on October 24th followed by Winston-Salem State University October 31st.

The Bears will close out the season with the homecoming celebration of the University's 150th anniversary, hosting cross-town rival Saint Augustine's University.

Football head coach Robert Massey described the 2015 football schedule as, "difficult, we have a tough non-conference football schedule. We hope that the non-conference schedule will make us competitive for the CIAA Football Championship as we look to celebrate our 150th anniversary."

The 2015 CIAA Football Championship will take place on November 14th in Durham, North Carolina.

SHAW BEARS 2015 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

9/5 at North Carolina A&T, Greensboro, NC  6 PM
9/12 Wingate, Raleigh, NC  6 PM
9/19 at UNC Pembroke, Pembroke, NC
9/27 at *The Lincoln University, Lincoln University, PA
10/3 *Virginia Union, Raleigh, NC  1 PM
10/10 at *Fayetteville State, Fayetteville, NC 
10/17 *Livingstone College, Raleigh, NC  1 PM
10/24 at *Johnson C. Smith, Charlotte, NC
10/31 at *Winston-Salem State, Winston-Salem, NC
11/7  *Saint Augustine's U, Raleigh, NC  (Homecoming/150 Anniversary)
11/14 CIAA Football Championship. Durham, NC

*CIAA Conference Game
BOLD: Home Game



COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling spoils Southern’s baseball opener

Courtesy Herman Shelton, SU Sports Information Assistant

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Grambling kicked off the 2015 MLB Urban Invitational with a 6-1 victory over rival Southern at Wesley Barrow Stadium on Friday afternoon.

With the tournament being held in New Orleans for the first time in its eight-year existence, it appeared the two teams were going to start the invitational with an old-school pitching duel, but the Tigers (2-3) reeled off all six of their runs during the sixth and seven innings to pull away from Southern (1-1) for good.

“Even though this doesn’t count as a conference game, it’s still a huge win for us,” Grambling coach James Cooper said. “Anytime you can beat your rival in anything, you want to go out and play your best game.”

“Grambling stayed aggressive and stayed with the basic approach,” Southern coach Roger Cador said. “I would like to see our guys take some of the same approach that they did.”

Both teams went without a run for the first five innings, but the Grambling bats finally came to life in the bottom of the sixth.

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Tickets on sale for next week's XU-Dillard Crosstown Classic

NEW ORLEANS — Don't miss any of the excitement of New Orleans' longest-running basketball rivalry when Xavier University of Louisiana and Dillard University clash Feb. 28 in the Crosstown Classic presented by Hotard Coaches at the XU Convocation Center. Tickets are on sale now.
    
The women's game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7 p.m.
    
Ticket prices:
    
•  $10 — general admission.
    
•  $5 — general admission advance purchase, ages 5-12 and XU student guests. Contact the XU
Alumni Office at (504) 520-7575 for a special discounted rate for advance ticket purchases.
    
•  Free — in advance to students, faculty and staff with a valid XU identification card and children younger than 5.
    
Advance tickets for XU faculty and staff will be available starting Tuesday (Feb. 24). Discounted advance purchase tickets for XU alumni and donors will be available online next week at xualumni.com. Major credit cards will be accepted.
    
Tickets may be purchased weekdays in room 322 (third floor) of the Convocation Center Annex (3775 Fern St., New Orleans LA 70125).
    
Students with a valid XU identification card can visit the Office of Student Services (room 305E, third floor of the University Center) and receive one free ticket with an ID card swipe weekdays.
    
Tickets will be available at the Convocation Center box office beginning at 4 p.m. the day of the games.
    
This year's Crosstown Classic is part of XU Family Weekend, a three-day event Feb. 27-March 1. There also will be a pregame tailgate, chances to win great prizes during the doubleheader and Senior Day ceremonies.
    
The Xavier-Dillard men's series dates to January 1948, and the women's series began during the 1977-78 season.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director  
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Talladega Tornadoes Claims First #1 National Ranking

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- For the first time in school history, Talladega (Ala.) earns the No. 1 position in the eighth edition of the 2014 - 15 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. With a 23-3 overall record (at time of rankings period), the Tornadoes posted seven first-place votes and 248 total points. With the NAIA’s longest active winning streak at 18-straight (Monday’s win not included), Talladega moved up from No. 2 after former top-ranked team Cal State San Marcos dropped an 86-67 decision over the weekend.

Talladega has been on the winning side ever since a 12-point victory over Cincinnati Christian (Ohio) on Nov. 22, 2014. Along the way, the Tornadoes have jumped to first place (11-0) in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) with three regular-season games remaining. Brandon Peters has been the individual star with 19.6 points per game (No. 17 in NAIA) and 2.2 steals (No. 13 in NAIA). On Feb. 23, Talladega is scheduled to face Philander Smith (Ark.).

With two first-place votes and 241 points, No. 2 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) slides up one spot. Holding a 2.5-game lead in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) race with three regular-season games remaining, the Lions are in the driver’s seat for their first-ever AMC regular-season title. The 23-2 Lions host Williams Baptist (Ark.) on Tuesday.

No. 3 Pikeville (Ky.) checks in with 234 total points and the remaining first-place nod. The Bears, who moved up one position this week, had their top-10 showdown with No. 8 Georgetown (Ky.) moved from Thursday to Feb. 23 due to winter storms in the Kentucky area.

With the loss to unranked Northern New Mexico on Feb. 13, Cal State San Marcos drops down to No. 4 (tie). The setback snapped a nine-game winning streak. The Cougars rank in the top-10 in the NAIA in both scoring offense (85.1) and scoring margin (+14.4).

No. 4 (tie) Hope International (Calif.) garnered 223 total points this week. The Royals have the only top-10 match-up this week as they host No. 7 Concordia (Calif.) on Saturday. Concordia holds a slim 0.5-game lead over Hope International in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) standings. Prior to that contest, the Royals take on Vanguard (Calif.) on Tuesday.

No. 18 Evangel (Mo.), improving four spots, is this week’s biggest mover within the Top 25. With two conference wins last week, the Crusaders now own first place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Falling down six positions, No. 17 Benedictine (Kan.) suffered the worst drop. The Ravens have dropped three out of their last four games.

No. 25 Westmont (Calif.) jumps into the Top 25 for the first time this year and first time since a No. 12 spot on March 26, 2013 in the Postseason Top 25. The Warriors now own a 17-8 record on the season and stand only 1.5-games back of first place in the GSAC. On Thursday, Westmont is scheduled to face No. 11 Arizona Christian.

The other newcomer, No. 21 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), last held a ranking on Jan. 13 (No. 19). The Warriors have won three-in-a-row to improve to 20-6 on the season.

Great Falls (Mont.) (No. 20) and SAGU (Texas) (No. 24) drop out this week.

All 10 conferences and Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) are represented in this week's poll. With four ranked teams, the GSAC and Mid-South Conference each claim the most out of any league. The Sooner Athletic Conference and Southern States Athletic Conference each landed a trio of Top 25 teams.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and unaffiliated groups. The ninth regular-season Top 25 will be announced on Feb. 24. For more information on the polls, click here.

NOTES: (All information dates back to 2000 – 01 season) Talladega (Ala.) becomes the fourth different program this year to hold the No.1 ranking, joining Vanguard (Calif.), Cal State San Marcos and Campbellsville (Ky.)… The Tornadoes now have claimed six mentions in the top-five this year – prior to 2014-15, its highest ranking was No. 6… With the fall down to No. 4 (tie) this week, Cal State San Marcos has its streak of 18-straight polls ranked in the top-three snapped... There have been 40 different teams ranked during the 2014-15 season, with 12 of those programs being ranked in all nine polls (including Preseason) – last year, 47 different teams found themselves in the Top 25… No. 4 (tie) Pikeville (Ky.) has held a top-five ranking in 21-straight polls dating back to the first regular-season edition of the 2013-14 season… Preseason No. 1-ranked an
d defending national champion Vanguard (Calif.) fell off the Top 25 radar prior to the first regular-season edition… No. 20 Xavier (La.) leads the active group of being ranked with 46-straight mentions, followed by Cal State San Marcos and Pikeville at 34… There have been 31 different teams since 2000 to hold the No. 1 position... Former NAIA member Mountain State (W.Va.) leads the all-time charts with 48 all-time No. 1 rankings, followed by NAIA Division II member Robert Morris (Ill.) with 24... Concordia and Georgetown are next with 12, Cal State San Marcos at 11 and Columbia at nine No. 1 recognitions… Robert Morris, now a NAIA Division II member in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), is the only program to start and end a season ranked No. 1, doing so during the 2006 – 07 season.

2014 – 15 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll – Feb. 17

RANK	LAST WEEK	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	2014-15 RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	2	Talladega (Ala.) (7)	23-3	248
2	3	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (2)	23-2	241
3	4	Pikeville (Ky.) (1)	24-2	234
T4	1	Cal State San Marcos	24-3	223
T4	5	Hope International (Calif.)	22-2	223
6	8	Dalton State (Ga.)	22-3	209
7	10	Concordia (Calif.)	22-5	203
8	9	Georgetown (Ky.)	22-4	189
9	12	Columbia (Mo.)	22-4	173
10	6	Campbellsville (Ky.)	22-5	171
11	7	Arizona Christian	21-6	165
12	15	Montana Western	19-6	157
13	12	Martin Methodist (Tenn.)	21-4	156
14	16	Mid-America Christian (Okla.)	18-8	149
15	18	Wayland Baptist (Texas)	21-4	144
16	14	LSU Alexandria	15-3	136
17	11	Benedictine (Kan.)	20-6	126
18	22	Evangel (Mo.)	16-9	120
19	21	Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)	18-4	102
20	17	Xavier (La.)	19-8	101
21	RV	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)	20-6	93
22	19	Bethel (Tenn.)	20-6	78
23	25	Cumberlands (Ky.)	19-7	60
24	23	Oklahoma City	13-7	53
25	RV	Westmont (Calif.)	17-8	49

Others Receiving Votes: SAGU (Texas) 48; Philander Smith (Ark.) 36; Carroll (Mont.) 32; Central Methodist (Mo.) 29; Wiley (Texas) 25; William Carey (Miss.) 10; LSU Shreveport (La.) 5; Great Falls (Mont.) 3; Missouri Valley 3.

By: Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information, NAIA rmation NAI

A blast from the past to help fire up the NSU Spartans

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Robert Jones knows his Norfolk State history. The second-year coach, who also spent six years as an assistant, has seen the Spartans' best Division I days firsthand.

That's why Jones, looking to shake up his suddenly struggling and possibly distracted team, shared with his younger players a reminder of the program's pinnacle.

On Monday, two days after NSU fell 73-70 at Morgan State for its second straight loss, Jones broke out a six-minute, NCAA-produced video that chronicled the aftermath of the Spartans' landmark upset of Missouri in the 2012 NCAA tournament. Called "Norfolk State Confidential," the video takes viewers inside the locker room before, during and after the Spartans' 84-50 loss to Florida two days later.

More importantly, it follows the team back to campus, where a pep band, cheerleaders and a throng of fans waited to celebrate the first-round win.

The video was an easy way for Jones to paint the big picture for a team down on its luck.

VIDEO: Norfolk State Confidential: This is about pride

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