Hoops for lunch: SCSU Lady Bulldogs vs. SC Lady Gamecocks today

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Head coaches Dawn Staley of the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State's Doug Robertson will share a milestone at Colonial Life Arena today.

The noon matinee contest between their teams will mark each coach's 100th game in four seasons at the helm of their respective programs. A victory today for Staley will even her mark at .500 with the Lady Gamecocks (7-2) and give them their best start in eight years.

"I think we're getting better," Staley said. "I think time will tell whether we've turned the corner. I think we are beating some teams that we're supposed to beat. I think we need to make a move and beat some teams that are very competitive, Top 25 teams, to really say that we've turned the corner."

Meanwhile, a Lady Bulldogs' win would give Robertson ...

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Hadnot stays hot, as does XU defense in win at William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Senior forward Cordell Hadnot scored a season-high 16 points Tuesday, and NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana produced another stellar defensive performance in a 57-42 men's basketball victory against William Carey.

Hadnot was 7-of-7 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line to lead the Gold Rush (7-2) in scoring for the second straight game. Hadnot has made his past 11 shots from the floor and past four from the line.

Xavier limited William Carey (5-6) to 27.9 percent from the floor and allowed its fewest points to the Crusaders in 70 meetings. It's the first time since November 2004 that the Gold Rush allowed fewer than 50 points in consecutive games.

Renard Smith had 11 points for Xavier, which has won three in a row, and Denzell Erves and Kevin Miller scored nine apiece. Smith made a pair of 3-pointers for the third straight game.

Xavier limited Carey's top two season scorers, Brandon Givens and Roderick Little, to a combined 15 points -- two in the second half -- and 3-of-19 from the floor. Givens, who entered the game averaging 18.8 points, scored a season-low 10. Little, who entered averaging 16.2 points, scored a season-low five.

The Gold Rush led 28-27 at halftime and took the lead for good, 31-30, on Nick Haywood's 3-point play with 18:36 remaining. Xavier led by at least eight points for the final 11:55, and the final margin was its largest of the game.

Xavier shot 41.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Crusaders 34-31. The Gold Rush committed 16 turnovers and gained 22.

Stefan Sartori's 3-pointer in the seventh minute capped a 10-2 run and gave William Carey its biggest lead, 14-11, but five Xavier players scored in a 10-0 run to give the Rush a 21-14 advantage at 9:14.

Xavier will travel to city rival Loyola for a 4 p.m. game Saturday.

By Ed Cassiere, SID

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

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FAMU Tragedy Or Not, Hazing Will Go On As Usual

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- For all of the tears shed and pain felt in the aftermath of Robert Champion’s death, it is likely that the practice of hazing will continue. We need only review the number of young men and women who died before Champion took his final breath.

According to figures tallied by Hank Nuwer, an internationally renowned scholar on hazing, an average
of one college student per year has died as a result of hazing since the early 1800s.  In October of 2010, Samuel Mason died while pledging for the Fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon at Radford University in Virginia.

FOX FOCUS: Former FAMU Band Member: MyFoxATLANTA.com

“Just 2 years ago, Donnie Wade died trying to join Phi Beta Sigma at Prairie View A&M, but most people know nothing about that case because America has accepted hazing in fraternities and sororities,” says Walter Kimbrough, president of Philander Smith College and an expert on hazing.

That said, hazing is such a facet of so many fraternities’ and sororities’ cultural norm that ridding them of the practice would be akin to stripping them of much of their identity.

A recent study titled "Hazing in View: College Students At Risk" based on ...

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FAMU hazing incident brings lawsuit, criticism

Atlanta, Georgia -- Clarinet player Bria Shante Hunter had to decide which option was more painful: turning in the FAMU bandmates who, she now says, had administered a serious beating, or walking around on a broken leg.

For a week the Atlanta freshman tried living with a fractured femur. But on Nov. 7 she reported the incident to FAMU band director Julian White, who sent her to the hospital and referred the case to the campus police.



Hunter told authorities that her injuries -- including blood clots as well as the cracked thigh bone -- were the result of being struck repeatedly for failing to live up to the credo of the Red Dawg Order, a sub-group made up solely of students from the Atlanta area, within the renowned and prestigious FAMU Marching 100. The existence of the order is one outward indication of the profound ties between Atlanta and the band many regard as the best in the world.

The consequences of Hunter's decision to come forward -- she has decided she can no longer remain at the school, and will relinquish the $85,000 scholarship she won as a member of the band -- illustrate the powerful and complex bonds that tie members to the band.

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READ RELATED:
Attorney: FAMU student hazed could barely walk
For many in FAMU band, pain a part of admission process
Florida A&M Hazing Victim Sues School, Suspects Accused of Beating Pledge 
For many in FAMU band, pain a part of admission process

'Guarantee' games provide B-CU revenue, visibility, memories

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- The ball was inbounded, and three seconds later the buzzer sounded. After players and coaches consulted, the three-second drill was repeated.

Bethune-Cookman's men's basketball team ended Monday morning's practice by working on buzzer-beater scenarios. It was the Wildcats' final session at their home gym before embarking Tuesday on a 10-day, 6,000-mile odyssey that will take the team from Daytona Beach to Texas to California to Las Vegas.

It doesn't seem likely that drill will come in handy any time soon. The Wildcats meet Baylor at 7 tonight in Waco, Texas. The Bears not only have this year's Heisman Trophy winner in Robert Griffin III, they also possess the sixth-ranked men's basketball team in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. Last year in Waco, the Bears trampled the Wildcats, 83-39.

From Waco, it's on to the San Francisco area...

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No. 20 Michigan Wolverines 63, Arkansas Pine-Bluff 50

ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Given the time of year, a decisive win against a lowly opponent should be a normal course for No. 20 Michigan.

After a challenging nonconference schedule the past three weeks, that's why coach John Beilein scheduled a game against lowly Arkansas Pine Bluff, to give his starters a breather and his bench a chance.

Unfortunately his team has struggled to put away some smaller-school opponents and, though the Wolverines finished off the Golden Lions, 63-50, on Tuesday night at Crisler Arena, no one was thrilled with the way they got to the finish line after holding a 25-point lead with 13 minutes remaining.

Beilein talked to the team, stressing the missed opportunity to get some of their bench players minutes, and co-captain Zack Novak made his case as well.

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Virginia Union squeaks by FSU Broncos

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Midway through the first half, the Fayetteville State Broncos needed a spark. Jarmel Baxter provided one. And for a while, that was enough.

But the Broncos couldn’t overcome 22 turnovers and 28 fouls and Virginia Union had four players score in double figures to rally past Fayetteville State 82-77 on Monday, Dec. 12, in a nonconference game between CIAA foes.

Damion Harris battled foul trouble to score 12 points, matching Wesley Simmons and Calvin Brown for team-highs. Coredeo Hill, who added an emphatic dunk as the Panthers (5-4) used a late run to put the Broncos away, added 10 points.

But for a while, it looked like Baxter was going to carry the Broncos (2-4) to a victory.  The sleek 6-3 guard scored ...

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CIAA makes impact

HOME OF THE WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY RAMS
2011 CIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS
2011 HBCU NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2011 RAMS Regular Season 11-0
NCAA Division II Playoffs: 2-1
NCAA Division II National Ranking: #3

WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA -- It's no secret that CIAA football had no respect on the national level.

But that could all change now that Winston-Salem State has matched the conference's all-time victories total in playoff games, reached the semifinals of the Division II playoffs and has risen to No. 3 in the coaches' poll.

Before this season, the CIAA was 2-27 in the playoffs since 1978. The Rams were 2-1 in this season's playoffs, losing to Wayne State 21-14 in Saturday's semifinals.

Videographers: Cornell Jones and Desmond Barnes; 2011 CIAA Champions Winston-Salem State University. In the final Division II polls, the Rams are ranked #3 in the nation.

Coach Waverly Tiller of Elizabeth City State, who serves on the Division II championship committee, saw all three of WSSU's playoff games, and said he expects a boost from the Rams' run. Tiller's team also made the postseason but lost to California (Pa.) in the first round. This season was the first since 2006 that the CIAA sent two teams to the 24-team playoffs.

"It really does speak volumes for the CIAA," Tiller said. "Winston-Salem State being the region winner and getting recognized nationally is a big thing. It's every coach's dream, and now Winston has paved the way, and the message is that the CIAA can do it."

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Xavier Gold Nuggets 16th and Gold Rush 21st in NAIA polls

NEW ORLEANS — Back where they were in the preseason. That summarizes the position of the Xavier University of Louisiana basketball teams in the third NAIA Division I coaches polls of 2011-12.

The Gold Nuggets (7-3) climbed from 17th to 16th in the women's poll, and the Gold Rush (6-2) returned to 21st in the men's poll after falling out of the top 25 a week ago.

The new rankings were announced late Monday afternoon. The next polls will be conducted Jan. 9.

It's the first time in Dannton Jackson's nine seasons as head coach that the Gold Rush dropped out of the top 25, then returned in the next poll. Coach Bo Browder's Gold Nuggets made their 21st consecutive appearance in the top 25 — their longest streak since appearing in 34 straight top 25s from Jan. 13, 2003-March 8, 2005.

The XU women, who did not play this past week, will travel to city rival Loyola at 2 p.m. Saturday. Loyola received 32 poll points to rank 28th.

The XU men, a 62-45 winner at home this past week against Mobile, will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday against William Carey. The Gold Rush will visit Loyola at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Xavier is the only Gulf Coast Athletic Conference school in either top 25. Tougaloo's men, tied for 20th a week ago, fell to 26th and missed the top 25 by three points. Tougaloo's women, who have not received a vote this season, beat then-No. 23 Belhaven 64-60 at Tougaloo on Saturday to help knock the Blazers out of the top 25.

Oklahoma City's women are a unanimous No. 1 for the second straight week. In the men's poll Concordia (Calif.) and Robert Morris (Chicago) are 1-2 after sharing the top spot one week ago.

Oklahoma City will be the Gold Nuggets' opponent at 4 p.m. PST on Dec. 20 in the Las Vegas Hoopla. It will be the Nuggets' first game against a top-ranked team since losing 91-53 to Oklahoma City in the opening round of the NAIA Division I National Championship at Jackson, Tenn., on March 21, 2003.

Xavier is one of 12 schools, three more than a week ago, with women's and men's teams in the top 25. The other schools are Azusa Pacific, Campbellsville, Cumberlands, Freed-Hardeman, Georgetown (Ky.), Lindsey Wilson, Saint Xavier, Shorter, Southern Nazarene, Robert Morris and Rogers State. The women and men of Azusa Pacific and Cumberlands are in the top 15.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Dec. 11)
Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Oklahoma City (11) 7-0 281 1

2 Union (Tenn.) 11-1 272 2

3 Freed-Hardeman 9-2 263 4

4 Lewis-Clark State 9-1 252 5

5 Westmont 10-1 243 6

6 Shawnee State 10-2 233 7

7 Langston 9-0 226 8
8 Vanguard 6-1 215 10

9 Lee (Tenn.) 9-1 207 9

10 Saint Xavier 9-2 195 13

11 Azusa Pacific 5-3 192 3

12 Campbellsville 9-3 188 14

13 Olivet Nazarene 10-2 170 11

14 Cumberlands 10-1 169 15

15 Southern Nazarene 6-3 156 16

16 Xavier 7-3 143 17

17 Lubbock Christian 6-3 136 19
18 Shorter 9-1 128 18
19 Bethel (Tenn.) 6-4 112 12
20 Georgetown (Ky.) 10-3 102 21
21 Robert Morris (Chicago) 9-1 100 22
22 Lindsey Wilson 8-3 89 25
23 Columbia (Mo.) 8-4 86 20
24 Rocky Mountain 10-2 68 24
25 Rogers State 9-3 52 RV

Others receiving votes: William Woods 46, Biola 39, Loyola 32, Avila 22, Belhaven 19, LSU-Shreveport 12, Lyon 6, Park 5, Westminster (Utah) 4, Benedictine (Kan.) 3, St. Gregory's 3, Montana Western 1, The Master's 1, St. Francis (Ill.) 1, St. Catharine 1.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Dec. 11)

Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Concordia (Calif.) (8) 9-0 309 tie-1

2 Robert Morris (Chicago) (4) 10-0 304 tie-1

3 Oklahoma Baptist 9-0 293 3

4 Shorter 11-0 282 5

5 Rogers State 8-0 265 6

6 Georgetown (Ky.) 11-1 261 4

7 Texas Wesleyan 6-1 258 7
8 Martin Methodist 9-2 236 8
9 Azusa Pacific 7-2 233 10
10 Westminster (Utah) 10-2 215 11
11 Mountain State 9-4 212 9

12 Cumberlands 9-2 198 12

13 Southern Poly 8-2 192 18

14 Evangel 10-3 181 14

15 Biola 7-2 163 15

16 Southern Nazarene 6-2 161 13

17 Freed-Hardeman 9-3 155 19

18 Lindsey Wilson 7-3 136 16

19 Montana State Northern 12-2 130 17

20 John Brown 10-2 116 tie-20

21 Xavier 6-2 112 RV

22 Saint Xavier 8-3 101 23

23 Our Lady of the Lake 7-3 70 24

24 Fresno Pacific 6-3 62 25

25 Campbellsville 8-3 61 NR

Others receiving votes: Tougaloo 58, Southwestern Assemblies of God 50;, Columbia (Mo.) 40, Montana Western 31, Cumberland 19, Oklahoma Christian 17, Shawnee State 14, MidAmerica Nazarene 6, Baker 5, Westmont 5, Great Falls 1, Lee (Tenn.) 1, Spring Hill 1, Hope International 1, Oklahoma City 1; Voorhees 1, Pikeville (Ky.) 1.

By Ed Cassiere, SID

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
VISIT: GCACSPORTS 

Upcoming Games at The Barn
Jan. 10 (Tue.) — Women's Basketball vs. SUNO, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 (Tue.) — Men's Basketball vs. SUNO, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 (Fri.) — Women's Basketball vs. Edward Waters, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 (Fri.) — Men's Basketball vs. Edward Waters, 7:30 p.m.

SUNO doubleheader: $5 admission for XU students with valid XU identification card
FIRST 300 XU STUDENTS WILL BE ADMITTED FREE TO SUNO DOUBLEHEADER
Free admission for XU students to the Edward Waters doubleheader

Six Knights score in double digits to defeat Johnson & Wales

New Orleans, Louisiana - Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) improved their record to 3-4 on Sunday with a 95-82 victory over Johnson & Wales (Fla.). Six Knights-Clyde Moore, Merlin Walker, Kevin Dukes, Nicholas Washington, Jared Lewis, and Jeremy Montgomery-scored in double digits to guide the Knights to victory in The Castle. After multiple lead changes in the first half, which ended in a 41-41 tie, the Knights outscored the Wildcats 54-41 in the second half to get the win.

In front of a sparse but energetic crowd SUNO shot 52% from the field, made 38% of their three-pointers, and made 71% of their free throws to overcome Johnson & Wales' perimeter attack. In the first half, the Wildcats' 40% three-point shooting threatened the Knights consistently. Johnson & Wales led by as many as seven points but SUNO hung in to keep pace with the Wildcats. Only minutes into the second half, the Knights jumped ahead 45-42 and never looked back. The Knights shot 60% from the field, made 50% of the three-pointers, and made 72% of their free throws in the second half.

Moore led the Knights in scoring with 23 points. He was also one of the team leaders in total rebounds with seven and in steals with two. Dukes also had seven total rebounds while Lewis and Carlos Arango had two steals, each. Dukes also had SUNO's only blocked shot on the afternoon.

The Wildcats had five players in double figures. David Jean Jacques led the way with 19 points, Myles Smith had 15, both Craig Wong and Carlos Montilla had 14, and Joseph Lopez had 11. Montilla led in rebounds with nine and Wong led the team with two steals.

Tougaloo Lady Bulldogs upset #23 Belhaven Lady Blazers

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- The Tougaloo College Women's Basketball team hosted cross town rival #23 Belhaven University. The Lady Bulldogs upset the Lady Blazers 64-60 here in the Dawg Pound to improve to 4-6 on the season.

After losing 64-57 to the Lady Blazers in their first meeting of the season, the Lady Bulldogs were looking to seek revengeon the Lady Blazers. The Lady Bulldogs came out very aggressive, going toe-to-toe with the Lady Blazers. Midway through the half, the Lady Bulldogs run off and take the lead, going into halftime with a 30-25 lead.

In the second half, the Lady Bulldogs would hope to keep up the momentum and maintain the lead. The Lady Blazers would come within 2 several possessions and even tie the game within the one minute mark, but the Lady Bulldogs would score to make the game 62-60 with less than a minute left in regulation. The Lady Blazers would try to score, but the Lady Bulldogs' defense would deny the Lady Blazers and the Lady Bulldogs would take possession of the ball with less than twenty seconds left to play. The Lady Blazers would foul and put Victoria Jones at the line with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Jones would make both free throws to secure the upset for the Lady Bulldogs.

Portia Craft led the Lady Bulldogs with 21 points. Victoria Jones chipped in 13 points and a game-high 20 rebounds. Erin Wells and Kierra Addison tacked in 11 points, respectively.

The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 as they play host to Concordia College-Selma. Tip-off is set for 5:30 P.M.

Claflin University' Lady Panthers fall to FVSU Lady Wildcats

FORT VALLEY, Georgia - Claflin University's Lady Panthers tangled with the Lady Wildcats of Fort Valley State University in a SIAC pre-Christmas basketball game on the campus of Fort Valley State University.

The Lady Wildcats remained undefeated in the conference by easily handling the Lady Panthers 80-57. With a commanding halftime lead of 46-29, the Lady Wildcats quickly put the game out of reach by scoring the first six points of the second half, to build a lead that would become the final margin of victory 23 points, 52-29. From that point on it was a matter of how Claflin would finish the game.

Coach Tucker's troops would not give up playing hard until the final buzzer. 

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A final look at the historic WSSU football season

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina -- In a historic season like the one Winston-Salem State just completed in football there are a lot of little things that have to go right.

I thought that the way the Rams approached each game is something you don’t see too often. Not once when I interviewed coach Connell Maynor or his players during the week did they look ahead to the big picture.

It’s kind of difficult for me to even listen to players and coaches talk about “taking them one game at a time” because it’s a bad cliché. It’s obvious you play the games one at a time but there have been numerous occasions where a team has looked too far ahead. The Rams never did that, and I’m not sure how Maynor and his assistant coaches pulled that off.

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Maynor looks ahead after Rams' loss

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - With their magical ride over, the Winston-Salem State Rams will need time to heal from the sting of just missing a chance to play for the NCAA Division II football championship. Coach Connell Maynor, on the other hand, couldn't help but look ahead. "We don't rebuild," he said, "we reload."

The Rams fell short of Maynor's summer prediction of a national championship with Saturday's 21-14 semifinal loss to Wayne State at Bowman Gray Stadium.

But their 13-1 record is the best in program history, and the 13 victories are the most in a season by a historically black college. Also, the Rams are CIAA champions, and their No. 3 ranking in the AFCA poll is a program best.

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Rams' Cooper faces draft decision 

Nicholas Cooper

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina -- Running back Nic Cooper emerged from the Winston-Salem State locker room Saturday with a large icepack wrapped around his right shin.

About an hour after the Rams' dream season ended with a 21-14 loss to Wayne State, Cooper couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

"It does hurt," he said of the Rams falling two wins short of the Division II championship. "You can see the finish line, but you can't get there. It's like you pull a hamstring, and you can't get there. It's a sick feeling."

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Fayetteville State basketball faces challenge in Virginia Union

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina - With the majority of players returning from a team that reached the CIAA tournament semifinals last season, coach Alphonza Kee wanted to challenge the Fayetteville State Broncos early in the 2011-2012 season.

So when the third-year FSU coach started formulating the schedule, he sought out the best opponents he could find. What Kee finally compiled reads like a list of Who's Who in NCAA Division II basketball.

There's region rival UNC-Pembroke, which won the Peach Belt Conference and advanced to the NCAA tournament last season. Kee scheduled a home and away games against Barton, the 2006-2007 NCAA champion.

If those games were enough, Kee also added a nonconference matchup tonight against Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association power, Virginia Union. It won't be a league game, but a test tonight when the Broncos (2-3) face the Panthers (4-4) in a 7 p.m. game at Capel Arena.

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Hampton AD: Rose to return as Pirates' coach in 2012

HAMPTON, Virginia - Donovan Rose is confident Hampton University's football program has improved in his three seasons as head coach. He'll get a chance to continue that progression in Year 4. Rose, 18-15 in his three-year tenure after his Pirates went 7-4 this past season, will return to the HU sideline in 2012.

"Coach Rose will definitely be back next year," Hampton athletic director Keshia Campbell said Tuesday. "I feel confident that he'll take the program in the right direction." Rose will once again work on a one-year contract.

"At this point, there haven't been any further discussions regarding any extensions," Campbell said. Rose, an 18-year Pirates assistant who was promoted to head coach in 2009, went 5-6 in his first season, 6-5 in his second and 7-4 in 2011.



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Jenkins pours in points, assists as Hampton U women beat UMBC

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Other than assist totals that make one wonder if the official scorer has been drinking, the ways Jericka Jenkins wills Hampton University to wins don't always show up in box scores. On Saturday night, though, her value couldn't have been clearer.

Against Maryland-Baltimore County, the Lady Pirates' saw a 17-point lead shrink to 12 early in the second half. There was cause for concern, especially considering HU's first-half scoring drought of nearly six and a half minutes.

That is, until Jenkins, the Lady Pirates' 5-foot-4 senior point guard and floor leader, saw a wide-open lane and headed for the basket. Fouled on the shot attempt, she made two free throws to push Hampton's lead to 44-30 and stem UMBC's momentum.

She was just getting warmed up. Jenkins then scored 11 of her season-high 26 points in a four-minute span, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, a pair of jumpers and another 3 as HU pulled away for a 75-47 victory.

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Tennessee State Tigers Surge Back to Claw Central Michigan, 65-57

Nashville, Tennessee - A 39-point second half helped propel Tennessee State past Central Michigan, 65-57, on Saturday afternoon at the Gentry Center.

The Tigers (4-6) surged back to shoot 42 percent (12-of-29) in the second half. Overall, the Tigers made 22-of-55 baskets from the field for 40 percent. The Tigers forced 19 CMU turnovers and dished out 11 assists in the victory.

CMU (4-4) led by as many as 13 in the first half, before TSU answered with eight points to cut the deficit to two at the break. The Tigers then opened up to an 18-point advantage at the 14:15 mark, staving off a late Chippewas comeback.

For the game, Central Michigan shot 39 percent (23-of-59) from the field and narrowly out-rebounded the Tigers 40-to-37.

Robert Covington inked his 50th career double-digit game, scoring a game-high 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds. He shot 64 percent (7-of-11) from the field. The junior from Bellwood, Ill., dished out two assists and a pair of steals.

Sophomore guard Patrick Miller tallied 11 points, four boards and three assists in 29 minutes of action.

Forward Kellen Thornton anchored his fifth double-figure game with 10 points and a season-high eight rebounds. Thornton was 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-6 at the charity stripe.



Wil Peters and Jordan Cyphers recorded eight points each and combined for seven total rebounds.

The Tigers opened up to a 6-2 advantage with 16:14 left in the first half. Central Michigan fought back with a 17-to-3 run taking a 19-9 lead.

Chris Conner's made free throw at 6:22 snapped a scoring drought of 8:32 for Tennessee State. The Chips continued to stay hot in the half opening up to a 24-11 lead with 4:33 left in the contest.

The Tigers proceeded on a 9-to-2 run, narrowing CMU's lead to 26-20 with 1:35 left in the contest. Cyphers drained a fade-away jumper to make it 26-22. On the next possession, he added a dunk to pull within two with less than a minute to go.

CMU responded with another basket, but Peters added two freebies to help the Tigers make it a 28-26 contest at the half.

For the first half, TSU made 10-of-26 from the floor (39 percent). CMU out-rebounded the Tigers 21-to-17. Covington led the Tigers with six points.

In the second half, Covington banked a triple to give TSU an early 29-28 lead. The Tigers exploded to a 17-0 run to start the second half. Central Michigan's Finis Craddock snapped the streak with a triple at the 14 minute mark.

Derek Jackson drained a triple for the Chips to pull within 51-38 with 9:48 left in the game. The Chips pulled within eight with six-plus minutes remaining.

Cyphers hit another crucial fade-away to help TSU keep a 10-point cushion. CMU's Jackson once again drained another triple to make it a 53-48 game with 4:12 left.

TSU proceeded on a 7-to-2 run with baskets from Thornton and Miller to stretch their lead to 60-51. The Tigers snapped a two-game losing skid and improved their win streak at the Gentry Center to 13-3 during the last two seasons.

The Tigers take a week hiatus for fall final exams before visiting Delaware State next Saturday, Dec. 17.

Courtesy: Tennessee State Sports Information

Georgetown basketball jumps out to early lead, holds on to beat Howard, 62-48

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown men’s basketball team preserved its perfect record against Howard and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. But it wasn’t as easy as expected.

After watching a double-digit lead get whittled to two points, the 18th-ranked Hoyas needed a late surge led by freshman Otto Porter to pull out a 62-48 victory that did not leave Coach John Thompson III impressed with his team’s effort or execution.

“It would be easy to stand here and come up with a bunch of excuses as to what happened,” Thompson said. “But I don’t want to take anything away from Coach [Kevin] Nickelberry and what his team did. They outplayed us.”

When the Hoyas raced out to 17-0 lead at Verizon Center on Saturday, it appeared they were headed toward another easy win. Georgetown (8-1), after all, came into the game with a 6-0 record against the Bison, a 28.8-point average margin of victory against its crosstown rival and a 51-0 all-time mark against the MEAC.

Highlights

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2011 SWAC Championship Battle of the Bands: Grambling State 'World Famed' Marching Band vs. Alabama A&M 'Maroon & White' Marching Band

Videographers: Video 1&2 - TheOProductions1907; Video 3-5 - JGASU08

Close loss tough to take for Alabama A&M in SWAC championship game

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Anthony Jones, a man who unfailingly speaks in measured tones, had a difficult time finding his voice this afternoon while standing near midfield in the fading light of Legion Field.

"Words can't describe," the Alabama A&M football coach, "how disappointing this one is."

All around him, Bulldogs were strewn about in various poses of despair. Some were squatting. Others lay flat on their backs. What seemed possible early and logical as the day went along had morphed into the improbable. And now, tears were falling faster than the setting sun.

Why?

Grambling 16, Alabama A&M 15.

In the SWAC championship game.

Again.

That's why.

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Videographer: AAMUATHLETICS