Florida A&M Tames Wofford Terriers 17-4 on Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M (1-0) pounded out 17 runs on 18 hits to defeat Wofford (0-1) by a score of 17-4 on Friday at Moore-Kittles Field. JoJo Durden (1-0) earned the win on opening day for the 2nd year in a row for the Rattlers. John Capra led the way at the plate going 4-5 with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.

The FAMU bats picked up right where they left off last year, as the Rattlers had 6 players with multi-hit performances. Juniors Aubrey McCarty and Ty Russ had great days at the plate in their first career game as Rattlers. McCarty had 3 hits, 2 runs scored and 4 RBI, while Russ went 2-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI. Senior Ben Ellzey, and sophomores Willis McDaniel and Kaycee Reese got in on the action as well, each recording 2 hits and an RBI.

The Wofford Terriers jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first inning. After the leadoff hitter reached base on a throwing error, Wofford had back to back doubles down the left field line, making the score 2-0. Durden was able to work out of the jam, and the Rattlers quickly answered back in the bottom of the first, scoring 6 runs on 7 hits.

John Capra got things started with a single to center field. After a Brian Davis walk, senior Ben Ellzey singled through the hole at shortstop, loading the bases. McCarty drove in FAMU’s first run on a single to center field. The next 5 Rattler hitters singled making the score 6-2. In the inning, Capra, Oliver, Michaud, and Russ each recorded their first hits as Rattlers.

Wofford answered with two more runs of their own in the top of the second inning, making the score 6-4. In the bottom of the frame, Ellzey led things off with his 2nd hit of the day. The Rattlers would then load the bases with one out, forcing Wofford to make a pitching change. Elliot Lance was able to work out of trouble after Austin Michaud hit a sharp line drive to 3rd base for a double play.

Florida A&M extended its lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the third inning. Ty Russ led off the inning with his second hit of the day. Kaycee Reese was then hit by a pitch and the Wofford pitcher balked, placing runners on 2nd and 3rd for Capra, who ripped his second single, this time to left-center field, scoring 2.

After the first 2 innings, Durden kept the Wofford hitters off balance, and off the scoreboard. Durden allowed 5 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) with 4 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched.

The Rattlers tacked on another run in the bottom of the 5th inning when junior Aubrey McCarty drew a bases loaded walk, making the score 9-4.

With Danny Rodriguez on the mound for Florida A&M, Kaycee Reese laid out to make an amazing 2 out catch in shallow right field to save a run in the top of the 6th inning. Rodriguez had a great performance out of the bullpen, earning his first save of the season, allowing only 1 hit and no runs with 3 strikeouts in 4 innings.

Wofford made another pitching change to start the bottom of the 6th and Michaud led off with a walk. Garrett Wilkinson then entered the game, pinch hitting for Ty Russ, and singled in his first at bat as a Rattler. Reese then laid down a perfect sac bunt to advance the runners to 2nd and 3rd. John Capra promptly delivered his 4th hit of the game making the score 10-4. Brian Davis added a sacrifice fly to center field pushing the lead to 11-4.

FAMU added 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th on 5 hits and one error for a final score of 17-4.

Wofford starting pitcher Adam Scott (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing 6 runs, all earned, on 8 hits in 1.1 innings.

Florida A&M and Wofford will play the second game of the three-game series tomorrow at 1pm at Moore-Kittles field.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook. Live Stats are also available on the baseball schedule page of FAMUAthletics.com.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama State Sweeps SWAC Indoor Track and Field Championship

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Alabama State men's and women's Indoor Track and Field programs swept league competition for the first time in school history as both programs earned the 2017 SWAC Indoor titles on Friday, Feb. 17 in Birmingham, Ala., and the Birmingham CrossPlex.

On the women's side, the Hornets continued their dominance, as ASU earned its ninth-straight women's indoor title with a 78-points advantage over second place competitor, Texas Southern.

For the men, history was made as the Hornets edged Grambling State by a single point to bring home their first championship title since 2010 .

For a team comprised mostly of rookies, six gold medals were earned for the women during the championship; Lekeyah Blackmon (pole vault - 3.21), Kaila Lewis (60m - 7.50), Tatiana Etienne (800m - 2:16.87), Kaila Lewis (200m - 24.26), Arion Span (1 mile - 5:17.26) and the distance medley relay team of Brandee Ebert, Etienne, Chyna-Joi Staton and Span (13:12.21).

On the men's side the Hornets earned three gold; Roshaine Byfield (shot put - 15.33m), Jamie Brown (long jump - 7.17m) and Norris Spike (60m - 6.76).

Head coach Ritchie Beene earned his 26th program title with the Hornets while being SWAC coach of the year, times two (men's and women's). ASU's Jamie Brown won Most Outstanding Men's Field Performer with 19 points and Arion Span won the Most Outstanding Women's Track Performer award with 26 points.

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'Plan' is for GSU to play at Solider Field in 2017

GRAMBLING, Louiana -- Grambling is on the verge of taking its traveling show on the road to Chicago's historic Soldier Field.

Grambling recently scheduled a nonconference game with Clark Atlanta University for Sept. 30, and Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said Wednesday night the "plan" is to play the game at the home of the Chicago Bears.

"It's not finalized. That's why it's to be announced," Fobbs said. "Worst case scenario if we're unable to get that worked out then of course we'll play that game in Atlanta at a neutral sit which is just as good for us because the city of Atlanta is big for us in recruiting.

Grambling finalized its full 11-game schedule over the weekend. Clark Atlanta, a Division II HBCU program from Georgia, was the latest and final addition to the slate.

Instead of playing a non-Division I team at home like the Tigers have done in the past, Grambling was able to hit a big market.

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Richmond mom battles GSU over tuition, calls it 'fraud'

RICHMOND, Virginia -- A Richmond mother says her son was promised free college tuition. Then she says Grambling State University in Louisiana pulled the rug from underneath him.

Jessie Bell says it’s all based on a letter she and her son received from the school. Grambling State says they misunderstood.

GSU claims it was a partial scholarship offer and "a good deal for any student attending a four-year university."

Jessie Bell says Grambling State University dangled free tuition and snatched it back when she and her son showed up for move-in day.

Fighting back tears, Jessie Bell calls what happened a damaging financial setback to her family and her son Jaylaan.

"I think it's fraud, and I think they should be held accountable because we stopped looking," said Jessie Bell. "The bigger problem is we stopped looking and we could have had better offers."

The Maggie Walker Governor's school graduate is 16 hours away in Louisiana attending Grambling State University - but not on the scholarship his mom believes he was promised. Jessie Bell says the switch came upon arrival.

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Shutdown pitching, clutch hitting power AAMU Bulldogs to season-opening win over Fort Wayne

PHOTO GALLERY

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Bulldogs used shutdown pitching and timely hitting Friday to rally past Fort Wayne 8-6 in their baseball season opener.

A&M found itself down 1-0 after the first inning but consecutive singles by Carson McGregory, Carlton Peppers and Cornelious Woods loaded the bases. However, two outs later, Pierre Brewton's hit was booted by the Fort Wayne shortstop, allowing McGregory and Peppers to score for a 2-1 Bulldogs' lead.

The Mastodons tied the score in the top of the third. But a one-out single by Zeth Malcom and back-to-back doubles by McGregory and Peppers put the Bulldogs up 4-2.

The see-saw battle continued in the fifth inning when Fort Wayne scored three runs to retake the lead at 5-4.

But the Bulldogs' timely hitting would come into play in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, Malcom drove the ball over the left-field fence to tie the score. It was the first career home run for the freshman from Hartselle.

And, that was just the beginning for the Bulldogs.

McGregory was walked and Peppers reached first when he was hit by a pitch, moving McGregory to second. One out later, Njike Hunter reached first on an error to load the bases.

Dameyune Mayhand singled to center to score McGregory and Peppers and the Bulldogs were back on top 7-5.

The Mastodons mounted a threat, though, in their half of the sixth when they loaded the bases with no outs.

That prompted Head Coach Mitch Hill to bring in All-SWAC pitcher Brandon Marsonek to relieve Dalton Mitchell, who replaced starter Caleb Gay an inning earlier.

Sporting a Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn haircut from the movie "Major League", Marsonek efficiently enticed a fielder's choice ground ball and two flyouts to right field to shut down the Mastodons in the sixth.

Marsonek faced just four batters in the seventh and the Bulldogs widened their lead to 8-5 on Hunter's RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

He had a 1-2-3 eighth but faced a small threat in the ninth.

Fort Wayne cut the lead to 8-6 after a leadoff home run but the Mastodons left two runners on base without scoring.

Malcom, McGregory, Peppers and Woods each had a pair of hits; Mayhand, Peppers and Brewton each had two runs batted in.

Gay struck out seven and walked just one in 4 1/3 innings and Marsonek had four strikeouts and gave up two walks and two hits in four innings of relief to get the save. Mitchell pitched 2/3 of an inning and was credited with the win.

Saturday's rain forced a schedule change. There will be a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. and a doubleheader Sunday with the time to be announced.

Team Statistics

PITCHING: W: Dalton Mitchell (1-0) L: J. Weber (0-1) S: Brandon Marsonek (1)

Fort Wayne

BATTING: 2B: J. Weber 1 3B: B. Hettinger 1 HR: J. Weber 1 SF: J. Weber 1

BASERUNNING: SB: B. Hettinger 3 CS: J. Boyce 1 HBP: J. Dickson 1

FIELDING: E: J. Boyce 1; B. Logan 1

Alabama A&M

BATTING: 2B: Carson McGregory 1; Carlton Peppers 1 HR: Zeth Malcom 1

BASERUNNING: CS: Pierre Brewton 1 HBP: Carlton Peppers 1

FIELDING: E: Joannes Diaz 1

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Four-Run Ninth-Inning Rally Lifts Prarie View A&M Panthers Over Illinois-Chicago

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- A four-run ninth-inning rally lifted the Prairie View A&M University baseball to team a 5-4 come-from-behind rain-delayed win over Illinois Chicago in the opening game of the Major League Baseball Urban Invitational at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

The Panthers (1-0) won the opening game of the season for the first time since 2013. The more than hour rain delay moved Friday's second game against the Flames of the Horizon League to Sunday at 4:30 p.m. following the Panthers-New Orleans game at 1 p.m. at UNO.

Leading off the ninth, Tyler Gordon walked, and Cody Den Beste singled to left center. Steven Williams reached on a fielding error, allowing Gordon to score and Den Beste advanced to third. Following a walk to Tyrone Thomas to load the bases, Corbin Jamison's single to right field scored Den Beste and Williams. Following an out an intentional walk to Kevin Macias to load the basis, Andrew Garcia's single off the glove of UIC third baseman Brandon Gibis scored pinch runner Avery Williams with the winning run.

Jamison went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Den Beste went 2-for-4 wi
th two runs scored.

Charles Philpott (1-0) earned the win in relief, pitching the final two innings allowing three hits, one run, walked one and struckout three. Edgar Sanchez pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, two earned with one walk and two strikeouts.

Prairie View A&M will face Alcorn State Saturday at 2 p.m., with the radio broadcast beginning at 1:45 p.m. on pvpanthers.com and a live television broadcast on MLB Network.

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Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Knockoff Boston College

Photo Courtesy: BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Nate Sterijevski's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed Bethune-Cookman to complete a come-from-behind season opening win over visiting Boston College with a 2-1 score line Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

One pitch after redshirt junior shortstop Demetrius Sims (Ann Arbor, Mich.) scored Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) for the tying run courtesy a standup triple to deep right centerfield, sophomore second baseman Nate Sterijevski (Clermont, Fla.) laced a first pitch fastball from Boston College (0-1) reliever Bobby Skogsbergh through the hole at second base to bring Sims home for the game-winning run.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Bethune-Cookman (1-0) sophomore first baseman Danny Rodriguez – the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, delivered a single to deep left field with one out. Two batters later, Sims got into scoring position with his standup triple – the second triple of the game for the Wildcats.

The game began with a true pitcher's duel between Bethune-Cookman starter Tyler Norris (Coral Springs, Fla.) and Boston College's Jacob Stevens. The two right-handers went toe-to-toe for six innings, as neither allowed a run in his time on the bump.

Norris scattered two hits around a walk and fanned a career-best tying 11 batters. He matched his 11 strikeouts from a season ago in the season-opening win over Murray State at home. Meanwhile, Stevens countered for the Eagles with four hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts on the mound.

However, it would be Boston College to break the scoreless deadlock in the top of the seventh inning.

Catcher Gian Martellini recorded a one-out double off the wall in left center while facing Bethune-Cookman reliever Alexis Herrera (Miami, Fla.). That allowed Brian Dempsey to pinch hit for Anthony Maselli in the seven spot, with Dempsey delivering with a run-scoring single to center field that allowed Maselli to come around from second.

At that point, Boston College led, 1-0.

Joseph Calamita (Lake Worth, Fla.) would come in for Herrera to get the final two outs of the seventh inning for the Wildcats.

Ivan Coutinho (Winter Park, Fla.) would collect the win, working 0.2 innings out of the bullpen in the ninth, striking out one batter in the process. The loss went to Boston College reliever Skogsbergh in what was also the Eagles' season opener for the 2017 campaign.

The Bethune-Cookman offense was led by third baseman Jameel Edney (West Palm Beach, Fla.) with a 2-for-3 night at the plate, followed by five Wildcats with a hit apiece – including the RBI from Sims. One of Edney's hits was a triple in his first at-bat in the first inning.

Boston College was led at the plate by Martellini with two hits in four at-bats, all while adding a run.

Bethune-Cookman and Boston College continue their three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m., back at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Baseball on Twitter (@BCUDiamondCats) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

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Bethune-Cookman Announces 2017 Football Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Bethune-Cookman Football will play 11 games during the 2017 campaign, it was announced Thursday, Feb. 16, by Lynn W. Thompson, BCU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. The schedule will be one of the toughest in all of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), as BCU takes to the road to begin the season with four consecutive games away from Municipal Stadium.

The 2017 slate features three non-conference contests, including two against BCS (Bowl Championship Series) opponents. Another game features a perennial FCS power and top 25 opponent. Of the 11 games, seven will take place in the Sunshine State, with four games played inside Municipal Stadium aka The Cage.



"I think fans are going to be excited about the brand of football we will play in 2017, and they are going to want to see us every week as we challenge ourselves physically and mentally against such a tough schedule," admitted second-year head coach Terry Sims. "This schedule gives us the chance to play against some of the best competition on both the FCS and BCS level."

The Wildcats open the season at the University of Miami on September 2, serving as the season opener for the Hurricanes under the direction of second-year head coach Mark Richt. The following weekend, BCU travels to Southland Conference power Southeastern Louisiana on September 9, in Hammond, Louisiana.

On September 16, BCU travels south to Boca Raton, Florida, as the Wildcats take on the Florida Atlantic Owls under the direction of new head coach Lane Kiffin.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play begins on the road in the nation's capital on September 23, as Bethune-Cookman travels to Howard and another first-year head coach, with the Bison led by former University of Virginia head man Mike London. For BCU's Terry Sims, this will be his first time facing his former employer since becoming head coach at the helm in Daytona Beach. Overall, it will be the first meeting between BCU and Howard since 2014.

Bethune-Cookman will enjoy its home opener on September 30 for Church & Community Day, as the Wildcats welcome Savannah State to Municipal Stadium. Two weeks later, South Carolina State comes to Daytona Beach on October 14, following a bye week for the Maroon and Gold.

BCU travels to Greensboro, North Carolina on October 21 for a matchup against North Carolina A&T, before returning home to face Hampton for a Homecoming weekend in Daytona Beach on October 28. This will be the first meeting between the Wildcats and Pirates since 2014, as Terry Sims faces the Pirates for the first time as a collegiate head coach.

Senior Appreciation Day for the Cats takes place the following week against Morgan State on November 4.

BCU travels to reigning three-time defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central on November 11, before closing the regular season against Florida A&M on November 18 in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

"It's a tough schedule featuring three non-conference games on the front end that prepares us for the MEAC slate," said Thompson. "These early challenges should have us battle-tested when conference play begins."

Season tickets go on sale on February 27, featuring the highly successful "Hook-up Package" for tickets for all four (4) home games on the home side of the stadium including seats for Homecoming.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).


Bethune­ Cookman University 2017 Football Schedule

SEP 2 (SAT) / TBD AT MIAMI (FLA.) CORAL GABLES, FL
SEP 9 (SAT) / TBD AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA HAMMOND, LA
SEP 16 (SAT) / TBD AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC BOCA RATON, FL
SEP 23 (SAT) / TBD MEAC AT HOWARD WASHINGTON, DC
SEP 30 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. MEAC VS SAVANNAH STATE DAYTONA BEACH, FL
OCT 14 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. MEAC VS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE DAYTONA BEACH, FL
OCT 21 (SAT) / 1:00 P.M. MEAC AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T GREENSBORO, NC
OCT 28 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. MEAC VS HAMPTON DAYTONA BEACH, FL
NOV 4 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. MEAC VS MORGAN STATE DAYTONA BEACH, FL
NOV 11 (SAT) / 2:00 P.M. MEAC AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL DURHAM, NC
NOV 18 (SAT) / TBD MEAC VS FLORIDA A&M ORLANDO, FL

BOLD: HOME GAME

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Rush blank Colonels, hold steady at No. 2 in NAIA

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis program, no stranger in recent years to milestones, produced another Tuesday in a 4-0 home victory against Nicholls State.

It was the first time the Gold Rush (2-2) defeated a non-HBCU member of NCAA Division I without losing a match.

"The guys played well," XULA coach Alan Green said. "They got off to a slow start on a couple of courts but overcame a couple of fired-up Nicholls guys."

After Antoine Richard defeated Bernard Wezeman 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1 singles for the first point of the dual, Karan Salwan and Moses Micheal extended the XULA lead to 3-0 despite losing first sets. Salwan rallied to beat Oleksander Podgursky 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3, and Micheal roared back to top Sam Meessen 0-6, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2.

Then Tushar Mandlekar clinched when he beat Cornelius Schramm 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5.

XULA was in control of the unfinished matches, too. Catalin Fifea at No. 4 and Oran Reznick at No. 6 both were up a set when the dual was halted. The doubles matches were not played. Nicholls is 1-2.

XULA extended its home win streak to 15 duals. Five of the victories in that streak are against DIs.

The second NAIA coaches poll of 2017 was announced while XULA played, and the Gold Rush remained No. 2. It was the NAIA-leading 79th consecutive top-25 appearance for the XULA men — that streak started 10 years ago — and the 49th consecutive top-10 in a streak that began in 2011.

Next for the Gold Rush will be the Grizzly Invitational at Lawrenceville, Ga. The XULA women will play Friday at 11 a.m. against NAIA No. 3 Keiser and at 5 p.m. against Cumberlands, Saturday at 5 p.m. against Emory — second-ranked in NCAA Division III — and Sunday at 10 a.m. against top-ranked and three-time defending NAIA champion Georgia Gwinnett. All times are Eastern. The Georgia Gwinnett dual will be a rematch of last season's national final, which the Grizzlies won 5-2. XULA's women also will play four times in this event, including three matchups with top-10 NAIA teams.

"This weekend is going to be huge for both our teams," Green said. "We are about to find out what we're about."

Results

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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NAIA newbie Stillman beats Rush to reach 20 victories

NEW ORLEANS — Melvin Brown made 5-of-6 3-pointers and scored 19 points, both season bests, to lead Stillman to a 72-54 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana Wednesday.

Brown made all four of his 3-pointers in the first half to lead the Tigers (20-4) to a 40-34 advantage at the break. The final score was their largest lead of the game.

Rafeal Adams scored 12 points, Ronald Singleton had 10 points and five steals, and Antonio Penny had eight assists for Stillman, in its first NAIA season after many years in NCAA Division II. The Tigers shot 50 percent from the floor, had 21 assists on 22 field goals and produced 15 steals to extend its win streak to eight games.

Jalen David, with 15 points, was the lone double-figure scorer for the Gold Rush (9-17). Elex Carter, Jerry Gibson and Mike Williams scored eight points apiece.

XULA shot 30 percent from the floor, 19.4 percent in the second half.

XULA will visit city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard for a 4:30 p.m. Saturday game. Dillard has clinched a tie for the GCAC regular-season championship and is ranked seventh in the NAIA. WNOL will televise the game live. XULA fans who attend the doubleheader are asked to wear gold.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Nuggets clinch 16th consecutive winning season

NEW ORLEANS — Mikayla Bates scored 12 points Wednesday, and Maya Trench and Kelsey Joseph produced career highs for Xavier University of Louisiana in a 74-64 women's basketball victory against Stillman.

The Gold Nuggets (16-10) won their third in a row and snapped the 14-game win streak of the Lady Tigers (15-4), who had not lost since Nov. 17. XULA assured itself of a 16th consecutive winning season, which extends a school record.

Bates also had seven rebounds and a game-high four steals. Trench had a career-best 11 assists, and Joseph scored a career-high 10 points. Bates, Joseph and Jalyn Hodge made two 3-pointers apiece, Jayla Nichols grabbed nine rebounds, and XULA matched a season high with eight made 3s.

Victoria Douglas scored 15 points for Stillman, Michaia Fluellen had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalicya Lowery scored 12.

XULA trailed 37-31 at halftime, then outscored Stillman 43-27 in the second half. Joseph led the Gold Nuggets with eight second-half points.

For the game XULA outshot Stillman 39.7 to 33.3 percent — 44.4 to 28 percent in the second half. Stillman outrebounded XULA 46-39, but the Gold Nuggets were plus-11 in turnovers, committing 18 and gaining 29. XULA had 21 steals, with eight Gold Nuggets collecting at least two.

XULA will travel to city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard for a 2 p.m. Saturday game.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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College baseball continues strong tradition in 2017

MOBILE, Alabama -- College baseball has been played in Mobile since at least 1889, when the students at Spring Hill College first stepped onto the diamond at Stan Galle Field. Now, more than a century later, the sport remains just as popular.

Along with the Badgers, the Jaguars at the University of South Alabama and the Rams at the University of Mobile are looking for successful campaigns. Here is a glance at their rosters:

Spring Hill College — Head coach Frank Sims, who first took the helm at SHC in 1985 and has since led the Badgers to 822 wins, had a busy off-season. During the summer, the veteran mentor was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Sims has also been overseeing the team’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Since joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Badgers have a 34-3 league record. Now in the final campaign before being able to compete for postseason berths, Sims is excited about his latest team.

“I can’t say we have that one player this year who stands above the rest,” Sims said, “but this year we have more consistent players who all play at a high level, and that will make us a better team in the long run.”

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2017 SWAC Indoor Track & Field Championship Central

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The 2017 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships will emanate from the Birmingham Crossplex Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17. All 10 member institutions of the conference will be featured.

Alabama State's women and Texas Southern's men look to defend their respective championships. ASU is vying for an unprecedented ninth straight conference crown, while TSU will try for a three-peat. SWAC.org will be your primary source for heat information as well as up-to-the-minute results and standings.

When: February 16 - 17Where: Birmingham CrossPlex 

Time: Schedule of EventsChampionship Information
Events Schedule | CrossPlex | Live Results

SWAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

ESPN3 To Broadcast Finals Of 2017 MEAC Men’s And Women’s Indoor Track And Field Championships

LANDOVER, Maryland -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the 2017 Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, Feb. 16-18, at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md.

For the first time in the event’s history, ESPN3 will stream Saturday’s action live from 1-4 p.m. EST.

"Having the finals on ESPN3 allows the conference to showcase its rich track & field history to a global audience,” said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas. “Our MEAC institutions have produced a plethora of talented student-athletes and coaches in the world of track & field over the years. Working with ESPN3 provides our student-athletes and coaches the chance to display their talents and share their stories on an expanded national platform.”

Competition will begin on Thursday at 3 p.m. with the men's heptathlon, followed by the women's 5,000m and women's long jump at 3:15 p.m. The day continues with the men's 5,000m race and semifinals of the men's and women's 200m races.

Day one concludes with the men's long jump final.

The championships continue Friday, Feb. 17, with the men's heptathlon at 9 a.m. Other field events on Friday's slate include the women's pentathlon, men's and women's high jump, and men's and women's weight throw. The student-athletes return to the track for the semifinals in the men's and women's 60m hurdles, 60m dash and 400m dash. The day closes out with the men's and women's distance medleys.

The competition concludes on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the women's shot put, men's and women's pole vault, and the men's and women's triple jump. Running events begin at 1 p.m. with the women's mile run. Rounding out the afternoon's events will be the men's and women's 4x400m relay race at 3:25 p.m.

A complete schedule of events and live statistics for the 2017 MEAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships can be found at www.MEACsports.com.

Admission for the Indoor Track and Field Championships is $5 daily, and tickets are available at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on the event dates. The second annual Soleful Gestures shoe drive will also take place on Friday and Saturday; all fans are encouraged to donate either a gently-used pair of shoes or gently-used clothing, in a 13-gallon kitchen-sized bag, in exchange for a $3 ticket.

All donations will go to the Value Village Community Donations Center in Landover Hills, Md.

The MEAC has a storied track & field history in its 47 years of existence with 30-plus former student-athletes and coaches representing their respective countries in various Olympic Games. This past summer, nine former MEAC student-athletes participated in the Rio Olympics.

For the latest on the 2017 MEAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, log on to www.MEACsports.com.

MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Bryan Henry: Game week for baseball Rattlers

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It is game week!

Man, it feels good to say that. I can’t wait for Friday afternoon. We – the Florida A&M Rattlers – welcome Wofford, a member of the Southern Conference, to town for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is 4 p.m. at Moore-Kittles Field on the campus of FAMU. Like always, admission to the game is free so come on out and support the Rattlers.

We got hit with a little bit of bad news leading up to our season opener.

Jacky Miles Jr, our starting catcher and pre-season All MEAC selection, will miss the season due to an injury. That was a tough pill to swallow when we were told the news. Jacky is a pretty big piece to the puzzle for us. He was a three hole hitter and hit .328 last year with four home-runs. We are looking forward to having him back next season, healthy and ready to go.

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Waiver yet to be secured for early HBCU game -Texas Southern at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The inaugural Jake Gaither Classic could have quite the spotlight this season, but Florida A&M and Texas Southern still need to take steps for it to occur Aug. 26.

Both schools recently announced the meeting in the early season opener at Fort Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The date is the Saturday prior to the traditional start of the season, which is the Thursday preceding Labor Day.

To play an early opener, Florida A&M and Texas Southern, two of the nation's historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, want to use the "FCS First Contest Exception" in the NCAA Bylaws. It allows for two non-conference programs to face each other as long as they are playing in a nationally televised contest (broadcast or cable, not Internet-only).

NCAA spokesman J.D. Hamilton said neither Florida A&M, from the MEAC, nor Texas Southern, from the SWAC, has contacted the governing body for the necessary waiver to play on Aug. 26. Also, a broadcast network has yet to be announced, said Elliott Charles, Florida A&M's deputy director of athletics.



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Johnson C. Smith and Saint Augustine's Make History with 2017 Indoor Track & Field Titles

LYNCHBURG, Virginia – Saint Augustine’s University captured its 20th straight men’s crown while Johnson C. Smith University won its first-ever title in the CIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Liberty University Indoor Track Facility on Monday, February 13.

The Falcons scored 187 points to pull away from Virginia State University (122 points) and Virginia Union University (109 points) in the men’s division. Johnson C. Smith scored 45.5 points, Bowie State University had 36 points and Livingstone College scored 32 points while Lincoln (Pa.) University finished with 25.5 points.

The Golden Bulls tallied 155 points to win the title over two-time defending champion Winston-Salem State (142 points) and Saint Augustine’s (131.5 points). Lincoln (Pa.) totaled 22 points, Bowie State had 18 points, and Livingstone scored 17 points while Virginia Union marked 10 points.

Immanuel Hutchinson of Saint Augustine’s was named Men’s Track MVP and Dajawn Williams of Virginia State was selected Men’s Field MVP. Hutchinson won the mile run, the 5,000 run and anchored the winning distance medley relay team in addition to placing second in the 800 run. Williams placed first in the pole vault and the high jump and was second in the Heptathlon.

Fellan Ferguson of Johnson C. Smith was the Women’s Track MVP and Shakera Hall of Saint Augustine’s was the Women’s Field MVP. Ferguson was victorious in three individual events – the 800 run, the 3,000 run and the one-mile run - and was a member of the winning distance medley relay team and the 4x400 relay squad. Hall won the Pentathlon and was third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump.

Williams and Hutchinson were among several winners in the men’s division. Men's gold medalists include Jumonne Exeter of Saint Augustine’s (long jump, triple jump), Micah Todd of Virginia State (Heptathlon), Khari Herbert, Jr. of Saint Augustine’s (400 dash), Justin Hunter of Virginia Union (60 dash), Shaquille Dill of Saint Augustine’s (800 run), Shawn Rowe of Saint Augustine’s (60 hurdles), Omar Johnson of Saint Augustine’s (200 dash) and Kelvin Johnson of Livingstone (shot put). Johnson C. Smith won the 4x400 relay race.

Ferguson and Hall were among several winners in the women’s division including Shakinah Brooks of Saint Augustine’s (long jump), Tovia Jenkins of Johnson C. Smith (400 dash), Ornella Livingston of Saint Augustine’s (60 dash), Tia-Adana Belle of Saint Augustine’s (60 hurdles), Ty-Leah Hampton of Winston-Salem State (200 dash), Mikel Franklin of Winston-Salem State (high jump), Shamaz Quince of Johnson C. Smith (triple jump) and Phontavia Sawyer of Virginia State (shot put).

The 2017 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament is the next conference championship to be held February 21-25 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The basketball championship will be held in two great venues and will include 22 action packed games, celebrity performances, giveaways, and more! Purchase your tickets today by visiting ciaatournament.org.

Final Results



CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

UL Lafayette adds Grambling State to 2018 football schedule

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have added the Grambling State Tigers to their 2018 football schedule, the school announced on Monday.

UL Lafayette will host Grambling State at Cajun Field to open the 2018 season on Sept. 1. The game will be the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the two Louisiana schools.

Grambling State is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Association (SWAC) in the FCS. The Tigers had a stellar season in 2016, finishing 11-1 overall, 9-0 in SWAC play, and winning the SWAC Championship Game over Alcorn State and the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl over NC Central.

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Grambling schedule features new HBCU opponent

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- A move from a nine-game league schedule to a seven-game slate will allow Grambling's football program to play in another HBCU Classic-type of game in 2017.

Grambling, which finalized its full 11-game schedule over the weekend, will play Clark Atlanta, a Division II HBCU program from Georgia, either in Atlanta or Chicago at Soldier Field, according to a copy of the schedule obtained by The News-Star. The matchup adds another big-city stop for the Tigers, who play annual games in Dallas and New Orleans and have recently played a home game in Shreveport.

Grambling and Clark Atlanta are scheduled to meet Sept. 30. Grambling's three other neutral site games include an Oct. 7 date with Prairie View A&M at the State Fair Classic in Dallas, an Oct. 28 meeting with Texas Southern as part of the Red River Classic in Shreveport and, of course, the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans against Southern on Nov. 25.

 GSU to play at UL Lafayette in 2018

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Gold Nuggets end Lady Rams' win streak at six games

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana trailed for just 31 seconds Saturday — never after the second minute — and rolled to a streak-ending 61-52 women's basketball victory against the University of Mobile.

The Gold Nuggets (14-10), led by 19 points in the fourth quarter, stopped their 3-game losing streak and snapped the 6-game winning streak of the Lady Rams (14-9).

Freshman Jalyn Hodge was XULA's lone double-figure scorer. Hodge had 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and led the Gold Nuggets in scoring for the second time this season.

Maya Trench, Jayla Nichols and Rosie Davis scored nine points apiece for XULA. Trench had four assists, Nichols grabbed seven rebounds, and Davis made a game-high three 3-pointers. Kelsee Singleton and Gina Smith grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Jordan Coleman had three steals.

"This was one of our best efforts of the season," said coach Bo Browder, who is 426-164 in his 18th season at XULA. "We came out focused and stayed focused for 40 minutes. Our defense and rebounding were strong. It was not one of our best shooting days, but we made eight 3s, and that was a blessing."

Starla Daggan scored 12 points and had five steals for Mobile, and Sydney Westry and Kali Koenig scored 10 apiece. Daggan entered the game averaging 20.3 points for the season, and Koenig was averaging 15.4. They were a combined 4-of-24 from the floor — 2-of-12 on 3-pointers — against XULA.

XULA outshot the Lady Rams 37.7 to 28.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 49-32. XULA limited Mobile to its second-fewest points in a game this season.

XULA led 27-24 at halftime. Trench scored seven points during a 14-2 run that gave the Gold Nuggets a 55-36 lead with 6:06 remaining.

The Gold Nuggets will play three times next week: 5:30 p.m. Monday at SUNO, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at home against Stillman, and 2 p.m. Saturday at Dillard.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
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XULA Athletics lends a hand during local storm cleanup

Facebook photos

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics — student-athletes from multiple sports, along with coaches, managers and family members — assisted with cleanup Saturday following a tornado in New Orleans East four days earlier.

XULA Director of Tennis Alan Green said the group volunteered for approximately three hours.

"I really wanted to do this today because the tornado hit the exact location of where I grew up," Green said. "The tornado hit my elementary school and displaced the students for the rest of the school year. I took the crew I was with to my childhood home. The people living there now have no power, but everyone is OK.

"I only wish we could have stayed longer. The people were so nice and grateful. The first chance I get, I'm going back to help someone, anyone."

The National Weather Service said New Orleans East was hit Tuesday by an EF-3 tornado with minimum wind speeds of 136 miles per hour. The tornado is the most powerful to hit Orleans Parish since record-keeping started in 1950.

It's the second time this school year that XULA Athletics assisted after a natural disaster. Department representatives, including student-athletes, traveled to Baton Rouge, La., in August to help with cleanup following record flooding.

XULA teams compete in the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

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

NCCU Eagles Shoot Lights Out to Beat S.C. State

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University shot over 50 percent from the floor for the second consecutive game, as the Eagles nailed 52.6 percent of their shots to beat South Carolina State, 85-62 at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11.

NCCU (18-6, 9-1 MEAC) got it going early for its ninth-straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win, as the maroon and gray hit exactly half of their shots in the first 20 minutes. The Eagles went on two separate double-digit unanswered point runs in the first half, one of 10 points and the second was 11 points to put NCCU ahead of SCSU (7-17, 4-7 MEAC) 40-25 at the midway point.



Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) had a strong first half as he exploded for 15 points on his way to scoring 27 points for a second consecutive game, a game-high. Cole also collected six rebounds and eight assists with one of the beneficiaries being Del'vin Dickerson (Houston, Texas) who scored 20 points for the second time this year, along with eight rebounds.

NCCU shot a blistering 55.2 percent from the floor in the second period, and over the course of the game the Eagles shot 90 percent from the free throw line by going 18-for-20. 90 percent from the charity stripe is tied for the fifth-highest performance in the Division I era.

Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) finished with 12 points and Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) was the fourth Eagle to score in double-digits with 11 points with four assists.

SCSU had three players in double-figures, Tashombe Riley (Orangeburg, S.C.) with 15 points, Edward Stephens (Columbia, S.C.) with 15 as well, and Eric Eaves (Columbia, S.C.) put up 13 points.

NCCU looks for its 10th consecutive win against Florida A&M on Monday, Feb. 13 at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

BOX SCORE

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Q&A: Ex-NSU star D'Shon Taylor on his stint playing basketball in Iraq

NORFOLK, Virginia -- It’s not unusual for accomplished MEAC basketball players to continue their careers overseas. Only a precious few advance to the NBA, so the rest of the players disperse to places like Italy, Israel, Greece, Lithuania and Spain. They make a decent living while seeing the world and trying to get the attention of an NBA team.

But D’Shon Taylor, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 13.3 points per game last season as a senior at Norfolk State, took a different path. As he played on the Bahamas National Team last summer, he discovered that a teammate had played two seasons in, of all places, Iraq. The teammate convinced Taylor to give it a try, and he averaged 23 points per game in one tournament and 19 in another before being released by Al-Mina, which played its home games in Basra, on Jan. 11.

As he played well over a four-month period, Taylor rejected offers from other overseas teams. He’s now staying in Norfolk as he works out and awaits his next opportunity.

As he sat for a Q&A after practicing with some of his former teammates recently at Echols Hall, Taylor discussed in his slight Bahamian accent his experience, two brushes with terrorism and what he learned about the world.

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Use Liberty Meet "To Stay Sharp"

COURTESY LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

LYNCHBURG, Virginia – With only seven athletes competing this weekend, the North Carolina A&T men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams still managed to walk away from the Liberty Elite Invitational with five wins and two new facility records.

Raking in most of the accolades for the teams were senior Chris Belcher and junior India Brown. Both Belcher and Brown championed their respective 60-meter and 200-meter races and each athlete also set a new facility record on the day.

Belcher won the men’s 200m with a sprint of 21.43. He also qualified first in the men’s 60m prelims with a time of 6.73 before finishing first in the finals in 6.72. Belcher’s time of 6.72 in the 60m finals became the new facility record as it debunked a time of 6.76 from Daniel Estrada— a non-collegiate athlete with the Platinum Sports Academy Club.

Brown secured her win in the women’s 60m after qualifying second in the prelims in 7.58 and then sprinting 7.57 in the finals. But it was Brown’s first-place 24.15 sprint in the women’s 200m that set a facility record. Before Brown, Ty-Leah Hampton of Winston-Salem State held the record at 24.77.

In addition to Belcher and Brown, junior TeQuille Jackson similarly found himself victorious. Jackson championed the men’s 60 hurdles in 8.11. The Aggies also used the Liberty Elite Invitational to secure some qualifying times before the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships, Feb. 16-18 in Landover, Md. Sophomores Yakira Love and Justin Hamilton had yet to debut in their respective individual events – the 200m and 400m – prior to running in Lynchburg, Va. However, both athletes are now top-10 on the MEAC indoor performance list.

Love’s debut of 24.48 in the women’s 200m garnered her a second-place and positioned her No. 4 in the MEAC. Hamilton, on the other hand, used a debut run of 48.68 in the men’s 400m to take fourth and rank No. 7 in the MEAC. “We came here because I didn’t want to go too far before conference,” said the director of track and field programs Duane Ross. “We were supposed to go to the Tyson Invite in Arkansas, but I think this meet served its purpose. We got a couple races in to stay sharp and now we’re back on track.”

Liberty Elite Invitational - Feb. 10-11, 2017 (Liberty Indoor Track Complex)
Complete Results

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M Strike Zone - Pilot Episode