Inside Russell Athletic's lucrative Southwestern Athletic Conference contract

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Sports apparel supplier Russell Athletics supplies hundreds of thousands of dollars in free gear every year to Southwestern Athletic Conference institutions in exchange for exclusive licensing rights.

The contract between the industry giant and the historically black universities sports collective also gives the educational institutions a $5,000 stipend for coaching gear, a $2,000 product credit for the conference commissioner, and a number of cash incentives for winning teams.

In exchange, Russell gets to supply all 10 conference schools with all apparel until June 30, 2016. Russell also gets mandatory in-stadium advertising and free tickets to basketball and football home and playoffs games among other contract provisions.

SWAC has a separate five-year deal with Nike to supply the schools with shoes and other gear. Both deals are part of an industry that generates $4.6 billion annually.

Two Alabama schools benefit from the deal: Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University. So do fellow SWAC members Alcorn State University; Grambling State University; University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Jackson State University; Mississippi Valley State University; Prairie View A&M University; Southern University & A&M College; and, Texas Southern University.

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Jackson State goes for second straight Soul Bowl victory

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Eight points separate Alcorn State from being unbeaten in the SWAC.

The Braves (7-3, 6-2 SWAC) travel to Jackson State at 2 p.m. Saturday in their "Soul Bowl" contest at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Alcorn has already clinched the Eastern Division championship and will face Grambling in the SWAC Championship Game on Dec. 5 at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

Braves coach Jay Hopson is focused on Jackson State, not looking ahead to a showdown against Grambling.

"There's not much to be said, its a rivalry game," Hopson said in a SWAC Teleconference call this week. "Jackson State's a tough team. It's always a battle. We need to be ready. We have to go prepare and do the things we have to be successful. Jackson State will be ready to play."

Jackson State (3-7, 3-5) won 34-31 last year, but Alcorn went on to win the SWAC and Black College National championships. The Tigers are hoping for a second straight upset.

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Alabama A&M vs. Texas Southern

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Louis Crews Stadium
Radio: FM 90.9
TV: None

Four-down Territory

1. Friendlier foe: After taking on two tough opponents in Southern University (6-4, 6-2, third in SWAC West Division) and Alcorn State (7-3, 6-2, first in SWAC East Division) the Bulldogs (2-8, 2-6, fourth in East) close out the season at home against Texas Southern (3-6, 2-6, fourth in West). Alabama A&M and the Tigers are closely ranked in several statistical categories. The Bulldogs are ranked seventh in the conference in total offense with 323.3 yards per game, while the Tigers are eighth with 318.2. Alabama A&M is sixth in rushing offense with 138.3 yards per game and the Tigers are seventh with 135.6. In pass offense, the Bulldogs are seventh with 185.0 yards per game and Texas Southern in eighth with 182.7.

2. Tight discipline: Alabama A&M is showing good discipline under coach James Spady in one category in particular. The Bulldogs lead the SWAC in fewest penalties with 58; in comparison, second-ranked Alabama State has 81. The Bulldogs also lead in yards penalized with 519, followed by the Hornets with 675. Alabama A&M is averaging 5.8 penalties per game and 51.9 yards per game, which also leads the conference.

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Go to The Next Level for the Bayou Classic: What’s been on Grambling’s mind for a year now?

NEW ORLEANS -- The Next Level: The last play of last year’s Bayou Classic has been on the minds of Grambling players for a year.

The Tigers trailed Southern 52-45 when they lined up inside the Jaguars’ 1-yard line with 8 seconds left and no timeouts. Johnathan Williams tried a quarterback sneak, but Southern noseguard Gabe Echols blocked his path and the Jaguars stopped Williams inches short of the goal line.

“I think about it every day,” Grambling defensive lineman Donovan McCray said. “It wasn’t a good feeling losing that game by that many yards — inches, not even yards. I’ll never forget that feeling that we as a team felt.

“It was like somebody stabbed you and took something from you.”

The Jaguars did take something from the Tigers: the Southwestern Athletic Conference West division championship.

“It ended in a tragic way for them and an exciting way for us,” Echols said.

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Les East: Grambling’ s Broderick Fobbs restores the roar after program’s recent struggles

NEW ORLEANS -- Grambling is back.

The Tigers sent notice last season they were well on their way back to football prominence when they entered the Bayou Classic in position to reach the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game. They fell short in a last-second 52-45 loss to Southern, the defending SWAC champion that claimed its second-straight division title.

But as Grambling gets ready to face the Jaguars in the 42nd Bayou Classic on Saturday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it does so as the newly crowned Western Division champion.

The Tigers will try to complete an undefeated SWAC regular season before moving on to the SWAC championship game against Alcorn State next Saturday in Houston. If they win that, they will move on to Atlanta on Dec. 19 to face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion North Carolina A&T in the inaugural Celebration Bowl.

So, yes, Grambling football is back.

It was just two years ago the Tigers hit rock bottom during one of the most humbling seasons any football program and university could ever experience — let alone one with Grambling’s pedigree.

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Bayou Classic primed for another Southern-Grambling shootout Saturday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

NEW ORLEANS -- The Bayou Classic has a new kickoff time and a new network home.

But when viewers tune in to the NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. Saturday, chances are they will see a very familiar Southern-Grambling shootout in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Both teams have standout quarterbacks, dynamic backs and receivers beaucoup and dependable lines that allow for consistent orchestration in both phases of the offense.

As a result, the Tigers (8-2, 8-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) have averaged 46.8 points in league play and the Jaguars (6-4, 6-2) have averaged 42.1. In other words, this game could be a repeat of last year’s shootout — a 52-45 Southern win that ended, oddly enough, with Grambling unable to score a tying touchdown from about 18 inches on the game’s final play.

Still, the teams combined for 995 yards, a number that might be attainable again Saturday.

“Both of us have high-powered offenses,” Jaguars receiver Mike Jones said. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a shootout and a fun game to watch. It’s basically a track meet.”


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

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XU gives No. 16 Shawnee State first loss of season

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana got career highs of 25 points from Donyeah Mayfield and 21 from Joi Simmons in a 74-70 women's basketball victory against Shawnee State in Thursday's second game of the Xavier Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (5-2), ranked 21st in NAIA Division I, rallied from 10 down in the final 11 1/2 minutes against the Bears (7-1), who are ranked 16th. It was Xavier's third victory of the season against a ranked opponent.

Simmons, a freshman, scored a basket with 1:17 remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay, 71-70. Simmons blocked a shot on the next possession, and the Gold Nuggets controlled the rebound. Emoni Harvey's steal with seven seconds remaining and Whitney Gathright's ensuing two free throws clinched the decision.

NAIA DI scoring leader Ali Zieverink was 7-of-7 from the floor in the second half and finished with 25 points for Shawnee State. Madison Ridout scored 15 points, and Abby Feuchter scored 10. The Bears led 36-33 at halftime after closing with a 7-0 run, and they took their biggest lead, 50-40, after a pair of Feuchter free throws at 1:49 of the third quarter.
     
Simmons became the first XU freshman to reach 20 points in a game since Johnna Williams on Feb. 9, 2008.
     
Shawnee State outshot Xavier 47.9 to 35.7 percent from the floor, but the Gold Nuggets were plus-14 in turnovers, a season best. They had a 23-13 advantage in points off of turnovers.
     
Xavier will play another ranked NAIA opponent, No. 18 Langston, at 5 p,m. Friday in the final game of the tournament. Shawnee State will play Dillard at 1 p.m. Langston defeated Dillard 67-55 in the opening game Thursday. Xavier seeks victories on consecutive days against ranked opponents for the first time in Bo Browder's 17 seasons as head coach.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Langston defeats Dillard in Xavier Classic opener

NEW ORLEANS — Che'Ron Lewis' 19 points and 11 rebounds led NAIA No. 18 Langston to a 67-55 women's basketball victory against Dillard in Thursday's opening game of the Xavier Classic.
     
The Lady Lions (4-1) trailed 18-15 before scoring the final 12 points of the second quarter. Dillard (3-6) rallied to take a pair of 1-point leads in the fourth period, but Lewis scored baskets on consecutive possessions to put Langston ahead to stay, 50-47, with 5:43 remaining.
     
T'Keya Mason scored 16 points for Langston, and Alexus Johnson scored 15 before fouling out on a technical at 9:13 of the fourth quarter. Johnson entered as NAIA Division I's No. 2 scorer with 23.5 points per game.
     
Alena Evans had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Dillard. Keona Favis scored 12, and Shaelynn Moore had 11.
     
Hall-of-fame player Cheryl Miller is in her second season as Langston's coach.
     
Friday in the Xavier Classic, Dillard will play NAIA No. 16 Shawnee State at 1 p.m., and Langston will play NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana at 5. Xavier beat Shawnee State 74-70 in Thursday's second game.

Date: 11/26/2015 Arena: Convocation Center
Time: 5:04 pm City, State: New Orleans, LA

VISITOR: Langston (4-1)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
NO PLAYER P FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BK S MIN
4 Johnson, Alexus F 5 11 0 2 5 6 2 3 5 5 15 2 1 1 1 19:28
11 Landry, Tangella * 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 1 2 2 3 0 0 19:50
13 Mason, T'Keya * 5 14 0 2 6 6 3 3 6 2 16 1 2 0 1 33:59
21 Patton, Jhordyn * 1 4 1 3 3 4 0 3 3 1 6 2 0 1 1 27:29
34 Lewis, Che'Ron * 8 14 0 1 3 5 2 9 11 2 19 4 1 2 1 36:17
3 Sobers, Micheda 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 1 0 0 1 14:45
24 Clark, Darreion 4 8 1 2 0 2 2 2 4 1 9 1 4 0 1 25:37
32 Carter, Sharron 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 0 3 0 0 0 22:35
TEAM 1 1 2 1
Team Totals 24 59 2 11 17 23 11 27 38 17 67 16 12 4 6 200

Total FG% - 1st: 9/32 0.281 2nd: 15/27 0.556 Game: 0.407 Deadball
3-PT FG% - 1st: 2/9 0.222 2nd: 0/2 0.000 Game: 0.182 Rebounds
Total FT% - 1st: 7/10 0.700 2nd: 10/13 0.769 Game: 0.739 (3,2)

HOME: Dillard (3-6)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
NO PLAYER P FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BK S MIN
45 Favis, Keona F 5 10 0 0 2 4 2 3 5 4 12 2 0 0 0 34:09
1 Lumar, Shantrell G 2 5 0 1 4 4 0 2 2 4 8 3 4 0 2 30:30
3 Moore, Shaelynn G 3 11 3 9 2 4 0 1 1 1 11 3 1 0 2 40:00
31 Evans, Alena G 5 16 0 0 4 6 3 8 11 3 14 4 1 0 1 35:10
32 Washington, Alyssa G 3 10 2 3 0 0 1 5 6 4 8 1 4 0 0 25:55
4 Burras, Bria 0 4 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 4:02
5 Lee, Benita 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4:40
11 Ademosu, Rashida 1 2 0 0 0 2 4 3 7 4 2 1 1 0 0 10:13
21 Walker, Kaylynn 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 9:31
42 Reyes, Raven 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 5:50
TEAM 2 1 3 0
Team Totals 19 60 5 18 12 20 14 27 41 24 55 15 13 0 5 200

Total FG% - 1st: 6/30 0.200 2nd: 13/30 0.433 Game: 0.317 Deadball
3-PT FG% - 1st: 2/13 0.154 2nd: 3/5 0.600 Game: 0.278 Rebounds
Total FT% - 1st: 4/10 0.400 2nd: 8/10 0.800 Game: 0.600 (6,0)

Technical Fouls: LU (1) 4th 09:13 4 Alexus Johnson
: DU (2) 1st 00:07 Coach, 4th 02:06 Coach

OFFICIALS : Isaac Johnson Robert Brown Jean Credit
ATTENDANCE : 124

SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th TOTAL
Langston 13 14 17 23 67
Dillard 11 7 21 16 55

Last FG: Langston 4th-01:55, Dillard 4th-00:30
Largest lead: Langston by 15 4th-01:21, Dillard by 3 1st-02:42
Score tied: 3 times, Lead changed: 9 times

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
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Breaking down Saturday's game:

The Setup

Alcorn State has already the SWAC East Division title, so bragging rights are the only thing the Braves are playing for in this game. JSU currently holds those rights after beating Alcorn State, 34-31, last season. The Tigers have won four of the past five matchups in this series and want another victory against their rivals.

Quarterback Jarin Morikawa struggled in the Texas wind against Prairie View A&M last week. He’ll need a bounce-back performance in what may be Derrick McCall’s last game as JSU’s coach. McCall, the Tigers interim coach, has posted a 2-3 record since he took over for Harold Jackson, who won the only game he coached against the Braves.

3 THINGS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Will the Tigers fix defensive issues?

JSU’s defense has struggled against the SWAC’s top teams. The Tigers surrendered 50 points to Southern, 59 to Grambling and 56 last week to Prairie View A&M. Alcorn State’s offensive attack compares well to those, so JSU will have to step up on the defensive side of the ball. The defense could get some help if the offense were to sustain some drives, too.

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Washington State Hosts Texas Southern Saturday

Saturday’s game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks, 6 PM PT 

PULLMAN, Washington -- Washington State University men’s basketball (3-0) will continue its season-opening homestand as it hosts Texas Southern (1-4), Saturday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum.

• Saturday’s game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks as Greg Heister (play-by-play) and Dan Dickau (color analyst) have the call.
• Matt Chazanow, in his first season with Cougar basketball, will have the call on the Washington State IMG Radio Network...please see the list of affiliates on page one of today’s notes.
• Live updates can be found on Twitter by following @WSUMensHoops, the official Twitter account of Washington State men’s basketball.

COUGARS VERSUS TIGERS:
• Saturday marks the second all-time meeting between Washington State and Texas Southern, as WSU holds a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the lone meeting, 88-75, Dec. 9, 1989 at Moscow, Idaho for the Palouse Classic.
• Texas Southern is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and is one of 10 in the league.
• WSU has previously faced nine of the 10 SWAC schools, and has not lost at 18-0 all-time against the league.
• Two seasons ago WSU faced Mississippi Valley State, Dec. 28, 2013, coming out victorious by a score of 85-48.
• Since the 2010-11 season, the Cougars have taken on four other SWAC schools, including Arkansas Pine Bluff (2012), Jackson State (2012), Grambling State (2011), and Southern (2010).

HAWKINSON PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF:
• Junior Josh Hawkinson picked up right where he left off at the end of the 2014-15 season, notching his 21st career double-double in the season opener, followed by his 22nd double-double in the second game of the season.
• Hawkinson finished with 15 points, tying the game high, and a game-high 11 rebounds in the opener.
• In WSU’s game against Idaho State, Nov. 20, Hawkinson had 19 points and 14 rebounds, his most rebounds since also grabbing 14 at UCLA, March 1, 2014.
• Hawkinson now has four-straight games with a double-double after notching double-doubles in WSU’s final two games of the season last year against Colorado (March 7) and California (March 11).

WINNING EARLY:
• WSU’s 3-0 start is its best since starting 3-0 in 2012-13.
• It has not won its first four games of the season since 2010-11 when WSU started 5-0 before falling to No. 5 Kansas State.

VIONT’E DANIELS’ BIG DEBUT:
• The new season brought seven new faces to the court for the Cougars, as all seven saw action in the season opener against Northern Arizona, Nov. 13.
• Although none of the newcomers started, freshman Viont’e Daniels played the second-most minutes on the team with 23 and tied the game high with 15 points.
• The 6-2 guard was a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range, becoming the first freshman to do so.
• A freshman was perfect from 3-point range when making 3 or more eight other times in WSU history, but none of those freshmen made more than 4 3-pointers.
• The last time a freshman was perfect from 3-point range when making 3 or more was Feb. 9, 2012 when DaVonté Lacy went 3-for-3 at Oregon State.
• Through three games, Daniels is fifth on the team with 8.3 points per game while shooting .529 (9-for-17) from the field and .538 (7-for-13) from 3-point range.
• He started against Idaho State, Nov. 20.

SUGGS MAKING A DIFFERENT TOO:
• Junior college transfer, junior Renard Suggs, has had an immediate impact for the Cougars too as he’s the only WSU player to reach double-figure scoring in all three games this season.
• Suggs ranks fourth on the team with 10.3 points per game, after scoring 11 in the season opener and 10 against Idaho State, Nov. 20 and Cal State LA., Nov. 24.
• On top of that, the 6-2 guard is third on the team with 4.3 rebounds an outing while shooting .500 (12-for-24) from the field.

BLOCK PARTY:
• Through just three games the Cougars have blocked 15 shots, averaging 6.7 blocks per game.
• Although just two games in, as of Nov. 25, WSU was 14th in the nation as a team in blocks per game.
• Heading up the block party is junior transfer Valentine Izundu who is averaging 4.3 blocks per game (which leads the nation).
• The school record for blocks average in a season is 3.0 set by James Donaldson in 1978...he had a school-record 82 blocks that season.
• To put that in perspective, if Izundu can continue to average 4.3 blocks per game and plays 31 games, he’d finish with 133 blocked shots, which wold set thet school record.
• Izundu had 4 blocks in the first game of the season against NAU and 6 in the Nov. 20 meeting with Idaho State...the school record for blocks in a game is 10, also set by Donaldson, Dec. 6, 1977.

ABOUT THE 2015-16 COUGARS:
• WSU head coach Ernie Kent is in his second season after leading the Cougars to their most Pac-12 wins since 2011-12 with a 7-11 league mark in 2014-15.
• The Cougars return three starters in junior guard Ike Iroegbu, his classmate, forward, Josh Hawkinson and sophomore guard Ny Redding. • WSU loses leading scorer DaVonté Lacy to graduation, but Hawkinson returns as the leading scorer and rebounder after averaging 14.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game a year ago.
• Hawkinson made his mark on WSU history as he led the nation with 8.7 defensive rebounds per game and was fourth in the NCAA with 20 double-doubles.
• He broke WSU single season records for double-doubles as well as rebounds, marks that had stood for 48 and 51 years, respectively.
• He needs just 156 rebounds to break into WSU’s career top-20 and is on pace to set a WSU career rebounding record held by Steve Puidokas (1974-77) with 992.
• Iroegbu and senior forward Junior Longrus are looking to move up in WSU’s career record books as well, as Longrus is tied for 18th on WSU’s blocked shots list with 55 and Iroegbu needs just 75 more assists to break into the WSU career top-20.
• Also returning for the Cougars are senior Brett Boese and redshirt junior Que Johnson.
• Boese had his best output of his career last season as a junior, averaging 4.3 points per game, while shooting .361 from beyond the 3-point arc.
• Johnson put up 6.1 points a game, while shooting the highest mark from the charity stripe with a .854 clip.
• Redshirt junior Valentine Izundu will make his game debut for the Cougars this season after sitting out the 2014-15 season due to NCAA rules after transferring from Houston.
• Izundu averaged 2.0 points and 1.1 blocks in just 8.0 minutes per game at Houston as a freshman in 2012-13.
• Joining the Cougars are four junior college transfers and two true freshmen.
• Juniors Conor Clifford, Charles Callison and Renard Suggs and sophomore Derrien King make up the group of transfers.
• A 7-foot-center, Clifford was named the Southern California (SoCal) and Orange Empire Conference MVPs at Saddleback College last season.
• A 6-foot-point guard, Callison was named the Foothill Conference’s MVP, as well as the 2014 Press-Enterprise Area College Men’s Athlete of the Year following his sophomore Year at San Bernardino Valley College.
• A 6-2 guard, Suggs led Gillette College to JUCO Nationals last season, averaging 13.5 points per game.
• King, a 6-6 guard, averaged 11.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and shot .417 from the field at Santa Monica College last season.
• Guard Viont’e Daniels and forward Robert Franks make up the freshman class.
• The Washington 4A State Player of the Year, Daniels averaged 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior at Federal Way High School.
• Franks was named an Associated Press All-State honorable mention honoree at Vancouver’s Evergreen High School last season.

ERNIE KENT ENTERS SECOND SEASON WITH THE COUGARS:
• Veteran head coach and former Fox Sports and Pac-12 Networks basketball analyst was named the 18th head coach in WSU men’s basketball history, March 31, 2014.
• Kent came to Pullman with a 325-254 (.561) mark as a head coach, having spent six seasons at the helm for Saint Mary’s in Moraga, Calif., and 13 at Oregon.
• In his 13 years at Oregon, Kent compiled a 235-174 (.575) record and a 109-125 (.466) conference mark.
• His 109 conference wins rank 17th most in Pac-12 history (including Pacific-8 and Pacific-10 Conferences).
• While at Oregon, Kent led the Ducks to seven postseason appearances, including five NCAA Tournament Appearances (2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008) as well as a Pac-10 regular-season (2002) and two conference tournament (2003, 2007) titles.
• Kent’s first season with the Cougars wasn’t much different than his first with the Ducks, as he led Oregon to a 13-14 overall record and 8-10 league mark as Oregon finished sixth in the then-Pacific-10 Conference...he led WSU to a 13-18 overall record and 7-11 league mark.

LAST OUTING:
• Junior transfer Conor Clifford scored a WSU-high 18 points while tying his career high, set while at UC Irvine against Pacifica, Nov. 15, 2012.
• Clifford was 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line while grabbing 5 rebounds.
• Redshirt junior Que Johnson scored in double-figures for the second time in the three games this season with 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field.
• Johnson added a career-high 3 steals.
• Ike Iroegbu had a career-high 7 rebounds…his previous high was 6 done four times, including WSU’s last outing against Idaho State…he led the team in rebounding for the fourth time in his career.
• Iroegbu was in double-figure scoring for the second-straight game with 10 points.
• Sophomore Derrien King’s 3 points are a career high, previous high was 2…he made his first career field goal.
• Junior Renard Suggs has scored in double figures all three games of his career, finishing with 10 points.
• WSU’s .538 field goal percentage is its best since shooting .553 from the field against Washington, Feb. 22, 2015.
• WSU moves to 3-0 for the first time the 2012-13 season.
• Tuesday marked the first meeting between WSU and Cal State Los Angeles.
• WSU leading scorer and rebounder, Josh Hawkinson, did not play due to injury.

COURTESY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Jackson State seniors seek one final high note

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The early years of defensive end Teddrick Terrell’s career at Jackson State featured a lot of team success.

Terrell was a member of Tigers teams that played in the SWAC title game in 2012 and 2013.

He looked back at his favorite memories as the end of his collegiate career approaches when JSU (3-7, 3-5 SWAC) prepares for Senior Day and its rivalry game against Alcorn State (7-3, 6-2), which will kick off at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“(My top memory) would probably be my earlier years,” Terrell said. “Then, I didn’t understand and didn’t know the importance of how everything was going. Playing in those championship games was a blessing for me.”

JSU has hit a rough patch during Terrell’s last two seasons on campus, though. The Tigers have gone 8-14 the past two years entering this game against the Braves.

CONTINUE READING

Bowl game gives N.C. A&T the gift of extra practice time

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- N.C. A&T will play in the inaugural Celebration Bowl next month, and one of the fringe benefits for the young Aggies is time.

A&T will represent the MEAC in the bowl game, playing the SWAC champion at noon Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast live on ABC (WXLV-45).

By extending the season four weeks, A&T gets the equivalent of an extra training camp worth of practice.

“One of the things I’ve done in the past when we’ve had a bowl game is really work on developing our young guys,” A&T coach Rod Broadway said. “We’re a young team anyway, so it plays hand in hand. This is a great opportunity for us.”

By the end of the regular season, the Aggies featured just two seniors among the top 22 players on its offensive depth chart. Four freshmen and three sophomores started on offense in Saturday’s 21-16 loss to N.C. Central.

CONTINUE READING

Kentucky State Women's Basketball Ranked 25th in Division II Media Poll

FRANKFORT, Kentucky  -- Kentucky State made its first appearance of the season in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Media Poll, checking in at No. 25 nationally upon the release of the latest installment of the poll on Tuesday.

The Thorobrettes opened the season with a strong showing in the C.Y. Russell Classic over the weekend, defeating Fisk University 87-68 on Friday and topping Kentucky Wesleyan 79-59 on Saturday. The results were enough to propel Kentucky State into the poll after not receiving any votes in the first week.

Additionally, Kentucky State moved up to third in the South Region Poll after being ranked seventh in the preseason and fourth last week. Kentucky State was one of three South Region teams to appear in the national poll, with Nova Southeastern ranking fourth and Union co
ming in at 11th. Emporia State tops the national poll, followed by Lewis and Alaska Anchorage.

The Thorobrettes return to action when they travel to Louisville to face Bellarmine at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The full NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Media Poll can be found HERE.

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tuskegee, Slater seek upset of UNA Lions

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- An excellent season appeared to fall apart for Tuskegee as the Golden Tigers lost 26-23 to Miles in the final game of their regular season.

The loss not only kept the Golden Tigers from playing for the SIAC championship, it also put their hopes of an NCAA Division II playoff berth in jeopardy.

But Tuskegee did earn a playoff bid as the No. 6 seed in Super Region 2. The Golden Tigers then went out and beat No. 3 seed Catawba on the road in the first round to claim the first Division II playoff win in school history.

Next up for Tuskegee (9-2) is No. 2 seed North Alabama (9-2).

The two teams will meet in a second-round playoff game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Braly Stadium.

“I was so happy for our kids to get that win,” coach Willie Slater said. “It gave us some redemption for the loss to Miles.

“That loss was very tough for us. Not to take anything away from Miles, but we helped them out a lot. That’s what hurt the most — that we gave it away. But it was good to see our guys come back and perform so well last week.”

CONTINUE READING 

Texas Southern downs UTSA on Wednesday afternoon, 91-80

LAS VEGAS, Nevada  —  Ryan Bowie and J.R. Harris combined for 43 points, but Texas Southern went on a 20-4 run in the second half to score a 91-80 win on Wednesday afternoon in the consolation game on of the Men Who Speak Up Main Event.

Bowie went 9-of-15 from the floor to finish with 22 points, his third game of at least 20 points this season, for the Roadrunners (1-5). Harris connected on 6-of-9 from behind the arc for his season-high 21 points, while George Matthews added a career-best 10 points off the bench.

Meanwhile, David Blanks and Chris Thomas led the Tigers (1-4) with 23 points apiece. Texas Southern shot 51 percent in the contest and attempted 41 more free throws than UTSA.

Nick Allen extended a 42-35 halftime lead with a drive to the basket and layup on the Roadrunners’ first possession of the second half and another layup from Bowie with 18:15 to play gave UTSA a 48-39 advantage.

However, that’s when the Tigers rattled off their 20-4 run to take the lead for good.

Blanks scored eight points during the stretch and his 3-pointer with 15:10 on the clock gave Texas Southern a 51-50 lead, which was its first advantage since early in the first half.

Bowie slowed the run with an inside basket, but Thomas hit a trey and capped the spurt with a pair of free throws for a 59-52 cushion.

The Tigers answered every charge by the Roadrunners in the final eight minutes.

Harris tried to keep UTSA close with three consecutive 3-pointers and a pair of Bowie free throws trimmed the Tigers lead to 81-75 with 1:39 remaining in the contest. Another Harris trey cut the deficit to 85-80 with 1:02 left, but the Roadrunners would get no closer.

Texas Southern enjoyed a healthy advantage at the foul line all afternoon and went 4-of-6 from the charity stripe in the final minute to salt away the 91-80 final.

Austin Karrer’s 3-pointer helped UTSA jump out to a 7-1 lead and another triple from Matthews pushed the cushion to 12-5 in the early minutes. The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to tie the score and Texas Southern took its first lead, 15-14, with 13:33 to play in the half.

The Roadrunners quickly regained the upper hand as Nick Billingsley ignited a 10-1 spurt with a jumper. Harris sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a basket inside from A.J. Cockrell to extend the lead to 24-16 with 10 minutes remaining in the period.

After the Tigers had trimmed the UTSA lead to 26-23, Bowie and Matthews teamed up to give the Roadrunners their first double-digit cushion of the day with seven straight points. Bowie knocked in a 17-foot jumper before Matthews connected on a layup and 3-pointer for a 33-23 lead.

The Roadrunners would noCt trail for the rest of the half and they took a 42-35 lead to intermission.

UTSA will be back in action at 6 p.m. on Sunday when it opens its home slate against UT Permian Basin (3-2).

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO ATHLETICS

A BOWL TO CELEBRATE? SCSU, MEAC left to wonder why conference shut out of FCS playoffs

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Has the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference uninvited itself to the party?

Having an automatic qualifying berth to the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for years had given MEAC programs a fighting chance to put their best team into the field to play for the national trophy.

But this past offseason, the MEAC decided to relinquish the conference’s automatic qualifier status. This was done in favor of signing an agreement with the Southwestern Athletic Conference to send both conferences’ regular-season champions to the newly created Celebration Bowl, set for Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.



Fast forward to this past Sunday when the FCS playoff bids were announced, and no MEAC school is in the mix — not Bethune-Cookman (9-2 record), not North Carolina A&T (9-2 record) or even N.C. Central (8-3 record).

Granted, N.C. A&T won the tiebreaker to represent the MEAC in the inaugural Celebration Bowl, which will be broadcast live at noon on ABC television affiliates nationwide. The Aggies will take on the SWAC Championship winner from a game between Alcorn State and Grambling State, which will be played on Dec. 5.

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XULA Friday game vs. CAU Panthers moved to Convocation Center

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Tuesday a venue and time change for its men's basketball game against Clark Atlanta University.
     
The Gold Rush and Panthers will play at 7 p.m. Friday at XU's Convocation Center. There will be no admission charge. The game originally was scheduled for noon at SUNO as one of three games in the Big Easy Hardwood Classic, but that event was canceled.
     
It will be the first meeting of Xavier and Clark Atlanta since an 84-72 XU victory at The Barn on Nov. 22, 2004. It also will be the last of four games Friday at Xavier. The other three are in the Xavier Classic, with two women's games — including Xavier vs. Langston at 5 p.m. — and a high school girls game.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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LSUS defeats Gold Rush 65-55 in matchup of ranked teams

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Lyndale James scored 19 points, and LSU-Shreveport used two runs in the final seven minutes to defeat Xavier University of Louisiana 65-55 in men's basketball Tuesday.

The Pilots, ranked 14th in NAIA Division I, are 3-2. The Gold Rush, ranked 19th, are 6-2.

A Morris Wright 3-pointer with 7:03 remaining gave Xavier its final lead, 48-47. LSUS scored the next eight points and took the lead for good, 49-48, on Manny Martin's basket at 6:41. Another Wright 3-pointer trimmed the Pilots' lead to 55-53 at 3:12, but LSUS answered with another 8-0 run.

James was 9-of-13 from the floor and had seven rebounds and two steals. Tyrell Springer had 14 points, six assists and five steals for the Pil ots, Manny Martin scored 12, and Josh Walker had 10 points and nine rebounds.

For Xavier, Wright scored 22 points, 15 in the second half, and made four 3-pointers. RJ Daniels scored 14. Elex Carter blocked a career-best four shots — it was his sixth consecutive game with multiple blocks — and Gary Smith grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.

LSUS scored 13 consecutive points after Wright opened the game with a 3-pointer and led 28-24 at halftime.

Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor. The Pilots were plus-4 on turnovers and outrebounded the Gold Rush 40-34.

It was the teams' first meeting since the 2012 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship in Kansas City, Mo., and their first regular-season meeting since 2010. They'll meet again at 5 p.m. Dec. 29 in the Gold Rush Holiday Classic. The Pilots lead the series 13-3.

Next for Xavier will be a 7 p.m. Friday game against NCAA Division II's Clark Atlanta at the Convocation Center.

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

SWAC Football Teleconference - Week 13

Alabama A&M - James Spady 

Alabama State - Brian Jenkins

Alcorn State - Jay Hopson

Jackson State  - Derrick McCall

Mississippi Valley State - Rick Comegy

Prairie View A&M - Willie Simmons

Grambling State - Broderick Fobbs

Southern - Dawson Odums

Texas Southern - Darrell Asberry

Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Monte Coleman

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Lemon squeezes more of his talent to push JCSU Golden Bulls

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Stedmon Lemon thought he knew it all.

In Lemon’s first season at Johnson C. Smith, the junior college transfer flashed brilliant offensive skills to earn all-CIAA recognition but didn’t always buy into coach Steve Joyner’s team-first concept. So, Lemon thought long and hard about his role with the Golden Bulls and decided to become more coachable.

“Last year I had a lot to say back,” he said. “This year, I’m trying to take a lot more in and trying to listen to become a better player because at the end of the day, I need him more than he needs me.”

The change in attitude is paying ...

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FAMU Lady Rattlers Upend Kennesaw 69-67 In Overtime

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – It took an extra frame, but the Lady Rattlers of FAMU (2-3, 0-0 MEAC), defeated the Owls of Kennesaw State (2-4), 69-67 on a put-back by Khadejra Young. The game marked the first contest played in the Lawson Center under the new four quarter rule implemented this season by the NCAA.

Shalaunda Burney-Robinson had the hot hand for the Lady Rattlers, pacing the team in the first half. Head coach LeDawn Gibson credited her development as a sophomore to focusing on her play in the off season. “Shalaunda’s play was key for us getting off to a good start. Her improvement was expected this season as we were able to concentrate on her in the off season. Bringing back coach Latasha Shipman-Ganus was huge as well, as she specializes in teaching players how to maneuver in the post,” Gibson said.

Burney-Robinson and Young both led the Rattlers with 15 points each. Olivia Antilla scored 14 points and Cedricka Sweeting added 11 to round out the foursome of double-figure scorers. Burney-Robinson also led the Rattlers with eight rebounds, while also collecting two assists.

The Owls were led by Taylor Smith, who led all scorers with 17 points. Deandrea Sawyers had 12, Jasmine McAllister had 11 and Iceis Walker chipped in 10 to lead the Owls. McAllister would grab a game-high 13 rebounds to round out her double-double on the night.

The Rattlers led 21-17 after the first quarter and took a 34-32 lead into halftime. After the third quarter the score was 51-48 in favor of FAMU. At the end of regulation, the teams were tied at 63.

Gibson is please with the depth on her team. “Last season, I really couldn’t look down my bench and feel confident that the players we were putting in could get the job done. We had three key players lost before the season began. This season, I can look down with confidence and substitute at any position. That makes the difference in how we can stay in games. I’m proud of our ladies for hanging in there when we needed to,” Gibson said.

The Rattlers were dominated by KSU last season 79-58 in Kennesaw, Ga. The turnaround for this year’s team was not lost on the players. “We definitely felt like we owed them something for the way we got blown out last year,” Young said.



What’s next: The Lady Rattlers will travel to Kennesaw to play in the Kennesaw Tournament, Nov. 28-29.

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COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE BRIGHT SIDE: Despite losing record, Savannah State football team makes strides

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Earnest Wilson remains optimistic about building a winning football program at Savannah State. He’s in it for the long haul like a marathon runner stepping up to the starting line.

This isn’t the beginning for the Tigers’ third-year coach. Wilson now has two recruiting classes in place. He’s encouraged about his players’ improvement and strengthened by opposing coaches’ praise.

If ever there was a coach to run with the challenge of building a program at Savannah State, Wilson is the guy.

“I know I’m the right man for the job,” he said, after the season ended Saturday against South Carolina State.

The 2015 campaign had some incremental progress from the previous year — one more win, an offense producing four more points and 12 more offensive yards a game, a defense giving up 11 yards and three points less a game.

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HBCU notebook: B-CU's Williams puts bow on stellar senior season

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- When longtime intrastate rivals Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M battle in the annual Florida Classic in Orlando, Florida, it’s usually expected that a player on one of these teams is going to have a big-time performance.

This season’s matchup didn’t disappoint.

Bethune-Cookman quarterback Quentin Williams put on quite a show last Saturday at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for another score to lead the Wildcats to a 35-14 victory over the Rattlers.

The 5-foot-11, 209-pound senior completed 15 of 18 passes for 226 yards, helping B-CU grab a share of its fourth consecutive MEAC championship. Williams also earned ESPN.com HBCU Player of the Week honors. B-CU shares the conference title with North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T. The Wildcats finished the season 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the MEAC.

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Grambling's resurgence has Williams' fingerprints, Fobbs' passion

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- There's an elephant in the room during this spectacular season at Grambling State, a campaign in which the Tigers have won eight straight heading into this weekend's Bayou Classic before a trip to the SWAC championship game the following week.

With every touchdown catch by Chad Williams and every kick return by Ka'Jandre Domino, there's been a keen observer of the Tigers residing in the nation's capital. And Doug Williams can only imagine what it would have been like coaching those players.

"You think about the success that they're having, you gotta think about the job that the coaches I brought in there did recruiting, because the guys that are making plays... every receiver we brought in there, except one," Williams said. "So we expected them to be doing what they're doing."

It was just two years ago that Williams was let go by the Tigers during a tumultuous 2013 season best remembered for players refusing to play a game against Jackson State for a myriad of issues including subpar facilities, poor allocation of travel money and long road trips. It was a complete bottoming out for a program once considered the gold standard for historically black colleges under the legendary Eddie Robinson.

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Who has SWAC’s best skill players?

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Before the season started, Southern coach Dawson Odums talked up the Jaguars’ wide receiver corps as not only one of the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference but in the country.

“We’re very talented at wide receiver,” Odums said before Southern played Louisiana Tech in September.

Led by Willie Quinn and Randall Menard at receiver and quarterback Austin Howard throwing to them, the defending SWAC West champions had all the pieces together. Throw in 1,000-yard rusher Lenard Tillery and the Jaguars boasted one of the top offenses and top skill players in the conference.

But through 10 games of the 2015 season, Grambling has claimed a stake in the SWAC arms race.

“I think our kids are the best players in the conference,” Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said Monday. “Everybody has a guy or two to three guys that can get things done. We feel we have the best in the conference.”



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