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The Grambling State Tigers just aren't quite ready to call it a season.
As the calendar was turning from January to February, the Grambling season appeared to be lost. Their record was 3-17, with a 1-8 mark in SWAC play. Somewhere, a switch was flipped. The Tigers won seven of their final nine contests, entered the SWAC tournament as the #6-seed, and promptly knocked off #3-seed Mississippi Valley State.
So Grambling wasn't going to let a measly 10-point halftime deficit against #2-seed Jackson State slow them down. They stormed back to score 41 second-half points, force overtime at a 66-all tie, and kept right on rolling to an 81-75 win in Friday's SWAC semi-final.
GARLAND, TEXAS — They milled around the hotel lobby, some slouching on couches, others leaning against walls and a few walking around aimlessly - their faces in a blank stare, pointing at the ground.
Moments ago, the Jackson State basketball team had its season end in a most revolting fashion: The No. 2-seeded Tigers blew a late double-digit lead. They committed a flurry of late fouls and turnovers. They allowed a missed free throw to be put back to force overtime.
And they lost to No. 6-seeded Grambling 81-75 in overtime Friday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals - a wild game not to be erased from their memory banks for some time.
GARLAND, TX - The Texas Southern Tigers believed they had the talent, drive and fortitude to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. They certainly had the bravado. But they didn't have quite enough time to get past Alabama State in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
The top-seeded Tigers fell behind by a huge margin in the first half and came up short in their attempt at a furious second-half comeback, falling 73-66 to the fourth-seeded Hornets on Friday night at the Special Events Center.
Alabama State (16-17) moves on to face Grambling State in today's SWAC championship game. TSU, on the other hand, is destined for the National Invitation Tournament after winning the SWAC regular-season title but failing to capture the tournament championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA.
Videographer: CelebrityMLMarketing; ASU Mighty Marching Hornets - The Story of Fight Fanfare
GARLAND, Texas -- The Alabama State men's basketball team dominated the first half against Texas Southern and held on for a 73-66 win, advancing to the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament Championship game. For the second straight game, the Hornets never trailed.
ASU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. After TSU responded with a 7-0 spurt of its own, the Hornets' Jeffery Middlebrooks and Ivory White hit a pair of 3-pointers pointers each.
Tremayne Moorer and Kenderek Washington also chipped in as ASU built a 19-point lead in the first half.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- While the calendar turned to 2011, the Benedict men's basketball team was beginning to wonder just what kind of year it had to look forward to.
The Tigers already were off to a disappointing 2-4 start, had 11 new guys playing and lost a trio of returning starters for reasons nine-year coach Fred Watson would rather not discuss. Marcus Goode, the 6-foot-10 sophomore, had yet to play a single minute because of transfer rules.
"It was a little tough at the beginning," Watson said. That tough beginning ended as midnight struck on Jan. 1, 2011. After six games on the bench, Goode was eligible to play.
"When we started, everyone kind of counted us out," Watson said. "I knew if we could keep going until the big fella got here, we'd be OK."
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Stillman coach Michael Grant's philosophy is a shooter's dream. If you're open, pull the trigger, he says. Pass up an open jumper? Be prepared to take a seat.
"Now when we play and we pass up open shots, the bench is telling them to shoot the ball," said Grant, the Tigers' third-year coach. "It's expected now."
While Grant's offensive mantra may run contrary to more conservative coaches, the Tigers' high-octane attack has put Stillman (22-7) into the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second time in school history. The seventh-seeded Tigers will meet No. 2 seed Harding at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the opening round of the South Regional hosted at Spragins Hall.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Clark Atlanta Panthers may be the eighth seed out of eight teams, but don't think they will be intimidated by the prospect of playing South Regional host UAH on its home floor.
"Every time I pass Georgia Tech, I lose cell reception," said Clark Atlanta coach Darryl Jacobs earlier this week, moments after it happens. "It must be because we took them to overtime in November."
Just like UAH did with Alabama, the Panthers put a scare into their Division I neighbors during the exhibition season. That came on the heels of them falling by only seven points at last year's regional to eventual champion Valdosta State.
EDINBORO, PA -- A month ago, the Shaw Bears were 13-10 and just about out of the running to make an NCAA Division II women's basketball Atlantic Regional appearance for the first time since 2008.
But today at 6 p.m., the eighth-seeded Bears (21-11), who earned their way to the regional by winning their sixth CIAA title in nine seasons, are the focus of the young, top-seeded host, No. 17 Edinboro (26-3), in the quarterfinals at McComb Fieldhouse.
"They are very talented with some great athletes, and I recruited one of their players," Edinboro coach Stan Swank said. "I knew about another of their players, a girl from Lakeland (Fla.), so it's not like you don't know about them."
What everyone with an interest seems to know about Shaw is that 6-foot 1-inch senior forward Demaria Liles, who played two seasons at...
Excerpt:
While Hill was chasing his first CIAA title as a head coach, Shaw women's coach Jacques Curtis was seeking to expand his already stocked repertoire. His season was filled with more ups and downs than a roller-coaster ride, but Saturday night proved doubly sweet for Shaw, as Curtis' team claimed the women's CIAA title with a 62-56 win over Johnson C. Smith.
The eighth-seeded Shaw women (21-11) open play today in the NCAA Division II championship tournament with a 6 p.m. road game at Edinboro (Pa.) University, a No. 1 seed. The Shaw men, a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Division II men's bracket, is set to face - for the third time this season - fifth-seeded Winston-Salem State at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night in West Liberty, W.Va.
RALEIGH, NC -- Shaw University, a small private school in downtown Raleigh, sent both its men's and women's basketball teams off to national tournaments this week.
Today, Shaw's Lady Bears will play in the opening round of the NCAA Division II tournament in Edinboro, Pa., where they'll face the Edinboro Fighting Scots.
On Saturday, the men will begin their quest for national glory in West Liberty, W.Va., against in-state rival Winston-Salem State University.
Both teams cut down the nets at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte last weekend after winning the CIAA Tournament championships. The teams' winning ways have had a transformative effect on campus morale and spirit.
The men’s basketball program at Savannah State gets a glimpse of the future today.
The Tigers will play North Carolina Central at 11 a.m. at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C. Currently as an Independent, SSU (11-18) isn’t exactly part of March Madness’ conference tournament hoopla. The Tigers will begin play in the MEAC next season.
“The guys are getting the chance to see what we’ll be part of next season,” SSU coach Horace Broadnax said. “Obviously, we’re not advancing but I think the guys will have a chance to see how (tournament) games become more intense in a one-and-done setting.”
Broadnax and the Tigers left campus Thursday and viewed part of the tournament quarterfinals Thursday night and the semifinals Friday.
EAGLES, TIGERS TO MEET IN MEAC TOURNAMENT BONUS GAME
The NCCU Sports Network will broadcast the MEAC Tournament Bonus Game only on the internet on Saturday due to a scheduling conflict, but fans are encouraged to tune in beginning at a 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12 for a special edition of Eagle Gameday presented by the Hilton RTP. Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks and color analyst Joe SImmons will bring all the live action from the Lawrence Joel Colisuem.
Hampton Coach Edward Joyner Jr. (Photo courtesy of HU Pirates Athletics)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Norfolk State's up-and-down season suffered its final downer Friday night as the Spartans fell 85-61 to a Hampton Pirates team that has looked like the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's premier team for much of the season.
The Pirates (23-8) can prove it once and for all today when they meet Morgan State (17-13) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the MEAC's championship game (2 p.m., ESPN2 ). The winner earns the league's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
Hampton came into the tournament as the No. 2 seed, victim of a three-game losing streak late in February that let Bethune-Cookman slip into the driver's seat in the regular-season race. But with Bethune-Cookman falling 61-48 earlier Friday to Morgan State, the Pirates became the highest remaining seed.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team advanced to the championship game of the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament on Friday with an 85-61 win over Norfolk State in the semifinals at the Joel Coliseum.
The No. 2 seeded Pirates (23-8) have won four in a row overall and four straight over the Spartans. It was Hampton’s largest win over Norfolk State since the Pirates beat the Spartans 85-57 on Dec. 8, 2001.
Hampton will take on No. 4 Morgan State, which defeated top seed Bethune-Cookman 61-48 on Friday, in the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
The Pirates will be looking for their first MEAC Tournament title, and automatic NCAA Tournament berth, since 2006 – when Hampton defeated Delaware State 60-56.
Junior guard Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) led the Pirates with 30 points on 9-for-20 shooting, making four of his nine 3-pointers and all eight of his free throws. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) added 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
Junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with nine points. Senior guard Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.), on top of his team-high five assists, scored eight points.
Sophomore Guard Cheyenne Curley-Payne #5
(Photo courtesy of Howard Bison Athletics)
Winston-Salem, NC (March 11, 2011) - Cheyenne Curley Payne scored a game-high 18 points and Saadia Doyle and Tamoria Holmes added 11 and 10, respectively to help Howard University hold off Morgan State University in the semifinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's tournament at the Joel Coliseum. The Lady Bison (16-17), the Number 6 seed, will take on Hampton University, the Number 1 seed and regular season champion, on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Howard took control early as Doyle, the MEAC Player of the Year, tallied 9 of her points en route to a 28-21 halftime advantage. Curley Payne chipped in with seven points while the Lady Bears (17-14), the Number 3 seed, got 8 points from Erin Hawkins.
Howard continued to control the game though most of the second half despite getting little production from Doyle, who came into the game averaging over 18 points per game.
"They were sending multiple people from all different kind of angles at me," said Doyle. "Before the ball went out, I was already being boxed out. I didn't handle it very well today. I got a bit panicky and it showed."
With the Lady Bears putting much of their emphasis on containing Doyle, Curley Payne was able to make them pay. The 5-2 sophomore guard from Chula Vista, CA, hit four five shots in the second stanza and grabbed seven rebounds in the final stanza.
"She's 5-2, but she is second on the team in rebounding behind Saadia," said Howard Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "She may be small but her heart is huge. She leads us in that way as you saw tonight."
Curley Payne's two free throws at the 2:32 mark gave Howard its biggest lead of the game at 49-39. But the Lady Bears staged a furious rally with a 12-3 run over a 2:10 stretch that cut the deficit to 52-51 with 22 seconds left on the clock.
The young Lady Bison regrouped, hit some free throws and kept the Lady Bears scoreless the rest of the way, sending them into the championship game for the first since 2001.
"What a way to end a game" said Coach Geckeler. "To have so many sophomores and to get to this point is very gratifying."
In addition to her 18 points, Curley Payne added seven rebounds and four assists. Holmes, who also had some key plays in the second half, tallied seven of her 10 after intermission and Doyle finished with a double double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Morgan State was led by Erin Hawkins and Brittany Dodson, who each scored 14 and Monesha Davis, who contributed 10 in a losing cause.
"Howard has improved all year," said Morgan State Coach Donald Beasley. "They played well. They are a good team and they deserve the win.
Hampton swept Howard this season and has won three of the last four between the two rivals. The experienced Lady Pirates are the regular season and defending tournament champions.
"That's always a good game," said Coach Geckeler. "They're tough and they play well, but at this time of year, everyone is 0-0."
By Jamilah Corbitt Assistant Director of Sports Information Howard University Visit: howard-bison.com
Winston-Salem, NC - Saadia Doyle scored 17 of her game-high 28 points in the second half and Tamoria Holmes added 15 of her career-high 26 after intermission to help Howard come from a 22-point first half deficit and get by North Carolina A&T, 82-72 in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's tournament at the Joel Coliseum.
The Lady Bison (15-17), the Number 6 seed, advance to the semifinal round where they will take on Morgan State, the Number 2 seed at 2:30 pm on Friday.
The Lady Aggies (15-14), the Number 3 seed, came out on fire, shooting a blistering 70 percent from the field overall, and 75 percent from three-point range (6 of 8). North Carolina A&T was in high gear, getting up and down the floor and seemingly hitting every shot that they threw up.
It resulted in what appeared to be an insurmountable 36-14 lead at the 5:49 mark. All the Lady Aggie players got into the scoring act, led by Jaquayla Berry (9 points), Mikala Scott (9 points), Tracy King (8) and Reisha Bullock (7 ).
But the young Bison, which start four sophomores settled down and began to mount their comeback. Led by Doyle and Holmes, who combined for 22 first half points, Howard reeled off a 19-7 run over the last five minutes of the first half to reduce the deficit to 43-33 at the break.
"I told the team not to quit," said a composed Howard Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "To keep fighting. And I think that is what they did, just believing that they could still win."
The Lady Bison continued their comeback at the start of the second half on the scoring of Doyle, who singlehandedly got her team back into the game, at one point scoring 9 straight points. The comeback became complete when a 16-6 run knotted the game at 49-all at the 14:13 mark.
"They did a good job driving to the basket and getting to the line,' said NC A&T Coach Patricia Cage Bibbs. "They went man to man and you have to be able to execute. They did a great job."
Added NC A&T' s Berry, a first team All-MEAC selection, "They were all in our face in the man to man and the adjustments they made seemed to work."
From there, it became a seesaw battle that featured several ties and lead changes. The Lady Aggies relied on the scoring of Mikala Scott, Reisha Bullock and Nikia Gorham to keep it close.
Howard countered on the play of Holmes, who took over where Doyle left off, once scoring 13 of her team's 16 points during a key stretch. The Lady Bison were also able to get key contributions from sophomore point guard Cheyenne Curley Payne, who scored 10 of her 16 in the second half, including a big three pointer and some clutch free throws.
"Of course, the performance of Saadia Doyle and Tamoria Holmes was huge for the day," said Geckeler. "The run by Tamoria was huge. It gave us a lot of energy and confidence."
Other significant contributions came from reserves Jerelle Gorham (5 points) and Portia Deterville ( 7 points).
After Bullock knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to 76-72 with 1:26 remaining, the Lady Bison held the Lady Aggies scoreless as Curley Payne converted free throws to seal the victory and send Howard to the semifinals for the second straight year.
Doyle, the MEAC Player of the Year and a first team All-conference selection, just missed a double double with 28 points and 9 rebounds while playing the entire 40 minutes. Holmes shot 10 of 14 from the field and added three assists and three steals to her stats.
"Adrenalin and staying calm was a key," said Doyle. "We did not want to get overzealous. We just kept fighting and never gave up."
Scott led North Carolina A&T with 17 while Bullock and Berry each tallied 13 in a losing effort.
By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information Howard University Visit:howard-bison.com
Videographer: billy7163; (#1)Pharoah Sanders "Naima" with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. (#2)"The Creator Has a Master Plan" - Pharoah Sanders and Howard University Jazz Ensemble
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans admitted drawing up a play for a game-winning shot "hardly ever works."
"It didn't work this time either," Evans said. The plan was for freshman sharpshooter Pendarvis Williams to inbound the ball from the baseline, then race to the corner, where he would launch a 3-pointer. If it missed, Plan B was that the league's leading rebounder, Kyle O'Quinn, would have a chance at scoring off an offensive rebound.
But Coppin State overplayed Williams, denying him the ball, and it was up to senior guard Rob Hampton to make something happen. That was Plan C. And it worked.
Seeing a flash of daylight in the lane from just beyond the top of the key, the 6-foot-4 Hampton sliced his body through three defenders and banked home a layup with two seconds remaining as sixth-seeded Norfolk State upset third-seeded Coppin State 55-53 in a Thursday night quarterfinal game in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.
GARLAND, TX – Alabama State primed itself for a showdown with No. 1 seed Texas Southern by handling Alabama A&M, 81-61, in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament.
Alabama State opened up a 20-point lead midway through the second half and had four players score in double figures, led by Tramaine Butler with 21. Alabama State shot 60.9 percent in the second half and finished with a 40-24 rebounding edge.
Fourth-seeded Alabama State (15-17) will meet Texas Southern in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday at the Special Events Center. Alabama State handed Texas Southern (19-11) one of its two losses in SWAC play, 60-48, on Feb. 28 in Montgomery.
HOUSTON, TX -- Former Houston Oilers standout Kenny Burrough is hospitalized in Houston after suffering a heart attack. Burrough underwent triple bypass surgery at Saint Luke’s hospital after the Friday attack, according to his spokesperson. He is resting comfortably and has been moved to a private room.
Burrough, 62, was a first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 1970. He then spent 11 NFL seasons with the Oilers in Saints from 1971 to 1981. Burrough was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1975 and 1977.
The TSU graduate led all NFL wide receivers with 1,063 yards in 1975. The Jacksonville, Florida native is a member of the SWAC and TSU Halls of Fame.
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Video: Kenny Burrough talks about 00Wear.com, his clothing line.
Two-time defending champion Morgan State isn't ready to give up its title just yet.
The Bears, behind junior center Kevin Thompson, were never threatened by cold-shooting N.C. A&T as they rolled 77-59 in a quarterfinal game of the MEAC tournament Thursday night at Joel Coliseum.
Thompson, a big part of the Bears' first two tournament titles in Winston-Salem, scored 24 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots in 26 minutes.
Not that they needed more motivation, but the Bears, the fourth seed, have been under the radar after losing their final three regular-season games, including one to the Aggies (15-17) in Greensboro. Thompson, the projected player of the year in the conference, was selected to the all-conference second team.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Kevin Thompson put in a dominating performance, coming off the bench to pour in a gamer-high 24 points, grab 12 rebounds and block three shots to help Morgan State defeat North Carolina A&T, 77-59 in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament at the Joel Coliseum.
The Bears (16-13), the Number 4 seed, advance to the semifinal round where they will play Bethune Cookman, the Number 1 seed at 6 pm.
Thompson set the tone early in the first half when he entered the game and proceeded to score 18 points, connecting on all six of his shots from the floor. Morgan State led, 43-33 at intermission.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Are you ready for some basketball?
Eight of the best NCAA Division II college basketball teams are in town for the South Regional, which begins Saturday at Spragins Hall on the University of Alabama-Huntsville campus. The winner will have a chance to play for the national championship in Springfield, Mass., March 23-26.
"Being in the tournament is one thing and being able to host it is like a dream," UAH guard Tyler Hanback said. "It's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait."
Saturday: Harding (25-4) vs. Stillman (21-7) at 2:30 p.m. UAH (26-4) vs. Clark Atlanta (22-8), SIAC Champions at 5:30 p.m. Arkansas Tech (24-5) and Benedict (21-7) at 7:30 p.m.
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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Inside The Game: Clark-Atlanta vs. Stillman (SIAC Championship)
Winning the CIAA women’s basketball championship is old hat for Shaw’s Bears.
Winning the national title, now that’s a prize that’s worth chasing.
“Shaw’s won the CIAA championship,” said Bears coach Jacques Curtis, who has earned six since 2003. “What we’re trying to do is a little bit different.”
Shaw (21-11) and fellow CIAA member Johnson C. Smith (24-4) are in the Division II tournament, which starts March 11 with the Atlantic Regional in Edinboro, Pa. Shaw will face top-seeded and region host Edinboro (26-3) while the No. 2 Golden Bulls Bulls will play No. 7 Glenville State (23-8).
Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Inside The Game: Johnson C. Smith vs. Shaw- Women's CIAA Championship
The atmosphere was electric in Varick Auditorium Wednesday as Salisbury Mayor Susan W. Kluttz was on hand for a celebration honoring Livingstone College’s men’s basketball team for its historic performance at last week’s CIAA Tournament.
The Blue Bears made it to the championship game of the CIAA Tournament for the first time in school history after pulling off three consecutive victories against St. Paul’s College, Virginia Union University and Fayetteville State University. Livingstone was defeated by Shaw University 72-69 in the final game, but on Wednesday that hardly mattered to administrators, faculty, students and staff.
The pep band played, the cheerleaders cheered and numerous times throughout the 90-minute assembly the audience was on its feet showering the men’s basketball team and its coaches with much-deserved applause.
But the men’s basketball team wasn’t all Livingstone officials celebrated on Wednesday, as the Blue Bears women’s team and a few individual students were also recognized for their accomplishments.
Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Inside The Game: Livingstone vs. Shaw - CIAA Men's Championship
SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone women’s and men’s basketball teams were honored Wednesday at a special assembly hosted on campus.
Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., Livingstone President and Salisbury Mayor, Ms. Susan W. Klutz recognized both teams for their achievements throughout the season.
The women’s basketball team was recognized for its numerous individual honors, its NCAA regional ranking for three consecutive weeks and for being awarded the 2011 John B. Mclendon award for sportsmanship at the CIAA Tournament.
The men’s basketball team who reached the CIAA Championship for the first time in the school’s history was also recognized for their many achievements. Mayor Klutz gave a special presentation, presenting a proclamation that proclaimed March 9, 2011 as Livingstone College Men’s Basketball Day in the City of Salisbury.
NEW ORLEANS -- Radford, winner of the last five Big South Conference regular-season men's championships in NCAA Division I, defeated NAIA No. 8 Xavier University of Louisiana 8-1 Thursday at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center.
Xavier (8-4) scored its point in the final completed match when freshman Jonathan Aubrey defeated Alex Metzner 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7) at No. 6 singles.
Radford (7-3) ended a couple of Xavier streaks. Ivan Salec and Thomas Dehaen won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles to end the five-match win streak of Zach Taylor and Hassan Abbas. Dehaen won 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 at No. 2 singles to end Abbas' four-match streak.
Salec, ranked 67th in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, played doubles only. Freshmen Stijn Meulemans and Paul Boslet won in singles and doubles for the Highlanders, with Meulemans beating Taylor 6-0, 6-2 at the top flight. Radford freshmen Joe Mills and Randall Carter also won in singles.
Radford has won three straight duals and six of its last seven. Xavier has dropped two straight. Three of the Gold Rush's four losses this season are to D-I teams.
It was Xavier's first home match since Feb. 8. The dual, scored by NAIA rules, was postponed Wednesday because of morning thunderstorms and moved from City Park.
Both Xavier teams will play NAIA opponents Friday in the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala. XU's women, ranked 24th, will play No. 13 Lindsey Wilson at 9:30 a.m., and the XU men will play Georgetown (Ky.) at 10 a.m.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director Xavier University of Louisiana Visit: XULA Athletics
GARLAND, TX — Top-seeded Texas Southern needed clutch free throws at the end to hold off an upset bid by Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 50-45, in Wednesday’s opening round of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament at the Special Events Center. SWAC Player of the Year Travele Jones scored 19 for Texas Southern, but the win wasn’t secure until teammate Justin Ray hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left.
Arkansas Pine Bluff (7-24), the No. 8 seed, had lost both regular-season meetings with Texas Southern. UAPB led by five, 42-37, with 6:10 to play after a three-pointer by Allen Smith. But UAPB went nearly six minutes without scoring while Texas Southern chipped away.
GARLAND, TX — Texas Southern survived its first challenge at the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament. The challenge, however, proved to be much bigger than many might have initially thought. The top-seeded Tigers rallied from a five-point deficit late in the second half to stall an upset bid from No. 8 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff and escape with a 50-45 victory in Wednesday night's first-round matchup at the Special Events Center.
TSU (19-11) advances to the SWAC semifinals, where it'll face the winner of today's matchup between fourth-seeded Alabama State and fifth-seeded Alabama A&M. The Tigers' semifinal will be played at 8 p.m. Friday.
GARLAND – Prairie View A&M had a comeback in its sights after pulling within three points of Jackson State with nine minutes left in Wednesday’s Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament first-round matchup. And then suddenly, the Panthers went ice cold.
The seventh-seeded Prairie View men made just one field goal over the final 9:08 against No. 2 seed Jackson State, ending their season with a 50-38 loss at the Special Events Center.
The Panthers (10-22) shot only 31 percent and hit only two of 13 3-pointers. Prairie View fell behind 30-21 at the start of the second half, but quickly closed the gap, pulling within 38-35 on a layup by Duwan Kornegay at the 9:08 mark.
GARLAND, Texas – Prairie View A&M was challenged by Jackson State in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s tournament but held on for a 56-40 win Wednesday morning at the Special Events Center.
Dominique Smith scored a game-high 17 points, and Siarra Soliz had 15 points to help the second-seeded Panthers (19-11) advance to Friday's SWAC semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 seed Alcorn State and No. 6 Grambling State. Robin Jones also had a monster game for Prairie View, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals.
Choicetta McMillian had a game-high 24 points, including a tournament-record seven 3-pointers, and Jericka Jenkins had a double-double with 10 points and a tournament-record 13 assists as top-seeded Hampton beat South Carolina State 78-55 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's quarterfinal on Wednesday at Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Lady Pirates (23-6), the defending tournament champions and the 2010-11 regular-season champs, also got 15 points from Melanie Warner, 12 from sophomore Keira Avant and 11 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Quanneisha Perry, the two-time MEAC defensive player of the year.
Hampton shot 49 percent for the game and was 12-of-21 from 3-point range while holding S.C. State to 39 percent shooting and converting 20 turnovers into 27 points. The Lady Pirates opened the game with a 16-4 run, keyed by three 3-pointers from McMillian, who had six 3's in the first half.
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – South Carolina State senior Darnell Porter scored 15 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down with 3:10 remaining to lead the ninth-seeded Bulldogs to a 64-59 win over eighth-seeded Delaware State in opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum Tuesday.
Porter's basket put Coach Tim Carter's team ahead 56-51 and the Bulldogs held on to advance to Wednesday's quarterfinals against top-seeded Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m.
Junior Joe Ikhinmwin came off the bench for 10 points and seniors Rio Pitt and Wesley Telfare added nine each in the win. Pitt also had a game-high nine rebounds, including a pivotal one off a Tyvon Williams miss of a one-and-one opportunity with 39.6 seconds remaining and SC State ahead 58-53.
Brittany Dodson and Theresa Davis the last 11 points for Morgan State to help the Lady Bears outlast Maryland-Eastern Shore, 43-39, in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament at Joel Coliseum Wednesday. The Lady Bears (17-13) will face either Howard or North Carolina A&T in Friday's semifinals at 2:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
With MSU trailing 33-32 after blowing a 12-point lead, Dodson scored seven of her team-high 10 points and Davis made four consecutive free throws to get their team back in front over the last 6:42 of the game. Davis' free throws with 1:32 left put the Lady Bears up for good.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Morgan State's Brittany Dodson sank a pair of free throws for the lead with 1:32 to play as the second-seeded Lady Bears held off a hard-charging No. 7 University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team, 43-39, in the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tournament at Joel Coliseum Wednesday.
UMES, which battled back from a 12-point halftime deficit to take a 37-34 edge with 5:01 left, saw its season come to a close at 12-19. With the win, MSU (17-13) advances to the semifinals to play the winner of North Carolina A&T and Howard.
"We played well enough to win," said UMES head coach Fred Batchelor. "We came out flat but playing our second game in 24 hours is no excuse. I'm proud of the way we fought back.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Kyle O’Quinn tallied 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead No. 6 Norfolk State to a 68-53 win over No. 11 Howard in a MEAC Tournament first round game on Wednesday afternoon at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
With the win, the Spartans (11-19) advance to a 6 p.m. quarterfinal game Thursday night against No. 3 Coppin State. Howard ends its season with a 6-24 record.
Both teams struggled on offense in the first half, which ended in a 25-all tie. But Howard would come out hot in the second half, hitting four 3-pointers in the first 3:09 of play. Dadrian Collins hit three of those, the last of which gave the Bison a 37-32 edge. Mike Phillips then scored on a layup to give Howard a 39-32 lead with 16:17 left.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After splitting four games at Greene Stadium over the course of the season, the Howard lacrosse team looked to sack their third consecutive win at home against Wilmington (Del.) on March 9. The match marked Wilmington’s (1-2) third match of their regular season and they too were hoping to capitalize on another consecutive win, however, Howard (3-3) would be the team to come out on top, stretching their winning streak to three games, as they defeated Wilmington, 17-7.
The Bison found a fluid rhythm, racking in seven goals in the first half. Six members of the Bison tallied goals in the win, while senior Desiree Cox finished with seven goals and a game-leading two assists. Behind Cox in scoring was Cynithia Smalls with three goals, Cheryse Cox and Tynes Taylor with two, and Ashley Lawrence with one.
Cox exploded in the early minutes of the game with three quick scores after charging down the field and dodging multiple defenders with ease. Cox added two more goals before the close of the half.
Following halftime Wilmington picked up momentum after Howard gave their opponent a goal where a Howard defender mistakenly flipped the ball into the net with the intention of passing it to goalie Amber Meeks on a scramble in the box. Wilmington’s Danielle Niccoli shortly after scored their fourth goal on a free position shot.
Howard quickly regained control of the game with three goals of their own, extending their lead, 11-4.
Defensively, Howard kept Wilmington off balance, limiting their opponents to a mere 24.1 shooting percentage (7-29). Meanwhile Howard boasted a 65.4 shooting percentage, scoring 17 goals on 26 shots. Meeks recorded an astounding 15 saves and allowed only four shots to get into the net, marking the fewest points scored by an opponent thus far into the season.
Up next the Lady Bison will travel to meet St. Francis (Pa.) on March 13 in hopes of claiming their first win on the road and fourth consecutive win. VisitHoward-Bison.com for more updates on the Howard lacrosse team.
Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant Howard University Visit: howard-bison.com
Winston-Salem, NC -- Saadia Doyle scored a game-high 23 points to lead four players in double figures and help Howard University defeat Norfolk State, 68-56 in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's tournament at the Lawrence V. Joel Coliseum.
The 2011 MEAC Player of the Year, Doyle got the Lady Bison (14-17) off to a fast start, scoring 13 of her points in the first half as Howard jumped out to an early lead and hold a 40-24 advantage at the half. A 5-11 sophomore forward from Atlanta, GA, Doyle connected on 5 of 7 from the field.
"When you have the MEAC Player of the Year, a lot of teams gear their defense towards her her," said Howard Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "She's had to come out and play against double and triple teams all season. So her fast start was huge. It set the tone for us and opened up things for the other players."
The Lady Bison, the Number 6 seed, got a nice boost from sophomore guard Adele Walton, who provided some perimeter shooting with 10 points on 3 of 4 shooting from the field and sophomore forward Kara Smith.
"Adele is a shooter and in the first half, she loosened up things for us offensively with her outside shooting," said Coach Geckeler. "Kara gave us something also with her scoring and her rebounding. We are hopeful that they can continue to play like this the rest of the tournament."
The Lady Spartans (9-19), the Number 11 seed, were not able to stay with Howard, mostly due to their mistakes which the Lady Bison converted into scored 16 points.
Riding the scoring of sophomore guard Tamoria Holmes, the Lady Bison increased their lead to 20 in the first minute of the second half and appeared to have the game in hand.
But the Lady Spartans rallied on the scoring freshman of Rachel Gordon, junior Whitney Long and freshman Rae Corbo to reduce the lead to eight at the four-minute mark. Norfolk State's comeback attempt was fueled by the absence of Lady Bison sophomore point guard Cheyenne Curley Payne, who was forced to the bench when she picked up her fourth foul.
"We had to go man-to-man because we got a little too deep," explained Norfolk State Coach Debra Clark. "When we started making the run, we picked them up fullcourt and that generated offense for us."
But Doyle converted four free throws, Curley Payne got inside the lane for a tough basket and Holmes made an acrobatic shot with the shot clock winding down to help Howard advance to Thursday's quarterfinal round against North Carolina A&T on Thursday at 12 noon.
Doyle just missed a double double with 23 points and nine rebounds while Holmes and Curley Payne each tallied 13 and Walton contributed 10, all coming in the first half. Curley Payne also tied her career-high of eight assists.
Norfolk State was led by Corbo, who finished with a team-high 14, Gordon with 12 and Whitney Long with 10 off the bench, all coming in the second half.
Howard and North Carolina A&T split during the regular season, each winning at home.
"I think that any game this time of the season is competitive," said Geckeler. "We talk about March and it's one and done. We are coming into this game to play Howard basketball and see what happens."
