North Carolina A&T's Rod Broadway Retires; Sam Washington Named Next Head Coach

COACH ROD BROADWAY

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T head football coach Rod Broadway announced his retirement from coaching on Monday.  

Assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach Sam Washington will take over the program as the 19th head football coach in N.C. A&T history. Aggie Athletics will hold an 11 a.m., press conference at the Alumni-Foundation Event Center (200 N. Benbow Road, Greensboro) on Tuesday, January 9 that will feature Broadway, Washington and N.C. A&T Director of Collegiate Athletics, Earl M. Hilton III.

Broadway retries after seven seasons as the Aggies football coach. He will serve as a special assistant to the athletics director for the next six months. Broadway recently led N.C. A&T to its best season ever, finishing 12-0 with accolades that included winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title, the Celebration Bowl game and the HBCU national championship. In the process, the Aggies broke the school and conference records for wins and became the first MEAC and HBCU Division I-AA team ever to finish undefeated and untied.

In 15 seasons as a head coach, Broadway amassed a 127-45 (.738) record with four HBCU titles and six conference championships. Yesterday, his .737 winning percentage was the best winning percentage among active FCS coaches. In the history of FCS play, Broadway has the third-highest winning percentage. Broadway spent four seasons apiece at North Carolina Central (2003-06) and Grambling State (2007-10). 

“I am grateful to this great and historic university, North Carolina A&T State, for the opportunity to be its head football coach for seven years,” said Broadway. “I am grateful to two men I hold in high esteem, chancellor Martin and athletics director Earl Hilton, for believing in me and the direction I wanted to take this program. I am grateful to the players, they have made this a wonderful experience for me and my family.

I am grateful to what I consider a great coaching staff. They have conducted themselves with the upmost integrity and professionalism. And I am grateful to the very hardworking support staff we have here at North Carolina A&T.”

“I love the man not only for what he has accomplished during his time as our head football coach at North Carolina A&T, but also for who he is as a person,” said Hilton. “While we are losing one of the greatest coaches of all time, I love that he gets to go out on his own terms, a luxury not afforded to most coaches. He took our football program from being the laughing stock of the (Football Championship Subdivision) to being the envy of black college football and one of the premier programs on the FCS level. He did it with class and intelligence. He held everyone within his program to the highest standards of accountable. Rod’s work ethic is unmatched. I will miss him as a colleague but will always consider him a friend and a confidant.”  

Hilton on head coach Sam Washington: “Coach Washington holds many of the same characteristics as coach Broadway. We have believed for some time that coach Washington has the skills, temperament and leadership qualities to be a collegiate head coach. We are confident the trajectory of the football program will remain on a winning path with coach Washington at the helm. We are eager to see him do well in a position he richly deserves.”

Under Washington’s leadership as the Aggies defensive coordinator for seven seasons, the Aggies have consistently produced one of the best defenses in the nation. The Aggies have been the MEAC’s No. 1 total defense and scoring defense four times in the past seven years. They have had the No. 1 total defense in the conference three straight seasons. N.C. A&T has also had the No. 1 rush defense in the conference six times in seven years. Nationally, the Aggies defense has never ranked lower than 20th under Washington including a No. 4 ranking in 2017. The Aggies had the nation’s best run defense in 2012.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve under coach Broadway both at Grambling State and North Carolina A&T,” said Washington. “I could not ask for a better friend and mentor than Rod Broadway. What I saw him accomplish at North Carolina A&T is nothing less than remarkable. Following a legend is never easy, but coach Broadway has taught me so much over the years, I am poised to continue having success in Aggieland. I want to thank chancellor Martin and Mr. Hilton for what is an awesome opportunity for me and my family. Our coaching staff will stay intact for the most part, so we are ready to get to work.”

Broadway’s N.C. A&T accomplishments

• Broadway finished his career at N.C. A&T 59-22 (.728) overall and 41-15 (.621) in the MEAC. He has the best winning percentage of any N.C. A&T football coach in history. He is second all-time in wins.
• A third of the Aggies nine MEAC championships have come under Broadway. The Aggies three conference titles under Broadway have occurred in the last four years.
• N.C. A&T won two HBCU national championships under Broadway (2015, 2017).
• The Aggies were 33-5 overall and 26-3 in the MEAC at Aggie Stadium in Broadway’s seven years as head coach. The Aggies have won 10 straight at home.
• The Aggies had two 10-plus win seasons under Broadway. No other coach in school history had more than one.
• Broadway had four 9-plus win seasons which ties coach Bill Hayes for the most in school history.
• Broadway led the Aggies to a 7-0 homecoming record during his tenure. He was also 4-3 against North Carolina Central.
• The Aggies had four straight 9-plus win seasons (2014-17) under Broadway.
• Broadway beat four ranked FCS teams, two FBS schools and one school in transition to FBS play during his seven-year tenure.
• The Aggies scored 30-plus points 39 times and 40-plus points 19 times under Broadway.
• N.C. A&T has spent 37 straight weeks in the NCAA FCS national coaches poll. They have been a part of the BoxToRow Black College Football poll 59 straight weeks. They were ranked No. 1 in 38 of those polls. The Aggies were ranked in the SBN Black College Football poll 57 straight weeks with a No. 1 ranking 33 of those weeks.
• The Aggies won 46 straight games when leading at halftime under Broadway and were 53-1 when leading at halftime during his era. They were 52-2 when leading after the third quarter.
• Over seven years, the Aggies have had 67 All-MEAC recognitions including 36 first-team recognitions. Forty-seven different players have earned some type of All-MEAC recognition. Thirty different players have earned first-team All-MEAC honors. In 2017, N.C. A&T had a school-record 12 first-team All-MEAC selections.
• A N.C. A&T player has been named offensive player of the year in the MEAC four straight years. Five players have been named offensive player of the year in the MEAC under Broadway. The Aggies have had the conference’s offensive lineman of the year (Brandon Parker) three straight years. Two players (Tarik Cohen and Elijah Bell) were named rookie of the year under Broadway.
• Fifteen different players have earned some type of All-American recognition under Broadway including four Associated Press All-Americans (Brandon Parker, Tarik Cohen, Khris Gardin and Franklin (Mac) McCain III).
• Nathan Isles, William Ray Robinson, Wallace Miles, Mike Mayhew, Tarik Cohen, Deji Olatoye, and Tony McRae have all had NFL opportunities under Broadway. Brandon Parker is expected to be drafted in 2018.

 NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Howard-Hampton Postponed Until Feb. 8

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With infrastructure damage due to sub-zero temperatures, the Howard-Hampton basketball doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday (Jan.9) inside Burr Gymnasium has been postponed until Thursday, February 8.

The women's game is set for 5:30 pm, while the men are scheduled for a 7:30 start at The Burr.

Next up, Howard hits the road for a couple of league contests against South Carolina State (Jan. 13) and Savannah State (Jan. 15).

Saturday's matchup at the Lady Bulldogs start 2 p.m. while Monday night's showdown takes place at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

Southern's swarming defense sends Jackson State to first conference loss in 10-point win

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- To topple the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s best, Southern needed to be as sharp as ever.

It's been a usual theme for the Jaguars this season. Three quarters of quality basketball and then a fourth frequently associated with drama. Monday against Jackson State, the SWAC's winningest club, Southern was forced to follow three quarters of stellar defense to shut the door and seal a win in yet another intense fourth.

For the second in-conference game in a row, Southern closed — and the Jaguars clipped the top-ranked Tigers 86-76 at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

Jackson State (8-5, 3-1 SWAC) preferred leisure with its offense. With size and the SWAC’s No. 1 rebounding unit as a hoist, the Tigers wished to drop the ball inside and have their bigs operate against Southern’s undersized interior defense as starting forward Sarai Blissett was absent with a knee injury.

Makes or misses do not much matter for the Tigers. Jackson State, which has collected 16 or more offensive rebounds in 13 consecutive games, has a rebounding past sure to provide plenty of shot attempts. If that didn’t work, Jackson State’s bigs could kick it out for a good-looking 3-pointer.

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Delaware State Hornets Making Progress On Search For Football Coach -- Maynor and Milstead Leads the Pack

DOVER, Delaware — It’s been nearly a month and a half since Delaware State University decided to change football coaches.

The Hornets are making progress in the search for a replacement for Kenny Carter.

Delaware State hosted the first round of interviews for the open position in late December, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The new coach could be named later this month.

Two names that have come up in the coaching search are former DelState offensive lineman Rod Milstead and former Hampton University head coach Connell Maynor. Neither could be reached for comment for this story.

Milstead’s name was expected to be mentioned. He’s also the most familiar to Hornet fans.

He graduated from Delaware State in 1992 before being selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played eight years in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.

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Virginia University of Lynchburg names new head football coach -- Bobby Rome

LYNCHBURG, Virginia -- Less than two months after the position became available, the Virginia University of Lynchburg announced the hiring of a new head football coach.

Bobby Rome, 31, was introduced to VUL staff Friday as the next coach of the Dragons.

“I have long-term plans to be here at this university,” Rome said in an interview Friday. “The moment when I walked through the doors at Humble Hall for the first time, it’s something that just grabbed me.”

Rome, a former college and professional football player and native of Norfolk, comes to VUL with about four years of head coaching experience.

Rome most recently was head coach of the UNC club football program. Prior to that, he was the head coach of Far Eastern Federal University in Russia, where he started the football program.

Rome was a four-year starter at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), where he played fullback. He graduated in 2009 and was in and out of the NFL and played in the now-shuttered United Football League, as well as the Federation of American Football of Russia league.

Rome will replace former coach Jimmy Joe, who was at the helm of the program for just one season until he and the school parted ways in November.

Rome was one of three final candidates interviewed for the position, according to VUL COO Jason Randoo.



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UPDATE: A&T's Broadway Retires, New Head Coaches Named at A&T and VUL

2017/18 HEAD COACH CHANGES
COLLEGE                        NEW COACH          FORMER COACH

Alabama State                   Donald Hill-Eley        Brian Jenkins
Alabama A&M                                                      James Spady
Arkansas - Pine Bluff       Cedric Thomas             Monte Coleman  
Florida A&M                    Willie Simmons*       Alex Wood
Delaware State                                                       Kenny Carter                
Hampton                             Robert Prunty            Connell Maynor
Mississippi Valley State     Vincent Dancy           Rick Comegy

Morgan State                    Ernest T. Jones$          Fred T. Farrier

North Carolina A&T      Sam Washington     Rod Broadway (Retired)

North Carolina Central      Granville Eastman$   Jerry Mack

Prairie View A&M             Eric Dooley              Willie Simmons
Lincoln (Pa.)                                                         Reginald Byarse Jr. 
Edward Waters                 Greg Ruffin                 Alvin Wyatt
Virginia Union                  Dr. Alvin Parker         Mark James
Va. U. of Lynchburg         Bobby Rome              Jimmy Joe

 $ Interim for 2018
 *Interim                                                                

TERMINATION OF FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)

2017/18 ATHLETICS DIRECTOR CHANGES
COLLEGE                          NEW AD                    OLD AD     
1. Florida A&M                   John Eason                   Milton Overton
2. Delaware State                 Mary Hill*                   Louis 'Skip' Perkins                   

HBCU ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ON NCAA PROBATION FOR LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL and/or FAILURE TO MONITOR ITS ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION PROCESS:

1. Morgan State University, Probation Period End Dec. 18, 2021
2. Southern University and A&M College, Probation End Nov. 15, 2021
3. Howard University, Probation End May 19, 2018
4. Grambling State University, Probation End July 27, 2019
5. Morehouse College, Entire Program, Probation End July 14, 2018
6. Norfolk State University, Probation End June 15, 2018
7. Prairie View A&M University Men's Basketball, Probation End Nov. 20, 2019
8. Fayetteville State University Women's Basketball, Probation End Nov. 13, 2019
9. Mississippi Valley State University, Probation End March 23, 2019
10. Alabama State University Softball, Probation End Oct. 19, 2018
11. Alcorn State University, Probation End Oct. 18, 2018
12. Florida A&M University, Probation End Nov. 19, 2019
13. Central State University (Ohio), Probation End March 3, 2019 
14. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Probation End Aug. 20, 2019                                                  

CONFERENCE CHANGES - 2018/19
COLLEGES                NEW CONFERENCE         OLD CONF.

Hampton                       Big South                                 MEAC
Savannah State             SIAC                                        MEAC
Langston                        SAC                                         RRAC
Texas College                SAC                                         RRAC

Southern athletes turn in banner semester, helping polish image. 'If you sum it up, it means everything.'

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- As far as Roman Banks and Trayvean Scott are concerned, Southern’s student-athletes — as a collective group — earned a championship in the fall semester.

Southern’s 290 athletes achieved a cumulative 3.05 grade point average in the fall semester, a number that was bolstered by more than half of the total athletes at Southern turning in a 3.0 or better GPA. More than 40 percent landed on the honor roll.

“In a word, if you sum it up, it means everything,” said Scott, Southern’s executive associate athletic director. “From a recruiting standpoint, from a standpoint of being competitive, from a standpoint of being viable as a member of a Division I institution, it means everything.”

Said Banks, Southern’s athletic director, “Those are championship numbers. We like the direction we are heading in. It put us back in the game.”

This is the most notable sign that Southern is about to pull out of the academic mire in which it has been languishing for the last several years.

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Tennessee State Tigerbelles Shine at Ed Temple Classic

Photo By Sam Jordan - TSU Athletics

FULL RESULTS: HTML | PDF  
PHOTOS: GALLERY - by Sam Jordan | GALLERY 2

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Competing at home for the first time this season, the Tennessee State women’s track and field team turned in a number of top performances at the Ed Temple Classic inside the Gentry Center on Sunday. The Tigerbelles took the top spot in six events on the day.

Cyra Beard won the high jump with one of the top performances of her career, clearing 1.75m (5’8.75”). The senior also won the triple jump on the afternoon.

In the triple jump, Grenetria Shell took the top spot with a mark of 5.95m (19’6.25”).

The Tigerbelles dominated the throwing events with Mikayla Thompson and Daimer Gordon taking first and second, respectively, in the shot put. In the weight throw, Gordon was the top finisher followed by Amani Taylor.

On the track, Kayla Pryor had the day’s top 800m time of 2:22.71.

In the team competition, TSU took first out of five schools with 84 points.

Next up, TSU heads to Birmingham, Ala. for the Blazer Invitational on Jan. 12 and the Vulcan Invitational on Jan. 13.

Tennessee State Director of Track and Field Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice“To even mention Coach (Ed) Temple’s name in a sentence is a blessing and an honor to me. To be at home competing, you train on the track every day and you should be used to it. Sometimes you do well and sometimes you don’t. We’ve got to go back and start all over. It’s just a blessing and an honor to keep remembering Coach Temple.”
- On hosting the Ed Temple Classic

“We had some highs and lows. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board - I saw some growing pains. We performed well in the sprints and the hurdles. Cyra Beard did well in the high jump and the triple jump. Overall, we still have a lot of work to do.”
- On how TSU performed on the day

Women’s High Jump

1.75m (5’8.75”) – Cyra Beard – 1st Place
1.60m (5’3”) – Jalyn Bowen - 4th Place

Women’s Long Jump
5.95m (19’6.25”) – Grenetria Shell – 1st Place
5.71m (18’9”) – Angel Horton – 3rd Place
5.42m (17’9.5”) – Gabrielle Younginer – 4th Place
5.41m (17’9”) – Jalyn Bowen – 5th Place

Women’s Triple Jump
12.15m (39’10.5”) – Cyra Beard – 1st Place
11.86m (38’11”) – Angel Horton – 2nd Place
11.20m (36’9”) – Brejhe’ Halls – 3rd Place
11.10m (36’5”) – Gabrielle Younginer – 4th Place
11.03m (36’2.25”) – Ayana Eason – 5th Place

Women’s Shot Put 
14.82m (48’7.5”) – Mikayla Thompson – 1st Place
11.69m (38’4.25”) – Daimer Gordon – 2nd Place
11.10m (36’5”) – Amani Taylor – 4th Place
11.07m (36’4”) - Hannah Alsup – 5th Place

Women’s Weight Throw
16.44m (53’11.25”) – Daimer Gordon – 1st Place
15.85m (52’) – Amani Taylor – 2nd Place
15.81m (51’10.5”) – Hannah Alsup – 3rd Place
14.37m (47’1.75”) – Mikayla Thompson – 4th Place

Women’s Mile 
5:36.04 – Rebekah Wynn – 2nd Place

Women’s 55m Hurdles Finals
8.43 – Kyla Jimmar – 3rd Place

Women’s 55m Finals
7.28 – Destiny Pennington – 5th Place

Women’s 400m 
58.19 – Mikayla Banks – 4th Place
58.21 – Zion White – 5th Place

Women’s 800m 
2:22.71 – Kayla Pryor – 1st Place
2:28.61 – Rebekah Wynn – 3rd Place

Women’s 200m
25.60 – Kyla Jimmar – 4th Place
25.83 – Mikayla Banks – 5th Place

Team Scoring
1. Tennessee State – 84
2. Middle Tennessee – 53
3. Austin Peay – 30
4. Alabama A&M – 12
5. Jackson State - 7

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

TSU Flying Tigers Earn Four Top Finishes at Ed Temple Classic

FULL RESULTS: HTML | PDF 
PHOTOS: GALLERY - by Sam Jordan  |  GALLERY 2

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Four Flying Tigers earned top finishes at the Ed Temple Classic on Sunday as the Tennessee State men’s track and field team competed at the Gentry Center for the first time this indoor season.

On the track, James Faison posted the fastest 200m time, clocking in at 22.05 for first place. Thomas Mosley’s 800m time of 1:56.29 was good for first, while Jemarruse Amos won the finals of the 55m hurdles in 7.61.

Michael Willingham Jr. captured first in the weight throw with a distance of 15.24m (50’).

Among the three Division I teams competing, Tennessee State placed first with 60 points.

Next on the schedule for the Flying Tigers are the Blazer Invitational on Jan. 12 and the Vulcan Invitational on Jan. 13 – both in Birmingham, Ala.

Tennessee State Director of Track and Field Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice“To even mention Coach (Ed) Temple’s name in a sentence is a blessing and an honor to me. To be at home competing, you train on the track every day and you should be used to it. Sometimes you do well and sometimes you don’t. We’ve got to go back and start all over. It’s just a blessing and an honor to keep remembering Coach Temple.”
- On hosting the Ed Temple Classic

Men’s Long Jump

6.55m (21’6”) – Desmond Mayfield – 2nd Place
5.84m (19’2”) – Miles Archie – 4th Place

Men’s Shot Put 
12.86m (42’2.25”) – Leelan Wilkins – 2nd Place
12.75m (41’10”) – Michael Willingham Jr. – 3rd Place

Men’s Weight Throw
15.24m (50’) – Michael Willingham Jr. – 1st Place
12.30m (40’4.25”) – Leelan Wilkins – 3rd Place

Men’s Mile
4:43.33 – Larry McNary – 3rd Place

Men’s 55m Hurdles Finals
7.61 – Jemarruse Amos – 1st Place
7.68 – Isaiah Olige – 2nd Place

Men’s 55m Finals
6.69 – James Stewart – 4th Place
6.73 – Jemarruse Amos – 5th Place

Men’s 400m 
50.00 – Isaiah Olige – 3rd Place

Men’s 800m 
1:56.29 – Thomas Mosley – 1st Place
1:57.78 – Marcus Abdul – 3rd Place
2:00.23 – Jontue McDowell – 4th Place

Men’s 200m 
22:05 – James Faison – 1st Place
22.46 – David Jones – 2nd Place
22.63 – James Stewart – 5th Place

Team Scoring 
1. Tennessee State – 60
2. Alabama A&M – 52
3. Middle Tennessee - 43

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Fallen Rattlers: Two Florida A&M University Engineering Majors Killed in Fiery SE Memphis Tenn. Crash

Alfred Motlow and Aniya Brown were both sophomores and engineering majors at Florida A&M University 

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A Mid-South family says three of their loved ones were killed in a fiery crash on East Shelby Drive near Hacks Cross Road Friday night.

Brittany Motlow said Sunday that her brother Alfred Motlow (Memphis, Tennessee), 19, his girlfriend Aniya Brown (Bensenville, Illinois), 20, and their friend Katie Coleman, 18, were all killed.

Another passenger, Maricus Murdock, 19, is in critical condition at Regional One, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The Motlows say the other victims may not have been blood-related, but they were like family.

“These kids have been with me since they were little – eating dinner, eating breakfast, spending the night. I was a mother to them,” said Alfred Motlow’s mother, Jean Motlow. “And so, not only did I lose my son, but I’m praying that Maricus pulls through.”

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Earle Farrell initially told WREG a woman and two children were killed in the crash.

“There were three people in the initial car – a woman and two adolescents,” he said on the scene Friday. “Everybody in the initial car was severely burned. It’s one of the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Farrell said one car hit another head-on, sending both bursting into flames, and then a third car crashed into both of those cars.

FIERY VIDEO OF ACCIDENT SITE  



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Football returning at Allen University

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Allen University’s football team is making a comeback, according to President Dr. Ernest McNealey.

McNealey attributes the return to supporters like the General Alumni Association, whose contributions led the board of trustees to give its approval. The football team had been defunct for 10 years.

“I'm excited,” McNealey said. “The ember for football never dimmed in a group of alumni that ultimately set ablaze the current decision and process to relaunch football.”

“I'm excited,” McNealey said. “The ember for football never dimmed in a group of alumni that ultimately set ablaze the current decision and process to relaunch football.”

“I am happy to afford expanded opportunities for Allen students who will play and watch, as well as the alumni who have campaigned for so long for the return of football," said the Right Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Green Sr., chairman of the university board.

The new football coach is Teddy Keaton of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Keaton has more than 15 years of experience in coaching with a record of 54-26. He has been AIFL Coach of the Year 2007, Lakeland Thunderbolts; Atlanta South Division Champions 2006 and 2007; American Indoor Football Champions, 2007 Lakeland Thunderbolts; Pacific Central Division Champions 2008-(High level player recruiting).

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GEOGHEGAN: Cheyney University athletes, coaches locked out of facilities as athletic programs hang by a thread

THORNBURY. Pennsylvania -- You would be hard-pressed to find anyone associated with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference who was surprised to hear that financially troubled Cheyney University was discontinuing its football program. It had been rumored for years.

Now, the latest subject of speculation in league circles is whether one the country’s oldest historically black universities is going to have any athletic programs at all.

All of the uncertainty could be cleared up, of course, with a statement from Cheyney President Aaron Walton, or the school’s interim Athletic Director Sue Kilian. But both have been notably MIA since the PSAC announced the move to drop football on Dec. 8.

In fact, nearly a month later, there has yet to be an official release or announcement from anyone at Cheyney. The school’s athletic website still lists football as one of its four men’s sports. The most recent post for football came on Dec. 6 and is unrelated to the shutdown of the program.

“I just know what we were told in a meeting with the president,” said outgoing head football coach Chris Roulhac. “The conference is aware that football is being discontinued, but I’m not aware if the university has done a public announcement.”

A quick online search answers that question. But here is the pertinent question: Why has Cheyney’s administration refused to acknowledge what everyone seems already to know. Why the secrecy? Why not explain what is happening and why?

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'It's always good': Defense powers Southern women's win over Grambling in SWAC home opener

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The box score wasn’t pretty.

Sometimes it doesn’t need to be.

In the Southern womens' first home Southwestern Athletic Conference victory this season, the Jaguars pounced on Grambling from Saturday’s tip with defense, outworking Grambling in a 63-44 victory Saturday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

“Tonight was won defensively, rebounding — which has been a big thing for us — steals, boxing out,” Southern forward Briana Green said.

“Staying aggressive defensively,” guard Skylar O’Bear added. “We knew our offense would come.”

With Green’s 15 points and O’Bear’s 13, Southern’s offense did come. Southern (3-9, 2-1 SWAC) fluctuated between large leads with smaller ones as its defense forced 28 Grambling turnovers. The Jaguars’ defiant defense sortied their offense. Southern turned Grambling’s giveaways into 25 points and pounded the Lady Tigers’ defensive interior for 24 points in the paint.

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Frost Ignites UMES Hawk Attach In Win Over Hampton

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- Ahmad Frost (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored 23 of his career-high 33 points in the first half to lead Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball past Hampton 92-83 on Saturday afternoon at the Hytche Center.

“If you were to tell me we were going to play 92 points,” said Hawks head coach Bobby Collins with a chuckle after his team’s complete win. “We’ve been playing well at home. The other team made a run, but we were able to knock down the important free throws and make the important baskets. I’m glad to see this team has some fight.”

Frost finished the game 10-of-15 from the floor, 7-of-9 from deep, and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. He becomes the first Hawk to crack 30 points since Ryan Andino (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) went for 31 on Jan. 9, 2017 at North Carolina A&T.

After a back-and-forth first 10 minutes the Hawks (5-12, 1-1) found themselves down 23-22. Frost proceeded to pop up from the deep right wing and drained his third trey of the half to put his team back up. After Malique Trent-Street answered with a three of his own for the Pirates (5-11, 0-1), Frost again connected from the same spot, giving the Hawks a lead they would not relinquish. On the ensuing possession it was again Frost who made it rain from deep, putting Eastern Shore up 31-26 with his third straight three-pointer.

With 15 seconds before the break and the Hawks leading 44-40, Frost took a feed from Logan McIntosh (Atlanta, Georgia) and nailed a straightaway three, drawing a foul in the process. He sunk the free throw and doubled The Shore’s lead with his second four-point play in as many games. After a Hampton free throw at the other end, Colen Gaynor (Berlin, Maryland) tipped back a missed three at the buzzer, putting the home side up 50-41 at the break.

Frost blew by his old career high of 19 points easily in the first half, making his first seven shots of the game and shooting 8-of-9 in the opening session.

The Pirates fell by as many as 19 in the second half but threatened to spoil the day in Princess Anne late. After a pair of Trent-Street free throws, Charles Wilson-Fisher stole the inbounds pass for an easy layup. The senior leader immediately reached out and stole another, this time laying it in and drawing a foul for a three-point play. Wilson-Fisher’s de facto five-point play got Hampton back to within 76-70 with 7:53 remaining.

The Shore kept their visitors at an arm’s length for the rest of the way, though. In a 81-75 game at the 5:35 mark, Tyler Jones (Atlantic City, New Jersey) stepped out for a three to make it 84-75. The Hawks took a couple of key charges late, and a pair of post buckets by Miryne Thomas (Cleveland, Ohio) built the Hawk lead to 90-79, effectively sealing the deal with 2:49 to play.

“Those two charges definitely were the difference in the game,” said Collins. “They stopped driving the basketball at that point. That was the same thing Central Penn and Morgan State did to get back in the game, and tonight Hampton tried it and we were ready for it.”

Jones continued his dominance of all things Hampton, tying a career high with 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting and hauling in nine rebounds to boot. The sophomore hung 23 points on the Pirates in last season’s MEAC Tournament quarterfinals, a 68-66 Eastern Shore win.

“Tyler Jones must be excited whenever he sees Hampton colors,” said Collins of his Pirate killer. “I’m just going to tell him every game, ‘Hey, that’s blue out there!’”

Miryne Thomas once again narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 16 points and nine boards in 26 minutes before fouling out late. McIntosh dished out a season-high nine assists.

All-MEAC guard Jermaine Marrow led the Pirates with 19 points but was largely quiet in the second half. Wilson-Fisher finished with 16 and seven rebounds, while Trent-Street finished with a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.

The Hawks shot a scintillating 59.4 percent (19-for-32) in the first half, finishing the game at a 50.8 (31-for-61) clip. Through two games in conference play the team is connecting on 50 percent of its field goal attempts.

Eastern Shore led for 36:18 of the game and only trailed for 47 seconds in the first half. The Hawks remain undefeated at home through four games in the friendly confines of the Hytche Center.

The game marks a temporary end to the rivalry between the two schools. Hampton is set to join the Big South Conference on July 1.

Eastern Shore goes for their fifth straight home win on Monday night against Bethune-Cookman. Tip from the Hytche Athletic Center is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday’s game will be broadcast locally on flagship radio station Fox Sports 960 AM WTGM and online at EasternShoreHawks.com. Pregame coverage starts at 7:15 p.m. with Will DeBoer and Dave Byrd on the call for The Shore Sports Network.

BOX SCORE

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE HAWKS ATHLETICS

Morehouse Tigers Slay Dragons to Reach 13th Win in Row

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Maroon Tigers jumped out to an early double-digit lead and never looked back, as they racked up their thirteenth win in a row, beating the Lane College Dragons, 85-53.

It was the fourth win by 20-plus points, for the Tigers who are one win away from tying the 14-game win streak achieved in the 2012-13 season. That mark remains the longest win streak in school history.

Shooting 49 percent and out-rebounding the Dragons, 50-32, the Maroon Tigers cruised to their tenth straight home win, dating back to last season.

Martravious Little was the big scorer, for the Tigers, hitting 7 of 13 shots, from the field, and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line, for 21 points. Little, picking up the slack for co-captain Tyrius Walker, matched his season high, in points.

Walker, who picked up two early fouls, sat most of the first half. He played 18 total minutes and finished with nine points and five rebounds.

With the big win, every Maroon Tiger, except Kairo Whitfield, played and scored at least two points.

Omar Alston, the best percentage shooter in the SIAC, was again perfect from the floor. Alston hit 4 of 4 from the field and 2 of 2 from the charity stripe, for 10 points. His game-high 12 rebounds gave him a fifth double-double on the season and he chipped in four assists and two steals.

Duby Maduegbunam matched Alston, with 10 points, and hauled in six rebounds.

James Walker came within a point of his first double-double, putting up nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Jordan Wallace chipped in eight points, hitting his only attempt – a three-pointer – and going 5 of 5 from the line.

The Maroon Tigers shot 90 percent from the free-throw line, hitting 18 of 20. It was their second best effort of the season, behind the 24 of 24 shots made in the season opener against Florida Tech.

Subbing for Tyrius Walker, Michael Olmert had his longest stint of the season, playing a team-high 27 minutes. The sophomore point guard posted three points and three rebounds, but had a game-high seven assists and two steals.

Junior transfer Tony Evans had one of his best games of the season. Evans played a season-high 16 minutes and contributed seven points and three rebounds.

Newcomer Keith Heard added four and two rebounds and Rodolzo Lewis, playing in only his second game as a Maroon Tiger chipped in two points, two assists and a rebound.

While the Tigers failed to reach the 86.6 points per game scoring average that has them atop the SIAC, it was enough to get past the Dragons, who also failed to reach their season average of 64 points per game.

Two Dragons posted double figures, led by Terrace Holt, with 15 points, and AiShontis Sanders, with 14 points. All-SIAC player Kendarius Ash was hampered by an injury and played only 15 minutes. He posted four points and four rebounds.

Despite the loss, the Dragons, now at 4-9; 3-6, remain the #1 team in the SIAC West Division.

BOX SCORE

With the win, the Maroon Tigers move to 8-0 in the conference, and have now defeated all the teams in the SIAC West. Morehouse sits at #2 in the East, behind Claflin, at 15-1; 8-0.

The Maroon Tigers are nationally ranked at #25 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll and are #5 in the South Region of the D2SIDA poll.

Morehouse will be off until Saturday, at 3 p.m., when they face the Fort Valley State Wildcats, in Fort Valley, GA.

The next home game is Saturday, January 20, when the East Division-leading Claflin University Panthers, visit Forbes Arena.

All Morehouse home games are free and open to the public and are web-streamed at http://www.themmtechno.com/mh.htm.

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE MAROON TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Claflin men roll on past Tuskegee

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The Claflin University Panthers pushed their season winning streak to 15 games, rolling past Tuskegee University 73-51 in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) contest Saturday at Tullis Arena.

Claflin is 16-1 overall and a perfect 9-0 in the SIAC.

Benjamin “Tre” Williams led the Panthers in scoring with 16 points followed by Austin Lawton with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Jaleel Charles scored nine points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds along with four blocked shots for Claflin, while Tondric Johnson also added nine points.

Williams and Johnson continued their hot shooting from three-point land, combining for seven. Williams had four and Johnson added three. The duo knocked down five apiece against Miles College last week.

The 51 points scored by Tuskegee tied a season low allowed by the Panthers defense. Claflin held Albany State University to the same margin in November, winning 68-51. Last season, Claflin held Tuskegee under the 50-point mark with a 49-48 decision in Tuskegee, Ala.

CONTINUE READING

Mitchell Ties While Stewart Breaks A&T School Record

Freshman Trevor Stewart broke the indoor
school record in the 400m with a time of 47.05.

CLEMSON, South Carolina -- North Carolina A&T indoor track and field teams returned from a month break and had positive performances at the Clemson University Orange & Purple Invite Saturday at the Clemson University Indoor Complex. Sophomore Jaylan Mitchell won the men’s 60 meters while freshman Trevor Stewart won the men’s 400m dash. In total, the Aggies combined for 36 top-10 finishes in their second meet of the season

“I am pleased with our performances as a team,” said N.C. A&T head coach Duane Ross. “We had a lot of depth in many events. It is tough coming off Christmas break and jumping right into a quality competition like this, but our teams handled it very well.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Four Players Reach Double Figures as Lincoln Lions Win for Eighth Time in Nine Games

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- The Lincoln university women's basketball team placed four players in double figures as they won for the eighth time in nine games, defeating St. Augustine's University 72-61 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.

The win was also the Lions fourth straight as they improve to 9-4 overall and 4-1 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games. Lincoln also remains perfect at home with a 6-0 record. The Falcons fall to 4-10 overall and 1-4 in league play.

McKenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points while grabbing a career-high seven rebounds. Shahra Madison (Chesapeke, Va./Norfolk Collegiate School (Chesapeke College)) recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points (5-7 FG) and 11 rebounds. Michelle Fitzgerald (Baltimore, Md./Md. Academy of Tech & Health Science (N.C. A & T)) added 13 points and eight rebounds while Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech) chipped in 11 points. Brianna Logan (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley (Siena)) led Lincoln with five assists.

Kaaliya Williams led the Falcons with 19 points and nine rebounds. Angela Caraballo added ten points.

Three ties and three lead changes highlighted the first quarter before the Lions took control, scoring the final six points of the period to take a 15-9 lead. Lincoln extended the run into the second quarter with an 11-6 flourish to take their biggest lead of the first half at 26-15 before settling in for a nine point lead at the break, 31-22.

The Lions still led by nine midway through the third quarter when they started to pull away, producing a 13-4 run over a three minute span to take their biggest lead of the game at 52-34. Shecquan Bailey (Salisbury, Md./Snow Hill (Baltimore City C.C.)) scored all seven of her points during this stretch and DeeDee Irwin (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) capped the run with a three-point goal from the baseline. Carabello then provided a spark for the Falcons in the final 2:10 of the quarter, scoring seven straight points as the Falcons cut the lead to 11, 52-41 by quarter's end.

Caraballo made it ten straight points with a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and Nikiya Murphy added a jumper to pull the Falcons within six 52-46 just 54 seconds into the final period. Spencer and Fitzgerald then triggered a 9-0 Lincoln run with back-to-back three-balls to boost the Lions lead back to double figures at 61-46. The Falcons would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way and LU's Taylor King (Lorton, Va./Hayfield Secondary) closed out the Lions' scoring with five free throws in the final minute, giving the Lions the 11-point win.

Both teams struggled to make baskets with the Falcons holding a slight advantage 33.8% (23-68) to 33.3% (20-60). Both teams took 21 shots from beyond the arc with the Lions having the better showing, making nine three-pointers to SAU's four. Lincoln also had a huge advantage in the rebounding department, 62-35. LU's 62 rebounds are the most in game since grabbing 63 against Morgan State in 2013. Both teams also struggled with their ball control with the Lions committing 27 turnovers and the Falcons 20.

BOX SCORE

The women's basketball team returns to action on Monday, January 8, 2018 when the host Shaw University in a CIAA crossover contest. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Lady Tigers Take First OVC Victory in 76-66 Win Over Tennessee Tech

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- FINAL BOX | RADIO CALLS

Final Box: Tennessee State 76 – Tennessee Tech 66

Records: TSU (3-10, 1-3 OVC) – Tennessee Tech (3-12, 0-4 OVC) 

Venue: Gentry Center

Location: Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team won its first conference game of the season with a, 76-66, victory over Tennessee Tech Saturday afternoon in the Gentry Center.

After pulling ahead early in the first period, Tennessee State (3-10, 1-3 OVC) led Tennessee Tech (3-12, 0-4 OVC) the remainder of the game, moving ahead by as much as 12.

Tia Wooten put up 26 points, leading the Lady Tiger offense, and took down 8 rebounds. Maxine Beard facilitated the offense with six assists, while Kaliya Griffin recorded three steals. Jaden Wrightsell also scored in double-digits with 12 points.

Tennessee Tech had four players score in double-digits led by Yaktavia Hickson's 14 points. Mackenzie Coleman (13), Jordan Brock (12), and Asia Harper (11) also notched double-figures for the Golden Eagles.

TSU outscored Tennessee Tech three-of-the-four periods, but the Golden Eagles beat Big Blue on the glass, out-rebounding the Lady Tigers 32-29.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU Leaders
  • Points: Tia Wooten - 26
  • Rebounds: Tia Wooten – 8
  • Assists: Maxine Beard - 6
  • Steals: Kaliya Griffin - 3
• The Lady Tigers shot 100 percent from three-point range the entire first half.
• The Lady Tigers held the advantage in bench points, 19-7.
• The Lady Tigers shot 77.8 percent from the free-throw line.
• TSU was out rebounded, 31-29.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• TSU ended the first period up by five after Kaliya Griffin shot 100 percent from the floor leading the Lady Tigers offense with 7 points.
• Jaden Wrightsell came up with six points in the second period to help Big Blue maintain a lead over the Golden Eagles by halftime.
• Tia Wooten showed up early in the second half producing two back-to-back steals resulting in the 10th TSU point off of a turnover.
• Tennessee Tech outscored the Lady Tigers 18-17 in the second.
• Late in the third, TSU went 8-0 over a span of two minutes.
• TSU created as much as a 12-point advantage in the third period – the largest in the game.
• With an eight-point deficit and only 1:15 on the clock, Tennessee Tech began to foul putting Tia Wooten and Taylor Roberts, two-of-the-three Lady Tigers ranked in the conference’s top 10 in free-throw percentage.

GAME NOTES

• TSU won its first conference game of the season versus Tennessee Tech
• The 76-66 victory is the first OVC win for Head Coach Jessica Kern
• Tennessee Tech leads the series 54-13
• Tia Wooten has scored in double digits in all 13 games this season, and 20+ points in 9-of-13 games.
• Jaden Wrightsell scored in double figures for the second time this year
• TSU led at halftime for just the third time this season
• The Lady Tigers are 3-0 this year when leading at the half
• The first quarter lead was the first for the Lady Tigers since Dec. 15 versus Lipscomb

QUOTES

Head Coach Jessica Kern

I’m very impressed with the way the girls came out today. Our theme for this game was bend but don’t break and I think we showed that tonight. There were times when we’d get (the lead) up to ten, then it would get down to two. Then we’d fluctuate back and forth but no one player threw in the towel.

- Overall thoughts on the game

Our Midwest kids are really excited because they’ve got a lot of people coming to support them. We know its going to be a dog fight from here on out. The reality is, we like our chances in conference play. Our goal obviously is to be in Evansville. We want to keep swinging. I don’t think 1-3 is indicative of who we are and what we’ve done but its nice we’re healthy. For the first time all year long, we’re healthy and we want to keep it going. So stealing some on the road is always great.

- On the next two road games

UP NEXT

• TSU heads to Illinois for a series of games beginning Thursday, Jan. 11 agasint Eastern Illinois at 8:30 p.m., followed by SIU Edwardsville Saturday Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATION