Morgan State spoils finale at Coppin Center

Coppin State guard Tywain McKee is going out just as he came in, still hungry, still driven, still looking to refine his game.

Morgan State got a tournament-type atmosphere in its regular-season finale tonight. The Bears responded to their neighborhood rivalry with Coppin State with a frenetic 68-62 victory that brought down the curtain on Coppin Center. The Bears got a game-high 23 points from Reggie Holmes to notch their second straight 20-win season and head into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament with momentum -- they've won 12 of their past 14 -- and the No. 1 seed.

Morgan (20-11, 13-3) trailed only in the opening minutes and led by 12 points in the second half but couldn't put away the Eagles (12-18, 9-7). "We still haven't hit on all cylinders," Bears coach Todd Bozeman said. "We still have a level we want to get to. You just don't want to finish the season without reaching that level. We aren't where we were, but we also aren't quite where we want to be." On an emotional night that saw Tywain McKee played his final regular-season game for the Eagles and the last men's game on this floor, Coppin got within three points with 23 seconds to play.

Attendance: 1,720.

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SLU comes back to beat Southern University in 10th

Joe Sparacino's two-out run-scoring double in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Southeastern Louisiana to an 8-7 victory against Southern last night in Hammond. The Lions (6-3) overcame a 7-0 deficit to knock off the visiting Jaguars (3-5). Both teams had a chance to win it in the ninth. Two errors and a walk helped the Jaguars load the bases in the top of the inning, but Toddrick Stevenson popped up to the pitcher to end the threat.

In the bottom of the ninth, Ty Summerlin singled with one out and moved to third on Brandon Street's single. Josh Cryer was intentionally walked to load the bases. But Chris Franklin grounded into a double play to force extra innings. Southern had runners on the corners with two out in the top of the 10th, but Gregory Whitfield grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Southern jumped out to a 7-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings, but SLU pecked away before tying the game in the eighth on Jordan D'Arensbourg's two-run home run. Edmond Morton's two-run homer in the second gave the Jaguars a 2-0 lead. Victor Franklin's one-out solo shot in the third pushed the SU advantage to 3-0.

Box Score and Play-by-Play in .pdf Format

Box Score and Play-by-Play in .html Format

JAGUAR BASEBALL-MARCH 2009
Date Opponent Location Time
3-1 *Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX 1:00 PM
3-4 Southeastern Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA 6:00 PM
3-10 Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA 6:30 PM
3-14 *+Arkansas Pine Bluff Baton Rouge, LA 12:00 PM
3-15 *Arkansas Pine Bluff Baton Rouge, LA 1:00 PM
3-17 +Alcorn State University Lorman, MS 3:00 PM
3-21 *+Texas Southern Houston, TX 12:00 PM
3-22 *Texas Southern Houston, TX 12:00 PM
3-24 University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA 6:00 PM
3-28 *+Grambling State Baton Rouge, LA 12:00 PM
3-29 *Grambling State Baton Rouge, LA 1:00 PM
3-31 Nicholls State University Baton Rouge, LA 6:00 PM

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Pitching presenting problem for FAMU

Rattlers head baseball Coach Robert Lucas

Coach Robert Lucas realized one of his greatest fears about the FAMU baseball team – that his pitchers might have a disastrous day no matter how much hitting the Rattlers do. That became clear Tuesday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field, where the Rattlers lost two seven-inning games to Campbell University. The Camels (8-1) took the first game 7-0 then FAMU's pitching collapsed in a 16-6 loss.

Yes, this is the same team that scored 41 runs in the two previous games. That gave Lucas a bit of optimism just four days ago, but inconsistencies by his pitchers spurred Lucas' ire. Pitching coach Brett Richardson was just as furious over what transpired on the mound. What he saw was enough to begin tinkering with the rotation, Richardson said.

"You can talk a whole bunch about confidence, but confidence is something you can't give a guy," Richardson said. "Either you've got it or you don't." Despite their troubles on the mound, the Rattlers out-hit Campbell in both games (9-8 and 15-10). FAMU never led in the second game and it left nine runners on base for a total of 18 in both games.

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Second-half surge puts Tennessee State in semis

Jasmine Smith, who has been the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week six times since January, lived up to her reputation Tuesday for Tennessee State. The transfer from Louisville poured in 16 points and helped the Lady Tigers keep their season alive by providing a second-half boost on the way to a 77-66 win over Southeast Missouri. The victory came in the first round of the OVC Tournament at Gentry Center. It moved No. 3 seed TSU (18-12) into Friday's semifinals at Sommet Center against Eastern Illinois, which defeated Tennessee Tech 71-65.

TSU guard Kendra Appling (5) drives past SEMO forward Rachel Blunt (32) during their game at Gentry Center. (GEORGE WALKER IV)

"I told Jasmine at halftime, if we win this game, it's going to depend on her getting involved offensively and defensively,'' TSU Coach Tracee Wells said. Sixth seeded SEMO (15-15) kept Smith contained for the first half. She came into the game averaging 11.1 points and 9.8 rebounds but was held to just two points and three rebounds by halftime. From the start of the second half, however, Smith was nearly unstoppable. She scored seven of TSU's first 11 points and finished with 14 second-half points and five rebounds.

Photo Gallery: Southeast Missouri State vs. TSU

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NSU's basketball recruits are practicing patience

NORFOLK, VA - Rob Hampton was not prepared for how long a college basketball season could be when you're watching it from the sidelines. Then he sat through his first home game at Norfolk State's Echols Hall as a spectator and thought: This is going to take some getting used to. "It took about three hours from the time we walked into the gym to the end of the game," said Hampton, a 6-foot-4 guard who played the previous two seasons at Drexel University. "It felt like three days."

Hampton must sit through such pain one more time - tonight, when the Spartans host North Carolina A&T at 8 to close out their regular season. He's hard to miss. While everyone else is dressed in uniform or warm-ups, Hampton normally sits at the end of the Norfolk State bench wearing gray sweats. He could watch things from the bleachers, as do two other redshirting transfers - Christian Morris, formerly of Rutgers, and Marcos Tamares, formerly of Maryland-Baltimore County. But Hampton prefers to be closer to the action.

For two years at Drexel, Hampton was knee deep in that action. After minimal playing time as a freshman, he averaged 20.7 minutes a game as a sophomore, scoring 4.5 points a game.

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MEAC finally set to welcome Eagles

After almost a two-year wait, N.C. Central University is about to get its wish. On Feb. 23, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference finally lifted its ban on membership expansion. Its Council of Chief Executive Officers has begun the application review process of the Eagles and Savannah (Ga.) State as the 13th and 14th members of the historically black Division I conference. NCCU is in the second year of its five-year reclassification process into Division I. The Eagles have been playing an independent schedule since leaving the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2006.

But, in reality, there's nothing to review. From the day they made the decision to leave the CIAA, the Eagles' membership was a given. The only question is, what took so long? "We have a process," Commissioner Dennis Thomas said. "First, a strategic and long-range plan was done for the future of our conference, and membership expansion was a part of that. We completed that and the board approved lifting the moratorium in January."

That's executive speak. The bottom line is the MEAC needs N.C. Central just as much as N.C. Central needs it.

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MEAC expansion could bring 2 divisions, football title game

NORFOLK, VA - Fourteen schools. Two divisions. One conference. That's the direction the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has set for itself in announcing last week that the league has lifted a moratorium on expansion. The MEAC, which includes Norfolk State and Hampton, could soon be adding North Carolina Central and Savannah State. Both institutions have submitted applications to join the league, currently comprised of 11 schools, nine of which play football. Winston-Salem State, which also plays football, is working toward inclusion in the MEAC in 2011.

The larger league would likely break down into two divisions. "That would allow us to at least have the flexibility for divisional play," conference commissioner Dennis Thomas said. "Divisional play will give us the flexibility to save on travel costs and missed class time for our athletes. Those are among the reasons to do this." The creation of two divisions also would seemingly invite the possibility of a championship football game - an event that could come at a price: the I-AA playoffs.

That portion of the expansion idea isn't popular with Norfolk State football coach Pete Adrian. He said the overwhelming majority of recruits are looking for the chance to play in a national playoff. "The I-AA playoffs have a lot more exposure," he said. "I don't think going to a championship game will pay off." Hampton athletic director Lonza Hardy, meanwhile, welcomes expansion and is open to exploring both postseason options.

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USC Beaufort knocks around Savannah State, 15-6

The University of South Carolina - Beaufort baseball team wasn't intimidated by its first NCAA Division I opponent -- in fact, the Sand Sharks played the role of bully. Designated hitter Jon Schmidt's grand slam in the first inning set the tone, and the Sand Sharks pounded Savannah State, 15-6, on the road Tuesday, snapping a three-game losing streak and starting a string of five consecutive days with games on the right foot.

Schmidt's third home run of the season was the only hit USCB managed against Tigers starter Mark Sherrod, but knuckleballer Nick Rhodes and three relievers made it stand up until the Sand Sharks could break it open with a seven-run eighth and a three-run ninth. Gabe Torres, T.J. Kemp and DeShontay Berry each drove in two runs, as the Sand Sharks snapped out of an offensive funk after scoring only one run in a doubleheader against Warner University on Saturday. Dustin Britt, Kemp and Rossetti had two hits apiece for USCB.

Rhodes (3-1) had another solid start, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings. Ryan Kroko allowed one run in two innings of relief, Colton Rudd gave up an unearned run in an inning of work and Kyle McCullough allowed one run in pitching the ninth. The Sand Sharks are members of the NAIA Sun Conference and records their first victory against a NCAA Division I program.

Box Score

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Savannah State Releases 2009 Football Schedule

By: Savannah State University Sports Information Department

SAVANNAH, Ga.- Six home games including an October 24 matchup with football newcomer Old Dominion highlight the 2009 Savannah State University football schedule. Four of the first five games will be on the road. Under second-year head coach Robby Wells, the Tigers will open the season playing in two “classics”. On September 5, SSU will take to the road to play Division II Livingstone in Greenville, South Carolina in the HBCU Classic.

SSU plays their home opener at Theodore A. Wright Stadium on September 12 against Alabama State in the 16th annual Joe Turner Classic before embarking on a three-game road swing which will take them to Lake Charles, Louisiana; Selma, Alabama and Charleston, South Carolina. Savannah State will play at McNeese State on Sept. 19, at Concordia on Sept.
26 and at Charleston Southern on October 3.

The Cowboys of McNeese State posted a 7-4 record last year, finished in a second place tie in the Southland Conference standings and were ranked No. 21 in the final Sports Network poll. The Tigers return home the following week to open a five game home stand, starting with North Greenville on Oct. 10. Bethune-Cookman comes to town on Oct. 17 for the 41st meeting between the Tigers and Wildcats and Old Dominion pays a visit on Oct. 24. SSU celebrates Homecoming 2009 on October 31 by hosting NAIA foe Edward Waters in a 2:00 p.m. matchup.

After an open date on November 7, the Tigers close out their home-stand with Webber International on Nov. 14. The Tigers will travel to Durham, North Carolina to close out the season against the Eagles of North Carolina Central on Nov. 21. This will be the second consecutive year the Tigers will end their season in Durham, N.C. First-year opponents on the schedule include Old Dominion, McNeese State and North Greenville. SSU played eight of the teams on the schedule in 2008 and posted a 3-5 record against them.

Savannah State defeated Livingstone (45-10), Concordia (23-7) and Webber (24-7) while losing to Bethune-Cookman (34-9), Charleston Southern (29-20), Edward Waters (26-21) and North Carolina Central (10-7).

SSU 2009 Football Schedule
Sept 5 at Livingstone Greenville, SC (HBCU Classic)
Sept 12 ALABAMA STATE (Joe Turner Classic)
Sept 19 at MeNeese State
Sept 26 at Concordia
Oct 03 at Charleston Southern
Oct 10 NORTH GREENVILLE
Oct 17 BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Oct 24 OLD DOMINION
Oct 31 EDWARD WATERS
Nov 07 OPEN
Nov 14 WEBBER INTERNATIONAL
Nov 21 at North Carolina Central

Trailblazers: From Black Colleges to the NFL

Banks' book teaches history

Oree Banks has stood among giants.

In 30-plus years of coaching football, he has studied and coached with some of the all-time greats. Now, he's written about those giants. His new book, "Trailblazers: From Black Colleges to the NFL," recounts the exploits of the first seven black coaches inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame and some of the players they coached.

In addition to Banks himself, who coached at West Virginia State and South Carolina State, the first coaches to enter the NAIA hall were Alonzo "Jake" Gaither, Florida A&M; Fred "Pop" Long, Paul Quinn College, Wiley College and Prairie View College; Harry Jefferson, Bluefield State, North Carolina A&T, Virginia State and Hampton College; Arnette W. Mumford, Jarvis Christian, Southern, Bishop and Texas College; Billy Nicks, Morris Brown and Prairie View A&M; and Eddie Robinson, Grambling University.

Banks, 67, coached at West Virginia State for seven seasons. He is retired from coaching but still teaches. He also conducts drug awareness seminars and has visited every college in the state to talk with student-athletes about drugs. In his quest to write the book, Banks spent three years doing research and traveling to the various colleges where the coaches worked. He thought it was important to tell the story of the struggles of black athletes and coaches in these historically black colleges in the days before desegregation.

"Today's young people need to learn the history of these coaches," he said. "These men all have a story to tell." He said he was surprised by some of the things he learned.

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Oree Banks is an associate professor, Health and Human Performance at West Virginia State University. The former head football coach is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and conducts drug awareness seminars for student athletes throughout the United States. Banks was head coach at West Virginia State and South Carolina State. He was one of the first full-time assistant coaches at the University of South Carolina and the University of Virginia. Banks was also an assistant at Wisconsin and at Grambling State University, during a 30 year coaching career.

Rejuvenated Maxey helps Jackson State roll away with big road victory

Tigers bounce back from stunning loss to stay in contention for share of SWAC regular season championship

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -
Jackson State junior forward Grant Maxey was doubtful for Monday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff after being hit in the head last week and then going scoreless for the first time since his freshman year. But the second-leading scorer during SWAC play started and took all of one possession to eclipse that number - hitting a midrange jumper and looking like his normal self.

Maxey's presence plus a heavy dose of Darrion Griffin and Garrison Johnson kept Jackson State in the run for a possible share of the SWAC regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the tournament with a 75-66 victory at H.O. Clemmons Arena. "We still wanted to let Alabama State know we're a team to be reckoned with," Griffin said. "This was a message to the rest of the conference." JSU hosts the Hornets on Thursday.

The Golden Lions (11-17, 10-7) played the first half like there was blue blood in the water. JSU was coming off its first loss since Jan. 19 with Mississippi Valley State rallying from a 16-point deficit on Saturday. UAPB still could have stolen the No. 2 seed in the SWAC Tournament.

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ASU men on the cusp of SWAC title after win over Texas Southern

As Alabama State senior point guard Brandon Brooks walked off the Acadome floor for the final time in his ASU career, the partisan crowd gave Brooks the expected standing ovation. His coaches and teammates greeted him with hugs and high-fives. The public address announcer asked for more applause. None of those, however, were as telling as the reaction from Texas Southern head coach Tony Harvey.

Harvey, who had just watched Brooks orchestrate a 90-73 thumping of his Tigers, left his bench, walked past mid-court, got Brooks' attention with a slap on the backside and shook his hand. "That means so much -- to know that you've earned the respect of your peers like that," Brooks said. "That was a nice gesture and it meant a lot to me." Harvey's motivation was easy to spot Monday night.

While his numbers -- 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds -- don't jump off the stat sheet, Brooks was clearly in command in ASU's win. He controlled the flow of the game by pushing the ball early, as the Hornets jumped out to a 28-14 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. And he led the charge in the second half, as ASU recovered from a slump that allowed TSU to even the score and pushed its lead out to as many as 23 down the stretch.

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SPOTLIGHT: Bill would require Oregon universities to interview at least one minority football coach candidate

Oregon's bill would cover the six state universities with football teams: Oregon, Oregon State, Portland State, Eastern Oregon, Western Oregon and Southern Oregon.

The Oregon Legislature plans to introduce a bill this week that would require universities to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head football coach. If it passes, Oregon would become the first state with such a law. House Bill 3118 is patterned after the NFL's Rooney Rule, which helped transform the league's head coaching ranks after being implemented in 2003. Oregon's bill aims to diversify hiring in major college football, where seven of 120 head coaches are minorities.

Richard Lapchick, founder and director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics In Sport at University of Central Florida, said the bill could push the NCAA to drop its resistance to enacting a similar rule. "I think it's very significant and very welcome by people who have been fighting for this for a long time," Lapchick said. Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, drafted the measure at the behest of constituent Sam Sachs, a former college football player and minority-rights activist.

"It seems to me it only makes sense," Greenlick said. "Because (the Rooney Rule) has had an effect and because I don't think minority coaches have been given a fair shake in Oregon, certainly in football." The bill contains an exception for a school "bound by contract to promote a member of the institution's current coaching staff." Call it the Oregon Out: In December, the Ducks promised their head coaching job to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly when Mike Bellotti becomes the school's athletic director.

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SU rides Spear, big fourth inning to 10-3 victory over PVAMU

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Taking the mound on an early-but-crucial Sunday afternoon in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, Southern pitcher James Spear made sure the Jaguars didn’t stumble. The senior right-hander gave Southern its third straight quality start to begin SWAC play, allowing three runs in seven innings. Better yet, the Jaguars’ batting order erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning to topple Prairie View, 10-3 — clinching the first conference series of the season for SU.

“James Spear threw a lot of strikes and got the job done for us today,” Southern coach Roger Cador said. “It makes me feel awful good that we had all three of our starting pitchers have a good outing here so early (in the season). ... We have some other guys who we’re going to look at. But for them to pitch, it’ll be in midweek games and in mop-up situations in SWAC series.”

The Southern offense, meanwhile, came alive in the top of the fourth, chasing off Prairie View starter Brandon Kendricks in the process. Trailing 2-0, the Jaguars sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on five hits. SU drew three walks and took advantage of two Panthers errors in the inning.

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SPECIAL FEATURE: Connecticut Governor Calls Jim Calhoun Salary Tirade 'Embarrassing'

Connecticut governor Jodi Rell is the latest person to weigh in on the Jim Calhoun salary controversy, and the governor said Tuesday that she found Calhoun's response to a question about his status as the state's highest-paid employee "embarrassing." Said Rell of Calhoun's answer to a question about his salary, "I think if Coach Calhoun had the opportunity right now, he would welcome a do-over and not have that embarrassing display."

Rell, whose salary is $150,000, wouldn't directly answer whether she believes Calhoun should take a pay cut. Calhoun declined to answer when the Hartford Courant asked him about the governor's comments. Calhoun was asked at a weekend press conference about getting the biggest paycheck in a state that is currently running a deficit, and before the questioner could even finish asking, he interrupted with "not a dime back." He then lectured the questioner about the revenue that his team generates, and told the questioner to shut up.

Although the questioner (a political activist who got to the press conference with a photo pass) didn't conduct himself in a very professional manner, the underlying question is a legitimate one, and Calhoun is wrong to suggest that his own salary is above being questioned. Rell is right to call his response embarrassing.



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If there was ever a case for a salary rollback, Jim Calhoun should be at the top of the list. I wonder what percentage of his former basketball players earned their degrees and make over $100,000 annually? This guy is a $2 million dollar jerk!

-beepbeep

GSU, ASU win SWAC track

The Grambling men and Alabama State’s women took home team titles at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field championships on an afternoon when extracurricular activities caused a delay during the meet’s final day. The men’s competition was marred by a scuffle that broke out in the stands between the Southern and Jackson State squads following the 60-meter hurdles.

The cramped field-house seats, populated mainly with coaches and athletes, had meet officials scrambling to restore order. At the time, JSU and Southern were in second and third place, respectively, but both men’s squads were ultimately disqualified from the championship. All finishes by both men’s teams were deleted, with lower finishes moved up and point totals recalculated.

“I am extremely disappointed by today’s incident,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said in a statement released Sunday evening. “Championship events are to celebrate and reward the achievements of our student athletes. Today, the actions of those involved in the altercation have not exemplified that competitive spirit of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and its member institutions. This behavior is unacceptable, and we will investigate completely before taking further disciplinary action.”

SWAC Indoor Track and Field Results

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B-CU Beats FGCU 6-1 In Tournament Finale

By B-CU SID Mark Johnson

Freshman Lefty Starter Ali Simpson Pitches Solid Game -Now 2-0 on Season

Lefty starter Ali Simpson won on the second straight Sunday for B-CU pitching six innings of two hit ball allowing one run and striking out six for the win. The Campbell River, B.C. native freshman got the pitching win last Sunday vs. Southern University (10-4 win) in the MLB Urban Invitational in California.

"Ali was outstanding today," said B-CU Head Coach Meryvl Melendez. "He was throwing strikes and keeping them off balance, just like he did last week (vs. Southern University) last Sunday. I was proud of him and the way he pitched. We got timely hitting and scored early and put the opponent on their heals," said Melendez.

B-CU (4-4) led 5-1 after three innings, with run scoring hits from Alejandro Jimenez, Emmanuel Castro, and freshman catcher Peter O'Brien. O'Brien was 2-4 with 2 RBI and is B-CU's leading hitter through eight games with a .435 average (10-23). Freshman infielder Alejandro Sanchez was 3-4 with a RBI and sophomore Ryan Durrence was 2-4 with two runs scored.

"It was a good end to the tournament with a win and to get back on the winning track, " said Melendez. "We have been playing a lot of players, a lot of young players and they have played well for us against some tough competition." B-CU was 2-2 in the four games in Ft. Myers beating Towson University Thursday (12-4) and losing Friday to Boston College (10-5) and falling late Saturday night, 4-2 to Samford University.

Seniors Mark Brooks (2B) and Drew Clark (C) have been injured and will be day-today for the busy week ahead (6 games) for B-CU. DH/OF Chris Brown is nursing a hand injury and pitcher Rayan Gonzalez is injured as well in the early season.

The Wildcats next play Tuesday hosting Mercer, 6 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in a two-game series (game two - Wednesday at 6 p.m.). B-CU plays four games over the weekend in the Wildcat Tournament - Friday night vs. Xavier (7 p.m.), Saturday vs. Michigan State (7 p.m.) and again Sunday vs. the Spartans at noon. The tournament finale Sunday will face off Georgia State vs. the Wildcats, at 4 p.m.

Shannon Sharpe ready to embrace Savannah State again

MACON, GA - Shannon Sharpe recalls the day the late Bill Davis walked onto his family's yard in rural Tattnall County and delivered his simple recruiting pitch. "Son," Davis said, "I want to build Savannah State's football program around you." Now, 25 years later, Sharpe is hearing a similar spiel from his alma mater. He is out of eligibility as a player, but the football program is desperate for his public support, be it moral, financial or all of the above.

And just as Sharpe embraced the Tigers then, he's ready to do so again now. Finally.
Sharpe pledged Saturday to sit down with Savannah State's administration "soon" to discuss taking part in a ceremony to retire his jersey number. The retirement would be the first step toward ending a decade-long divorce between the school and the greatest athlete ever to wear its colors.



"We can move forward in that direction now," Sharpe said Saturday prior to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "For someone to think that the No. 2 jersey is so well-respected that they don't want anybody else to put it on is a huge honor, and I don't take it lightly." Savannah State officials won't take Sharpe's willingness to reconnect to the school lightly either. The school's athletic director, Bart Bellairs, breathed an audible sigh of relief when told of Sharpe's comments.

View dozens more images of Shannon Sharpe
View Shannon Sharpe's tribute case at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame



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North Carolina A&T Aggies clinch MEAC

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- N.C. A&T junior forward Jaleesa Sams made the best of Friends and Family night at Corbett Sports Center Saturday. Fifty-to-60 people from her hometown of New Castle, Pa., bused to Greensboro to watch her play. She rewarded their long trip by scoring a career-high 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting and had six rebounds and five steals to lead the A&T women's basketball team to an 84-60 win over Howard. The Aggies (21-6, 13-1 MEAC) clinched their second-straight MEAC regular-season title.

"I always play better with my family in the stands because they are my worst critics,'' Sams said. "I have no other choice but to play well. It was very important that I got out there and played. They told me if I didn't play tonight they weren't going to speak to me."

Aggies put together back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time and Coach Cage-Bibbs building strong case as the best coach in HBCU women's basketball ever!

Sams' outing was satisfying because she had missed the previous two games with a leg injury. She has missed seven games this season, and A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs was happy to see her back. "We were just happy to have Jaleesa back,'' Bibbs said. "The way Jaleesa played tonight, I wish all of our players would have a busload of people come in every time we play." The Aggies also got a lift from Ta'Wuana Cook. Cook came off the bench to score 12 points, dish out three assists and record three steals. Brittanie Taylor-James added 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the free throw line.

Box Score

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Johnson C. Smith sweeps CIAA titles

For Johnson C. Smith, this was time for reinvention. Virginia Union had beaten the Golden Bulls twice during the regular season, so a “tweak,” to use coach Steve Joyner's term, was essential. So he threw in a matchup zone Saturday that scrambled things just enough to pull off a 70-63 victory in the CIAA men's championship game. “Us changing up a bit, they did act a bit confused,” Joyner said after J.C. Smith held Virginia Union below 65. “Just enough confused.”

And just enough scoring, too. Jerry Hollis kept driving for 19 points, and Ryan Scott hit two 3-pointers – the first to build an 11--point lead and the second a game-saver – after Virginia Union had closed to four with 11/2 minutes left. Scott's dad, former NBA star Dennis Scott, was at Time Warner Cable Arena, but the Golden Bulls senior hadn't done much. He picked up two quick first-half fouls but knew he'd get his chance.

JSSU star Wendy Stywalt splits the defense to score a basket over Bowie State's Juliette Turner on way to a 49-36 win and the 2009 CIAA Championship. (YALONDA M. JAMES)

That's because Hollis was so effective (6-of-11 from the field and 7-of-10 from the foul line), Virginia Union had no choice but to contract its defense around him. “I knew I'd get my time,” said Scott, who had 13 points. “The way Jerry was working down-low, I just told him, ‘Let me know – I'm ready.'” Those times came with just under 10 minutes left – for a 51-40 edge – and with 1minute, 23 seconds left, after Virginia Union's Brandon Byerson made a 3 to cut J.C. Smith's lead to four.

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JC Smith takes advantage of the limelight

Golden Bulls take CIAA by the horns

Slideshow: CIAA Party Pix

Video: Mo'Nique Show

CIAA Party Pix 02.27.09

CIAA Ford Fan Experience

Video: The Steve Harvey Morning Show

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