'Business as usual:' SCSU Bulldogs not distracted by outside factors as spring practice begins

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The walls of Oliver C. Dawson Stadium appear to have been solid insulation for the South Carolina State football team during a rough offseason for the university.

The team watched as the state Legislature threatened this winter to close the school because of lingering financial issues. University President Thomas Elzey, who had previously filed suit against S.C. State, was fired on Monday, and the school and its board of trustees will likely face massive restructuring in an attempt to gain financial solvency in the coming months.



Tuesday on Willie Jeffries Field, the Bulldogs went about getting back to a sense of normalcy for head coach Buddy Pough and his program as the Bulldogs opened spring drills with the first of 15 scheduled practices.

“It’s just been going on business as usual,” Pough said. “We don’t get into that type of stuff. Everything for us is the next rep, the next practice. It’s whatever is put ahead of us. Our guys are excited about being here. This is the fun part of the day for us. When you walk on campus, this is the fun part. The other stuff is the tough part.”

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The slipper still fits as seventh-seeded Lady Argos reach Elite Eight over Langston U.

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri -- At 6-foot-2, University of Great Falls women's basketball post Lindsey Abramson doesn't attempt many 3-pointers.

Still, with the seventh-seeded Lady Argonauts needing one shot to keep their Cinderella run in the NAIA National Tournament alive, the play went to senior.

Abramson didn't hesitate. She knocked down the wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the key as time expired to give the No. 25 Lady Argos a stunning 72-69 upset victory over third-seeded and No. 12 Langston (Okla.) to reach Saturday's Elite Eight here at Independence Events Center.

"We executed the play exactly how we drew it up," UGF head coach Bill Himmelberg said. "Erin (Legel) coming off the double screen, then going over, Lindsey going out and knocking the shot down."

The improbable postseason success continued for UGF (24-9), which has won its first two games in its first-ever trip to the tournament. The Lady Argos will take on defending national champion and No. 1 seed Oklahoma City in the Elite Eight Saturday at 1 p.m. Mountain Time.

"I think a lot of these teams are underestimating us and we're fighters," said Abramson, who had attempted only 24 treys – making 11 – prior to Friday.

"We're still there and we're still kicking," she added. "I don't think people should be underestimating us. We've beat two top teams and we're still dancing."

While Abramson's shot broke a 69-all tie, the Lady Argos certainly felt the need to win the game in regulation.

All-Conference guard Darah Huertas-Vining was injured during Wednesday's opening round victory and didn't play, while the already short-handed Argos were hampered by foul trouble late in the contest.
Mackenzie Owens, Kendalyn Brainard and Nneka Nnadi all fouled out in the waning minutes, sending in senior Mary Wilmore and freshman Molly Herron as the game reached its zenith.

Herron filled in admirably at the guard spot while Wilmore collected seven rebounds – none bigger than the defensive board she secured with 15 seconds to play that set up Abramson's game-winning shot.

Legel took the ball up-court, faked a drive to the basket before kicking the ball out to the wide-open Abramson at the top of the key. Abramson drained it as the Lady Argos rushed onto the floor in celebration.
"It couldn't have happened unless Mary got that great defensive board, and I think that says it all,"

Abramson said. "If she lets that go and (Langston) would have got it we would have been down two. I have to give credit to Mary – that was the best board she's had all year."

The ensuing pandemonium capped a back-and-forth second half in which neither team led by more than five points.

UGF struggled early and found itself trailing 18-4 before rallying to cut the deficit to 32-30 at halftime.

"We were kind of quiet (early)," UGF freshman Stephanie McDonagh said of the slow start. "Once we started talking to each other and encouraging each other, and not getting down on one another for our mistakes we really got going."

Legel led UGF with 21 points and seven assists, while Abramson had 19 points and nine rebounds. McDonagh scored a dozen points to go along with seven rebounds as UGF went to the freshman frequently with Huertas-Vining absent.

"I had to be more offensive-minded," McDonagh said. "My team really encouraged me and they wanted me to shoot the ball. They wanted me to dribble. In the beginning they yelled at me to dribble the ball."

Nnadi scored nine points and had eight rebounds off the bench, while Brainard added seven points and six boards. Owens also collected seven rebounds.

The Lady Argos capitalized with 17 second-chance points as they out-rebounded Langston 55-41.

The Lions (28-4), who are coached by former women's basketball legend Cheryl Miller, were led by Lulu Perry's 21 points. T'Keya Mason scored 17, Lynette Holmes added 13 and Che'Ron Lewis chipped in 10.

Saturday's quarterfinal contest can be watched live online at www.naianetwork.com. It will also air on New Rock 92.9-FM in Great Falls and online at www.kmonam.com. The game will once again be shown inside the Dining Commons at the UGF Student Center with the public welcome.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF GREAT FALLS ATHLETICS

Texas Southern starts fast, sweeps Southern baseball team

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Texas Southern leadoff hitter Zach Welz began Saturday’s game with a line drive that bounced off Southern center fielder Lance Jones’ glove for a three-base error.

Moments later, the Tigers had a three-run lead before the Jaguars even had a chance to bat.

Southern responded with a run in the bottom of the first and kept fighting back, but the Jaguars never pulled even as TSU completed a three-game sweep with an 8-4 victory at Lee-Hines Field.

“Right away, we were in a really difficult situation,” Southern coach Roger Cador said.

The closest Southern came to getting even was with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The Jaguars trailed 6-4 and had Marcus Tomlin on third when pinch hitter D.J. Wallace flied out to deep left field.

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For UMES's Michael Myers, the future is now

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- To the unknowing eye, Michael Myers is as menacing as his fictional namesake from the Halloween horror films.

The 6-foot-9 inch, 245-pound wall of tattoo-masked muscle wreaked havoc on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this past season with a team-leading 15.8 points and seven rebounds a game, helping make this the most successful season the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has seen since 1974.

But the soft-spoken giant with a deep timbre in his voice and a deeper dedication to his friends and family has spent that last year trying to make people understand that the first impression — or even a misstep — doesn't make the man. The 22-year-old senior, who'll graduate in May with a degree in sociology, grew up on the streets of Camden, New Jersey, where many of his childhood friends have wound up dead or in prison.

"Camden is a tough environment. You have to keep your nose clean, stay out of trouble, try to avoid a lot of things, try to deal with positive people, surround yourself with positive people, stay out of trouble," Myers said.

"Family-wise, we struggling. Not going to lie about that. I'm real dependent on my family (emotionally). I want to get my family out of there, out of the slums."

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Rush, Nuggets garner 13 top-10s at Louisiana Classics

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana -- Freshman Joseph Moses III placed fifth in the men's 100-meter dash at the Louisiana Classics track and field meet and had the highest finish Saturday of any Xavier University of Louisiana athlete.

Moses' time was 10.89 seconds. It was his second top-5 finish of the meet -- he was fourth Friday in the 200.

Xavier's Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets combined to produce 13 top-10 finishes.

The XU men had a pair of sixths -- Alex Xavier in the 110 hurdles (15.04) and the 400 relay squad of Xavier, Devante Bailey, Langston Adams and Moses (season-best 43.00).

The Nuggets' best finish was seventh by the 400 relay quartet of Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Clarke Allen and Devinn Rolland. Their time was 48.16, a B-qualifying mark for the NAIA National Championships but slower than the Nuggets' A-qualifying time of 47.97 one week ago.

Also producing season-best times were Christopher August in the men's 1,500 (19th place, 4:20.23), Bailey in the 400 (10th, 50.70), Xavier in the 400 hurdles (seventh, 58.42) and Catherine Fakler in the women's 1,500 (eighth, 4:54.10).

August, a sophomore, ran the best time of his college career.

There was no team scoring.

It was Xavier's third meet of the outdoor season. Next for the Rush and Nuggets will be the Bobcat Invitational at San Marcos, Texas, on Friday and Saturday. Texas State will be the host.

Here are all of Xavier's Saturday results from the Louisiana Classics:

Women

100: Devinn Rolland, 17th in 12.59; Kailey Williams, 22nd in 12.90; Katelyn McMorris, 23rd in 12.92

800: Carlie Calais, 12th in 2:29.61

1,500: Catherine Fakler, 8th in 4:54.10

100 Hurdles: Terri Cunningham, 9th in 17.38; Chelsea Simpson, 10th in 17.49

400 Hurdles: Terri Cunningham, 8th in 1:08.20; Chelsea Simpson, 11th in 1:16.47

3,000 Steeplechase: Reeka Belton, did not finish

400 Relay: Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Clarke Allen, Devinn Rolland, 7th in 48.16

Long Jump: Devinn Rolland, 10th in 5.23 meters (17 feet, 2 inches); Ireyon Keith, 15th in 4.86 (15 feet, 11 1/2 inches); Vinnie Briggs, 16th in 4.69 meters (15 feet, 4 1/4 inches)

Shot Put: Sidni Watson, 10th in 7.22 meters (23 feet, 8 1/4 inches)

Men

100: Joseph Moses III, 5th in 10.89

400: Devante Bailey, 10th in 50.70; Langston Adams, 17th in 53.53

800: Brent Kitto, 23rd in 2:01.34

1,500: Christopher August, 19th in 4:20.23

110 Hurdles: Alex Xavier, 6th in 15.04

400 Hurdles: Alex Xavier, 7th in 58.42; Chris Adams, 8th in 59.19

400 Relay: Alex Xavier, Devante Bailey, Langston Adams, Joseph Moses III, 6th in 43.00

Long Jump: Christopher Kennie, 17th in 6.31 meters (20 feet, 8 1/2 inches)

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Spring Hill baseball takes two from Miles, pitcher Jackson Howard rolls to 5-0

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Spring Hill College (SHC) baseball swept both ends of a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) doubleheader away from the Miles College Bears at historic Stan Galle Field on Saturday afternoon by the scores of 12-3 and 12-2.

Badger starter Jackson Howard moved to 5-0 on the year with a six-inning performance that saw him allow just three hits with four walks and three strikeouts in the opening game. Justin Bartley lasted 3.1 innings and allowed six hits with three walks and three strikeouts for the Bears.

The night cap crowd watched Stephen Douglas (3-1) go six innings and give up six hits with no walks while striking out eight Bear batters. Austin Pate took the loss for Miles in 2.1 innings with seven hits and two walks with no strikeouts.

For the Badger offense, SHC racked up 21 hits versus Bear pitching as senior right fielder Taylor Eads blasted two home runs in a nine-run 3rd inning of the second game to finish the day with a tally of five hits, six RBIs, five runs scored and two doubles. Junior 1st baseman William Floros mashed his fourth homer of the year to lead off the first game while junior catcher Alex Jones ripped a two-run home run out of right field in the 4th inning of the same game.

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Jimmy Fallon pokes fun at Hampton University Pirates

NEW YORK -- Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon had some fun at Hampton University's expense during Friday night's monologue when he joked about HU's chances against Kentucky during the NCAA. Start at about the 5:38 mark in the monologue.

Hampton Lady Pirates Survive Defensive Struggle with Drexel

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- Offense was at a premium Thursday evening at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, and the Hampton University women's basketball team emerged from the scrum with a 45-42 win over Drexel in the first round of the WNIT.

The Lady Pirates (19-12) advance to the second round, where they will face West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

While others struggled to find their groove on offense, junior guard Ryan Jordan (Manassas, Va.) found hers, going 9-for-18 from the floor to score a game-high 19 points – all while also grabbing nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.) added 13 points.

Redshirt junior forward Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md.) grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds.

Hampton shot just 29.3 percent (17-for-58) from the floor and hit just two of its 13 3-pointers and nine of its 17 free throws. Despite that, and the fact that Drexel held a 39-34 edge in rebounds, the Lady Pirates turned the Dragons over 29 times.



The Lady Pirates also outscored Drexel 26-14 in the paint.

Drexel (20-11) held a 41-38 lead with 3:00 remaining, before Tate-DeFreitas made it a one-point game 50 seconds later with a layup. Ward followed with a layup with 1:27 left to give Hampton the lead at 42-41.

Senior guard Kyani White (Manassas, Va.) added two free throws with 15 seconds left to put the Lady Pirates up 44-41.

Drexel couldn't get off a decent-looking shot in the closing seconds, and though Carrie Alexander hit a free throw with five seconds left to make it a 44-42 game, the Dragons couldn't get any closer, and Tate-DeFreitas clinched the game with a free throw with three seconds left.

That was in stark contrast to the beginning of the second half; though Hampton held a 25-21 lead at the half, Drexel emerged from the break to go on a 13-2 run, taking a 34-27 lead with 11:38 left after Rachel Pearson hit a three.

Jordan answered with a layup at the 10:51 mark to end the run, but that wound up being Hampton's first field goal of the second half.

Sarah Curran hit two free throws with 9:03 left to put Drexel up 36-29 before the Lady Pirates began methodically chipping away at the advantage. All told, Hampton shot 22.6 percent (7-for-31) in the second half.

Jordan scored 14 of her 19 points in the first half, helping the Lady Pirates establish a lead even as points were difficult to come by. Her jumper at the 10:29 mark gave the Lady Pirates a 14-9 lead, and she later put Hampton up 18-13 with a jumper at the 6:37 mark.

A Jordan layup with 1:17 left in the half gave Hampton its largest lead of the game at 25-19.

Drexel shot 42.1 percent (16-for-38) from the floor but made just one of eight 3-pointers.

Curran and Jackie Schluth led the Dragons with eight points each.

For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Talladega Tornadoes Qualify For First-Ever NAIA National Championship Semifinal Round Appearance

 Live Video • Listen Live • Box Score 

Talladega Scores Final Seven Points, Edges Pikeville, 64-62

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- Wendell Pierre scored the game-winning basket with four seconds remaining to give No. 2-seeded Talladega (Ala.) a 64-62 win over No. 7-seeded Pikeville (Ky.), Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the 2015 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship in Municipal Auditorium. The Tornadoes will face No. 6-seeded Dalton State (Ga.), an 80-76 overtime winner over Cal State San Marcos, on Monday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m.

"Our team was well aware coming into this matchup against a premier team in Pikeville the game was going to come down to who had the most toughness, heart and desire to advance," said Talladega Head Coach Matt Cross. "I think our guys demonstrated those qualities for 40 minutes today.

"We are excited about punching our ticket to the Fab Four and I know these young men are still hungry and believe they can take their games to an even higher level the next time we step on the floor in Municipal."

Talladega (32-4) scored the final seven points of the game to earn the first Fab Four berth in the program's history after trailing 62-57 with 1:55 remaining. Courtney Mack started the finishing stretch with a bucket in the paint at the 1:37 mark, then hit a three-pointer on the right wing with 44 seconds to play.

Kenny Manigault missed a three-pointer on the next possession for Pikeville, setting up Pierre for the game-winning shot. Manigault also got the last shot attempt for the Bears, but was unable to convert a game-tying attempt.

After trailing 35-31 at the half, Talladega opened the second half with a 14-2 run inside the first five minutes for its biggest lead of the game, 45-37. Manigault scored the first points of the second half before Pierre got the Tornadoes going with a bucket inside, and Brandon Peters finished off the opening run with a three-pointer.

Pikeville provided an immediate response, putting together a 13-2 spurt over the next 4:13 to regain the lead, 50-47. Both teams held the lead over the next eight minutes with Colt Chapman scoring the final point for the Bears, converting the second of two free throws.

Both teams shot 40 percent from the field and converted 24 field goals, with Pikeville recording one more shot attempt. The Tornadoes held a 7-5 edge in three-point connections and both teams hit nine free throws. Pikeville held a 43-34 rebounding advantage, but committed 10 turnovers to just six for Talladega.

"We had a great year and I am proud of these kids," said Cal State San Marcos head coach Jim Saia. "We had a phenomenal experience."

Shondel Stewart led all scorers with 22 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists for Talledega. Peters finished with 13 points and four rebounds, while Pierre tallied nine points, four rebounds and four assists.

Manigault posted 20 points and seven rebounds for Pikeville, while K.K. Simmons added 19 points and Michael Eneh added a game-high 11 rebounds for the Bears.

Pikeville finished its season with a record of 28-6.

Game Notes:
Talladega: Playing in first-ever quarterfinal in their third overall trip… Becomes the third No. 2 seed in the last four years to advance to the semifinal round… Tied a season-low with six turnovers, one game removed from a 20-turnover contest in the championship second round win Friday… Talladega has won 27 of their last 28 games, including a streak of six-straight… Notched its 32nd season victory, which is the most of any of the qualifiers still alive… With 22 points, Shondel Stewart has now reached at least 20 points in 14 of his 23 games.

Pikeville: Falls to 2-1 in the quarterfinal round… Now stands 11-8 all-time in nine postseason trips… Gives up 64 points in a loss – it is the lowest amount
of points allowed in a loss since a 58-57 setback to Campbellsville (Ky.) on Feb. 9, 2012… Connected on just nine free throws (19 attempts), which marks the fewest amount since six made on Jan. 17… Michael Eneh, who entered the game with 3.4 rebounds per game, grabbed 11 boards, which were two off a season-high… The Bears entered the game leading the NAIA in turnover margin and finished minus-four in that category.

Semifinals

March 23 | Municipal Auditorium | Kansas City, Mo.

Game 1 (6:00 p.m. CT)	No. 6 Dalton State (Ga.) (30-4) vs. No. 2 Talladega (Ala.) (32-4)
	• Live Video • Listen Live • Box Score • Recap
Game 2 (8:00 p.m. CT)	No. 1 Hope International (Calif.) (31-2) vs. Westmont (Calif.) (24-10)
	• Live Video • Listen Live • Box Score • Recap

COURTESY TALLADEGA COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State encouraged despite 91-49 loss to Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Alabama State was making its first NCAA Tournament experience in 12 years. The postseason trip was a short one, but coach Freda Freeman-Jackson feels it could pay dividends down the road.

No. 15 seed Alabama State hung close with second-seeded Florida State for 10 minutes but the Seminoles quickly opened up a double-digit lead en route to a 91-49 win in a first-round game on Saturday.

Sophomore Britney Wright scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds and junior Ashanti Spencer had 12 points and four rebounds for the Hornets (17-15), who won the Southwestern Athletic Conference this season and will keep the core of the team together going into 2015-16.

"This experience is huge for our program," Alabama State coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. "It's been a while since we have actually had an opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament. We only have one true senior that actually played (Saturday). We're extremely young."

Alabama State was composed early but wore out, committing 32 turnovers against a stifling Seminoles defense.

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Montrel stands out in XU loss to NCAA D2's No. 6 team

TROY, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana lost 6-3 in men's tennis Saturday to Columbus State, but XU junior Kyle Montrel recorded doubles and singles victories against ranked opponents.

Montrel and Nikita Soifer defeated Marco Almorin and Adi Malicbegovic, NCAA Division II's 11th-ranked doubles team, 8-2. In singles, Montrel beat 16th-ranked Oussama Zoghlami 6-1, 6-1 and snapped Zoghlami's eight-match win streak.

Montrel is 13-1 in doubles this season, 9-1 with Soifer.

Xavier's other victory came from Tushar Mandlekar, who defeated Martynas Zakaitis 6-3, 6-2. But the Cougars (10-1), ranked sixth as a team, dropped only one set in the other six matches to defeat the Gold Rush (9-5), No. 6 in the NAIA.

Malicbegovic improved to 11-0 this semester with a 6-2, 6-2 singles victory against Soifer. The Cougars' Maciej Kierkus also is 11-0 after his 6-1, 3-0 victory against Kevin Chaouat, who retired because of injury.

XU had near misses at No. 2 doubles, where Mandlekar and Manav Chakma lost 8-6 to Zakaitis and Kierkus, and at No. 5 singles, where Chakma lost 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1) to Jorge Vargas.

"It was a very good match for us to have to prepare for next week and nationals," XU coach Alan Green said. "Columbus State has a really good team, and we were right there with them. A couple breaks the other way and the outcome would have been the exact opposite."

The XU men have lost four of their last five duals. All their losses this season are to NCAA Division I or ranked opponents.

Next for the Gold Rush will be a trip to California for duals against Westmont, Northwestern Ohio, Vanguard and Lewis-Clark State. All but Lewis-Clark State, which is 19th, are NAIA top-10 teams. The XU women will play the same schools in California, but next for the Gold Nuggets will be a 3:30 p.m. Tuesday dual against NCAA DI's Southern Miss at XU Tennis Center.

Results

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DSU coach's contract not renewed; decision comes after Louis faced harrassment claims from players

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State University Lady Hornets are looking for a new women’s head basketball coach after announcing Friday that coach Tamika Louis’ contract would not be renewed for the 2015-2016 season,

“While we appreciate the three years of service Coach Louis put in working with the Lady Hornets, the University has reached the conclusion that a new direction is needed for the DSU women’s basketball program,” Louis “Skip” Perkins, Jr., interim associate vice president /athletics director said in a press release.

The decision comes after Louis was suspended for about a month last fall as DSU officials investigated claims of harassment and intimidation that were made by current and former players against the coach.

One parent contacted the Dover Post and shared a Dec. 13 letter that she had sent to DSU president Harry Williams detailing what she said were several incidents of Louis’ “dehumanizing behavior.”

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How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Ask FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Members of Florida A&M University’s Wind Symphony had a different kind of rehearsal on Friday. Using Skype, they participated in what can be dubbed a “tele-rehearsal” with American composer David Maslanka.

Maslanka, recognized for his works for wind ensembles, was based in Missoula, Montana, where he now lives.

“We’ll be hearing his comments about our rehearsal techniques, our general preparation of his work,” said Shelby Chipman, an associate professor of music at FAMU and director of symphonic bands and the FAMU Wind Symphony, before the rehearsal.

These are heady times inside the University Band Room within the Foster-Tanner complex on FAMU’s campus. As they should be.

Next Sunday evening, the 58 student members and two faculty accompanists who make up the Florida A&M University Wind Symphony will be performing on stage at world-renowned Carnegie Hall. New York City. Where Tchaikovsky made his American debut at its opening on May 5, 1891.

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Troy defeats Rush 5-1; Albrecht wins in singles for XU

TROY, Alabama
-- Xavier University of Louisiana got a singles victory from sophomore Adam Albrecht in a 5-1 men's tennis loss Friday at Troy.

Albrecht scored the lone point for the Gold Rush (9-4) when he defeated Calum McKinlay 6-4, 6-3 at the fifth flight. Xavier didn't win any other sets, although Manav Chakma trailed Cyprian Owczarz 7-6 (7-4), 5-5 at No. 6 when the dual ended.

The Trojans (16-5), ranked 62nd in NCAA Division I, clinched when Hassan Ndayishimye beat Kyle Montrel 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.

"We played good," said XU coach Alan Green, whose team lost 6-1 at Troy a year ago.

Montrel suffered his first doubles loss of the season when Ndayishimye and Gabriel Dias defeated Montrel and Nikita Soifer 6-0. Montrel entered 12-0, 8-0 with Soifer. Soifer's nine-match win streak ended.

Another streak-breaker was Andy Lau and Austin Racine's 6-3 victory against Chakma and Tushar Mandlekar, who had won their previous nine decisions.

Xavier, ranked sixth in the NAIA, will remain in Troy and play Columbus State -- ranked sixth in NCAA Division II -- at 10 a.m. Saturday, one hour earlier than originally announced.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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FAMU coach Alex Wood talks media policy, end-of-season Celebration Bowl

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M head coach Alex Wood still has changes he's implementing for the Rattlers, and he's starting with the way the team interacts with the media.

Practices are now closed after the first 10 minutes and players can't speak to the media without permission from both him and the university's sports information department. Assistant coaches, aside from the offensive and defensive coordinators, are off-limits.

Wood said moving forward, he will "absolutely" be the voice of the Rattlers.

"Without question, we want one message going forward," he said.

"I think to stay on-message and stay on-script, so to speak, it's easier when it's controlled by one. We won't expose our coaches or our players without some prior notice. I don't want coaches to just get grabbed and start things. We talk about it, but things happen."

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Hampton U. hopes late season success is springboard for next season

HANPTON, Virginia -- If such a quality as exhausted enthusiasm exists, Hampton University's men's basketball team displayed it Friday.

The Pirates arrived back at campus Friday afternoon following a four-day, two-city whirlwind in which they won the second NCAA tournament game in program history, went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 team in the country, and heard their names mentioned on radio and TV broadcasts all over the nation.

"Amazing," forward Quinton Chievous said. "Just bonding with my teammates. Playing in the NCAA tournament, winning the MEAC championship. It's been a fun and amazing experience that I'll remember forever, and we're a part of history."

Hampton's NCAA tournament trip actually concluded a 10-day journey in which the Pirates overcame an inconsistent regular season and the loss of their leading scorer and rebounder to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament title.

"I think the biggest joy for any coach is watching his players finally get it and become a team," coach Ed Joyner Jr. said. "Over the last two weeks, they got it."

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Moses, Chatters finish in top 10 at Louisiana Classics

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana -- Xavier University of Louisiana freshmen Joseph Moses III and Drew Chatters earned top-10 finishes Friday in the Louisiana Classics track and field meet.

Moses placed fourth in the men's 200-meter dash in 21.87 seconds. Chatters was eighth in the women's javelin with a mark of 35.52 meters (116 feet, 6 inches).

Xavier's Devante Bailey (22.86) was 19th in the men's 200. Three placed in the women's 200: Devinn Rolland (25.69) was 13th, Clarke Allen (26.31) was 22nd, and Katelyn McMorris (27.25) was 27th.

The two-day meet will conclude Saturday at Louisiana-Lafayette's Cajun Track / Soccer Facility. Field events will begin at 9 a.m., followed by track events at 2 p.m. The final event, the men's 1,600 relay, is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAATHLETICS
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Nuggets, Rush win on road against ranked Carey teams

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Xavier University of Louisiana's tennis teams won dual matches Thursday against William Carey. The Gold Nuggets won 5-1, and the Gold Rush won 5-2.

The Gold Nuggets (11-7), ranked seventh in the NAIA, earned their first victory of the season against a ranked opponent. The Gold Rush (9-3), ranked sixth, are 4-1 this season against ranked teams.

William Carey's women (6-6) are 20th in the NAIA, and its men (6-5) are 21st.

Nour Abbes and Caroline Vernet won in doubles and singles for the Nuggets. Vernet clinched with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Sara Valero Marin.

Abbes rallied to defeat Audrey Leitz 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Abbes is 41-2 in singles during her XU career, 24-2 this season.

Jordan Harrell clinched for the Gold Rush when he defeated Gleb Bilyalov 6-3, 6-3. Kyle Montrel and Tushar Mandlekar won in doubles and singles. Montrel and Nikita Soifer's 8-1 victory against Nick Georgian and Carlos Lopez Ruiz gives Montrel a 12-0 doubles record this season, 8-0 with Soifer.

XU's men will travel to Troy, Ala., to play Troy at 3 p.m. Friday and Columbus State -- ranked sixth in NCAA Division II -- at 11 a.m. Saturday. Next for the Gold Nuggets will be Southern Miss at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at XU Tennis Center.

Results:  Men    Women 


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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Rattlers Picking Up On New Philosophies During Spring Drills

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – The Florida A&M football team took to drills at 5:45 a.m. in Bragg Memorial Stadium for the second day of spring football. The team looked sharper after going through their previous day of drills under new head coach Alex Wood. The team went through roughly a two hour workout.

After warmup, under the direction of Russell Barbarino, the team broke into segments for position drills. The team went through 7-on-7 drills, followed by 11-on-11.

FAMU quarterback Carson Royal has quickly grasped many of the concepts of the new offense and is pleased with the new system. “It’s really fast-paced and there’s a lot going on, so you really just have to slow it down mentally and make sure everyone is in the right position. We’re starting out with the basics right now, so making sure that as a team we get the tempo going and are in the right place is a key,” he said.



The pace is borderline frantic. At that time in the morning, only the FAMU Army ROTC cadets are up and moving around. The Rattlers football coaches rival their intensity though, barking and engraving their system into the minds of the football squad, much like sergeants drill their troops.

The team will hold their first Saturday practice tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Bragg Stadium. The practice will last approximately two hours, providing the coaches with a glimpse of the personnel and their ability to grasp Martin Spieler’s offense and Theo Lemon’s defense. Wood patrols all aspects of practice pacing back and forth between segments working on quality control.

Linebacker Akil Blount expressed his pleasure with what he is seeing. “I am happy with what I am seeing from the offense. As a defender, I look at what they are doing and it will be difficult to defend if it is executed properly,” he said.

Royal feels the team is excited about the possibilities of the new systems. “As a team we love it. Everyone has positive reinforcement when the coaches are talking about the plays and everyone has a great mentality going into practice. This morning we started out a little slow, but we got the tempo going and that’s what we really need. This offense is very exciting and I’m sure our fans will enjoy it too. It gets plays going and with just a small break between plays, it will give the crowd something to see and hopefully catch some defenses off guard,” Royal said.

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TSU Lady Tigers' Season Ends at Kentucky, 97-52

LEXINGTON, Kentucky  --  Brianna Lawrence poured in 16 points, but the Tennessee State women’s basketball team’s historic season ended, Friday, with a, 97-52, loss to Kentucky in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Briana Morrow added 11 points for TSU (18-13), while UK (24-9) had six players finish in double-figures led by Linnae Harper’s 16.

The Lady Tigers shot 26 percent for the game (18-of-69) and had 26 turnovers. UK edged the Lady Tigers in rebounds, 52 to 34, and went to the free throw line 42 times.

Lawrence got TSU off to a good start by nailing the team’s first jumper of the game, but the hoop was part of a 1-for-13 start from the field for the Lady Tigers. The TSU dry-spell allowed UK to go on a 19-1 run to take a 16-point lead early in the contest.

Jayda Johnson finally ended the stretch with a corner three-pointer with 11:33 to go in the first half, but the Wildcats responded with 10 straight point to move ahead, 29-6.

Lawrence provided the highlights of the first half for the Lady Tigers and canned back-to-back three-pointers. Her second cut the lead to 21 with 6:19 to play before halftime.

The Wildcats eased up on the full-court press to end the first period, allowing Tennessee State to string together an 11-3 run that featured three-point shots from Rachel Allen, Johnson and Lawrence.

UK scored the last five points of the half and went into the locker room ahead, 50-25.

TSU was just 9-of-34 (26 percent) from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, but was deadly from deep, nailing 6-of-12.

Like the opening half, TSU got on the board first to begin the second with a Chelsea Hudson layup, but UK immediately countered with a pair of free throws on the other end to re-gain momentum.

The Wildcats later went on a 12-2 run to pad the lead to 40 when UK’s Alexis Jennings converted on a layup at the 8:46 mark. The Lady Tigers responded by scoring six straight points thanks to a technical foul on UK. The ensuing free throws made the score, 82-48, with 7:33 to go in the game.

The Wildcats closed the game on a 13-3 run and walked away with a 45-point win.

Tennessee State’s season comes to a close in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, while Kentucky moves on to face Dayton, Sunday.

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