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Five Virgin Islanders from five different colleges competed at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference indoor track and field championships last weekend in Landover, Md.
Delaware State University junior Leslie Murray and Florida A&M senior Leon Hunt walked away with first-place medals around their necks, and Murray was a member of a record-setting relay team.
"It was a great experience. All of us have come from different programs and it was cool to have us all under the same roof going up against the best from our conference," said Leon Hunt, who is ranked 14th among the nation's best long jumpers. "It was like we were going against rival schools and friends. It was very competitive."
Hunt set a personal best in the long jump earlier this month at the Niswonger Invitational track meet, when he leaped 7.75 meters (25 feet, 4 inches). Hunt was ranked among the conference's elite for most of the indoor season and finished with 7.69 on Saturday.
Saadia Doyle is the winner of the HSRN National basketball fan poll. The Atlanta, Georgia native currently leads the MEAC in scoring (18.3 ppg, 38th in NCAA), ranks second in rebounding (8.8 rpg), and fourth in field goal percentage (.448). She was recently tabbed as MEAC Player of the week.
The sophomore is seven points away from hitting the 1,000-point milestone and has tallied over 500 rebounds for her career. In addition, she has also recorded 12 double-double performances on the year.
Doyle was nominated for her performances against Norfolk State and Florida A&M. She led the Bison to a 2-0 week averaging a double-double with 28 points and 11.5 rebounds. In the 66-49 win over Norfolk St. she had 38 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals. In the 67-58 victory over Florida A&M she finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Each week during the season, HSRN's staff select the top performances from all HBCU action and give the fans across the country a chance to vote for the Player of the Week.
HSRN developed the fan poll to get all HBCU alumni, students and fans involved with the Edit HTMLnational process and to also give everyone a chance to consistently keep up with the individual performances around the country. This web site and its broadcasts are designed to keep people abreast of all action around HBCU athletic competition.
By Jamilah Corbitt Assistant Director of Sports Information Howard University
Grambling's 2010 season will be a tough one to follow. After finishing the regular season with an 18-30 overall record, the Tigers became scorching hot in the postseason.
They swept through the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, outscoring the opposition 47-10 over four games to capture the program's first conference title in 25 years.
The Tigers have had a lot of turnover in their roster since then, but they still enter the 2011 season with ...
Grambling State baseball coach James Cooper can be forgiven for looking back a little bit.
Nine months ago, Cooper and his Tigers authored one of the greatest weekends in recent GSU baseball history — sweeping through the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament at Shreveport's Fair Grounds Field to earn an NCAA regional berth.
"We've actually tried to pick up where we left off," said Cooper, whose team opens the season against...
Columbia, SC (WLTX) --- Xavier Collier scored 25 points and five assists to lead Benedict to a 72-63 win over Morehouse College Tuesday night, clinching the SIAC regular season title for the Tigers.
Marcus Goode, the reigning SIAC player of the week, scored 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for Benedict which won its fourth SIAC regular season championship in the Fred Watson era.
Jackson State University's football team will be banned from postseason play this fall and the athletic department's membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association is likely to be restricted by 2012 if the NCAA does not grant the school's waiver request.
The team's Academic Progress Rate, a rolling, four-year figure that calculates academic performance, has fallen below a critical benchmark for the third straight year, according to documents obtained recently by The Clarion-Ledger through a public records request.
JSU 2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
09/03/11 Concordia (Selma, AL) Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 1:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11 vs. Tennessee State Memphis, TN 6:00 p.m. CT
09/17/11 at Southern Baton Rouge, LA TBA
09/24/11 vs. Alabama State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11 vs. Texas Southern Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/08/11 vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS TBA
10/29/11 at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX TBA
11/05/11 vs. Grambling St. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 2:00 p.m. CT
11/12/11 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL TBA
11/19/11 vs. Alcorn State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 1:00 p.m. CT
Arkansas-Pine Bluff has officially announced in a press release that Alonzo Hampton has resigned from the school to take a position with WKU. The release did not say that Hampton has officially joined the Toppers yet, and no official word has come from WKU.
WKU may have filled one of its two football coaching vacancies.
David Harten, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football beat writer for the Pine Bluff Commercial, reported Tuesday that UAPB defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton has resigned from the school to join WKU as defensive backs coach.
The Daily News confirmed with a source Monday that Arkansas-Pine Bluff defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton has interviewed for the open defensive backs coaching position at Western Kentucky.
Hampton - a Louisiana-Monroe product - spent the past four seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with 2010 being his first as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Before becoming the team’s defensive coordinator, Hampton served as cornerbacks and defensive backs coach for UAPB. Prior to that, Hampton served as head coach at Dumas High School in Arkansas for two seasons.
Saint Augustine’s College swept the CIAA basketball rookie of the year awards Tuesday for the second time in four seasons.
Freshman guard Joel Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) was named the men’s top rookie and freshman center Umeka Benson (Charlotte, N.C.) was voted the women’s best rookie Tuesday by the CIAA-Sports Information Directors Association. The last time a CIAA school produced two rookie of year winners in the same year was 2008 when Allison Sikes (women) and Hayward Fain (men) of Saint Augustine’s College took freshman honors.
Both Kindred and Benson were also named to their respective All-CIAA rookie teams. Redshirt freshman Chris Johnson (Hampton, Va.) of the Falcons joined Kindred on the men’s rookie squad.
Kindred was a unanimous choice for men’s rookie of the year. A 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard, Kindred leads CIAA freshmen in scoring (13.2 ppg) and is also the Falcons’ best rebounder (5.0 rpg). He shoots 44 percent from the floor and has scored in double figures 17 of 25 games including five games of 20 or more points. His play this season was reflected in the voting for CIAA rookie of the week which he won a league-high seven times.
“This is a great honor for Joel, the basketball program, Saint Augustine’s College and the community,” said Ken Spencer, the first-year head men’s coach at Saint Augustine’s College. “He is the type of player I want to bring in. Joel represents the basketball program well on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”
Kindred is the first Falcon to win the honor since Fain in 2008. He played high school ball last season in Raleigh, N.C., at Word of God Academy, which produced NBA rookie standout John Wall. Current Falcon assistant coach Erasto Hatchett was Kindred’s head coach at Word of God.
“I am thankful for winning the award,” Kindred said. “I thank the coaches, my teammates, my brothers and my mom for pushing me.”
Kindred is the younger brother of former Falcon high jump standout Joe Kindred, a track and field All-American and national Division II champion who won national field performer of the year honors. Joel’s brother Jon Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) also plays for the Falcons’ basketball team.
Benson is the latest Lady Falcon to win the rookie honor since Keyona Bryant (2009) and Sikes (2008), making it three out of four seasons a Lady Falcon has claimed the award. A 6-0 center, Benson leads CIAA freshmen in scoring (10.0 ppg) and ranks second among CIAA rookies in rebounding (8.6 rpg). She debuted with 21 points against Davis & Elkins in the season opener and went on to reach double figures in points 10 times and rebounds eight times. A tenacious and athletic player in the paint, Benson has tallied four double-doubles for the Lady Falcons, who are 17-9 overall and tied for second in the CIAA’s Southern Division with one regular-season game to play.
“I am so excited for Umeka,” said Rachel Bullard, the first-year women’s head coach at Saint Augustine’s College. “She has worked very hard and has grown as a person and player throughout the year. What an awesome honor for her and the team.”
Benson plays her best against top-level competition. She had 10 points and 15 rebounds on Nov. 13, 2010, against West Liberty, currently ranked second in the Atlantic Region. Benson had 16 points and 14 rebounds on Feb. 12 in the first meeting against Johnson C. Smith. In the rematch Monday, Benson put up 12 points and 10 rebounds against JCSU, ranked seventh regionally and 24th nationally. The Lady Falcons won both games against JCSU, which is located in Benson's hometown of Charlotte, N.C.
“I am excited and caught off guard about receiving rookie of the year,” Benson said. “I am grateful to my team because I could not have won this award without them. I give thanks to my family, coaches and Saint Augustine’s College. We are looking forward to the CIAA Tournament.”
Johnson rebounded from knee injury last season to become a contributor for the Falcons. A 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward, Johnson averaged 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16.7 minutes of action. His rebounding average is fourth-best on the Falcons, and he is the team’s second-best offensive rebounder.
Johnson scored a season-high 14 points in a January win over Shaw. He pulled down 11 rebounds against Armstrong Atlantic State in December 2010.
The rookies of the year and All-CIAA rookie teams will be recognized at the league’s Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tip Off Ceremonies on Feb. 27 and March 1 in Charlotte, N.C.
By Sports Information Office Saint Augustine's College
Women: Umeka Benson Saint Augustine's College - CIAA Women's Rookie of the Year
Umeka Benson Saint Augustine's College C 6-0 Charlotte, NC
Alisha Hardley Saint Paul's College F/C 6-0 Stafford, VA
Racquel Davis Johnson C. Smith University F 6-0 Bamberg, Germany
Leslie Slayton Virginia Union University G 5-5 Clinton, MD
Cynthia Johnson Lincoln University (PA) PG 5-7 Randallstown, MD
Joel Kindred
Men: Joel Kindred Saint Augustine's College - CIAA Men's Rookie of the Year
Joel Kindred Saint Augustine's College G 6-4 Raleigh, NC
Chris Johnson Saint Augustine's College G/F 6-5 Hampton, VA
Tyrell Tate Fayetteville State University F 6-5 Raleigh, NC
Rasheem King Bowie State University F 6-4 Brooklyn, NY
James Theus Virginia Union University G 6-4 Portsmouth, VA
PERRY HALL, MD.--The Howard bowling team competed in the eighth annual Morgan State Invitational Bowling Tournament over the weekend. The Bison (27-73, 5-15 MEAC) snagged four wins and dropped seven matches in their final meet before the MEAC tournament.
The Bison went 1-4 in the head-to-head games on Friday, losing to Monmouth (819-888), Sacred Heart (817-944), Florida A&M (837-858) and N.C. Central (726-785). Howard’s lone win came over Elmhurst as the Bison took down 814 pins compared to Elmhurst’s 756, marking their 10th win in head-to-head competition on the season.
In the quad baker games Howard split four matches, winning two over Long Island (669-655), MEAC rivals Norfolk (778-694) and dropped a pair of matches to Bethune-Cookman (636-669, 684-773).
Nebraska dominated the MSU Invitational and would earn their second consecutive championship by the close of the weekend, marking their sixth title in eight years. Maryland Eastern Shore took second, and Vanderbilt, the 2009 champions of the invitational, placed third.
Alexzandria Johnson averaged 168 pins over the weekend, dropping a total 840 pins in five games while teammate Jordane Frazier amassed 824 pins in five games, bringing her weekend average to 164.8 pins.
The Howard bowling team will have their eyes set on a successful trip to round out their season in Millsboro, Del. on Mar. 5 for conference play. Visit Howard-Bison.com for updates on Bison Bowling.
By Tiffany White Sports Information Assistant Howard University
Baltimore, Md. -- Coppin State shot 60% from the field en route to an 89-72 men's basketball win over Delaware State at the CSU Physical Education Complex this evening. The Hornets dropped their third straight, seventh in the last eight games, to fall to 9-17 overall and 5-8 in the MEAC. The Eagles improved to 14-12 and 9-4.
Coppin State was 33—for-55 from the field, including 8 of 16 from three-point territory. Michael Harper led the Eagles with 25 points, highlighted by 6 of 9 shooting from three-point territory. Michael Murray added 16 points (7-10 FGs) for Coppin State.
BALTIMORE -- Kianna Conner hit a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left to give Delaware State a 51-49 women's basketball win over Coppin State on Monday night.
Coppin State had the last shot, but Shawntae Payne's 3-point try hit the back of the rim as time expired.
The Hornets (9-17, 5-9) won their second straight game. The Eagles fell to 10-15 overall, 7-6 in the MEAC.
Jaleah Holsey hit two free throws with 59 seconds left to put Coppin State ahead.
HAMPTON — Laura Lewis and Quanneisha Perry wrapped their arms around each others' shoulders and showed no sign of wanting to let go. Hampton University's two seniors combined for 25 points and 17 rebounds in an 88-49 victory against Florida A&M on Monday night that clinched HU's first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title in seven seasons.
"We are so excited," Lewis repeated, clinging to her fellow forward in a post-game interview.
"Every year, we were picked to finish fifth or fourth," said Perry, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds on Monday and now has 1,139 points and 897 rebounds in her four-year HU career. "(This year), hard work paid off."
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team lost its third straight game on Monday night, dropping its home finale 58-55 to Florida A&M at the HU Convocation Center.
Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his deep 3-pointer bounced off the right side of the rim.
Pellum led the Pirates (19-7, 9-5 MEAC) with 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting, while junior guard Kwame Morgan (Largo, Md.) added 13 points despite shooting 4-for-13 from the floor. Junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, and junior center Milade Lola-Charles (Laurel, Md.) blocked a career-high four shots.
Howard University Lady Bison Coach Niki Reid Geckeler
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Howard Bison women’s basketball team successfully took down the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 54-39, leaving the Bison at running on a perfect eight-game MEAC winning streak at Burr Gymnasium, and on a three-game winning streak overall.
“We play well at home,” sophomore Tamoria Holmes said. “We are all just comfortable and we want to play good for our friends and family.”
Howard (13-15, 9-5 MEAC) dominated the game’s momentum during the opening half and went on to lead 27-20. Keeping the Bison at the forefront were sophomores Saadia Doyle, Cheyenne Curley-Payne and Holmes.
“Saadia is a premiere player in this conference,” head coach Niki Geckeler said. “Anytime Saadia is in the game it opens it up for our other players such as Tamoria, Cheyenne and Adele. We are able to get confidence from our guards.”
Doyle, who was recognized by the MEAC as one of the conference’s top performers this week and for the third time of the season, finished the game with a double-double after leading the Bison in points (22) and rebounds (10). Doyle was also perfect behind the free throw line (6-6).
Doyle is now seven points away from reaching the landmark 1,000-points milestone, leaving her on pace to become one of Howard’s all-time leading scorers.
Alongside Doyle was Holmes, who went 2-for-4 behind the arc en-route to 12 points on the night. Curley-Payne went 3-of-9 from the field and chimed in with two three-pointers while also leading the team in assists (7) and steals (3). Curley-Payne tied for second on the team alongside Portia Deterville with rebounds (5).
Turnovers would cost the Wildcats (12-13, 5-8 MEAC) the game as they surrendered 21 compared to Howard’s 13. The Bison would take advantage of Bethune-Cookman’s turnovers, converting them into 24 points over the course of the game.
“We focused on taking away the high posts and guard penetrations,” Geckeler said. “We wanted to box out more and not let BCU have any offensive rebounds.”
Both Howard and Bethune-Cookman were nearly even in rebounding, (HU-33, BC-32), however the Bison were fought harder near the rim to produce 16 points on second chances. Compared to Howard, the Wildcats only notched eight points on second chances.
Overall Howard shot 41.2 percent from the field (21-of-51) while BC was held to 31.1 percent (14-of-45).
“Right now is crunch time,” Geckeler said. “FAMU and BCU were both big for us Now, we are calling our games coming up ‘championship week’.”
The Bison will look to maintain perfection at home as they host Hampton on Thursday, Mar. 3 for their final game of the regular season. Before meeting their MEAC rival, Howard will travel to take on Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. where Doyle is expected to burst through the 1,000 point mark.
By Tiffany White Sports Information Assistant Howard University
Washington, DC—Stanley Elliott scored on a tip-in after a missed shot with 1.0 seconds left to help Bethune-Cookman escape with a 66-64 win over Howard University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's game at Burr Gymnasium.
After the Bison (6-21 overall, 4-10 in the MEAC) tied the game at 64 on a pair of free throws by Mike Phillips with 10 seconds remaining, the Wildcats (17-11 overall, 11-3 in the MEAC) pushed the ball up the floor and got a long three point attempt by Kevin Dukes that came off the right side of the rim and into the hands of Elliott, who used his left hand to tip the ball in the basket.
WASHINGTON -- Stanley Elliott's tip-in with 1.1 seconds remaining gave Bethune-Cookman yet another fantastic finish on the road and a 66-64 victory over Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night.
B-CU (17-11, 11-3) concludes its MEAC road schedule with an 8-0 record -- seven of those decided by three points or less. It also clinched the third straight winning season for B-CU, which won its fourth straight.
"We were lucky to come out of here with a victory, but that's what we've done all year -- find a way to win," B-CU coach Cliff Reed said. "It's a testament to everyone's hard work this season. The guys gutted and played hard after an emotional double win Saturday at Hampton."
When the final horn sounded and the Southern women’s basketball team walked off the floor with its 12th consecutive victory Monday night, players smiled, high-fived each other and hugged a few die-hard fans.
Their sense of joy was noticeable. But it was matched by a sense of relief. “This one got to me,” said coach Sandy Pugh, who watched her team hold off Alabama A&M for a 65-57 win. “I’m happy with the win, but not happy with our defensive performance in the second half.”
Yet again, in a desperate attempt to keep up with an opponent, the Southern men’s basketball team tried almost everything Monday night against Alabama A&M.
The Jaguars took timeouts. They substituted liberally. They changed defensive schemes and tried an array of offensive sets. In the end, it was the same song, eighth verse.
The visiting Bulldogs spent the entire second half building on their lead, and pulling away for an easy 64-45 victory in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State University Interim Athletics Director Robert Walker announced that the university has terminated second-year JSU Assistant Baseball Coach Kevin Whiteside. The termination follows an on-field altercation on Saturday, Feb. 19 which involved a student athlete from an opposing team.
Birmingham, Ala. (Feb. 21, 2011) - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced today that four student-athletes and one assistant coach have been suspended for their participation in an on-field altercation Saturday, February 19 between the Jackson State and Prairie View A&M baseball teams. Each of the five individuals were ejected from Saturday’s game and per NCAA rules on fighting ejections, will serve a mandatory suspension without appeal.
Jackson State assistant coach Kevin Whiteside has been suspended by the league for six games and fined $2,000.00 for his involvement in the altercation.
Two Jackson State players, Kendall Logan and Marshum Hall, have been suspended for three games, and the university fined $1,000.00 for their involvement in the altercation.
Two Prairie View A&M players, Evan Richard and Andre Oliver, have been suspended for three games, and the university fined $1,000.00 for their involvement in the altercation.
The actions taken by each individual were in direct violation of the league’s policy prohibiting coaches and student-athletes from displaying unsportsmanlike behavior, which is subject to the league’s Schedule of Penalties approved by the SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors.
“The Southwestern Athletic Conference holds its coaches and student-athletes to a high standard, and we expect sportsmanship between our member institutions to be a high priority,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “Two of our baseball teams, while representing their respective universities, displayed completely unacceptable behavior. The integrity and reputation of the Southwestern Athletic Conference is too important to condone these actions.”
Doug Williams is leaving his position as general manager of the UFL's Virginia Destroyers to become coach of Grambling for the second time.
Williams previously succeeded Eddie Robinson in 1998 and compiled a 53-17 record in six seasons with three Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.
Part of the lure of returning to the job is the opportunity to coach his son, D.J. Williams, who signed with the school earlier this month.
Doug Williams succeeded legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling in 1997. After leaving for other football ventures, Williams, the Super Bowl winning quarterback, is returning home.
This time, he’ll coach his son with the Tigers. Williams told ProFootballTalk.com that he is leaving his post as general manager of the Virginia Destroyers in the UFL.
“I was looking forward to working with the Destroyers, but this is a great opportunity for me and it is very rare that a father gets to coach his son at the college football level,” Williams told ProFootballTalk.com. “I went to school there, I coached there, and now I have a great opportunity to coach there again.
General Manager Doug Williams' presence was stable through the Virginia Destroyers’ birth pains, which have included defections of coaches and team presidents.
No longer. Williams, once a Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Washington Redskins, is out the door of the struggling United Football League team, too.
Williams was hired today as head coach at Grambling State University in Louisiana, where he played and also served as head coach from 1998 to 2003. He will be formally re-introduced Wednesday.
LANDOVER, Md. – The Hampton University women’s track & field team ran away with the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex. The Lady Pirates have won eight of the last nine MEAC indoor championships, including seven straight from 2003-09. Hampton finished with a meet- and school-record 188.5 points, while Norfolk State finished second with 102.5 points. Head coach Maurice Pierce was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Coach, while freshman Teiara Denmark (Virginia Beach, Va.)was named Most Outstanding Field Performer and senior Racquel Vassell (Irvington, N.J.)shared Most Outstanding Runner honors with Maryland Eastern Shore’s Cynthia Anais. “Our freshmen stepped up to the plate,” Pierce said. “On top of Racquel’s performances, with our freshmen, it all came together today.” READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
LANDOVER, Md. – The Norfolk State men’s track team won its sixth straight MEAC indoor track & field title on Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, breaking its own meet record with 200 points.
Combined with their streak of five straight MEAC outdoor championships, the Spartan men have now won the last 11 MEAC track championships that have been contested. They easily topped the 2010 team’s previous meet record of 188 points.
Junior Josef Tessema was named the MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Runner. He earned victories Saturday in the mile and 3,000 meters to add to his wins Friday in the 5,000 and as part of the distance medley relay team. He had a hand in 32.5 points during the weekend, more than three entire men’s teams.
Spartan head coach Kenneth Giles was named the MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Coach for the 11th time in his tenure as NSU track coach.
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – After being recognized prior to Saturday’s game for breaking the school’s single-season record for three-point field goals, North Carolina Central University junior Landon Clement added to his tally by nailing five triples for a season-high 28 points to lead the Eagles to an 82-72 victory over Norfolk State University inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
Clement had some help with 20 points from senior guard C.J. Wilkerson and the fourth double-double of the season by junior forward Nick Chasten with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Clement, Wilkerson and Chasten, who Clement referred to as the ‘Big Three,’ accounted for more than 81 percent of NCCU’s offense.
DURHAM, N.C. – On Saturday, Feb. 19, three was the magic number for North Carolina Central University to earn a 62-56 victory in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. Senior Jori Nwachukwu, sophomore J’Mia Pollock and freshman Sierra Solomon each netted in double-figures and provided season-high performances to lead the Lady Eagles past Norfolk State University.
Seizing her 11th double-double this season with a season-high 28 points and 13 rebounds was Nwachukwu. Pollock, who has had a breakout season as a sophomore, reached a season-high in points (15), rebounds (14) and assists (6). Solomon, who is developing and becoming more confident each contest, poured in 11 points.
Washington, DC — Howard University was able to offset serious foul trouble with some good solid free throw shooting in the second half and pull away to a 59-50 win over Florida A&M University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's game at Burr Gymnasium.
The Bison (6-20 overall, 4-9 in the MEAC), who have been undermanned all season, came into the game with nine players in uniform, two of which are walk-ons. The starting five, which has been logging an average of 36 minutes per game through most of the season, was put to the test when three of them were saddled with three fouls in the first 20 minutes.
Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry went to his short bench early and often in an attempt to offset the disadvantage. The Bison got 10 points from...
HOUSTON—Lawrence Johnson-Danner scored 15 points and Texas Southern hung on to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-68 on Saturday.
Travele Jones and Justin Ray scored 14 points each for the Tigers (14-10, 12-1), who are in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Texas Southern has won six in a row.
Kevin Galloway had 10 assists for the Tigers.
Videographer: George Jensen / 11 Sports Photgrapher, khou.com
The target on Texas Southern’s back grows larger as the Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule nears its end. Arkansas-Pine Bluff gave TSU its best shot Saturday, but the SWAC frontrunner was able to fend off the threat.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Savalace Townsend missed a game-tying 3-pointer as time expired, and the Tigers held on for a 71-68 victory before a crowd of 1,103 at the H&PE Arena.
TSU (14-10, 12-1) won its sixth consecutive game and swept its regular-season series with the Golden Lions (6-20, 6-8). Lawrence Johnson-Danner led the Tigers with 15 points, and Travele Jones and Justin Ray each scored 14.
BALTIMORE, Md. - The Morgan State Bears held the VMI Keydets to 27 second half points, en route to a 67-62 win in the Sears ESPN BracketBusters game between the teams, played Saturday afternoon at Hille Field House in Baltimore, Md.
Morgan State (13-10) hit six straight free throws over the last 22 seconds of regulation to quell a VMI rally and extend the Bears win streak to three games. The Keydets saw their three-game win streak snapped and fell to 15-12 in the non-conference game.
VMI was led in scoring by senior guard Austin Kenon, who toiled through a 6-for-20 shooting afternoon but hit a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 18 points. Junior guard Keith Gabriel added 15 points, including 11 before intermission after nailing three 3-pointers in the first half. Freshman center D.J. Covington posted his third consecutive double figures scoring game with 10 points and led VMI with eight rebounds.
The Keydets didn't find an answer for Bears 6-9 power forward Kevin Thompson who hit all nine of his shot attempts from the floor to finish with a team-high 18 points. Center Rodney Stokes scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while sophomore forward Dewayne Jackson added 10 points. MSU junior forward Aric Brooks hit just 1-of-9 from the field, but converted seven of nine-from-the line including four straight in the waning seconds of regulation to preserve the win for the Bears.
VMI dropped only its second game in 15 outings when it held a lead at halftime.
The Keydets shot 44% in the first half but cooled down to 31% from the floor in the second half.
VMI trailed by as many as seven points in the first half (27-20) after Thompson hit a layup with 7:41 left in the opening half. VMI answered with an 11-2 run and jumped out on top when Gabriel canned back-to-back 3-pointers including a swisher with 2:02 to play before halftime.
VMI led 35-34 at the break and pushed the lead to four points (40-36) following a pair of Austin Kenon free throws at the 16:46 mark.
The Bears used a string inside game to retake the lead with nine unanswered points as guard Larry Bastfield both started and sandwiched the string with a free throw and a layup to put Morgan State back on top. Thompson's back-to-back layups during the spurt put the Bears up for good and the hosts led 45-40 with 13:49 remaining.
VMI never retook the lead, but never trailed by more than seven points the rest of the way. Bastfiled nailed a jumper to push Morgan State ahead 61-54 with 4:19 left, but the Keydets twice cut the deficit to a one-possession scenario just under the three-minute mark. Stan Okoye hit a layup at the 2:37 mark to pull VMI within 61-58 and the Keydet defense generated stops on MSU's next three trips down the floor.
VMI could not capitalize, however, and missed back-to-back 3-point tries by Gabriel and Kenon converted one of two free throws by Covington to close within a pair, 61-59, with :24 left. The Bears then put the game away at the line with their string of six straight charity tosses and spoil VMI's debut in the BracketBusters event.
VMI returns to Big South play next Thursday at Clinton, South Carolina as it faces Presbyterian College at 7:00 p.m.
VMI HEAD COACH DUGGAR BAUCOM - "The guys fought hard and I was proud of them. They really competed. Morgan State made some plays down the end and he (Thompson) was virtually unstoppable. We had some open looks at the end and if we make those shots, it's a different outcome."
"We stopped making shots in the second half that we made in the first. It was a dogfight the entire second half. They made some 18-footers that you want them to shoot and made their free throws down the stretch when we chose to foul."
"The best thing about this is we didn't get anyone hurt. I told our guys it's time to move on and get ready for next week."
HAMPTON– The Hampton University men’s basketball team fell 78-76 in double overtime to Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at the HU Convocation Center. The Pirates (19-7, 9-4 MEAC) have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and fall a game behind Bethune-Cookman in the conference standings.
C.J. Reed hit a floater as time expired to give the Wildcats (16-11, 10-3 MEAC) the win, after the Pirates fought back with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 76-76 on a layup from junior guard Kwame Morgan with 50 seconds left in the second overtime period.
HAMPTON — Darrion Pellum knew how important Saturday's game was in terms of Hampton University's seeding situation with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament two weeks away.
He'd only discussed it a few dozen times with his teammates in the days leading up to HU's meeting with Bethune-Cookman, which sat tied atop the MEAC with HU at 9-3 in the conference heading into the game.
After Bethune's 78-76 double overtime victory at HU's Convocation Center, Pellum and his teammates were left to wonder what it would mean for HU (19-7 overall, 9-4 MEAC). It's a serious blow to HU's confidence heading down the stretch in what is traditionally a one-NCAA tournament bid conference — and will be again this season.
ETTRICK, VA - Displaying an ability to find a way to win when things go awry is the mark of a good team. Having the wherewithal to do so late in the season and against a divisional foe, doubly so.
The Virginia State University women's basketball team did just that in a CIAA clash with Bowie State at Daniel Gymnasium on Saturday. The Lady Trojans overcame a first half in which they shot 17 percent from the field to win 50-43.
Spurred by solid team defense and a double-double from senior Rhon'Neisha Taylor, the Lady Trojans kept pace with the Lady Bulldogs and found a finishing kick from the bench to pull ahead late in the game.
The Bowie State men's basketball team came into Daniel Gymnasium as the top-ranked team in the CIAA and played like it in a 92-71 win over Virginia State.
The Bulldogs never trailed and overcame a streaky showing from the Trojans with a consistent and well-balanced offensive effort.
"I thought we played well in spots," said interim coach Gene Thompson. "And then there were some situations where some people took a break and that is what killed us. You have to sustain it all the way."
The Bulldogs quickly extended an eight-point halftime advantage to 11 after the break but the Trojans assembled a run that led the VSU faithful to believe a season-defining win was on the horizon. D'Angelo Johnson drained a 3-pointer, Brandon Plummer knocked down a 12-foot jumper and Chris Washington came up with a backcourt steal and layup that cut the deficit to 63-58 with 11:04 remaining.
