Howard Softball Suffers Tough Weekend at Diamond Devil Invitational

TEMPE, AZ  (March 14, 2011) – The Howard University softball team underwent a tough weekend, as they dropped five games at the Diamond Devil Tournament. The Bison suffered losses to Florida Gulf Coast, No. 7 Arizona State, Creighton, Campbell and Virginia Tech. With the weekend skid, Howard slides to 3-13 on the season.

The Bison faced off against tournament hosts No. 7 Arizona State on Friday, in its first game of the weekend slate. HU dug an early hole – giving up six runs in the opening inning. The Bison answered in the bottom half of the frame when Lorae Robinson rounded the bases to put Howard on the scoreboard. ASU proved to be too much for the Bison as they pushed the margin to 11-1 after two complete innings. The Sun Devils recorded two more runs in the fourth for the 13-1 final.

Carly Martin and Samantha Gatson combined for a total of four strikeouts against the nationally-ranked powerhouse.

Following the tough loss, the Bison played Florida Gulf Coast (11-15) for its first of a trio of Saturday games. Howard recorded two runs on three hits to take a quick 2-0 advantage over the Eagles in the top of the first. Christine Sborz led off with a double to left field before a Robinson single to the same side put runners on first and third. Robinson stole second and a sacrifice fly by Marissa Coats drove in Sborz. A ground out to second moved Robinson to the corner and then was knocked in by a Candace Rogers single.

Howard held FGCU scoreless until the bottom of the third when the Eagles scored three runs to take a slim 3-2 advantage. The Bison were unable to regain the lead as HU was only able to manage two hits over the next four innings.

Samantha Gatson took the loss on the mound – pitching a complete game – allowing just three hits while fanning seven batters.

In the second game, the Bison took an 8-0 shutout loss to Creighton (9-12). The Bluejays exploded for six runs in the bottom the second to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Rogers and Sborz notched the only hits for Howard, as the Bison were held scoreless for the fifth time this season.

For the final matchup of the day against Campbell (10-12), Sborz homered to lead off the game – her first of the season. A wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Robinson to score from third to give the Bison a quick 2-0 lead heading into the bottom frame.

The Camels tied the game in the second. Pinch runner Katie Andrews scampered home with the team's first run, and then Katie Hinton walked to drive in Sarah Forgacs from third with the second run.

The Bison promptly took the lead back in the third inning. Coats walked, moved to second on a fielder's choice and third on the overthrow by the CU pitcher on the play. A wild pitch on the next pitch allowed Coats to score the team's third run. The Camels erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the frame and didn’t look back.

The Bison added an unearned run in the top of the second as Sborz drew a one-out walk and dashed all the way around the bases on the single by Robinson and throwing error from the CU first baseman. The Camels kept the offensive show with five more runs in the fourth for the 15-4 final.

Howard wrapped up play at the Diamond Devil Invitational by dropping a 5-1 decision to Virginia Tech on Sunday. Robinson rounded the bases was knocked in on a Coats double to right center to give the Bison their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Sborz saw her seven-game hit streak snapped as she was unable to connect her bat the entire game.

Howard softball now shifts its focus to the Cherry Blossom Classic hosted by George Mason from March 18-20.

By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University
Visit: howard-bison.com

On To the Elite Eight: Shaw Beats JCSU For NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Title

Shaw University Women's Head Coach Jacques Curtis

The best season in Johnson C. Smith women’s basketball history ended a step from the Division II Elite Eight.

CIAA South rival Shaw beat the Golden Bulls 74-54 Monday in the Atlantic Regional Championship in Edinboro Pa. JCSU ends the season 26-5, the most wins in a single season in school history. The previous best was a 22-5 mark in 2009.

“We’ve had a good season, even though it didn’t end the way we would have liked,” said CIAA Coach of the Year Vanessa Taylor, who led the Golden Bulls to a pair of tournament wins – the first in six regional appearances. “Sometimes you give your best and it isn’t good enough, but we have certainly learned more from this experience and will apply these lessons as we prepare for next season.”

No. 8 seed Shaw upsets Johnson C. Smith in D-II regional

EDINBORO, PA -- Eighth-seeded Shaw University, led by D-I transfers Kyria Buford and Demaria Liles, ran away from CIAA rival and second-seeded Johnson C. Smith for a 74-54 victory Monday to win the Division II Atlantic Regional at McComb Fieldhouse in front of 93 fans.

The Bears (24-11), the CIAA tournament winner, advanced to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo., March 22-25. The Golden Bulls finished 26-5.

The 6-foot 1-inch Buford, a junior forward who played one season at Florida State, had 24 points and five assists, and MVP Liles, a 6-foot 1-inch senior forward who played at Maryland for one season, had 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Bears were 13-1 after Liles joined the team.

"Demaria took so much pressure off of me when she became eligible,'' Buford said.



Lady Bears Earn Berth in D-II Elite Eight With Win Over JCSU

Edinboro, PA - It was a drama in three acts - a game that was the fourth in a series, but had the highest stakes: a trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight Tournament.

In the end, Shaw claimed the first and third act - and the win - downing CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith 74-54 to earn the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Title and a spot in the Elite Eight.

It was the fourth time the two teams had met this season. Johnson C. Smith (26-5) won the two regular season contests while Shaw (24-11) claimed the two post-season contests: the CIAA Championship and tonight's game, held at McCombs Field House on the campus of Edinboro University.

Shaw broke on top early, fought off a furious charge from the Lady Golden Bulls, and then built an increasing lead as the game ended.

"Smith changed their style today," said Shaw Head Coach Jacques Curtis. "They were running the ball, but today they basically took the air out of the ball. We weren't playing well at all."

Shaw's transfers too advanced for Edinboro women

EDINBORO, PA -- There are Division I players transferring to Division II schools all the time, but many of them saw little playing time or didn't fit and did not want to sit out the year necessary to play for another D-I school.

Then there's Shaw University's pair of Demaria Liles, who spent one full season starting on Maryland's Elite Eight team in 2008-09, and Kyria Buford, who played at Florida State as a freshman in 2005-06. Buford was homesick and first transferred to Johnson C. Smith, Shaw's rival and opponent at Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse on Monday night.

CIAA schools had done little in the Atlantic Regional, to which the conference was moved before the 2008-09 season. They were a non-factor when host California (Pa.) won in 2009 and when Gannon captured the regional in 2010.  Edinboro, which had a magnificent season (26-4) and was top seed and host of the Atlantic Regional, was a victim of bad luck.

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16th-seeded Prairie View women to face No. 1 Baylor in tourney

The Prairie View A&M Panthers’ anxiety over learning their destination in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament disappeared mere minutes into Monday evening’s selection show on ESPN.
Their name appeared underneath first-round opponent and No. 1 seed Baylor on the flat screens at Buffalo Wild Wings in Cypress, and the attendants at the Panthers’ selection show watch party roared in jubilation.

The 16th-seeded Panthers (21-11) will start their NCAA Tournament run against the Bears (31-2) in the Dallas Region at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ferrell Center in Waco. The winner advances to face the victor of Sunday’s earlier matchup between No. 8 seed Houston (26-5) and No. 9 seed West Virginia (23-9).



Baylor No. 1 NCAA seed at home vs. Prairie View

Baylor is a No. 1 seed for the first time and playing at home to start this year's NCAA women's tournament.

The Big 12 champion Lady Bears (31-2) open this year's tournament Sunday against SWAC champion Prairie View (21-11). If they want to make it to the Final Four for the second year in a row, there is the real possibility that they will have to beat Big 12 runner-up Texas A&M for...

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2011 Women's NCAA Tournament Bracket: Hampton Receives No. 13 Seed, Will Play Kentucky Saturday

Hampton University second year Head Basketball Coach
David Six wins triple crown -- NCAA Tournament bid, MEAC
Tournament Champions and MEAC Regular Season Champs. 

The Hampton Pirates have received a No. 13 seed in the Spokane Region and will face the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the 2011 Women's NCAA Tournament Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

The Pirates qualified for the tournament by winning the MEAC Tournament with a win over Howard. It was Hampton's second-straight conference championship and they lost only one conference game during the regular season.

Kentucky, on the other hand, was arguably the SEC's second-best team behind perennial favorite Tennessee. The Wildcats enter the tournament with an at-large bid with a 24-8 record overall and 11-5 in the SEC.

NCAA TOURNAMENT WOMEN'S BRACKET

LADY PIRATES TO FACE KENTUCKY IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women’s basketball team, fresh off its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 4 seed Kentucky on Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M. in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. EST. Television and ticket information will be announced when made available.

The Lady Pirates erupted in jubilation when their name was unveiled on the ESPN broadcast in the Student Center Ballroom. Hampton (25-6) earned a No. 13 seed in the Spokane Region, the highest-ever seed for a MEAC school in the 64-team championship format.  For second-year head coach David Six, the seeding was validating.

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TSU's Harvey named SWAC Coach of the Year

Texas Southern's Tony Harvey was named 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on Monday. Harvey, who is in his third season, led the Tigers (19-12) to a 16-2 mark in SWAC play and the regular-season title. TSU fell to Alabama State in the semifinals of the SWAC tournament but earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.

The eighth-seeded Tigers will open their NIT run against top-seeded Colorado at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Boulder, Colorado.

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Morgan State To Face Virginia On Thursday In Opening Round Of WNIT

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 15, 2011) - What a difference a year makes. Just a year ago the Lady Bears were invited to the 2010 Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) and had to decline. The WNIT committee replaced Morgan State with then three-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season champion, North Carolina A&T. The Lady Aggies would later earn the MEAC automatic bid into the Postseason WNIT, where it made a historical run, winning two games and advancing to the Round of 16.

This time there will be no declining, as the Lady Bears, who earned the automatic berth for the MEAC, found out Monday night they will head to Charlottesville, Va. to face host University of Virginia in Round 1 action of the WNIT on Thursday, March 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.

The game will air locally in the Charlottesville area on WINA 1070 AM. That broadcast will be available on the Internet at VirginiaSports.com with a subscription to Virginia Sports Online Radio. The winner of Thursday's contest will face the winner of Old Dominion vs. Loyola (Md.) in the second round.

2011 WNIT Bracket           MSU TEAM ROSTER

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Southern University Accept WNIT Invite: Travels to Tulane on Thursday

Baton Rouge, La. - Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season women's basketball champion Southern University accepted an invitation Monday to the WNIT, an automatic berth for conference champions that do not win their respective tournament title. The Lady Jaguars will travel to New Orleans to face Tulane on Thursday in the opening round of the 64-team tournament.

There was some speculation as to whether or not the Lady Jaguars would accept the bid to the tournament when head coach Sandy Pugh announced in her post-game interview following the SWAC Tournament championship game that the school might not be able to afford to send the team to the post-season.

2011 WNIT Bracket

SU raises funds, draws Tulane in WNIT

One by one, they started to show up at Southern University with their checkbooks and wallets open, offering to support the women’s basketball team however they could. Thanks to a flood of 11th-hour donations from alumni and booster groups, the women’s basketball team collected enough money to cover last-minute travel costs for the WNIT.

That allowed the Jaguars to accept the automatic bid they received for winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season championship.

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Barlow Names Four to ASU Hornet Coaching Staff

MONTGOMERY – Alabama State head football coach Reggie Barlow has named four new coaches to his staff.

 Fred Kaiss joins the staff as offensive coordinator/running backs coach, Shannon Harris as wide receivers coach, Willard Scissum as offensive line coach, and Dominique Stevenson as safeties coach.

“With success, sometimes things change and we had some success this year,” said fifth-year head coach Reggie Barlow of his team which won the SWAC Eastern Division championship last season. ”We had a few guys that had an opportunity to move on to other positions. All in all, we have four really good guys we've brought into the fold that we think can give us what we need to take care of unfinished business.”

Hornets Begin Spring Practice

MONTGOMERY—Alabama State University's football team held the first of 15 practice sessions today with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement as the Hornets look to build on their 2010 SWAC Eastern Division Championship.

“It was a good first day,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “The guys worked hard and did well on the first day. It was not hot and we were in helmets so we were able to get some things done.”

The Hornets welcomed some new faces on the coaching staff, but Coach Cedric Thornton is back to run the ASU defense and there were not a lot of changes on that side of the ball.

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WSSU Rams get ready to start spring football practice

Winston-Salem State, coming off an 8-2 season in football, will begin spring practice today. And coach Connell Maynor has a message for the 80 or so players who will go through the 14 practices: "Every job is always open," he said.

If there's one thing Maynor isn't about to do, it's to let the older players who were starters last season cruise through spring practice and think they have jobs waiting for them in the fall. Maynor said that even though it's spring practice, the competition for the starting positions will be fierce.

"We will have an edge," Maynor said about practice. "The seniors had a good year and the fans were happy with 8-2 last season, but we didn't accomplish our goal and that was to win the CIAA and get into the playoffs.

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NCCU Football Opens Spring Practice Today

Four-Week Spring Practice to Conclude with 'Maroon vs. Gray' Scrimmage on April 9

DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Tuesday (March 15) marks the beginning of spring football practice for North Carolina Central University and the first time new head coach Henry Frazier III will take the field with the Eagles.

NCCU’s opening practice is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Tuesday inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The Eagles will practice on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for four weeks and will conclude with a ‘Maroon vs. Gray’ scrimmage on Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m., also inside their home stadium.

“We’ll get the opportunity to see the guys in action to get an athletic evaluation in regards to football,” said Frazier. “We know what they can do in the weight room, so now we get to see them in action to get a fair assessment of how they will fit into our program.



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WSSU Audit Finds $3.9 Million Athletics Deficit

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A state audit of finances at Winston-Salem State University found a $3.9 million athletics department deficit, but the university blamed the shortfall on its decision to move its athletics programs to NCAA Division I classification.

The audit also found no means of eliminating the deficit in the coming years and that the university is using "unidentified funds" to support the athletics program.

Read Full Audit

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CIAA rivals Shaw and JCSU to decide Regional title

Shaw and Johnson C. Smith have been rivals in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association for decades. Now, the two women's basketball teams will face each other hundreds of miles away from North Carolina in the NCAA Atlantic Regional final today at 7 p.m. at Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse.

Eighth-seeded Shaw (23-11) has won nine straight, and the Bears from Raleigh, N.C., beat second-seeded Johnson C. Smith (26-4) in the CIAA championship game after the Golden Bulls beat them twice during the regular season.

Shaw demolished cold-shooting host and top-seed Edinboro 72-51 in the quarterfinals when the Scots missed 28 straight 3-pointers. In the semifinals, the Bears rallied past fifth-seeded California, Pa., 70-63 for their second straight win over PSAC teams that have dominated the regional in recent years.

NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship
Shaw (23-11) vs. Johnson C. Smith (26-4)
Today, 7 p.m.
Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse

Live Stats
Live Audio

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Former WSSU Rams great joins Delaware State

Tory Woodbury, a former Winston-Salem State quarterback and a native of Winston-Salem, has been hired as an assistant coach at Delaware State.

Woodbury, who played three years in the NFL, has been hired by Kermit Blount, a former coach of the Rams who coached Woodbury in the late 1990s.

"This is a great opportunity for me to get into college coaching, and I can't thank coach Blount enough for what he's done for me through the years," Woodbury said by telephone from Charlotte, where he has spent the past three years coaching at the high school level.

Woodbury, 32, helped WSSU to consecutive CIAA titles in 1999 and 2000, and then went on to play in the NFL with the Jets and the Bills. After his NFL career, he got into coaching at Carver and Atkins before moving to Charlotte, where he was the quarterbacks coach at Garinger.



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Hampton Pirates get top seeded Duke

HAMPTON, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.

Hampton (24-8), making their first NCAA appearance since 2006, earned the No. 16 seed in the West Region. They defeated defending MEAC champion Morgan State 60-55 on Saturday in the title game for their fifth straight win.

Ex-Trenton mayor: 16th-seed Hampton will shock No. 1 Duke in NCAA Tournament

TRENTON, NJ -- Watch out, Dukies, little ol' Hampton is coming to eat your lunch! So says former Trenton mayor Doug Palmer after hearing that his alma mater is slated to open the NCAA Tournament against the defending national champion and top seed in the West.

Hampton University (24-8) is the 16-seed after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. On Friday in Charlotte, N.C., the Pirates will face No. 5 Duke (29-4), which beat North Carolina to win the ACC crown and grab a top seed for the 12th time.

But Hampton has history on its side in tournament games against powerhouses.

NCAA MEN'S BRACKET

PIRATES TO FACE DUKE IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The time of the game has yet to be determined. The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.

“We're excited for the opportunity, and it marks a chance for our program to do something special,” Pirates head coach Edward “Buck” Joyner Jr. said. “It's been 10 years since we last made history, and we want to put that stamp on our program and show the world what we're capable of.”

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Texas-San Antonio to open NCAA Tournament play against Alabama State on Wednesday night

INDIANAPOLIS — The UTSA men's basketball team learned its NCAA Tournament destination and opponent on Sunday evening and the Southland Conference Tournament Champion Roadrunners will square off against Alabama State, which won this weekend's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament. The two squads will play at 5:40 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday at UD Arena as part of the newly-created "First Four" games on the campus of the University of Dayton.

UTSA, winners of five consecutive outings in the last 11 days, will bring a 19-13 overall record into its fourth "Big Dance" appearance in program history and first since 2004 (1988, '99 are the others). The No. 7 seed Roadrunners earned the Southland's automatic bid following their 75-72 championship game victory against top-seeded McNeese State on Saturday afternoon. Senior guard Devin Gibson was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player and he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by freshman Jeromie Hill.

NCAA MEN'S BRACKET

Hornets To Face Texas-San Antonio In NCAA Tournament

The Alabama State men's basketball team will face Texas-San Antonio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. central time in Dayton, Ohio. The two teams will be a part of the newly created “First Four” games on the campus of the University of Dayton.

The Hornets emerged from the fourth seed in the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament to win the title and the league's automatic berth for the fourth time in school history and second time in three seasons.

“We're excited to have an opportunity to be in the NCAA Tournament again,” Hornets' head coach Lewis Jackson said. “It's great for our players, Alabama State University, the community of Montgomery and people around the city and the state. Guys will have the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament again and that's big. That's as high as it gets, and we're excited about being in it.”

Alabama State (17-17) enters the NCAA's as one of the nation's hottest teams, being victorious 11 of their last 12 games. That lone loss, a 74-73 decision at Grambling on March 5, was avenged in the tournament championship game Saturday night with a 65-48 win over the Tigers.

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Stillman's Big Second Half Ends Florida Southern Mocs' Season

Huntsville, AL - A big second half by Stillman wiped out a 13-point lead by the Moccasins and the Tigers ended the Moccasins' season, 92-86, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional at Huntsville, Ala., Sunday night. The Moccasins finished the season at 23-9.

The Moccasins had shot 61.6 percent from the field en route to their 51-38 advantage at halftime, but it took Stillman just over five minutes in the second half to erase the deficit. The Tigers pulled even at 56-56 with 14:43 remaining, as they hit seven of their first nine shots in the period.

Stillman didn't take the lead for good until the 5:31 mark, when LaDarius Rhone sank a three-pointer to put the Tigers in front 74-72 and the Moccasins never saw the lead again. The Tigers were as hot from the field in the second half as the Moccasins were in the first half, shooting 60.7 percent, while the FSC shot just 34.4 percent in the second half.

Mocs Let Lead Slip Away in Semifinal Loss

A big halftime lead can turn out to be a bad thing and it was for the Mocs on Sunday. The Florida Southern College men's basketball team led by 13 at the break and couldn't keep its intensity level high enough afterward to avoid a 92-86 loss to Stillman in the NCAA Division II South Regional semifinals in Huntsville, Ala.

"They came out, got on a roll and we couldn't stop them," said head coach Linc Darner, whose Mocs ended their season with a 23-9 record.

Stillman (23-7) stormed back with an 18-5 run after the break to tie it at 56 and took the lead for good with 5:31 to play.

Box Score

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Shaw Bears Raheem Smith Has Career Night In NCAA Loss to West Liberty U.

West Liberty, WV - On what would become the final night of his collegiate career, Raheem Smith exploded for a career-high 36 points - including 27 in the first half alone - but it wasn't enough as Shaw fell to the nation's highest ranked team, West Liberty, 98-93. The NCAA Atlantic Regional Semi-final was played on WLU's home court.

Shaw (23-9) had their highest offensive outburst of the season and held West Liberty (31-0) below 100 - only the second time all season the Hilltoppers have been held under triple digits on their home court.

"This was a great game from a fan standpoint. We were up and down the court, throwing in three pointers and playing good defense," said Shaw Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. "Both teams played hard, but in the end, the home team won."

In the end, the game was decided at the free throw line. The Bears went to the charity stripe 12 times -- hitting eight -- while the Hilltoppers found themselves shooting 31 free throws, sinking 26.

Boxscore

Hilltoppers Outlast Shaw 98-93

Atlantic Region Player of the Year Corey Pelle led four double-figure scorers with 23 points and senior pivot John Wolosinczuk hit a back-breaking 3-point bomb with less than 90 seconds remaining as unbeaten and No. 1-ranked West Liberty held off a determined Shaw squad in a regional semifinal thriller.

The Hilltoppers will host defending regional champion and No. 2 seed Indiana (Pa.) Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Atlantic Region championship game with the winner advancing to next week’s NCAA Division II Elite Eight at Springfield, Mass.

West Liberty led throughout the second half but weren’t able to put the hot-shooting Bears away until Wolosinczuk’s clutch 3-pointer pushed the Hilltoppers out to a 92-86 lead with 1:25 to play. Barry Shetzer then came up with a steal and hit a streaking Alex Falk for a runout layup that finally put the game out of reach, 94-86, heading into the final minute.

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Bowie State Falls 94-81 In NCAA Region Semifinal to Indiana (PA)

WEST LIBERTY, WV - Indiana University of Pennsylvania fell into a 14-point hole in the opening seven minutes of the game before the trio of Ashton Smith, Julian Sanders and Scooter Renkin rallied the Crimson Hawks to a 94-81 win over Bowie State University in the semifinals of the NCAA Atlantic Region.

“I’m really proud of my basketball team and happy for the opportunity to be here (NCAA’s)”, said second year Bowie State coach Darrell Brooks. “We lost to a very good and experienced basketball team that reached the Division II finals last season, and they understand this regional tournament and hopefully our young team will learn from this experience and be back here next year.”

The Bulldogs made four 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the game and built an 18-4 lead on a steal by junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) with 13:22 left in the half. Ashton Smith hit a jumper on IUP’s first shot attempt of the game, but the Crimson Hawks missed four shots and committed six turnovers as the Bulldogs surged ahead.

Renkin got the Crimson Hawks comeback started when he converted a steal into a layup and was fouled, making the free throw for a three-point play. Smith made three buckets, including a 3-pointer, and Willi Estrella made two free throws at the 10:22 mark to cap a 14-2 run that pulled IUP within 20-16.

PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Sherri Fillingham)

IUP Rides Red Hot 3-Point Shooting to Victory over Bowie State and Berth in Atlantic Region Final

IUP fell into a 14-point hole in the opening seven minutes before the guard trio of Ashton Smith, Julian Sanders and Scooter Renkin rallied the Crimson Hawks to a 94-81 win over Bowie State in the semifinals of the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament Sunday in West Liberty, W.Va.

IUP (26-5) won for the 13th straight time and will face West Liberty in the championship contest for the second straight year on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The host Hilltoppers advanced with a 98-93 victory over Shaw. The Crimson Hawks defeated West Liberty 84-72 in the regional final at home a year ago and then won twice at the Elite 8 to advance to the national championship game.

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Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) To Receive MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street Global Exposure

GCAC president Kiki Baker Barnes

The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) and its member institutions of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I level, need our support for their athletic programs.

The GCAC was established in 1981 and recently (2010) went through a major transformation with the six (6) non-HBCU institutions leaving for the Southern States Athletic Conference and the Red River Athletic Conference. This move left six (6) small, mostly private HBCUs institutions under the GCAC banner.

The president of the GCAC is Dillard University's Athletic Director and head women's basketball coach Kiki Baker Barnes. Barnes was unanimously voted in by her peers as the 17th president of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference at the 2009 fall meetings, making her the first African-American woman to hold the position.

She is one of only two African-Americans named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' (NAIA) newly formed National Administrative Council and a member of the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) professional organization. Upon her installation as conference president, Barnes stated, "now is a critical time in the history of the conference as it attempts to draw new members and build new rivalries, and I look forward to the challenge."

Talladega College will be leaving the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and will be rejoining the GCAC in 2011-12 academic year, along with Philander Smith College  (Little Rock, AR). Voorhees College decided in July 2010 not to accept an invitation to join the conference. Further expansion of the GCAC remains one of the conference's most important goals, in addition to raising its profile and sports branding by member institutions.

The conference fields 13 sports programs--Men's Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field, Tennis and Baseball; and Women's Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Field, and Tennis. Not all institutions are able to field teams in each sport, and may have as few as three programs, like Fisk University. Playoff bids for sports like tennis, soccer, baseball and golf will have to come by way of play-in tournament games with the NAIA's Association of Independent Institutions.

Current GCAC member institutions are: (click each name for auto link to each college athletic website)

1. Dillard University Bleu Devils, New Orleans, LA
2. Edward Waters College Tigers, Jacksonville, FL
3. Fisk University Bulldogs, Nashville, TN
4. Southern University at New Orleans Knights, New Orleans, LA
5. Tougaloo College Bulldogs, Tougaloo, MS
6. Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush/Gold Nuggets, New Orleans, LA
7. Talladega College Tornadoes, Talladega, AL
8. Philander Smith College Panthers, Little Rock, AR

Edward Waters College is the only football playing member of the conference and plays as an NAIA Independent for football. The EWC Tigers recently selected Bethune-Cookman University's assistant Brad Bernard as its new head football coach. Bernard tapped B-CU assistant coach Greg Ross as the Tigers new offensive coordinator and Millsaps College (Miss.) assistant Lane Powell as his defensive coordinator.

The basketball powerhouses this season are Tougaloo Bulldogs (27-4) and Xavier Gold Rush (men) (27-5) that are bracketed in the NAIA Division I National Championship Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on March 16-22.  The Xavier Gold Nuggets women's team (26-6) are also participants in the national championship tournament in Kansas City.

Many thanks to Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director at Xavier University of Louisiana who has been sending us stories on the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets nationally ranked Tennis Teams. This pushed us to take a closer look at what was going on with the GCAC and examine the historic academic powerhouses that are charter member institutions, i.e., Dillard University, Tougaloo College and Xavier University of Louisiana.

Check back often for links to articles on our student-athletes from the fifth HBCU conference -- the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Thank you to our growing 380,706 readers world-wide that continue to confirm that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are as relevant today, as they will be when Jesus comes.  Please continue to provide your financial support to our HBCU Institutions, especially to the sports and music programs which are a cornerstone to American society and culture. Thank you also for the nearly one million page views from the readers from 176 countries/territories, above all, our active members of the American military services.

This amazing Blog continues to prove each day that "one person can make a difference in the world."

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Videographer: ewc1777; Edward Waters College Triple Threat Marching Band vs. North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine ( Nov. 2010)

TSU headed to NIT, will face Colorado in Boulder on Wednesday

HOUSTON – The Texas Southern Tigers had high hopes heading in this past week’s SWAC Conference tournament. They dreamed of playing in the Final Four. Alabama State ruined those plans last Friday night with a 73-66 victory in the semifinals, ending the Tigers chance at making it to the NCAA Tournament.

There isn’t much consolation for that crushing loss, but TSU’s season isn’t over just yet. On Wednesday, the Tigers (19-12) will head to Boulder, Colorado to take on the Buffaloes in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament.



TSU's Harvey to be Named SWAC Coach of the Year

HOUSTON - The Southwestern Athletic Conference will name Texas Southern men's basketball coach Tony Harvey as the SWAC Coach of the Year on Monday. TSU won the SWAC regular season championship and lost in the semifinals of the conference tournament to eventual champion Alabama State.

"It's a great honor," Harvey said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "I'm really excited. I'm blessed and I'm thankful. "It's tears of joy." Harvey said he won the award for TSU which has given him great support.

Texas Southern draws Colorado in NIT

The Texas Southern Tigers fell just short of reaching the NCAA Tournament after bowing out to Alabama State on Friday in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
But their consolation prize — an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament — represents a milestone for a program that hasn’t reached the postseason since the 2003, when it advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers (19-12), who were the SWAC’s regular-season champions, were named a No. 8 seed in the NIT and will face top-seeded Colorado (21-13) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo.

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The NAIA changed basketball, and Kansas City

Alcorn State was minutes away from tipping off a game at the 1974 NAIA Tournament when Braves coach Davey Whitney received a tap on the shoulder from a Municipal Auditorium official.

“Phone call,” he was told. Now? Whitney shooed away the messenger. A few minutes later came another tap. “I was told it was important and I had to take the call,” Whitney said. “So I left the bench and got on the phone.”

On the line was the school president. A bill had just been signed into Mississippi law to grant Alcorn university status. No longer was it Alcorn Agricultural & Mechanical College but Alcorn State University. The president wanted everybody at the NAIA to know.

“We had ’em change the scoreboard,” Whitney said. “It meant a lot to us to be called Alcorn State University at the NAIA. It was where we were welcomed. To us, it was a special place.”

Basketball's African American Pioneers

A forgotten ballplayer walked into a small reception room last week at the Reagan Building, had the privilege of meeting the famous Earl Monroe -- and promptly told the Pearl a story.

While Monroe was becoming NBA royalty in New York, Perry Wallace played for a pittance in the Eastern League, a basketball minor league, and moonlighted as a math teacher at the Pearl's alma mater, Philadelphia's John Bartram High School.

"And at the same time, Joe Bryant -- Kobe's father -- attended that school," Wallace said. "Isn't that something?"

From the Pearl to Perry, to Jellybean Bryant and on to his son, the entire evening became a game of human H-O-R-S-E. They bonded over coincidences and zero degrees of separation, of events of 30, 40 and 50 years ago, all told by living historians before the screening of "Black Magic."



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Giles-Osborn clinches Gold Rush victory vs. Crusaders

MONTGOMERY, Ala .(March 13, 2011) -- Steffen Giles-Osborn rallied Sunday for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 No. 3 singles decision against Dominik Kardell to clinch Xavier University of Louisiana's 5-4 men's tennis victory over William Carey in the AUM Invitational.

Georgetown (Ky.) defeated Xavier's women 6-3.

The Gold Rush (10-5), ranked eighth in the NAIA, never trailed, but William Carey tied the dual at 4 when Younes Hidass defeated Sean Richardson 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. Then Giles-Osborn, ranked 24th in NAIA singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, overcame a first-set loss to score his second victory in his last six singles matches.

Giles-Osborn and Hassan Abbas won in doubles and singles for XU's men, who won two of three duals in this event. Fourteenth-ranked Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson beat Toni Gauta and Hidass 8-2 at No. 2 doubles, and Abbas and Zach Taylor defeated Jody Claassen and Thomas Rizk 9-8 (8-6) at No. 1. Abbas gave Xavier a 3-1 lead when he beat Rizk 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
Abbas is 4-0 in singles and 4-0 in doubles in two seasons against William Carey.

Freshman Amir Rahbar scored Xavier's fourth point with a 6-3, 6-0 decision against 50th-ranked Gauta at No. 4.

"The match was a grinder until the end," XU Coach Alan Green said. "William Carey has a very good team, and the match could have gone either way. They are very underrated and easily a top-15 team.
"The atmosphere was loud and raucous at a neutral site. We will have to deal with a team with a loud crowd and a bad taste in their mouth when we play at Carey in a few weeks. It will make for a good match, and we can't wait to play them again."

The Gold Nuggets (2-9) lost their seventh in a row and, for the fourth straight time, forfeited the No. 3 doubles match and the No. 5 and 6 singles matches because of a depleted roster. But the XU women -- specifically, sisters Melissa and Nicole DeLoach -- still won three matches, as many as they won in their previous six duals combined.

The DeLoaches won 8-0 against Emily Krick and Rhyan Martin 8-0 at No. 2 doubles. Then Nicole beat Shelby Eden 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, and Melissa followed with a 6-0, 6-2 decision over Natalie Hill at No. 3 to cut Georgetown's lead to 4-3. But 47th-ranked Adrienne Bartlett clinched for the Tigers (2-5) at No. 1 when she defeated Carmen Nelson 6-4, 6-2.

Georgetown was ranked 25th in the NAIA preseason poll and 15 points from the top 25 in last week's rankings.

The Nuggets' next match will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday against Rutgers at City Park Tennis Center, and it will be their fifth of the season against an NCAA Division I opponent. The XU men, who have played seven duals in the last 10 days, will return to competition in a 3:30 p.m. makeup March 25 against city rival Loyola at the University of New Orleans.

Xavier drops pair of duals at AUM Invitational

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (March 12, 2011) — Both Xavier University of Louisiana tennis teams lost Saturday in the AUM Invitational. The Gold Rush, ranked eighth in the NAIA, lost 9-0 to unbeaten and fifth-ranked Oklahoma Christian. The Gold Nuggets, ranked 24th, lost 5-1 to Campbellsville.

Xavier scored its lone point at No. 2 women's doubles when sisters Melissa and Nicole DeLoach defeated Stacey Drew and Kristen Hamrick 8-3.

Xavier won only three other sets. Zach Taylor of the Gold Rush won a second-set tiebreaker in a 6-3, 6-7 (7-5), 1-0 (10-7) loss to Thomas Van Cauter at No. 1 singles, and the DeLoach sisters were both up a set when their dual was halted.

The Gold Rush (9-5) lost for the third time in four duals, including two losses to top-10 opponents. The XU men lost for the second time in as many seasons to Oklahoma Christian (11-0) since the Gold Rush's 5-4 victory over the Eagles in the opening round of the 2009 NAIA National Championship.

"The score of the men's match does not indicate how it was played," XU Coach Alan Green said. "This was a competitive fight and the guys played real hard. It took four hours to knock us off. I'm really proud of the fight we put up against a potential national champion. Oklahoma Christian has that good of a team."

Xavier's women extended their losing streak to six duals, their longest in Green's eight seasons. Campbellsville is 2-2.

Both XU teams will play their final duals of this event at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The Gold Nuggets will play Georgetown (Ky.), and the Gold Rush will play William Carey. Both opponents received votes in last week's coaches polls.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics

Alabama State Beats Grambling State, Wins SWAC, NCAA Bid

ASU Coach Lewis Jackson and the Hornets are rolling to the Big Dance

GARLAND, Texas - Tremayne Moorer scored 14 points and Tramaine Butler added 13, lifting Alabama State to a 65-48 victory over Grambling on Saturday night to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

The Hornets are sure to be a low seed considering they are only 17-17. At least they have momentum going for them — they were 6-16 at the start of February, but head into the tournament on an 11-1 run. This victory avenged their only loss in their recent spurt, a one-pointer on the road in the regular-season finale.

Grambling (12-21) reached the SWAC tournament finals for the first time on a big roll of its own, winning nine of 11. The sixth-seeded Tigers led 28-26 at halftime, then fell apart.

Grambling falls, 65-48

The red-hot Grambling basketball team's fire finally burned out in the second half of the SWAC tournament championship game. The Tigers led Alabama State by two points at halftime, but were badly out-played in the second half and lost 65-48 at the Special Events Center in Garland, Texas.

The second half opened with GSU leading 28-26, and Alabama State quickly tied the game at 30-30 after a jump shot from Shareif Adamu. A Tramaine Butler layup gave the Hornets the lead, and from that point the lead only continued to grow.



ASU Throttles Grambling; Wins SWAC Tournament Championship

Garland, Tx. –Alabama State defeated Grambling State 65-48 at the Special Events Center in the 2011 Farmers Insurance Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament Championship. The victory gave Lewis Jackson his second conference tournament crown in his six years as head coach and the school's fourth.

ASU led 10-4 at the 15 minute mark of the first half. GSU responded with a pair of layups each from Justin Patton and Donald Qualls tying the game at 10 apiece. Qualls scored 35 points the night prior in the semi-finals against Jackson State. He finished with only 12 points on the night to lead Grambling.

Grambling's first lead came off of a Peter Robinson jump hook to make the score 22-20, with just under seven minutes to play before halftime. Four free throws later from Qualls and all of a sudden GSU led 26-20. The biggest deficit the hornets would see all tournament long.

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VISIT: BAMASTATESPORTS

JCSU Lady Golden Bulls March On To The Regional Finals With 78-72 OT Win Over West Liberty

JCSU's CIAA BASKETBALL COACH OF YEAR,
VANESSA TAYLOR IS 2-0 IN NCAA DIVISION
II TOURNAMENT GAMES

JCSU women's basketball made history by reaching the most wins in a season 26-4, and earned the 1st two regional victories for women's basketball at JCSU after a 74-69 win over Glenville State and West Liberty University.

Edinboro, PA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball captured a 78-72 overtime victory against West Liberty University (No. 3 seed) in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals on Saturday evening inside a frigid McComb Fieldhouse. JCSU improves to 26-4 overall and advance to the regional championship game on Monday, March 14th to face 2011 CIAA Tournament Champions, No. 8 Shaw University (23-11) at 7:00 p.m. inside McComb Fieldhouse.

Junior guard Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) splashed a three pointer at the 19:13 mark for the first J.C. Smith points and lead (3-2) of the game. However, the Hilltoppers recovered quickly and displayed some dangerous outside shooting throughout the first half. West Liberty held an advantage for the remainder of the opening and led 40-32 at halftime.

JCSU shot 33% (12-36) in the first half, compared to 40.6% (13-32) shooting from West Liberty. The Hilltoppers connected on 7 of their 17 three point attempts, but were out-rebounded 27-18. Junior All-CIAA guard LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) had most of the production with 10 points and seven rebounds at the break. Jones and senior guard Tyra Breaux (Baltimore, MD) pitched in seven points apiece.

JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS GLENVILLE STATE 74-69 IN NCAA DII REGIONALS

Edinboro, PA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team made school history with a 74-69 victory over Glenville State College (No. 7 seed) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament hosted by Edinboro University on Friday afternoon. JCSU improved to 25-4 overall and earned their first regional win in the history of the women's program. The Lady Golden Bulls advance to the semifinals to face West Liberty State College in McComb Field house at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12th.

Entering this regional tournament with the highest seeding in JCSU history; the Lady Golden Bulls looked and played like a No. 2 seed. Glenville State continued a five-man substitution pattern, but Johnson C. Smith moved up the court with more energy and quickness. Despite eight lead changes in the opening, J.C. Smith maintained control and led 46-36 at halftime.

In first half, the Lady Golden Bulls shot 41.5% (17-41) from the floor compared to 33% (13-39) from Glenville State. The Pioneers lost the rebounding battle 34-20 and were beat 28-16 inside the paint. JCSU also shot 64.7% (11-17) from the free throw line; however Glenville converted on all six of their first half free throw attempts.

JCSU women advance to regional final

Johnson C. Smith is within a game of advancing to the NCAA Division II women’s Elite Eight.

The Golden Bulls beat West Liberty 78-72 in overtime Saturday in the Atlantic Regional semifinals on Saturday in Edinburgh, Pa. JCSU, the No. 2 seed, improved to 26-4 overall and advance to the regional championship game on Monday against CIAA rival and No. 8 Shaw at 7 p.m. Shaw beat Smith last week for the CIAA tournament championship.

“This season our team has been accountability for each other and themselves on and off the court, which has allowed us to strive for the common thread of competitive greatness,” Golden Bulls coach Vanessa Taylor said. “This is an exciting opportunity for our team, our University, and our conference; these young ladies have become pioneers and we want to go as far as we can.”

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NEXT GAME: JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY LADY GOLDEN BULLS vs. SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS at EDINBORO UNIVERSITY (Pa.), MCCOMB FIELDHOUSE; NCAA DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, MONDAY, MARCH 14, 7 PM.
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Larry Smith out as Alcorn State's basketball coach‎

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State has announced that Larry Smith will not return for a fourth season as head basketball coach at his alma mater, but will take a new role as director of athletic development.

Smith went 12-78 in three seasons, including a 4-24 mark this season, when the Braves failed to make the SWAC tournament field. Smith has one year left on his $125,000 per year coaching contract. Here is the Press Release...

Alcorn President Brown announces promotions in Athletics and Advancement

Alcorn State University announces the promotion of Larry Smith’80, distinguished alumni, former NBA player and Braves head basketball coach is moving from the court floor to the front office. Smith is the new director of athletic development and will be reporting to Stephen L. McDaniel, vice president of Institutional Advancement.

“He is just a very solid athletic personality who has a good track record of working with and developing players,” says Dr. Norris Allen Edney, current acting dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “He is a level-headed person of high character. It is always good to have a strong presence in the front office.”

“Coach Smith has a great deal of fundraising experience,” says President M. Christopher Brown II, Ph.D. “His experience and relationships will align perfectly with the restructuring of Institutional Advancement and give the University a strong advantage.” Brown also referenced the need to construct a facility named in honor of legendary former Alcorn Football Coach Marino Casem. Smith is extremely optimistic about his newest challenge on behalf of Alcorn athletics.

Recently, Dr. Ruth Nichols, former special assistant to the president, joined Institutional Advancement as the director of external relations. “Alcorn has many talented employees and our goal is to find individuals with experiences in complimentary areas,” says Vice President McDaniel. “I am grateful to Dr. Brown for his leadership and knowing the importance of fundraising in advancing the University’s mission.”

Another significant appointment President Brown announced today is the transfer and promotion of Shundera Perteet to business manager for the Department of Athletics. Perteet has more than a decade of experience in University administration in the offices of the Executive Vice President and Academic Affairs. Her initial responsibilities will include the 2012 academic budget and finalization of ticket packages for the upcoming Alcorn athletic season.

Smith, a 1980 alum with a bachelor’s degree in business, spent 13 seasons (1980-1993) in the NBA, playing for the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs. Smith received NBA All-Rookie Team Honors in 1981, and became one of the best rebounders in the 1980s. He had career averages of 9.2 rebounds and 25.9 minutes per game.

He worked as an assistant coach with the Rockets in 1993-94 and 1994-95, helping them capture their back-to-back NBA titles. After serving as the head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal and as an assistant coach for the Austin Toros during the 2006-07 NBA D-League season, Smith was hired to be an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association for the 2008 season. In May 2008 he was hired to be the head coach for Alcorn.

Senior Women Administrator LLJuna Weir will lead the search committee for the selection of a new head basketball coach. “Alcorn believes in excellence,” says Weir. “We are committed to this process and have the full support of the University administration.”

Athletic Director Brenda Square says, “It has been a pleasure working with Coach Smith and I look forward to working with him to generate much needed resources for our athletic programs.”

Applications will be accepted until March 25, 2011, individuals interested in applying for the position of Head Men’s Basketball Coach are encouraged to visit www.alcorn.edu and send their resume, ASU Employment application, three letters of recommendations, official college transcripts and other supporting information to the following address:

Office of Human Resources
Attention: Head Men’s Basketball Coach
1000 ASU Drive #390

Alcorn State, MS 39096-7500

Additional information forthcoming about the search process, contact Chief of Staff Marcus Ward at 601.877.6111, if you have questions.