UWG men suffocate Clark Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia -- The University of West Georgia men’s basketball team capped off a 2-0 season-opening weekend behind a suffocating defensive performance in a 79-53 victory over Clark Atlanta at the SIAC/GSC Challenge in Atlanta on Saturday evening.

“We just played tremendous defense. I mean, championship level. We just went after them. Those guys remind you of a Delta State or a Henderson State type with their size,” UWG coach Michael Cooney said. “Our guys just never gave them a chance to breathe. A huge win.”

The Wolves (2-0) won a hard-fought, 50-49 decision over Morehouse College on Friday night in the Challenge opener and Cooney said it was a great way to start the season heading into Wednesday’s home opener against Point University.

“To come out here 2-0, it just gives us a huge lift. I really think the team grew this week. It sets us up nicely coming home with these two big home games this week,” Cooney said.

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Xavier Nuggets outlast Dillard, reach title round of GCAC tourney

Moira Kirk

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — No deficit, it seems, is too great for the Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball team.

Moira Kirk had 13 kills and four blocks, and Taylor Reuther had 10 kills, 23 digs and two aces Friday to help the Gold Nuggets rally for a 20-25, 18-25, 27-25, 26-24, 17-15 victory against Dillard in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

"It was such a great comeback," said Xavier coach Christabell Hamilton, whose team trailed 15-8 in the fourth set and fought off four Dillard match points — one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth. "When we won I was jumping up and down like a kid, which is something I never do."

Taylor Reuther

Xavier (22-6), the tourney's top seed and only unbeaten team, will play Dillard or SUNO in the championship round of the double-elimination event at 1 p.m. Saturday. It's the first time in the Gold Nuggets' four seasons that they reached the finals.

Dillard, the defending champion and No. 2 seed, and third-seeded SUNO will play at 11 a.m. Saturday in an elimination match. SUNO stayed alive with a 23-25, 25-12, 25-11, 25-9 victory against Tougaloo and a 25-18, 25-12, 25-16 victory against Talladega.

A Xavier victory in the 1 p.m. match will end the tournament. If the Gold Nuggets lose, they and their opponent will meet again at 3 p.m. to decide the championship and the GCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which begins next Saturday.

Patrice Hightower

Chinedu Echebelem's fifth-set kill, her 10th of the contest, saved a Dillard match point and tied the score at 15, then Xavier advanced with its seventh straight victory after consecutive Dillard attack errors.

"We have such fight and such heart," said Reuther, whose kill-dig double-double was her 11th of the season. "I always know we have a chance to come back."

Jeanay Butler and Iva Bobkova had eight kills apiece for Xavier, and Patrice Hightower had nine digs and a career-best 45 assists

"We communicated a lot more those final two sets," Hightower said. "We made adjustments on defense and in our blocking. I wasn't surprised we came back because we've done it all year. I have faith and trust in my teammates. I love this team so much."

Chinedu Echebelem

The Gold Nuggets have won 10 consecutive matches which lasted longer than three sets. They're 3-0 this season against Dillard (18-11), the defending tournament champion.

Xavier's current victory streak includes three matches in which the Nuggets trailed by a set. It was the second time in the program's history that Xavier rallied from a 2-sets-to-none deficit — the other time was against Dillard a year ago at The Barn.

"Those first two sets we weren't playing Xavier volleyball," Hamilton said. "We were not looking like ourselves and that's what frustrated me so much."

Reuther produced 17 digs in the final three sets and finished with a career high.

Jeanay Butler

"We started fighting as a team instead of individually," Reuther said. "That's why we meshed so well and came back as strongly as we did."

There were 15 ties and five lead changes in the third set, which Xavier capped with kills by Echebelem and Bobkova, but the Nuggets never led in the fourth until Kirk closed the set with consecutive kills. Kirk, the GCAC Freshman of the Year, had five kills in that set after the Nuggets trailed by seven.

The fifth set had 10 ties and four lead changes. Xavier led 8-5 after a Dillard attack error, and the Lady Bleu Devils had match point after Paula Ogbevoen's kill made it 15-14. But the Nuggets rallied one more time in a deciding set in which Dillard aided Xavier with eight errors.

"We never, ever give up," Hightower said.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: GCACSPORTS

Elon Opens Charlotte Smith Era With Win Over Virginia Union

ELON, N.C. – Charlotte Smith earned her first win as Elon head women’s basketball coach in impressive fashion on Saturday, Nov. 12, as the Phoenix used a second-half surge to cruise to a 70-46 win over Virginia Union inside Alumni Gym in the regular-season opener for both squads.
 
“We came out of the gates a little bit slow today, so we’ll need to work on coming out more focused on our defense and rebounding moving forward,” Smith said. “We had a lot more intensity in the second half and our team did an incredible job on the boards.
 
Overall, it feels great to get the victory today. It took some time for us to pull away but we’re excited with the win and we know there’s still a lot of room to get better.”
 
Juniors Ali Ford and Kelsey Evans led the Phoenix offense in the win, as the preseason all-conference selections combined for 40 points in the victory. Ford led all scorers with 26 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including a 5-of-13 clip from three-point land. Evans recorded her 16th career double-double with 14 points and a game-high 15 boards and three blocks in the win.

Box Score

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UT Martin's Jason McNair shows flashes of his late uncle

Nashville, Tennessee -- His last name is McNair, he plays hard and plays hurt, and he’ll be at LP Field today. Jason McNair, nephew of late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, hopes to lead UT Martin (5-4, 4-2 OVC) to a victory over Tennessee State (4-5, 3-3).

McNair, a 5-foot-9, 192-pound junior from Mount Olive, Miss., leads the Skyhawks with 737 rushing yards and has scored five touchdowns. He has fond memories of LP Field. It’s where he scored his first touchdown as a freshman when he entered the game against TSU late with the Skyhawks safely in the lead (21-7) and scored on an 11-yard run. “I’m sure I’ll always remember that run,” McNair said.

But LP Field already was a special place for McNair. It’s where he watched his uncle become one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. “My uncle left his blood, sweat and tears on that field,” McNair said.

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Analyzing Florida A&M at North Carolina Central

Time: Today at 2 p.m.
Records: N.C. Central (2-7 overall, 1-5 MEAC); Florida A&M (6-3 overall, 4-2 MEAC)
Site: O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, Durham, N.C.
Series: FAMU leads 4-1-1.
Forecast: Mostly sunny, temperatures in the low-to-mid-60s.
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Radio: WEED 1390 AM (Rocky Mount, N.C.); WARR 1520 AM (Warrenton, N.C.); “GameCentral” at NCCUEaglePride.com. Starts at 12:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst; Danielle Johnson-Webb, sideline)
Video: NCCUEaglePride.com features “GameCentral” by Stretch Internet ($8.95 per game). Starts at 1:45 p.m. Link: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/nccu.portal#

WHEN FLORIDA A&M HAS THE BALL

The Rattlers come into today's game off another exciting come-from-behind win last week against North Carolina A&T. Quarterback Damien Fleming tossed two more touchdown passes and now has seven in the seven games he's played — with only two interceptions. Completing 60 percent of his passes and a 7-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio puts Fleming third in the MEAC in pass efficiency.

The running back trio of LaVante Page, Al-Terek McBurse and Eddie Rocker could see plenty of carries today against a defense that ranks ninth in the MEAC by allowing just over 180 yards per game on the ground.



N.C. Central linebacker Brandon Outlaw leads a defense that has struggled for most of the year, but is coming off its best performance in a 14-7 win over Delaware State. Outlaw has 86 tackles, despite only four in the Eagles' first MEAC win of the season last week.

Cornerback Malik Cromartie was the hero for NCCU last week, blocking a first-quarter field goal to keep the game tied and intercepting a pair of passes. His second pick came with Delaware State driving late in the game to seal the win. Fleming will also need to keep an eye on junior defensive back Marc Lewis, who leads NCCU with seven pass breakups.

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One more win, NSU cinches best season in its history

Norfolk, Virginia -- The Norfolk State football team is not happy with history.

The Spartans clinched a share of their first MEAC championship last weekend, making history in the process, but you'd never have known it. No. 22 Norfolk State didn't rush the field or dump a bucket of Gatorade on head coach Pete Adrian. Norfolk State huddled near its sideline, walked off the field and hopped on a bus.

"I don't know what I expected, but it's the attitude that I hoped they'd have," Adrian said. "We felt like we were the better team and we went in and we did what we were supposed to do."

It's the same mindset the Spartans are taking into today's game at Morgan State. With a win, Norfolk State can polish off its best Division I season in school history, its first playoff bid and win the conference championship outright.

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N.C. Central looks for second MEAC win

Durham, North Carolina -- Last weekend's first victory in the MEAC wasn't one that North Carolina Central coach Henry Frazier wanted his team to spend too much time celebrating. But it was a huge sense of relief. At the mention during his weekly conference call that it might have been like a monkey off his back, Frazier laughed.

"I wouldn't say it was a monkey," he said. "I say it was a big, old gorilla. We had been close a few times and just hadn't been able to pull it out."

In fact, the Eagles (2-7, 1-5) have held fourth-quarter leads in four of their previous six games before hanging on to beat Delaware State last weekend in Dover, Del.



One reason that Frazier didn't want to spend too much time savoring the win is because his team has the challenge of trying to beat Florida A&M in its last home game today at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham,N.C.

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Stillman Tigers seeking homecoming win

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - The Stillman Tigers have achieved a winning record in Teddy Keaton’s first season as coach. If they win today’s homecoming game, they’ll have the best mark since joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2005.

“I tell my kids homecoming is not really for you right now,” said Keaton, a 1999 Stillman graduate. “Homecoming is for the alumni and the people that come back and support them. I really believe people are coming back to homecoming to see what we’ve done with this program in this short amount of time. I’m excited about some of my classmates coming back.

“More importantly, I want to make sure my team stays focused and that we don’t forget what’s at stake here; what’s the ultimate goal about finishing and not overlooking your opponent. Let the alumni and everybody else celebrate, and you stay focused on what we came here to do today.”

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ECSU vs. Winston-Salem State for CIAA crown today

Elizabeth City, North Carolina -- The Vikings are hoping the third time is the charm. Elizabeth City State has been chasing a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football title since 1971 and gets another chance to win that elusive championship today when it takes on No. 4 Winston-Salem State in Durham.

For ECSU (8-2), which won its only CIAA championship in 1971, it is its third championship game appearance in the last six years.

“I am trying to stay grounded approaching this game and focusing on what the kids can do,” said ECSU coach Wavery Tillar, who is 0-2 in CIAA championship games as head coach. “I feel real good going into this game based on what the kids can do offensively, defensively and on special teams. I’m just trying to stay grounded and not looking so much at the 0-2 record, but saying we can win this one.”

Across the field will be a familiar foe in Winston-Salem (10-0)...

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Free Throws Help Virginia Union Down Clarion in PSAC-CIAA Challenge

California, Pennsylvania -- Calvin Brown sank two free throws with seven seconds left to give Virginia Union an 82-81 victory over Clarion in the opening round of the PSAC/CIAA Challenge at California, Pennsylvania Friday.

The challenge pits schools of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference against the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Golden Eagles (0-1) had just taken the lead 81-80 when Quintus "Bud" Teers sank two free throws of his own with 24 seconds remaining in a seesaw contest. However, teammate Paul McQueen fouled Brown as he tried to muscle up a shot at the other end of the court.

Clarion's Calvin Edward missed a jumper with two seconds left and time ran out before anyone could get to the rebound. Brown finished with 22 points for the Panthers (1-0), who gave new head coach Lugman Jabeer his first win.

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No. 12 Baylor Bears Rolls Over Texas Southern, 77-57

WACO, Texas - The new Quincy is already getting comfortable on the court for No. 12 Baylor. Quincy Miller had an impressive debut with a game-high 17 points, including two 3-pointers when the Bears put the game away with 11 points in less than a minute, in a 77-57 victory over Texas Southern on Friday night.

"My teammates were looking for me to score, just looking for me every time," Miller said. "We were just feeling it. That's all I can say."

Returning senior starters Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones had 11 points each for Baylor while Cory Jefferson, who redshirted last season after playing as a freshman, had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jones led the Bears with 12 rebounds.



Box Score | Quotes | Photos  | Highlights 

Miller is a 6-foot-9 freshman power forward from Chicago whose senior season at Westchester Country Day in North Carolina was cut short by an ACL injury. He scored 12 points after halftime, when he was 5 of 6 from the field.

"We expect so much because we know he has that in him. ...

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2011 SIAC Football Championship

No.1 Ranked Baylor Lady Bears Blows Past Howard Lady Bison

Howard Lady Bison 28, Baylor Lady Bears 82

Box Score | Quotes | Notes Photo Gallery  | Highlights

Waco, Texas -- Howard trailed No. 1 Baylor even before tipoff because of a technical foul. Things only got worse in the season opener once Brittney Griner and the Lady Bears really got their hands on the ball.

Baylor scored the game's first 28 points, including the technical free throw because Howard didn't turn in its starting lineup in time, and went on to an 82-28 victory in a preseason WNIT game Friday night.

"When you're playing the No. 1 team in the country, and there's not another team in the country that has a 6-8 in the middle who can do what (Griner) does," Howard coach Niki Reid-Geckeler said. "They came out and controlled the game from the beginning."



Griner began her junior season with 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots and Baylor easily won its first season opener as a No. 1 team. Griner, the 6-foot-8 phenon who was a unanimous preseason AP All-America selection, had nine points in Baylor's opening 11-minute surge that matched Howard's scoring total for the entire game.

"It feels good to be back on the court," Griner said. "Definitely, I remember that last game, I wish we could start in March."

During pregame, the Lady Bears unveiled three more banners in the rafters -- one each for their Big 12 regular season championship, Big 12 tournament title and making it to another NCAA regional final.

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WSSU's Maynor named CIAA's top coach

Winston Salem, North Carolina -- Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem raised some eyebrows when he said what was on his mind in July. He proclaimed that his Rams would finish the season undefeated, win the CIAA title and contend for the Division II national champion.

He's right on one count so far — the Rams went 10-0 in the regular season, an accomplishment that won Maynor the CIAA's coach-of-the-year award in voting by his peers. The announcement was made Friday afternoon at a banquet in Durham. Maynor can take care of the CIAA title today, if WSSU defeats Elizabeth City State.

Bill Hayes, WSSU's athletics director, said the thing that impresses him the most about Maynor — who is 18-2 in two seasons leading the Rams — has nothing to do with football.  "I didn't know he was as committed to his religion and what he believes and his trust in God," Hayes said. "I didn't know that about him, but it's real to him, and he practices what he preaches. A lot of people preach it but don't practice, but he's not that way."

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Hampton Lady Pirates opens season at Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania – The University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team will open the 2011-12 season against Hampton on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Petersen Events Center. Tip-off time is set for 2 p.m. Live stats, audio and video will be available through www.pittsburghpanthers.com. Scott Stiller and former Panther Karyle Lim, in her first broadcast, will have the call courtside on WJAS 1320 AM.

Head Coach Agnus Berenato begins her ninth season at Pitt on Saturday, 14 victories away from tying the all-time program mark for wins in women’s basketball.

Pitt returns five letterwinners from a squad that went 14-17 a season ago. The Panthers will take on the task of replacing over 75 percent of its scoring from a season ago with the highest recruiting class in program history (No. 19/Hoopgurlz).

The Pirates have captured the last two-straight MEAC tournament crowns and have won 24 of their last 27 contests. Hampton’s last loss came in the NCAA Tournament first round, an overtime setback at the hands of Kentucky.

Scouting the Lady Pirates

Hampton went 25-7 in 2010-11 and captured the MEAC title, advancing to the NCAA Tournament with the league’s automatic bid. The squad won 14 of its last 15 games before the overtime loss to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. In total, Hampton has won 24 of its last 27 contests.

The Lady Pirates return three starters led by senior guard Jericka Jenkins. The Texas native played in 28 games last season, averaging 13.4 points and 3.1 rebounds. Jenkins – a 5-4 guard - had a breakout season and was named Honorable Mention All-America, while ranked second in the nation in assists (201/7.2 assists per game). She is joined by classmates Choicetta McMillian (11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game) and Melanie Warner, (9.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .5 bpg). Hampton brings in eight newcomers to complement its roster.

The Lady Pirates have won the past two-straight conference tournament crowns (and one regular season title) and rank among the most successful programs in Virginia over the past two seasons. The 45-19 two-year record is third only to James Madison (52-15) and Liberty (49-17) over the same span. The change coincides with head coach David Six, who begins his third season at Hampton this season.

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Game 1 vs. Hampton
Video Live: www.pittsburghpanthers.com.

Championship Saturday for CIAA and SIAC

Houston men’s basketball opens season vs. Grambling State

GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS (0-0) at HOUSTON COUGARS (0-0)
Tickets	Ticket Information
Time	7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011
Location	Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479) • Houston, Texas
Radio	Live Streaming  SportsTalk 790 • Houston IMG Sports Network  Tom Franklin, PxP; Elvin Hayes, analyst  Broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m.
Television	Live Streaming
Live Stats	GameTracker
Series History	Houston leads 3-0
Last Time	Houston won 95-53 • Nov. 24, 2007  Hofheinz Pavilion • Houston, Texas
Game Notes	Houston Notes   Grambling State Notes   Conference USA Notebook
Social Media	Facebook • Twitter

Houston, Texas - Fresh off a dominating exhibition win, the University of Houston men’s basketball team begins its 67th season of competition at 7 p.m., Saturday, when it plays host to Grambling State inside Hofheinz Pavilion.

In their lone exhibition contest of the season, the Cougars put on an offensive show for the hometown fans earlier this week. Houston connected on 62 percent of itsshots from the field and nailed at least 60 percent in each half on the way to a 118-70 win against Concordia.

In a game that featured 10 dunks, including eight in the first half alone, it was three Cougars making their collegiate debuts that led the team. Redshirt freshmanguard and nearby Yates High product Joseph Young led all players with 26 points and five 3-pointers.

Junior guard Jonathon Simmons did a little of everything for the Cougars and nearly finished with a quadruple-double. After energizing the Cougar fans with several thunderous dunks, the Houston native finished the night with 21 points, eight rebounds and game highs of nine assists and five steals in only 26 minutes.

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Stanley Jennings leads Albany State to brink of SIAC title

QB Stanley Jennings

Atlanta, Georgia -- Stanley Jennings says it’s not in his nature to be a vocal leader, but there came a point during Albany State’s season when he realized he had no choice. His position, quarterback, demands it. His team needed him to speak up if it hoped to repeat as Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions. His coaches prodded him to do it.

“That was one thing I lacked, being a great vocal leader,” said Jennings, a former Marietta High School standout. “I got a little help from Coach [Uyl] Joyner [the offensive coordinator]. He was telling me that everybody is going to look at me because I am the quarterback.”

Eventually Jennings started speaking up, the Golden Rams picked up their play and now they are in position to win another SIAC title. East division champion Albany State (8-2, 6-1 SIAC) faces Miles (6-4, 5-2) in the inaugural SIAC championship game Saturday at Clark Atlanta.

The Golden Rams are seeking their sixth SIAC title in 12 seasons under coach Mike White. A victory Saturday also likely would assure Albany State of its eighth consecutive berth in the Division II playoffs when bids are announced Sunday.

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Georgia Tech men, women sweep FAMU Rattlers and ASU Hornets

Atlanta, Georgia - Georgia Tech opened the season without its most accomplished scorer and in unfamiliar surroundings. The Yellow Jackets had little trouble adjusting to both circumstances and rolled to a 92-59 victory against Florida A&M Friday. Their guards picked up the scoring slack left by suspended swingman Glen Rice Jr. to lead an energetic effort in front of a crowd announced at 2,590 at Gwinnett Arena.

Coach Brian Gregory won his debut for Tech, which finished 13-18 last season.

“Excited to get that first win,” Gregory said. “It's great and something you will always remember. I told the guys how much I appreciated their effort, not only over the last 40 minutes but the last six months. We are asking a lot of these guys and they are doing a good job of responding to it”




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WSSU seniors now reaping the rewards

Winston Salem, North Carolina -- Michelle Fitzgerald-Foster remembers talking to her son, wide receiver Dominique Fitzgerald, about whether he should transfer after a coaching change at Winston-Salem State in the spring of 2009.

She has a vivid memory of her son's response to the prospect of leaving. "He said he was a Ram for life," she said. That decision by Fitzgerald, and similar decisions by several others who are now seniors, are among the main reasons the Rams are in position to win the school's first CIAA title since 2000.

Fitzgerald, named Wednesday as the CIAA special-teams player of the year, was among those who endured a 1-10 season in 2009. After Kermit Blount was fired and Connell Maynor was hired as coach, 25 players chose to transfer. Fitzgerald, cornerback Alton Keaton and defensive end Akeem Ward were among those who stayed.

"Keaton and I talked about that right after the game the other day," said Fitzgerald, referring to the win at UNC Pembroke. "It's crazy how we've gone from 1-10 to 10-0 in two seasons.

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2011-12 NSU men's basketball schedule has homey feel

Norfolk, Virginia -- For the past six seasons, the Norfolk State Spartans were set up to struggle. Each year, they would pack their bags and hit the road in November and December. There were athletic department bills to pay and schools across the country were offering the Spartans guaranteed money to play at their place. Over that six-year period, they played just eight total home games in November and December, never more than two in a season.

Last year, they had two home games in their first 12 and didn't play their third home game until Jan. 8. This season, the Spartans have six home games before the New Year arrives.

"Obviously, there were financial obligations that we had, and we needed to meet them," Spartans coach Anthony Evans said. "But we also knew it wasn't helping us to be on the road that much. So we worked at seeing what we could do to be at home more this season."

The Spartans ended up with balance. They will play 14 home games, 14 road games, and three neutral-site games when they take part in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.

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Marquette Hosts Mississippi Valley State in Season Lidlifter

Game Notes | Watch Live Video (MUTube)

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin - The Marquette University women's basketball team will open the 2011-12 season against Mississippi Valley State at the Al McGuire Center on Saturday, Nov. 12. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Marquette will stream the game live, free of charge, on GoMarquette.com's multimedia platform, MUTube with Kent Sommerfeld (play-by-play) and Kyle Dlabay (analyst) calling all of the action.

Prior to the game there will be a Marquette rummage sale held on the concourse of the arena. Items being sold include old promotional items and extra t-shirts from the past few years. All items will be priced to sell.

Following the game, the Golden Eagles will have a quick turnaround as they are back in action against Wisconsin, Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center.

The Golden Eagles claimed a 64-38 win in their exhibition tune-up against Carthage on Nov. 5. The Golden Eagles saw freshmen Apiew Ojulu and Arlesia Morse crack the starting five and contributed 10 and nine points, respectively. Sarina Simmons, the Golden Eagles’ returning leading scorer from 2010-11, contributed a game-high 12 points, seven rebounds, five blocks, five steals and four assists.

The Devilette’s were picked to finish fourth in the SWAC according to the league’s preseason coaches’ poll. Mississippi Valley State returns three of its leading scorers from last season’s squad in Alia Frank, Ka’Neshia Smith and De’Kisha Fondon who averaged 11.5, 10.7 and 9.7 points, respectively. Frank was named to the SWAC’s Preseason Second Team along with Smith who was also named the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Devilette’s finished the 2010-11 season 14-17 overall and 11-7 in conference play.

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Pius X High School baseball players sign college letters of intent with MEAC Teams

Lehigh Valley, PA -- A pair of Pius X High School baseball standouts will be heading south next season. First baseman Jay Maletz and middle infielder Connor Breslin, both seniors, signed letters of intent on Thursday to continue their college careers at the Division I level.

Maletz is heading to Coppin State University in Baltimore and Breslin will play at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.

"I'm on the "Be Recruited" website and the coach from Coppin State (Sherman Reed) bookmarked me," Maletz said. "My father said 'why not contact him?' I started a dialogue and it led to a conference call. I went down to visit. We had a meeting, went out to lunch and by the end of the day they offered me a scholarship. It was pretty exciting."

Dylan Dando, Maletz's coach at the Lehigh Valley Baseball Academy, put in a good word for him.

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2011 Road To The SIAC Championship Episode 9

The Clark Atlanta Panthers duel the Stillman Tigers in their last game of the season.

Florida A&M Open 2011-12 Campaign Against Georgia Tech

FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS AT GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
DATE: November 11, 2011
GAMU TIME: 8:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN3.COM

|  | Watch Live |  CLICK -- Watch on ESPN3

Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Tech will open its 2011-12 season and play its first game under new head coach Brian Gregory at 8 p.m. Friday night against Florida A&M at the Arena at Gwinnett. The game is the nightcap of a double-header involving the Yellow Jackets' women's team, which will open its season at 5:30 against Alabama State.

Tech hired Gregory, who enjoyed a successful eight-year run as the head coach at Dayton, as its head coach last March. The new Yellow Jackets' skipper compiled a record of 172-94 at the Atlantic 10 institution, guiding the Flyers to two NCAA Tournaments and three berths in the NIT, which they won in 2010.

Gregory inherits two returning starters and nine letterwinners from a team that went 13-18 overall, 5-11 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, a year ago. Two of the three leading scorers from last season are gone - Iman Shumpert going in the NBA Draft, where he was the 17th overall selection, and Brian Oliver, who transferred to Seton Hall.

Tech's returning players, however, have combined to start 120 games in their careers. Back are juniors Glen Rice, Jr., a 6-5 forward from Marietta, Ga., and Mfon Udofia, a 6-2 point guard from Stone Mountain, Ga., sophomore forwards Jason Morris (6-5, Augusta, Ga.) and Kammeon Holsey (6-8, Sparta, Ga.), and sophomore centers Daniel Miller (6-11, Loganville, Ga.) and Nate Hicks (6-10, Panama City Beach, Fla.), who combined to score 51 percent of Tech's points in 2011-12.

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Johnson tweaking lineup as Florida A&M Rattlers open season

Tallahassee, Florida -- An exhibition basketball game can reveal so much, as Florida A&M's first-year coach Clemon Johnson found out.

Among his discoveries were that Avery Moore is a shooting guard, not the one to run the point. Johnson also said the Rattlers might have done better against Albany State if Amin Stevens was playing power forward instead of small forward.

"I was trying to put our best players on the floor, but I had to put people in positions that they weren't ready to play," said Johnson, whose return to FAMU as head coach of its men's team was ruined by a four-point loss to the Rams last week. "They looked good in practice against each other but when the game came it was different."

Johnson is hoping that he'll be much closer to finding the right combination of players when FAMU plays a stretch of four games against major and mid-major programs during the next 10 days. They begin today at Georgia Tech, then a visit by Stetson to the Lawson Center will be followed by games against Providence and Rice.



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