Gold Nuggets wallop Fisk 71-28, earn seventh consecutive victory

NEW ORLEANS - Keldra Hall scored 14 points Saturday to lead NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-28 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Fisk.

The Gold Nuggets (14-5 overall, 4-0 GCAC) won their seventh in a row and produced their largest winning margin in conference since an 84-40 home victory against William Carey on Jan. 13, 2003.

Hall, who played 12 minutes, scored in double figures for the seventh consecutive game.

SiMon Franklin had 10 points for Xavier. Fourteen XU players scored, and none played more than 18 minutes. Jasmine Grant and Paige Gauthier each made a pair of 3-pointers for Xavier. Jazmoné Kelly had four of Xavier's 20 steals and moved into a tie for 15th place on XU's career list with former Gold Nugget Sherlett Hendy. Both have 208 steals.

Simona Newman had nine points for Fisk (3-10, 0-4), a second-year GCAC member.

Xavier scored the first nine points and led 35-8 when Grant passed to Franklin for a basket at 7:44 of the first half. The Gold Nuggets led 37-18 at halftime, and the final margin was their largest of the game.

The Gold Nuggets outshot the Lady Bulldogs 39.3 to 20 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 46-34. It was the fourth straight game that Xavier limited an opponent to less than 30 percent, and it was the fifth straight game that the Nuggets had a double-digit rebound advantage. Fisk made 6-of-17 free throws and committed 30 turnovers.

Xavier has won 33 in a row against GCAC opponents, 28 in the regular season.

Both teams will play GCAC games Monday. Xavier will play Philander Smith at 5 p.m. at The Barn, and Fisk will play SUNO at noon at Dillard's Dent Hall.

BOX SCORE

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

Former Lake Gibson Star Emerging As FAMU's Leader

Former Lake Gibson star Antonia Bennett
entered play Saturday not only as FAMU's
best player but perhaps the best player
 in the entire Mid-Eastern
 Athletic Conference.

LAKELAND, Florida  -  Antonia Bennett never minded staying in the background, even though her game often pleaded for more attention. It's not that Bennett was unsure of herself or afraid of the spotlight. She just wasn't going to press.

Through her years at Lake Gibson High School and even for a couple of years at Florida A&M, Bennett was content letting her teammates be the vocal leaders and gaining all the accolades. She was just happy just doing her part on the court.

That was until FAMU coach LeDawn Gibson had a talk with Bennett during the summer and told the senior that in order for them to reach their shared goals, Bennett was going to have to do more than lead by example. And that was all the player needed to hear.

Bennett entered play Saturday not only as FAMU's best player but perhaps the best player in the entire Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. She was the conference leader in scoring (19.4 points per game) and rebounding (9.5 rebounds per game) and third in the conference in blocks per game (1.7). That's not bad for a 6-foot-1 guard/forward/center.

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FAMU's Henry Lawrence, a diamond in the rough, shined brightly;

Florida A&M 's Henry Lawrence is the
Rattlers' only first round draft choice to the
NFL (Oakland Raiders), later earning three
 Super Bowl rings in a 14 year career. 

Lawrence to be inducted into Florida Sports Hall of Fame on March 20th.

BRADENTON, Florida  -  John Madden will never forget the first day he saw Henry Lawrence (Florida A&M). It’s a reason he is an NFL Hall of Fame coach and Lawrence went on to win three Super Bowls. Then the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Madden was at the 1974 Senior Bowl to check out Ed “Too Tall” Jones (Tennessee State), a heralded defensive lineman who would become the number one pick in that year’s NFL draft.

Madden saw what others didn’t. He was more impressed how Lawrence blocked Jones and kept him under check during the Senior Bowl practices.

“I went there to see Too Tall and I see Henry constantly blocking him and holding him back,” Madden said. “We couldn’t get Jones because we weren’t high enough up in the draft, but I said we are going to get the guy who can block the number one guy in the draft.”

The Raiders drafted Lawrence with their first pick (19th overall) and Lawrence went on to have the best NFL career of any player to come out of Manatee County (and Florida A&M), earning several Pro Bowl honors along with his Super Bowl rings.

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VISIT:  HenryLawrence.com
VISIT:  FLORIDASPORTSHALLOFFAME


3 time Super Bowl Champion Henry Lawrence of the Oakland Raiders; video taped live in Sarasota, FL in 2010,with Henry singing his version of Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness."

Scores That Matters!!

January 14, 2012

Women's Basketball

GCAC

Southern-New Orleans 73, Edward Waters 67

Talladega 71, Tougaloo 61

Xavier 71, Fisk 28

Dillard 62, Philander Smith 45

SWAC
Southern 81, Arkansas Pine Bluff 62
Mississippi Valley 66, Alcorn State 58
Jackson State 48, Prairie View A&M 46
Texas Southern 54, Grambling State 51
Alabama A&M 65, Alabama State 56

OVC
SIU Edwardsville 60, Tennessee State 50

MEAC
Florida A&M 55, Savannah State 50
Hampton 76, Coppin State 50
Howard 65, North Carolina A&T 57
Norfolk State 76, Morgan State 75

Maryland Eastern Shore 69, Delaware State 56

South Carolina State 71, Bethune-Cookman 60

SIAC

Fort Valley State 95, Benedict49

Stillman 60, LeMoyne-Owen 56

Miles 66, Tuskegee 64

Albany State 82, Paine 77

Kentucky State 60, Clark Atlanta 56

CIAA

Winston Salem State 60, Elizabeth City State 56

St. Augustine's 72, Bowie State 60

Virginia Union 82, Livingstone 76

Shaw 75, Chowan 67

MEN'S BASKETBALL

GCAC

Southern-New Orleans 83, Edward Waters 76

Tougaloo 67, Talladega 57

Philander Smith 82, Dillard 77

Xavier 65, Fisk 58

SWAC

Mississippi Valley 85, Alcorn State 66

Southern 69, Arkansas Pine Bluff 68
Texas Southern 61, Grambling State 57
Alabama State 53, Alabama A&M 50
Prairie View A&M 72, Jackson State 66

OVC
Tennessee State 52, SIU-Edwardsville 57

MEAC
Norfolk State 90, Morgan State 89 (2 O.T.)

Savannah State 69, Florida A&M 58

Coppin State 83, Hampton 66

Bethune-Cookman 82, South Carolina State 76

North Carolina A&T 70, Howard 65

Maryland Eastern Shore 63, Delaware State 60 (O.T.)

SIAC
Benedict 72, Fort Valley State 62
Paine78, Albany State 75 (O.T.)

Clark Atlanta 80, Kentucky State 74

LeMoyne-Owen 59, Stillman 58
Tuskegee 82, Miles 74
Lane 61, Morehouse 55

CIAA
Winston Salem State 63, Elizabeth City State 60
Bowie State 75, St. Augustine's 71
Virginia Union 88, Livingstone 68
Shaw 103, Chowan 89

Five Tennessee State Tigers Earn Top-5 Marks in First Day at UNC

Chapel Hill, North Carolina  -  The Tennessee State University track and field team had five student-athletes notch top-5 finishes during the first day of the UNC Dick Taylor Invitational.

TSU opened up the day with a pair of qualifiers in the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdle prelims. Ashontae Jackson, a redshirt-freshman, picked up a fifth place finish in the 60-meter dash with a run of 7.75 seconds.

The Gordonville, Va., product later placed fifth in the long jump with a leap of 18-2 ¼ (5.54m). Teammate Daniecce Ward notched a distance of 17-3 ¼ (5.26m) to earn 11th in the event.

Arthur Combest ran the 60-meter hurdles preliminary in 8.32 seconds to qualify for the final race. In the finale, the Memphis native clocked in with a time of 8.61 for seventh overall.

Sophomore Royce Dates recorded the Ohio Valley Conference's top-mark in the long jump, clearing a distance of 24-1 ¾ (7.36m). His mark earned him second at the meet and is good for 10th nationally as of Friday evening.

Also in the long jump, Avian Hughes leapt 23-1 ¼ (7.04m) for fourth in the completion.

In the women's weight throw, Brittani Logan notched a lunge of 45-11 ¼ (14.00m) to earn fifth in the competition.

Tennessee State closes out the UNC Dick Taylor Invitational tomorrow beginning with the women's high jump at 10 a.m. Live results will be available online at TSUTigers.com.

Tigerbelles Friday Results

60-meter Hurdles Preliminaries

Brielle Moore (19) 9.38

Daniecce Ward (23) 9.47

LaTia Carney (26) 9.60

60-meter Dash Preliminaries
Ashontae Jackson (7) 7.82q

60-meter Dash Finals
Ashontae Jackson (5) 7.75

600-meter Run
Breanna Adams (10) 1:40.80
Charita Harris (11) 1:42.13

Weight Throw
Brittani Logan (5) 14.00m - 45-11 ¼

Long Jump
Ashontae Jackson (5) 5.54m - 18-2 ¼
Daniecce Ward (11) 5.26m - 17-3 ¼

Flying Tigers Friday Results

60-meter Hurdles Preliminaries

Arthur Combest (6) 8.32q

Jahleel Michael 8.60

60-meter Hurdles Finals

Arthur Combest (7) 8.61

60-meter Dash Preliminaries

LeQuinn Davis (12) 7.01

Lamonte Burton (18) 7.07

Julian Mallory (26) 7.18

Distance Medley Relay

Team 'A' (9) 11:05.47

Long Jump

Royce Dates (2) 7.36m - 24-1 ¾

Avian Hughes (4) 7.04m - 23-1 ¼

Adrien Hill (12) 6.32m - 20-9

Weight Throw
Alex Griffin (15) 9.12m - 29-11 ¼

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Athletics
VISIT: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: TSUTIGERS

Gold Rush defense fuels 70-39 rout of Edward Waters

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Simmons had 18 points, a season high, and 12 rebounds Friday to lead NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 70-39 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Edward Waters.

Simmons, the reigning GCAC Player of the Week, scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game and recorded his second double-double in three games. Ten of his teammates scored but none reached double figures.

Xavier allowed its fewest points since a 116-27 home victory against Wesley (Miss.) on Nov. 15, 2004, and its fewest in a GCAC game since a 62-36 home victory against Spring Hill on Feb. 15, 2003. It was Xavier's largest winning margin in conference since a 98-64 decision at Belhaven on Jan. 3, 2008.

Carlton Darling had 12 points and eight rebounds for Edward Waters (7-9, 2-2), a second-year GCAC member.

Xavier scored the first five points and never trailed. The XU men had a 16-3 run en route to a 39-18 halftime lead and held their largest advantage, 70-36, on a Simmons 3-point play with one minute remaining. The Tigers never were closer than 18 points in the second half.

The Tigers shot 26.2 percent from the floor, a season best for Xavier's defense. The Gold Rush shot 42.9 percent and converted 32 Edward Waters fouls into 25-of-33 free throws. XU reserves Cordell Hadnot and Gil Mathieu made 6-of-6 free throws apiece.

Xavier also produced its best turnover margin of the season, committing 21 but gaining 32. The Tigers made 17 first-half turnovers.

It's the first time in Xavier history that both basketball teams allowed less than 40 points in a GCAC doubleheader. The Gold Nuggets defeated Edward Waters 63-35 in the opening game.

Both the Gold Rush and Tigers will play GCAC games Saturday. Xavier will play Fisk at 7 p.m. at The Barn, and Edward Waters will remain in the city and play SUNO at 3 p.m. at Dillard's Dent Hall. Fisk won 72-60 at Dillard on Friday.

Box Score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Ariel Mitchell's 27 Points Fuels Dillard Lady Bleu Devils to Third Straight Victory

LADY BLEU DEVILS ARIEL MITCHELL
5-7 FORWARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: ST. JAMES, LA

NEW ORLEANS  -  Ariel Mitchell had a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Dillard Lady Bleu Devils won their third straight game, 63-52 over Fisk University on Friday night on the Battlefield in Dent Hall on opening night of the MLK Weekend GCAC Midseason Tournament.

The Lady Bleu Devils remained undefeated in conference play at 3-0 and evened their overall record at 6-6.

The Fisk Lady Bulldogs (0-3, 3-8) gained the upper hand on the Lady Bleu Devils early in the first half, racing out to an 11-3 lead to begin the game. Ariel Mitchell led a 12-0 Lady Bleu Devil charge, scoring eight points during that span to help catapult Dillard into a 15-11 lead. The Lady Bleu Devils began to assert themselves on offense, while turning up the pressure on defense versus the Lady Bulldogs.

The Dillard Lady Bleu Devils continued to score at will on the Lady Bulldogs, although the score remained close throughout the first half. Dillard went into halftime up on the Lady Bulldogs 28-26. Ariel Mitchell led the Lady Bleu Devils with 13 first half points. The Lady Bleu Devil defense was as stingy as it has been all season, forcing the Lady Bulldogs into 19 first half turnovers while shooting on 37% from the field.

In the second half, the Lady Bleu Devils wasted little time capitalizing on Fisk's errors. The Lady Bleu Devils scored the first five points of the second half to take a commanding 33-26 lead. Fisk responded with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 33-33. Ariel Mitchell's three-point play broke the tie and gave the Lady Bleu Devils a lead that they would not relinquish. The Lady Bleu Devils were able to extend the lead to as much as sixteen with six minutes left in the game, and from there cruised to the victory.

Lauren Daniel contributed 11 points, 5 assist and 4 rebounds for the Lady Bleu Devils, while Jazzmin Smith tallied 10 points and 9 rebounds in the victory.

The Lady Bleu Devils will have little time to celebrate the victory, because they will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, January 14th. The Lady Bleu Devils will battle the Lady Panthers of Philander Smith on the Battlefield in Dent Hall. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m.

By Dillard University Sports Information

VISIT: DILLARDBLEUDEVILS

VISIT: DILLARD UNIVERSITY

Grambling's Doug Williams paves the way for his son

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -  Doug Williams had the finest day of his NFL career in 1988 when he guided the Washington Redskins to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. Williams, a former Grambling State star, threw four touchdown passes in that game and was named the Super Bowl MVP. Moreover, he became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

His leadership and trailblazing efforts have opened the doors for a number of African-American quarterbacks. Williams couldn't have won a Super Bowl without receiving a good foundation that allowed him to polish his skills as a player and have a clear understanding of the game. He got his foundation from Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson. Williams is now carrying on the late Robinson's legacy as the coach of Grambling State. He is developing and shaping the lives of young players just like his mentor, and one of them is his son D.J. Williams.

Like his father, D.J. plays quarterback ...

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Xavier Nuggets beat Edward Waters 63-35 for 6th straight victory

XU NUGGETS SiMon FRANKLIN #3
5-7 GUARD, JUNIOR
HOMETOWN: BATON ROUGE, LA
ST. JOSEPH'S ACADEMY

NEW ORLEANS — SiMon Franklin scored a career-high-tying 16 points Friday to lead NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 63-35 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Edward Waters.

It was the most points in a game for Franklin, a fourth-year junior guard, since the 12th game of her freshman season. She was 5-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-3 on 3-pointers and 4-of-5 from the line in 20 minutes. She also had four rebounds, three steals and two assists.

The Gold Nuggets (13-5 overall, 3-0 GCAC) earned their season-high sixth consecutive victory. They've won 32nd in a row — 27th in the regular season — against GCAC opponents. The Lady Tigers (4-13, 0-4) have dropped nine straight.

Franklin scored 10 first-half points to help Xavier build a 33-20 lead at the break. Keldra Hall scored nine points, and Franklin made a pair of 3-pointers during a 17-0 run in the first five minutes of the second half.

Hall finished with 13 points. The Nuggets had no one with more than five rebounds, but they outrebounded the Lady Tigers 44-33. It was the fourth consecutive game that Xavier had a double-digit rebound advantage.

Ebony Presha had 11 points, nine in the first half, and eight rebounds for Edward Waters but also committed seven of her team's 25 turnovers.

This is the first Xavier team to allow less than 50 points in each of its first three conference games. The Nuggets limited their third straight opponent to less than 30 prercent from the floor — they outshot Edward Waters 38.5 to 25.5.

It was the second time in three games Xavier allowed less than 40 points, and it was the Nuggets' fewest points allowed since a 55-32 GCAC victory at Tougaloo 11 months ago.

Both teams will play GCAC games Saturday. Xavier will play Fisk at 5 p.m. at The Barn, and Edward Waters will remain in the city and play SUNO at 1 p.m. at Dillard's Dent Hall. Fisk lost 63-52 Friday at Dillard, which shares first place in the conference with Xavier

Box Score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS 

VISIT: GCACSPORTS

WAUG-TV To Televise St. Aug Basketball Games

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -  WAUG-TV will broadcast Saint Augustine’s College men’s and women’s home basketball games live from Emery Gymnasium in January and February on Time Warner Cable Digital Channel 168 in central North Carolina including Wake, Harnett and Cumberland counties. Below is the schedule of contests which will be televised.

WAUG-TV is located on the campus of Saint Augustine’s College.

Saint Augustine’s College Basketball TV Schedule

Saturday, January 14, 2012

2:00-4:00PM CIAA Women’s Basketball:
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Bowie State University

4:00-6:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball:

Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Bowie State University

Thursday, January 19, 2012

5:30-7:30PM CIAA Women’s Basketball:
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Elizabeth City State University

7:30-10:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball:
Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Elizabeth City State University

Saturday, January 28, 2012

2:00-4:00PM CIAA Women’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Winston-Salem State University

4:00-6:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Winston-Salem State University

Monday, January 30, 2012

5:30-7:30PM CIAA Women’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Livingstone College

7:30-10:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Livingstone College

Monday, February 13, 2012

5:30-7:30PM CIAA Women’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Fayetteville State University

7:30-10:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Fayetteville State University

Monday, February 20, 2012

5:30-7:30PM CIAA Women’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Johnson C. Smith University

7:30-10:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Johnson C. Smith University

Thursday, February 23, 2012

5:30-7:30PM CIAA Women’s Basketball
Saint Augustine’s College Lady Falcons vs. Shaw University

Saturday, February 25, 2012

4:00-6:00PM CIAA Men’s Basketball

Saint Augustine’s College Falcons vs. Shaw University

Courtesy: CIAA.com

Talladega Lady Tornadoes beat Morris, Coach Lagmay break College win record

TALLADEGA, Alabama - Thursday’s win over Morris College wasn’t just another game for the Talladega College women’s basketball team and its head coach, Romeo Lagmay. The 76-51 victory was Lagmay’s 64th in three and a half seasons at TC, breaking the school record for career wins.

“It feels great, but I’m just thankful,” Lagmay said after the game. “God’s blessed me so much and I’m thankful for the TC administration — President (Billy) Hawkins and Vice President (Jacqueline) Paddio that hired me. I’m thankful for the support of the community in Talladega and my players. They make me look good. I’m surrounded by a good support system.”

Following the game, Hawkins met with Lagmay’s players on the court for a little celebration before heading to the locker room.  Lagmay tied the record, which was held by Larry McNeil, with Monday’s 76-49 win over Edward Waters. He said his next goal is to hit the century mark in all-time wins, but he’s glad the monkey’s off his back.

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VISIT: TALLADEGA COLLEGE

VISIT: TALLADEGATORNADOES

VISIT: GCACSPORTS

Turnovers doom Lincoln in overtime loss to FSU Broncos

UPPER OXFORD, Pennsylvania – Nobody thought that resurrecting the Lincoln women’s basketball program would be an easy task, especially first-year coach Jessica Kern. But Thursday’s excruciating 70-68 overtime loss to Fayetteville State at Rivero Hall was an unfriendly reminder of the great difficultly ahead.

Just two days after showing a lot of fight against one of the top teams in the CIAA, the Lions struggled against an opponent also looking for its first league victory, then put on a late rally in regulation only to lose it in the OT with more sloppy play. The setback was the seventh in a row for Lincoln (0-4 in the CIAA Northern Division, 4-11 overall). Fayetteville State improves to 1-3, 7-6.

“For the morale of this program, we have to turn the corner against someone,” Kern said. “I am very happy with the effort. But the kids are deflated right now because we are so close.”

Questionable shot selection and abysmal shooting usually...

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St. Aug stays perfect in CIAA with win over Virginia Union

Raleigh, North Carolina — Redshirt sophomore Chris Johnson (Hampton, Va.) scored 12 points to lead a balanced attack as Saint Augustine's College tripped Virginia Union 68-58 Thursday (Jan. 12) in CIAA men's basketball action at Emery Gymnasium.

The win was the fourth straight for the Falcons (8-5, 3-0 CIAA), who finish a four-game homestand Saturday against 12th-ranked Bowie State at 4 p.m. The Falcons are 6-0 inside Emery Gymnasium this season.

Ten players scored for the Falcons, who used their depth to take command of the game. The Falcons, playing without leading scorer Joel Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) for the second straight game, outscored the Panthers 34-11 in bench points.

Several players came off the bench to provide key minutes for the Falcons. Freshman forward Jordan Jones (Ahoskie, N.C.) scored eight points and senior guard Jeremy Banks (Elizabeth City, N.C.) added seven points.

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WSSU Rams Slip Past Chowan, 71-66

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina  –  Kyree Bethel had another stellar night from the floor, but the Chowan Hawks fell to the visiting Rams of Winston-Salem State University, 71-66 in front of a packed Helms Center on Thursday.  Chowan falls to 6-9 overall (0-3 CIAA), while the Rams improve to 11-2 overall (4-0 CIAA).

Bethel drained four three-pointers en route to scoring a game-high 24 points.  He shot 9-16 from the floor and also added three steals.  Fellow freshman Mark Anthony Buright scored 12 points, including going 4-4 from the free throw line.



Neither team got much going offensively to begin the contest, as the Rams held just a 12-6 lead after eight minutes, 50 seconds of play.  A Kenneth Mears layup at the 10:30 mark brought the Hawks within two at 12-10.

In a game of runs, WSSU had the first, going up 21-10 following a 9-0 spurt.  Led by Bethel, though, Chowan answered.  The freshman scored 10 of Chowan's next 13 points, bringing them back within one point at 24-23.  Greg Alston also drained a three pointer during the stretch.

Winston-Salem State recovered and took a 35-25 lead with just under a minute to play in the first half.  A Rickey Lamb and-one sent the Hawks into halftime trailing 35-28.

Box Score

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SAPAKOFF COLUMN: The 'punch' that really wasn't

COACH TODD BOZEMAN HAS BEEN TREATED WORST THAN AN EX-CON
 BY THE SUITS IN THE MSU ADMINISTRATION.  HAS THE FAMU SITUATION GOTTEN EVERYONE JITTERY TO THE POINT THAT NOTHING CAN BE
 RESOLVED WITHOUT LITIGATION?

CHARLESTON, South Carolina  -  One minute, Morgan State is finishing off a routine Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference basketball victory at S.C. State. A disputed second later, the friendly town of Orangeburg is ground zero for one of the most controversial stories of the college basketball season.

Too bad the administrators evidently got this one wrong, smudging both schools and forcing apparently falsely accused Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman to explain himself.

Over and over.

Again, too many suits in the athletic department kitchen.

"The way this thing has blown up has really surprised me," said Thomas Grant Jr. of the Orangeburg Times and Democrat, the only reporter on the scene Saturday at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. "I didn't even think that much of it at the time."

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Tennessee State Track & Field Teams Travel East for UNC Tar Heels Dick Taylor Invitational

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Tennessee State University Flying Tigers and Tigerbelles compete in their third indoor track & field meet this weekend, Jan. 13-14, at the UNC Dick Taylor Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.  The meet, located at the Eddie Smith Field House at UNC, is free and open to the public.

TSU had nine podium finishes at the 13th Annual Ed Temple Classic last Saturday, Jan. 7. This weekend, the Tigers will take their challenges to Chapel Hill and compete against 20 other collegiate programs. Among those participating include host North Carolina and other Division I programs such as Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Duke, Norfolk State, Richmond, Furman, UNC-Ashville and Western Carolina.  Other HBCU participating schools are: Virginia Union, Winston Salem State, Livingstone, Johnson C. Smith University, and Voorhees College

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA EDDIE SMITH FIELD HOUSE

The women's weight throw will start off competition on Friday, Jan. 13 at 3:30 p.m. The field events will conclude with the men's pole vault at 6 p.m. The women's 60-meter hurdle preliminaries will start the running events at 4 p.m. on Friday and finish with the men's distance medley relay at 6:55 p.m.

On Saturday, the women's high jump and triple jump start at 9 a.m. The running events begin with the women's 400-meter dash at 11 a.m.

TSU has several student-athletes with top marks in the OVC. Gabrielle Todd's time of 57.88 is first in the 400-meter dash and 44th nationally.

Arthur Combest' high jump of 6-8 (2.03m) is tops among the OVC men and tied for 34th in the NCAA.

Earlier this week, senior Daniecce Ward was named the OVC's Female Field Athlete of the Week. The Milwaukee, Wisc., product set career marks and the standard in the OVC in the long jump (5.72m/18-9 ¼) and the triple jump (11.80m/38-8 ¾). Her converted time of 8.68 in the 60-meter hurdles is tied for 26th in the country.

In the shot put, sophomore Brittani Logan threw a distance of 42-2 ¾ (12.87m) at the Ed Temple Classic for second in the league. Freshman Jamill Jackson's run of 1:58.37 in the 800-meter run ranks second in conference marks.

Results and a recap for this weekend's meet will be posted online at TSUTigers.com.

2012 REVISED Dick Taylor Invitational Meet Schedule (AS of 1/12/12)
Dick Taylor Heat Sheets

VISIT: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: TSUTIGERS

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information and Tarheelblue.com

TSU's Covington Scores 30 in Victory over Morehead State

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Robert Covington set a career-high 30 points to help Tennessee State snap a three-game losing skid with a 77-72 victory over Morehead State on Wednesday evening at the Gentry Center.

The Tigers (9-9, 2-3 Ohio Valley) and Eagles (8-10, 2-3 OVC) played back-and-forth in the first half. But TSU scored 13 points down the stretch to improve their OVC win streak at the Gentry Center to five games.

The Tigers shot 49 percent (23-of-47) for the game, out-rebounding the Eagles 30-to-27. TSU dished out 18 assists and tied a season-high with 13 triples.

Nashville native Wil Peters blocked a shot and proceeded to hit a trey at 6:18 to give the Tigers some momentum. Covington added a triple and Kenny Moore tallied two free throws to put the Tigers ahead of Morehead State in the final two minutes.

Covington finished with 30 points and eight rebounds. He added a block, a steal and an assist in 35 minutes of action. From the field, the junior finished 9-of-12. He set a career-high with seven made triples, surpassing his previous total of five against Siena on Nov. 13, 2009.

The 30 points by Covington was the most for a Tiger since Parker Smith managed 30 on Jan. 17, 2009.

Freshman guard Jay Harris had a breakout performance, tallying 12 points, an assist and a steal in 21 minutes. The Philadelphia product was 3-of-4 from the field.

Peters managed several milestones after draining three triples and scoring 12 points in the win. The senior's 115 made triples is two shy of reaching TSU's top-10 list for career made 3-pointers.

Peters played a game-high 37 minutes and eclipsed over 3,000 minutes played in his four-year career. In the assists column, Peters dished out a game-best six balls. He also recorded a career-best two blocks.

Patrick Miller and Jordan Cyphers each had seven points against the Eagles. Miller set a career-high with eight rebounds and dished out five assists.

At the half, the Tigers took their first lead in the locker room since the UT Martin game. TSU's 34-32 lead was helped by a 46 field goal percentage (13-of-28). TSU forced 10 Morehead State turnovers.

FINAL STATS



Covington led the Tigers with 14 points and Miller had four boards and four points in the first half.

The game went back-and-forth with the Tigers and Eagles within two during the first 12 minutes. TSU expanded its' lead to five after Covington drained a triple to put up TSU 30-25 with 5:09 left.

Milton Chavis added a layup for Morehead State to narrow the Eagles' deficit to 32-29 with 1:33 left. In the final seconds, Marsell Holden drained a triple to make it a 34-32 game at the half.

In the second half, the game again started out back-and-forth with the two squads trading jabs. Holden's triple tied the game at 41-41 with 15:12.

The lead changed on 16 occasions during the game and did so quite frequently in the second half. The Tigers' felt momentum swing their way when Peters blocked a shot and then drove down the court to drain a triple, making it a 64-60 game.

Morehead State would tie the contest again, but TSU used 13 points down the stretch to snap a current-three game losing skid and improve to 17-3 at the Gentry Center during the past two seasons.

TSU remains at home this Saturday when the Tigers host SIUE at 7:30 p.m. Saturday is Kid's Day at the Gentry Center and all kids K-12 will receive free admission to the game.

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Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

WSSU's Monger has torn ACL

LAMAR MONGER
6-0/185 GUARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: AHOSKIE, N.C.
HERTFORD COUNTY H.S.

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - If Winston-Salem State hopes to compete for the CIAA title, it will have to do it without its leading scorer and emotional leader.

Lamar Monger, who is averaging a team-best 16.4 points a game, has a torn right-knee ligament and will likely be lost for the rest of the season. Monger had an MRI on his knee on Monday afternoon. It was discovered that he has a torn ACL, which will require surgery later this month.

"Everything happens for a reason," coach Bobby Collins of the Rams said. "A lot of people have stepped up in the absence of Lamar and now they'll have to continue to do that."

Monger hurt his knee in Saturday's win over Virginia State, when he was fouled hard going to the basket early in the game and landed heavily on his right knee.

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Attorney: Victim of fatal FAMU band hazing attack was gay

ORLANDO, Florida - Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion was gay, which may have been one reason why he was beaten so severely during a hazing attack in Orlando last semester, the Champion family’s attorney said Tuesday.

Attorney Christopher Chestnut, speaking at a news conference with Champion’s parents in Orlando, said the parents came forward to discuss their son’s sexuality because rumors had been swirling that the 26-year-old student was hazed specifically because of his "alternative lifestyle."



Though Champion’s sexual orientation may have been a factor, Chestnut said, his own investigation indicates that it was probably one of several that caused students to beat him so violently that he died.

He insisted, however, that the overriding motivation that likely led to such a brutal attack was Champion’s outspoken resistance to hazing within FAMU’s famed marching band.

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FAMU Drum Major Targeted Because He Opposed Hazing, Lawyer Claims 

ORLANDO, Florida - The parents of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion, who police believe died after a violent hazing, said today that their son may have been hazed more severely than other students because of his opposition to the practice.

"Robert Champion was the poster child of anti-hazing. He threatened the very institution of hazing in this band," said attorney Christopher Chestnut, a lawyer for Champion's family.

During their investigation into what happened to their son, Champion's family discovered that he was gay, but also concluded that was not a reason for his alleged hazing.



"This is not a hate crime," Chestnut said during a news conference today. "This is a hazing crime. That is what we are here to say today."

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Witnesses: FAMU drum major was targeted due to sexuality

ATLANTA -- Was sexual orientation a factor in the hazing death of a Florida A&M University drum major? It depends on who you ask. Nearly two months after his death, the parents of FAMU drum major Robert Champion said Tuesday morning that although their son was gay, that's not why he was targeted.

The Decatur native died November 19 after collapsing on a bus following a band performance. Officials have ruled his death a homicide caused by hazing.



During Tuesday's news conference, attorney Christopher Chestnut said after speaking with more than 15 witnesses, many reported that Champion was subjected to more severe hazing than other students.

Some witnesses said they believed Champion was hazed harder because he was gay.

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Questions Swirl Over What Led to Florida Drum Major’s Death

ATLANTA — Almost two months after the beating death of a Florida A&M University drum major, new questions have arisen over why he might have been singled out for violence.

On Tuesday, the parents of the student, Robert Champion, revealed that their son had been gay. But they said they believed that did not play a big role in the beating the authorities say he sustained at the hands of bandmates on a bus after a football game on Nov. 19.

“Robert’s being gay may have been a reason for his hazing, but it wasn’t the main reason,” said Christopher M. Chestnut, the family’s lawyer, who said he had conducted a private investigation. “This was a hazing crime, not a hate crime.”

That Mr. Champion was gay was “a private thing, not something he advertised publicly,” his mother, Pam Champion, said in an interview.

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Xavier Gold Nuggets delay King's quest for his 200th victory

KELDRA HALL
6-0 CENTER, SENIOR
DALLAS, TEXAS
Molina H.S. (Angelina JC)

NEW ORLEANS — Keldra Hall scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half Tuesday to lead NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 56-47 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against SUNO at The Barn.

The Gold Nuggets (12-5 overall, 2-0 GCAC) have won 31 in a row against GCAC opponents — 26 in the regular season. They denied Elston King his 200th victory at SUNO (3-7, 1-2).

King is 199-147 in 13 seasons.

Hall grabbed seven rebounds, but her streak of consecutive double-doubles ended at three. Jasmine Grant scored eight points, all in the second half, for Xavier, and Brandi Young and Jazmoné Kelly scored seven apiece. Young had a career-high nine assists and zero turnovers in 36 minutes.

Kelly Stewart scored nine points for SUNO. No teammate had more than six points.

Stewart's basket with 13:48 remaining gave SUNO its only lead, 30-28. Then Xavier took control with a 14-2 run during the next five minutes. Grant scored all her points during that time, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Hall's layup on a pass from Paige Gauthier capped the burst and gave the Nuggets a 42-32 lead with 9:07 remaining. The Lady Knights never came closer than six points thereafter.

Young passed to Gauthier for a basket which gave Xavier a 21-12 lead at 3:48 of the first half, but SUNO scored the next eight points — including 3-pointers by Blake Holliwell and Stewart — to cut the margin to 21-20 by halftime.

Xavier outshot SUNO 36.8 to 28 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Knights 45-32. It was the second straight game that the Nuggets limited an opponent to less than 30 percent, and it was the fourth time in five games that their rebound margin was 10 or more.

It was Xavier's first home game since Dec. 3, its season-high fifth consecutive victory and its 12th straight victory in a GCAC home opener. The Nuggets are 59-8 all-time against SUNO and have won six straight and 10 of the past 11 in the series.

SUNO has dropped six of seven games after winning two of its first three.

The Gold Nuggets will continue their five-game home stand at 5:30 p.m. Friday against GCAC opponent Edward Waters.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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