Coach G Uses Facebook to Offer an Inside Look at the Howard Women’s Basketball Program

Washington D.C. -- Head women’s basketball coach Niki Geckeler offers fans a behind the scenes look at the Howard Women’s Basketball program by utilizing Facebook. The community can follow the team by going to www.facebook.com/NikiGeckeler and clicking “like.” It is a way for Coach G. to keep supporters informed with the progress of the program, and also engage with alumni/fans.

“I think this is a great way to reach out to the community and the Howard University Bison family,” says Coach G. “It will keep them up to date on the Howard Women's Basketball program.”

Last year, the Bison ended the season with a disappointing loss to the MEAC two-time champions, Hampton University. As HU women’s basketball took time to prepare during the off-season, they used the defeat as fuel for this year.

With the big picture in mind, the Bison understand the steps they need to take in order to walk away with the MEAC title.

After finishing runner-up in the MEAC 2010-11 Tournament, Howard was invited to the Preseason Women’s National-Invitational Tournament (WNIT) for the opening of the 2011-12 fall season.

HU began the WNIT competition facing Big-12 opponent, Baylor University. After falling to both Baylor and Akron in the first two games, Howard found success by edging Detroit, 60-58, for its first win of the season.

To push through its tough schedule, HU was handed consecutive losses to Ohio State, Loyola and St. John’s.

On Dec 3, the Bison tipped off the month with their first conference match against Coppin St. After defeating the Eagles, the Bison jumped into a nine game winning streak by upsetting teams such as ACC opponent, Wake Forest and Big East opponent, Seton Hall.

HU was on-a-roll with an improving 10-5 record. During that stretch, the Bison notched eight double-digit wins, including its widest margin of victory against Buffalo, 81-57. The streak came to a sudden halt with a disappointing loss to Hampton, however.


The Bison are currently 13-7 overall, and 5-2 in MEAC play.



Jamilah Corbett

As the community continues to support the Howard women’s basketball team on their road to the MEAC Championship title, follow Coach G on Facebook to get a behind the scenes look at their push to the Big Dance: www.facebook.com/NikiGeckeler .



Jamilah Corbett, Asst. Director of Sports Information

VISIT: HOWARD-BISON

VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Scores That Matters!!

January 26, 2012

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MEAC
Savannah State 74, Talladega 58
Maryland Eastern Shore 59, Lincoln Pa. 45 (1/25/12)

GCAC
Cumberland TN 60, Fisk 52

CIAA
Virginia Union 59, Virginia State 48
Chowan 68, Elizabeth City State 59
Livingstone 80, Allen 68 (1/25/12)

OTHERS
Voorhees SC 59, Morris SC 40
LSU Shreveport 75, Wiley TX 70
Langston OK 86, Texas College 63
Jarvis Christian TX 51, Huston-Tillotson TX 49
William Woods 68 Harris-Stowe State (MO) 44

SIAC
Tuskegee 74, Lane 60
Stillman 58, Kentucky State 54
Benedict 48, Claflin 45
Albany State 81, Miles 69
Fort Valley State 74, LeMoyne-Owen 64



MEN BASKETBALL

CIAA
Chowan 80, Elizabeth City State 72
Shaw 80, Livingstone 77

OTHER
Harris-Stowe State (MO) 71, William Woods
Morris SC 87, Voorhees SC 70
Abilene Christian 88, Paul Quinn TX 70
Jarvis Christian TX 106, Huston-Tillotson TX 86
Texas College 79, Langston OK 77
LSU Shreveport 67, Wiley TX 56
Life GA 108, Oakwood AL 91

SIAC
Claflin 77, Benedict 58
Stillman 79, Kentucky State 76
Lane 83, Tuskegee 66
Miles 60, Albany State 56
Clark Atlanta 77, Morehouse 64
LeMoyne-Owen 73, Fort Valley State 68

GCAC
Mountain State WV 84, Talladega 67


Fort Valley State University Blue Machine Marching Band Recruitment Video 2012

2011 SIAC Football Highlights

Former Jackson State University coach sues school

JACKSON, Mississippi - Denise Taylor, the former Jackson State women's basketball coach who was fired in June, has filed a lawsuit against the university alleging wrongful termination and discrimination.

The suit, filed Tuesday in federal court, is seeking unspecified damages.

According to information received by The Clarion-Ledger through public records requests, Taylor's firing stemmed from ...

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Ex-JSU Coach Sues to Get Job Back

JACKSON, Mississippi - Denise Taylor-Travis says she was fired after claiming inequity.

Taylor-Travis coached 10 seasons of the Jackson State Women's basketball team. School officials fired her last June. Her lawyer, Louis Watson, says school officials said she was fired over claims of harassment, violation of policy, misuse of funds, and not complying with school standards.

However, Watson believes his client was really fired after she claimed school officials violated the Title IX ammendment by giving more funding to men's sports. Taylor-Travis also claimed she could not go certain conventions that her male colleagues attended.

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No room for error: ASU Hornets hope to end losing slide

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - It was a long bus ride home from Baton Rouge, La. The loss to Southern was bad enough, but the shooting percentage (54 percent) of the Jaguars was higher than any Southwestern Athletic Conference team has recorded against a Lewis Jackson-coached team in recent memory.

And the Alabama State men's basketball players have paid the price for it this week. "It's been really extreme these past couple of days," said senior Tramaine Butler. "Practice has been pretty crazy these last three days."

This was a team picked to win the conference and even if Jackson would have given the edge to Mississippi Valley State because of its strong presence in the paint and its perimeter shooters, he never would have expected his team to go on the road in January and allow Alcorn State and Southern to shoot a combined 51 percent from the field.

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MEAC Tournament 2012

Tennessee State University Volleyball Season Review

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  - The Tennessee State University 2011 volleyball season may not have ended with an Ohio Valley Conference championship but it was still a successful run that featured a number of accomplishments for the Tiger program.

Tennessee State finished the 2011 campaign with an overall record of 18-11 (13-7 OVC) after being selected to place eighth in the preseason predictions.

TSU wrapped up the season in second place in the conference standings and boasted three All-OVC team selections, including the 2011 OVC Player of the Year, Shaquita Williams. Erika Moss and Terakka Walker also garnered post-season honors.

Williams became the first Tennessee State University player to receive Player of the Year honors since the award began in 1985.

TSU kicked-off the season on a good note after defeating South Carolina State and Loyola (MD) at the Big Orange Bash to finish the tournament in second place. The Tigers also notched a second place finish at the Bear Brawl a week later.

The Tigers opened up Ohio Valley Conference action with a loss at Morehead State before winning three straight matches. The 3-1 record was good for fourth place in the league standings.

TSU went 6-5 over the next 11 contests before winning five out of the last six matches of the season to make a push for second place in the OVC.

Tennessee State entered the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference tournament as the second seed and faced UT Martin in the semifinals. After receiving a bye in the first round, TSU dropped a tough 3-1 (22-25, 21-25, 25-10, 18-25) decision to UTM.

With the 18-7 record, TSU had its first winning season since the 2007 campaign. For a full list of 2011 Volleyball Notables Click Here

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

Xavier's Erves named Boxtorow National Player of the Week

DENZELL ERVES #15
BOXTOROW NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
6' 7"/205 FORWARD, JUNIOR
HOMETOWN: VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI
VICKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL

FUQUAY-VARINA, North Carolina -- Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball forward Denzell Erves has been named Boxtorow National Player of the Week.

The 6-foot-7 junior from Vicksburg, Miss., averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in two victories for the Gold Rush last week.

Erves is featured on http://www.boxtorow.com/ as Boxtorow National Player of the Week and will also appear as a guest on the sports talk show FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW with host Donal Ware.

FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW airs on 36 radio stations around the country including Saturdays from noon-1 p.m. in New Orleans on WBOK-AM 1230 as well as at www.boxtorow.com. Boxtorow also airs Fridays from noon-1 p.m. CT on Sirius XM Channel 141. For a list of radio stations that carry the show, visit http://www.boxtorow.com/affiliates.php

FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW airs in markets such as Atlanta, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Raleigh, New Orleans, Nashville, and Austin, Texas.

FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW is the nationally syndicated sports talk radio show that places major emphasis on HBCU Sports. The show is celebrating six years on the air and was featured in JET Magazine (Aug. 9/16, 2010).

NOTE: This news release comes from Donal Ware of DWCommunications. Xavier's Denzell Erves was selected from players at all HBCUs, including NCAA Division I members.

Tennessee State Tigers Use All-Around Effort to Derail UTM

MARTIN, Tennessee  -  Tennessee State University used a combination of defense and strong second-half shooting to defeat UT Martin, 72-59, at the Elam Center on Thursday evening.

Three Tigers reached double-digits as Tennessee State improved to 12-10, 5-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU used a 16-to-6 run in the second half to pull away and sweep the regular season series with the Skyhawks.

The Skyhawks (3-19, 0-9 OVC) turned the ball over 20 times, shooting 44 percent (20-of-46) for the game. TSU scored 25 points off 20 UTM turnovers.

Offensively, the Tigers shot 48 percent (23-of-48) from the field, making 24-of-34 attempts at the free throw line. In the second half, TSU made 12-of-18 for 67 percent from the field. TSU was out-rebounded by an opponent, 31-29, for the first time in 11 games.

Patrick Miller led the Tigers with 17 points, all of which were scored in the second half. The sophomore was 7-of-11 from the field. He also dished out three assists, notching a career-best two blocks and a steal.

Reigning Co-OVC Newcomer of the Week Kellen Thornton scored 14 points, picking up three boards in 24 minutes.

Also reaching double-figures for the 21st straight game was Robert Covington. The junior forward added 11 points, swatting away three blocks, recording three steals and dishing out two assists in 24 minutes.

Forward Kenny Moore set a season-high with four assists and three rebounds. In 20 minutes of action, Moore also picked up a block and a steal.

Senior Wil Peters added seven points and three rebounds, while freshman M.J. Rhett notched four points and four rebounds. Guard Jay Harris tallied seven points, an assist and a steal.

Tennessee State held a narrow 26-25 lead over the Skyhawks in the first half. The Tigers shot 37 percent (11-of-30) from the field, as Covington led TSU with 10 points. The Tigers scored 20 of their 26 points off of UTM turnovers, forcing 14 in the first half.

The Tigers jumped out early to a 10-5 advantage with 15:36 left on the clock as Covington and Harris combined for all the points. UTM fought back tying the game at 10, but TSU used a 10-0 run to stretch their lead to 10.

UTM used a 9-to-2 run, narrowing the Tigers' advantage to 22-19 with 3:43 left in the first period. The Skyhawks used back-to-back baskets from Corderio Maclin to take a brief 25-22 lead. TSU snapped a six minute scoreless drought with four consecutive points, taking a 26-25 lead at the break.

In the second half, TSU started on a 16-to-6 run, capped off by a Chris Conner trey at 14:32 to take a 42-31 advantage. TSU stretched its lead to 16 with a basket at 8:37. From there, the Tigers traded baskets and sealed the win at the free throw line.

Tennessee State returns to the Gentry Center for a two-game home stand beginning on Saturday. The Big Blue welcomes Eastern Kentucky for a 7 p.m. start.

TSU at UTM Box Score

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

Tallahassee Godby offensive lineman Griffin commits to play at Savannah State

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A visit to Savannah, Ga., this past weekend made the decision that much easier for Percy Griffin. A senior offensive lineman on the Godby High football team, Griffin committed Wednesday night to the Savannah State Tigers. He becomes the seventh Cougar to commit to a four-year university.

"I liked Savannah State because the head coach — Coach (Steve) Davenport — made me and my family feel like it was home," Griffin said. "They have a really good coaching staff and I enjoyed meeting them. I really enjoyed meeting their players, too."

Griffin (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) made it a point to thank the other programs who recruited him, including Troy, Western Kentucky and Albany State. "I want them to know how thankful I am they showed interest in me," Griffin said.




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Donald Evans heading to CIAA hall of fame

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - It’s hard to believe that Donald Evans of Winston-Salem State hadn’t already been enshrined into the CIAA’s John B. McLendon Hall of Fame. But Evans, a former football star for the Rams, will be enshrined on March 2 at the Charlotte Convention Center during the CIAA basketball tournament.

Evans, whose son, also named Donald, was a backup lineman on the 13-1 Rams this past season, became the highest-drafted player in school history when he was a second-round pick in 1987 by the Los Angeles Rams. He wound up playing eight seasons in the NFL with the Rams, Eagles, Steelers and Jets.

During his 90 games in the NFL he had 17 sacks with his best season coming in 1993 when he had 6.5 sacks for the Steelers.

Bill Hayes, the athletics director at WSSU, was Evans’ coach when he played for the Rams in the mid-1980s. Despite being such a high draft pick Evans, who was enshrined into WSSU’s Big House Gaines hall of fame in 2004, never made an All-CIAA team during his career.

READ THE ARTICLE

Tennessee State Football Hosts Signing Day Event Next Week

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Tennessee State University football team will host its' annual signing day event on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place in the TSU Faculty Dining Center.

Third year Head Coach Rod Reed and others from the TSU football staff will be on hand to discuss the latest additions to the Big Blue football program. Fans will have a chance to get an inside scoop on the season ahead.



Admission to the signing day event is free and open to the public. All of those in attendance will also receive a complimentary ticket to the Lady Tigers vs. Eastern Kentucky game at 7 p.m. inside the Gentry Center.

COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Juco standout Huggins joins XU Gold Rush for spring season

COREY HUGGINS
 MEN'S TENNIS TEAM
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS — Corey Huggins, a standout the past two seasons for Seminole State College of Seminole, Okla., has signed a men's tennis scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Huggins, a 6-foot-2, 182-pound right-hander from Brooklyn, N.Y., is an XU junior majoring in marketing and eligible for the 2012 spring season, which the Gold Rush will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tulane.

Huggins was a semifinalist at No. 5 singles at the 2011 NJCAA Division I National Tournament and, for the second consecutive year, helped the Trojans finish fifth in the team standings. This past season he recorded a doubles victory against Baylor, ranked 13th in NCAA Division I, and a singles victory against Cameron, ranked 19th in NCAA Division II. As a freshman Huggins was a regional runner-up in doubles during the fall and finished fifth in the NJCAA division of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.

Huggins was 19-6 in singles as a Seminole sophomore. He was 14-5 in singles and 18-6 in doubles as a freshman. In the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association NJCAA rankings, Huggins was 84th in singles and 18th in doubles as a sophomore and 47th in singles and 19th in doubles as a freshman.

"Corey is a strong doubles player and has a really big forehand," Seminole coach Brian Nelson said. "He's solid at the net with his volleying. He's a mature tennis player. He doesn't get rattled and doesn't get nervous, probably because of all the juniors experience he has."

Huggins is a native of Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and moved to the United States from that Caribbean country in 2004. He graduated from Brooklyn's Bedford Stuyvesant Preparatory High School but did not compete in sports there. TennisRecruiting.net rated him as a four-star recruit.

Huggins is one of four newcomers — the others are Loic Didavi, Nikita Soifer and Viktor Svoboda — on the Gold Rush roster.

NOTES: XU coach Alan Green said fifth-year student Ashley McGill has rejoined the women's roster for 2012. McGill, who played tennis the past two seasons and basketball the past four seasons for the Gold Nuggets, is from Memphis, Tenn., and a graduate of Northside High School. The Gold Nuggets' first match will start at 9 a.m. Sunday at Tulane.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Charleston's West Ashley Football Star Commits to Howard Bison

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - Marvin Harris has shut it down. The West Ashley High senior just recently made his decision as to where he will be suiting up next season. The 6-4, 240 pound OL/DL will be taking his skill set to Howard University, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, also known as the MEAC.

Harris chose Howard over North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, amongst several other small DI programs. Harris, who primarily lined up at right tackle for the Wildcats last season, informed us that the coaching staff at Howard plans to bring him on as a tight end.

Harris took his official visit to Howard University on this past weekend, where he was highly intrigued with what the prestigious MEAC program had to offer.





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Grambling adds trio of commitments

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -  The Grambling State defense helped carry the Tigers to a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship this year. On Wednesday, the Tigers got verbal confirmation that reinforcements are on the way as a pair of defensive recruits committed to play at GSU.

The Tigers added size in 6-foot-2, 254-pound Houston defensive lineman Devaughn Madise and speed in Byrd cornerback/return specialist Nicholas Peoples (5-10, 180). Peoples was The Times' All-City Defensive Player of the Year after recording 62 tackles and intercepting four passes for the state semifinalist Yellow Jackets.

Grambling also secured an offensive commitment, landing Dallas Skyline receiver Travondre Raybon, whose build is similar to that of departed big-play receiver Mario Louis. The 6-2, 190-pound Raybon expressed a strong level of commitment to Grambling.

READ THE ARTICLE

XU's Rush, Nuggets will face challenging 2012 schedules

COACH ALAN GREEN
MEN'S & WOMEN'S TENNIS HEAD COACH
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA



NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana tennis teams will get a heavy concentration of ranked NAIA opponents and NCAA Division I opponents in 2012.

Alan Green, in his ninth season as coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, announced Tuesday the spring portion of the schedules.

Approximately 65 percent of both teams' schedules will consist of opponents which were ranked in the final 2011 NAIA coaches top 25 poll or are NCAA D-I members. Xavier competes in the NAIA.

Competition will begin this weekend when the XU men visit Tulane at 2 p.m. Saturday. XU's women will visit Tulane at 9 a.m. Sunday. The first home duals will be Feb. 1 when Xavier's men and women play the University of New Orleans at the City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center, which opened 10 months ago. That facility will play host to most of Xavier's home matches this season.

Ranked 2011 NAIA teams on the schedules of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets include top-10 programs Auburn Montgomery — whose women won the national championship this past season — Point Loma Nazarene and Vanguard. NCAA Division I opponents will include the men and women of Nicholls State and the women of Louisiana Tech and South Alabama.

"This will be our toughest men's and women's schedules ever," Green said. "I'm not looking to play a lot of cream puffs. We want to challenge ourselves with difficult competition and use those challenges to become better and stronger."

For the second straight year the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference will not crown tennis champions — only Xavier, Tougaloo and Fisk sponsor the sport — but both XU teams will compete in an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament in the Atlanta area in late April for automatic bids to the NAIA National Championships.

Xavier's men will attempt earn a fourth consecutive berth at the NAIA nationals, and the women will attempt to qualify for the sixth time in eight seasons. The Gold Nuggets missed qualifiying last year after reaching the previous three seasons.

The first NAIA team rankings of the season will be announced next Wednesday.

2012 Xavier Women's Tennis Schedule
January
29 Sunday: at Tulane, 9 a.m.

February
1 Wednesday: NEW ORLEANS, 3 p.m. (1)

4 Saturday: at South Alabama, 11 a.m.

10 Friday: at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m.
12 Sunday: at McNeese State, noon
18 Saturday: • TOUGALOO, 10 a.m. (2)
18 Saturday: BELHAVEN, 3 p.m. (2)
24 Friday: at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m.
25 Saturday: WILLIAM CAREY, 10 a.m. (1)

March

3 Saturday: at Southern, noon

6 Tuesday: TENNESSEE WESLEYAN, 3 p.m. (1)
7 Wednesday: SHORTER, 3 p.m. (1)
9 Friday-11 Sunday: at AUM Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.
14 Wednesday: NICHOLLS STATE, 3 p.m. (1)
17 Saturday: LOUISIANA TECH, 11 a.m. (1)
17 Saturday: LOYOLA, 5 p.m. (1)
20 Tuesday: CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, 4 p.m. (1)
24 Saturday: AUBURN MONTGOMERY, 4 p.m. (2)

April

2 Monday: at Point Loma Nazarene, 4 p.m. (2 p.m. PDT)

3 Tuesday: at Westmont, 4 p.m. (2 p.m. PDT)
4 Wednesday: at Concordia (Calif.), 4 p.m. (2 p.m. PDT)
5 Thursday: at Vanguard, noon (10 a.m. PDT)
14 Saturday: • at Tougaloo, 9 a.m.
14 Saturday: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.
27 Friday-28 Saturday: NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at Norcross, Ga.

May
15 Tuesday-19 Saturday: NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Home matches in BOLD TYPE
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match
All times are Central except where noted
(1) at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center
(2) at University of New Orleans Tennis Center
TBA — to be announced

2012 Xavier Men's Tennis Schedule

January

28 Saturday: at Tulane, 2 p.m.

February
1 Wednesday: NEW ORLEANS, 3 p.m. (1)
10 Friday: at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m.
11 Saturday: Bethany (Kan.), 10 a.m. (3)
18 Saturday: • TOUGALOO, 10 a.m. (2)
18 Saturday: BELHAVEN, 3 p.m. (2)
25 Saturday: WILLIAM CAREY, 10 a.m. (1)

March
6 Tuesday: TENNESSEE WESLEYAN, 3 p.m. (1)
7 Wednesday: SHORTER, 3 p.m. (1)
9 Friday-11 Sunday: at AUM Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.
14 Wednesday: NICHOLLS STATE, 3 p.m. (1)
17 Saturday: LOYOLA, 5 p.m. (1)
24 Saturday: AUBURN MONTGOMERY, 4 p.m. (2)

April
2 Monday: at Point Loma Nazarene, 4 p.m. (2 p.m. PDT)
3 Tuesday: at Westmont, 4 p.m. (2 p.m. PDT)
4 Wednesday: at Concordia (Calif.), 4 p.m. (2 p.m. PDT)

5 Thursday: at Vanguard, noon (10 a.m. PDT)

14 Saturday: • at Tougaloo, 9 a.m.

14 Saturday: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.

27 Friday-28 Saturday: NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at Norcross, Ga.

May

15 Tuesday-19 Saturday: NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Home matches in BOLD TYPE

• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match

All times are Central except where noted

(1) at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center

(2) at University of New Orleans Tennis Center

(3) at Prairie View, Texas

TBA — to be announced

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

TSU's Jasmin Shuler named adidas® OVC Player of the Week

JASMIN SHULER
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - JUNIOR CLASS
HOMETOWN: CLARKSVILLE, TN
KENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University women's basketball junior Jasmin Shuler was named the adidas® OVC Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Shuler, a 5-8 guard, led TSU in scoring last week to help the Lady Tigers go 1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference action. The Clarksville, Tenn. native averaged 30.0 points per game and shot over 50 percent from the field and beyond the arc.

She exploded for a career-high 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-9 from three-point range in an, 86-80, overtime win against Morehead State. She also tallied five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the victory.

Against Eastern Illinois, she led the Lady Tigers with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting. She knocked down three triples and registered four rebounds in the game.

Shuler leads TSU while ranking sixth in the OVC in scoring with 15.9 points per game. She is also fourth in the league in made three-pointers and ninth in three-point field goal percentage.

This marks the first time that Shuler has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week and the fourth time a Tennessee State player has received a weekly award this season. Destiney Gaston was named Player of the Week on Dec. 6 while Rachel Allen garnered two Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 22 and Jan. 3.

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

TSU's Avian Hughes Named BEYA STEM Award Winner

AVIAN HUGHES
6'2" JUMPS
HOMETOWN: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
TOM CLARK HIGH SCHOOL

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University's Avian Hughes was selected as a Black Engineer of the Year Award's STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) student-athlete award winner last week.

Hughes, a member of the TSU track & field program, holds a 3.10 GPA with a major in Electrical Engineering. He has been a three-year letter winner for the Flying Tigers track & field team and a member of the Air Force ROTC program.

"Avian is a great example of what being a college student is all about," noted TSU Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services, Dr. Johnnie Smith. "For a young man to balance academics, athletics and ROTC, and excel in all three, he is truly the epitome of excellence. I am so proud of Avian and I salute him on this national achievement."

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Hughes claimed All-Conference accolades during his freshman campaign in the long jump. Hughes primarily focuses in the long jump and triple jump.

His best triple jump mark this season came with a distance of 13.57-meters at the UNC Dick Taylor Invitational. Hughes also leapt 7.04m in the long jump at the Dick Taylor Invitational.

"First of all congratulations to Avian for being an outstanding student-athlete," said TSU Track & Field Director Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice. "He is really dedicated on what he does on the track and it shows in the classroom as well."

Hughes will be recognized at the Student Leadership Awards Dinner during the 26th annual BEYA STEM Global Competitiveness Conference in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012.

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

Scores That Matter!!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MEAC
Hampton 78, South Carolina State 66
Morehead State 75, Norfolk State 69

CIAA
North Greenville 67, Fayetteville State 65
Virginia State 66, Johnson C. Smith 63
Winston Salem State 100, Washington Adventist 84

SIAC
Lane 64, Stillman 62
LeMoyne-Owen 83, Albany State 65
Tuskegee 65, Kentucky State 60
Clark Atlanta 54, Claflin 51
Paine 60, Benedict 55
Fort Valley State 73, Miles 69



WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

CIAA
Shaw 63, Virginia Union 57
Johnson C. Smith 59, Virginia State 55

SIAC
Stillman 62, Lane 39
Tuskegee 64, Kentucky State 54
LeMoyne-Owen 76, Albany State 66
Paine 55, Benedict 28
Clark Atlanta 75, Claflin 72
Miles 59, Fort Valley State 57

GCAC
Philander Smith 66, Central Baptist AR 61

OTHERS
Voorhees SC 73, Webber International 66

Crosstown Classic returns with free tickets for XU students

NEW ORLEANS — The oldest college basketball rivalry in New Orleans, Xavier vs. Dillard, will heat up again Saturday when the Crosstown Classic returns for what should be the final time at The Barn.

The women's game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7. Tailgating in front of The Barn will start at 3 p.m.

The Barn, Xavier's gymnasium since 1937, will be replaced later this year by a 4,500-seat facility, the Convocation Academic Center, which is under construction.

Xavier students with a valid XU identification card will be admitted free to the doubleheader. A limited number of advance student admission tickets will be available through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University Center information desk on the first floor and from 2 to 4 p.m. in the XU Office of Student Services, room 305b on the UC's third floor.

Additional student tickets will be available at the box office at The Barn beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday.

A limited number of $10 general admission tickets will be available in the athletics administration office of The Barn from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Thursday. Tickets also will be sold at the doubleheader.

"Because seating at The Barn is limited, we ask our students to arrive early to the games on Saturday, regardless of when they pick up their tickets," said Dennis Cousin, XU's director of athletics.

Fans unable to attend can watch the doubleheader on the internet via PSBLive.com. The free webcasts can be accessed at www.xula.edu/athletics/stream.

The games will be the 122nd meeting between the men's teams and the 75th between the women's teams. The men's series began in the 1947-48 season, and the women's series started in 1977-78.

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

Panthers Hold Off UAPB In A 76-75 Thriller On ESPNU

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Jourdan DeMuynck hit the go-ahead free throw with 22 seconds remaining as Prairie View A&M held off Arkansas-Pine Bluff 76-75 in conference action on Monday before 4,319 fans in the William Nicks Building.

“Every time we play them (UAPB) the game comes down to one point,” said head coach Byron Rimm II. “Both teams were amped to play each other and it showed both on-and-off the court.”

Holding a one-point halftime lead, Prairie View A&M jumped out to a 45-38 lead less than two minutes in. UAPB closed to within three on two occasions but the Panthers held their ground as they claimed their largest lead (52-44) of the evening at the 15:16 mark following a jumper from DeMuynck.



UAPB refused to go away though as they continued to hang around and closed to within one point on two occasions over the next nine minutes. The Golden Lions regained the lead for the first time since the first half with 6:45 left as Savalance Townsend recorded a three-point play for a 65-64 advantage. Nearly a minute later, DeMuynck hit 1-of-2 free throws to knot the contest at 65.

From that point, the game went back-and-forth as UAPB's Clay Johnson hit a basket followed by two free throws by PV's Marcellus Jackson. Townsend moved the Golden Lions back on top 69-67 with 4:51 left following a driving layup down the lane. However, Jackson kept the Panthers in contention as he tied the contest at 69-all with a huge basket in the paint.

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Mississippi Valley State edges TSU in OT

HOUSTON, Texas - Several fans rushed the court at Texas Southern's H&PE Arena to celebrate when TSU guard Madarious Gibbs made a layup as time expired in regulation against Mississippi Valley State to send the game into overtime tied at 63.

Security officials needed several minutes to clear the court so the contest could continue. Unfortunately for TSU fans, the celebration was premature.

Gibbs hit two layups in the final 12 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime, but TSU fell flat in the extra period en route to dropping a 77-69 decision to the Delta Devils before a crowd of 1,412 on Monday night.

The Tigers, who ended their home winning streak at 14, shot themselves in the foot repeatedly in the final minutes. TSU (6-13, 5-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) made only ...

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Erves earns Xavier's fourth straight GCAC player award

DENZELL ERVES

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Denzell Erves is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball for Jan. 16-22. It's the second time this season that Erves earned the honor and the fourth consecutive week that the Gold Rush received the award.

Erves, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Vicksburg, Miss., and a graduate of Vicksburg High School, averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks and shot 73.7 percent from the floor and 90 percent from the line during Xavier's 2-0 week. Erves had career highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds Jan. 16 in an 87-80 home victory against Philander Smith — 17 points and nine rebounds in the second half to help Xavier erase a seven-point halftime deficit — and 14 points in a 77-64 home victory against Talladega on Saturday. He scored five points against Talladega during an 11-2 second-half run which gave Xavier the lead for good.

Erves has started all 20 games this season and is averaging 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 24.8 minutes. He is shooting 56.2 percent from the floor and 78 percent from the line. Erves leads Xavier with 18 blocked shots.

Four XU players — the others are Cordell Hadnot, Nick Haywood and Anthony Simmons — have accounted for six of the GCAC's 11 player awards this season. Simmons won the award the previous two weeks, and Hadnot started the Gold Rush streak with a victory for Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

Xavier, 14-6 and ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, will play Dillard at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Crosstown Classic at The Barn.

Xavier's 2011-12 GCAC Players of the Week in Men's Basketball

Oct. 31-Nov. 6 Denzell Erves

Nov. 21-27 Nick Haywood

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 Cordell Hadnot

Jan. 2-8 Anthony Simmons

Jan. 9-15 Anthony Simmons

Jan. 16-22 Denzell Erves

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Tougaloo's 59-51 victory ends XU Nuggets' many streaks

TOUGALOO, Mississippi — Victoria Jones had 13 points and 19 rebounds Monday to lead Tougaloo in a 59-51 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against NAIA No. 15 Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Lady Bulldogs (10-11 overall, 4-2 GCAC) snapped the nine-game win streak of the Gold Nuggets (16-6, 6-1) and beat Xavier for the first time in 14 tries. The most recent Tougaloo victory had been in 2005.

Also snapped was Xavier's 35-game win streak against GCAC opponents, 30 in the regular season.

Jones, who recorded her fifth career double-double against Xavier, was one of four Lady Bulldogs in double figures. Kierra Addison scored 11 points, and Brittany Patterson and Tangela Rich had 10 apiece.

SiMon Franklin scored 16 points for Xavier — her fifth consecutive game in double figures — and Brandi Young scored 10.

Tougaloo led 27-21 at halftime. Both teams made less than a third of their field-goal attempts — Xavier shot 30 percent, Tougaloo 31.5 — but the Lady Bulldogs dominated at the line, making 21-of-30 free throws to the Nuggets' 9-of-15. Tougaloo outrebounded Xavier 42-33. In the Gold Nuggets' previous seven games they outrebounded each opponent by 10 or more.

It was the third notable home victory of the season for Tougaloo, which beat NAIA No. 18 Belhaven and NCAA Division I Jackson State in December.

Xavier's loss and Dillard's 72-70 home victory against Talladega knocked the Nuggets out of first place. Dillard, 6-0 in the GCAC, will visit Xavier at 5 p.m. Saturday in the opening game of the Crosstown Classic doubleheader at The Barn.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, SID

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Scores That Matters!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

MEN'S BASKETBALL

SWAC
Missississippi Valley State 77, Texas Southern 69 (O.T.)
Prairie View A&M 76,  Arkansas Pine Bluff 75
Alabama A&M 65, Alcorn State 64
Southern University 68, Alabama State 56

MEAC
Savannah State 75, Stetson 45
Delaware State 65, Florida A&M 51
Morgan State 71, North Carolina Central 64
North Carolina A&T 93, Coppin State 92 (O.T.)
Bethune Cookman 67, Maryland Eastern Shore 55

GCAC
Tougaloo 69, Xavier University of Louisiana 64
Southern-New Orleans   Fisk
Talladega 76, Dillard 60
Philander Smith 81, Edward Waters 67

CIAA
Bowie State 89, Elizabeth City State 64
Lincoln Pa. 51, Chowan 48

SIAC
No Games

OVC
No Games Scheduled

OTHERS
Texas College 83, Jarvis Christian TX 74
Cumberland TN 75, Oakwood College 57
Texas Wesleyan 88, Langston OK 64
Wiley TX 60, Paul Quinn TX 58


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Description The Fisk University Bulldogs look to avenge a loss to SUNO Knights in New Orleans last Monday in this quick turn around of the first contest.
Stream Bit Rate 500Kbps Medium Quality
Details Start Time: 1/23/12 6:00 pm CST
Fisk University • Publisher

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

OVC
Eastern Illinois 88, Tennessee State 73

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State 68, Texas Southern 54
Southern University 71, Alabama State 51
Prairie View A&M 102, Arkansas Pine Bluff 51
Alcorn State 49, Alabama A&M 45

MEAC
Hampton 52, Howard 39
Florida A&M 84, Delaware State 65
Coppin State 85, North Carolina A&T State 63
Maryland Eastern Shore 47, Bethune-Cookman 43
Morgan State 64, North Carolina Central 59

GCAC
Dillard 72, Talladega 70
Edward Waters 74, Philander Smith 71
Tougaloo 59, Xavier University of Louisiana 51
Southern-New Orleans   Fisk

CIAA
Lincoln Pa. 68, Chowan 67
Elizabeth City State 60, Bowie State 50

SIAC
No Games Scheduled

OTHERS
Texas College 74, Jarvis Christian TX 69
Warner FL 65, Voorhees SC 63
Cumberland TN 64, Oakwood College 24
Texas Wesleyan 60, Langston OK 57
Wiley TX 82, Paul Quinn TX 56