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BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -Nate Kilbert saw this one coming.
In 11 seasons as the women’s basketball coach at Mississippi Valley State, Kilbert has fielded one aggressive, scrappy team after another. The Devilettes trap. They press. They force turnovers, slash through the lane and score.
Several times, Kilbert has come close to winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship, only to fall a little short. This season might represent the Devilettes’ best chance yet.
At 5:30 p.m. Monday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center, Valley (12-11, 9-3) and Southern (10-9, 9-3) meet in a showdown between two teams who are tied atop the SWAC standings.
LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana — The McNeese State women's tennis team got what Xavier University of Louisiana is still searching for: the first dual-match victory of the season.
The Cowgirls captured every set but one Sunday and cruised to a 7-0 decision against the Gold Nuggets.
McNeese, an NCAA Division I member, is 1-5. NAIA member Xavier is 0-5. All the Nuggets' losses this season came against NCAA D-Is.
Xavier's most positive vibe again came from sophomore Kourtney Howell, who split sets with Tea Tvrtkovic at No. 1 singles before Tvrtkovic won in a super-tiebreaker. The scores were 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8).
XU freshman Amanda Materre, a three-set winner Friday against Prairie View A&M at No. 3 singles, moved up to No. 2 but lost 6-3, 6-1 to Lara Pujol. McNeese clinched the dual when Diana Pirciu defeated Jordyn Goody — a freshman playing in her hometown for the first time as a collegian — 6-0, 6-1.
Xavier's men and women will play Saturday at 10 a.m. against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent Tougaloo and 3 p.m. against Belhaven at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center. Both Belhaven teams are ranked in the NAIA top 25, as are Xavier's men.
NORFOLK, Viriginia - The Hampton University women’s basketball team used a hot first half to roll to a 68-46 win over rival Norfolk State at Echols Hall on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Pirates (18-4, 10-1 MEAC) picked up their third straight win overall, their fifth straight road win and their 12th straight win over the Spartans.
Senior guard Choicetta McMillian led the Lady Pirates with 28 points behind a career-high eight 3-pointers, while senior forward Melanie Warner added 21 points and a r third double-double of the season. Senior guard Jericka Jenkins added 11 assists for her 13h straight game with at least six assists. She is now averaging 8.0 assists per game.
After Tyisha Bridges cut Hampton’s early lead to 8-6 with 17:05 left in the first half, the Lady Pirates went on a 15-5 run to take a 23-11 lead at the 11:08 mark after McMillian drained one of her five first-half treys.
Batavia Owens answered with a layup at the 10:32 mark to cut Hampton’s lead to 10, but the Lady Pirates answered with 10 unanswered points, going up 33-13 with 7:15 left in the first half when McMillian hit another 3-pointer. Hampton led 37-23 at the half...
MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Reggie Barlow and the Hornets had just battled Texas Southern to the wire in the 2010 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, a fairly remarkable accomplishment for an Alabama State football program still under NCAA probation.
ASU was just two years removed from crippling sanctions that came in the wake of allegations of academic fraud and improper aid and financial benefits for student-athletes against the former coaching staff.
Yet here was Barlow, moments after the most remarkable accomplishment of his young coaching career, fending off questions from the media and recruits about his contract, which was expiring at the end of the year.
A little more than 12 months later, Barlow is answering some of the same questions and feels the need to have his contract addressed again, in part because only the first two years of his four-year contract are guaranteed and because recent coach hires in the Hornet's athletic department have elevated the salaries of other assistant coaches above those on the football staff.
Columbia, South Carolina - Tennessee State remained perfect on the early season by holding off Cleveland State on day two of the Palmetto Classic. The Tigers improved to 2-0 as they defeated CSU 5-3 on a chilly Saturday evening.
With the sun going down and the temperatures dropping to a wind chilled 32 degrees, sophomore Olivia Gamache (1-0) toed the rubber and fanned the first three batters of the game. The Exeter, R.I., native would finish with six strike outs in five innings of work, as she picked up her first career win.
Dara Toman led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run to centerfield to give Cleveland State a 1-0 lead that held through the third. The Tigers would take advantage of two Viking errors and added timely hitting to explode for five runs in the top half of the fourth.
After a leadoff walk by Jordan Rehl, senior Kelly Troglin hit a sharp ground ball to shortstop Cynthia Woodard that looked to be a potential double play. Woodards throw was off line and ended up in right field. Rehl would advance to third, while Troglin was able to reach second. Ashley Haynes would walk to load the bases, and with one out, Brittany Davis stepped up and drove a ball to left center plating Rehl and Troglin for a 2-1 lead.
Two batters later, the Tigers took advantage on another Viking miscue as Jennifer Givens lifted a ball to deep left center. CSU's, Alicia Nichols was able to get settled for the catch, but the ball bounced out and allowed Givens to reach third. Davis and Savannah Gutierrez were able to score on the play and give TSU a 4-1 lead.
TSU Coach Jeff Dabney on 2012 Season (Feb. 8, 2012)
Tedra Alford would close out the scoring in the fourth with a triple off the fence in left center, allowing Givens to touch home. The triple was Alford's third hit in a 3-for-4 effort.
Cleveland State would score a run in the fifth and threatened in the sixth inning with a lead-off walk followed by a double to put runners on second and third. Freshman Shea Morris would relieve Gamache and enticed Cynthia Woodard into a fly ball to Givens in center. Toman tagged at third and tested the Tigers defense. Givens would throw a one-hopper to catcher Devin Amar who swept a tag on the Viking runner for a double play. CSU would pick up a run off a hit one batter later to close the score to 5-3 after six innings of play.
Morris came back out in the seventh and struck out the first two batters before Gutierrez caught a fly ball in left field to secure the win. Morris notched her first save of her career.
Davis finished 2-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBI, while Amar, 1-for-3, picked up a hit in her second consecutive game.
Haynes was 1-for-3 with a walk and Kate Morris, 1-for-2, collected her first collegiate hit with a double to left center.
TSU sits atop of the Palmetto Classic standings at 2-0. Western Kentucky and host South Carolina are each 2-1. Winthrop is 1-2 and Cleveland State is 0-3.
Due to early morning temperatures, the TSU-Western Kentucky game has been moved back an hour and will now start at 11 a.m. ET. The morning game is the first of two for the Tigers on the final day of the three-day tournament. Tennessee State closes out play with a 4 p.m. game against Winthrop. Live stats for all games this weekend can be found on tsutigers.com.
COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
MEGAN IlOFF 5-7 GUARD, JUNIOR HOMETOWN: LOS ANGELES, CA GAME HIGH SCORER: 18 POINTS, 7 Reb., 4 Assists
TALLADEGA, Alabama -- Megan Iloff scored 18 points Saturday to rally Talladega to a 68-62 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana.
The Lady Tornadoes (17-6 overall, 8-2 GCAC) moved into a first-place tie in the conference with the Gold Nuggets (18-8, 8-2), who lost for the third time in five games since winning nine in a row. Tougaloo (13-11, 8-3) missed a chance to take sole possession of first place when it lost 69-64 at Dillard.
Keldra Hall had 13 points and 11 rebounds -- her fourth double-double of the season and eighth in two years -- for Xavier, which led 34-33 at halftime. SiMon Franklin scored 12 points, and Jazmoné Kelly scored 10.
The Nuggets limited Iloff, Talladega's season scoring leader, to zero points and five turnovers in a 66-48 Xavier victory at The Barn on Jan. 21. But this time Iloff was 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line with with seven rebounds and four assists.
Bianca Thomas scored a season-high 17 points and was 7-of-9 from the floor for Talladega, and Ebony Richardson scored 10 in her ninth consecutive game in double figures.
"We should've been up 12 at halftime," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We didn't take care of business. We've been down this road before. It's really frustrating."
Talladega outshot Xavier 44.4 to 36.1 percent from the floor and limited the Nuggets to 1-of-12 on 3-pointers. Both teams made 17 free throws.
Tougaloo will visit Xavier at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Gold Nuggets' final game at The Barn, which opened in 1937. It will be senior night for Hall, Kelly, Jasmine Grant, Danielle Kennebrew and Brandi Young, who will be honored during a halftime ceremony.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Joe Taylor could be so succinct sometimes. One of those times occurred when the matter of his contract came up. Like most of us, when the conversation turns to salaries – or as in Taylor's case, his contract that is up for renewal as head coach at Florida A&M, he didn't have much to say.
Actually, he couldn't because of the ongoing negotiations to get a new deal hammered out before his current contract expires in 10 months. But what he did say only goes to show how confident the man is about completing the job of returning FAMU's football team around.
"We are going to be around for as long as we want to," Taylor said. That's a bit bold, coach, but what if you don't get all that you want in a new deal? "I've never been too concerned about it," he said. "You just continue working."
JAZZMIN SMITH 5'-11" FORWARD, JUNIOR HOMETOWN: LAKE CHARLES, LA
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - Lady Bleu Devil junior forward Jazzmin Smith scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Dillard to a 69-64 victory over the Tougaloo Lady Bulldogs on Saturday night on the Battlefield in Dent Hall.
The win ends a four-game losing streak for the Lady Bleu Devils (7-4, 10-10) and keeps them in race for the GCAC Conference Championship.
Smith, who received a standing ovation from the crowd, became just the 6th player in Dillard Women's Basketball surpass the 1,000 point barrier. She has now scored 1,035 career points and grabbed 507 career rebounds in 78 career games.
The Lady Bleu Devils shot a solid 47% percent from the field in the victory while holding the Lady Bulldogs (8-3, 13-11) to an ice-cold 31% from the field, including 3-for-17 from behind the three-point arc.
Ariel Mitchell added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists in the victory for the Lady Bleu Devils. Lady Bleu Devil Lauren Daniel contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds.
The Lady Bleu Devils will now travel to Mobile, Alabama to take on Spring Hill on Monday, February 13th. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30p.m.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - There was no emotional letdown for Tennessee State as the Tigers defeated Tennessee Tech 68-53 in front of 3,650 fans at the Gentry Center Saturday evening.
The Tigers (17-10, 10-4 Ohio Valley) used a pair of second half runs to open up to an 18 point lead late in the game. The win split the season series with the Golden Eagles. Saturday's victory also extended TSU's win streak to seven games, the longest since 1994-95.
In the past two seasons, the Big Blue is 21-3 in the Gentry Center and has captured nine straight over OVC opponents.
Tennessee Tech held a seven point lead early in the first half, but was unable to sustain any momentum. The Tigers forced 25 turnovers, despite being outrebounded 42-to-29. TSU shot 43 percent (23-of-53) from the field and knocked down five triples. Defensively, the Tigers had seven steals and four blocks.
Three TSU student-athletes reached double-figures with Robert Covington leading the way with 16 points. The junior extended his double-digit streak to 26 games, while blocking two shots and dishing out an assist.
Forward Kellen Thornton managed 12 points and seven rebounds in the win. Thornton was 4-of-7 from the field and picked up two steals in 23 minutes.
For the fourth time out of five games, Kenny Moore had double-digits with 11 points and six rebounds. Moore dished out two assists and was 4-of-8 shooting.
Patrick Miller had a spread out stat line - scoring nine points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out five assists, notching two steals and blocking a shot in 28 minutes.
Jordan Cyphers and Wil Peters added eight and six points, respectively.
At the half, the Big Blue held a one point lead, 28-27. The Tigers were 11-of-32 from the field. TTU out-rebounded TSU 24-to-14. The Tigers forced 15 turnovers in the first half. Covington and Miller each had six points.
Tennessee Tech jumped out to a 9-2 lead to stat the contest. The Tigers fought back and used a Kellen Thornton triple at 12:46 to a 15-14 advantage.
In the final minutes, Tennessee Tech used a tip-in from Javon McKay to take cut the lead to 28-27 at the break.
TSU led 47-41 in the second half, but reeled off an 11-0 run to extend its' lead to 17. The Tigers never trailed in the final frame and sealed their ninth straight home victory over an OVC opponent.
On Tuesday, Tennessee State looks to split with Jacksonville State after dropping a road contest earlier this year. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Gentry Center.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson remained unbeaten in doubles in the spring semester, and Viktor Svoboda overcame a first-set singles shutout Saturday to clinch Xavier Univetsity of Louisiana's 7-2 men's tennis victory against Bethany (Kan.) in the Prairie View A&M Invitational.
The Gold Rush (3-1), ranked ninth in the NAIA, finished 2-0 in the event and extended its win streak to three straight. Bethany, ranked 16th, is 1-2.
Giles-Osborn and Richardson scored the first point of the dual and improved to 4-0 for the semester with an 8-6 victory against Michael Van Den Bogaert and Alex Sandri at No. 3 doubles. Loic Didavi and Zach Taylor put the Rush ahead to stay, 2-1, with an 8-4 victory against Marcelo Alecio and Kane Olsen at No. 1.
Taylor and Didavi won in straight sets at the top two singles flights to make it 4-1, then Svoboda clinched with his 0-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory against Olsen at No. 3. Amir Rahbar won in a super-tiebreaker at No. 5 after dropping the first set, and Richardson won in straight sets at No. 6.
Bethany's Shane Huggins, a first cousin of XU newcomer Corey Huggins, was responsible for both of the Swedes' points. He and Jack Schoeman beat Corey Huggins and Svoboda 9-7 at No. 2 doubles, and he defeated Giles-Osborn 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles.
The victory was Xavier's first against a ranked opponent since beating Martin Methodist in the title match of an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament this past April, and it was the second straight year the Rush beat Bethany 7-2.
"This was a tough match," XU coach Alan Green said. "Bethany is much improved from last year and is definitely deserving of their ranking. Our guys are really coming together and playing like they are hungry for something. I hope it continues."
The Gold Rush are 25-2 in February duals dating to 2008.
Next Saturday the Gold Rush will play Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent Tougaloo at 9 a.m. and NAIA No. 22 Belhaven at 3 p.m. at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center. Meanwhile, this current trip will conclude after the XU women visit McNeese State at noon Sunday.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Leave it to Sandy Pugh to put it plainly. Saturday afternoon in the F.G. Clark Activity Center, her Southern Unversity women’s basketball team won for the fifth time in six games, pulling away for a 62-48 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. That part was good.
The Jaguars’ play, however, was hardly crisp. “Was I worried? No,” she said. “Was I upset? Yes.” It was easy to understand why.
Facing a persistent-but-winless team in UAPB, the Jaguars held the Lady Lions without a field goal over the first 6 minutes, 17 seconds. Southern committed only nine turnovers and had a 52-41 advantage in rebounds. But the Jaguars shot only 32 percent from the field and rarely looked sharp on either end of the floor.
Only two players, Kendra Coleman (11 points) and Laneisha Stephens (10 points), scored in double figures. Adrian Sanders added eight points, but the three players combined to go 6-for-31 from the floor.
Southern University Dancing Dolls at 2012 Super Bowl Half-Time Performance with Madonna.
The Dancing Dolls are a unit of the Southern University Marching Band also known as "The Human JukeBox" from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Lawrence Jackson, Southern University's band director, said Madonna discovered the Dancing Dolls after watching a video of one of their performances on the popular streaming video website. "It goes to show the power of YouTube," Jackson said with a laugh.
After three trips to New York to practice with Madonna, the Dancing Dolls finally got their chance to show the world their talents at halftime of a game that has drawn more than 100 million viewers the past two years."
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Howard Women's basketball team (18-7 overall, 10-2 in MEAC play) snapped Florida A&M's 14 game winning-streak by defeating the Rattlers 68-61 in Burr Gymnasium, on Feb. 11. The Rattlers have not beaten HU at home since 2007.
HU finished with four players in double figures. Tamoria Holmes had an explosive game tallying a team-best 21 points off of 8-for-19 shooting, and collecting three steals. Saadia Doyle finished with 13 points and six boards, while Kara Smith added 13 points of her own along with five boards. Zykia Brown had a solid night with 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 35 minutes of action.
To start the game, the Rattlers scored two back to back baskets to quickly gain a 4-0 advantage. At the 16:49 mark, HU's Holmes connected on two shots from the stripe to give the Bison their first point of the afternoon (4-2). At 16:49, Howard tied the score 4-4 with a basket by Deterville.
From there, both teams battled and exchanged buckets after changing up their defensive scheme and putting on their full court presses.
By the 9:34 mark, the Rattlers had a 17-12 lead over HU.
FAMU went on a 9-3 run to spread the lead to the largest of the half, 26-17 with just under seven minutes left in the half. To break the Rattler's momentum, Holmes came down in transition and hit a jumper four feet behind the arc, to make it 26-20 at 6:42.
Almost two minutes went by without a basket from either team, however. At the 4:44 mark, FAMU's Antonia Bennett broke the silence with two points inside the paint.
Both teams went toe-to-toe until the last minute of the period. With just two seconds on the clock, Holmes hit a bucket in transition to knot the score 35-35 heading into the lockerroom.
To jump into the last 20 minutes of regulation, Jamie Foreman made a trey advancing the Rattlers 38-35. Smith answered with a jumper from the short corner.
As the Rattlers held on to its lead, at 13:58 Holmes made a layup to give HU its first advantage of the half.
The score remained close as both teams picked up their energy and fought to run away with the lead. In the last five minutes of the game, Howard had a 55-53 lead over the Rattlers.
From there, HU held on to its lead as Smith, Holmes and Brown each held their ground in addition to the defensive efforts of the Deterville twins, to help Howard pull away with a 68-61 victory over FAMU. With the win, Howard snapped Florida A&M's (17-6 overall, 10-1 in MEAC play) 14-game win streak and ended their undefeated conference record.
Bennett tallied a double-double finishing with a game-high 25 points – shooting 10-for-15 from the field – and pulling down 11 off the glass. Tameka McKelton added 12 points and five rebounds, while Qiana Donald pitched in with 11 points and six boards.
HU will look to expand its streak to five as it hosts Bethune-Cookman on Mon, Feb 13. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 pm in The Burr.
Follow Coach G's fan page on facebook to get a behind the scenes look at the team as they make their push toward the Big Dance: www.facebook.com/NikiGeckeler.
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Talladega defeated NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana 84-64 in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball game Saturday.
The Tornadoes (8-16 overall, 6-4 GCAC) ended the four-game win streak of the Gold Rush (18-7, 7-3). Xavier dropped to 2½ games behind conference leader Tougaloo, which won at Dillard, but held on to second place when SUNO lost at Edward Waters.
Xavier suffered its biggest loss in a GCAC game since a 71-45 defeat at Tougaloo on Feb. 12, 2009.
Talladega, in the first season of its second stint as a GCAC member, gained a regular-season split with Xavier, which beat the Tornadoes 77-64 at The Barn on Jan. 21.
The Gold Rush will play Tougaloo at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the final XU basketball game at The Barn, which opened in 1937. It will be senior night for Cordell Hadnot, Chris Iles, Jamaan Kenner and Jeremy Lee. Tougaloo can clinch the GCAC regular-season championship with a victory.
PETERSBURG, Virginia - For Petersburg basketball senior Marcus Hoosier, he likes putting different songs together in hopes to find that perfect mix. But if one were to take the Crimson Wave's guard skills of anticipation, timing, defense and leadership, Hoosier forms the perfect mix.
The senior co-captain will take that perfect mix to play Division II college basketball at Virginia State University next season. Hoosier plans on studying audio engineering at Virginia State bringing together his two loves - music and basketball.
"I felt like that the coaches really cared. I like the whole rebuilding of their program there at Virginia State," Hoosier said. "They cared about the education part too which I liked. It's like a family there which is what I have here."
Hoosier also likes the fact that he will get to play in front of his family and carry on the tradition of going to Virginia State like his mother did. The Petersburg senior is hoping to bring that Crimson Wave pride to the Virginia State Trojans.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee - The Tennessee State men's and women's track & field teams notched 26 top-5 finishes and captured 14 podium finishes in the final regular season meet, the Middle Tennessee Valentine Invitational, on Saturday evening.
TSU used the meet as a final tune-up before the OVC Track & Field Championships at the Gentry Center on Feb. 24-25.
The Tigerbelles had a strong day as the 'A' team won the women's 4x400-yard relay with a time of 3:55.08. The 'B' team finished third with its' time of 4:14.17.
Ashontae Jackson had a solid day with two podium finishes. The freshman finished second in the 200-meter dash (25.07) and third in the 55-meter dash finals (7.23).
In the throwing events, Brittani Logan grabbed third with her toss of 41-5 ¾ (12.64m) in the shot put. She placed fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 49-11 ¼ (15.22m).
In the high jump, Gabrielle Todd cleared a height of 5-3 (1.60m) for second overall.
Kya Riley claimed third in the 400-yard dash with her 59.62 time. Ja'Lyn Burr (37-8/11.48m) and Felicia Oladokun (35-3 ¼/10.75m) claimed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the triple jump.
For the men, Michael Johnson and Arthur Combest both earned silver medal standings. Combest cleared 1.98-meters (6-6) in the high jump. Combest later notched a time of 7.67 in the 55-meter hurdles finals.
Johnson placed second in the 400-meter dash with his clocked time of 49.76. Royce Dates (7.17m/23-6 ¼) and LeQuinn Davis (6.65) claimed third place finishes in the long jump and 55-meter dash, respectively.
Julian Mallory ran 22.27 in the 200-meter dash for a fourth place finish, while Tamarron Key earned fourth with a height of 10-6 (3.20m) in the pole vault.
The Flying Tigers 'A' team notched second (3:22.80) and the 'B' team third (3:28.79) in the 4x400-yard relay.
Tennessee State returns to action in two weeks when the Tigers host the 2012 OVC Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Gentry Center on Feb. 24-25. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the TSU Ticket Office at 615-963-5841.
ALBANY, Georgia - Joe Gaiter: Who is Jamarkus Gaskins?
Jamarkus Gaskins: I’m a hard working individual though with dreams of one day accomplishing my ultimate goal of playing football at the professional level. I won’t be denied and I’ll do whatever it takes to make my dream a reality. Not just for me, but for my family and the ones closest to me.
Joe Gaiter: How will you prove yourself on the field?
Jamarkus Gaskins: I will prove myself on the field the same way I have been my whole life and that’s with hard work. My coach told me a long time ago hard works trumps talent all the time and I’ve learned to live by that.
Joe Gaiter: What are some of your goals in the NFL?
Jamarkus Gaskins: My first goal is to make some team’s roster. After that it’s just to continue to play the game I love and to hopefully one day see myself starting and winning championships.
Joe Gaiter: What are some of your accomplishments?
Jamarkus Gaskins: I was a 1st team All American. I was named the SIAC Defensive player of the year, Region 2 Defensive player of the year and Division 2 Defensive player of the year.
Joe Gaiter: What are your biggest strengths on the field?
MEAC
Howard 68, Florida A&M 61
Hampton 68, Norfolk State 46
Coppin State 76, Delaware State 58
South Carolina State 71, North Carolina A&T 68
North Carolina Central 50, Savannah State 38
Maryland Eastern Shore 75, Morgan State 57
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 5)
1. Hampton 10-1 MEAC, 18-4 Overall, Streak: Won 3
1. Florida A&M 10-1 MEAC, 17-6 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
3. Howard 10-2 MEAC, 18-7 Overall, Streak: Won 5
4. Coppin State 9-2 MEAC, 14-10 Overall, Streak: Won 7
OVC
Tennessee Tech 78, Tennessee State 66 (8-18, 4-10 OVC)
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 2)
1. Eastern Illinois, 11-1 Conf., 20-5 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
1. Tennessee-Martin, 11-1 Conf., 17-8 Overall, Streak: Won 8
3. Tennessee Tech, 9-4 Conf., 13-14 Overall, Streak: Won 3
SWAC
Alcorn State 65, Mississippi Valley 61
Alabama A&M 63, Alabama State 51
Grambling State 51, Texas Southern 50
Southern 62, Arkansas Pine Bluff 48
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 6)
1. Southern University 9-3 Conf., 10-9 Overall, Streak: Won 2
1. Mississippi Valley 9-3 Conf., 12-11 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
3. Alabama A&M 7-5 Conf., 12-10 Overall, Streak: Won 1
3. Grambling State 7-5 Conf., 11-11 Overall, Streak: Won 3
3. Alcorn State 7-5 Conf., 9-15 Overall, Streak: Won 1
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 4)
1. Talladega 8-2 GCAC, 17-6 Overall, Streak: Won 6
1. Xavier 8-2 GCAC, 18-8 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
3. Tougaloo 8-3, 13-11 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
4. Southern-New Orleans 8-4, 12-9 Overall, Streak: Won 1
5. Dillard 7-4 GCAC, 10-10 Overall, Streak: Won 1
CIAA
#24 Johnson C. Smith 68, St. Augustine's 49
Virginia State 60, Virginia Union 41
Shaw 75, Winston Salem State 68
Bowie State 78, Lincoln Pa. 45
Elizabeth City 69, Chowan 58
Fayetteville State 84, Livingstone 64
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 4)
Northern Division
1. Bowie State 6-2 Div., 7-7 Conf., 7-14 Overall
2. Virginia Union 4-2 Div., 6-6 Conf., 9-12 Overall
Southern Division
1. Johnson C. Smith 5-1 Div., 11-1 Conf., 17-4 Overall
1. Shaw 5-1 Div., 11-1 Conf., 16-6 Overall
3. Winston Salem State 4-2 Div., 10-2 Conf., 15-7 Overall
SIAC
Stillman 66, Benedict 57 OT
Tuskegee 61, Paine 57
Lane 72, LeMoyne-Owen 61
Central State (OH) 74, Kentucky State 73
Fort Valley State 65, Albany State 56
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 5)
1. Stillman 14-3 SIAC, 16-5 Overall
2. Fort Valley State 14-4, 16-6 Overall
3. Tuskegee 13-5 SIAC, 16-6 Overall
4. Benedict 12-6 SIAC, 14-7 Overall
5. Miles 11-6 SIAC, 13-8 Overall
NAIA
Brewton-Parker 90, Morris SC 81
Texas Wesleyan 56, Paul Quinn 36
Wiley TX 87, Huston-Tillotson TX 77
Hannibal-LaGrange MO 88, Harris-Stowe State MO 63
Langston OK 84, Bacone OK 52
Jarvis Christian TX 68, St. Thomas TX 49
Florida Memorial 81, Warner FL 77 OT
Virginia Intermont 69, Point University (Ga.) 54
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MEAC
Howard 71, Florida A&M 69
Norfolk State 70, Hampton 62
Savannah State 67, North Carolina Central 57
North Carolina A&T 85, South Carolina State 55
Maryland Eastern Shore 68, Morgan State 56
Delaware State 84, Coppin State 81
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 5)
1. Norfolk State 10-2 MEAC, 18-8 Overall, Streak: Won 1
2. Savannah State 7-2 MEAC, 14-10 Overall, Streak: Won 6
3. Coppin State 7-3 MEAC, 12-11 Overall, Streak: Won 3
3. Bethune Cookman 7-3 MEAC, 11-14 Overall, Streak: Won 1
5. Delaware State 6-3 MEAC, 9-11 Overall, Streak: Won 5
OVC
Tennessee State 68 (17-10, 10-4 OVC, Tennessee Tech 53
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 3)
1. #7 Murray State 12-1 OVC, 24-1 Overall, Streak: Won 1
2. Tennessee State 10-4 OVC, 17-10 Overall, Streak: Won 7
3. Southeast Missouri State, 9-4 OVC, 14-11 Overall, Streak: Won 2
SWAC
Mississippi Valley 71, Alcorn State 63
Arkansas Pine Bluff 64, Southern 58
Texas Southern 72, Grambling State 54
Alabama State 57, Alabama A&M 47
Jackson State 62, Prairie View 48
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 6)
1. Mississippi Valley 12-0 SWAC, 13-11 Overall, Streak: Won 12
2. Southern 9-3 SWAC, 13-12 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 4)
1. Tougaloo 10-1 GCAC, 19-5 Overall, Streak: Won 11
2. Xavier 7-3 GCAC, 18-7 Overall, Streak: Lost 1
3. Southern-New Orleans 8-4 GCAC, 12-11 Overall, Streak: Lost 2
4. Talladega 6-4 GCAC, 8-16 Overall, Streak: Won 1
CIAA
#12 Shaw 76, Winston Salem State 60
#17 Bowie State 69, Lincoln Pa. 63
St. Augustine's 59, Johnson C. Smith 56
Elizabeth City State 58, Chowan 55
Fayetteville State 83, Livingstone 80
Conference Leaders: (Regular Season Games Remaining: 3)
Northern Division
1. Bowie State 7-1 Div., 11-3 Conf., 19-4 Overall
2. Virginia Union, 5-1 Div., 8-4 Conf., 13-11 Overall
SIAC
Benedict 81, Stillman 75
Clark Atlanta 85, Morehouse 67
Tuskegee 69, Paine 54
LeMoyne-Owen 79, Lane 73
Central State (OH) 65, Kentucky State 61
Fort Valley State 66, Albany State 59
Conference Leaders (Regular Season Games Remaining: 4)
1. Tuskegee 13-6 Conf., 13-8 Overall
1. Clark Atlanta 13-6 Conf., 13-10 Overall
3. LeMoyne-Owen 12-6 Conf., 12-8 Overall
4. Benedict 12-7 Conf., 13-8 Overall
5. Paine 11-8 Conf., 12-9 Overall
NAIA
Brewton-Parker 92, Morris SC 86
Wiley 79, Huston-Tillotson TX 60
Texas Wesleyan 72, Paul Quinn TX 65
Langston OK 83, Bacone OK 65
Harris-Stowe State MO 71, Hannibal-LaGrange MO 69 (2OT)
Voorhees SC 85, Allen SC 62
St. Thomas TX 78, Jarvis Christian TX 73
Ave Maria FL 66, Florida Memorial 64 OT
Virginia Intermont 82, Point University (Ga.)66
Wilberforce OH 68, Houghton NY 64
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Florida A&M University-Howard University women's and men's doubleheader will be webcast live this coming Saturday. The women's game tips off at 2 pm and the men's will get underway at approximately 4:10 pm.
Both games have also been designated as the annual Play 4Kay match. The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has partnered with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to host the Play 4Kay Initiative in an effort to increase breast cancer awareness.
Both games figure to be exciting and very competitive. Florida A&M women's team (17-5, 10-0 MEAC) enters the game undefeated in league play and riding a 14-game win streak while the Lady Bison (17-7, 9-2 MEAC) have a four-game win streak and are looking to improve their seeding for the upcoming MEAC Tournament.
The men's game should be equally exciting as the Bison are coming off a big 54-46 road win over Morgan State on Monday. Howard and FAMU, which has won two in a row, are jockeying for improved seeding for the Tournament, March 5-10 in Winston-Salem, NC.
Lou Holder and Jamilah Corbitt will team to provide the action and analysis for the women's game while Holder and Charles Walton will do the men's.
To catch all the action, go to www.spcnbasketball.com and get details on how to go about catching all the action.
The games will also be broadcasted on Howard University Radio, WHBC 830 am Channel Fifty-One http://www.whbc830am.com/welcomehome/. Nakia MacFarlane and Charles Walton will handle the commentary for the women's game and Otha Nevius and Wesley Rimpson will provide analysis on the men's game.
Courtesy: Howard University Sports Information
Note: MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street will be at the HU/FAMU games today and will provide updates later this evening. Go Rattlers!!
COLUMBIA, South Carolina - Tennessee State softball recorded its first win over a Southeastern Conference opponent in program history by defeating South Carolina at Columbia in front of 482 fans on Friday afternoon. The Tigers and second year head coach Jeff Dabney, picked up a win in their season opener for the second consecutive year as they beat the Gamecocks 4-2.
TSU was the designated home team on the Gamecocks field due to rules set up for the Palmetto Classic. USC would go down in order to start the game, while the Tigers used their half of the first to try and catch their opponents' off-guard.
Junior Jennifer Givens got things started as she shot a ball through the middle of the infield to pick up her first hit as a Tiger. Tedra Alford followed up with a bunt, but USC pitcher Kierstyn White (0-1) attempted unsuccessfully to throw Givens out at second base.
TSU would score the first run as Givens and Alford broke for third and second, respectively. Givens would beat the throw and scampered home as USC catcher Shelby Gonzales could not connect with the shortstop and sailed the ball into left field. Alford, who picked up the steal of second, advanced to third when the outfielder threw home. Two batters later, Alford scored as an illegal pitch was called on White to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
South Carolina came right back in the second as they picked up four hits and took advantage of a passed ball to tie the game at 2-2. Gonzales popped a ball just inside the leftfield line for a two out single that allowed Evan Childs and Dana Hathorn to cross the plate.
The tie was short lived as TSU responded in the bottom half of the second inning. After two outs, Givens picked up her second hit of the game and proceeded to swipe her second bag of the day. Alford worked a walk to bring sophomore transfer Devin Amar to the plate. The Oxnard, Calif., native would deliver with a double to the wall in left center that plated both runners to put the Tigers back on top 4-2.
That would be all freshman pitcher Shea Morris (1-0) needed in her debut, as she held the Gamecocks off with just the four hits surrendered in the second inning. Morris awarded her lone walk of the game with two outs in the fourth and would not let another opponent on base until the first batter of the seventh inning. Hathorn reached in the final inning off an error, but the first-year pitcher showed no effects as she retired the next three batters without allowing Hathorn to advance.
Morris completed all seven innings striking out three and giving up just one earned run on four hits and one walk.
Givens and Amar each finished 2-for-3, with the junior scoring twice and two stolen bases, while the sophomore picked up the double and two RBI.
Freshman Savannah Gutierrez notched her first career hit as she went 1-for-3.
TSU will take to field on Saturday for day two of the Palmetto Classic at 5 p.m. ET, versus Cleveland State. The Vikings dropped two hard fought games earlier in the day; 4-3 to Western Kentucky and 3-1 to Winthrop. Live stats for all games this weekend can be found on tsutigers.com.
COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - As a player at Captain Shreve High School and Northwestern State University, Roman Banks was a self-made man.
"He was always a guy that prepared himself for opportunities," Evangel coach Reni Mason, Banks' high school teammate, said. "He worked extremely hard to make himself into the type of player he was. He turns every stone to be successful."
Twenty-four games into his head coaching career, Banks is seeing the same type of attitude from his first Southern team. Entering today's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Jaguars (13-11, 9-2) are entrenched in second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and have more than tripled last season's four-win total.
"Everybody is surprised at where we are as a team," Banks said. "I'll be the first to say that I am, but I will say this, I have a lot of confidence in those guys. They're not the great, talented guys, but they're the group of guys that want to achieve something."
MURRAY, Kentucky - On February 9, 2012, the Tennessee State Tigers win against 7th Rank Murray State will go down in history as one of the greatest wins of all time as they stole the game from the Racers causing turnovers down the stretch. Led by Robert Covington’s 17 points and 8 rebounds, the Tigers won the way they have all season playing tough defense, rebounding strong, and getting the ball to their top scorers. Not intimidated by the undefeated Racers or its sellout crowd the Tigers simply played steady throughout even after an Isaiah Canaan three pointer put the Racers ahead by 13 points at the 14:45 mark of the second half.
Covington ended the game with four personal fouls and spent stretches on the bench. Without Covington, the Tigers bench scored 30 points to Murray State’s 8. The Tigers out rebounded the Racers by just 32 to 31, but made them count as a crucial rebound down the stretch helped maintain a close Tiger lead. Against a stingy defense Canaan scored 31 points for the Racers, who as a team were never able to get in rhythm with their scoring. In the final minutes both teams had turnovers and the Tigers missed crucial free throws that would have sealed the game early. In the end the Racers allowed the Tigers to steal the ball twice and they tossed their final opportunity to score out of bounds giving the ball and win to the Tigers.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State's 72-68 upset victory over No. 7/9 Murray State put the nation on alert. The Tigers received numerous interviews from media outlets and below is some of the media coverage from the various outlets:
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -Nate Kilbert saw this one coming. 
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