SU Jaguars open Spring Practice, Mitchell addresses media

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Head coach Stump Mitchell didn't mince words when he addressed the media at the conclusion of the first spring practice Wednesday. He is excited to be the head coach at Southern.

And when asked if he plan on extended his stay in Baton Rouge until Sept. 1, the date of Southern's 2012 season opener against New Mexico, Mitchell's response offered a touch a humor while reaffirming his commitment to the program.

"No, I won't be here," said Mitchell, who begins his third season at Southern. "I'll be in Albuquerque."

Under clear skies and the watchful eye of a robust media contingent, Mitchell and the Jaguars kicked off the first of 15 practices Wednesday in the shadows of A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The Jaguars initial spring practice lasted roughly an hour and 30 minutes and spanned 17 periods. The team, dressed in shells, participated in several drills, including 7-on-7, one-on-one and special teams before ending with team drills with quarterbacks J.P. Douglas and Dray Joseph splitting reps.

"It was an awesome day. It's been a while since we lost that Bayou Classic," said Mitchell. "We went out and got the players that we think we need to go with the guys we had our first two years. We're excited about it."



Wednesday's practice also provided a first look at a retooled coaching staff. Mitchell confirmed that former defensive coordinator O'neill Gilbert and former offensive coordinator Ricky Diggs are no longer with the program.

Mitchell also introduced a new coach on his staff and announced defensive line coach Dawson Odums as his new defensive coordinator.

"(Manny Martin) was coaching high school in Miami," said Mitchell. "He played at Alabama State, so he's familiar with the SWAC, and we've got some guys coming in from Miami, so I wanted them to have a coach that they could relate to."

"Hopefully, they can relate to all of us, but to have someone from that area, I thought that would benefit those guys immensely."

DAY 1 PHOTO ALBUM

Martin, who will serve as the defensive backs coach, joins wide receivers coach Jorge Baez as coaches with Miami ties, which paid huge dividend in Stump's third recruiting class.

Southern's all-time leading scorer, Breck Ackley, returns as a special teams assistant and the Jaguars administrative assistant. Ackley was a member of Mitchell's 2010 staff before a one-year stint as a member of Southeastern's staff last year.

But Mitchell added that he anticipates some more changes on his staff in the near future.

"There were some coaches here (today) that probably won't be here, before it's all said and done, but that's the way it goes in this business."

As for the business of football, the Jaguars showed no signs that the recent coaching saga distracted in them any way. For Mitchell, there was no more positive sign considering the task the team faces in 2012.

Said Mitchell: "We've got to win a lot of games. I mean a lot of games, and I understand that, and that's what I was brought here to do: to help the APR, to help enrollment, to help put people in the seats. We haven't quite done that, but hopefully, this will be the year."

COURTESY: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU Tigers vs. Murray State Rematch Slated for Thursday

COACH JOHN COOPER
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The much anticipated rematch of No. 12/14 Murray State and Tennessee State takes place on Thursday, Feb. 23 when the Racers visit the Gentry Center. MSU and the Tigers are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff in a nationally televised game on ESPNU.

Tennessee State (19-10, 11-4 Ohio Valley) is in the midst of its' longest winning streak since 1994-95. The Tigers are just one win away from reaching 20 wins for the first time since 1978-79.

The Tigers clawed back from a 12 point deficit to defeat Miami (Ohio) 68-61 in the Sears BracketBuster on Feb. 19. Junior Robert Covington led the Tigers with 14 points and six boards. Covington ranks fourth in the OVC with 17.9 points and second with 7.9 rebounds per game.


Kellen Thornton garnered his third OVC Newcomer of the Week honor after averaging 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in wins over Jacksonville State and Miami (Ohio) last week.

For the first time in school history, TSU ranks No. 25 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll. The Big Blue is also No. 1 in the Boxtorow HBCU Top-5 Division I poll. Last week, the Tigers clinched the No. 2 seed in the OVC Tournament. TSU is scheduled to play on Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. inside Nashville's Municipal Auditorium.

Murray State's (26-1, 13-1 OVC) only blemish is a 72-68 loss to the Tigers on Feb. 9. TSU won their first regulation game at Murray State since 1996. The Tigers have not swept the Racers since the 1993 season when the Tigers made an NCAA appearance against Seton Hall.

After that loss, the Racers have won three straight and clinched the OVC regular season title. MSU defeated Saint Mary's, 65-61, in the Sears BracketBusters. Point guard Isaiah Canaan leads the Racers with 14 points, 102 assists and 84 triples.

Thursday evening will be Greek Night and Senior Day. The Tigers men's basketball team will honor its' two seniors - Wil Peters and Kenny Moore.

Limited amount of general admission tickets are still available for Thursday evening's game. TSU students with a valid I.D. receive one free ticket. All students are strongly encouraged to pick up their tickets from the TSU Ticket Office inside the Gentry Center. The public may purchase tickets by calling the ticket office at (615) 963-5841.

Anish Shroff and Adrian Branch are calling the action on ESPNU. TSU fans can listen to the game on the Big Blue Sports Network (102.1 FM The Light / 101.9 FM Clarkville) with Albert Dawson and Mark Pittman describing the plays.  

TSU Game Notes

SCOUTING THE RACERS: No. 12/14 Murray State (26-1, 13-1 OVC) has been one of the hottest teams in the country. The Racers' only blemish was a 72-68 loss to the Tigers on Feb. 9 at the CFSB Center. Since that defeat, Murray has reeled off three consecutive victories. Last week, the Racers clinched the OVC regular season championship and defeated No. 21 Saint Mary's, 65-51, in the ESPN Sears BracketBusters. Point guard Isaiah Canaan leads the Racers with 19.3 points. The junior has dished out 102 assists and knocked down 84 triples in 27 games. Donte Poole has posted 14 points, while Ivan Aska has totaled nearly 12 a game this season. Aska and Latreze Mushatt are averaging 5.9 and 5.2 rebounds per game, respectively. The Racers have outscored their opponents 13.3 points per game and shot 41 percent (203x492) behind the arch. MSU is shooting nearly 48 percent (676x1422).

IT'S MILLER TIME: Patrick Miller is second on the team with 11.2 ppg and leads the team with 101 assists. Miller has multiple assists in 22 straight games.  He is averaging 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the last 9 games.

FEBRUARY - CONTINUING TO RISE: TSU has not posted a losing record in February the last three seasons. Last year, the Tigers were 4-4 and in John Cooper's first season Tennessee State managed a 5-3 mark. The Tiger's best record was 6-2 during the 2008-09 campaign. With a win at Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 19, TSU is 5-0 this month.

TIGERS NATIONALLY RANKED: TSU remained No. 25 in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Top-25 poll. The Tigers are No. 1 in the the Boxtorow HBCU Division I poll released on Feb. 21.

CONSISTENTLY COVINGTON: The consistency of Robert Covington has been one of TSU's strongest weapons this season. He has been the leading scorer in 22 of 29 games played this season.  He anchored his 18th career double-double and eight this season with 26 points and 12 boards in the OT win over Jacksonville State (Feb. 14). Covington garnered OVC Co-Player of the Week and College Sports Madness Mid-Major National Player of the Week honors after averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in wins over Murray State and TTU. The Chicago product has reached double-figures in 28 straight games. Covington has collected 17 20-plus point performances in his career. With 17 points against UTM (Dec. 29), Covington eclipsed the 1,000 points mark becoming the first TSU player since Gerald Robinson, Jr. in 2009 to reach that milestone. On Feb. 6, Covington was announced as Boxtorow HBCU National Player of the Week. He was named to the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team earlier this season and garnered OVC Player of the Week honors on Nov. 21. This season, Covington ranks fourth in the OVC (43rd NCAA) with 17.9 ppg and second in the OVC (93rd NCAA) in rebounding (7.9 per game).  TSU is 13-5 this season when Covington scores 17 or more points.

PLAYING IT CLOSE: TSU is 12-6 in single-digit games, having played the last 11 out of 13 contests in single margins. The 2010-11 season saw the Tigers play 18 of their 30 games, including three overtime games, in tight-nit fashion.

SECURING THE NO. 2 SEED: A Murray State win over SEMO last week secured the Tigers' No. 2 seed in the upcoming OVC Tournament. TSU receives a double-bye into the semi-finals. The Tigers will play on Friday, March 2 versus the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6/7 seed.

IT'S GREAT TO BE AT THE GENTRY: The Tigers boast a 22-3 record at the Gentry Center during the past two seasons. TSU has won 11 consecutive contests at home and finished with a 4-1 record against non-conference opponents at the Gentry. TSU has a 10 game win streak against OVC opponents dating back to Feb. 5, 2011. The Tigers' only home blemishes were losses to Belmont (2010), Murray State (2011) and MTSU (2011).  TSU has a +11.2 average scoring margin at home this season.

SENIOR PROFILE - WIL 'POWER' PETERS: Nashville native and Whites Creek product Wil Peters plays his final home game on Thursday. Peters has played in 121 games and 3,427 minutes during his four-year career. The senior has 99 assists in 29 games (3.4 apg). He has totaled 371 assists for 3.1 per game in his tenure.  On the season, Peters is averaging 7.7 points with an average of 34 minutes played per game.

TIGERS SETS HISTORIC NIGHT WITH WIN OVER MURRAY: Before the Murray State win on Feb. 9, the Big Blue was 0-10 against nationally ranked opponents in the Associated Press poll since 2002. Earlier this season, the Big Blue fell 69-102 at then ranked No. 1 North Carolina. The 72-68 win versus the Racers was the first ever win against a ranked opponent. Here is a list of opponents and results since 2002:

Feb. 9, 2012 - @#9 Murray State - W, 72-68
Nov. 22, 2011 - @#1 North Carolina - L, 69-102
Jan. 2, 2011 - @#21 Memphis - L, 86-91
Dec. 22, 2007 - @#17 Vanderbilt - L, 74-83
Dec. 3, 2007 - @#15 Indiana - L, 72-84
Dec. 2, 2006 - @#6 Alabama - L, 60-78
Nov. 21, 2006 - @#10 Kansas - L, 54-89
Jan. 2, 2005 - @#17 Louisville - L, 64-98
Dec. 18, 2004 - @#17 Alabama - L, 79-87
Dec. 6, 2003 - @#13 Georgia Tech - L, 43-94
Dec. 30, 2002 - @#20 Kentucky - L, 87-115

MOVING ON UP (A LOOK AT THE RPI): During the past three weeks, Tennessee State moved up 82 spots in the RPI rankings. In the rankings released on Feb. 20th, TSU moved to 127th nationally and second in the OVC. TSU has faced four opponents with a top-100 RPI: North Carolina 5, Saint Louis 22, Middle Tennessee 38 and Belmont 68. TSU defeated Murray State (35) once and will play the Racers again Thursday evening.

COACH COOPER STEPPING 'ON THE LINE': The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and ON THE LINE have teamed up during Black History Month to raise awareness of prostate cancer among African American men. Coach John Cooper and over 80 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball head coaches from 30 different conferences, will be wearing bow ties and ON THE LINE buttons during their games to show their support.

LIMITING THE OPPOSITION: When TSU limits its' opposition to 45 percent or less shooting, the Tigers are a remarkable 16-1. TSU is also 14-2 when they hold opponents to less than 67 points. The Big Blue has a 9-0 record when opponents bank less than 40 percent of their FGAs. In contrast, the Tigers are 1-7 when giving up 50 percent or more.

TRIPLE THREAT: The Tigers have plenty of options when it comes to 3-point shooting. Four players have combined for 345 career made 3-pointers: Robert Covington (135), Wil Peters (125), Kenny Moore (51) and Patrick Miller (40). Covington's two treys versus Miami moved him into seventh all-time. Peter's two against the RedHawks moved him into 10th.

LINE ME UP: Coach John Cooper has experimented with nine different lineups. The Tigers hold an 11-1 record in the past 12 games with the combination of G Wil Peters, G Patrick Miller, G Jay Harris, F Robert Covington and F M.J. Rhett. The Tiger's only blemish was a 69-63 road loss to Austin Peay.

MARGINALLY TELLING: Tennessee State has played in many closely contested games since the 2008-09 seasons. During that span, the Tigers are 11-22 on the road in games decided by six points or less.   In contrast, the Tigers boast a 16-2 record at the Gentry.

YOU GELLIN' KELLEN?: Kellen Thornton has been on fire in the past nine contests. The Illinois State transfer is posting 12.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Thornton has clipped 60 percent (40-of-67) during that stretch, while grabbing 42 rebounds. On Feb. 20, he was named OVC Newcomer of the Week after tallying 10.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg in two wins.

SETTING THE MARK: Robert Covington and Wil Peters are close to reaching some career marks at Tennessee State. Covington is 19th all-time at TSU with 1,288 career points passing Mike Johnson and John Barnhill. He is just 13 shy of passing Ronnie Cage's (1981-84) mark of 1,300. Covington reached 13th on the all-time list in rebounds with 662.  Covington is 10 triples away from moving into sixth all-time. Peters needs 68 points to reach 1,000 points in his career. He is 80 assists shy of becoming the all-time assists leader at Tennessee State.

SENIOR PROFILE - PLENTY OF KENNY MOORE: Senior Kenny Moore is averaging 9.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg in the last nine games. The Philadelphia product has dished out 16 assists and 13 steals during that span. Moore is tallying 7.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 22 games this season.

COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Postgame Notes - NCCU at Indiana, 56-75

Recap |  Box Score |  Quotes |  Photo Gallery 1  |  Photo Gallery 2  Video Highlights
 
• Indiana finishes its non-conference schedule with a perfect 13-0 record. It marks the first time the Hoosiers have had a perfect non-conference run since the 1989-90 season when IU went a perfect 11-0 against non-Big Ten foes.
 
• The Hoosiers are now 3-0 all-time against North Carolina Central.
 
• IU led NCCU the entire contest, marking the fifth game this season in which the Hoosiers did not relinquish the lead for an entire game.
 
• Indiana outrebounded NCCU, 35-16. The +19 rebounding margin is IU's largest since outrebounding Howard by a season-best +20 margin on Dec. 19.
 
• The Hoosiers allowed the Eagles to grab just 16 rebounds, which is the lowest rebound total by any Indiana opponent this season. It is the fewest total rebounds by an IU opponent since Northwestern grabbed 16 on Jan. 15, 2003.
 
• The Hoosiers won the battle of the offensive glass, 15-3. It marks the fifth time this season that IU has had 15 or more offensive boards in a game.
 
• Indiana shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51) for the game. IU has now shot 50 percent or better in 13 games this season.
 
• IU outscored NCCU in the paint, 36-24.
 
• The Hoosiers outscored the Eagles in second-chance points, 16-4.

• Indiana's topped NCCU in bench points, 23-19.



• Freshman Cody Zeller led Indiana in scoring with 17 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and tied for the team high with seven rebounds. Zeller has now led the team in the scoring column in 13 games this season, and tonight marks his fourth-straight game to pace his teammates in that category. He has scored in double figures 25 times this year.
 
• Sophomore Will Sheehey tallied 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed tied with Zeller for the team lead in rebounds with seven. Sheehey has now scored 10-or-more points in 10 games this season and 13 times in his career. He also had two assists, one block and one steal.
 
• Sophomore Victor Oladipo scored 16 points, marking his 18th game scoring in double figures this season and his fifth-consecutive contest with more than 10 points. Oladipo shot 5-of-8 from the field and was 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He also had six rebounds, two steals and a block.
 
• Junior Derek Elston scored 10 points, marking the first time he has scored in double figures in back-to-back games since Dec. 2010 when he tallied 10-or-more points in three-consecutive contests. Elston shot 3-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in five games this season and 16 times in his career.
 
• Senior Verdell Jones III scored nine points on the night with two rebounds and an assist.
 
• Freshman Austin Etherington scored two points and grabbed one rebound in five minutes of action.
 
• Freshman Remy Abell scored two points on a baseline jumper and snagged a rebound in seven minutes.

COURTESY: INDIANA HOOSIERS.CSTV.COM

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper: At TSU, John Cooper is restoring pride to one of Nashville's proudest programs

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Basketball minds boggle at the level of coaching talent in Nashville. Rick Byrd's steady hand has guided Belmont through what could have been the tumultuous rapids of transition. His Bruins have evolved from NAIA power to local secret to perennial place-holder on the lists of teams no powerhouse wants to play.

Notwithstanding a lack of postseason success — and a very underwhelming 2011-12 season — Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings is a well-regarded tactician. He's made the Commodores contenders in the brutal Southeastern Conference. Away from the tree-lined boulevards of the west side, however, a third contender has risen — and he may be doing the best of anyone.

For the first time since 1996, the TSU Tigers have secured a winning season. And for that, they must thank Coach John Cooper.

It's been a tough decade and a half on the north side, a fan base sustained by the faded memories of the glory days when John McClendon had Dick Barnett and teammates regularly scoring in the triple digits. This in the pre-shot clock, pre-3-point line days of the 1950s, back when Truck Robinson belied his huge size with a guard's precision-fingered shooting touch.

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Morgan State upsets Coppin State, 91-80, on Eagles' senior night

BALTIMORE, Maryland - To say that the 2011-12 season has been a frustrating one for the Morgan State Bears would be an understatement. On Wednesday night at Coppin State's Physical Education Complex, it looked to be more of the same.

This time, though, the Bears (7-18, 4-9) didn't fold, pulling off a 91-80 upset of the host Eagles (13-14, 8-6) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

Aric Brooks (St. Frances) led the Bears with 19 points, while Tony Gallo scored 21 to lead Coppin State.

"We fought through so much adversity this year," Bears coach Todd Bozeman said. "I talked about it all year with them. It's not just the winning and losing, but the life experiences they are going through. I'm happy for them, and I got a little emotional. This was a team effort, what I've been preaching all year."

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Lady Tigers conclude regular season by hosting Murray State

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | TWITTER 

 THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Tennessee State (9-18, 5-10 OVC) snapped a five-game losing skid with Saturday's, 61-59, win over Jacksonville State in the Gentry Center. TSU sits in eighth place in the OVC standings. With a 6-6 home record this season, the Lady Tigers will look to move to above .500 with a win over Murray State.     

As a team, TSU is averaging 68.0 points per outing while shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from beyond the arc. TSU is currently shooting only 64.8 percent from the free-throw line while committing an average of 18.0 turnovers per game. TSU averages 43.4 rebounds, 13.0 assists and 8.0 steals per game.

EVERY GAME MATTERS

With the OVC tournament less than two weeks away, every game is crucial. The Lady Tigers are in the play-off race and are looking to remain in the top eight with wins down the stretch.

LAST TIME OUT

Tennessee State snapped a five-game skid with a, 61-59, win over Jacksonville State Saturday in the Gentry Center. TSU led, 26-23, at the break before holding on for the victory. Chelsea Hudson led TSU and recorded her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 18 rebounds.  

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Murray State is coming off a, 91-67, loss to UT Martin State at home on Monday night. MSU has dropped two straight contests and has an OVC mark of 7-7. The Racers sit in sixth place in league standings.   

In MSU's most recent loss to UT Martin, three players scored in double-figures led by Erica Burgess' 27 points. Kalya Lowe and Mallory Schwab rounded out the top three scorers for the Racers with 14 points each. Tessa Elkins led Murray State with nine rebounds. 

Overall, the Racers average 68.1 points per game behind a .351 field goal percentage (.276 three-point range). Erica Burgess leads the team with 16.7 points per game while Mariah Robinson (13.7 ppg) and Kayla Lowe (11.3 ppg) round out the top three scorers for JSU.

TSU vs. MURRAY STATE

Tennessee State and Murray State will meet for the 50th time in the series history with the Racers holding a, 30-19, advantage. The Racers claimed the first meeting of the season, 66-56, in the CFSB Center earlier this month. 

LAST TIME THEY MET (Feb. 6, 2012)

The Tennessee State University women's basketball team couldn't hold off a late second half run by Murray State as the Racers defeated the Lady Tigers, 66-56, Monday night in the CFSB Center.

In a game that featured nine ties and six lead changes, Murray State used a 17-9 run down the stretch to come away with the victory.

Tennessee State (8-17, 4-9 OVC) was led in scoring by Jasmin Shuler's 14 points while Rachel Allen added 10. Simone Hopes nearly recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points.

Murray State (10-14, 6-5 OVC) had three players to register double-digits led by Erica Burgess' 16. Tessa Elkins had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Kyra Watson followed with 10 points.

TSU struggled offensively and shot 28.0 percent (21-of-75) from the field including 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from the three-point line. The Lady Tigers also stumbled at the free-throw line, only connecting on 66.7 percent of their attempts.

Murray State knocked down nearly 40 percent of its shots (39.1) from the field and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc.

 

COVERAGE

TSU vs. Murray State will be shown on OVCsports.tv. Live stats will be available at tsutigers.com while fans can listen live at tsuradio.com.

TEAM LEADERS

Jasmin Shuler leads TSU in scoring with 15.1 ppg while Tayla Foster (9.8 ppg) and Destiney Gaston (7.3 ppg) round out the top three scorers for the Lady Tigers. Foster is pulling down a team-best 5.1 rebounds per game while Simone Hopes grabs 4.7 rpg. Rachel Allen leads the team in assists while Gaston also paces TSU with 30 blocks.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

The first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Feb. 29. The tournament will continue through, Saturday March 3.

 

COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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Circle City Classic to feature MEAC opponents

iNDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - The North Carolina Central-South Carolina State football game has been rescheduled as the Circle City Classic on Oct. 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Previously, the game between Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference members was scheduled to be played at North Carolina Central. This will be South Carolina State's third appearance in the Circle City Classic.

The 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium is the home of the Indianapolis Colts and site of Super Bowl XLVI earlier this month.

It will be one of two games in an NFL venue for South Carolina State. The Bulldogs open their season with a Thursday game in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, facing Georgia State on Aug. 30.

After a home game against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 8, the Bulldogs visit Arizona on Sept. 15 and Texas A&M on Sept. 22.

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Tennessee runner is XU Gold Nuggets' first signee for 2012

BRIANA SIMMS

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Briana Simms of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Station Camp High School has signed a women's cross country scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Simms is XU's first runner signed for 2012.

photo from the signing ceremony (via Facebook)

"Xavier had what I wanted, academically and athletically," said Simms, who has a 3.87 grade-point average and will major in biochemistry. "When I visited, it felt like a family there. I knew that Xavier was where I needed to be."

Simms competed four consecutive years in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state meet and placed among the top 32 three times. She was 20th in Class A-AA as a freshman in 2008, 28th in Class AAA in 2010 and 32nd in AAA this past season to help the Bison finish third in the team standings. Four times in 2011 she ran 5,000 meters in less than 19 minutes, 45 seconds, with a personal best of 19:22.86 — the second fastest time in school history — in the Jesse Owens Classic at Oakville, Ala., on Oct. 1.

Simms was All-Sumner County and All-Mid-State four times each.

In outdoor track Simms was the co-outstanding runner in the Sumner County Championships in 2010 and the outstanding runner in 2011. She won the 800- and 1,600-meter runs both years at that meet. Her best outdoor times include 5:33.59 in the 1,600 and 12:02 in the 3,200.

Hendersonville is a suburb northeast of Nashville.

Xavier's Gold Nuggets won the past six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team championships and qualified for three of the past four NAIA National Championships.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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MVSU rebounds from 1-11 start to dominate SWAC

ITTA BENA, Mississippi - When the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, Mississippi Valley State was 1-11 and had lost seven games in a row. The Delta Devils had not played a home game all season, center Jason Holmes had missed the entire season with a knee injury, and things weren’t looking great as the non-conference campaign came to a close.

Head coach Sean Woods wasn’t overly concerned, though. “We’re a mature team, we have an upload of seniors,” Woods said over the phone Tuesday.  "It was just the mentality.”

It turns out his confidence was spot on. The Delta Devils have won their last 15 games, clinching the outright SWAC regular-season title by beating Texas Southern on a last-second 3 by Paul Crosby on Monday night. Not many teams trust their 6-foot-8, 250-pound center to knock down a game-winning 3, but that was designed.

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The clash at the DAP

DURHAM, North Carolina — The ballpark that was good enough for the making of the film “Bull Durham” is the home of N.C. Central University baseball. There are worse places to play. “Being able to say we play and practice at the Durham Athletic Park is absolutely huge,” first-year NCCU coach Jim Koerner said.

The DAP’s playing surface is better than some professional facilities, Koerner said. “It’s probably the best facility in the conference,” said Koerner of the Eagles' Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. “It’s incredibly maintained.”

view slideshow (5 images)

NCCU will host Duke today at 4 p.m. in the historic ballpark where the minor league Durham Bulls once played. Admission is free to this match-up that some say will further foster the relationship between Duke and NCCU, strengthening Durham.

“It bodes well for both universities,” Durham mayor Bill Bell said. “I think the more they can do things in a joint effort – even if it’s competing in sports– it’s a coming together of the community.”

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Facility Upgrade Pays Dividends for TSU Football

On Feb. 21, The Tennessean highlighted Tennessee State's new upgrades for football and the school's top HBCU recruiting class. Below is the article as published by Mike Organ.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State football Coach Rod Reed has rerouted the map he follows when a recruit visits, thanks to some new construction and upgrades.

Instead of starting with a trip to LP Field, where TSU has played its home games for the past 13 years, Reed brings prospects straight to campus, where he shows off the team's new locker room, indoor practice facility and renovated weight room.

Reed said that helped the Tigers sign a class two weeks ago that achieved the top ranking for historically black colleges and universities.

"We used to just go to LP Field and show off the locker room and other facilities there when we'd bring a recruit in," Reed said. "When a kid would ask about the locker room or practice field on campus, we would just kind of shy away from it."



The new locker room in Gentry Center was opened late in the summer, and the $3.7 million indoor practice facility and weight room renovations were completed last fall.

"It's really, really nice," said receiver Lavatiae Kelly of Hollywood, Florida, who is considered one of TSU's top signees. "I might not have known what to expect, but I didn't expect anything as nice as what they have."

TSU is one of just six Football Championship Subdivision schools that has an indoor practice facility.

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Gold Rush Tennis still ninth in NAIA poll; Nuggets gain support

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana maintained its No. 9 ranking in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll released Tuesday.

The Gold Rush are in the top 10 for the fourth consecutive poll dating to May 2011 and the seventh time in the past eight polls. Beginning with the poll of April 4, 2007, Xavier has been in every men's top 25.

Xavier still is tied for 36th place in the women's rankings, but the Gold Nuggets' point total increased from one to three.

The polls are the second of nine this season. Fresno Pacific's men and Auburn Montgomery's women held on to their No. 1 rankings. The next polls will be announced March 6.

The Gold Nuggets will travel to NCAA Division I Southeastern Louisiana for a 6 p.m. Friday dual match, then both Xavier teams will play William Carey in dual matches starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center. William Carey's men are ranked 13th, and the women are 12th.

The XU men already have a victory this season against a ranked opponent — 7-2 on Feb. 11 against Bethany (Kan.), which climbed from 16th to 15th in the poll — and are scheduled for at least eight more regular-season matches against this week's top 25.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)

Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Fresno Pacific (11) 5-0 281 1

2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 4-1 272 2
3 Oklahoma Christian 4-0 261 3

4 Azusa Pacific 2-0 255 tie-4

5 Auburn Montgomery 1-2 243 tie-4

6 Westmont 1-2 239 6

7 Point Loma Nazarene 0-2 227 7

8 Vanguard 2-3 217 8

9 Xavier 3-1 210 9

10 Shorter 2-2 196 10

11 Concordia (Calif.) 2-1 194 11

12 Lindsey Wilson 2-3 181 13

13 William Carey 0-1 176 12

14 Aquinas 2-1 161 14

15 Bethany (Kan.) 2-2 154 16

16 St. Thomas (Fla.) 0-3 149 15

17 Lee (Tenn.) 2-1 128 17

18 Warner 1-1 124 RV

19 Lewis-Clark State 4-1 122 19

20 Webber International 4-1 103 18
21 Tennessee Wesleyan 0-0 94 21
22 Olivet Nazarene 2-0 91 NR
23 Campbellsville 0-0 82 23
24 Belhaven 2-0 65 22
25 Martin Methodist 0-0 60 24

Others receiving votes: Spring Arbor 59, SCAD Savannah 51, Missouri Valley 29, Northwestern Ohio 24, Oklahoma Baptist 18, Biola 18, Cumberland 12, Northwood (Fla.) 7, McPherson 4, Pikeville 3, Brescia 1.


NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Auburn Montgomery (11) 4-0 312 1
2 Fresno Pacific (1) 5-0 302 2
3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5-1 292 3

4 Oklahoma Christian 1-0 282 4

5 Concordia (Calif.) 3-0 272 5

6 Brenau 2-0 260 6

7 Azusa Pacific 3-0 254 7

8 SCAD Savannah 2-2 238 8

9 Point Loma Nazarene 1-1 235 11

10 Southern Nazarene 0-0 219 10

11 Vanguard 1-2 215 9
12 William Carey 0-3 204 12
13 Lee (Tenn.) 3-0 191 13

14 Lindsey Wilson 1-2 179 14

15 Shorter 4-1 175 15
16 Lewis-Clark State 1-7 160 16

17 Indiana Wesleyan 14-0 152 17

18 SCAD Atlanta 0-0 145 18

19 Martin Methodist 0-0 131 20
20 St. Thomas (Fla.) 0-2 120 21
21 Belhaven 2-0 104 23
22 Campbellsville 0-0 101 22

23 Webber International 2-1 95 24

24 Marian (Ind.) 12-3 73 25

25 Davenport 8-2 57 RV

Others receiving votes: Olivet Nazarene 49, Indiana Southeast 46, Westmont 29, Northwood (Fla.) 23, Northwestern Ohio 15, Missouri Valley 15, Taylor 14, Milligan 9, Robert Morris (Chicago) 7, Bethel (Kan.) 7, Cumberlands 3, Xavier 3, Nebraska Wesleyan 1.

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

Southern to open spring practice Wednesday

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Despite recent reports regarding his future at Southern University, head football coach Stump Mitchell opens 2012 spring football practice on Wednesday, the university announced.

The Jaguars begin the first of 15 scheduled practices at 4:15 p.m.Wednesday afternoon in shells before moving to full pads for the first time on Feb. 24. Southern's spring game is scheduled for March 17.  Mitchell, who is 6-16 in two seasons at Southern, embarks on his third season as head football coach on the Baton Rouge campus and has one year remaining on a three-year contract signed in Jan. 2010.

Interim Director of Athletics Sandy Pugh said Tuesday that while it has been reported that Mitchell has been interviewed for a position with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, the university is going forward with Mitchell leading players during their first day of practice.

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Kyle O'Quinn sees pro future after Norfolk State

NORFOLK, Virginia - If you had asked Kyle O’Quinn back in high school if he thought he would have a future in professional basketball, he would have laughed at you.

After all, O’Quinn was just 5-foot-11 as a high school freshman in New York, and only played one year of high school basketball. He had just one scholarship offer coming out of high school, from the MEAC’s Norfolk State. Others were sniffing around, but no one else was willing to take a chance on the raw big man. His family didn’t want him to go to prep school, so he jumped on the opportunity to head to Virginia and play for Norfolk State.


#10 Kyle O'Quinn in the Spartans win over NAVY.

Now, as a 6-foot-10 senior, O’Quinn is dominating on the inside. Over the last two seasons, the big man is averaging 16.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. Because of his potential, he could have a future in the sport.

“I’m getting a lot of good feedback,” O’Quinn said. “I didn’t think I would play college basketball, of course not. You couldn’t have told me that.”

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SU Mitchell stumps for job with St. Louis Rams

COACH LYVONIA 'STUMP' MITCHELL

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - Stump Mitchell, a former Cardinals running back and currently head football coach at Southern University-Baton Rouge, interviewed for the Rams' running backs coach position Monday.  Mitchell, 52, met at Rams Park with coach Jeff Fisher and visited with members of the coaching staff. The visit went well, though it was uncertain Monday night if Mitchell has been offered the job.

League sources said Fisher could be interviewing another candidate or two for the position, which is one of the last remaining berths on Fisher's staff. A Georgia native, Mitchell played with the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals from 1981-89. He ended his career with Kansas City in 1991, but didn't post any stats with the Chiefs because of knee problems.

A ninth-round pick by the Big Red out of The Citadel in 1981, Mitchell was a popular and productive player in St. Louis.

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Report: Rams talk to Mitchell

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Stump Mitchell came to Southern University with big dreams and big goals, vowing to bring the Jaguars football program back to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.  Now, after six wins in two years, he might be on his way out.

According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mitchell interviewed Monday with the St. Louis Rams and is a candidate to become their running backs coach.  The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said Mitchell met with new head coach Jeff Fisher and members of the staff, and that the interview went well.  What’s unclear at the moment, however, is whether the Rams actually offered Mitchell a job.

Attempts to reach Mitchell were unsuccessful Monday night.  Asked last week if he were considering other jobs, Mitchell said he was happy to be at Southern and believes his team can win this season.

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Coppin State has more than a triple threat from beyond the arc

With a team full of long-range shooters, Eagles are the No. 2 team in the country in 3-pointers per game

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Before every Coppin State practice this season, a band of shooters from one of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams in Division I gathers around a rim inside the Physical Education Complex for a little friendly competition.

The goal is simple, guard Tony Gallo explains, and the battles typically taut. Knock down 10 shots from beyond the arc before anyone else does, and you win. Lately, Gallo's won a lot. Or has he? "He said he was in the lead?" forward Logan Wiens exclaimed in mock disbelief Monday. "I don't know about that one."


Mute the background rap music/noise for better enjoyment.

On a team that has 3-pointers account for more than 40 percent of its scoring, perhaps these kinds of grudges are only natural. The Eagles' 9.9 3-pointers per game trail only Florida (10.2 per game) nationally, and three players shoot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc.

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Sammeika Thomas makes it work at Miles College

SAMMEIKA THOMAS
6-2 FORWARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
TRANSFER: RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

Senior forward juggles parenting, school, work and basketball

FAIRFIELD, Alabama - When she's not rubbing off a screen, she's screening passengers. When not picking up her teammates with a solid season, she's picking up her kids and making sure they are taken care of. Such is the life of Sammeika Thomas, Miles College's 6-foot-2 senior forward.

Thomas, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's reigning Player of the Year, is doing it all. She's a fulltime student, a TSA passenger screener at the Birmingham Airport and a basketball standout – all while raising two small children on her own.

"It's not really hard for me because I'm a very motivated person," Thomas said. "I know that I have to work in order for my kids to survive. I also understand I have to finish school to earn the money that I want to make, or have the career that I want to have. So it's really not hard balancing it. My job helps me a lot. My coaches help me a lot, and my teammates. So it's not very hard as people would think. But it's very tiring."

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Shaw University ranked 6th in NABC Division II Poll

RALEIGH, North Carolina — Shaw moved up three spots in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll, coming in at sixth. This is the highest ranking in the history of the men's basketball program at Shaw. Last week the Bears were ninth in the poll.

The program's previous high ranking was in 2002-2003 when they were tenth in the first poll of the season.

Last week, the Bears handily defeated Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State to raise their record to 23-2 and continue what is now a 19-game winning streak. Shaw is 15-0 in the CIAA and 9-0 in the Southern Division. The Bears have already clinched the division title.



After last week’s number one team, Bellarmine, suffered a loss, West Liberty takes over the top spot in the poll. Last season, West Liberty knocked Shaw out of the NCAA tournament in the second round.

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Virginia State wins fifth straight, blowing out Lincoln (Pa.)

ETTRICK, Virginia - There is no team in the CIAA that has improved more than Virginia State, and now they're playing good enough basketball that they're a dangerous team headed into the conference tournament.

The Trojans dominated Lincoln (PA) Monday night, 75-51 at Daniel Gymnasium, avenging an earlier season 20 point loss to the Lions.



VSU stormed ahead to a nine point halftime lead, but outscored Lincoln 45-30 after halftime to make it a rout. Mike Bynum led all scorers with 18 points. There were three other players in double figures, Daniel Awosanya had 13, Kenny Mitchell put in 12 points, and Ibn Rassoull scored 12. Denzel Mooney had a team-high 17 points for Lincoln. VSU shot 51 percent from the floor, while Lincoln managed just 28 percent.

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VUU juggernaut derailed by Bowie State, 101-82

RICHMOND, Virginia - On Jan. 15, Virginia Union scratched its way to a two-point victory over Virginia State. That gave Union a record of 8-10, a mediocre start to the season. Thereafter, the Panthers reeled off wins in seven of their next eight games. One more victory and Union would take the CIAA’s Northern Division title.

But Union’s winning streak hit a speed bump Monday night. The Panthers were beaten 101-82 to Bowie State (20-5, 12-4) at Barco-Stevens Hall. It was Bowie State’s largest margin of victory ever over Union.

GALLERY: Virginia Union vs. Bowie State

“It’s a bitter taste right now,” senior Jamaal Blalock said. Bowie State, ranked 19th in the country, secured the No. 1 seed in the CIAA tournament. Union (15-12, 10-5) still gets the Northern Division’s second seed and a bye in the first round.

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Players treasure memories from '56 Knoxville College team

KNOWVILLE, Tennessee -- Fifty-six years ago, the powerhouse Knoxville College basketball team tore through the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with aplomb. Undersized but fearless and athletic, the Bulldogs averaged a nation-best 101 points a game on their way to a spectacular 32-3 record. Their average margin of victory was 30 points.

Knoxville College was not only the first team from Tennessee to win the SIAC tournament and conference championships, the Bulldogs also placed an unprecedented four players on the all-conference and all-tournament teams. They featured a lineup of mostly northern transplants who were thrust into often tumultuous circumstances at a small black college in the South at the vanguard of the Civil Rights movement.

Despite their successes on the court, the garnet and blue-clad Bulldogs toiled in virtual anonymity in the segregated South of the 1950s. Off the court, they were often subjected to the all-too-familiar racial injustices of the time.

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Shaw cruises past WSSU in home finale

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Ninth-ranked Shaw continued its impressive run through the CIAA. The Bears rolled to an 80-59 victory over defenseless Winston-Salem State on Monday night at Spaulding Gym. Showing balance that has brought them a 23-2 record and a 19-game win streak, the Bears sent their seniors out on a good note in their final home game.

"They are a talented team," said coach Bobby Collins of the Rams. "One through five, any of them can go off and get points. I know what they were all capable of, and I thought if we could get back and set our defense we would have a chance, but we couldn't do that."



The Rams (18-7, 4-5 Southern Division) had a six-point lead early but it didn't last long. The Bears went on a 22-0 run over six minutes, and the Rams failed to score on their next 12 possessions.

It didn't get much better the rest of the way, thanks to a steady diet of guards Malik Alvin (20 points) and Tony Smith (14 points, seven rebounds and four assists). Every time the Rams tried to make a run, it was Smith or Alvin who made the big shots to preserve the Bears' lead.

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With 17 new additions to roster, WSSU baseball looks to repeat

COACH KEVIN RITSCHE

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - The reigning CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State baseball team may have added new players, but the team's goals remain the same: another conference title and a College World Series run.

The 2011 Rams baseball season ended with a record of 30-25 overall, and 19-7 in the conference. They won the CIAA Championship and earned a trip to the regionals with a fifth seed. At the NCAA tournament at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa. the Rams came up short with two losses, 7-2 to Mercyhurst and 11-3 to Concord.

Rams second-year Head Coach Kevin Ritsche added 17 new players to his 13 man-roster of returning players. The new recruits include seven freshman and 10 transfers from junior colleges and universities.

"Bringing in these new guys equals starting from scratch with my system, but we also have increased the talent level," Ritsche said.

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XU Nuggets beat Fisk, clinch tie for GCAC regular-season title

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Jasmine Grant scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half Monday to help NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana earn an 81-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Fisk.

The Gold Nuggets (21-8 overall, 11-2 GCAC) won their third straight and clinched a tie for the GCAC regular-season championship. They began the day tied for first place with Talladega, but the Lady Tornadoes lost 60-47 at Tougaloo. Xavier can win the title with a victory Saturday at Dillard in the regular-season finale.

Keldra Hall scored 11 points, and Paige Gauthier had a season-high-tying 10 points and a career-best nine assists for Xavier. All 15 Gold Nuggets scored.

De'Erin Rogan scored 15 points for Fisk (4-22, 0-12), and Simona Newman and Tiffany Wynn scored 10 apiece.

Xavier led 40-25 at halftime and took its biggest lead, 76-38, when Gauthier passed to Paige Rochelle for a fast-break basket with 6:08 remaining.

Gauthier is the third XU player this season to reach nine assists in a game. Her previous high was five. Gauthier had seven assists in the second half.

Xavier shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the floor — 65.4 in the second half — and limited the Lady Bulldogs to 30.4 percent. The Gold Nuggets had a 38-24 rebound advantage, and they recorded their largest winning margin on an opponent's floor since a 74-40 victory at William Carey on Feb. 27, 2003.

It was the first time since November 2010 that the Nuggets reached 80 points, and it was the first time they did it on the road since December 2008.

The XU-Dillard game will tip off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Dillard's Dent Hall.

BOX SCORE

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