Illinois runner is Gold Nuggets' second signee for 2012

HANNAH FINNEGAN

NEW ORLEANS — Hannah Finnegan of Pekin, Illinois, and Tremont High School has signed a women's cross country scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana. She is XU's second runner signed for 2012.

Finnegan broke 20 minutes for three miles each of the past two seasons at the Illinois High School Association championships, placing 118th in 19:55 in 2011 and 81st in 19:47 in 2010. Her best three-mile time is 19:43.

Finnegan helped Tremont's Turks finish 10th out of 25 schools in the Class 1A team standings in 2011, sixth out of 20 schools in 2010 and 11th out of 20 schools in 2009.

In track and field Finnegan is a two-time qualifier for the state meet in the 800-meter run and has a best time of 2:30 in that event.

Finnegan, a team captain in cross country and track, has a 3.88 grade-point average and will major in pharmacy at Xavier.

Pekin is a suburb south of Peoria and about 170 miles southwest of Chicago.

Briana Simms of Hendersonville, Tennessee, signed with the Gold Nuggets in February.

Xavier's women 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
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Didavi is NAIA Player of Week; Howell wins GCAC honor

Xavier's Loic Didavi is 21-6 in singles
 and 21-7 in doubles in the 2011-12 season.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Loic Didavi, who has earned his share of national recognition this season, was selected NAIA Men's Tennis Player of the Week for April 2-8.

Didavi also was selected Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, and Xavier's Kourtney Howell won the GCAC award in women's tennis for the second time this season.

Didavi, a junior from Cotonou, Benin — a coastal city in West Africa — defeated three ranked singles players and two ranked doubles teams in four days during Xavier's spring-break trip to California. Didavi beat No. 5 Bryan Cox of Westmont, No. 9 Lucas Pereira of Vanguard and No. 19 Tyler Bowman of Point Loma Nazarene, and he teamed with Zach Taylor to defeat No. 2 Cox and Rodrigo Schaefer and No. 12 Bowman and Gregory De Andrade. His 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory against

Bowman clinched XU's 5-4 victory against then-No. 7 Point Loma.

Didavi finished the week 3-1 in singles and 2-2 in doubles, with all but one opponent ranked nationally.

Didavi, in his first season at Xavier, placed fifth in singles and third in doubles with Taylor in the NAIA division of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in October. He was a second-team NAIA All-American the past two seasons at Auburn Montgomery. He is ranked 11th in singles and third in doubles with Taylor.

Kourtney Howell

This is the second time that a Gold Rush tennis player received the NAIA award. Taylor did it in 2011.

Xavier's Loic Didavi is 21-6 in singles and 21-7 in doubles in the 2011-12 season.

Howell, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, was 2-2 in singles and 2-2 in doubles. She defeated No. 21 Maika Adair of Point Loma Nazarene and No. 38 Nicci Yvanovich of Westmont, giving her four singles victories this season against ranked players. Both her singles losses were to top-10 players.

The XU men and women will conclude the regular season by traveling to Mississippi for matches on Saturday against Tougaloo at 9 a.m. and Alcorn State at 3 p.m. Then the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will compete April 27-28 in an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at Norcross, Georgia.

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

TSU men's golf hosts Big Blue Intercollegiate

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Tennessee State University men's golf team will host the 5th annual TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate from April 16-17 at the Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tennessee.

The General's Retreat Course at Hermitage Golf Club is an 18-hole Gary Roger Baird design with six sets of tees that can stretch the course from 3,315 yards to 6,773 yards. Par is 72, with the front and back nines each at par 36. Yet it still features four par fives with each nine consisting of a balance of two par 3s, five par 4s, and two par 5s.

The General's Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, hosted the LPGA Sara Lee Classic from 1988 to 1999. The General's Retreat has been voted the "Best Golf Course in Nashville."

TSU is set to take on a challenging 10-team field including squads from Ohio Valley Conference members, UT Martin, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech, Eastern Illinois and last year's tourney winner, Murray State (+35; 595).

Other teams slated to compete are Southern Illinois, Trevecca, IPFW and North Dakota.

Practice rounds are scheduled for Sunday, April 15 with the first round set to begin at 8 a.m. on Monday with a shotgun start.

In last season's Big Blue intercollegiate, host TSU finished in a tie for third recording an overall stroke count of 601 after inclement weather shortened the tournament to two rounds. The Tigers finished six strokes behind first place Murray State for the 36-hole event.

Ryan Pierson led TSU and finished second overall after entering the final round tied for first. Pierson carded rounds of 71 and 74 to finish on the final leader board standings 5-over par 140. He finished with one eagle and shot -4 on 5-par scoring.

Cameron Scitern joined Pierson in the top ten recording sixth place overall. He finished in the top ten after carding both rounds at 74 to finish 8-over par 140.

Following the Big Blue Intercollegiate, TSU will prepare for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship that will take place, April 26-28, at Greystone Golf Course in Dickson, Tennessee.

TOURNAMENT INFO

COURTSEY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

George Zimmerman is charged with 2nd-degree murder in Trayvon Martin shooting

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN 4/11/12
SANFORD, FL POLICE DEPT.
ARREST PHOTO

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed unarmed Trayvon Martin, was charged with second-degree murder Wednesday in a case that has riveted the nation.

Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charge at an early-evening news conference in Jacksonville. She said Zimmerman had turned himself in and was being held in the state.

“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment,” Corey said. She said she had informed Martin’s parents of the outcome of her investigation.

Under Florida law, a conviction is punishable by life in prison.

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George Zimmerman arrives at Seminole County Jail, faces second-degree murder charge

SANFORD, Florida -- George Zimmerman arrived at the Seminole County Jail this evening, about two hours after officials announced that he will face a second-degree murder charge in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announced the second-degree murder charge at the State Attorney's Office in Jacksonville tonight, more than six weeks after Trayvon and Zimmerman's fatal encounter.



If convicted, Zimmerman would face up to life in prison on the first-degree felony charge. He arrived at the Seminole County jail about 8:30 p.m. tonight, greeted by a throng of reporters shouting questions.

"The team here with me has worked tirelessly looking for answers in Trayvon Martin's death," Corey said earlier, introducing her prosecutors and investigators.

Corey added that "we do not prosecute by public pressure." She said that her office handles all cases the same way, regardless of the scrutiny.
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JSU receives large donation from a former student

JACKSON, Mississippi (WLBT) - They will be playing beautiful music at Jackson State University to the tune of half a million dollars.

Dr. Lewis Liddell served as head of the Sonic Boom of the South for 18 years. At the annual band banquet, one of his former students who is the manager for rapper Lil' Wayne and hip hop star Drake made a huge donation. Cortez Bryant says JSU made a big difference in his life and he wants to give back and hopes other former students will also support the school.



"The gift is a $500,000 contribution in the name of Dr. Lewis Liddell who was my band director and a former band director for Jackson State for 18 years. The Sonic Boom of The South shaped me and got me out of the streets of New Orleans. It gave me an opportunity to expand my education at Jackson State University", said Bryant.

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UNCW women's coach Cooper-Dyke leaving after 2 seasons

HOUSTON, Texas -- Cynthia Cooper-Dyke resigned as University of North Carolina - Wilmington (UNCW) women's basketball coach on Tuesday to become the coach at Texas Southern University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Cooper-Dyke compiled a 44-22 record in two seasons with the Seahawks and guided the team to back-to-back WNIT appearances, the first postseason bids in program history.

"I love the city of Wilmington, the UNCW student body and all of the coaches and student-athletes have been awesome," Cooper-Dyke said in a phone interview. "Of course my players have been the best as well, so it was a very tough decision.

"The lures of home and an athletic director that I've worked with in the past and just the bright eyes of my kids when I even broached the subject to them about going back to Houston, it really helped me make the decision. It was a tough one, but I thought it was the best one for me."

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VIDEO: UNCW A.D. TALKS ABOUT COOPER-DYKE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Cooper-Dyke to be new women’s coach at Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas - Cynthia Cooper-Dyke stepped down Tuesday as women’s basketball coach at North Carolina-Wilmington and is expected to assume the same position at Texas Southern, pending approval by the TSU Board of Regents.

Cooper-Dyke, who led TSU rival Prairie View A&M from 2005-10, will likely be announced as the Tigers’ next coach Friday. She will replace Yolanda Wells-Broughton, who resigned last Friday after going 33-88 in four seasons.

“Cynthia is our sole finalist,” said TSU athletic director Charles McClelland, who hired Cooper-Dyke in 2005 when he was athletic director at Prairie View. “Upon final approval, Cynthia will be our next head coach at Texas Southern University.”

Cooper-Dyke, a basketball Hall of Famer and former WNBA star with ...

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Cooper-Dyke resigns as UNCW women's basketball coach

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Where there is smoke, there is typically fire and one has been burning since the end of the women's basketball season at UNCW. The fire was extinguished on Tuesday.

Director of Athletics Jimmy Bass announced that head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke resigned her post to become the next head coach at Texas Southern University. At TSU, Cooper-Dyke will be reunited with Athletic Director Charles McClelland, who hired her in 2006 when he was the AD at Prairie View A&M.

TSU, which plays in the Southwest Athletic Conference, finished the 2011-12 season with a 5-26 record under coach Yolanda Wells-Broughton, who resigned on April 6. In Cooper-Dyke's two seasons at UNCW, the women's basketball teams went 44-22, advancing to the WNIT twice. The post-season appearances and back-to-back 20-plus win seasons were program firsts.

She was also named the Colonial Athletic Association's Coach of the Year in her freshman campaign after her team finished with a school-record 24 wins and a tie for second place in the league standings. Shortly after being named head coach, Cooper-Dyke, an Olympic gold medalist, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Rush offer plenty of resistance before losing 6-1 to Wave

NEW ORLEANS — Tulane needed three-set victories in three singles matches Tuesday to defeat city rival Xavier University of Louisiana 6-1 at Tulane's Goldring Tennis Center.

The Green Wave (11-9), an NCAA Division I member, won for the 10th time in 13 home matches and beat the Gold Rush (12-7), ranked ninth in the NAIA, for the second time this season.

Xavier won two matches — Viktor Svoboda and Corey Huggins beat Shaye Wali and Rodrigo Rappaccioli 8-5 at No. 3 doubles, and Zach Taylor beat Joe Young 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 singles — but only the singles result counted in the team score. Tulane scored the first point by winning 2-of-3 doubles matches.

Wali's 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 decision against Svoboda at No. 3 singles clinched the dual and gave Tulane a 4-1 lead. In the final two completed matches, Idan Mark defeated Loic Didavi 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (9-7) at No. 1, and Iain Sneddon beat Corey Huggins 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (12-10) at No. 6.

"The final score is no indication of how this match went," XU coach Alan Green said. "We gave Tulane all they could handle and just fell short on the three deciding matches. I would like to think that we've earned their respect and maybe made them feel uncomfortable. This was a great match. If we can build from this we can do some damage the rest of the way."

The loss was a season-worst third in a row for Xavier and the sixth in nine duals since a 9-1 start. But two of the losses during the recent stretch are to NCAA Division I opponents, and the other four occurred against top-10 NAIA teams.

The XU men and women will conclude the regular season by traveling to Mississippi for matches on Saturday against Tougaloo at 9 a.m. and Alcorn State at 3 p.m. Then the Rush and Gold Nuggets will compete April 27-28 in an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at Norcross, Georgia.

Results

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

TSU Golf places ninth at Grub Mart Intercollegiate

GLENCOE, Alabama -- The Tennessee State University men's golf team wrapped up action at the Grub Mart Intercollegiate on Tuesday afternoon, picking up a ninth place finish in the tournament.

Tennessee State recorded a team score of (+79) 943 after carding rounds of 316-309-318.

James Stepp posted his second top 10 finish of the season as he tied for seventh. Stepp opened with an 81 before registering his best score of the tournament (71) in round two. He carded a 3-over-par 75 in the third round to notch (+11) 227.

Ryan Pierson (T31) followed with 237 (78-78-81) while Tyler Hendrickson finished just one stroke behind Pierson with 238 (80-79-79).

Andrew Warner (79-82-83-244) and Dallas Hill (79-81-85-245) rounded out the scorers for TSU as they placed 42nd and 43rd, respectively.

Host Jacksonville State claimed the tournament title with a 33-over-897 while Eastern Kentucky finished second behind a score of (+45) 909. UT Martin also placed in the top three carding a final score of (+58) 922.

Next the Tigers will host the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate, April 16-17, at the Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tennessee.

FINAL RESULTS

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Iles chosen a BoxToRow.com second-team All-American

CHRIS ILES

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball standout Chris Iles collected another postseason honor when he was chosen to the BoxToRow.com Division II/NAIA HBCU All-America Team.

Iles, a 5-foot-11 senior point guard from Houston and a graduate of Alief Hastings High School, led the Gold Rush with 9.9 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, 55 made 3-pointers and a .433 3-point field-goal percentage. He ranked 14th in NAIA Division I in 3-point field-goal accuracy, and his percentage is the fifth best in a season in Xavier history.

Two XU teammates, junior forwards Denzell Erves of Vicksburg, Miss., and Anthony Simmons of Rochester, N.Y., received honorable mention. Simmons made the third team a year ago.

Iles, a two-year XU starter after transferring from Nicholls State, received NAIA Division I All-America honorable mention and was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

The XU men finished 23-9, shared the GCAC regular-season championship, qualified for the second straight year for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and ranked 24th in the postseason coaches poll.

From the Press Box to Press Row, a syndicated sports radio program, sponsors the team.

NOTES: The Gold Rush ranked sixth in the final BoxToRow.com Division II/NAIA poll . . . No XU players were chosen to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's All-Louisiana team, but Dannton Jackson received five votes to tie for second place with Louisiana Tech's Michael White in balloting for Coach of the Year. Southern's Roman Banks won the award with 9½ votes . . . Senior forward Jamaan Kenner, Xavier's two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, will be featured in a taped interview on Ro Brown's Sport-a-Facts program between noon and 1 p.m. Friday on WBOK Radio (1230 AM) in New Orleans.

BoxToRow.com
Division II / NAIA HBCU All-America Team

First Team
Malik Alvin, Shaw
Darren Clark, Bowie State
Marcus Goode, Benedict
Travis Hyman, Bowie State
Tony Smith, Shaw

Second Team
Damion Harris, Virginia Union
Chris Iles, Xavier
Aaron McCuin, Paul Quinn
Marquise Mems, Tougaloo
Trevin Parks, Johnson C. Smith

Third Team
WyKevin Bazemore, Winston-Salem State
Ken Brown, Philander Smith
Joshua Eichelberger Tuskegee
Justin Glover, Winston-Salem State
Kenny Mitchell, Virginia State

Honorable Mention
Nate Barfield, Langston
Terrance Bowman, Claflin
Denzell Erves, Xavier
Denzel Mooney Lincoln (Pa.)
Andrae Nelson, Morehouse
Angelo Sharpless, Elizabeth City State
Anthony Simmons, Xavier
Calvin Thomas, Tuskegee
Byron Westmoreland, Bowie State
Devin White, SUNO

Player of the Year: Malik Alvin, Shaw
Coach of the Year: Cleo Hill Jr., Shaw

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 

Bethune-Cookman University's Jordan looking to expand role

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Last year, Bethune-Cookman running back Anthony Jordan showed flashes of what he can do. This season, Wildcats fans will likely get a chance to see the whole package.

"He's having a real good spring," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. "He's probably made bigger strides than anybody at his position."

B-CU Spring Game
WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21
WHERE: Municipal Stadium
ADMISSION: $5; $1 for students with ID; parking fee

Jordan was primarily the Wildcats' goal-line back in 2011, leading the team with nine touchdowns. But the 5-foot-11, 230-pound redshirt freshman also showed off some moves in the open field, highlighted by his 27-yard run against Miami in which he ran over safety Vaughn Telemaque on a first-and-23 to set up a first-quarter touchdown that put B-CU ahead 7-0.



"(My parents) called me (after the game)," Jordan said. "They were excited about it, so that made me excited."

Jordan had seven carries for 49 yards against the 'Canes. But in seven games, he carried the ball four times or less. He finished the year fifth on the team in rushing with 235 yards on 50 carries.

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CIAA tournament breaks more records in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The CIAA basketball tournament continues to grow in popularity, establishing new economic impact and attendance records in Charlotte.

According to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority this year's conference tournament had an economic impact of $50.5 million over the seven-day period, a 14 percent increase from 2011. The overall attendance for official CIAA and uptown Charlotte functions increased to over 197,000 attendees.

“The CIAA cannot thank our alumni, students and fans enough for their unwavering support and role in making the 100th Anniversary Celebration a huge success,” stated Peggy Davis – Interim CIAA Commissioner. “The momentum generated from this year’s Tournament will be used to propel the CIAA into the future as we strive to continuously enhance the quality of our patron’s Tournament experience year-after-year.”

The CIAA has made Charlotte its home for the past seven years and has grown each year.

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Southern Jaguars, ULL Cajuns meet after successful weekends

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Fresh from a rare Monday practice at Lee-Hines Field, Roger Cador was in a great mood. In fact, the man was downright bubbly. He was chattier than usual, which in Cador’s case, is quite literally saying a lot.

He’d gotten a good bit of sleep since Saturday afternoon, when his Southern baseball team bounced back to complete a doubleheader sweep of Texas Southern, clinching the three-game weekend series. Cador was encouraged by what he saw from his players that day.

“I feel a lot better. You have to feel better when you look at what they were able to achieve,” Cador said. “They got more two-strike, two-out hits, which was something we had been preaching to them. We played some defense, and we got some very good pitching. “So when you put all that together, it’s wonderful.”

What could make him feel better? If the Jaguars keep it going, of course. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, they host Louisiana-Lafayette (15-16) at Lee-Hines Field, hoping to prove that they’re still capable of shaping up in time for a championship run.

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Chance to win lured former B-CU Weems to Chicago Bears

CHICAGO, Illinois - The national football pundits who’ve elevated the Bears in their offseason power rankings aren’t the only ones who envision a bright future for the team.

A main reason that wide receiver/kick returner Eric Weems signed with the Bears as a free agent March 14 was because he felt that they’re in position to contend for a championship.



“I was looking for a team with the best chance to win and I felt like this was the best place I could be,” said Weems, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 2007-11.

Weems heard positive things about coach Lovie Smith and the situation in Chicago from Bears defensive end Chauncey Davis, a former teammate with the Falcons.

“He told me it’s a great coaching staff,” Weems said. “Guys want to come in and work for Lovie. He said guys work hard there. It’s all about business. It’s a football city, so you can’t come in and play around.”

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Alabama State football: Hornets offense jumps on defense in first scrimmage

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State reached the midway point of its spring workouts on Friday with a scrimmage highlighted by the offense.

The Hornets held their first of three scrimmages on Friday and the offense looked in midseason form, torching one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s best defenses for seven touchdowns while committing just one turnover in an hour-long workout that covered 69 plays.

“I feel like we won the battle up front,” quarterback Greg Jenkins said, “and when you do that, everything else is like seven-on-seven out there.”

It often looked like a seven-on-seven drill for the senior quarterback, who completed 17 of 24 passes for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His backup, Demetric Price, completed 5 of 8 passes for ...

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XU's Kenner receives $2,000 Pattison Family Scholarship

JAMAAN KENNER

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Jamaan Kenner is one of five NAIA men's basketball student-athletes to receive a $2,000 Pattison Champions of Character Scholarship for the 2011-12 season.

Kenner — 6-foot-4 senior guard from LaPlace, La., and a graduate of East St. John High School — also was named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete for the second consecutive season.

Each of the 32 teams that qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship nominated a player who best represents the five core values of the Champions of Character program: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Those student-athletes then were automatically considered for the Pattison scholarship.

The other scholarship recipients are Jake Greene of LSU-Shreveport, Maurice Rutherford of Rogers State, Brice Sharp of Lee (Tenn.) and Mico Sjekloca of Life.

This is the eighth year that longtime NAIA supporters Dr. Phil and Mary Pattison have awarded these scholarships. Xavier's Michael Varnado was a scholarship recipient in the 2004-05 season.

Minimum qualifications for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete are junior academic status and a cumulative 3.5 grade-point average.

Kenner is a biology/pre-medical major with a 3.62 GPA and will graduate from Xavier on May 12. He has been accepted into the School of Medicine of LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport and Meharry Medical College of Nashville, Tenn.

Kenner, a four-year letterman, averaged 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 30 games and made 37-of-98 3-pointers this past season. The Gold Rush finished 23-9, earned a share of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship and were 24th in the NAIA postseason coaches poll.

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

Gold Rush add Tuesday dual at Tulane to the schedule

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has added to its men's tennis schedule a dual match against city rival Tulane.

The Gold Rush (12-6) and Green Wave (10-9) will play at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 10) at Tulane's Goldring Tennis Center. It will be Xavier's fifth dual of the season against an NCAA Division I opponent.

Xavier lost its season opener 5-0 at Tulane on Jan. 28. The Gold Rush are ranked ninth in the NAIA.

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

Trayvon Martin: Police department shut down to public

SANFORD, Florida - Sanford officials have shut down the Sanford Police Department to the public today after Trayvon Martin protesters blocked the entrance into the building.  Moments later, Phillip Agnew and Stephen Green, leaders of the Dream Defenders, were called into the Police Department after Special Prosecutor Angela Corey asked to speak with them over the phone.

Green, 19, of Orlando, exited police headquarters, saying Corey, state attorney in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, told protest leaders the process was continuing.

Earlier today, Corey announced there would be no grand jury in the case.

City Manager Norton Bonaparte, Jr. said the demonstration had forced him to shut down police headquarters.

VIDEO

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Trayvon Martin: No grand jury in case

SANFORD, Floroda - The special prosecutor assigned to the Trayvon Martin shooting investigation now says she will not take the case before a grand jury tomorrow, as had been scheduled.

Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the case and state attorney for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, said Monday that her investigation will continue, but the grand jury will not hear the case. Corey stressed in a statement that the decision to forego the scheduled grand jury proceedings did not reflect whether or not there will ultimately be a prosecution in the case.

In lieu of a grand jury, Corey's office can choose on its own whether or not to charge George Zimmerman with a crime in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon on Feb. 26.

"The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," Corey's office said in a statement. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Corey as special prosecutor March 22.

"At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment," the statement says. "From the moment she was assigned, Ms. Corey noted she may not need a Grand Jury."

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Trayvon Martin killing: UNITED NATIONS human rights chief calls for investigation

UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay has called for an "immediate investigation" into the circumstances surrounding the death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teen who was shot dead by a volunteer neighbourhood watchman in Florida.

Ms Pillay made the comments about the controversial case at a press conference in Barbados, as she wrapped up a three-day visit to the Caribbean island nation.

"As High Commissioner for Human Rights, I call for an immediate investigation," she said.

"Justice must be done for the victim. It's not just this individual case. It calls into question the delivery of justice in all situations like this."

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Student marchers arrive in Sanford, call for action in Trayvon Martin case

SANFORD, Florida - In front of dozens of college students packed into a church sanctuary Sunday night, Sanford City Commissioner Velma Williams said she believes the majority of the city's police officers are good people.

However, "there is a cancer within the department that must be eradicated," Williams said as many in the crowded church stood and cheered.

Williams made the comments at a rally at the Allen Chapel AME Church put together by the Dream Defenders, a group of student leaders and others who had just completed a three-day, 40-mile march from Daytona Beach to Sanford as an effort to inspire youth to talk about the issues surrounding the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

While the rally included music, students loudly spoke out against the police department's handling of the investigation and for not arresting shooter George Zimmerman. A special prosecutor is now investigating.

Phillip Agnew, a Florida A&M University alumnus who took part in the march, angrily asked: "Why hasn't there been an arrest?"  He then encouraged the students to continue speaking out about the Trayvon shooting long after Sunday's event.

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SU's Pete Richardson, GSU's Aaron James headed for Induction with 2012 Class, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

2012 LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CELEBRATION: THURSDAY, JUNE 21 - SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – Five football standouts, led by star NFL running backs Deuce McAllister of the New Orleans Saints and Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn, are among the eight 2012 inductees who will enter the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Another remarkable running back, LSU great Terry Robiskie, joins Louisiana Tech pass catching sensation Roger Carr and highly-successful former Southern University head coach Pete Richardson in the five-man football component going into the Hall this summer.

COACH PETE RICHARDSON
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS
Click here for the inductee bios

Three-time Grambling basketball All-American Aaron James, a New Orleans native, joins LSU baseball stalwart Eddy Furniss and nationally-acclaimed jockey Mark Guidry, a Lafayette native, in the Hall’s 2012 induction class.

Their selection was announced late Saturday. They will be officially enshrined Saturday, June 23, 2012 in Natchitoches to culminate the June 21-23 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

A 30-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee selected the 2012 inductees. The panel considered a record 142 nominees from 24 different sport categories on a 25-page ballot, said Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland.

Richardson defined Southern University football from his arrival in 1993 to 2009, winning five Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, including a three-peat from 1997-99 (the school’s first consecutive SWAC titles since 1959-60), four black college national titles (1993, 1995, 1997 and 2003) and four Heritage Bowl titles. Richardson was 12-5 in the Bayou Classic and is the only SWAC coach never to have lost to Eddie Robinson.

His winning percentage of 68.4 percent in 17 seasons (134-62) at the school is second behind only College Football Hall of Fame coach Ace Mumford’s 70.4 percent (176-60-14). Prior to his arrival, Southern had last won the SWAC in 1975 and 1966. The program had four different head coaches in the 1970s and four between 1981 and 1992.

Richardson took over a program that had three straight losing seasons and guided it to an 11-1 record, winning the SWAC and black college national titles. At SU, Richardson had four 11-win seasons -- including a 12-1 run in 2003.

AARON JAMES
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
TIGERS
Click here for the inductee bios

A three-time All-American at Grambling after a prep All-America career at New Orleans’ Cohen High School, James played five seasons with the expansion New Orleans Jazz, who took him as their first-ever draft pick in the second round of the 1974 draft. Nicknamed “A.J. from the Parking Lot” for his long-range jump shots, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.1 rebounds and had 370 assists in 356 NBA games, then starred for five seasons in Italy and three in the Philippines.

The 6-foot-8 James excelled for legendary Grambling coach Fred Hobdy. James was the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 1970-71, a three-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference pick and the league’s MVP as a senior in 973-74. He was a second-team small college All-American as a sophomore and junior and a first-teamer as a senior when he led the nation in scoring with a 32.1 average. For his college career, he averaged 22.2 points and 10.9 rebounds in 106 games, helping Grambling claim two SWAC titles and one NAIA District Championship.

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VISIT: THE LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
VISIT: THE LOUISIANA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION

Roman Banks named LSWA Coach of the Year

HAMMOND, Louisiana - Southern University head coach Roman Banks was named the Louisiana Men's Basketball Coach-of-the-Year after guiding the Jaguars to a 17-win season and a second-place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced Saturday.

McNeese State University standout Patrick Richard was selected as the Louisiana Men's Basketball Player of the Year. LSU's Justin Hamilton was selected as the state's Newcomer-of-the-Year and Tulane's Ricky Tarrant was chosen as the Freshman-of-the-Year. The All-Louisiana Team is voted on by media members throughout the state of Louisiana and the nominating schools' sports information directors.

PHOTO COURTESY: THE SOUTHERN DIGEST.COM

Banks, who spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana and was an assistant at Southern from 1996-2002, took over a Southern program that had recorded a combined 15 wins the previous three years.

Taking over a team that was picked to finish 10th in the league's preseason poll, Banks led Southern to a 17-14 record. The Jaguars led the SWAC in field goal percentage defense holding opponents to 38.7 percent from the floor while finishing second in the league in scoring defense allowing 63.9 points per game.

Richard, a Carencro native and the lone player from 2011 to repeat as a first-team member, led the Southland Conference in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game while grabbing 6.4 rebounds. The 6-foot-4 senior averaged 19.1 points per game in Southland Conference contests, where he was chosen as the league's Player of the Year. Richard, who finished as the Cowboys' 12th-leading scorer in school history with 1,625 points, joined a group of six players to lead his team in scoring for three years.

Hamilton, a transfer from Iowa State, helped LSU return to the postseason for the first time since 2009 after he averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds - both team bests. The seven-footer earned Second-Team All-SEC honors and recorded four double-doubles, highlighted by a 23-point, 16-rebound performance against Ole Miss in the league opener.

Tarrant, the Conference USA Freshman-of-the-Year, led the Green Wave in scoring as he reached the 20-point mark in nine games during the season. The 6-1 guard earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors and was second among all players in league games averaging 18.2 points per game. He scored in double figures in 15 of Tulane's 16 league games, paced by 33-point performances against SMU and UAB.

Richard, Hamilton and Tarrant were joined on the first team by Northwestern State's William Mosley and Quincy Roberts of Grambling.

Mosley, a Shreveport native, capped off a stellar career for Northwestern State as he finished fifth in NCAA history with 460 blocks. The 6-7 post player blocked 4.1 shots per game for the Demons, finishing second in the nation behind Kentucky's Anthony Davis. Mosley finished second on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game and led the Southland Conference with 9.6 rebounds.

Roberts, a 6-5 guard, averaged 23.9 points (would have finished third among Division I players in 2011-12) in 20 games in his first season for Grambling State after transferring from St. John's. Named the SWAC Newcomer-of-the-Year and a first-team All-SWAC selection, Roberts scored 20 or more points 14 times on the season with a season-high 34 coming against Prairie View.

Leading the second team was Derrick Parker of LSU-Shreveport, who averaged 19.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. He was joined by Louisiana Tech's Raheem Appleby (13.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg.), Corey Gray of Loyola (17.7 ppg., 4.3 rpg.), Centenary's Maxx Nakwaasah (25.4 ppg., 8.6 rpg.) and Josh Brown of Louisiana-Lafayette (10.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg.).

LSU freshman Anthony Hickey (8.9 ppg., 3.8 assists) paced the third-team and was joined by Nicholls State's Trevon Lewis (12.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), Lovell Cook of UNO (14.0 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), Roosevelt Johnson of Southeastern Louisiana (11.5 ppg., 7.9 rpg.) and Tulane's Josh Davis (11.2 ppg., 9.3 rpg.).

2012 ALL-LOUISIANA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Patrick Richard, McNeese State, F, Sr., Carencro, La. - 17.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg.
William Mosley, Northwestern State, C, Sr., Shreveport, La. - 11.7 ppg., 9.6 rpg., 4.1 blks
Justin Hamilton, LSU, C, Jr., Alpine, Utah - 12.9 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 1.3 blocks
Quincy Roberts, Grambling, G, Jr., Harrisburg, Pa. - 23.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg.
Ricky Tarrant, Tulane, G, Fr., Pleasant Grove, Ala. - 14.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg.

SECOND TEAM
Derrick Parker, LSU-Shreveport, F, Sr., Minden, La. - 19.4 ppg., 11.3 rpg.
Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech, G, Fr., Jacksonville, Ark. - 13.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 1.2 assists
Corey Gray, Loyola, G, Sr., Green, Ind. - 17.7 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 2.1 steals

Maxx Nakwaasah, Centenary, G, Sr., Dallas, Texas - 25.4 ppg., 8.6 rpg.

Josh Brown, Louisiana-Lafayette, G, Sr., Ruston, La. - 10.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg.

THIRD TEAM
Anthony Hickey, LSU, G, Fr., Hopkinsville, Ky. - 8.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 3.8 assists
Trevon Lewis, Nicholls State, F, Fr., Houma, La. - 12.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg.
Lovell Cook, New Orleans, F, Jr., New Orleans, La. - 14.0 ppg., 5.1 rpg.
Roosevelt Johnson, Southeastern Louisiana, F, Jr., Norco, La. - 11.5 ppg., 7.9 rpg.
Josh Davis, Tulane, F, Soph., Raleigh, N.C. - 11.2 ppg., 9.3 rpg.

HONORABLE MENTION
Quinton Doggett, Southern; Greg Shyne, LSU-Shreveport; Shamir Davis, Northwestern State; Robert Lovaglio, Loyola; Andre Stringer, LSU.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:Voting:

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:Voting:
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:Voting:
COACH OF THE YEAR:Voting:
Banks, Southern (9.5); Michael White, Louisiana Tech (5); Dannton Jackson, Xavier (5); Mark Slessinger, New Orleans (3.5); Chad McDowell, LSU-S (3); Michael Giorlando, Loyola (3); Dave Simmons, McNeese State (1 - write-in); no vote (1). Roman Banks, Southern Tarrant, Tulane (17); Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech (6); Anthony Hickey (4); Trevon Lewis, Nicholls State (4). Ricky Tarrant, Tulane Hamilton, LSU (13); Quincy Roberts, Grambling (11); Lovell Cook, New Orleans (5); Josh Davis, Tulane (1); Trevor Gaskins, Louisiana Tech (1). Justin Hamilton, LSU Richard, McNeese State (17); William Mosley, Northwestern State (6); Derrick Parker, LSU-S (4); Quincy Roberts, Grambling (3); Justin Hamilton, LSU (1). Patrick Richard, McNeese State.

COURTESY:  LOUISIANA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE

DSU Hornets complete season sweep of Norfolk State Spartans

DOVER, Delaware - Delaware State scored in all but one inning in an 11-1 win over Norfolk State in a MEAC North contest at Soldier Field this afternoon. The game was called after the Hornets scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning due to the 10-run rule.

DSU completed a six-game season sweep of the Spartans to improve to 18-13-1 overall. The Hornets lead the MEAC North with an 8-1 mark. Norfolk State dropped its seventh straight game to fall to 8-19 and 5-6.

Tony Gatto drove in three runs, while Cameron Cecil, Ryan Haas and JP Frey had two hits each to lead the Hornets' 12-hit attack. DSU also scored two runs on Norfolk State errors and another on a wild pitch.

Norfolk State scored first with a run in the top of the second inning. The Hornets answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Haas doubled to lead off the inning, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Eddie Sorondo, Frey singled up the middle to score Haas with the tying run.

DSU scored five times in the third to pull ahead. Cecil was hit by a pitch with one out to begin the rally. He moved to third on a single by Haas, and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Aaron Nardone was walked with the bases loaded and Gatto followed with a two-run single to stretch Delaware State's lead to 5-1. Joey Babuca put the Hornets ahead 6-1 when he executed a suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Nardone with the final run of the inning. .

Sorondo singled in a run in the fourth and Scott Davis had a run-scoring double in the fifth to stretch DSU's lead to 8-1.

The Hornets opened up a 10-1 lead with two runs in the sixth. Sorondo was walked to lead off the inning. He was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Frey and reached third on a Nardone single. Nardone stole second and Sorondo scored on an error by Norfolk State catcher Chris Warren on the throw to second. DSU scored its second run in the sixth when Gatto drove in his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly.

Delaware State ended the game with a run in the seventh. Davis drew a one out walk and moved to second when Cecil was hit by a pitch. Haas followed with a sharp grounder to first. Norfolk State first baseman Ross Cardwell fielded the ball, but his throw to second was wild, allowing Davis to score the game ending run.

Starter Zach Adkins (3-1) threw six innings to pick up the win for the Hornets. He allowed three hits and one run, while striking out three.

Delaware State returns to action on Wednesday (Apr. 11) at Towson. Game time is 3:00 p.m. in Towson, Maryland.

GAME STATS

B-CU baseball team routs Savannah State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Ali Simpson pitched for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery a year ago. The lefty started and went two innings, allowing one hit and no runs, striking out two and walking two in Bethune-Cookman's 10-1 win over Savannah State (11-21, 5-7 MEAC) on Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark to complete a three-game sweep over the Tigers.

"It was an awesome feeling just to be able to pitch again," Simpson said. "I think my arm has gotten stronger from the rehab and everything that we've done, so I was really happy with that."

Brandon Turner went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to lead Bethune-Cookman (19-13, 9-3). B-CU's Alejandro Sanchez also drove in three runs and finished 2-for-5 in the game. Anthony Stokes went 2-for-4 and homered for the Wildcats.

Bryan Rivera picked up ...

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Stillman softball pounds LeMoyne-Owen

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The Stillman Lady Tigers sit atop of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Western Division after sweeping two doubleheaders from LeMoyne-Owen over the weekend. The Tigers roared out of an offensive slump and and 16-1 and 22-2 on Saturday, then 16-2 and 29-4 on Sunday.

Stillman (27-10, 20-2 SIAC) hosts Kentucky State, currently in second place in the SIAC West, this weekend to end the regular season.

“We had been in a bit of a slump over the past six games, but I am proud of how we went to work and blasted out of it,” Stillman coach Pam Phillips said. “We were patient and selective at the plate, and the results were positive. We really hit well, we stayed aggressive on the base paths, and we had a very productive weekend offensively.”

Stillman pitchers Brittany ...

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FAMU band halftime shows should be on hold until arrest in hazing death

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M University band should not take the field for a halftime show until an arrest has been made in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and school officials can make a convincing case that hazing no longer will permeate the Marching 100's mind-set.

It's a tall order, and the university does not control the Orange County law enforcement officials investigating the case, but how can the band strut its stuff while Champion's death remains unsolved? What message does that send?

It could be argued that suspending halftime shows punishes the many for the actions of only a few, but it's about respecting Champion's death and family — not being punitive.



Even if officials meet those standards, I can't envision the kind of rollicking halftime show I've loved all my life. Not this season. Wouldn't it have to be a more subdued presentation? …

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FAMU passes stricter hazing rules — lack of charges frustrates Champion's mom

The Scales of Justice for Drum Major
Robert Champion awaits decision
by Florida's Ninth Circuit State
Attorney's Office.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Trustees at Florida A&M University on Thursday adopted a new rule requiring virtually all who have a relationship with the school — students, employees, volunteers and even vendors — to report any hazing activity they learn about to campus police within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the mother of FAMU drum major Robert Champion, who died after a hazing in Orlando in November, expressed frustration that no one has been charged.

Last week, law-enforcement officials forwarded their investigation into Champion's beating death to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office. But prosecutors have not decided how to proceed with the case — a tough case made more complicated because of the large number of people who likely were involved.

Pam Champion is pleading for answers. "What I'm looking for is to get some answers — to know what they're going to do," she said. "We've been very patient, to let the system just work out. It would be nice to get some answers."

As the State Attorney's Office continues reviewing the nearly 5-month-old case, FAMU leaders are ...

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