Track & Field Hosts 10th Annual Boston-Moon Classic

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State University men's and women's track & field teams host the 10th annual Boston-Moon Classic on Saturday, April 14 at the Edward S. Temple Track.

Running events start at 9:30am followed with field events at 10am. As of Friday, eight universities are slated to be at the event including Belmont, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

Exciting events involving spectators are taking place on Saturday. Greek organizations and the TSU Track & Field Alumni will take part in a 4x100-meter relay event shortly after the collegiate 4x100 relay.

TSU returns from a two week hiatus after competing in three outdoor meets already. Currently, the TSU tracksters have 13 top-5 marks in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Freshman Ashontae Jackson is third in the league after her run of 24.25 in the 200-meter dash at the Weems-Baskin Invitational in South Carolina. Jackson, a native of Gordonsville, Va., is second in the women's long jump after distancing 18-5 ¼ (5.62m) at the Morehouse College Relays on March 15.

Also leading the way for the Tigerbelles is junior Gabrielle Todd. Her leap of 5-3 ¼ (1.61m) at the 62nd annual Florida A&M Relays ranks fifth in the OVC.

The Tigerbelles have three of the top-5 spots in the triple jump: Ja'Lyn Burr (38-0 ¾/11.60m/2nd), Felicia Oladokun (37-5/11.40m/3rd) and Daniecce Ward (37-3 ¾/11.37m/5th).

Arthur Combest leads the TSU hurdlers with his time of 14.72 in the 110-meter hurdles at the FAMU Relays. The junior ranks fifth in the men's high jump, clearing a height of 6-4 ¾ (1.95m) at the Weems-Baskin Invitational.

Jumps specialist Royce Dates holds the OVC's best mark of 23-10 (7.26m) in the long jump. Dates is tied 70th overall, but is expected to make big strides this weekend after taking two weeks of rest.

Results from Saturday's meet will be posted online at TSUTigers.com and CFPITiming.com.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Football Closes Out Spring Practice on Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University football closes out a successful spring this weekend with the annual Blue-White Spring game on Saturday afternoon.

The contest is slated for 3:30pm kickoff at Hale Stadium, affectionately known as 'The Hole.' Prior to Saturday's Blue-White game, a Legends Game will take place between TSU and Vanderbilt at 1pm.



Admission to Saturday's festivities are free. There will be concessions, a rummage sale and national sports talk host Donal Ware is expected on site. Ware will talk with Head Coach Rod Reed, TSU alum/Philadelphia Eagle Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and other TSU personalities at the Spring Game. Ware's show will be aired live on WFSK 88.1 FM.

On Friday, TSU and DRC host the annual Celebrity Slam Jam at the Gentry Center. Doors open at 5:30pm with autograph signings as numerous NFL athletes will be on hand. The basketball game starts at 7pm.

For tickets, fans can call the TSU Ticket Office at 615-963-5841 or by visiting a Ticketmaster outlet.



Reed Announces Two Additions to Coaching Staff

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE -  Tennessee State University football coach Rod Reed announced the hiring of offensive line coach Russ Ehrenfeld and cornerbacks coach Mikhal Kornegay on Friday afternoon.

It's a homecoming of sorts for Ehrenfeld after spending three seasons at Chattanooga. Kornegay takes his first full time coaching job after spending four seasons as a graduate assistant at Florida State.

Ehrenfeld replaces Steven Smith, who accepted an assistant offensive line position with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kornegay takes Anthony Blevins spot, who is now the defensive backs coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Returning to Tennessee State, Ehrenfeld brought an immediate impact to UTC in his first season. He helped the Mocs allow only nine sacks in 2009, tied for fewest in the SoCon and third lowest in the nation. UTC did not allow a sack for the last four games of the season, including a trip to FBS National Champion Alabama in the season finale.

In 2010, he turned his attention to the centers and guards, helping T.J. Hurless earn a spot on the All-SoCon second team. Add in Chris Harr and Ehrenfeld has guided two Mocs to all-league honors in his two years at UTC.

In 2011, Ehrenfeld coached tight ends, helping the Mocs to a 5-6 overall record, including a 38-17 win at then ranked No. 10 Jacksonville State on Sept. 10. Faysal Shaffat was a 2011 All-Conference freshman tight end for the Mocs.

In his first stop at TSU, Ehrenfeld's offensive line set the tone for the No. 1 rushing offense in the Ohio Valley Conference while allowing just the second fewest number of sacks in the league. All totaled, he has coached more than ten offensive lineman that have gone on to play professionally.

Ehrenfeld previously coached the offensive line at TSU for three seasons (1997-99), helping the Tigers capture back-to-back OVC championships in 1998 and 1999. Notably, four linemen from the 1999 team went on to play in the NFL.

A native of Hillside, N.J., Ehrenfeld played four seasons at Chattanooga, helping the Mocs claim three SoCon titles as a starting offensive guard. He earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education-history in 1981.

Following graduation, Ehrenfeld's first coaching position was at TMI Academy as the offensive line coach. His first collegiate position was as a graduate assistant at the University of South Carolina, where he had the opportunity to coach the Gamecocks in the 1984 Gator Bowl. Since then, he has also coached at Austin Peay (1985-87, 95-96), Itawamba Community College (1988-89), Southeast Missouri State (1990-92), Eastern Michigan (1993-94), Alabama State (2000) and Bucknell (2001-02).

Kornegay, a native of Greenville, Fla., comes to Tennessee State after spending seven cumulative seasons with the Seminoles under legendary head coach Bobby Bowden and current coach Jimbo Fisher.

He served as Graduate Assistant/Quality Control coach for the Seminoles since the 2008 season. While in that capacity, Kornegay assisted coaches Mickey Andrews and Mark Stoops with instructing the defensive backfield. There he helped implement a major base defensive from heavy coverage for the Seminoles.

Kornegay also coached two NFL draft picks in 2010 with Patrick Robinson being selected in the first round to New Orleans and Myron Rolle by Tennessee in the sixth round.

Prior to joining FSU as a graduate assistant, Kornegay served one season as an assistant coach at Madison County High School in Florida. He also served as a speed and strength coach at Titus Sports Academy in 2007.

A three-year starter on special teams for the Seminoles, Kornegay served as team captain in 2006. He helped FSU to two Atlantic Coast Conference championships and saw an appearance in the 2006 Orange Bowl.

Kornegay obtained his bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at Florida State in 2006 and earned his master's in Sports Administration in April 2010.

Both coaches are currently participating in spring drills with the Tigers. 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Sanders, FAMU Strike! Land Willie Conner

CHICAGO, Illinois - Head coach Clemon Johnson, Condric Sanders and Florida A&M have scored a recruiting coup, and have landed Class of 2012 Chicago Crane star Willie Conner.

Conner, a 6'4" shooting guard, ranks among the Top 30 Class of 2012 prospects in the state of Illinois and should be an impact player at FAMU. Conner brings size and an ability to score the basketball in a variety of ways to the table.

Conner put up numbers throughout the season while playing in the Public League Red-West Division, which was arguably the toughest league in the state this past season.

FAMU is making a very strong recruiting push in Chicago with Condric Sanders now on staff. Sanders, who was at Lewis and juco power Highland prior to moving up to the Division I level, is actively involved with a number of other Chicago prospects and is already actively engaged in building a pipeline from Chicago to FAMU.

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Florida A&M Lands Commitment From Chicago 2-Guard

CHICAGO, Illinois -- Willie Conner, a 6'4 2-guard from Crane Tech High School in Chicago has committed to Florida A&M. He chose the Rattlers over offers from Rhode Island and Tennessee-Martin.

Conner had a strong season at Crane and was one of the better available back court prospects in Illinois heading into in the Spring signing period prior to the commitment. Earlier in the year it was thought that he may have been leaning toward Rhode Island. However, that changed when Jim Baron was fired as their head coach earlier this month.

Conner is one of the most unheralded players in the Chicago Public League and can undoubtedly play at the D1 level, which is why he is a good get for Rattlers head coach Clemon Johnson. He has tremendous scoring ability and a solid overall offensive skill set. That is because Conner has a quick shooting stroke, range that extends beyond the 3-point arc and strong upper body strength that he utilizes well in order to consistently get to the basket.

Kudos undoubtedly go out to Rattlers assistant coach Condric Sanders, whose hard work and continuous pursuit of Conner was instrumental in enabling Johnson to close the deal. Sanders, who is nicknamed "Old Skool" by his peers, has ...

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If a High School Dies, Where Does the Glory Go?

CHICAGO, Illinois (Feb. 11, 2012) - As Willie Conner stood alongside his fellow Crane High School seniors last week, clutching a rose and looking down at the hardwood floor, his final home game in a Cougars uniform was not the only thing on his mind.

“We’re not just playing for our fans and our coach and ourselves,” Conner said. “We’re playing for our whole school.”

Chicago Public Schools announced plans in November to phase out Crane, which would end one of the city’s most storied basketball programs. The announcement came just a few days before the Cougars’ first game of the season in December.

“My first thought was just ‘Wow!’ ” said Chris Head, Crane’s head coach. “The thought of phasing out a school with such history, such tradition. How could you do it?”

Crane was a charter member of the Chicago Public League in 1913. It is second in the city for most league titles with 11. (Its rival Marshall has 12.) The school has produced numerous N.B.A. players, including Ken Norman, Tony Allen and Will Bynum, as well as the longtime Chicago Bears owner George Halas.

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Unsigned Senior Willie Conner Drops 26 Points As Chicago Crane Tops Homewood-Flossmoor At The Team Rose Shootout

CHICAGO, Illinois (12 Dec. 2011) - Senior guard Willie Conner is continuing to push his recruiting stock higher with his strong start to his senior season, and again came up big on Sunday night by scoring 26 points to lead Chicago Crane past Homewood-Flossmoor 61-57 at the Team Rose Shootout.

Conner, a 6'4" wing, had given an early verbal to Texas-Pan American, but decided to again open up his recruitment, and now finds himself among the top uncommitted prospects in the 2012 recruiting class. Conner, who is also a strong student in the classroom, leads a team that should only get better this season.

Conner scored 12 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter to offset a 19-point showing from Delvon Rencher of Homewood-Flossmoor, who is also still on the board as a recruit.

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Eager Grambling goes through first workouts

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — No way Jomarcus Savage was going to be late for Grambling's first official practice of 2012.

"I've been waiting for so long," the rising senior defensive lineman said. "We had meetings at 3 — I've been ready since 1 o'clock with all my pads on. This is a great feeling, great weather, great place to be right now."



Savage and his teammates were eager to start spring practice Thursday after having to hear about other schools' progress for more than a month.

"I talked to a couple of friends," he said. "I know La. Tech will be done this weekend, and I've got a couple friends at Bama, and their A-Day Game's this weekend, so we're one of the last schools to get started. It's kind of tough, but it does make us hungry, and I'm eager to find out what the outcome's gonna be."

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Southern's Banks, Pugh unveil 2012 basketball recruits

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Head men's basketball coach Roman Banks and head women's basketball coach Sandy Pugh unveiled the 2012 signing class.
Here is a complete listing of the 2012 SU Men's Basketball Signees.

Damian Goodman F Decatur, Ga. Columbia 6-8 200
Devonse Reed G Dallas, Texas Wilmer Htchins 6-4 190
Yondarius Johnson G Plain Dealing, La. Pearl River JC 6-4 240



Here is a complete listing of the 2012 SU Women's Basketball Signees.

Britney Washington G St. Francisville, La. West. Feliciana 5-10 155 Video
Victoria Davis G Monroe, La. Richwood 5-3 135



COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

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
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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.

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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.

Click here for the inductee bios

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