University of the District of Columbia Women’s Tennis Team’s Storybook Season Comes to Close in NCAA Round of 16

ROSTER
HEAD COACH: T. Richard Mahaffey, III

(PHOTO COURTESY UDC SPORTS INFORMATION)

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The University of the District of Columbia women's tennis team's storybook 2011-12 season has come to an end in the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament Round of 16 as the Firebirds succumbed to the reigning national champion Barry University, 5-0 on Wednesday afternoon at EP Tom Sawyer State Park.

The Firebirds surrendered to a 3-0 deficit after dropping all three doubles matches, and the Buccaneers went on to secure the match victory with singles wins at No. 3 and 6, respectively. Barry, ranked No. 2 in the nation, improved to 25-0 on the season and advances to play the winner of the Cal (Pa.) vs. Cameron match tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

District of Columbia finished the season with a mark of 17-4, more than doubling their win total (7) from the previous year. The Firebirds also earned the school's first-ever East Coast Conference championship this Fall, which earned them an automatic bid to the school's first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament. There, they knocked off No. 6 Adelphi, 5-4 in the first round and then upset the tournament host and No. 2 seed Southern New Hampshire, 5-3 to advance to the Sweet 16 as the East Region's No. 2 representative.

ECC Coach of the Year Dickie Mahaffey returns five of the six players on this year's roster, including First Team All-ECC honorees Kristyna Nepivodova and Jessica Nunez and Second Team All-ECC honoree, Maxime Duijst.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Receives Green Light by Governors for Stadium & Deck

EXCERPT:

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- UNC’s board of governors will ask state legislators in their upcoming session to approve more than $60 million in construction projects at Winston-Salem State University and UNC-Greensboro and to authorize planning for more than $100 million in future projects at WSSU and N.C. A&T State University.

All of the projects approved to move forward in the budgeting process at the governors April 13 meeting are “non-appropriated capital improvement projects,” meaning the money for them comes not from the state budget but from long-term debt repaid over time by user fees. Dorm buildings, dining halls and athletic facilities are among the projects that generally fall under that process.

Also given the green light by governors for WSSU was $7.5 million for the acquisition and renovation of Bowman Gray Stadium from the city of Winston-Salem, and $7 million for the construction of a 300-500 car parking deck near the K.R. Williams Auditorium and adjacent to the sciences campus.

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Morgan State mourns loss of former student-athlete, Gene Johnson

Gene H. Johnson, Jr. 
OCT. 6, 1987 - MAY 17, 2012
Photo Courtesy: Morgan State University Media Relations

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Morgan State former basketball student-athlete, Gene Johnson, died in his sleep last night (5/17/12) while at home in Hagerstown, Maryland. Emergency medical crews were called but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. The exact cause of the 24-year old's death has not been confirmed and our thoughts are with his family, friends and former teammates at this time.

Johnson, a Hagerstown, Maryland native, began his career in 2007-08 as a walk-on and during his career he has been a member of one of the most dominant squads in the MEAC. He played a role in the Bears three regular season championships, finished with two MEAC championship rings, including an NIT appearance and two berths in the NCAA Tournament.

He was a versatile and athletic player who was one of the most liked players during his time as a Bear. Johnson graduated with a Sociology degree from Morgan State in May of 2011.

"Gene Johnson was one of MSU Athletics' brightest young talents who was loved by everyone in the Bears Family,” said MSU Athletics Director Floyd Kerr.

“His sudden loss has sent a ripple of sadness throughout the Morgan community. Gene was one of the best examples that gave meaning to the saying 'teamwork makes the dream work' because of his significant contributions and dedication to the championship basketball teams he played on. More importantly, he was a classy young man who had a dream to be successful, and I had high confidence that Gene would succeed. He will be missed by all. Personally, I will always remember him fondly as 'Radar Gene, with the built-in screen.'”

“This is a very sad day and a devastating loss of a great young man that we were very proud of,” said MSU head coach Todd Bozeman. “He played four years and started in a couple of games for us. Upon graduation, he started pursuing his master's degree. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and to all of those who knew him. He will be missed by many friends, teammates and others throughout campus.”

By MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

2012 ASU Football Schedule Announced

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- A nationally-televised season opener and the opening of the new on-campus football stadium on Thanksgiving Day highlights the 2012 Alabama State University football schedule.

2012 Alabama State Football Schedule

The Hornets will play five games in Montgomery, four of them at Cramton Bowl prior to the inaugural game in New ASU Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22 vs. Tuskegee in the 89th Turkey Day Classic.

In addition to the 71st Magic City Classic in Birmingham, one of nine Southwestern Athletic Conference games, Alabama State will open the season in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney vs. Bethune-Cookman on Sunday, Sept. 2 in Orlando, Fla. in a nationally televised game (kickoff TBD) on one of the ESPN family of networks.



“I'm very excited about our 2012 schedule,” said 6th-year head coach Reggie Barlow, coming off posting an 8-3 campaign in 2011 which included a 7-2 mark in conference play. “To be able to open on national television against Bethune-Cookman is a good way to start the season. The conference schedule will bring excitement and is a challenge as it is every year. The final regular season game against Tuskegee on Thanksgiving Day to open our new stadium will be something we all will remember. It should be a fun year.”

Alabama State will play its home opener Sept. 8 vs. Mississippi Valley State, before travelling to face defending SWAC Champion Grambling State on Sept. 15. The Hornets will return home Sept. 22 to host the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and end the month at Alcorn State on Sept. 29.

October will bring back-to-back home game games, as the Hornets will host Texas Southern on Oct. 6 and Jackson State Oct. 13. Following an open date on Oct. 20, Alabama State will take on arch-rival Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic at historic Legion Field on Oct. 27.

The Hornets will play consecutive road games to open November, with contests at Prairie View A&M Nov. 3 and at Southern Nov. 10. Following an open date, ASU will open its new on-campus football stadium in the 89th Turkey Day Classic vs. Tuskegee on Nov. 22.

The 2012 SWAC Championship game is set for Dec. 8 in Birmingham.

2012 ALABAMA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Sept. 2 Bethune-Cookman Orlando, Fla. TBD
(8th MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney)
Sept. 8 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ST.* Montgomery, Ala. 6 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Grambling St.* Grambling, La. TBD
Sept. 22 ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF* Montgomery, Ala. 6 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Alcorn St.* Lorman, Miss. 2 p.m.
Oct. 6 TEXAS SOUTHERN* Montgomery, Ala. 1 p.m.
Oct. 13 JACKSON ST.* Montgomery, Ala. 1 p.m.
Oct. 20 open date
Oct. 27 ALABAMA A&M* Birmingham, Ala. TBD
(71st Magic City Classic)
Nov. 3 at Prairie View A&M* Prairie View, Texas 1 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Southern* Baton Rouge, La. 6 p.m.
Nov. 17 open date
Nov. 22 TUSKEGEE Montgomery, Ala. TBD
(89th Turkey Day Classic)
Dec. 8 SWAC Championship Birmingham, Ala. TBD
Home games in CAPS; * denotes SWAC games; all dates and times subject to change.




COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Wilson's Davis to play hoops at Johnson C. Smith University

FLORENCE, South Carolina -- Alandre Davis has improved as a player during his last three seasons on the Wilson basketball team. Now, Davis hopes to continue that in college as he signed a letter of intent to play at Johnson C. Smith, a Division II school in Charlotte, N.C.

“I haven’t nearly reached my potential yet and I feel like if I keep working hard then the possibilities are endless for me,” Davis said.

The 6-foot-7 Davis also considered Francis Marion and USC Aiken before settling on Johnson C. Smith. The Golden Bulls play in the CIAA and went 12-15 this season. Davis will probably play power forward in college.

Davis came off this bench as a sophomore and junior before cracking the starting lineup this year. He averaged 11.9 pts, 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks this year and selected to play in the North-South All-Star game.

“He has had continuous improvement during his last three years and he was better at the end of the season than he was at the beginning,” said former Wilson coach DeAndre Scott, who coached Davis the last three years. “At the end of the year, he was playing great ball and really think his best basketball is in front of him.

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XU's Green selected NAIA Region IV Coach of the Year

COACH ALAN GREEN

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Alan Green has been chosen Wilson Coach of the Year in NAIA Region IV men's tennis by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association.

It's the first regional coaching award for Green, a New Orleans native who has bachelor's and master's degrees from Xavier.

Green's Gold Rush were 18-8 this year and set a school record for victories in a season. The XU men earned their highest ever ranking (No. 7) in the national poll, won a conference/group championship for a school-record seventh straight season and, for the first time since 1973, became the first XU team in any sport to reach the quarterfinals of an NAIA National Championship. The Gold Rush had 10 victories against ranked NAIA opponents, including a school-record four against the top 10, and three victories against NCAA Division I.

Region IV comprises nine southern states. The other regional coaching recipients were Oklahoma Christian's Kris Miller, Spring Arbor's Terry Darling and Fresno Pacific's Neil Castro. Miller was selected national coach of the year for the fifth time.

All five of Xavier's head coaches won at least one coach-of-the-year award on the conference, state or regional level in 2011-12.

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

XU Gold Rush can't solve Embry-Riddle in NAIA quarterfinals

MOBILE, Alabama — Adrian Bayh and Patrick Besch won a battle of top-4 doubles teams Thursday, then Bayh added a singles victory to carry second-ranked Embry-Riddle (Fla.) past No. 7 Xavier University of Louisiana 5-1 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship.

The Eagles (20-3), the national runner-up a year ago, advanced to the semifinals for the eighth consecutive year and improved to 12-0 this season against NAIA opponents. They snapped the six-dual winning streak of the Gold Rush (18-8), in the quarterfinals for the first time.

Bayh and Besch, ranked first among NAIA doubles teams by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, beat fourth-rated Loic Didavi and Zach Taylor 8-5 to put Embry-Riddle ahead to stay at 2-1. Bayh increased the lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-0 victory against Viktor Swoboda at No. 3 singles, and Embry-Riddle clinched when Peter Francis rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 decision against Amir Rahbar at No. 4.

Xavier scored its point at No. 3 doubles, where Svoboda and Corey Huggins picked up their first victory of the season against a ranked opponent. They snapped the 15-match win streak of 20th-rated Simon Felix and Peter Francis with an 8-4 decision. Svoboda and Huggins closed with eight consecutive victories, giving Xavier a 22-4 record at that flight this season.

Embry-Riddle got its other points from Chris Freeman and J.R. Leonik — whose 8-0 decision against Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson was XU's first doubles shutout loss of the spring — and from David Spennare, a 6-2, 6-2 winner against Richardson at No. 5 singles.

Xavier led in two of the three unfinished matches. Didavi, ranked eighth, led second-rated Freeman 7-6 (9-7), 3-2. Huggins also won a first-set tiebreaker and led Leonik 5-3 in the second set when the dual ended.

"We gave everything we had today and it just wasn't enough," XU coach Alan Green said. "I guess this is a learning process where we show progress every year. Next year should be better for us hopefully. We were down a bit after the match, but we showed that we are among the top eight teams in the nation. We will be back."

It was the final collegiate competition for XU seniors Taylor, Giles-Osborn and Richardson.

It was the fourth straight year in the tournament for the XU men, who set a school record for victories in a season. Ten of those triumphs occurred against ranked NAIA opponents, with a school-record four against top-10 teams. The national quarterfinal appearance was the first by an XU team in any sport in 39 years.

Results

NAIA National Championship (seedings in parentheses) First Round — 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 Cumberland (16) d. Warner (17) 9-0 William Carey (9) d. Graceland (24) 9-0 Concordia (Calif.) (12) d. Asbury (21) 9-0 Aquinas (13) d. Spring Arbor (20) 7-2 Bethany (Kan.) (14) d. Olivet Nazarene (19) 6-3 Lindsey Wilson (11) d. Hastings (22) 9-0 Point Loma Nazarene (10) d. Mobile (23) 8-1 Belhaven (15) d. Campbellsville (18) 5-4 Second Round — 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16 Fresno Pacific (1) d. Cumberland (16) 5-0 Westmont (8) d. William Carey (9) 5-4 Auburn Montgomery (5) d. Concordia (Calif.) 5-1 Azusa Pacific (4) d. Aquinas (13) 5-0 Oklahoma Christian (3) d. Bethany (Kan.) (14) 5-0 Vanguard (6) d. Lindsey Wilson (11) 5-3 Xavier (7) d. Point Loma Nazarene (10) 5-0 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (2) d. Belhaven (15) 5-0 Quarterfinals — 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 Fresno Pacific (1) d. Westmont (8) 5-0 Azusa Pacific (4) d. Auburn Montgomery (5) 5-4 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (2) d. Xavier (7) 5-1 Oklahoma Christian (3) d. Vanguard (6) 5-0 Semifinals — 1 p.m. on Friday, May 18 Fresno Pacific (1) vs. Azusa Pacific (4) Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (2) vs. Oklahoma Christian (3) Championship — 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 Xavier at Nationals (3-4) May 12, 2009 (first round): Xavier 5, Oklahoma Christian 4 May 13, 2009 (second round): Auburn Montgomery 5, Xavier 0 May 18, 2010 (first round): Xavier 5, Tennessee Wesleyan 3 May 19, 2010 (second round): Fresno Pacific 5, Xavier 1 May 18, 2011 (second round): Vanguard 5, Xavier 3 May 16, 2012 (second round): Xavier 5, Point Loma Nazarene 0 May 17, 2012 (quarterfinals): Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5, Xavier 1

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

SWAC baseball tourney: Prairie View outlasts TSU, earns spot in title game

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — Prairie View A&M didn’t have a spectacular day at the plate against Texas Southern, being out-hit for the second straight day.
Except this time, the Panthers made those few hits count.

Prairie View produced three of their seven hits in a five-run third inning and capitalized on TSU’s three errors en route to winning 8-5 in Saturday’s Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament semifinal at Lee-Hines Field and advancing to the league championship game for the first time since 2008.

The Panthers (27-23) will meet Mississippi Valley State (17-38) in the title game at 1 p.m. Sunday, looking to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

TSU fell just short of ...

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GSU out of SWAC tourney

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — Grambling picked maybe the most inconvenient time to play arguably its worst defensive game of James Cooper's three-year head coaching career.

The Tigers (22-26) committed seven errors Thursday morning in an elimination game against host team Southern (32-15) at Lee-Hines Field and allowed six unearned runs en route to the 8-0 loss.

"We picked the most inopportune time to have a game with all those errors," Cooper said. "The first time in my career we've made seven errors in one game."

The Jaguars, playing as the visitors in their home park, struck quickly as leadoff speedster Tyler Kirksey reached on an infield single, stole second base, advanced to third on an erred pickoff attempt and scored on a wild pitch. The initial run was just a sign of the Grambling gifts to come.

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Native New Orleanian becomes 4th signee of Gold Rush

NEW ORLEANS — Native New Orleanian Gary Smith is Xavier University of Louisiana's fourth men's basketball signee for the 2012-13 season.

Smith, a 6-foot-1 point guard, lives in Sugar Land, Texas, and will graduate Thursday from The Village School in Houston, where he started on the varsity the past four seasons, was a four-year team captain and became the school's all-time assists leader. He was chosen the team's top defensive player four consecutive seasons.

Smith averaged 14.5 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals per game as a senior.

Reggie Rankin of Scouts Inc., writing on ESPN.com, had this analysis of Smith at the 2009 National Prep Alliance Invitational Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas: "Smith has a nice midrange game, finds the open man and plays under control."

Smith was a four-time all-tournament selection. As a sophomore he averaged 13 points and six assists per gane.

Previously signed with the Gold Rush were guard RJ Daniels of New Orleans, guard Xavier Rogers of Denton, Texas, and forward John Gibson of Marietta, Ga.

Xavier was 23-9 this past season, shared the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference 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. Xavier's 27 seasons of 20 or more victories are the most in the history of Louisiana men's college basketball.


#5 Gary Smith II highlights from the National Prep Alliance Tourney 2012

2012-13 Xavier men's basketball signees 
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.* Hometown High School (College)
RJ Daniels G 6-4 190 Fr. New Orleans, La. St. Augustine
John Gibson F 6-7 195 Fr. Marietta, Ga. Walton
Xavier Rogers G 6-2 175 Jr. Denton, Texas Lake Dallas (Grambling)
Gary Smith G 6-1 180 Fr. Sugar Land, Texas The Village School
* athletic classification at Xavier in fall of 2012

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

MVSU Devils’ pitching shuts down SU in tournament

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - At 6:01 p.m. Friday, at the end of a long, steamy and devastating afternoon for the Southern baseball team at the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament, Southern right-hander Brian Foster stood outside the first-base dugout at Lee-Hines Field, physically and emotionally spent after the wildest day of his life.

He got a handshake and a hug from assistant coach Fernando Puebla. Then, for the second time, Foster burst into tears.

Earlier that morning, inside the F.G. Clark Activity Center, Foster received his pre-med diploma at SU’s spring commencement. Meanwhile, about 100 yards away, his teammates momentarily staved off elimination with a thrilling win over Alcorn State.

Six hours later, Foster had thrown 151 pitches against Mississippi Valley State. He earned a standing ovation after the eighth inning, crying as he walked off the mound.

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Harris, Smith increase Gold Nuggets' signee total to five

PATRICE SMITH

DARIAN  HARRIS

NEW ORLEANS — Defensive specialist Darian Harris of Gretna, La., and Louise S. McGehee School and right-side hitter Patrice Smith of Glenn Heights, Texas, and DeSoto High School signed women's volleyball scholarships Wednesday with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Xavier has signed five high school seniors for the 2012 season.

Harris recorded 757 digs, 107 aces and 70 kills the past three seasons at McGehee. She helped the Hawks finish second in the Division IV state
playoffs in 2009 and reach the semifinals in 2010. They won district championships both seasons.

Smith started as a junior and senior on DeSoto teams which were 27-8 overall and 9-1 in district in 2010 and 27-14 and 10-0 in 2011. Both teams were district champions and won in the first round of the state playoffs. Smith produced 193 kills, 150 blocks and 124 digs as a senior and was first-team all-district. She was selected her district's top newcomer in 2010.

Harris and Smith will be biology / pre-medical majors at Xavier.

Previously signed with the Gold Nuggets were middle blocker Jodi Hill of Prairieville, La., outside hitter CeCe Williams of Houma, La., and middle blocker Claudia Haywood of Memphis, Tenn.

Xavier was 23-7 in 2011, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets will begin the 2012 season in late August.



Facebook photos of their signings: Darian Harris and Patrice Smith

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

Shaw University Completes Football Coaching Staff

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Shaw University head football coach Robert Massey has completed his football coaching staff. Massey keeps a number of the coaches collected by former head coach Darrell Asberry, while adding three new members to the staff.

"I feel this is a nice blend of returning coaches - who understand the traditions of Shaw football," said Massey. " And also new coaches who can and will take Shaw to the next level."

Serving as Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach will be Maurice Flowers, who most recently served as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at his alma mater, Johnson C. Smith. In all, he has 17 years of coaching experience, with 16 of those spent as a head coach or lead coordinator. Last season, JCSU had one of the top offenses in the CIAA and quarterback Keahn Wallace was named Offensive Player of the Year.

De'Andre' Okonji, who finished his college career as Shaw's all-time leading receiver, returns to his alma mater as the Wide Receivers Coach. Last season, he was the Student Assistant Coach at Feather River Community College where he was responsible for wide receivers, special teams, and recruiting. He coached one All-American receiver last season.

Marcus Webb joins the coaching staff after two years at Contra Costa College in Richmond, CA, where he most recently served as the Tackles/Tight Ends Coach as well as having primary responsibility for recruiting and video.

Rounding out the coaching staff are five coaches who served on the Bear staff last season. Richard Gray will continue as Offensive Line Coach while Markus McElveen - who served as a student assistant coach last season - takes over the Defensive Line coaching duties.

Felton Page continues as the Running Backs Coach and Kenneth Williams remains the Defensive Backs Coach. Sherman Simmons, who coached the defensive line last year, moves to the Linebackers Coach position.

Shaw opens its 2012 campaign on Thursday, August 30 when they travel to Charleston (WV). They open their home season the following Saturday, September 8 when they host Miles.

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU falls to Seton Hill in regional

WEST LAWN, Pennsylvania -- The record will show that sixth-seeded Winston-Salem State lost 3-2 Thursday to top-seeded Seton Hill in the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional baseball tournament.

The record also will show that the winning run was set up by a two-base throwing error by third baseman Devin McLemore of WSSU on a grounder by right fielder Cody Herald in the bottom of the fourth inning. Herald scored on a double by center fielder Jackson Boyd — the only extra-base hit of the game.

But records are sometimes misleading. Starter Sheldon Johnson (2-5, 2.37 ERA) of the Rams was the more effective pitcher, even though starter Brad Schnelle of the Griffins posted his ninth victory against no losses. Johnson struck out nine and walked one. Schnelle struck out one and walked three over his 8 2/3 innings and left with the tying run on second in the person of Dominique Fitzgerald.

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2 admit hazing female FAMU band member

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Two former Florida A&M University band members, including one charged in the felony hazing death of drum major Robert Champion, today pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hazing for beating a female clarinet player last year, the Orlando Sentinel says.

Aaron Golson, 19, and Sean Hobson, 23, will serve a year's probation in Georgia, their home state, and report to a jail-work camp for one month. They initially faced felony charges for hazing Bria Shante Hunter, 18. The freshman was seeking to join a group of FAMU band members from Georgia called the "Red Dawg Order." She and Hobson attended the same high school.

The hazing occurred about three weeks before Champion died from a Nov. 19 beating aboard a bus after ...

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FAMU band members plead no contest in Bria Hunter hazing

TALLAHASSEE — Two Florida A&M University band members, including one charged in the felony hazing death of drum major Robert Champion in Orlando, admitted Thursday to hazing a first-year female clarinet player who was treated at a hospital after being beaten last year.

Aaron Golson, 19, and Sean Hobson, 23, avoided jail sentences for hazing Bria Shante Hunter, 18, who wanted to join the "Red Dawg Order," a group of FAMU band members exclusively from Georgia.

Both pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hazing.

They were ordered by Circuit Judge Charles Dodson in Tallahassee to serve a year's probation in Georgia, where they live, and report to a jail-work camp for 30 days. Prosecutors said medical records did not support felony hazing charges, which require proof of "serious bodily injury."

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ASU's Carr signs with Ravens

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Former Alabama State player Nigel Carr has signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

Carr played his final two years at ASU after transferring to the Hornets from Florida State. In two seasons, Carr recorded 55 tackles, (34 solo) with eight tackles for a loss and three sacks in 12 games. He also had an interception, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

“After going undrafted, I made a call to (Ravens) general manager Ozzie Newsome to tell him about Nigel,” ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. “He agreed to bring him up on a tryout basis for their minicamp. Nigel displayed what we knew he can do. I’m so happy and proud of him.”

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2-star PG Monique Whaley-Briggs chooses the MEAC and NCCU

DURHAM, North Carolina - Monique Whaley-Briggs of Philadelphia, Pa., has verbally committed to North Carolina Central, according to her trainer, Brian Smith. The 5-foot-10 guard is a senior at Carver High School and has a two-star rating from ESPN HoopGurlz.

"Monique is very bright kid who is yearning to be coached and will be a welcome addition to the Eagles program," Smith said. "She has been flying under the radar but definitely a low major (Division I) caliber athlete. The recruiting process was tedious but she persevered and found the right fit."

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XU beats Point Loma, ends national tournament drought

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana defeated two ranked doubles teams and two ranked singles players Wednesday in a 5-0 men's tennis victory against Point Loma Nazarene in the second round of the NAIA National Championship.

The Gold Rush (18-7), seeded seventh, became the first XU team in 39 years to reach the national quarterfinals. Thirty-seven teams in five sports failed to reach the quarterfinals since then, including 16 second-round losers. The XU men increased their win streak to six and set a school record for victories in a season.

Viktor Svoboda and Loic Didavi won in doubles and singles. Svoboda clinched the dual with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against KC Ensley at No. 3 singles. Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson rallied from a 7-4 deficit to beat Ensley and Angel Tavera 9-7 at No. 2 doubles.

Ensley is ranked 35th in singles by the Intercollegiate Tnnis Association and 16th in doubles with Tavera. Didavi beat 17th-ranked Tyler Bowman 6-2, 6-3.

Didavi and Zach Taylor, ranked in the top four in doubles all spring, knocked off 11th-rated Bowman and Gregory De Andrade 8-4.

Xavier scored its first point at No. 3 doubles when Svoboda and Corey Huggins beat Michael Zablan and Andrew Combs 8-6. Zablan and Combs broke serve in the 13th game after saving two match points, but Svoboda and Huggins broke back to end the match and record their seventh consecutive victory.

Of the four unfinished singles matches, Xavier led in three of them.

"Big win," XU coach Alan Green said. "Not only to finally get an XU team through to the quarterfinals again, but also to make amends for last year."

A year ago the XU men had a first-round bye and was the higher seed in the second round — but lost 5-3 to a Vanguard team they defeated in the regular season. Xavier entered the Point Loma dual with the same scenario, but a different attitude.

"That loss to Vanguard last year left a bad taste in our mouths," Green said. "We didn't have any intensity, we were probably overconfident, and we got whipped. But today we came out with intensity and maintained it. That was the difference."

Xavier will play second-seeded Embry-Riddle (Fla.), a 5-0 winner against Belhaven, at 1 p.m. Thursday. Point Loma, the No. 10 seed, finished 13-11 and was 0-2 this season against Xavier.

No XU team had won in the second round since the Gold Rush defeated top-ranked and unbeaten Sam Houston State 67-60 in the NAIA men's basketball tourney at Kansas City, Mo., on March 14, 1973. Xavier lost 87-80 the following day to Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Xavier and Embry-Riddle will meet for the third time, but it will be the first postseason matchup. The Eagles won 6-1 in 2004 and 8-1 in 2007.

"We're the type of team that can beat anybody or lose to anybody," Green said. "Hopefully we can take care of ourselves tomorrow and that will be enough."

NOTES: Xavier lost in the second round each of the past three seasons . . . The victory was Xavier's 10th of the season against a ranked NAIA opponent and fourth against a top-10 team. Both are school records . . . The 2008-09 Gold Rush held the previous season mark for victories . . . This was the first time that Xavier won a dual at nationals without dropping a match . . . Xavier is the first men's tennis team from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference to reach the quarterfinals.


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

CSU's Pioneering NBA referee Ken Hudson dies in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Georgia — Ken Hudson, one of the first full-time African-American referees for the National Basketball Association, passed away on May 9 in Atlanta. He officiated in the league from 1968 to 1972.

During this phase of his career, he interacted with such notable players as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Walt Frazier, Lenny Wilkins, and Jerry West, to name only a few. Hudson became beloved by both players and owners. In 2009 he was recognized by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as the recipient of the prestigious Mannie Jackson Human Spirit Award.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he attended Westinghouse High School, Hudson earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio where he began his refereeing career. He returned to Pittsburgh to teach elementary school students for several years. Ken also attended the University of Pittsburgh. But, after working in other arenas, he found his niche in the world of sports.

The former executive for the Coca-Cola Company successfully negotiated agreements with the Big East, CIAA, SWAC, MEAC, and SIAC Conferences. After moving to Atlanta with Coca-Cola, he was on the committee that was responsible for developing relationships with the NBA.



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TSU's Larry Inman Basketball Camp set for June

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State University women's basketball program will hold the inaugural Larry Inman Basketball Camp, June 25-28.

The individual camp will take place Monday - Thursday, from 9 a.m. to noon each day at the Gentry Center on TSU's main campus. The camp is for participants in the 4th-8th grade.

The camp will focus on improving individual skills and fundamentals necessary to develop into a great basketball player.

For more information contact the women's basketball office at (615) 963-5903.

CAMP BROCHURE

CAMP INFORMATION
Coach Larry Inman Girl's Basketball Camp

WHEN: June 25-28


WHERE: Gentry Center


TIME: 9:00 a.m. - Noon each day


AGES: 4th grade to 8th grade


COSTS: $60 per individual


CONTACT: TSU Women's Basketball Office, 615.963.5903. 
For more information, click here to read the brochure.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

All-SWAC DE Jackson to test supplemental draft waters?

HOUSTON, Texas -- Texas Southern is losing a star in defensive end Marquis Jackson, who requested and has been granted his release from the program. The question for NFL scouts to begin the process of answering is where might Jackson land, and, frankly, should they care?

Jackson, officially listed by Texas Southern at 6-5 and 275 pounds, has earned first team all-conference recognition after each of the past two seasons. This past season he registered 50 tackles, an eye-popping 18.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. His twin brother, Malik Jackson, was just drafted (fifth round, No. 137 overall) out of Tennessee by the Denver Broncos.



Success on the football field is nothing new to the brothers. They were named the Co-Defensive Players of the Year by the LA Daily News after starring at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa, California. Malik signed with Southern Cal out of high school before electing to transfer to Tennessee later in his career. Marquis played junior college football at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita (CA) and verbally committed to joining his brother at USC. When the NCAA levied sanctions against USC, however, Malik transferred to Tennessee and Marquis considered other options, including going across town to UCLA, prior to deciding on Texas Southern.

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Small athletics budgets makes NCAA Division I play a challenge

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- When a leak appeared in Mississippi Valley State's gym roof and warped the floor, basketball practice became impossible just as the 2010-11 season was getting under way.

The displaced Delta Devils — who had made the NCAA men's basketball tournament three years before — loaded into vans to practice at a middle school 20 minutes away.

It took four months to find money to repair the floor. Meanwhile, the Devils embarked upon an early-season schedule that included several of the nation's top hoops schools: Indiana, Butler, Kentucky, Marquette. They lost all four of those games (and many others), but it was enough to earn $800,000 in guarantees. And more than enough for a new floor.

"We are the lowest in the totem pole in resources and finances," says Sean Woods, the departing men's basketball coach at the 2,000-student school two hours north of Jackson, Miss. "We can't compare to anyone else in the country."

INTERACTIVE: How Division I schools make, spend money

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WSSU Collins sees boost in additions from junior colleges

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Coach Bobby Collins of Winston-Salem State and his staff savored the school's first CIAA title in men's basketball for a while. Then they went back to work. Collins signed three junior-college players who are expected to make impacts early and often next season.

"We feel good about the three, and they all bring something to the party," Collins said. The Rams will lose only one player from last season — rising junior center Nequan Melvin, a role player, has decided to transfer.

They'll add Maurice Nash, a 6-foot-4 swingman from Raleigh and Davidson County Community College; Marquez Jones, a 6-3 combination guard from Kinston and Lenoir Community College; and Victor Holloway, 6-7 power forward from Kinston and Arizona Western Community College.

Nash and Jones were prolific scorers in junior college. In two seasons at DCCC, Nash averaged ...

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A look at JSU, the SWAC and the almighty dollar

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Hopefully by now you’ve had time to pick up today’s copy of The Clarion-Ledger, where in it, a USA Today story highlights the plight of MVSU – and to an extent, most smaller D-I athletic programs – in today’s dog-eat-dog college landscape.

I’m generally not a numbers guy, but I found the report interesting.

The story, which you can see for yourself here, offers a glimpse at the day-to-day struggles that smaller athletic programs must overcome for survival.

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Vanguard ousts Nuggets at NAIA National Championship

MOBILE, Alabama — Vanguard avenged two regular-season singles losses and defeated Xavier University of Louisiana 6-3 Tuesday in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship.

The Lions (10-14), ranked 15th in the coaches poll and seeded 16th in the tournament, will play defending champion and top-seeded Auburn Montgomery (22-2) in the second round at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Gold Nuggets, ranked 20th and seeded 17th, finished 7-22 after their sixth trip to nationals in eight seasons.

Gabriele Allford and Ashley Tebeau, both straight-sets singles losers in Vanguard's 5-4 home victory against Xavier on April 5, reversed those outcomes to help the Lions hand the Nuggets their first opening-round loss at nationals. Alford beat Nicole DeLoach 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 4 flight, and Tebeau defeated Ashley McGill 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6.

Xavier never led in the dual, and Vanguard took the lead for good at 2-1 when Allford and Tebeau defeated McGill and Jordyn Goody 8-2 at No. 3 doubles. The Lions clinched when Petronella Lindahl beat Goody 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.

The Nuggets got their points from DeLoach and Kourtney Howell, who beat Ekaterina Gabashvili and Petronella Lindahl 8-1 at No. 2 doubles; Amber Brown, who defeated Gabashvili 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 singles; and Amanda Materre, who rallied past Nina Pudar 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2.

DeLoach and Howell closed the season with seven consecutive doubles victories. Brown avenged a straight-sets loss to Gabashvili from April. Materre became the fourth Gold Nuggets freshman to win in singles at nationals — joining Dominique Bell (2004), Marian Lang (twice in 2009) and Carmen Nelson (2010) — and earned her sixth straight singles victory.


Howell lost 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6) to Gabriela Bergmanova, ranked second by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, at the top singles flight.

The Gold Nuggets entered the tournament 5-0 in first-round matches. It's the first time they failed to reach the second round.

It was the final collegiate competition for McGill, a fifth-year senior who graduated from Xavier on Saturday and competed at nationals in tennis and basketball. The other five Nuggets are scheduled to return next season.

Xavier's men (17-7), ranked seventh and seeded seventh, had a first-round bye and will play ninth-ranked and 10th-seeded Point Loma Nazarene (13-10) in the second round at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Point Loma defeated 23rd-seeded Mobile 8-1 Tuesday.

NOTES: There were no first-round women's or men's upsets. There were two 5-4 decisions — Indiana Wesleyan's women beat Robert Morris (Chicago), and Belhaven's men defeated Campbellsville. Both duals matched the 15th and 18th seeds . . . The NAIA announced a three-year contract extension with the Mobile Area Tennis Association to keep the women's and men's tournaments in Mobile through 2016. The date of next year's tourneys will be May 14-18.

Results

NAIA National Championship (seedings in parentheses) First Round — 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15 Vanguard (16) d. Xavier (17) 6-3 William Carey (9) d. Indiana Southeast (24) 9-0 Shorter (12) d. Bethel (Kan.) (21) 9-0 SCAD Savannah (13) d. Nebraska Wesleyan (20) 9-0 Lewis-Clark State (14) d. Northwestern Ohio (19) 9-0 Lindsey Wilson (11) d. Spring Hill (22) 9-0 Southern Nazarene (10) d. Missouri Valley (23) 7-2 Indiana Wesleyan (15) d. Robert Morris (Chicago) (18) 5-4 Second Round — 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16 Auburn Montgomery (1) vs. Vanguard (16) Concordia (Calif.) (8) vs. William Carey (9) Azusa Pacific (5) vs. Shorter (12) Oklahoma Christian (4) vs. SCAD Savannah (13) Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (3) vs. Lewis-Clark State (14) Point Loma Nazarene (6) vs. Lindsey Wilson (11) Brenau (7) vs. Southern Nazarene (10) Fresno Pacific (2) vs. Indiana Wesleyan (15) Quarterfinals — 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 17 Semifinals — 9 a.m. on Friday, May 18 Championship — 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 19 Xavier at Nationals (5-6) May 17, 2004 (first round): Xavier 8, Lee (Tenn.) 1 May 18, 2004 (second round): Auburn Montgomery 5, Xavier 0 May 16, 2005 (first round): Xavier 9, Indiana Southeast 0 May 17, 2005 (second round): Brenau 5, Xavier 0 May 12, 2008 (first round): Xavier 7, McKendree 2 May 13, 2008 (second round): Vanguard 5, Xavier 1 May 12, 2009 (first round): Xavier 8, Union (Ky.) 1 May 13, 2009 (second round): Berry 5, Xavier 3 May 18, 2010 (first round): Xavier 6, Indiana Wesleyan 3 May 19, 2010 (second round): Auburn Montgomery 5, Xavier 0 May 15, 2012 (first round): Vanguard 6, Xavier 3

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