Florida A&M Rattlers top Hampton for first win of 2012

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - For two years, James Owens had been trying to make the statement that he finally did Saturday afternoon at Bragg Stadium — the same Bragg Stadiuim where FAMU played its first home game without the sounds of the Marching 100 in the background.

Owens made it difficult for fans to think about how their Marching 100 is serving an indefinite suspension. He racked up 157 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 44-20 victory over the Pirates before of crowd 17,871.

It was a huge win for a FAMU team that had dropped its first two games, a first since 2007. The victory was even bigger, considering that it gives the Rattlers a 1-0 mark in the MEAC.

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Players credit fans for help in victory

Pamela Scott stayed until the very end of Florida A&M’s 44-20 rout of the Hampton Pirates Saturday night in Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Many Florida A&M fans have a reputation for leaving football games after the halftime performances from the much-renowned Marching 100.

The band – now suspended following the November hazing death of drum major Robert Champion – was not in its usual place in the stands.

Instead thousands of students took up the call to ignite fans. The crowd measured at 17,871 and at its best created enough noise to put the 420-student band to shame.

“I’ve been coming to football games since the 1960s,” Scott, a 1975 FAMU grad, said. “I think everybody was having a great time. I didn’t even miss the band. I’m sorry to say it but I didn’t. I’m just a real football fan.”

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2012 Road To The SIAC Championship

Virginia State tops Benedict in Palmetto Capital City Classic

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - The Benedict Tigers gained a season-high 335 yards of total offense, but the defense wasn't up to the challenge as the Virginia State University Trojans took a 30-20 victory over the Tigers in the 11th annual Palmetto Capital City Classic at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

The Tigers, now 0-3 on the season, gave up five plays of 20 or more yards, including a pair of long touchdown passes from Virginia State quarterback LaMonta Green, who finished the game completing 12-of-19 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

The Trojans, who improved to 1-2 on the season, also had 149 yards rushing, including a 51-yard run by Lamont Britt.

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Benedict golf: Bowen is no typical college coach

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - look around Craig Bowen’s tiny office on the third floor of Benedict’s Charlie A. Johnson Stadium suggests a typical college golf coach’s dwelling. A closer look suggests something more.

Dominating one wall, next to a black-and-white photo of a young Bowen playing golf, is an enlarged color shot of Tiger Woods and a cigar-chomping Michael Jordan, shot during their pro-am round at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte several years ago. Not a surprising office adornment for a coach at a historically black college.

Except for this: the photo includes Woods’ and Jordan’s signatures. There’s also a newspaper clipping on the wall with a photo of Woods and Bowen together, smiling, obviously familiar.

No, Craig Bowen is not your typical college golf coach, let alone one in his second season. His resume includes stints as ...

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Tuskegee 45, Lane College 17: Golden Tigers take care of business early

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- It was a home opener everyone could enjoy. Coach Willie Slater’s offense scored early and often enough, the defense turned turnovers into points and the second and third-string players were able to see significant action over the final two quarters of Saturday’s matchup against Lane College.

Now who could complain with results like that?

Derrick Washington scored three rushing touchdowns and safety William Buford had a pair of interceptions to spotlight a dominating first-half performance in Tuskegee’s 45-17 convincing victory over Lane in the SIAC opener for both schools.

“I thought the effort was really good, especially in the first half,” Slater said. “(Going up big) makes it fun at halftime, that’s for sure. We just wanted to maintain our composure coming out in the second half. I would’ve liked it if we could’ve continued drives (after the half).”



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Fort Valley State tops Clark Atlanta in SIAC opener

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Sometimes, the right opponent at the right time can be like medicine. For Fort Valley State, Clark Atlanta was just that.

The Wildcats took control early with a steady offense and played four solid quarters on defense en route to a 26-3 win Saturday night over the Panthers in the SIAC opener for both teams.

The Wildcats improved to 2-1 overall while the Panthers fell to 1-2.

“The hustle,” FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said of his favorite sight of the evening. “You like the hustle.”

FVSU is back home in six days to host Benedict.

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Winston-Salem State dominates Morehouse, 51-21, in Cleveland Classic

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The battle between the halftime bands during the 2012 Cleveland Classic football game had competition in making Cleveland Browns Stadium a “House of Funk” Saturday.

With an electric offense, the Winston-Salem State (WSSU) Rams defeated the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers, 51-21, at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Rams senior QB Kameron Smith threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Smith needed 75 yards passing to become the all-time leading passer in WSSU history. WSSU solidified its No. 8 ranking in the Division II Top 25 poll. Smith led the Rams to 977 yards of offense.

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Morehouse College battles Winston-Salem State University gallery

Rams have no problems with Maroon Tigers

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State flexed its muscles Saturday in a decisive 55-21 victory against Morehouse at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The game, billed as the Cleveland Classic, wasn't much of a classic as the Rams (3-0) dominated early and often. They led 21-7 after the first quarter and 28-7 at halftime and forced the Maroon Tigers (1-2) into four turnovers.

The Rams rolled up 677 yards of offense and improved to 11-1 on the road in three seasons under coach Connell Maynor.

"I'm very happy with the win," Maynor said by telephone. "The guys know all about respecting all and fearing none, but they went on the big stage here in Cleveland and did some great things."

Up 28-7 to start the second half, the Rams forced a fumble by running back David Carter and converted it into a touchdown, scoring on a 3-yard pass from quarterback Kameron Smith to tight end Jerry Chandler. Alejandro Suarez's extra point made it 35-7.

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Johnson C. Smith survives scare to earn season’s first win

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - It wasn’t a laugher by a long shot. But Johnson C. Smith’s first football victory of the season, a 23-18 win over Concordia College on Saturday afternoon at Eddie McGirt Field, gives the Golden Bulls some momentum going into next week’s start of CIAA play.

“It doesn’t matter how you get it, as long as you get it,” Johnson C. Smith wide receiver Matthew Jeffries said. The Golden Bulls (1-2) had to get this one by coming back from a four-point halftime deficit with a big second-half defensive effort.

“You can’t underestimate any opponent,” said Jeffries, who caught five passes for 68 yards. “Our defense stepped up, and our offense made big plays when we needed them.”

Quarterback Keahn Wallace, who wasn’t supposed to play because of a heel injury, completed 16-of-28 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He entered the game in relief of his usual backup quarterback Andre Alexander, who threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter before ...

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Edward Waters 42, Livingstone 36

SALISBURY, North Carolina - The engine and transmission are in place at Livingstone, but the Blue Bears may need to get their brakes checked.  That was the storyline again Saturday at Alumni Stadium, where LC scored enough points to win - yet didn't.

"We're working too hard," coach Elvin James said after winless Livingstone dropped a 42-36 decision to Edward Waters. "Thirty-six points? That should be enough to win in the CIAA. But that's what happens when you dig yourself a big hole."

The hole in question was a 28-7 deficit the Blue Bears (0-3) fell into early in the second quarter. It left their defenders a long way from happy.



"We weren't settled in," defensive end Wesley Jackson said. "Our alignments weren't right. We're switching to a new scheme (under new defensive coordinator Sherman Simmons) and trying to make progress in the right direction. Once we got settled in, we played a lot better."

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Week 3, HBCU Football Scorecard

MEAC
Miami 38,  Bethune-Cookman 10*
Akron 66, Morgan State 6* 
Howard 37, Norfolk State 36* O.T.
North Carolina A&T 40, Virginia University of Lynchburg 7
Florida A&M 44, Hampton 20
Cincinnati 23, Delaware State 7*
Duke 54, North Carolina Central 17*
#24 Arizona 56, South Carolina State 0

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State 6, Southern University 0*
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 24, Alcorn State 6
Alabama State19, Grambling State 18
Alabama A&M 42, Prairie View A&M 30
Jackson State 45, Texas Southern 35

CIAA
Winston-Salem State 55,  Morehouse  21 (Cleveland Classic)
Shaw 31, Stillman 26
Saint Augustine's University 30, Southern Connecticut State 14
Bowie State 24, Fairmont State 17
Edward Waters 42, Livingstone 36
Virgina State 30, Benedict 20
Johnson C. Smith 23, Concordia-Selma 18
Elizabeth City State 13, Albany State (Ga.) 12
Shorter 28, Chowan 17
Fayetteville State 28, Virginia Union 17

OVC
Tennessee State 34, Austin Peay State 14



SIAC
Kentucky State 35, Lincoln (Pa.) 23
Tuskegee 45, Lane 17
Fort Valley State 26, Clark-Atlanta 3
Miles College 44, West Georgia 37

OTHER
Millsaps 54, Point University 28
Central State (Ohio) 28, Urbana 22
Elon 48, West Virginia State 14
Hardin-Simmons 57, Texas College 21
Missouri Southern State 21, Lincoln (Mo.) 14
LIU-C.W Post 45, Cheyney 10

* WATCH Replay on ESPN3

A scout-team QB in '11, Riddick now NSU's No. 1 RB

NORFOLK, Virginia - From scout team to star in less than a year. A scout-team quarterback all last season, Brendon Riddick is the centerpiece of the Norfolk State offense at running back only two games into his career.

He's delivered NSU's biggest offensive play in two straight games. He sits second in the MEAC in rushing yards. After a 150-yard, three-touchdown effort last week, his weekly award total doubled his touchdown numbers.

He did radio interviews, newspaper interviews, and went from third string to sterling. "Twitter was the big thing," Riddick said. "Getting back from the game and seeing my name all over Twitter, people knowing my name. It was a little crazy."

After all that, Riddick didn't need help staying humble heading into this week's game against Howard. The Spartans took care of that last year. From scout team to star in less than a year. A scout-team quarterback all last season, Brendon Riddick is the centerpiece of the Norfolk State offense at running back only two games into his career.

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FVSU ready for SIAC, home opener

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- In an odd way, maybe Fort Valley State and Clark Atlanta are happy to see each other.

Fort Valley State opened the season on the road against a pair of ranked teams and returned home with a split. Clark Atlanta started the season against a top-15 team and had a blowout loss to show for it.

So both will see what they learned from the upgrade in competition when they open SIAC play Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium.

“We’re looking forward to this week, first home game,” FVSU quarterback Antonio Henton said. “I hope the fans give us a lot of energy. We have to come out and play all three phases of the game.”

Only two weeks into the season, everybody in the SIAC has a loss, and nobody is ranked. Albany State dropped from 16th to voteless after its 37-9 loss at Wingate, which lost 28-10 to St. Augustine’s in the opener.

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Fakler sets XU 6K record at Azalea City Classic

MOBILE, Ala. -- A school record by Catherine Fakler and personal bests by Matt Pieri and Kwame Jackson were Xavier University of Louisiana's highlights from the Azalea City Classic cross country meet Saturday.

Fakler ran 6,000 meters in 24 minutes, 9.65 seconds to finish 28th out of 107 women. She broke her XU record of 24.10.3 set in 2011 at the LSU Invitational.

Pieri placed 18th out of 105 men and ran 8,000 meters in 26:39.71, beating his previous best by nearly 12 seconds. Jackson placed 20th in 26:52.13, his fastest by 35 seconds.

Xavier placed eighth out of 13 in the men's team scoring and ninth out of 15 in the women's. It was the second meet of the season for both XU teams.

Read more about the meet later today at the Xavier athletics website: http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/0915.html

And visit http://www.facebook.com/xulagold and give the Xavier athletics Facebook page a "like."

Pregame Post: Lane at Tuskegee

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- It's sunny and beautiful at Cleve Abbott Memorial Stadium for Tuskegee's home opener against Lane College (Tenn.). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

The Golden Tigers are coming into this contest with a 1-1 record. They defeated Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) 35-17 in the Inner-City Classic in Atlanta last week, following a tough 7-6 loss to Alabama A&M at legion Field to start the season.

 

Missouri transfer running back Derrick Washington had a breakout performance in his team's first win. The 6-foot, 215-pounder rushed for 155 yards on 17 carries to earn game MVP honors.

 

Lane is also 1-1. The Dragons started their season with a 45-28 win against Edward Waters College (Fla.) before falling 20-17 to Clark Atlanta.

 

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WEEK 3, HBCU FOOTBALL

MEAC
Bethune-Cookman @ Miami 12noon, ESPN3
Morgan State @ Akron, 3:30pm ESPN3
Howard @ Norfolk State 4pm, ESPN3
Virginia University of Lynchburg @ North Carolina A&T 6pm
Hampton @ Florida A&M, 6pm, RattlerVision
Delaware State @ Cincinnati 7pm, ESPN3
North Carolina Central @ Duke 7pm, ESPN3
South Carolina State @ #24 Arizona, 10:30 pm

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State 6, Southern University 0 (Thursday)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Alcorn State, 3pm
Alabama State @ Grambling State, 7pm
Prairie View A&M @ Alabama A&M 7pm
Jackson State @ Texas Southern 8:30pm



OVC
Austin Peay State @ Tennessee State, 2pm

CIAA
Winston-Salem State vs. Morehouse, 12Noon, Cleveland Classic
Stillman @ Shaw, 1pm
Saint Augustine's @ Southern Connecticut State, 1pm
Fairmont State @ Bowie State, 1pm
Edward Waters @ Livgingstone, 1pm
Virgina State @ Benedict , 4pm
Concordia-Selma @ Johnson C. Smith, 4pm
Albany State (Ga.) @ Elizabeth City State, 6pm
Shorter @ Chowan, 6pm
Kentucky State @ Lincoln (Pa.), 6pm
Virginia Union @ Fayetteville State, 6pm



SIAC
Lane @ Tuskegee, 2pm
Clark-Atlanta @ Fort Valley State, 6pm
West Georgia @ Miles College, 7pm

OTHER
Millsaps @ Point University, 1pm
Urbana @ Central State (Ohio), 1:30pm
West Virginia State @ Elon 1:30pm
Texas College@ Hardin-Simmons, 2pm
Missouri Southern State @ Lincoln (Mo.)

COMMENTARY By Dwight Floyd: Upset Saturday!!

DWIGHT FLOYD
SPORTSEDIT.ORG
 

In spite of the fact that most of the MEAC teams are playing true Division 1 (FBS) football teams, there will be upsets today. The only question is which upset win will be the most significant? Note the time and video availability.
Bethune Cookman Wildcats vs
Miami Hurricanes
12:00 P.M. EST/ESPN3
I am sure that in the BCU locker room they are saying that if the FAMU Rattlers can defeat Miami, something accomplished decades ago, then certainly BCU can win. It all depends on two things: (1) Which Miami team shows up, and (2) whether the Wildcats can get off to a faster start. Last week Miami played a shameful game and with a 52-13 lost to FBS #15 ranked Kansas State gave the impression they don’t belong in the FBS. The week before, Miami defeated unranked Boston College 41-32. Both were away games and against BCU the Miami Hurricanes will be at home. When they played Boston College some probably thought they were close to being able to say that the Hurricanes are getting their swagger back. Perhaps, or maybe Kansas State showed that the Hurricanes are only a shadow of the past. The real concern and what gives BCU a chance is Miami’s lack of defense. Miami hasn’t stopped anyone in their first two games. For the Wildcats they have a habit of spotting the other team a few points and then dominating in the latter half. That won’t work against a team with more talent coming off the bench. What BCU has going for them is talent at key positions such as running back, quarterback and receivers. Against a more balanced Miami team we’ll see how the Wildcats perform. The team that is more consistent in executing their game plan and avoiding mistakes will likely win this game. Miami started the season okay and then took a step backward. BCU continues to improve and will do okay as long as their head coach maintains his composure. Stay tuned, but don’t be surprised if another MEAC team beats Miami. Go Wildcats!!!
Howard Bisons vs Norfolk Spartans
4:00 P.M. EST/ESPN3/ESPNU Tape Delayed 10:30 P.M. EST
From the start, I’m going with Howard on this one. In their first two games Howard struggled against Morehouse before winning, and against the FBS Rutgers team played competitively without the help of starting key players. They have yet to show their potential, except their comeback win last year against a then decrepit FAMU Ratters, but their performance against Rutgers says they should not be taken lightly. Void some of the mistakes and they would have given Rutgers more of a run for their money. Yes, Norfolk State won the MEAC last year and is undefeated after beating Liberty University in an away game. That is the gospel truth! This is a totally MEAC game with MEAC refs. That means anything can happen. Norfolk is well coached and quite disciplined. The secret is that Howard has the talent to compete. It is a question of whether they have the belief. Howard will not be a leader in the MEAC this year, but they will likely be spoilers. They are Bisons and not Pirates, yet we can expect them to steal a game or two. The Spartans better be prepared because the Bisons will be motivated and ready to “start” their season.


Delaware State Hornets vs Cincinnati Bears
7:00 P.M. EST/ESPN3
All of the media is saying that the Hornets were fiercely defeated by the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens last week. They have concluded that Delaware State will not be competitive and Cincinnati will walk away with a decisive win. This won’t be a Louisiana Monroe versus Arkansas type of game. Cincinnati soundly defeated FBS Pittsburgh last week and appears to be FBS able to complete at the top level. One should take note though that for the first time against the Hens, Delaware State actually dominated most of the game. They lost because they could not get out of their own way. The Hornets allowed too many big plays and made too many mistakes to stay in the game. It would be an upset just for the Hornets to be competitive against the Bears. Take away the big plays and the mistakes and I believe they can be.

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Montrel, Benkirane sign scholarships with Xavier Gold Rush

Saad Benkirane

Kyle Montrel

NEW ORLEANS — Kyle Montrel of Atlanta and Saad Benkirane of Casablanca, Morocco, have signed men's tennis scholarships with Xavier University of Louisiana. Montrel will be a freshman, and Benkirane will be a senior on the Gold Rush roster. Both are enrolled at XU for the current semester.

Montrel, a left-hander and a native New Orleanian, is a TennisRecruiting.net four-star prospect who has won approximately 45 age-group singles championships and seven doubles championships since age 8. He is a graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy and also attended Westlake High School, where he was a basketball point guard for both.

Benkirane, a right-hander, is a transfer from NCAA Division I St. Mary's College of Moraga, Calif., where he had a combined 31 victories during the past two seasons at No. 3 and 4 singles and No. 2 doubles. He was a second-team NAIA All-American at Auburn Montgomery as a freshman in 2010 and teamed with Michael Johnson for a victory at No. 1 doubles in the national championship dual against Fresno Pacific, which AUM won 5-2. Benkirane and Johnson were 4-0 at that tournament. One of Benkirane's AUM teammates was Loic Didavi, now an XU senior and the Gold Rush's top player a year ago.

Benkirane was a boys 18 singles national champion in Morocco, and his highest ITF junior worldwide ranking was 181st.

Montrel is a pre-pharmacy major at Xavier, and Benkirane is majoring in business administration.

The XU men have won seven consecutive conference or group championships and qualified for the past four NAIA National Championships. The Gold Rush reached the quarterfinals at nationals in 2012 and became the first XU team in any sport to advance that far since 1973.


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

South Carolina State Preview: A Bulldog Upset of Arizona Would Be Landmark

TUCSON, Arizona - South Carolina State has been the model of consistency under head coach Buddy Pough's guidance.

Pough has led his alma mater to finishes above .500 in each of his 10 seasons there, and claimed at least a share of four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles. Last season's absence snapped a three-season run of appearances in the NCAA Playoffs. His 2009 team went 10-1 in the regular season, and was bestowed the honor of the Black College Football National Championship, a mythical title spanning all divisions for Historical Black Colleges and Universities.

Indeed, Pough has an impressive track record at SCSU. One feat he has not accomplished is an upset of a Bowl Subdivision opponent.The Bulldogs' cross-country trip marks the first visit an HBCU has ever paid Arizona Stadium. A SCSU win would mark another first.

No MEAC program has ever beaten a BCS conference opponent, though the conference only began emphasizing such match-ups in ...

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SB NATION: Q&A with Hail Wildcats (Bethune-Cookman)

MIAMI, Florida  - You thought we left you hanging this week, didn't you readers? It took a little bit of extra work, some diligent Eddie Valiant detective techniques, but we finally managed to find Jerry Bell, writer for Hail Wildcats. He's one of the few public Bethune-Cookman fans out there, so enjoy.

7th Floor: What are the expectations this year for Bethune-Cookman? MEAC conference title? 1-AA playoffs or bust?
Hail Wildcats: The expectations in Daytona Beach are extremely high this season. Head Coach Brian Jenkins has repeatedly and emphatically declared that his goal is to win a National Championship at Bethune-Cookman. In fact, Coach Jenkins has unrelentingly declared that anything less than a National Championship is a failure; so the bar has been raised pretty high for the Wildcats. I believe most Wildcat fans will be disappointed with anything less than at least one playoff win this season.

Heading into the season, BCU was picked to finish 3rd in the MEAC behind defending champion Norfolk State, who the Cats beat last season, and South Carolina State, a team that Bethune-Cookman defeated just last week by a pretty healthy margin.

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Alabama A&M football: MORE GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Some wondered if the list of goals were too long for Kaderius Lacey to accomplish.

Not Lacey, Alabama A&M's do-it-all senior running back.

He wanted to become a starter. Check.

He wanted to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Check.

He wanted to be a first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection. Check.

He wanted to be a first-team All-American. Lacey's play the rest of the season will determine that.

He wanted to win a SWAC championship. That possibility still exists.

He wanted to win the Black College national championship. Currently, A&M is fifth in the poll that determines the national champion.

He wanted to graduate. That will happen in December with a degree in business management.

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XU Rush add Cameroon forward to complete signing class

OLIVIER SIEWE
(pronounced oh-liv-ee-ay see-way)
HOMETOWN: DOUALA, CAMEROON
(hometown pronounced doo-all-uh)
 

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has completed its signing class for the 2012-13 men's basketball season with the addition of 6-foot-5 forward Olivier Siewe of Douala, Cameroon.
Siewe transferred to Xavier from Southern University of Shreveport, a two-year college, and will be a junior on the Gold Rush roster.

Siewe was a two-year starter at Southern and helped the Port City Jags win Miss-Lou Conference championships and finish second in the Region XXIII playoffs both seasons. Southern was 27-4 in 2010-11 and 22-8 in 2011-12. Siewe averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game this past season and, accoring to coach David Francis, had the school's highest grade-point average.

"Olivier is a good guy. He worked hard for us," Francis said. "He's a good defensive player and a really good student."

Siewe transferred to SUSLA after one season at NCAA Division I Campbell University, where he did not play during a redshirt season. Siewe was first-team all-conference twice at Piney Woods School in Mississippi, where he averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a senior and 14.5 points and 12.3 rebounds as a junior.

This will be the seventh season of organized basketball for Siewe, 22.

Siewe is a business management major at Xavier. He'll be the first non-U.S. player for the Gold Rush since Nordine Sekour of Marseille, France, in 2004-05.

The Gold Rush have seven signees for 2012-13. Previously signed were guards RJ Daniels of New Orleans, Xavier Rogers of Denton, Texas, Gary Smith of Sugar Land, Texas, and Lucas Martin-Julien of Reserve, La., and forwards John Gibson of Marietta, Ga., and Wesley Pluviose-Philip of Albany, N.Y.

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. The Rush reached the NAIA national tourney six of the past eight seasons.

2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana 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
Lucas Martin-Julien	G	6-2	187	Fr.	Reserve, La.	Riverside Academy
Wesley Pluviose-Philip	F	6-7	230	Fr.	Albany, N.Y.	Albany
Xavier Rogers	G	6-2	175	Jr.	Denton, Texas	Lake Dallas   (Grambling)
Olivier Siewe	F	6-5	210	Jr.	Douala, Cameroon	Piney Woods  (SU-Shreveport JC)
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: XULAATHLETICS VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

No hiding it: This one's personal for Texas Southern's Asberry

HOUSTON, Texas - Darrell Asberry has been waiting for this.

A former Jackson State quarterback who returned to his alma mater and became a highly successful assistant coach, Asberry is in his first season as the head coach at Texas Southern (1-1, 1-0 SWAC).

So on Saturday, when Jackson State arrives in Houston for its SWAC opener against TSU looking to avoid an 0-3 start, there won't be much sympathy coming its way from across the field.

Does Saturday's game bring with it added incentive for Asberry? You bet it does.

Sure, TSU will be opening a new 22,000-seat stadium in downtown Houston, but it's the sight of the blue and white on the other sideline that will get Asberry's blood pumping.



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Bethune-Cookman is no cupcake but benefits from money games

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - The dominant story line in college football this season has been “cupcake wars,'' which are usually not wars at all but unadulterated thrashings.

It's normal procedure for major college teams to start out with cupcake opponents — college's version of preseason football. They buy a home game, and all the economic benefits it brings, by paying a team from a lower-level conference or division to travel.

B-CU (2-0) at Miami (1-1)
WHEN: Noon Saturday
WHERE: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens
RADIO/TV: WELE (1380 AM); ESPN3

Economically, both schools benefit. But the result on the field is often ugly. However, Oklahoma State's 84-0 drubbing of Savannah State in Week 1 brought the ugliness to a new level.

Savannah State followed that beating with a 55-0 weather-shortened loss at Florida State last Saturday. On the same day, another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team, Florida A&M, received a healthy paycheck and a 69-13 whipping from Oklahoma.

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A&T Women Release 2012-13 Schedule

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - The Tarrell Robinson era will start in Lincoln, Neb., on November 9. The North Carolina A&T women's basketball team released its 2012-13 schedule on Friday.

The Aggies will be playing a total of 29 games with 14 of those games at Corbett Sports Center.

2012-13 A&T Women's Basketball Schedule

"I think my staff and I did a good job of putting together a solid non-conference schedule that will give our players an opportunity to showcase their ability against teams from some of the most competitive conferences in the country before we get ready to compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference," said Robinson. "Our fans will get a chance to see us in the Corbett Sports Center seven times before we start conference play in January. I think it is great for us to have that many home games early."

The Aggies' opener will be followed by another road game in Nebraska as the Aggies face the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 12 before hosting their home opener against Iona on Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. The Aggies will finish up November with a game at Siena, a home contest against archrival Winston-Salem State and another road contest at Richmond.

A&T opens MEAC competition by hosting archrival N.C. Central on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m., at Corbett Sports Center. In December, the Aggies will have two road games in Virginia against Liberty and Virginia Tech. Their non-conference home games in December are against UNC Charlotte on December 18, William & Mary on December 21 and Elon on New Year's Eve.

In January, the Aggies play UNC Wilmington and George Washington before beginning their full conference schedule with a Saturday, January 12 game at Bethune-Cookman.

The 2013 MEAC Championship Tournament will be held in Norfolk, Va. from March 11-16.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling doesn't see Saturday's game as a 'must-win'

GRAMBLING, Louisiana - Grambling has shifted in and out of Southwestern Athletic Conference play for the first three weeks of the 2012 season.

Given that this is Week 3 of the season, it means the Tigers are back in conference play as they kick off their home schedule tonight against Alabama State at 6 at Eddie Robinson Stadium.

“It’s unfortunate, and I said this when I got back last year at one of the conference meetings, it’s unfortunate that the conference stepped in and did the scheduling for us,” Tigers coach Doug Williams said. “For many years, the schedule was basically in place. We’ve always played Alcorn early, but we wouldn’t have played them on Labor Day weekend. We always played Jackson (State) on that Oct. 23, Oct. 25 area. It messes up the natural rivalries we have. Sure you’d like to have a couple of games under your belt (before you play conference games).”



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