Conference Preview: MEAC prepares for life after Norfolk State

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Kyle O’Quinn and the Norfolk State Spartans took the country by storm last season, ruining brackets everywhere with their stunning upset of No.2-seed Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. With O’Quinn now in the NBA, programs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference are back to where they usually are: A college basketball afterthought serving as non-conference filler for programs looking to pad their records.

Delaware State and Savannah State are the two teams most likely to contend for the MEAC championship in 2012-2013. Delaware State returns two of the conference’s top players, sophomore guard Tahj Tate and sophomore center Kendall Gray. Tate was the team’s leading scorer last season despite missing five games, averaging 16.1ppg. He is unquestionably the most dynamic player in the conference, and can single handedly take over the game. Gray is one of the nation’s premier shot-blocker, but was limited to just 17 games last season because of a knee injury. No other team in the MEAC boasts a inside-outside combination like Delaware State, and these two players will ultimately be the reason why the Hornets finish atop the standings.

But the Savannah State should not be left out of the discussion. The Tigers had ...

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Maynor: WSSU Rams need to stay focused

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State has done a good job all season of not peeking ahead. It will need to keep doing that this week as it prepares for its final regular-season game at Fayetteville State on Saturday.

"It's a different week in that we have clinched," Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams said in referring to winning the CIAA's Southern Division. "But it's not different in that we have another football game that we have to win. The guys know this is our biggest game of the season because it's our next game."

The Rams (9-0), ranked No.2 in NCAA Division II, will play for the conference championship on Nov. 10 at Durham County Stadium against Elizabeth City State. But to keep their ranking and their momentum (15 straight CIAA wins) they will have to make sure to take care of business against the Broncos.

"We have to play this as if it's our last game...

VIDEO

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Duke Hosts Winston-Salem State Thursday

DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke men's basketball team hosts Winston-Salem State in Cameron Indoor Stadium this Thursday, Nov. 1, in the second exhibition game of the preseason. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will air live on the Blue Devil Network and IMG Sports Radio.

Duke is coming off of a 105-87 win over Western Washington on Saturday in which three Blue Devils - seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly and freshman Rasheed Sulaimon - topped 20 points. Sophomore point guard Quinn Cook and freshman forward Amile Jefferson also scored in double figures with 13 points apiece as the Blue Devils showcased an explosive offense equipped with multiple scorers.

The Blue Devils shot 57.6 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three-point range against the defending Division II National Champions, thanks in part to the 6-11 forward Kelly who hit 6-of-9 shots, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. He was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, dished out four assists and grabbed six rebounds.

Winston-Salem State is coming off of a successful 2011-12 season at the Division II level in which they won the CIAA Championship and finished with a 21-9 record. The Rams return all five starters from last season, including leading scorers Justin Glover (15.8 points per game), LaMar Monger (13.4 ppg) and WyKevin Bazemore (13.4 ppg). The Rams possess a dynamic backcourt led by senior Marcus Wells, who averaged 3.0 steals and 6.3 points per game as a junior. Wells is one of Winston-Salem State's most experienced players, having played the point for four years, and enters his senior season among the school's top five all-time in assists.

Expect Duke to use a balanced rotation of players again on Thursday, as eight Blue Devils logged at least 15 minutes against Western Washington on Saturday. Only the senior forward Plumlee and sophomore point guard Cook played over 30 minutes, as head coach Mike Krzyzewski took advantage of a deep bench and a wealth of versatility in Duke's lineup.

The matchup against Winston-Salem State will be the last exhibition contest of the preseason for Duke. Coming to Durham for Duke's home opener on Friday, Nov. 9, will be Georgia State for a 7 p.m. contest in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke will then take on defending national champion Kentucky in Atlanta, Ga. on Nov. 13.

COURTESY DUKE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION


2012-13 Winston-Salem State Men's Basketball

Date		Opponent	Location		Time
November
Thu	1	at Duke	Exhibition		7:00 PM
Mon	12	at UNC Greensboro	Greensboro Coliseum		7:00 PM
Thu	15	Barber Scotia	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Mon	19	at USC Aiken			7:00 PM
Fri	23	vs. Northern Mich.	Fresh Coast Classic		2:00 PM
Sat	24	vs. Fresh Coast Classic	Fresh Coast Classic		TBA
Wed	28	USC Aiken			7:00 PM
December
Sat	1	Wingate	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Mon	3	Allen	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	15	Anderson (S.C.)	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Tue	18	at Virginia Union *	Richmond, VA		6:00 PM
January
Sat	5	at Lincoln (Pa.) *	Lincoln, PA		4:00 PM
Mon	7	at Bowie St. *	Bowie, MD		7:30 PM
Thu	10	Virginia St. *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	12	Chowan *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Mon	14	Elizabeth City St. *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	19	at St. Augustine's *	Raleigh, NC		4:00 PM
Wed	23	Shaw *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	26	at Fayetteville St. *	Fayetteville, NC		7:30 PM
Wed	30	at Johnson C. Smith *	Charlotte, NC		7:30 PM
February
Sat	2	Livingstone *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Sat	9	St. Augustine's *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Wed	13	at Shaw *	Raleigh, NC		8:00 PM
Sat	16	Fayetteville St. *			7:00 PM
Wed	20	Johnson C. Smith *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	23	at Livingstone *	Salisbury, NC		TBA
Home games in bold. * Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Game

Stopping the run key for Southern University defense this week

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  This week’s matchup against Alabama A&M (5-3, 5-2 in SWAC) looks pretty daunting for Southern University. The Bulldogs are tied for first place in the SWAC Eastern division and are solid on offense and defense.

Added to the mix is that the game is at Alabama A&M on Saturday at 1 p.m. and that Southern will be facing a team in a bad mood after losing to rival Alabama State last week. But Southern defeated the Bulldogs last year, 21-6. The Jaguars held running back Kaderius Lacey, who leads the SWAC in rushing, to only 21 yards on 11 carries in 2011.

Southern interim head coach Dawson Odums said he expects to see a lot of Lacey (6-foot-0, 218 pounds), who has rushed for 736 yards, seven touchdowns and averages 5.7 yards per carry this season.

“They have a big running back,’’ Odums said. “They’ll try to run the football. I think they would try and run the football on us considering how many yards we’ve given up in that department. Probably try to get the quarterback (Deaunte Mason) on the edge since that’s been a struggle for us. For the most part, they’ve been a good running football team with a big offensive line.’’

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SSU NOTEBOOK: QB Bostick stepping up play for Tigers

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  Savannah State has been more competitive in recent weeks, thanks in a big way to the improved play of quarterback Antonio Bostick.

The junior followed up a 319-yard, four-touchdown performance against Edward Waters with 251 passing yards in a 21-13 loss to Hampton last Saturday.

Bostick has 708 yards of total offense in the last two game and ranks fourth overall in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in combined passing and rushing yardage.

“I’m pleased what I’ve produced this season. Hopefully, I’ll continue it this Saturday,” Bostick said.
The 55 points in the last two games are four more than the Tigers had in their first six games.

“(Bostick) is getting the feel for what we’re asking him to do,” SSU coach Steve Davenport said. “He’s been a good leader for us for quite some time now. But now he’s picking up the offense. He and Simon (Heyward), he and (Kris) Drummond, he and Isom (Roosevelt) have a good rapport.”
Heyward caught three touchdown passes from Bostick in the win over Edward Waters.


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N.C. A&T picks up commitment from Virginia cornerback

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  --  Cornerback Treavonne Brandon, a 2013 prospect from Virginia Beach, Va., committed to N.C. A&T on Oct. 19.

"Finally Committed," Brandon tweeted a day before the Aggies' 24-0 loss to Delaware State. "I Will be playing football for the Next 4 years at The University of North Carolina A&T."

Brandon, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound corner at Ocean Lakes High, chose the Aggies over interest from Delaware, Norfolk State, Old Dominion and Richmond, according to Scout.com.

"I picked them because they have been there from the beginning, before I got interest from other colleges,” Brandon told Scout.com. “They offered me early and the coaches always stayed in contact with me. I’ve been to a couple of games and I think I fit well in their defense. I also think I will have a chance to play there.”

A&T offered Brandon shortly after seeing him in a camp over the summer, according to Virginia recruiting website Recruit757.com, but he didn't even know he had the offer until recently.

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Miles College and Tuskegee to play for spot in SIAC championship game Saturday

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  It's here now.

It's the matchup prognosticators predicted before either team played a down this season.  Miles College and Tuskegee University will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. at Albert J. Sloan Alumni Stadium and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Both teams' only loss came in one-point games to start the season. Both are undefeated in the conference and spot in next week's Southern Intercollegiate Conference championship game in Atlanta will be on the line.

"We want to make sure we're understanding the importance of this game," Miles coach Reginald Ruffin said. "It's going to be a big game, an exciting game. Emotions are going to be high. It came down to (No.) 1 versus (No.) 2. We've just got to continue focusing and working hard.

The matchup will pit Miles coach Reginald Ruffin against one of his mentors in Tuskegee coach Willie Slater.

Ruffin, in his second season at the Golden Bears' helm after guiding them to a conference title in his first year as a head coach, worked under Slater for five years as the Golden Tigers' defensive coordinator/linebackers coach before coming to Miles.

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SIAC Battle Of The Bands: Morehouse v. Fort Valley State

The Blue Machine Marching Band of Fort Valley State University showing you why HBCU Marching Bands do it better as they face off against the The House Of Funk of Morehouse College.

2012 SIAC Road To The Championship: Morehouse Maroon Tigers v. Albany State Golden Rams

Tuskegee, Miles and WSSU reps in AFCA Div. II Coaches Poll

WACO, Texas  --  For the second time in three weeks, seven Top 25 teams lost causing a reshuffling of the rankings in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The top three spots remained the same, with Colorado State-Pueblo staying No. 1 with 24 first-place votes. Winston-Salem State (N.C.) still sits No. 2, with six first-place votes, followed by No. 3 New Haven (Conn.). Then-No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.) was upset by new No. 7 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42, causing both Northwest Missouri State and Ashland (Ohio) to move up one spot apiece, to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

This week, there are five Top 25 matchups that will have a say in who wins conference titles. The first game is No. 4 Northwest Missouri State hosting No. 20 Emporia State (Kan.), with the winner having a leg up in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) title chase. The second matchup has No. 6 Minnesota State-Mankato hosting No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.) with first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division on the line. First place in the Lone Star Conference is at stake when No. 12 West Texas A&M plays host to No. 10 Midwestern State (Texas), while No. 11 Missouri Western State and No. 25 Washburn (Kan.) play in another key MIAA matchup. The final Top 25 matchup has No. 15 Miles (Ala.) facing No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.), with first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division at stake.


2012 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 29, 2012

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Week Eight	Next Game
1.	Colorado St.-Pueblo (24)	9-0	744	1	D. Colorado Mesa, 48-10	Nov. 3 vs. New Mexico Highlands
2.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (6)	9-0	720	2	D. Shaw (N.C.), 62-31	Nov. 3 at Fayetteville St. (N.C.)
3.	New Haven (Conn.)	8-0	689	3	D. Southern Connecticut St., 48-9	Nov. 3 at American International (Mass.)
4.	Northwest Missouri St.	8-1	632	5	D. No. 16t Washburn (Kan.), 56-6	Nov. 3 vs. No. 20 Emporia St. (Kan.)
5.	Ashland (Ohio)	9-0	628	6	D. Findlay (Ohio), 42-21	Nov. 3 at Tiffin (Ohio)
6.	Minnesota St.-Mankato	9-0	591	7	D. Wayne St. (Neb.), 42-35	Nov. 3 vs. No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.)
7.	Shippensburg (Pa.)	9-0	542	10	D. No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.), 49-42	Nov. 3 vs. Cheyney (Pa.)
8.	Henderson St. (Ark.)	9-0	532	9	D. Southern Arkansas, 44-36	Nov. 10 vs. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
9.	Minnesota-Duluth	8-1	519	8	D. Minnesota-Crookston, 38-14	Nov. 3 vs. Mary (N.D.)
10.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	7-1	462	11	D. Eastern New Mexico, 51-28	Nov. 3 at No. 12 West Texas A&M
11.	Missouri Western St.	8-1	454	12	D. No. 15 Emporia St. (Kan.), 57-28	Nov. 3 vs. No. 25 Washburn (Kan.)
12.	West Texas A&M	8-1	418	14	D. West Georgia, 52-28	Nov. 3 vs. No. 10 Midwestern St. (Texas)
13.	Bloomsburg (Pa.)	8-1	403	4	Lost to No. 10 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42	Nov. 3 vs. West Chester (Pa.)
14.	Indiana (Pa.)	8-1	377	16t	D. Clarion (Pa.), 45-0	Nov. 3 at Gannon (Pa.)
15.	Miles (Ala.)	8-1	330	18	D. Stillman (Ala.), 49-13	Nov. 3 vs. No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.)
16.	Harding (Ark.)	7-1	302	19	D. Arkansas Tech, 76-23	Nov. 3 at Southeastern Oklahoma St.
17.	Sioux Falls (S.D.)	8-1	254	21	D. Upper Iowa, 54-41	Nov. 3 at No. 6 Minnesota St.-Mankato
18.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	6-2	176	22	D. Truman St. (Mo.), 20-6	Nov. 3 vs. Lindenwood (Mo.)
19.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	7-2	163	23	D. No. 24 Hillsdale (Mich.), 42-23	Nov. 3 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)
20.	Emporia St. (Kan.)	8-1	161	15	Lost to No. 12 Missouri Western St., 57-28	Nov. 3 at No. 4 Northwest Missouri St.
21.	West Alabama	7-2	133	NR	D. Delta St. (Miss.), 37-7	Nov. 3 at Abilene Christian (Texas)
22.	California (Pa.)	7-2	115	13	Lost to Slippery Rock (Pa.), 28-26	Nov. 3 at Mercyhurst (Pa.)
23.	Tuskegee (Ala.)	7-1	74	NR	D. Clark Atlanta (Ga.), 14-0	Nov. 3 at No. 15 Miles (Ala.)
24.	Valdosta St. (Ga.)	7-2	71	NR	D. Shorter (Ga.), 37-6	Nov. 1 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
25.	Washburn (Kan.)	7-2	60	16t	Lost to No. 5 Northwest Missouri St., 56-6	Nov. 3 at No. 11 Missouri Western St.

Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Hillsdale (Mich.) (24), Charleston (W.Va.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Indianapolis (Ind.), 37; Missouri S&T, 36; Chadron St. (Neb.), 31; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 27; American International (Mass.), 22; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 17; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 7; Charleston (W.Va.), 5; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 5; New Mexico Highlands, 4; Shepherd (W.Va.), 4; Mars Hill (N.C.), 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 1; Hillsdale (Mich.), 1; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 1.

FSU's Phillips shrugs off criticism

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  There's been plenty of grumbling among fans at Fayetteville State.

The Broncos are coming off their lone CIAA victory last week when they beat Livingstone 47-29. Coach Kenny Phillips, who is 75-62 in 13 seasons, has won three CIAA titles but the Broncos are 1-7 overall and in last place in the Southern Division at 1-5.

Phillips wouldn't call the season frustrating but says he's trying to get his young team to learn how to win.

"The perception of winning is it doesn't happen overnight," Phillips said. "The guys are starting to understand and we know we have a tough contest this week."

The Broncos will play host to second-ranked Winston-Salem State.

Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams, who spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Fayetteville State, said Phillips will turn things around.

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CAU's Smith-Jones Doesn't Mind Being Rare Commodity

TAMICA SMITH-JONES, DBA
Director of Athletics
Clark-Atlanta University

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  Clark Atlanta University's Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones doesn't mind being singled out. In fact, she prefers being "one in a few" or "the only one," when it comes to promoting student-athletes during their journey through college.

Smith-Jones is currently "one of only two" female athletics directors in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), which is composed of 13 institutions in five states including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. Both she and Dr. Denisha Hendricks of Kentucky State University are African-American.

Just recently, Smith-Jones served as the "only" featured panelist to represent the NCAA's Division II institutions during the 2012 National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) Regional Fall Conference, held at Georgia State University, Oct. 14 – 16.

The three-day N4A Conference included representatives from both Division I and Division II schools in the region, focusing on "Today's Vision, Tomorrow's Reality."

"Having an opportunity as the only panelist from a Division II school to share my experiences in athletic administration and to offer my expertise in the field along with my colleagues was an honor," said Smith-Jones.

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XU Gold Nuggets win in 4 for season sweep of Belhaven

NEW ORLEANS -- Taylor Reuther had 19 kills Monday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-21, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20 women's volleyball victory against Belhaven at The Barn.

The Gold Nuggets (16-6) won their third in a row and snapped the six-match win streak of the Blazers (25-7). Xavier earned its first season sweep of Belhaven; the Nuggets won in four sets Sept. 8 in the championship match of the Belhaven Tournament.

Moira Kirk had 11 kills, Chinedu Echebelem 10 and Claudia Haywood eight for Xavier. Kirk had five blocks, three in the final set.

Taylor Williams had 13 kills, and Morgan Hofacker and Natalie Davis had eight apiece for Belhaven. Hofacker had 14 digs.

More on this story will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1029.html


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

SWAC Launches Football Championship Website

COMING DECEMBER 8, 2012, 1:00 PM at
 LEGION FIELD
 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
 

JUDGMENT DAY

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  — The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announces the launch of their new website www.swacfootball.org dedicated to the SWAC annual Football Championship.
 
The new website incorporates options to purchase advance tickets, make travel and hotel arrangements all while providing information about each member institution via link to the school’s site.

The site will serve as a primary source where fans, alumni and students can get the latest news about the SWAC Toyota Football Championship, including a schedule of events for the week.

“The new website will help alumni, fans and students better streamline the process of planning for the SWAC Football Championship. It provides one stop to purchase tickets, make traveling arrangements and allows everyone to keep up-to-date with SWAC football.” commented SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp.

Celebrating its 14^th year, the SWAC Football Championship continues to grow in exposure and attendance. The 2012 Toyota SWAC Football Championship will kick off on Thursday, December 6^th through Saturday, December 8^th, with Game Day held at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

For more information please visit www.swacfootball.org.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.swacfootball.org or at www.southtix.com.

About SWAC

Founded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference – made up of historically black colleges and universities - and its members are committed to the philosophy of maintaining intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the overall educational program. The conference believes in and subscribes to the fundamental principles of amateurism, institutional control, sound academic standards, financial aid, recruiting, and ethical conduct that govern intercollegiate athletics, and the enforcement of rules and regulations as adopted by the NCAA. Sponsoring 18 sports, the SWAC ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni playing with professional sports teams- particularly in football. For more information about SWAC, visit www.swac.org.

New attitude at S.C. State entering bye week

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  It’s a different mood around the South Carolina State football facilities compared to three weeks ago.

Back-to-back wins and a chance to extend a streak of consecutive winning seasons has dramatically improved the Bulldogs’ morale. Now with a “bye” this Saturday, S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough hopes the extra time will do wonders for his team’s overall health.

“Physically, we’re in kind of a shambles, especially on defense,” said Pough during Monday’s weekly teleconference. “We don’t have any of our linebackers. (Blackville-Hilda graduate) Joe Thomas is out ... Terrell Fitts is out. We’ve got some of our defensive line – (Andrew) Carter and some of that crowd is out. (Defensive back Darius) Drummond’s down (ankle). We’ve got a lot of guys down on defense.

“Offensively, we’re better off that way. (Quarterback Derrick) Wiley is still out (concussion). (Running back) Asheton (Jordan) was away last week with a family deal. We’ve got a couple of guys banged up on the offensive line, but most of our offense is in decent shape.”

Out the injured group, Pough is hopeful of getting back Fitts and Justin Hughes at linebacker and possibly Drummond for the Nov. 10 contest at North Carolina A&T. The Bulldogs had a light practice Sunday, were off Monday and return to work this afternoon.




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NCCU Eagles attempt to put stinging loss in past

DURHAM, North Carolina — Before Saturday’s game between N.C. Central and Bethune-Cookman, Eagles coach Henry Frazier III said a little luck could help his team win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

The Eagles very well may need that rabbit’s foot.

NCCU and Bethune-Cookman entered the contest tied for first place in the MEAC, but the Wildcats’ 42-17 win over the Eagles gave them the league’s top spot.

The matchup pitted NCCU, with the MEAC’s No. 1 rushing defense, against a Bethune-Cookman team that boasted the league’s top rushing offense.

Bethune-Cookman won the ground battle, making the difference in the war.



The Wildcats rushed for 274 yards, 158 from Isidore Jackson, who carried the ball 14 times and scored twice, including a 93-yard touchdown.

Bethune-Cookman had been averaging 229.6 yards and 29 points, but the Wildcats outdid themselves against NCCU, which was the MEAC’s highest-scoring squad heading into the game.

The teams played to a 14-14 halftime stalemate, but Bethune-Cookman cranked up its offense in the second half and outscored NCCU 28-3.

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Running game, D spark Arkansas-Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  Not much has been written about Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but the Golden Lions (6-2 overall, 5-1 in SWAC) have quietly put together a great season.

UAPB is on top of the league’s Western Division, and its only losses are to Alabama A&M and Tennessee State, two of the nation’s top black college football teams.

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman has succeeded with great defense and a solid running game. Coleman has some of the best defensive players not only in the SWAC, but in the FCS. The linebacker corps has been tremendous, led by Bill Ross (85 total tackles, 44 solos), Jer-ryan Harris (68 total tackles, 33 solo) and Xavier Lofton (65 total tackles, 38 solo). They all do a great job of swarming to the football, and it’s hard to move the ball against them. The Golden Lions don’t give up many big plays and are just fundamentally sound.



Of course, it all starts up front. Defensive end Brandon Thurmond leads the SWAC with 10.5 sacks. Thurmond, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior, is one of the best pass-rushers in the country. In fact, Thurmond and Ross are solid NFL prospects. Ross, a 6-2, 240-pound senior, leads the conference in tackles.

Offensively, the Golden Lions have a reliable running back in Justin Billings. Billings, who has good quickness and can turn the corner, has 76 carries for 406 yards and three touchdowns. He had 18 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown in UAPB’s 10-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State.

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Blue Devils to Welcome Shaw in Exhibition Tuesday

DURHAM, Norrth Carolina  --  The preseason third-ranked Duke women's basketball team will host its first of two exhibition contests on Tuesday, Oct. 30 as the Blue Devils will welcome the reigning NCAA Division II champions Shaw University to Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.

Shaw University is located in Raleigh, N.C., and in the CIAA conference. The Lady Bears registered a 29-6 overall record a year ago, including a 15-1 mark in the CIAA. They claimed their first NCAA title last season with an 88-82 victory over Ashland.

The Lady Bears return three starters from their championship squad - Sequoyah Griffin (9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds), Crystal Harris (9.4 points, 6.6 rebounds) and Isayra Diaz (3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds). Jacques Curtis is in his 13th season as head coach and has notched a 273-132 career record.

Duke has been tabbed No. 3 nationally in the Associated Press preseason poll. The No. 3 listing is the highest preseason ranking for the Blue Devils since the 2005-06 campaign.

A reward to fans that attend the exhibition games against Shaw, on Oct. 30, and Queens, on Nov. 4, is the opportunity to purchase individual game tickets before the general public. Tickets officially go on sale on Monday, Nov. 5.

Ticket packages for the 2012-13 season include season ticket packages and the ACC 4-Pack mini-plan amongst other great offers. For more information about these packages and others contact the Duke Ticket Office at (919) 681-2583 or 1-877-375-3853. You can also purchase tickets online at www.GoDuke.com.

COURTESY DUKE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Shaw Releases 2012-2013 Women’s Basketball Schedule

RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw University today released its 2012-2013 women's basketball schedule. The defending NCAA Division II national champions will face Division I champion Baylor in an exhibition.

"This schedule gives the program additional national exposure, and challenges us each step of the way," said Shaw head coach Jacques Curtis.

The Lady Bears open their schedule with two exhibitions against Division I opponents. On October 30, they travel to Durham to take on nationally ranked #3 Duke, then travel to Waco, Tex., to take on #1 Baylor and the 2011-2012 Player of the Year Brittney Griner on November 5. This is the first time that the Division I national champion will face the Division II national champion.

"This game gives us a national stage and the chance to see – very early in the year – just where we stand," said Curtis.

The meat of the Lady Bears schedule begins in December, when the Lady Bears host a tournament featuring games against Washington Adventist and Nova Southeastern on December 14 and 15. The squad will then take to the road to take on Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic.

After the Christmas Break, Shaw travels north to participate in the University of District Columbia tournament.

The beginning of 2013 brings the start of CIAA play with a three-game road trip to open the conference season. The Lady Bears then have a five-game homestand before hitting the heart of their CIAA Southern Division schedule beginning with a January 10 matchup against Virginia Union.

They host cross-town rival Saint Augustine's on January 26, and travel to the Lady Falcons on February 16. Their trip to Charlotte to face Johnson C. Smith falls on February 2. They will close out the season on February 23 against JCSU.

The CIAA Tournament begins on February 25, with the championship match to be held on March 2.

The Lady Bears return only three players, one of whom started on the championship team. This year is truly a year of rebuilding.

Shaw opens home play on November 14, taking on Virginia University of Lynchburg. All weekday Shaw home games begin at 6:00 p.m. Tipoff for Saturday games is 2:00 p.m. Home games, except for the Johnson C. Smith matchup, are played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on Shaw's campus.

NCAA DIVISION II SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS 2012-13 SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent		Time/Status
Oct. 30	at Duke		TBA
	Exhibition
Nov. 5	at Baylor		8:00 PM
Nov. 14	Virginia-Lynchburg		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 11	Tusculum		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 14	Washington Adventist		2:00 PM
	Takoma Park, MD
Dec. 15	Nova Southeastern		5:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 17	at Palm Beach Atlantic		1:00 PM
	Boca Raton, FL
Dec. 19	at Lynn		2:00 PM
	West Palm Beach, FL
Dec. 28	at Goldey-Beacom		2:00 PM
	Wilmington, DE
Dec. 29	vs. Assumption @ Washington, D.C. - UDC		1:00 PM
Dec. 30	vs. Felician @ Washington, D.C.		1:00 PM
	D.C. Winter Classic
Jan. 3	at Elizabeth City State *		5:30 PM
	Elizabeth City, NC
Jan. 5	at Chowan *		5:30 PM
	Murfreesboro, NC
Jan. 7	at Virginia State *		5:30 PM
	Petersburg, VA
Jan. 10	Virginia Union *		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 12	Bowie State *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 14	Lincoln (Pa.) *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 19	Livingstone *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 21	Virginia Union *		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 23	at Winston-Salem State *		5:30 PM
Jan. 26	Saint Augustine's *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 30	Fayetteville State *		5:30 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Feb. 2	at Johnson C. Smith *		7:30 PM
	Charlotte, Nc
Feb. 9	at Livingstone *		5:30 PM
	Salisbury, NC
Feb. 13	Winston-Salem State *		6:00 PM
Feb. 16	at Saint Augustine's *		5:30 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Feb. 20	at Fayetteville State *		5:30 PM
	Fayetteville, NC
Feb. 23	Johnson C. Smith *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

College Basketball Preview - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Philadelphia, PA — OUTLOOK: One of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history came last season from Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference automatic qualifier Norfolk State, and a handful of teams are attempting to stake their claim at dethroning the Spartans here in 2012-13.

Norfolk State shocked the basketball world by defeating No. 2 seed Missouri last year, but it will be hard-pressed to repeat a 26-win season with the loss of perhaps the conference's best big man in Kyle O'Quinn.

Savannah State actually won the MEAC regular season championship, finishing a game ahead of Norfolk State with 13 conference wins. This appears to be the Tigers' year as they return every single player from that squad. Don't sleep on Delaware State however, which looked impressive in league play last year (12-4), and returns the reigning conference Rookie of the Year in Tahj Tate. Bethune-Cookman recovered from a slow start to put together a solid campaign in 2011-12, and if it can piece things together for the whole season it will certainly be in the mix.


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Alabama State to face another high-powered offense Saturday at Prairie View

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State turned in its most impressive defensive performance of the season in its 31-13 defeat of rival Alabama in the 71^st State Farm Magic City Classic Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field.

The Hornets basically shutout Southwestern Athletic Conference for three quarters after falling behind 13-10 with 14:40 to play in the second and overcame their struggles against the run, limiting the Bulldogs top-rated rushing attack to 29 yards.

The performance earned them their third victory in The Classic since 2004 and second in the past three years. But more importantly it kept their dreams of returning to the Old Gray Lady and playing for a SWAC championship alive.

With the win Alabama State improved to 5-3 (5-2 in the conference). They're tied for first-place in the eastern division with A&M (6-2, 5-2) and a have a half-game lead on Jackson State (4-4-, 4-2), which owns the head-to-head against them.




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College Basketball Preview - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Philadelphia, PA — OUTLOOK: In the Southwestern Athletic Conference a lot changed in the off- season. Conference champion Mississippi Valley State lost its head coach and a bulk of its roster. Texas Southern brought on former Indiana and UAB head coach Mike Davis on an interim basis. Grambling State hired a new coach in Joseph Price, who was an assistant at Lamar and played at Notre Dame. All the turbulence has meant the conference is very much up for grabs among a number of teams trying to make an impact.

 

Jackson State may be in the best position to unseat MVSU with the return of four starters including SWAC Freshman of the Year Kelsey Howard. It would be a quick turnaround for the Tigers, who finished ninth in the SWAC last season. However, if Howard continues to grow and the other returning players do as well, the Tigers will be dangerous. Prairie View A&M also figures to be right in the thick of things with all five starters returning from a team that was second in scoring last season. Southern also can't be ignored after the Jaguars were one of only two teams to have an overall record above .500 last season (17-14), while finishing second in the conference (13-5). Alcorn State has size in the backcourt and will return productive scorer Marquiz Baker, who missed much of last season with a foot injury.

 

The rest of the conference looks poised to have a tough season with just a few teams having enough to have an outside shot at competing for the conference title. Arkansas-Pine Bluff could be a ...

 

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Miles College coach Reginald Ruffin talks matchup against Tuskegee

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  There's about to the a collision in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's western division when Miles College (8-1) hosts Tuskegee University (7-1) Saturday.

 

Both are undefeated at 6-0 in the conference. The winner will advance to the conference championship game in Atlanta on November 10th.
 

I asked Miles coach Reginald Ruffin to give me his initial thoughts on the meeting against his former employer, following the Golden Bears' 49-13 defeat of Stillman this past Thursday.
 

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WSSU's Maynor heading home a winner

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  When Connell Maynor went back home to Fayetteville in 2010, he was a rookie head coach for a Winston-Salem State team coming off a one-win season.

When he returns again Saturday, he'll be accompanied by the most dominant football program in the CIAA.

Much has changed since Maynor left Fayetteville State after a successful 10-year run as an assistant on Kenny Phillips' staff.

The second-ranked Rams (9-0, 6-0 CIAA) already have clinched a berth in the CIAA championship game. They'll close their regular season Saturday against the struggling Broncos.

"I have a lot of family and friends there," Maynor said of Fayetteville. "I think I've proven that I can coach football. I coached there for 10 years, and I've got a lot of history with those guys and Kenny Phillips, and he's like a brother to me."

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FSU Defeats Livingtstone 47-29 on Homecoming

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  Running back Colon Bailey, Jr. broke Fayetteville State’s single-game rushing record as the Broncos celebrated Homecoming with a 47-29 victory over Livingstone (2-7, 2-4 CIAA). Bailey finished with a career-high 288 yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns.

The victory was also historical for Head Coach Kenny Phillips. It was his 75^th career win. In 13 seasons at the helm, he now holds a 75-62 record.

“It’s always good to get a win,” said head coach Kenny Phillips. “The guys are playing hard. They haven’t given up this season. These last three weeks, they have grown as a football team. We came together today as a team and did something in a game that we have been looking to do the entire year. That is to run the football.”

Bailey (Jr., Manteo, NC) averaged eight yards per carry in the contest, and recorded a game-long rush of 40 yards. The 288 yards on the ground breaks the previous record of 265 set by Clifton Davis in 1993. He also eclipsed the 200-yard rushing plateau for the second consecutive game as he ran for 220 last week against Saint Augustine’s.

“Watching Colon run the football the last three weeks has been special; especially, when you’re talking about the last two games. He has rushed for over 200 yards in each of them,” said Phillips. “That doesn’t happen in college football too often with the way teams play defense. My hat is off to him and the offensive line.”

The Broncos (2-7 overall, 1-5 CIAA) rushed for a season-high 376 yards against the Blue Bears. Christopher Hairston (So., Jacksonville, NC) and Andre Montgomery (Fr., Goldsboro, NC) contributed 103 yards on 21 carries as a pair. Hairston finished with 66 yards on 11 touches and Montgomery contributed 37 yards on 10 carries.

Wide receiver Ricardo White (So., Monroe, NC) caught a team-best three catches for 73 yards. White pulled in a 53-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Andreas Hudson (Sr., Philadelphia, PA) that put Fayetteville State ahead 10-7 with 2:34 left in the first quarter.

Hudson had 146 yards passing and two touchdowns on 9-of-13 attempts in the first half. Nick Bynkoski (Fr., Duncan, BC) took over in the second half to see his first collegiate experience. He rushed for his first touchdown to open the second half.

The Broncos’ defense forced Livingstone into five turnovers (one interception, four fumbles) and held it to 337 yards of total offense. Four of the five turnovers led to 24 points for Fayetteville State.

Free safety Michael Johnson (So., Raleigh, NC) led the defense with ten total tackles (seven solo and three assisted), one fumble recovery and one-half tackle for loss. Strong safety Michael Fogg (So., Raleigh, NC) tallied an interception and fumble recovery while finishing with seven tackles (four solo and three assisted).

Fayetteville State will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. when it hosts #2 Winston-Salem State for Senior Day.

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: 2012 Magic City Classic Battle of the Bands