SSU Men's Basketball Picked To Win MEAC; Hassan Named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Savannah State University senior Rashad Hassan was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year. The SSU men's basketball team were also picked to win the 2012-13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season title. The Tigers, who won last season's regular season championship, return everyone from last year’s squad.

The Tigers received 24 first place votes and totaled 616 points to take hold of the conference's top spot. SSU finished among the top five in the MEAC in several categories including scoring margin (2^nd), scoring defense (1^st), rebounding margin (1^st), assists (3^rd), steals (5^th), and assist-to-turnover ratio (5^th) a year ago. The Tigers finished the season with a 14-2 mark in MEAC play and 21-12 overall. SSU's season concluded with a 65-51 loss to the University of Tennessee in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

Hassan, a 6-7 Riverdale, Georgia native, led the Tigers in scoring with 13 points per game and started in 32 of 33 games a year ago. He ranked in the top 20 in the nation with a 57.0 field goal percentage. The 2011-12 season was highlighted by three double-double performances including 20 points and 14 rebounds against Tennessee in the NIT.

Senior guard Deric Rudolph was named to the MEAC preseason second team. Rudolph averaged 10 points per game last season.

Accompanying Hassan on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are Tahj Tate (Delaware State), Pendarvis Williams (Norfolk State), DeWayne Jackson (Morgan State), and Ray Willis (North Carolina Central).

The 2012-13 MEAC men's basketball season tips off on Friday, November 9 with ten MEAC teams in play.

The 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

2012-13 Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and All-MEAC First and Second Teams

As voted on by the Conference's Head Men's Basketball Coaches and

Sports Information Directors

(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)

School...................................... Points

1. Savannah State (24)....................... 616

2. Delaware State (1).......................... 525

3. Morgan State.................................. 504

4. Norfolk State (1)............................ 489

5. Hampton........................................ 396

6. Bethune-Cookman......................... 392

7. North Carolina Central.................. 386

8. Howard.......................................... 254

9. North Carolina A&T...................... 228

10. Coppin State................................ 220

11. Florida A&M............................... 184

12. Maryland Eastern Shore............... 110

13. South Carolina State.................... 62

Preseason Player of the Year: Rashad Hassan, Savannah State University

First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Tahj Tate	Delaware State	G	6-4	190	So.	Easley, S.C
Dewayne Jackson	Morgan State	F	6-8	210	Sr.	Bowie, Md.
Pendarvis Williams	Norfolk State	G	6-6	195	Jr.	Philadelphia, Pa.
Ray Willis	N. C. Central	G	6-6	164	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Rashad Hassan	Savannah State	F	6-7	215	Sr.	Riverdale, Ga.

 

Second Team

 

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Kevin Dukes	Bethune-Cookman	G	5-9	155	Sr.	Lithonia, Ga.
Marques Oliver	Delaware State	F	6-7	220	Sr.	Durham, N.C.
Casey Walker	Delaware State	G	6-5	175	Jr.	Brodnax, Va.
Ian Chiles	Morgan State	C	7-2	270	r-Jr.	Cliffside Park, N.J.
Deric Rudolph	Savannah State	G	5-11	175	Sr.	Gadsen, Ala.

All awards are voted on by the conference's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

 COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION AND MEACSPORTS.COM

Howard predicted to win the regular season women's basketball MEAC title

Saadia Doyle

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Howard University senior Saadia Doyle was named the MEAC women's basketball Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive year the conference announced today. The Lady Bison of Howard were predicted to win the regular season title as voted on by the conference's head women's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Doyle, the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year, averaged 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last year. The guard guided her team to the MEAC Tournament championship finale for the second straight year, earning All-MEAC and All-Tournament honors.

Howard totaled 637 points and received 15 out of 26 first place votes. Last year the Lady Bison finished with a 24-9 overall record and 14-2 mark in MEAC play. Howard welcomes back all of its starters from last year's team.

The three-time defending MEAC champion Hampton Lady Pirates were picked to finish second with 597points and seven (7) first-place votes. The Lady Pirates, who will open up their season on November 9^th against Southern Mississippi, concluded the 2011-12 campaign with a 15-1 conference record and 26-5 mark overall. Hampton was one of four MEAC teams to post 20-plus wins last season.

Coppin State was predicted to finish third while Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T round out the top five preseason predictions.

Maryland Eastern Shore was chosen to finish sixth, followed by South Carolina State (7^th), Bethune-Cookman (8^th), Norfolk State (9^th), Savannah State (10^th), Delaware State (11^th), Morgan State (12^th) and North Carolina Central (13^th).

Joining Doyle on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team is teammate Tamoria Holmes. Delaware State's Tierra Hawkins, Ezinne Kalu of Savannah State and Jaquayla Berry of North Carolina A&T round out the first team selections.

The 2012-13 MEAC women's basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 11 with eight MEAC teams in action.

The 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

 

Preseason Honors

 

 

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Tuskegee at Miles College Buzz

Tuskegee at Miles College

WHAT: Tuskegee (7-1, 6-0) at Miles College (8-1, 6-0)

WHEN: Saturday, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Albert J. Sloan-Alumni Stadium, Fairfield, Alabama

TV: None but Birmingham folks can catch the Golden Bears radio broadcast on 88.7 FM.

LINE: None

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: Everything. The meeting between Miles, the defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champs currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 standings, and Tuskegee, the winningest school in black college football history, will determine the conference's western division champion. Both are undefeated against conference foes and both haven't lost since dropping one-point games in their season opener at Legion Field. Tuskegee lost 7-6 to Alabama A&M and Miles fell 31-30 at the hands of North Alabama. The winner of this contest advances to next weekend's SIAC championship game in Atlanta and will be a virtual lock to play in, and possibly, the first round of the Division II playoffs. The loser will likely have to settle for a spot in the Pioneer Bowl which pits the SIAC against the Continental Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Tuskegee downed Miles 27-25 at home last year and leads the overall series 45-12-1.


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Saint Augustine's University To Host 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Campus

GEORGE WILLIAMS
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/
 Head Men's and Women's Track
and Field/Cross Country Coach
Saint Augustine's University

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- Saint Augustine's University has been selected to host the 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Men's and Women's Track & Field Championships, the NCAA announced Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The event will take place May 22-24 at the Saint Augustine's University Stadium in the George Williams Athletic Complex.

“The University's track and field program has always been a source of great pride and accomplishment,” said Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, President of Saint Augustine's University. “The selection to be the host institution for the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships is a perfect fit for the direction in which the athletic program is headed. We look forward to hosting the nation's finest track and field athletes and providing them with a truly memorable experience.”

The national championships will allow Saint Augustine's University to showcase one of the top NCAA Division II track and field facilities in the nation. Saint Augustine's University hosted the national championships two other times but it was at Paul Derr Track on the campus of North Carolina State University in 1994 and 2000.

The University's selection as the 2014 host site holds a special place in the heart of long-time Head Coach George Williams of Saint Augustine's University. Williams, whom the complex is named after, has guided the men's and women's track and field program to 31 NCAA Division II championships and approximately 150 CIAA titles in his 36 year tenure.

“We are thrilled to be selected as the host for the 2014 NCAA outdoor track and field championships at the new SAU stadium,” said Williams, the University's athletic director. “Even though this is our third time hosting, this will be the first time the event is held on the campus itself. We have received tremendous support from our president, Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber. It is her vision which will allow us to host an event of this magnitude. I can promise you that we will do everything we can to make this a great experience for participants and spectators alike.”

Saint Augustine's University will host approximately 750 student-athletes from NCAA Division II colleges and universities throughout the nation. The result will be a great economic boom to the community, as area hotels and restaurants are expected to receive major benefits from the event.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE

Vikings Notebook: ECSU looks to Davis for big plays

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina  --  The situation was getting desperate.

Elizabeth City State was clinging to a six-point lead in the final moments of Saturday’s game against Virginia Union, and a last-gasp Panthers rally had put the ball on the Vikings’ 14-yard line.

“Coach said we needed a big play, so he looked to one of his big-play guys,” said ECSU senior defensive end Brad Davis, who just happens to be one of those guys.

Sure enough, Davis delivered. He blew through the Virginia Union offensive line and dumped quarterback Kenneth Graham for an 8-yard loss on an attempted boot-leg play.

Two incomplete passes later, Elizabeth City State had a 27-21 win that clinched a second consecutive Northern Division title and a second straight berth in the CIAA championship game.

“They got me one time on the ...
 

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Mobile sweeps XU Gold Nuggets after rallying in first two sets

MOBILE, Ala. — Disah Kolassiba had 14 kills and Bailey Nations 10 Tuesday to lead Mobile to a 25-21, 28-26, 25-16 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
    
The Lady Rams (23-10) rallied from deficits of 20-18 in the first set and 20-17 in the second set to help them end the three-match win streak of the Gold Nuggets (16-7). Mobile swept the two-match season series from Xavier and is 3-0 all-time at home against the Nuggets.
     

Xavier University of Louisiana's 2012 women's volleyball team

ROSTER

Moira Kirk had 13 kills, and Jodi Chatters had 10 digs for Xavier. Kirk reached double figures in kills for the fifth time in six matches.
    

Kolassiba had three kills and a block in Mobile's 7-1 run to end the first set. Xavier trailed 13-9 in that set before grabbing momentum with an 11-5 run which included Kirk's two kills and a block.
    

Xavier failed to even the match despite leads of 15-9 and 17-11. Nations and Kiara Gay had two kills apiece in Mobile's next comeback, and the Lady Rams won the second set after three Chinedu Echebelem attack errors in the final four rallies.
    

Kolassiba's kill put Mobile ahead to stay, 10-9, in the third set. The Nuggets were still in contention at 17-15 before Mobile closed with eight points — including three Nations kills and two Nicole Armstrong aces — in the final nine serves.
    

Mobile outhit Xavier .282 to .090 and had advantages of 45-29 in kills and 6-1 in aces. XU standout Taylor Reuther equaled a season low with four kills — one in 13 swings in the final two sets — and served no aces for the second consecutive match. Reuther began the day as the NAIA leader with 0.84 aces per set — two-hundredths of an ace ahead of UT Brownsville's Danica Markovic. Reuther had 19 kills at home in a four-set victory against Belhaven on Monday.
    

The loss was Xavier's second in a row on the road after a school-record 11 consecutive road victories.
    

Xavier can clinch its second consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship with a victory Thursday against city rival SUNO. That match will start at 7 p.m. at The Barn. The regular-season finale will be 7 p.m. Saturday at GCAC and city rival Dillard, then the Nuggets will travel to Little Rock, Ark., for the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 8-10.

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

Convocation Center replaces The Barn at Xavier University

The brand new construction ushers in a new era for Xavier Athletics

Story by Peter Mayer Advertising

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is heralding in a new era of athletics with a series of events celebrating the opening of the Convocation Center and Annex. The Convocation Center will become the home of XULA men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball and replaces The Barn, a 1,300-seat gymnasium opened in 1937.
 

"The Barn will always be a part of Xavier’s history, but I look forward to seeing the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets continue their winning traditions as well as establishing new traditions in the Convocation Center," says Dr. Norman C. Francis, President of XULA.
    

The new center boasts more than 93,000 square feet of athletic space with over 3,500 seats that can be reconfigured for a variety of purposes. The end stage and center stage arrangement allows flexibility for athletic and other large-scale events. A state-of-the-art scoreboard system includes four LED displays providing live and recorded video.
    

The facility cost approximately $2.5 million. Construction began in April. Manning Architects designed the facility, and Gibbs Construction built it. Streets bordering the courts are Stroelitz to the north, Palm to the south, Pine to the west and Broadway to the east.

The Convocation Center will be the home of, among other things,
XU men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball.

PDF notes from XU Sports Information

The Convocation Center also includes weight room facilities with taping and training areas as well as coaches' offices and home and visitor locker rooms. A monumental staircase at the entrance leads to a high-end VIP suite, and a dramatic second floor pre-function area that allows views to the outdoor plaza below while providing natural daylight into the facility.

Supporting the Convocation Center is the Xavier University Convocation Annex that houses classrooms, athletic storage, and athletic offices as well as a "green" parking lot with pervious paving and solar panels. The Convocation Center and Annex are anticipated to be LEED Silver Buildings and incorporate community connectivity, water conservation, energy efficiency, recycled and regional materials, and improved indoor air quality. These are the first LEED certified projects for Xavier University.
    

"Xavier's continued expansion is a reflection of the growth this University has seen over the last 75 years," stated Ray Manning of Manning Architects, the architects for the two structures. "The Convocation Center's capacity is three times that of The Barn, ensuring the multi-use facility can accommodate Xavier's growing needs."
    

The Convocation Center is across Washington Avenue from the main campus on a site bounded by Short, Palm and Stroelitz streets. A pedestrian bridge will be constructed across Washington Avenue to give the XULA community better access to the new building.
    

A series of grand opening events will be held Saturday, November 3 beginning at 10 a.m. with a community tailgate party. The schedule is as follows:

 

Xavier University Convocation Center Grand Opening Schedule of Events

Saturday November 3, 2012

Tailgating
10 a.m.
Open to the Public — requests from media for interviews and photos will be honored.

Ribbon Cutting and Blessing of the Facility
11:30 a.m.
Open to the Public - requests from media for interviews and photos will be honored

 
Basketball Doubleheader
Men's game — Xavier vs. Morehouse , 1 p.m.
Women's game — Xavier vs. Johnson & Wales (Fla.), 3 p.m.
Doubleheader tickets available for $10 — requests from media for interviews and photos will be honored.

About Manning Architects

Manning Architects is an architecture, interior design, and urban design and planning firm based in New Orleans, Louisiana that provides a comprehensive range of professional design services. Formed in 1985, it has consistently ranked as one of the five largest architectural firms in New Orleans. The company is large enough to successfully undertake complex, large-scale projects, yet small enough to remain sensitive to the needs of individual clients with limited resources. Over the years the firm has designed facilities for a wide range of clients in transportation, educational, commercial, civic, cultural, and hospitality. The staff of Manning Architects has expertise in all phases of design and construction, including site evaluation, urban planning and feasibility studies, project programming and design, construction document preparation, and construction ' management and administration. For more information, go to www.manningarchitects.com.

About Xavier

Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, co-educational institution offering a comprehensive liberal arts program and professional programs, including 38 undergraduate majors, five master’s degree programs and a doctor of pharmacy program. Xavier is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the United States and draws students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, the Virgin Islands and 7 foreign countries. For more information contact Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans LA 70125, Phone: 504-520-7568, Fax 504-520-7933.

The Xavier Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets compete in Division I of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) as a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference(GCAC). Xavier fields men's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis and track and field and women's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

 

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

XULAATHLETICS

Grambling State host SWAC foe Jackson State Saturday

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  --  No matter how his team's most recent game is evaluated, Doug Williams knows that the bottom line is another loss at Grambling State University.

"Whether you lose by three or 30 points, it's still a defeat at the end of the day," said the Tigers' head coach. "You simply can't get around it, no matter how you look at it."

This past weekend, the G-Men (1-6, 0-5) lodged deeper in the Western Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference race with a 23-20 road loss against Texas Southern University.

It was the third time this season that Grambling had lost a game by three or fewer points.

But in a campaign that is fast becoming arguably the most disappointing in the school's legendary history, such an analysis doesn't take away any of the hurt.

"It's our job as coaches to get our players in a position to win consistently and we just haven't been doing it," Williams said. "You can make all of the  ...

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Tuskegee University closing in on SIAC championship

TUSKEGEE, Alabama — After winning seven consecutive games, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers are one game away from playing for the SIAC football championship. In their way is the only other team that is undefeated in conference play: the Golden Bears of Miles College.

Tuskegee will play for the SIAC West Division Championship Saturday against the defending SIAC champion, Miles College in Fairfield, Ala. A win could essentially add two major games to this year's schedule, with a third trip to Atlanta looming at Lakewood Stadium Nov. 10. The winner of Saturday's game will play the winner of the SIAC East Division Championship (also on Saturday), which will be played in Columbus, Ga. between Fort Valley State (7-2 overall; 5-1 in SIAC with one conference loss coming to Tuskegee) and Albany State (6-3 overall; 5-1 in SIAC with one conference loss coming to Miles College).

If Tuskegee were to emerge as conference champion, the Golden Tigers would represent the SIAC in the annual Pioneer Bowl, which is the postseason showcase between representatives of the SIAC and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The CIAA is the oldest black athletic conference in the nation and is the only other major conference in NCAA Division II comprised of  historically black colleges and universities. Tuskegee dominates Pioneer Bowl history, having won seven out of the nine contests that the Golden Tigers have participated in since the game's inception in 1997.

This Saturday's matchup stirs up ...

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TSU Tigers travel to Murray State to take on Racers

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -  Nationally-ranked Tennessee State will play at Murray State at 11 a.m. CST on Saturday as part of the OVC TV Game of the Week package. The game will air live on FOX College Sports Pacific and delayed at 11 p.m. CST on FOX Sports South.

The matchup features a pair of coaches who are in the third season at their respective schools. #18 TSU is coming off a win with no time on the clock vs. Tennessee Tech to improve to 8-1 on the season and sit atop the OVC standings, while Murray State is coming off a three-point loss at Jacksonville State.

The Tigers rebounded from its only loss of the season (a 3-point overtime defeat at Jacksonville State) to come-from- behind and beat Tennessee Tech 22-21 on Saturday. For the second straight home game the contest game down to the final play of the game as Michael German completed a six-yard touchdown pass to A.C. Leonard with no time on the clock to tie the game and Jamin Godfrey nailed an extra point to lift his team to the victory.

 

Godfrey was named National Special Teams Player of the Week after going 5-for-5 in field goals (connecting from 37, 32, 27, 41 and 22) and nailing the winning PAT. The five made field goals set a TSU single-game record and are tied for the most in the FCS this season.

 

Leonard finished the game with eight catches for 102 yards and the winning score. Leonard currently ranks second among FCS tight ends in receiving yards (528) and third in receptions (37).

German finished the day 24-of-40 for 294 yards and the game-winning score.

 

Defensive back Steven Godbolt III picked off sixth pass of the season and now leads all FCS players nationally in interceptions/game (0.67). As a team the Tigers lead the OVC and rank 15th nationally in scoring defense (18.56 points/game) and 34th in total defense (338.67/game).

 

Murray State suffered its second-straight OVC loss, losing 38-35 at Jacksonville State on Saturday. The Racers tied the game at 35 in the third quarter but was unable to score in the fourth quarter and JSU connected on a 38-yard field goal with 8:51 left to win the game.

Tennessee State Game Notes OVC Weekly Football Release

Coach Rod Reed Weekly Teleconference

Following that game the team’s three losses to OVC foes this season have come by a combined 11 points. Senior quarterback Casey Brockman did become the OVC’s career passing leader, increasing his total to 9,187 yards and passing Morehead State’s Chris Swartz (1987-90). Brockman completed 19-of-36 passes for 255 yards while also rushing for two touchdowns. Brockman now needs just 231 yards to hold the OVC career record for total offense. Duane Brady added 71 rushing yards and two rushing scores.

 

Walter Powell, who entered the game in the Top 10 nationally in receptions/game and receiving yards/game was held without a catch. Brandon Hathaway finished the game with five tackles, a tackle-for-loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery; he currently ranks third nationally in fumble recoveries/ game (0.38). As a team MSU ranks fifth nationally in scoring offense (39.5 points/game) and total offense (491.0 yards/game).

Because of a scheduling quirk this marks the third-straight year the game has been played at Murray State. Saturday marks the 24th all-time meeting between the teams and the series has been virtually even with MSU holding a 12-11 advantage. The Racers have won the last four in the series including 58-27 a season ago.

 

A year ago Murray State racked up 707 yards of total offense as Casey Brockman passed for an OVC record 600 yards and seven touchdowns in the victory. Walter Powell caught nine of those passes for 147 yards and a score. Michael German passed for 121 yards and a score for the Tigers.


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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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