The "unofficial" meeting place for intelligent discussions of Divisions I and II Sports of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
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TALLAHASSEE, Florida – For Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus Travis Williams, growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and seeing how the poor were “abused by the criminal justice system” inspired the public defender to want to work to prevent injustices from occurring.
“I see this job as the best way to prevent (these injustices) even though it's only one case at a time in my small section of the world,” said Williams, a senior attorney at the Hall County Public Defender's Office in Gainesville, Ga.
Williams’ passion was recently noted in a documentary called Gideon's Army, which will appear on the cable network HBO later this year. A segment of the piece was featured on the New York Times website as part of an op-doc ‘True Believers in Justice’ (Video & NY Times Article)
Williams was approached after a few short interviews to be a part of the documentary, to which he admits he reluctantly said yes.
“I was a little nervous at first to have a camera crew invade my personal and professional life but then I reconsidered,” he said. “I wanted to make sure there was an enthusiastic voice for justice portrayed in the film.”
The documentary follows Williams and two other public defenders based in the South. The film focuses on the struggles of working as a public defender, and issues dealing with difficult cases, managing the workload and the act of balancing a personal life. Williams recently returned from the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where the film premiered.
“I was blown away,” he said of viewing the documentary. “It is weird seeing yourself on the big screen but overall, I was satisfied with the way I was portrayed.”
Williams earned his bachelor’s degree from the FAMU School of Business and Industry in 2005, and his juris doctorate from the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. While at FAMU, Williams was a freshman and sophomore senator and served as an escort for the Royal Court during his sophomore year. During his freshmen year, he was awarded the Freshman Senator of the Year Award. In 2011, the Georgia Association of Circuit Public Defenders recognized the young attorney as the inaugural Assistant Public Defender of the Year. In 2012, he was also honored as one of 14 “Rising Lawyers Under 40” in Georgia by the Daily Report, a newspaper for lawyers in Georgia.
“I will always owe FAMU everything,” said a humbled Williams. “FAMU taught me that if I work hard enough, anything is possible.”
COURTESY FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS
Chole Sims 6-2/260 OL 2012 ALL-BIG BEND FIRST TEAM
Sims commits to FAMU over offers from B-CU and Tennessee State
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Earl Holmes effect continues to play out among local players for the FAMU football program, as Lincoln offensive tackle Chole Sims announced Tuesday that he’s committed to becoming a Rattler.
Just like the two previously disclosed commitments before him, Sims said he was impressed with the direction that Holmes would like to take the program. Holmes was hired earlier this month for his first collegiate head-coaching job.
Sims’ commitment came three days after he took a visit to FAMU.
“It’s like a family, like where I came from at Lincoln,” Sims said. “I like the coaching staff, really. With Coach Holmes, I feel like they have a good program going. I feel like they know what they’re doing.”
Bolstering the offensive line had been a priority for Holmes’ predecessor, Joe Taylor, and Holmes seemingly is continuing to add depth to the unit. Last season, FAMU played with a line that had Robert Hartley as the only senior and at points during the season had all freshmen around him.
Morris commits to B-CU over offers from FAMU, North Carolina A&T, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian College and eight other FCS programs.
APOPKA, Florida -- Apopka offensive lineman Dazzie Morris has committed to play college football at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, and he is excited about the opportunity.
“I’m feeling good about it,” Morris said. “It’s Division 1 [Football Championship Subdivision] football and they win … they’re the MEAC champions.
“Mostly I like it because it’s just like Apopka. It’s hard work, it’s discipline and they harp on family.”
Morris, who played center for the 2012 Florida Class 8A state champion Blue Darters, and has also played guard and tackle at Apopka, said he sees a little bit of his coach Rick Darlington in the way B-CU coach Brian Jenkins carries his authority.
“He’s cool. He’s really intense and that’s a good thing,” Morris said. “He asks a lot of his players on and off the field and that’s also a good thing.
“He talks about graduation his people and it’s the part that people don’t think about so much, but you gotta get your degree when you go to college, not just play football.”
B-CU has been on the Dazzie Morris wagon for a long time. The coaches saw him play last spring at Daytona Beach Memorial Stadium when the Blue Darters faced Seabreeze in the spring game, and BC-U coaches were on the horn with a scholarship offer the next day.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- This isn’t your daddy’s CIAA.
The 12-member collegiate athletics conference is moving forward in its second century with a new commissioner, branding and a 21st century approach to its signature event – the annual basketball tournament. Commissioner Jacqie Carpenter, the first black woman to lead a conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, has overseen the transition in five months on the job.
“Initially, it was a little difficult for me because I was a part of the old branding as a former student-athlete at a CIAA school, but this is fresh,” the graduate of Hampton (Va.) University said on Tuesday at a press conference in Charlotte. “It’s new, it’s exciting. We’ve got our membership on board, our presidents on board and I’m excited to talk about our brand and the new direction our conference is going in.”
The tournament is Feb. 28-March 2 at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Carpenter unveiled the new league logo at the Charlotte Convention Center. The double-circular seal incorporates the league’s acronym; five stars (for founding members Hampton, Howard, Lincoln, Shaw and Virginia Union universities) and two sheaves of wheat representing growth and education. The update replaces a brand that had been used since 1985.
MOBILE, Ala. -- Seniors Wanto Joseph, Anthony Simmons and Denzell Erves combined
for all but three of Xavier University of Louisiana's points after halftime in a
57-53 overtime men's basketball victory against Mobile on Monday.
The
Gold Rush (19-4), ranked 11th in NAIA Division I, completed a two-game season
sweep of the Rams (11-9). Xavier has won eight of its last nine games. The Gold
Rush are 10-1 on the road this season.
Joseph scored 17 points, Simmons
15 and Erves 12 for Xavier, which led 20-18 at halftime but needed a Simmons
free throw with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 49 and
force overtime.
Joseph's two free throws at 3:39 of overtime tied the
score at 51, then he converted his steal into an assist to Erves for a basket at
2:54 to put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 53-51.
Mobile missed two shots
in the final 20 seconds which could've tied the score. Erves made two free
throws with two seconds remaining to clinch the victory. Xavier is 3-0 in
overtime this season, its best mark since going 4-0 in 1992-93.
Chris
Richardson scored 13 points for Mobile, which had dropped three straight, and
Julien Sargent had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Xavier missed all six of
its 3-point attempts but outshot Mobile 44.2 to 34 percent from the floor. The
Rams had a 36-30 rebound advantage, but Erves grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in
his 14th double-double of the season and 21st of his career.
Xavier has
beaten Mobile seven consecutive times -- the longest Gold Rush win streak in the
series -- and 10 of the past 11. Xavier leads the series 32-26.
Xavier's
next game will start at noon Saturday against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
opponent Talladega at XU's new Convocation Center. Xavier and Philander Smith
are 6-1 in the GCAC and share first place.
MOBILE, Ala. -- Whitney Gaston-Loyd, Whitney Gathright and Chelsea Broussard
scored 12 points each Monday to lead NAIA No. 14 Xavier University of Louisiana
to a 76-58 women's basketball victory against Mobile.
The victory was the
fourth in a row for the Gold Nuggets (16-4) and their second this season in two
meetings with the Lady Rams (11-10). Xavier clinched its 12th consecutive
winning season, which extends a school record, and will finish above .500 for
the 20th time in 21 seasons.
Gaston-Loyd and Gathright were a combined
9-of-9 from the floor -- Gaston-Loyd made all six of her attempts -- and
Broussard led Xavier with seven rebounds.
Carmen Holcombe had nine points
and six rebounds for the Gold Nuggets, and Paige Gauthier had eight points, four
rebounds, four assists and four steals. Gauthier, Gathright and Andraquay
Quinnine each made two 3-pointers.
Briana Edwards had 20 points and eight
rebounds for Mobile, and Deonica McCormick had 17 points, seven assists and
three steals.
Xavier trailed 17-12 in the ninth minute, then scored the
next 14 points to take the lead for good. Broussard's basket at 6:57 capped the
run and gave the Gold Nuggets a 26-17 lead. Xavier led 36-27 at halftime and
held a double-digit advantage for the final 13:27.
Xavier, winning by
double digits for the 12th time this season, had a 43-28 rebound advantage --
the Gold Nuggets had 25 offensive rebounds -- committed 15 turnovers and gained
23. Mobile outshot the Gold Nuggets 43.8 to 39.4 percent from the
floor.
Xavier's next game will start at 6 p.m. Thursday against William Carey at XU's new Convocation Center.
DURHAM, North Carolina — N.C. Central hasn’t lost all month, getting its seventh straight win Monday night in front of a McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium crowd that is developing a palate for the sweet taste of success in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
NCCU beat Morgan State 69-61, the score indicative of a closely contested ballgame.
The Eagles (13-7, 6-0 MEAC) had a little bit more heart than the Bears, Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman said.
“It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say they wanted it more, and they worked at it,” Bozeman said.
“Clearly, we have size, we have talent. But we’ve just got to do a better job of focusing. We’ve got to do the little things.
“You’re not going to win many ballgames if you miss 17 free throws and (have) 18 turnovers.”
About that size Bozeman referred to, Morgan State had 7-2 center Ian Chiles in its starting lineup.
NCCU’s Jay Copeland had to guard him.
HOUSTON, Texas -- Omar Strong scored 27 points, including five 3-pointers, and the Tigers shot a 52 percent from the field Monday in a 97-65 trouncing of Alabama State.
Lawrence Danner-Johnson contributed 20 points and hit six 3-pointers for Texas Southern. Ray Penn scored 19 points, Fred Sturdivant put in 13 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, and Aaron Clayborn added 11 points.
“Tonight we did not do a good job of getting out to the shooters to take away those long shots, and they shot it well,” Alabama State coach Lewis Jackson said.
Phillip Crawford lead ASU with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Joshua Freelove scored 14 points. The Hornets only shot 35 percent, including just four of 20 3-point attempts.
Jamel Waters put in eight points and recorded a team-high six assists and four steals.
ASU trailed by 10 at halftime when Texas Southern went on a 16-5 run to put the game away.
ORLANDO, Florida - The Florida Atlantic University men's tennis team fell to 0-2 on the season with a 5-2 setback to Florida A&M University on Sunday at San Lando Park in Orlando.
The Owls earned the doubles point when the tandem of senior Jose Fantova and sophomore Richard Meade won a tiebreaker at the No. 2 position. Sophomore Robert Dubuque and freshman Andrei Morin-Kougoucheff picked up a victory at No. 3 doubles 8-7 (7). However, Florida A&M won five of the six singles matches to record the victory. Sophomore Will Neuner picked up the only singles victory with a 6-3, 6-0 win at the No. 2 position. The victory marked his third straight and 11th win overall. Three of the six singles matches went three sets. FAU returns to the court on Saturday, February 2 at 10 a.m. against Florida State University in Tallahassee. The team host Troy University on Sunday, February 3 at noon. Florida A&M 5, Florida Atlantic 2
Singles
No. 1 Salif Kante (FAMU) def. Jose Fantova (FAU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Will Neuner (FAU) def. Admire Mushonga (FAMU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 3 Chidi Gabriel (FAMU) def. Andrei Morin-Kougoucheff (FAU) 7-5, 6-2
No. 4 Takura Happy (FAMU) def. Richard Meade (FAU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Zack Evenden (FAMU) def. Sean Bacha (FAU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 Temeura Asafu-Adjaye (FAMU) def. Matthew Samberg (FAU) 7-6, 5-7, 6-2
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling continues to build a football pipeline into Mansfield High School.
For the second time in as many weeks, the Tigers have landed a commitment from a Wolverines football player.
Mansfield wide receiver Verlan Hunter, a 6-foot-3 1/2, 190-pounder, pledged to the Tigers on Monday, joining teammate Arkez Cooper, who committed last week.
“They told me I had an opportunity to get in and play if I put in the work,” Hunter said.
Hunter, a two-sport standout who helped lead the Wolverines to the state basketball semifinals, caught 16 touchdown passes for the Class 2A playoff participants.
It was just Hunter’s second season of high school football.
“I think Grambling got the steal of the state,” Mansfield coach Glen Hall said. “They got a big, big-play receiver.”
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Luke Helms, an inside linebacker who played on Godby High School’s state champion football team two months ago, has decided to pass on potential offers from several SEC and ACC programs as he has committed to FAMU.
Helms, who took a weekend visit to FAMU, will join his brother, Matthew, a defensive end who played on special teams for the Rattlers last season.
“I made the decision early because we had been praying for it for a long time; just trying to fit into the right school and to see what God wanted me to do and where he wanted me to be,” Helms said Sunday night. “We started calling coaches for their perspective on life and football and theirs (FAMU’s) lined up exactly with ours. That is one of the main reasons I committed.”
He said he’d visited six schools, including Georgia Tech, Florida, Purdue and Vanderbilt before making his decision.
As a member of the Cougars’ championship team, Helms (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) was credited with 120 tackles, four sacks, and 10 quarterback hurries. He played only his senior season at Godby after spending the previous year at North Florida Christian. Helms began his high school career at Leon.
ATLANTA, Georgia - The 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands Showcase exceeded all expectations, even without the Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band, which is still on university imposed suspension. Watch as much improved Edward Waters College and Albany State puts on great shows... Edward Waters, the pride of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, clearly had a superior musical sound for the small category bands. Go EWC Tigers!
If you missed Saturday night Super Bowl for HBCU Marching Bands, here are some high definition and surround sound highlights courtesy of local videographers.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State’s baseball team won 20 games for the first time in 10 years last season under first-year coach Mervyl Melendez and tied for second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division race.
So what does Melendez do for an encore? How about scheduling a three-game series with defending national champion Arizona?
The Hornets opened baseball practice on Friday with an eye toward playing in Major League Baseball’s Urban Invitational for the second consecutive year and a trip to Tucson, Ariz., to play the Wildcats in a three-game series in late April.
“If you want to get to the promised land, you have to get through some obstacles and some difficult situations,” Melendez said. “Going to play Arizona is not going to be easy, but in order for us to become the team that I believe we can be, and the program I believe we can be, we’ve got to play good teams. And it doesn’t get bigger than playing the defending national champions.”
The trip to Hi Corbett Field to play the Wildcats is ...
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Ticket books are on sale now for the 2013 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament scheduled for March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Virginia.
Each ticket book provides entrance for one (1) person to attend all 24 men’s and women’s games including the championship final slated for Saturday, March 16 with the men’s game starting at 2 p.m. followed by the women’s game at 5 p.m.
Ticket books can be purchased at all 13 MEAC university ticket offices, Norfolk Scope Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, the MEAC Administrative Office and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling the MEAC at 757-951-2055 or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Fans interested in sitting within their university’s fan block are encouraged to contact their institution’s ticket office directly.
The annual MEAC Basketball Tournament marks in first year back to the City of Norfolk since 1997. Norfolk will serve as the tournament’s host through 2015. The Hampton University Lady Pirates and the Norfolk State Spartans men’s and women’s teams earned the tournament crowns last year and are favorites to win this year’s titles.
About the MEAC Basketball Tournament
The MEAC Basketball Tournament is a single elimination championship playoff that involves Division I historically black colleges and universities located across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Hampton, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central, Savannah State, and South Carolina State.
The tournament is played at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Virginia. Both the men’s and women’s champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
About Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia is a city of some 242,803 residents and more than 100 diverse neighborhoods. It is the cultural, educational, business and medical center of Hampton Roads, hosts the world's largest naval base, the region's international airport and is one of the busiest international ports on the East Coast of the United States. The city is undergoing a successful renewal, including new office, retail, entertainment and new residential development along the rivers and bay front, and revitalization projects in many of its neighborhoods. Norfolk's residents and city officials have long supported sports programs at all levels.
About VisitNorfolk
VisitNorfolk is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the City of Norfolk. VisitNorfolk, a non-profit organization is dedicated to enhancing the role of travel and tourism in our economy by producing high volumes of both leisure and convention visitors, tax revenues and travel related jobs in Norfolk. VisitNorfolk also provides the resources and tools to ensure our visitors stay in Norfolk is both a productive and enjoyable one. For more information, visitnorfolktoday.com or call 800-368-3097. #Norfolk, Virginia
READING, Pennsylvania - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) took another first place finish and with it their second straight Kutztown Golden Bear Invitational Title, besting Vanderbilt in the finals 4-1 to claim the first place trophy. Along the way they shot a perfect 300 in the first match of the day, it is just the second time in school history the Hawks have shot a perfect 300 game in Baker play.
The Hawks, who dominated the tournament from start to finish, opened the day as the number one seed, facing the second-seeded Commodores from Vanderbilt. UMES jumped out to a one game lead with a 246-189 win but Vandy rebounded to even the match at two with a 233-197 win. Then it happened, the Hawks were perfect, shooting 300 and collecting all 12 strikes and besting Vandy's 166. The perfect five line-up was: Kristie Lopez (Ponce, Puerto Rico), Valentina Collazos (Cali, Colombia), Mariana Alvarado (Leon, Mexico), Anggie Ramirez (Bogota, Colombia) and T'nia Falbo (Greensburg, Pa.). With a perfect game and 2-1 lead you would think UMES was cruising toward the finals, but the Commodores won the next three games 234-214, 188-170 and 225-201 for the 4-2 win.
It was the first loss of the tournament for UMES and the emotional roller coaster from 300 to a loss sent them searching for an answer. They would have to find it against Norfolk State, the four-seed, who topped Wisconsin-Whitewater in the three vs. four match-up.
It was a struggle getting it back together and head coach Kristina Frahm juggled her line-up. Lopez went out, Collazos went to lead-off and Megan Buja (Rockford, Ill.) entered. It wasn't long before Tatiana Munoz (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) replaced Collazos, but the shuffling worked. After Norfolk took a 2-0 lead (224-177, 186-167), UMES would find their line and take a 3-2 lead (241-176, 277-235, 239-186). Norfolk rebounded to win game six 194-181 to tie it up and a final game seven would mean a trip to the finals for the winner. The Hawks then edged it out 201-194 to set-up the rematch with Vandy.
"It was a close match" said Frahm. "Norfolk bowled well, and I think we all panicked a little after the first loss, but we got it together enough to advance and that is what mattered."
On Video Day 3: UMES vs. Norfolk State (move to 3:15:54) UMES vs. Vanderbilt (move to 4:14:55) Norfolk State vs. Sacred Heart (4:14:55)
In the final rematch Munoz, Buja, Alvarado, Ramirez and Falbo kept up the momentum, taking a 217-190 win in the first game before allowing Vandy to tie it up with a 231-177 win in game two. Then it was all Hawks. UMES cruised to three straight wins, 238-204, 223-203, 200-183 and taking the 4-1 win and the tournament title.
"It is a great feeling to come to the nation's largest tournament and lead the entire way," said Frahm.
"It is a good confidence booster heading to Texas where we will see some teams that we don't normally bowl."
With the wins, UMES finishes the tournament 14-1 and improved their overall record to 52-8. They have now led the field 11 of the 12 days they have bowled so far this season.
Sacred Heart (12-3) and Vanderbilt (11-4) were the only two other teams to earn more than 10 wins in the event. They finished third and second respectively. Norfolk State was fourth with a solid tournament, while St. Francis (Pa.) rounded out the top five.
Wisconsin-Whitewater, Kutztown, Stephen F. Austin, Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth rounded out the top ten. Fellow MEAC schools Delaware State, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central, Florida A&M, Coppin State, Howard and Morgan State were 13th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 25th respectively.
UMES now heads to Arlington, Texas for the Prairie View Invitational Feb 2-4.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION; VIDEO COURTESY OF BOWLTV
SAVANNAH, Georgia -- There’s an old saying, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
Try running that by Savannah State University.
One only knows the reception ESPN received after arriving on campus last Monday for SSU’s men’s basketball game against Bethune-Cookman.
The sports leader usually hauls a trailer of negativity on its way to the college by the sea. Only a few months ago, ESPN’s College GameDay was here before SSU’s game with Florida State.
The crew discussed the season-opening 84-0 pounding from Oklahoma State and talked about the Tigers’ 70-point underdog status for the next week while foreshadowing a second pummeling from the Seminoles.
Two years ago, ESPN came to campus to look into the dismissal of football coach Robbie Wells. The storyline pursued? A reverse discrimination claim of a white coach against the historically black college.
ESPN’s trucks rolled in during the 2004-05 basketball season. That season, SSU drew national headlines during its dubious fast break to an 0-28 record.
Talk about kicking a tranquilized Tiger missing claws and teeth.
This time, ESPN arrived with another agenda. READ MORE
DURHAM, North Carolina — None of that chest bumping for N.C. Central’s Emanuel “Poobie” Chapman.
When he gets introduced before games as the Eagles’ starting point guard, he’ll run out like he’s going to collide with NCCU hype man Karamo Jawara before hitting the brakes in exchange for a little dance -- you might call it the Poobie Hustle.
That goes over just fine when NCCU is at home in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, but it’s the sort of thing that could come off like fingernails on a chalkboard when the Eagles are on the road. NCCU coach LeVelle Moton said there’s little love for his team around the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as it is.
“We are the black Duke,” Moton said.
The Poobie Hustle doesn’t exactly engender warm fuzzies in hostile MEAC gyms, nor did NCCU guard Jeremy Ingram blaring his eyes and stretching open his mouth at A&T’s home crowd the way he did in December after knocking down shots in what turned into the Eagles’ first conference win of the season.
TUSCALOOSA | The Stillman College men’s and women’s basketball teams are riding winning streaks. The Tigers have won six games in a row on the men’s side and three straight on the women’s side.
The Tigers will try to extend those streaks tonight at Tuskegee in a doubleheader. Stillman will visit LeMoyne-Owen on Thursday before hosting rival Miles this Saturday.
During the six-game streak for the Stillman men, the Tigers have been outscoring their opponents by nearly eight points per contest while shooting better than 44 percent from the floor. Stillman has also outrebounded its opposition by an average of 3.2 rebounds per contest, with the Tigers’ defense forcing nearly 15 turnovers per game.
Stillman is 11-6 overall and 7-2 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association action. Stillman has three active players averaging double-figure scoring: Ladarius Rhone at 13.7 points per game, D’uanaway Barnes with a 13.3-point average and Jeffrey Wherry at 11.7 points per game. In the paint, Tuscaloosa natives Markeith Madison (9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game) and Torrean Walker (8.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and two blocks per game) are giving the Tigers a balanced attack.
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina – I’ve been watching point guard Marcus Wells so long I still check to make sure he hasn’t used up his eligibility.
Wells, a senior who is a four-year starter for Coach Bobby Collins, had such an impressive game on Saturday night in an 86-65 whipping of Fayetteville State it had to be his best game of his career. And, make no mistake about it, it’s been a long career.
While Collins relies on a lot of junior college players and Division I transfers to build his program Wells was a freshman four years ago when WSSU endured its last season in a transition to Division I that was ultimately halted. Wells is the lone player from the program from that season who is still around.
B-Daht, the Rams' PA announcer, nicknamed Wells "Showtime" earlier in his career and that's because Wells loves to dribble through a crowd or try to make the impossible pass. He did none of that on Saturday night playing a solid game and the results were there.
MONGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State University Football Program announces its 2013 mid-year enrollees:
2013 Mid-Year Enrollees
Position
HT
WT
Class
Hometown/Previous School
Imarjaye Albury
DL
6-0
292
Fr.
Miami, Fla./West Virginia
Arsenio Favor
QB
6-3
239
RS-Jr.
Montgomery, Ala./Southern Miss.
Samuel Gibson
FS
6-2
205
Jr.
Prattville, Ala./Arkansas State
Demechery Hickingbottom
OL
6-4
325
Jr.
Meadville, Miss./Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Anthony Jacob
OL
6-8
342
So.
Atlanta, Ga./Central Florida
Jafar Mann
OL
6-4
305
Fr.
Stone Mountain, Ga./Florida
Dionte Ponder
CB
5-11
160
Jr.
Ocala, Fla./Troy
Robert Roquemore
OL
6-5
300
So.
Oxford, Ga. /Georgia Military
Chaz Sampson
WR
6-5
191
So.
Grand Prairie, Texas/North Texas
Ka'Ra Stewart
CB
5-10
190
Fr.
O'Fallon, Missouri/Missouri
IMARJAYE ALBURY Defensive Line (6-0, 292) – Miami, Fla. (Northwestern High/West Virginia)
Two-star prospect by Rivals.com…as senior, made 65 tackles (12 TFL), and four sacks…two-time all-county selection…played in Nike South Florida All-Star Game…did not play at West Virginia
ARSENIO FAVOR Quarterback (6-3, 239) – Montgomery, Ala. (Stanhope Elmore/Southern Miss.)
Played in 12 games over two seasons for Eagles…last season played in five games with three starts, completing 37-of-67 passes for 650 yards with 3 TDs and 3 INTs while rushing 42 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
SAM GIBSON Safety (6-2, 205) – Prattville, Ala. (Prattville High/Arkansas State)
Played in five games at LSU as redshirt freshman in 2011, making three tackles…three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com…as quarterback, passed for 2,472 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 1,186 yards and 18 touchdowns in final two seasons at Prattville, leading team to 6A State Championship.
DEMECHERY HICKINGBOTTOM Offensive Lineman (6-4, 325) – Meadville, Miss. (Franklin County High/Copiah-Lincoln Community College)
Helped Copiah-Lincoln to 9-3 season in 2012 in winning the MACJC State Championship and finishing the season ranked No. 14 in the final NJCAA poll.
ANTHONY JACOB Offensive Lineman (6-8, 342) – Atlanta, Ga. (Westlake High/Central Florida)
Played in three games as reserve lineman at Central Florida in 2011…as high school senior and team co-captain, named first-team All-Region grading at 86 percent with 31 pancake blocks in helping team earn playoff berth…earned basketball team's character and rebounding award as junior
JAFAR MANN Offensive Lineman (6-4, 305) – Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson High/Florida)
Did not play at Florida in 2012…rated a three-star prospect by ESPN, Scout.com and Rivals.com as high school senior…ranked No. 30 Defensive Tackle in the nation according to ESPN…ranked No. 54 out of the state of Georgia according to Scout.com…helped lead Stephenson to a 9-2 record his senior season.
DIONTE PONDER Cornerback (5-11, 160) – Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic High/Troy)
Signed with Troy out of high school…was redshirted in 2010 and did not play in 2011…rated as three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com…second-team All-County as senior…recorded 56 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries as senior…versatile athlete caught 24 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown in high school career…also played basketball and ran track (100 meter dash, long jump and 4x100 relay).
ROBERT ROQUEMORE Offensive Lineman (6-5, 300) – Covington, Ga. (Newton High/Georgia Military)
Signed with Memphis out of high school before transferring…lettered all four years at Newton High as offensive tackle… named first-team all-Region in 2009 and 2010…helped block for a quarterback who threw for over 1,000 yards in both 2009 and 2010...Rams also logged over 1,600 yards rushing in 2010.
CHAZ SAMPSON Wide Receiver (6-5, 191) – Grand Prairie, Texas (Timberview High/North Texas)
Originally committed to Tulsa before signing with North Texas…signed with North Texas out of high school…had 28 catches for 646 yards and nine touchdowns as high school senior...was ranked as a Top 100 area recruit by the Dallas Morning News.
KA'RA STEWART Cornerback (5-10, 190) – O'Fallon, Mo. (O'Fallon High/Missouri)
Signed with Missouri out of high school…ranked by ESPN as the No. 13 overall prospect at any position in the state of Illinois, and also as the nation's No. 26 safety…played one year at O'Fallon High, playing running back and defensive back/linebacker...earned 1st-Team All-Conference honors at outside linebacker as a senior, recording 35 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries (one that he returned for a touchdown) and 2 interceptions…also ran two kickoffs back for scores, while also rushing for 428 yards and 5 touchdowns.
NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Simmons scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds
Saturday to lead NAIA No. 11 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 54-34 Gulf
Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Dillard at Dent
Hall.
The Gold Rush (18-4 overall, 6-1 GCAC) won for sixth time in seven
games and remained in a first-place tie with Philander Smith, which won in
double overtime at Fisk. Xavier is 9-1 on the road this season.
Simmons,
the reigning GCAC Player of the Week, was 7-of-9 from the floor and one of three
Xavier players in double figures. Denzell Erves had 13 points and nine rebounds,
and Wanto Joseph had 12 points, five rebounds and a career-high six
steals.
Xavier scored the first eight points and never trailed. Joseph
converted consecutive steals into layups in the final 75 seconds of the first
half to give Xavier a 28-16 lead at halftime.
Tyrone Williams led Dillard
(2-14, 1-6) with nine points.
Xavier outshot the Blue Devils 44.2 to 37.8
percent from the floor and outrebounded them 30-15.
Xavier defeated its
longtime HBCU, conference and city rival for the seventh consecutive time and
the 14th time in the last 15 meetings. Xavier is 9-0 at Dillard since
2001.
Dillard has lost 52 of its last 56 games overall.
The teams
will meet again Feb. 23 at XU's Convocation Center. Xavier's next game will
start at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Mobile, and the next Gold Rush home game will start
at noon next Saturday against Talladega.
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Trying too hard to right an offense that's been out of sync for almost two weeks made matters even worse for Fayetteville State on Saturday against one of the nation's top NCAA Division II teams.
The Broncos committed a season-high 29 turnovers, which No. 19-ranked and reigning CIAA champion Winston-Salem State turned into 29 points that paved the way to an 86-65 triumph at Capel Arena.
The 29 turnovers were the most by FSU since the second game of the regular season when it committed 28 in an 84-79 loss to Barton. But Saturday's miscues came in a more crucial situation with the Broncos in the midst of a losing streak in which they had made just 36.7 percent of their field-goal attempts in the previous four games.
Eighteen of the turnovers Saturday came in the opening half and allowed the Rams to produce an early double-digit advantage that FSU never really threatened.
"It's very frustrating,'' FSU sophomore guard Anthony Shelton said. "Our offense is stagnant and we're just not running through our plays. Tonight, we made a lot of mental mistakes and just couldn't get going.''
NORFOLK — As presently constructed, Hampton University cannot rely on simply outscoring opponents. The Pirates must defend, rebound and take care of the ball.
On Saturday, they managed just one of three at a critical juncture against their chief rival and paid for the lapse in a 74-67 loss at Norfolk State.
The Spartans (12-10, 7-0 MEAC) sped away during a three-minute span of the second half and weathered poor foul shooting down the stretch to remain atop the conference.
"You constantly hear Coach (Ed) Joyner say it and you constantly hear me say it, it comes down to mental toughness," the Pirates' Du'Vaughn Maxwell said. "We basically gave them that ball game tonight. We came out of halftime with momentum, and we still played hard, but turned the ball over. That stuff just cannot happen."
Hampton (5-13, 2-3 MEAC) committed 11 of its 18 turnovers in the second half, which contributed to Norfolk State shooting 58 percent after halftime.
Deron Powers had what's becoming a typically gritty and effective performance, with a game-high 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting. But backcourt mates Jasper Williams, Ramon Mercado and Aaron Austin were a combined 3-for-20 from the field and 3-for-14 from 3-point range.
