FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Albany State, Fort Valley meet with seasons on the line

Annual Fountain City Classic will decide the SIAC East Division champ

 

COLUMBUS, Georgia — Three weeks ago, Albany State and Fort Valley State were just trying to find ways to survive.

 

The traditional SIAC East Division powerhouses were each three games under .500 and reeling from two of the worst starts in years for the storied programs.

 

Neither stayed down for long.

 

The archrivals both ran the table on their East Division foes and have won a combined five straight games entering today’s Fountain City Classic, setting up a showdown that will determine who plays for an SIAC title next Saturday and who sees its season come to an end.

 

“If you would have told me that we had only won four games going into this game, I never would have thought we would have had a chance (at an SIAC championship),” ASU coach Mike White said. “But we are here, and playing better football and right where we want to be.”

 

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NSU looks to end MEAC's longest winning streak

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Norfolk State doesn’t look much like a candidate to bring an end to the MEAC’s longest winning streak.

But when it comes to the woefully inconsistent Spartans this season, appearances have often been deceiving.

NSU will hope to at least play to the level of its competition when it travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., to take on league-leading Bethune-Cookman today at 4 p.m.

The defending champion Wildcats (8-1, 5-0 MEAC), who are ranked 10th nationally among FCS teams, have won 17 straight conference games dating back to 2011. Their average margin of victory in the league this season is 19.4 points.

The Spartans (2-7, 2-3) are mired in a four-game losing streak in which they’ve fallen an average of 7.5 points short against opponents of widely varying talent levels.

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Gold Nuggets reach third consecutive GCAC title match

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Four from Xavier University of Louisiana combined for 40 kills and a .443 hitting percentage Friday to lead the Gold Nuggets to a 25-15, 25-14, 25-20 women's volleyball victory against Talladega in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.
    
The Gold Nuggets (25-7), the tournament champion in 2011 and 2012, extended their school-record win streak to 19 matches. Xavier will play SUNO for the title at 11 a.m. Saturday. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 23.
    
Moira Kirk led Xavier with 12 kills and hit .458. Chinedu Echebelem had 10 kills and hit .562 — her highest percentage ever in a match with 10 or more attacks — Claudia Haywood had nine kills and hit .538, and Taylor Reuther had nine kills and hit .308.
    
Defensively, Jodi Chatters had 13 digs, Reuther 12 and Echebelem nine. Kirk, Haywood and Franziska Pirkl had three blocks apiece. Reuther will enter Saturday's final with 999 career digs.
    
Xavier served five aces, two apiece by Chatters and Echebelem. Pirkl had 41 assists.
    
Zia Mose and Sarina Thompson had eight kills apiece for Talladega (12-25).
    
Xavier never trailed in any set. It was 7-6 in the first set, then Xavier went on a 9-3 run which included two kills and a block by Reuther and consecutive aces by Chatters. Jodi Hill's kill ended the set.
    
Two Echebelem kills sparked a 5-0 run to open the second set. The Nuggets closed with three consecutive kills, two by Haywood and the last by Echebelem.
    
Talladega scored six consecutive points to tie the third set at 17, but Haywood had three kills thereafter to help the Nuggets pull away. Kirk's kill ended the match and gave Xavier its 42nd consecutive victory against GCAC opponents.
    
Xavier outhit Talladega .294 to .094 and had a 45-29 advantage in kills.

The victory was the 100th all-time for Xavier, which is in its sixth season of intercollegiate competition. The Gold Nuggets are 100-95 overall, 70-22 in the last three seasons.
    
SUNO defeated Fisk 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 in the other semifinal.

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

Tuskegee football: Miles standing in way of SIAC title game berth

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  — The potential of earning a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs has become more of a reality for Tuskegee football.

The surging Golden Tigers (8-1, 4-0 SIAC) quickly dismantled their latest victim, Central State, on homecoming by 31 points last weekend, extending their winning streak to six games heading into the final week of SIAC division competition.

There remains just one more roadblock: Miles College. The winner of today’s matchup earns the right to represent the West Division in this next week’s SIAC championship game in Atlanta.

The lone conference loss for the Bears (5-3, 3-1) came at the hands of Central State, so a win over the defending champs would give them the edge in the head-to-head tiebreaker.

“We have to win this game to play in the conference championship game,” Golden Tigers head coach Willie Slater said. “They’re very wellcoached and they have good players. There’s nothing to look ahead to except this game. ... We’ve got to make sure we keep from stumbling.”



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UAPB Lions Host Grambling State on Senior Day

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-7, 1-5 SWAC)
vs.
Grambling State Tigers (1-9, 1-6 SWAC)
2:30 p.m. - Golden Lions Stadium, Pine Bluff, Ark.

The Matchup:
Saturday's game is truly intriguing. It has been an uphill climb for both teams this season. UAPB entered the season favored to repeat as SWAC Western Division champions, but struggled to get a win. Meanwhile, Grambling was mired in a long nightmare that dated back to last season.

However, the sun broke through for both of the big cats in their last games. The Lions went on the road two weeks ago and whipped Mississippi Valley State before taking a week off to prepare for today's game. Then on Saturday, GSU snapped an 18-game losing streak with a win over MVSU.
Both teams are feeling a lot better about themselves, which should make a very entertaining contest.

Series Record:
This is the 46th meeting between UAPB and Grambling. GSU leads the series 29-14-2.
In the first game way back in 1928, GSU hung an 88-13 beating on then Arkansas AM&N. But, 10 years later, the Lions got revenge, winning three consecutive games in the series and five of the next six. Grambling did most of their damage against UAPB between 1960 and 1994. During that stretch, the Tigers went 12-0-2 in the series. The Lions woke up and took three out of four from 1995 to 1998, but GSU won the next five to reclaim control of the series.

Recently, the series has evened out. Since 2004, GSU has won five and UAPB four. The two teams have split the last four games. In 2009, the Lions won a shootout 49-42. Grambling won the next two games 35-25 and 27-20. Last season, UAPB traveled to Louisiana and came away with a 24-17 win.

Players to Watch

UAPB -
(QB) Benjamin Anderson - 153-of-255, 1,951 yards, 11 TDs, 9 INT (243 ypg); 448 yards rushing, 6 TDs (44 ypg)
(RB) Jeremiah Young - 449 yards, 6 TD on 88 carries (56.1 ypg)
(WR) Dezmond Beverly - 36 rec, 418 yards (52.2 ypg)
(WR) Cody Swain - 24 rec, 407 yards, 3 TDs (50.9 ypg)
(LB) Jer-ryan Harris - 97 tackles (51 solo), 3.0 TFL, 1 QBH (1 fumble return for TD)
(LB) Antonio Jenkins - 66 tackles (42 solo), 5.0 TFL, 2 Breakups, 1 Forced Fumble

GSU -
(QB) D.J. Williams - 114-of-249, 1,410 yards, 11 TDs, 8 INT (176.2 ypg)
(RB) Jestin Kelly - 505 yards, 2 TD on 103 carries (63.1 ypg)
(RB) Cedric Skinner - 317 yards on 68 carries (45.3 ypg)
(WR) Chester Rogers - 41 rec, 600 yards, 5 TDs (75 ypg)
(WR) Amthony McGhee - 33 rec, 388 yards, 4 TDs (48.5 ypg)
(LB) Steve Orisakwe - 80 tackles (45 solo), 10 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 2 BU, 1 QBH, 2 Fumble Rec.
(DB) Nicholas Peoples - 60 tackles (38 solo), 3 INT, 2 Sacks, 3 BU




COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

SSU hoping to snap long MEAC losing skid

SAVANNAH, Georgia  -- It’s now more than two years ago. Savannah State was coming off its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win and facing downtrodden Howard University, a loser of 29 straight conference football games.

The Tigers were playing their first game in renovated T.A. Wright Stadium and competing at home in the MEAC for the first time.

Enthusiasm was high, but SSU couldn’t keep up and lost 34-14.

The Tigers’ MEAC losing streak has reached 21 conference games and like a merry-go-round gone haywire circles back to another meeting with Howard at 1 p.m. today at William H. Green Stadium in Washington, D.C.

SSU (1-9, 0-6 MEAC) needs a win to avoid its fourth straight 1-10 season. The Tigers travel to Greensboro, N.C., next week in the season finale.

Coach Earnest Wilson says the losing stops on the road, and SSU has two shots to get that elusive second win, or third win this season.

“You keep coaching, keep doing what you’re suppose to do as a coach, believing in what you’ve been taught, that’s been successful and you’ll get that win,” Wilson said.


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Rams, Broncos have a berth in CIAA title game at stake

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Bases on the preseason coaches’ poll, Winston-Salem State should have wrapped up the CIAA’s Southern Division title by now.

But Fayetteville State, picked ninth in that poll, has the chance to spoil things for WSSU today in a regular-season finale at Bowman Gray Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30.

The Broncos are 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the CIAA. The Rams are 8-1 and 6-0, and today’s winner will win the Southern Division title and advance to next week’s CIAA championship game.

Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams says he loves this time of year because games mean more. This one fits the bill.

"It’s here,” Maynor said. “It’s Week 10, and we’ve been talking about it since camp and in the off-season that this is the time of the year that you play for. We have an opportunity to play in the CIAA championship and get back to the playoffs and contend for the national championship again.”

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Nuggets set more records in GCAC Tournament victory

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Xavier University of Louisiana extended a school record, set four more and tied one Thursday during a 25-6, 25-5, 25-8 women's volleyball victory against Voorhees in the quarterfinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.
    
Xavier (24-7), the two-time defending champion of this event, will play Talladega, a winner in five sets against Philander Smith, in the semifinals at noon Friday. The championship match will start at 11 a.m. Saturday.
    
The Gold Nuggets extended a record with their 18th consecutive victory — they haven't lost a match since Sept. 7 — and set or tied XU marks for:
    
•  Victories in a season. The previous record was 23 in 2011.
    
•  Fewest points allowed in a match, 19. The previous record was 22 against Tougaloo in 2010.

•  Highest individual hitting percentage in a postseason match: .700 by Kerris Crier. The previous mark was .692 by Erin Vincent against Edward Waters in 2010.
    
•  Highest team hitting percentage in a postseason match: .485, which shattered the previous mark of .429 against Tougaloo in 2010.
    
•  Most individual aces in a postseason match: six by Emily Reuther, matching Eva Bobkova's mark against Tougaloo in 2010.
    
Crier, the lone XU senior, produced eight kills and one error in 10 attacks and was one of four Nuggets to hit higher than .500. Moira Kirk hit .667 with 11 kills and one error in 15 attacks, Jodi Hill hit .600 with nine kills in 15 attacks, and Taylor Reuther, Emily's older sister, hit .533 with eight kills in 15 attacks.
    
The Gold Nuggets scored the final eight points of the first set, the final 18 points of the second set and produced a 12-0 run in the third.
    
Xavier served 14 aces, one less than its season high. Jodi Chatters and Darian Harris served two aces apiece.
    
Xavier has won 41 matches in a row, nine in the tournament, against GCAC opponents since the start of the 2011 season.

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

Week 11: HBCU Football Schedule & ScoreCard

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Saturday, November 9, 2013

OVC
Austin Peay at Tennessee State, 3PM

SWAC
Alcorn State 50, Prairie View A&M 35 (Thursday) 
Texas Southern at Mississippi Valley, 2PM
Southern at Alabama State, 2PM   FREE INTERNET TV: ASU Stream
Jackson State at Alabama A&M, 2PM
Grambling State at Arkansas Pine Bluff, 3:30PM

MEAC
North Carolina A&T at Morgan State, 1PM
North Carolina Central at Hampton, 1PM
Savannah State at Howard, 1PM
Florida A&M at South Carolina State, 1:30PM  H
Norfolk State at Bethune-Cookman, 4PM

CIAA
Livingstone at Virginia University Lynchburg, 1PM H
Bowie State at Elizabeth City State, 1PM
Saint Augustine's at Shaw, 1PM
Fayetteville State at #10 Winston-Salem State, 1:30PM
Johnson C. Smith at Central State, 1:30PM
Lane at Benedict, 2PM
Virginia Union at #25 Virginia State, 2PM

SIAC
Morehouse at Kentucky State, 1PM
Miles at #25 Tuskegee, 2PM
Albany State at Fort Valley State, 2PM, at Columbus, Georgia  TV: Bounce TV
Faith at Stillman, 6PM
Edward Waters at Clark Atlanta, 6PM

Other Conferences and Independents
Shippensburg at Cheyney, 12PM
West Virginia State at #7 Shepard, 12PM
Livingstone at Virginia University Lynchburg, 1PM
SW Assemblies of God at Texas College 3PM
Concordia-Selma at Delta State, 3PM
Northeastern State at Lincoln (Mo.) 3PM
Faith at Stillman, 6PM

(H) Homecoming
All Game Time is stated in Eastern Time Zone



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Preview: Creighton vs. Alcorn State

Teams: Creighton (0-0) vs. Alcorn State (0-0)

Day: Friday, Nov. 8

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Location: CenturyLink Center Omaha; Omaha, Nebraska

TV: Fox Sports Net

Radio: 1620 KZON-AM

Alcorn State Storylines

For the Alcorn State Braves, the 2012-13 season was one to forget. The Braves may have finished tied for fifth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, but stumbled to an 8-10 conference record, on their way to a 10-24 season. Alcorn not only struggled in the win-loss column, but also statistically. They ranked 313th in the nation in points per game (60.4), 259th in rebounds per game (32.6), 344th in assists per game (9.1) and 338th in field goal percentage (.385). Simply put, the Braves are glad that they can open a new chapter.

The departure of leading scorer Marquiz Baker means the Bluejays may see a lot more of LeAntwan Luckett. As a freshman, Luckett scored 13.4 points per game and picked up four rebounds per game while shooting 37.5 percent from the floor. Now a sophomore, the Ridgeland, Mississippi native is no doubt the Braves' best player. With the top leading scorer in 2012-13 in Baker, and the Braves' third leading scorer, Anthony Nieves, both departing in the offseason, the sophomore guard should get a bevy of opportunities to shoot the basketball.

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SU Jaguars ramping up pressure on quarterbacks

After slow start, SU has 7 sacks in past 3 games

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- One of the keys to being a good defense is the front’s ability to generate a consistent pass rush. Any defensive coach will say that affecting a quarterback is a major key to success.

Not being able to generate a pass rush leads to defenses overcompensating in other areas.

Quarterbacks are able to pick apart a secondary by having an abnormal amount of time within the pocket to find an open receiver.

This season, the Jaguars have had trouble in creating consistent pressure.

The Southern defense ranks toward the bottom of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total sacks.

With only 12 on the season, the Jaguars are tied for fourth fewest in the conference.

In comparison, Alabama State, whom Southern faces Saturday, ranks first in the conference with 41 sacks.

Yet the Jaguars pass rush has turned up the heat of late, accumulating seven sacks in the past three games, including four Friday in Southern’s 31-24 victory over Texas Southern.

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Without Javan Mitchell, Southern tips off at Marquette

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern men’s basketball team couldn’t face a much more challenging way to begin its season.

The Jaguars open Friday night at Marquette, which went to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last season, is ranked No. 17 in the country and has the nation’s second-longest homecourt winning streak at 25 games.

On top of that, Southern won’t have the services of center Javan Mitchell, who is awaiting medical clearance after being diagnosed with an enlarged heart.

“He hasn’t officially been released yet, so I don’t anticipate having him on this trip,” said coach Roman Banks, whose team plays at Middle Tennessee on Sunday before returning home.

Banks said Mitchell’s absence is significant, especially against the Golden Eagles senior forward tandem of Davante Gardner (6-foot-8, 290 pounds) and Jamil Wilson (6-7, 230).

“You’re talking about one of the guys that we have back that had experience and a person who’s very integral in what we do,” Banks said.

Southern likely will start Frank Snow (6-10, 230) in Mitchell’s place and pair him inside with junior-college transfer Calvin Godfrey (6-9, 210), who’s returning home to Milwaukee.

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Comegy: Jackson State focused only on Alabama A&M

HEAD COACH RICK COMEGY

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State coach Rick Comegy wants his team to stay sharp after the bye last week. He knows what happens if his players are off by a split second.

“What we want to do is make sure our timing is on,” Comegy said. “We don’t want to go out there and have fumbles because our quarterback’s back-handoff is not as crisp.”

JSU has two games left, but it is one win away from clinching the East and a spot at the SWAC title game.

Comegy knows his players are aware of that fact, which is why he said the coaches constantly remind the team to focus on Saturday’s game against Alabama A&M, even if the preaching sounds repetitive.

“I know everybody kind of senses if that if we win this game, what would happen,” Comegy said. “We can’t think beyond the game, and that’s what I’m afraid of. I have to make sure that we focus on the game itself.”

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Howard men’s basketball preview

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Entering his fourth season as coach, Kevin Nickelberry has only two seniors but fields a deep roster suited to play an up-tempo style. The Bison have adopted “Frantic 40” as their mantra this season, meaning pushing the ball up the court for fast-break opportunities as well as using full-court pressure to create turnovers.

Of the 15 players on the roster, 10 are freshmen or sophomores. The only three players who have game experience with Howard are junior guard-forward Prince Okoroh (Eleanor Roosevelt High), the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder, junior guard Brandon Ford (Gwynn Park High) and sophomore forward-center Oliver Ellison (Gonzaga High). Ford is due to miss the first part of the season while recovering from a knee injury.

The Bison have three freshmen vying for playing time at point guard. Ausar Madison is the best passer among the three, according to Nickelberry. James Daniel and Keon Hill (Riverdale Baptist High) are in the mix as well.

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FAMU Lady Rattlers Ready For MEAC Tournament Title Run

FAMU VOLLEYBALL
(COURTESY FLORIDA A&M ATHLETICS)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The Florida A&M Lady Rattler volleyball team is gearing up to close the season with a Sunday home game against arch-rival Bethune-Cookman.  The Lady Rattlers come into the contest undefeated in the conference and on a 10-game winning streak.  They currently sit at 13-6 overall and a perfect 9-0 in conference play.

The game has been designated Senior Day and “Pack The Pit” day.  We encourage all Rattler fans to come out and join us as we have a host of festivities planned.  Along with our broadcast partners, Cumulus Radio, we will have DJ Speedracer spinning the latest hits, the FAMU cheerleaders, the Marching “100” pep band and of course Venom will keep the game exciting.

This will be the last contest for the Lady Rattlers before they head to Baltimore, MD next week to try to regain the MEAC title.  FAMU hopes to continue the momentum right into the conference tournament.

Last week, MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas, confirmed that the FAMU Lady Rattlers were eligible for postseason play.  Initially the NCAA placed the Lady Rattlers on secondary probationary status, which would have disallowed them to compete in the volleyball championship, but a resubmission of the data, moved the team from the second-degree level.

Interim athletic director Michael Smith was pleased with the designation.  “I would like to thank all of our team who worked to make the necessary adjustments with the NCAA, who just needed clarity on one particular matter.  We look forward to our ladies competing for the MEAC championship this season,” Smith said.

The Lady Rattlers have led the southern division all season, and look poised to make a significant run at the MEAC crown.  “We were a tiebreaker away from winning the conference last season.  With the addition of our new players, we hope that it will take us back to the top of the conference.  Over the last decade, the level of play in our conference has escalated tremendously.  There are now several good teams, and nationally-ranked players in the MEAC, so to win the tournament, you must play solid volleyball, Trifonov said.

Admission to Sunday’s game is free and the game will be carried via
Rattler Vision free of charge, for those who can’t make it out to the Lawson Center.  The broadcast begins at 2 p.m. and the game starts at 3 p.m.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern heads to SWAC Championship after Prairie View loss

LORMAN, Mississippi  -- Southern University won the Western Division and will play in the SWAC Championship after Alcorn State beating Prairie View 50-35 Thursday night.

The Jaguars (5-4, 5-2 SWAC) next face Alabama State on Saturday. The SWAC Championship is in Houston on December 7.

Alcorn State's John Gibbs Jr. threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score in the win over Prairie View.

Gibbs was 24 of 43 for 265 yards and had 79 yards rushing on nine carries for the Braves (8-3, 6-2 SWAC).

In the first half, he threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Zerick Rollins Jr. and a 23-yarder to LaDarrien Davis and added a 15-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left to make it 34-14.

Arnold Walker ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries for the Braves.

Jerry Lovelocke was 20 of 36 for 186 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions for Prairie View (5-5, 4-4). De'Auntre Smiley completed 4 of 9 passes for 118 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Deandre Cooper caught 6-, 28- 57-yard touchdown passes and finished with six receptions for 137 yards.

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Walker Breaks All-Time Record, Alcorn Braves Win Home Finale 50-35 Over Prairie View

LORMAN, Mississippi  -- Arnold Walker carried the ball 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns to surpass Augustus Lee's 34-year old career rushing yards record in tonight's 50-35 victory over Prairie View A&M.

The Braves didn't waste any time taking it to the Panthers in the opening seconds of the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. connected with Zerick Rollins, Jr. for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Braves an early 7-0 lead.

Three drives later Prairie View drove 80 yards down the field which led to six-yard touchdown pass from Jake Lovelocke to Deandre Cooper to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:38 to play in the first quarter.

The Panthers took their first and only lead of the game 14-7 on a Johnta Hebert 18-yard rushing touchdown with less than two minutes into the second quarter.

After Prairie View's Chuck Obi's interception you would think the Panthers were about to run away with the game but the Braves had other plans.

The defense forced the Panthers to punt after the interception and earned great field position on a 42-yard punt return by senior Tavoris Doss. On the next play, Gibbs, Jr. found sophomore wide receiver LaDarrien Davis for a 23-yard strike to tie the game at 14-14 at the 10:25 mark.

Junior defensive back CJ Morgan intercepted a pass to setup the Braves next scoring drive. Walker snuck in from three yards out to retake the lead for the Braves 21-14 with 8:12 left in the second quarter.

Another forced punt allowed the Braves to set up another touchdown scoring drive. Anthony Williams III scored his only touchdown of the night on a one-yard run to increase the Braves lead to 27-14.

The Panthers gave the Braves the ball right back after another punt and the Braves took advantage of the opportunity to score again just before the half.



John Gibbs, Jr. scrambled 15 yards to the end zone for the Braves fourth touchdown of the second quarter to open their lead to 34-14. At the end of the second quarter the Braves had scored 27 unanswered points after being down 14-7 earlier in the quarter.

The Braves continued their dominance over the Panthers in the third quarter when Walker found the end zone for the second time on a two-yard touchdown which made the score 40-14.

Prairie View finally answered with a three-yard touchdown run by Courtney Brown. The touchdown stopped the Braves 34 consecutive points making the score 40-21 with 2:32 to go in the third quarter.

The Panthers weren't done yet after forcing the Braves to punt twice. Deandre Cooper reeled in his second touchdown of the night from backup quarterback DeAuntre Smiley for 28 yards to cut the Braves lead to 12, 40-28 with 10:44 left in the game.

Prairie View's defense forced another Braves punt and were back in business with 6:54 to play but the Braves defense wasn't about to let the Panthers back into the game.

Junior defensive tackle Deion Roberson recorded a sack and the next play junior William Thomas intercepted a pass and raced to the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown to extend the Braves lead to 47-28.

Freshman kicker Haiden McCraney scored the Braves final three points on a 32-yard field goal 3:29 to play.

The Panthers scored in the closing seconds of the game on 57-yard pass from Lovelocke to DeAndre Cooper for his third receiving touchdown of the night.

Gibbs, Jr. completed 24 of 43 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 79 yards on nine carries and one rushing touchdown. LaDarrien Davis caught a career-high six passes for 83 yards and one touchdown.

Alcorn State's defense accounted for five interceptions led by Devon Francois who intercepted two passes. Francois also recorded a single game career-high 12 tackles. Anthony Williams, Jr. racked up nine total tackles for the Braves.

Up next for the Braves (8-3, 5-2) is a trip to Jackson to face rival Jackson State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Box Score

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State's Bozier Records 400th Career Coaching Victory

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- Twenty-six years ago Morgan State head volleyball coach Ramona Riley-Bozier returned to her alma mater to take over the Lady Bears' program. After going winless in her first season at the helm, Bozier gradually began to put the pieces together and build a powerhouse and well-respected program.

During her remarkable career, Bozier has claimed five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships, five MEAC Coach of the Year awards, four MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach honors and guided three teams to the NCAA Tournament. Bozier's 1997 team made history when it defeated Grambling State in an NCAA Play-In match, thus becoming the first Historically Black College or University to earn a trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament.

She has collected 10 20-plus win seasons and turned the Lady Bears into a dominant force in the MEAC's North Division, as Morgan State won 88 consecutive division matches between 1994 and 2003.

This past Sunday (Nov. 3), Bozier, already the winningest head coach at Morgan State in any sport, reached yet another career milestone when the Lady Bears defeated Delaware State in four sets to give Bozier her 400th coaching victory.

"I am proud and honored that Mr. Leonard Braxton (former Director of Athletics) gave me an opportunity to coach 26 years ago. I never thought I would be still coaching here or anywhere else," said Bozier of what reaching the 400-win plateau at her alma mater means to her.
"However, I am glad and feel very proud to watch more female athletes become Morganites.

"I am very competitive and I love to win at everything. Those periods when we had not so good seasons or just okay seasons, I think because this is my alma mater, I felt it was important for me to help the young ladies find another way to win, by graduating, starting their careers and getting involved on campus."

Bozier, who entered this season 12 shy of 400 victories and ranked in the top-50 (43^rd) of active coaches in wins, was unaware of the feat she was about to reach during Sunday's match. So when Samantha Prescott tallied a kill for the final point of the match to give the Lady Bears their seventh win in their last eight contests, keeping her emotions in tact was easy.

"I really did not pay any attention to the 400," said Bozier. "I had others who text me and those who were there at the match to remind me that was 400. I really did not have getting 400 on my mind. I knew it was important for us to win, which was going to help us get to the MEAC volleyball championship (MEAC)."

The last time the Lady Bears reached the MEAC championship was two years ago in 2011. That squad went 10-19 overall, but finished 8-4 in the MEAC North, good for second-place. Seniors Ngebui Chafeh and Janelle Wilson, who were sophomores that season and juniors Zuri Smith and Tamara Leslie, who were freshmen at the time, are the only players on the team to have experienced reaching the league championship.

Reaching the milestone has yet to set in with Bozier and probably won't until after the season, as her focus quickly shifted to the upcoming regular season and home finale against Howard on Friday.

"Monday, one day after the 400 wins, that was the furthest thing from my mind," said Bozier. "I am only focusing on trying to find a way to defeat Howard one more time this year to not only go to the MEAC Tournament, but also possibly move to a second-place finish in the north division. It would really take someone else to remind me of the accomplishment."

There's no denying that what Bozier has accomplished during her career has been remarkable and reaching 400 wins was just another addition to her long list of accomplishments.

In addition to her volleyball coaching responsibilities, Bozier, who also received her Master's degree in sociology from Morgan State, also served as softball coach at Morgan for seven seasons. She recorded a 161-194 coaching record and guided the Lady Bears to their only appearance in the MEAC title game in 1999.

As an athlete, Bozier was a two-sport star in volleyball and track during her undergraduate days at Morgan State. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Bozier is one of 10 players in the history of the volleyball program to have registered 1,000 career kills.

On the track, Bozier was a key component of the Lady Bears' record setting relay teams that turned heads in the national track community. A three-time All-American and a top performer in the MEAC, Bozier recorded personal-bests in the 100 meter dash (11.2) and the 200 meter dash (23.8). She became one of the top triple jumpers for Morgan with a career-best jump of 36'11 and still holds the UMBC Meet record in the 60 meter dash, which she set in 1983.

Bozier ran the first leg on Morgan State's legendary 4X100 meter relay team which in 1986 set the school record in a time of 44.47 seconds, which still stands today. The squad also won the Penn Relays and finished second that year at the Division I National Championships.

Despite all her accolades as an athlete and a coach, she has been and continues to remain the same. It's always been about her athletes and her next task at hand is getting this year's team into the league tournament for an opportunity to play for a championship.

"You and those who know me know it is never about me. I always have my athletes in mind and wanting them to win," said Bozier on what achieving the milestone means to her. "Them getting the win on Sunday helped them get closer to their individual and team goals, I just happened to achieve a milestone. I honestly didn't know I needed 12 wins this year to reach an amazing accomplishment of 400 wins.

"I don't coach to focus on personal accolades for myself. I like the focus to be on the student-athletes, who come early in the morning, play in pain; deal with classes and etc., which allows me to have a job. My personal accolades that I get excited about, is seeing my athletes happy with a win, then I feel that I have accomplished something. Getting 400 wins this year will not mean anything to me if we don't get to the MEAC championship. I feel blessed that I have had the longevity to reach this milestone, however, I want more that consists of my athletes getting a conference championship."

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Miles at Tuskegee Buzz

WHAT: Miles (5-3, 5-1 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) at Tuskegee (8-1, 6-0).

 

WHEN: Saturday, 1 p.m. 

 

WHERE: Cleve L. Stadium, Tuskegee, Ala. 

THIS GAME DETERMINES: Who will represent the SIAC West in the conference title game in Atlanta on Nov. 23rd. Tuskegee, undefeated sits atop the division standings but Miles is right behind the Golden Tigers with one loss. If Tuskegee wins, it'll be its second-straight trip to the conference title game. If Miles pulls off the upset, they'll advance to their second league championship contest in three years under coach Reginald Ruffin. A lot's riding on this one. 

THREE THINGS TO WATCH 
 

1. Miles' quarterback situation. It seemed the Golden Bears had hit a rhythm when last year's starter, David Thomas, guided them to back-to-back victories against Kentucky State and Lane College (Tenn.), averaging 39 points in each contest. Then, the offense sputtered in the first half on the road against Stillman last week and Ruffin turned to Alabama State transfer Demetrice Price. Price led the Golden Bears to a 20-point comeback, tossing a 23-yard touchdown toss with 17.9 seconds to lift the team to a 31-30 victory. The good news is the offense has shown it can flourish under each guy. The bad news is only one of them can get the majority of the snaps in the biggest game of the season. 

2. Tuskegee's start. The Golden Tigers have outscored teams 78-27 in the first quarter this year, a huge factor in their six-game winning streak. If they get a huge head start against Miles, a comeback might be improbable. Tuskegee is the SIAC's third-leading rushing team, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. So, the Golden Tigers are capable of grinding out and dominating the time of possession battle. 

 

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Paine College men's basketball wants to contend in the SIAC this season

AUGUSTA, Georgia -- Entering his fourth season leading the Paine College men’s basketball team, Jimmy Link is ready for the Lions to take the next step.

After going 30-28 the past two years, Paine returns an experienced squad looking to climb in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. To do so, Link said, his team has to win on the road. The Lions get their first challenge when they open the season at 5:30 p.m. today vs. Nova Southeastern in Melbourne, Fla. Paine will also play Florida Tech on Saturday night.

“We’re really good at home,” said Link, whose team has won 17 of their past 24 home contests.

“We’ve just got to figure it out on the road.”

Paine, 14-15 last season, has plenty of experience with eight seniors and three juniors. The only problem? Three seniors likely won’t play until December.

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Elon Women’s Basketball Hosts WSSU Rams in Season Opener Friday

ELON, N.C. – It’s been 252 days since the Elon women’s basketball team last played a regular-season game in Alumni Gym, but that changes on Friday, Nov. 8, as the Phoenix opens up the 2013-14 regular season at 5 p.m. against Winston-Salem State as part of an Elon basketball doubleheader. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for all youth 12 and under.

Date: Friday, Nov. 8
Site: Elon, N.C. (Alumni Gym)
Series: Elon leads, 11-1
Last Meeting: Dec. 13, 2009 – Elon won, 71-59
Radio: WSOE 89.3 FM – Matt Krause and Joe DiRienzo will have the call

Last Time Out
Elon looked strong in its lone exhibition game last weekend against Pfeiffer. The Phoenix won handedly, 83-38, over the Falcons and shot a blistering 50 percent from the field. Autumn Carter led the team with 24 points, while rookie Jenifer Rhodes hauled down 15 rebounds. Zora Stephenson finished with 19 points and seven assists, followed by Kelsey Harris who looked impressive all-around with 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Scouting the Rams
WSSU returns nine players from last year’s 15-13 team, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIAA tournament. The Rams also welcome three newcomers, two of which played previously at Bethune-Cookman. The Rams lost to ACC power NC State in an exhibition last week, 80-46, but looked strong on the boards with 37 total rebounds. Jovonah Graham led WSSU with 10 points and eight boards. The Rams are coached A.G. Hall, who is now in his second season.

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Robinson is finishing an outstanding career at Saint Augustine's

Chaz Robinson
(Courtesy SAU Athletics)

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- Capping what has already been a stellar season, Chaz Robinson recently broke the career tackle record at Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C.

Robinson, who won three state titles as a standout fullback and linebacker at Phoebus High School, set the record on Oct. 19, in a game against Winston-Salem State University. Entering the game needing three tackles, Robinson crushed the record with a 13-tackle effort, albeit in a losing cause for the 3-5 Falcons.

After last Saturday's contest against Fayetteville State University, Robinson has 384 career tackles, and is now only 23 short of the Falcon single-season record with two games left.

Robinson broke the previous mark of 363 set by Kevin Jones, a former All-American linebacker and current St. Augustine's safeties coach.

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Collins, WSSU Rams set to unveil new look

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State’s new-look men’s basketball team will make its debut at 7 p.m. today in the Big House Gaines Tip-Off Classic at the Gaines Center.

The Rams, who lost five of their top six scorers from last season and have 12 new players, will take on Division II Notre Dame of Ohio in the second game of a doubleheader. Fayetteville State will play Concord in the first game at 5 p.m.

Coach Bobby Collins of WSSU has a bigger team than he had last season with the addition of two transfers — 7-foot Brian Okam (Appalachian State) and 6-10 Bryan Scott (Delaware State). And Collins is excited about the team’s depth and said that as many as 12 players could be in his early-
season rotation.

Other newcomers expected to make impacts are Javan Wells, Preston Ross (Western Carolina transfer) and Sean Deniton.

"The way they are calling games with an emphasis on hand-checking, the team with the best depth is going to succeed,” Collins said. “I hope it’s my deepest team.”

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Deja Middleton returns to FSU women's basketball team after 3 years away

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -- Deja Middleton's life seemed close to perfect back in March 2010.

The 6-foot-5 center had just helped the Fayetteville State women's basketball team claim the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Division II tournament. Middleton had even been selected the CIAA's Defensive Player of the Year for her performance during the season.

With two years of eligibility remaining, the sky seemed the limit for the bright, athletic sophomore from Richmond, Va.

And then, Deja Middleton decided to walk away from it all.

"Just life changes. I needed a break,'' Middleton said with a shrug of her shoulders when asked to explain her departure.

Middleton's "break'' lasted three years, but at the age of 23 and motivated by life lessons learned dur
ing that time, she returns to the basketball court today as the Broncos tip off their 2013-2014 season against Barber-Scotia at Capel Arena.

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JCSU opens new era

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- Johnson C. Smith basketball returns four of five starters from last season’s 16-11 team but is missing a chunk of scoring and leadership.

Otherwise, it’s business as usual.

The Golden Bulls, who start the season Nov. 8 against Morehouse in the HBCU Basketball Challenge in Atlanta, are adjusting to the post-Trevin Parks era. The all-America guard led JCSU in scoring each of the past three seasons, including a CIAA-best 25 per game last year, but Golden Bulls coach Steve Joyner is looking for a team effort to pick up the slack.

“Trevin was a prolific scorer and an outstanding ball player to come through our program, but we’re moving forward and striving towards greatness,” said Joyner, who is in his 27th season as head coach of the Golden Bulls men’s basketball program with a school-record 465 wins. 

“We have an experienced ball club with guys that have played together and continue to progress each year. Our challenge is the maturation process for our young men on the court and as leaders.”

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