Gold Nuggets defeat 25th-ranked LSU-Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. — Sophomore guard Whitney Gathright scored 15 points Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 63-58 women's basketball victory against LSU-Shreveport in the LSUS Classic.
    
The Gold Nuggets (3-2), ranked 15th in NAIA Division I, also got 13 points from Vinnie Briggs and a career-high-tying 12 points from Chelsea Broussard to snap a two-game losing streak and defeat the 25th-ranked Lady Pilots (3-1).
    
Gathright scored 11 first-half points, including a 3-pointer in the second minute to give Xavier a 7-0 lead. The Nuggets led 35-26 at halftime and for the game spent all but 53 seconds with the lead.
    
Gathright scored in double figures for the fourth time in five games. She did it just once as a freshman.
    
Byroneshia Santiago had 22 points and nine rebounds for LSUS, and Dominique Taylor scored 11.
    
The Lady Pilots opened the second half with a 14-4 run and took their only lead, 40-39, on Victoria Smith's 3-point play with 12:40 remaining. But Xavier answered with a 14-3 run, taking the lead for good on Taylor Norman's basket at 12:25 and capping the burst with consecutive Broussard baskets.
    
LSUS was within two points twice in the final four minutes, but four Xavier steals — two by Gathright and one apiece by Broussard and Danielle Tucker — preserved the victory.
    
Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor. Xavier was plus-7 on turnovers and had a season-high 18 steals. Carmen produced a career-high seven steals, five in the second half, and Paige Gauthier had a season-high five steals.
    
Xavier will play Texas College at noon next Saturday at XU's Convocation Center in the opener of a homecoming doubleheader.

Box score

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

Tennessee State Tigers Run by Racers on Senior Day, 17-10

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- A 19-yard touchdown by Telvin Hooks with 1:28 remaining proved to be the difference, as Tennessee State defeated Murray State on Senior Day, 17-10, on Saturday.

Hooks finished the game with 129 yards and tied his career high with 25 carries for an average of 5.2 yards.

 

The TSU (9-3, 6-2 OVC) defense held the Racers to 25 yards of total offense and -23 on the ground in the second half.

Daniel Fitzpatrick anchored the defense with eight stops (seven solo) and one tackle for loss.

 

The teams traded three-and-outs to begin the game, and TSU picked up its only first down of the first quarter when Ronald Butler hit Wesley Samuels with a 10-yard completion on a third down on its second possession. The gain couldn’t produce any Big Blue points, but punter Leon Holderhead pinned the Racers at their own six-yard line to start their next drive.

 

The long field did not intimidate Murray State (5-6, 3-4 OVC), as the squad marched 94 yards down the field in 11 plays and 3:39 for a touchdown. Racer quarterback Parks Frazier was 10-of-10 on the series for 88 yards including a two-yard touchdown to Pokey Harris at the 7:48 mark to take a, 7-0, lead.

 

After three more punts, Murray State got the ball back and a 30 yard strike from Frazier to Janwski Davis set up a 24-yard field goal by Murray’s Marc Wynstra to open up the second quarter.

 

Down by 10 points, TSU received the ball at its own 18-yard line on the ensuing drive. A 15-yard penalty on MSU gave the Big Blue offense better field possession but Butler was 0-for-3 on the drive and TSU had to punt again.

 

Murray State picked up a pair of first downs after the Tiger kick, but the offense eventually sputtered, giving TSU the ball with under 10 minutes to go before halftime.

 

Adam Davenport checked in at running back for the Tigers on their next series and the freshman picked up 12 yards on his first two carries. A TSU penalty gave the team a fourth and three even after Davenport’s touches. Head Coach Rod Reed faked the punt and Davenport scampered three yards for a TSU first down. The gamble did not pay off, as TSU punted for the fifth time of the half.

De’Ante Saunders picked off a Frazier pass to give TSU the ball in MSU territory, and the Tigers were finally able to get on the scoreboard. Four Davenport carries for 25 yards set up a 33-yard field goal by Jamin Godfrey to pull TSU within seven with 22 seconds before halftime.

 

The kick ended a half in which TSU was outgained 246 to 87.

 

Like the first half, the sides traded punts to open the second. On TSU’s second series, the offense picked up four first downs and 67 yards, the bulk of which came on a 14-yard completion to Joe Bowens. Godfrey came in to attempt a 34-yard field goal, but his attempt was blocked to leave the score 10-3 with 4:20 left in the period.

 

Neither side scored in the third stanza, but the Tigers finally found the end zone at the 9:49 mark of the fourth. A two-yard touchdown from Butler to Samuels in the back of the end zone off of play-action pass capped off a nine play, 67-yard drive. A 22-yard run by Telvin Hooks got the Tigers within striking distance.

 

Murray State failed to score on its next two possessions and gave the ball to TSU with 5:36 left in the game. The Tigers kept pounding the ball on the ground with plenty of success. Darion Hall had an 18-yard rush to force the Racers to start worrying about the clock. Four plays later, Hooks found the corner and ran 19 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:28 left.

 

MSU had one more chance to score, but TSU’s defense held strong. Antonio Harper and Marquaveus Jackson sacked Frazier on fourth down and TSU sent its seniors off with a victory, 17-10.

The Tigers outrushed the Racers 241 to 24 and had the ball for over 17 minutes longer than MSU.

 

TSU’s victory over Murray State is its first since the 2007 season.

 

The Tigers will take a week off and await their fate. TSU will find out if it makes the playoffs on Sunday, Nov. 24.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Abilene Christian Football Lights Up Prairie View, 65-45

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Two of the best offensive units in college football lit up the scoreboard Saturday afternoon at Blackshear Field as Abilene Christian University outlasted Prairie View A&M, 65-45, as the Wildcats finished off the 2013 season by recording their eighth straight winning season.

ACU (692 yards of total offense) and Prairie View (572 yards of total offense) combined to post 1,264 yards of offense and 110 points as two of the top offenses at the NCAA Division I FCS level moved up and down the field seemingly at will.  ACU entered the game as the 10th-highest scoring team in all of Division I football with 436 points (43.6 ppg) and Prairie View entered as the 15th-best FCS scoring offense in the country at 38 points per outing.

The Wildcats' win – led by senior quarterback John David Baker's 485 passing yards and senior running back Charcandrick West's four rushing touchdowns and 155 yards on the ground – helped ACU finish its first season as an NCAA Division I FCS program at 6-5.  The Wildcats haven't endured a losing season since a 4-6 campaign in 2005.

The Wildcats never trailed as Baker got them on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run just 2:46 into the game. After Prairie View A&M got the game tied on a Greg Thurmond touchdown reception, West scored three straight touchdowns for the Wildcats on runs of 60, 2 and 3 yards to give ACU a 28-17 lead in the second quarter.



After the Panthers were able to cut the lead to 28-24 late in the first half, the Wildcats drove 78 yards on nine plays to a 13-yard touchdown pass from Baker to DeMarcus Thompson to make it a 35-24 game at the half. The Wildcats scored on their second possession of the second half on a touchdown pass from Baker to Noah Cheshier to push the lead to 42-24. After Nik Grau's 10th field goal of the season gave the Wildcats a 45-24 lead with 2:14 left in the third quarter, the Panthers weren't able to get closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

Baker's 485 passing yards are the third-most in a game in ACU football history, and he finished his only season as the Wildcats' starter with 3,376 passing yards in 2013, which is the fourth-best single-season total in school history. Baker also accounted for five touchdowns Saturday (four passing and one rushing) to give him 40 touchdowns accounted for in 2013 (35 passing and five rushing), which is a new single-season school record.

West's career-best 155 yards leave him 10th on ACU's career rushing list with 2,062 yards, and his four touchdowns give him 35 for his career (fourth on the all-time touchdown list). His 210 career points are sixth on the all-time ACU list.

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

North Carolina A&T Aggies Win Big In Preseason WNIT

TRACY KING
Photo Courtesy NCA&T Sports Information

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Redshirt sophomore Christina Carter scored 28 points on 12-for-16 shooting to lead the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team to a 74-49 victory of Georgia State in the consolation round of the preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament at William R. Johnson Coliseum on the campus of Stephen F. Austin.  

Carter’s night also included eight assists and four rebounds. Senior Tracy King added 22 points, six rebounds and five steals as the Aggies shot 46 percent from the floor.

It took the Aggies four minutes to score their first field goal. Once they got cook, however, they were dominant. Redshirt sophomore center Aprill McRae tied the game at 7 on a free throw. From there, the Aggies went on a 13-2 run led by King’s eight points during the run as A&T took a 20-9 lead with 7:13 remaining in the first half.

“I thought we did a great job defensively in the first half, thought we fell off a little bit in the second,” said A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. “I’m still trying to get adjusted with the new rules in terms of fouls, and we keep getting teams in the bonus early so we have to get better with that, but it was great effort.”

The Panthers got back to within six at 22-16 with five minutes to go in the first half. But Carter got the Aggies back on track by completing a 3-point play. Carter followed that with a 3-pointer as the Aggies scored the final 12 points of the first half to take a commanding 34-16 lead into the locker room at the half.

“Christina Carter and Tracy King played lights out for us with other players being in foul trouble,” said Robinson. “I think we can do a little bit better job executing on the offensive end, which we will work on. We’re excited about being here and excited about whoever we will be playing in the championship round.”

The Aggies continued to dominate in all areas of the second half and Carter gave the Aggies their largest lead, 70-41, on a made free throw with 3:50 remaining in the game.
The Aggies (1-1) will play the final game on Saturday, which will start at 7 p.m., against Stetson or Stephen F. Austin. 

A&T 74, Georgia State 49

  
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Spartans Rally Past Radford 66-54

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- The Norfolk State women's basketball defeated Radford 66-54 in the Spartans' home opener at Joseph Echols Hall on Friday night. Senior Rachel Gordon netted 16 points and 16 rebounds to lead all scorers.

Gordon shot 80.0 percent (8-of-10) on the night to help NSU seal the victory. NSU (1-1) had two other players finish with double-figures. Redshirt junior Rae Corbo posted 12 points and six assists. Junior Ebony Brown contributed 14 points and seven rebounds.

Radford (2-1) got on the board first with a jumper by Kermisha Clark with 19:32 remaining in the first half that sparked a 6-0 run for the Highlanders.

The Spartans finally scored as Gordon drained a jumper on the other end with 17:15 on the clock. Gordon's field goal sparked a 17-0 run for NSU to give them a 17-6 lead over Radford with 10:28 remaining before halftime.



The Highlanders clawed their way behind drives to the basket, which included a layup by Breshara Gordon to cap a 15-4 run to tie the game at 21. Gordon and Ayana Avery led Radford with 14 points each.

Freshman Kierra Basey scored her first points of the season on a jumper with 1:28 left in the first half to send the Spartans into halftime with a 29-25 lead over Radford.

NSU came out hot in the second half on an 8-4 run as freshman Logan Powell scored on a layup with an assist from junior Jazamine Gray to make the score 37-29 with 14:03 left in the game.

The Highlanders pulled within four points at 37-33 after another layup by Avery with 13:01 to go in the game. Radford tried to keep the game close, but the Spartans proved to be too much for Radford.
NSU's lead stretched to 51-37 on a 14- 4 run that ended with a 3-pointer from Corbo with 7:56 left in the game. Corbo was 2-of-6 from behind the arc on the night.

McIvor sparked Radford's final run of the night, which ended with a 3-pointer from Avery with 1:19 left. The Highlanders shot 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from 3-point range.

The Spartans shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the field and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the free throw line.

NSU returns to the court on Wed., Nov. 20, against UNCG. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

The Lincoln Lady Lions Upsets Morgan State in Overtime, 94-86

Zephrah Pam
Photo Courtesy The LU Athletics
 

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- The Lincoln University women's basketball team made history defeating Division I Morgan State University in overtime 94-86 on Friday, November 15^th in their 2013-14 season opener on the road. The Lions outscored the Lady Bears 44-30 in the second half and then sealed the victory with 12 points in overtime. Junior Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) recorded a career-high 28 points with 15 rebounds on 9-of-16 shooting from the field.

This marks the first ever win over a Division I opponent for any women's basketball team at The Lincoln University. In her third season as Head Coach of the Lions, Jessica Kerns guided her team to their greatest win in program history.

The Lions knocked down four three-pointers in the opening half against the Lady Bears. Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS) knocked down three shots from long range in the first half to lead the Lions with nine points. Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) made 5-of-9 from the free-throw line, grabbed five rebounds, and also had nine points in the first half of play against Morgan State.

Lincoln forced Morgan State into 11 early turnovers. The Lions remained close despite trailing by as many as 15 points, but 11 offensive rebounds gave them ample scoring opportunities. Morgan State was 54% from the field and held Lincoln to 38% shooting. The Lady Bears led at the half 52-38.

Morgan State extended their lead to twenty points early in the second half. Then, at the 16:50 mark in the second half the Lions finally cut into the Lady Bears lead.

The Lions defense sparked a Lincoln 24-3 run in a ten minute span. Lincoln held Morgan State to 19% shooting in the second half and out-rebounded the Bears 35-17. De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, NY/Paramus Catholic Regional) had six offensive rebounds while both Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS) and Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) had six defensive rebounds each. Pam carried the offense with 13 points in the second half, nailing 4-7 shots from the field and 5-8 made free-throws. The Lions had an 18-5 advantage on second chance points and controlled momentum with 28 points in the paint while Morgan State had 10.

Defensively, Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS) and Alaysia Washington (Washington, DC/Friendship Collegiate Academy) played aggressively holding Morgan State's Tracey Carrington to only 11 points in the second half on 1-7 shooting from the field after Carrington exploded for 23 points in the first half. Clark led the charge with four steals in the second half.

Lincoln's Jailen Murphy (Nashville, TN/Brentwood Academy) scored a layup that gave the Lions a 76-72 lead with three minutes left in the half. Morgan State reclaimed the lead in the final two minutes and went ahead 80-76 with 1:39 remaining. Down the stretch, the Lions found Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) for three key scores including the game-tying basket with four seconds left forcing overtime.

In overtime, Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) continued her career-night nailing all three of her shots from the field. Cynthia Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) added five points for the Lions while Morgan State struggled offensively and went 2-6 from the field. Lincoln's Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS) sealed the victory with a free-throw pushing the lead to eight points with 29 seconds remaining.

Then, the faithful Lion fans went wild behind their beloved team's bench cheering on The Lincoln University in the final seconds of the game.

The Lincoln University rallied from a twenty point deficit in the second half to a 94-86 victory in their season opener against Morgan State University.

Three players scored in double figures for the Lions. Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) had a career-high 28 points with 15 rebounds. Cynthia Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and a team-high three assists. Courtney Johnson had 12 points including three made three-pointers.

The Lions bench outscored the Morgan State's bench 43-17. De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, NY/Paramus Catholic Regional), Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS), and Jailen Murphy (Nashville, TN/Brentwood Academy) each had eight points while Lisa Saunders (Hampton, VA/Hampton HS) added seven points.

Lincoln dominated the interior with 63 total rebounds including 31 offensive boards. De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, NY/Paramus Catholic Regional) grabbed ten total rebounds (nine offensive) while Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) had 15 total rebounds (six offensive).

The Lions improve to 1-0 and will travel to Philadelphia, PA on Tuesday, November 19^th for a 6 p.m. matchup against the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. For more information on the Lions please visit www.lulions.com.

Box Score

THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

SIAC Championship Buzz: Miles vs. Albany State

WHAT: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship game: Miles (6-3) vs. Albany State (5-4)

WHEN: Today, 6 p.m. 

WHERE: Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta, Ga. 

THIS GAME DETERMINES: It's all for all the marbles in the SIAC. If Miles wins it will it will be another feather in the hat of coach Reginald Ruffin, who'd guided the team to a pair of conference championship appearances in three seasons and the school's first trip to the Division II playoffs. For Albany State, a victory would give it its 16th SIAC title and 20th conference championship in school history. 

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Quarterback play. It's trite but both of these offenses will only go as far as their signal-callers take them. Expect David Thomas to get the start at quarterback for Miles. The redshirt senior from Opelika completed 30 of 40 attempts for 312 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 104 yards and a score in the Golden Bears' 41-36 upset of Tuskegee last week. However, Ruffin won't be bashful about going to Alabama State transfer Demetrice Price if he has to. Price came on in the second half and helped Miles come back from down 20 in the fourth quarter in its 31-30 win at Stillman a couple weeks ago. For Albany State, it's all bout Frank Rivers. The 6-6, 220-pounder is a Birmingham native and played high school football around the corner from Miles' campus at Fairfield High. The Grambling St. transfer has completed 151 of 268 attempts for 1,898 yards, 18 touchdowns and two interceptions and is the league's second-leading rusher. 

 

CONTINUE READING

Highlights: Harvard Men's Basketball Picks Up Third Straight Win Versus Howard, 76-44

Recap | Box Score | Preview

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard men's basketball team rolled to a third straight victory Friday night with a 76-44 win over Howard University at Lavietes Pavilion.

Kyle Casey scored a season-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go with a 12-point, seven-rebound effort from Wesley Saunders. Steve Moundou-Missi added 10 points, seven boards and two blocks as 11 different members of the Crimson got on the scoreboard. Harvard shot just 42.6 percent (23-54) from the field but went 28-of-38 at the line.

Harvard's defense was on display again as the team picked up a second straight win when allowing fewer than 50 points for the first time since January of 2012. The win was also Harvard's 13^th straight at home and improves the Crimson to 3-0 for the third time under head coach Tommy Amaker. Siyani Chambers turned in three steals to help lead the defensive charge as Howard (2-2) was forced into 19 turnovers which led to 28 Harvard points.

CONTINUE READING

Week 12: HBCU Football Schedule & ScoreCard

Saturday, November 16, 2013

CIAA Football Championship
#22Virginia State Trojans vs. #9Winston-Salem State Rams   (CANCELED)

SIAC Football Championship
Albany State Golden Rams vs. Miles Golden Bears, 7PM @ Atlanta, Ga.

OVC
Murray State at Tennessee State, 3PM

SWAC
Abilene Christian at Prairie View A&M, 2PM
Alabama State at Mississippi Valley State, 2PM
Arkansas Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M, 2PM
Alcorn State at Jackson State, 3PM
Howard at Texas Southern, 3PM
Clark Atlanta at Southern, 7PM

MEAC
South Carolina State 38, Morgan State 3 (Thursday)
Savannah State at North Carolina A&T, 1PM
Norfolk State at North Carolina Central, 2PM
Delaware State at Florida A&M, 2PM
Howard at Texas Southern, 3PM
Hampton at Bethune-Cookman, 4PM

OTHER CONFERENCES AND INDEPENDENTS
Seton Hill at Cheyney, 12PM
Glenville State at West Virginia State, 1PM
Warner (Fla.) at Concordia-Selma, 2PM
College of Faith at Edward Waters, 2PM
Virginia University Lynchburg at UNC Pembroke, 2PM
Southwest Baptist at Lincoln (Mo.), 3PM
Wayland Baptist at Langston, 3PM
Oklahoma Baptist at Texas College, 3PM
Central State (Ohio) at West Alabama, 7PM
Clark Atlanta at Southern, 7PM

SIAC
Central State (Ohio) at West Alabama, 7PM
Clark Atlanta at Southern, 7PM

All Games start times are stated in Eastern Time Zone

Ram Ramblings: One of the weirdest days ever at WSSU

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- It was one of those days where I felt like I was in a movie.

Today started out pretty good and at noon, after picking up the kids from school, I was going to blow around some leaves in the yard, then maybe have dinner with the family.

But then the CIAA held its annual football luncheon and all heck broke loose. It turned out to be one of the strangest days in my 26 years as a sportswriter because you can't make this stuff up.

Quarterback Rudy Johnson of WSSU was allegedly attacked in a bathroom at the Anderson Center during the luncheon. Several Virginia State players decided to see if Rudy could take a hit but nobody had any football equipment on.

I saw three photos of Rudy's face from an iPhone from one of the players soon after it happened and Rudy looked like he just went 12 rounds with Marvin Hagler.

CONTINUE READING 

ESPN: Game canceled after (WSSU) QB is beat up

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- A Virginia State football player faces assault charges after a bathroom fight left Winston-Salem State's starting quarterback badly beaten during a luncheon for both teams on the eve of their championship game.

Both Division II schools say the CIAA canceled the title game set for Saturday in Winston-Salem.


Virginia State player Lamont Britt was arrested Friday and charged with misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury.

Winston-Salem State chancellor Donald Reaves said quarterback Rudy Johnson was "viciously beaten by one or more members of the Virginia State football team." The Winston-Salem Journal, citing multiple anonymous sources, reported that five Virginia State players were involved. Reaves said police were trying to identify the other Virginia State players.

CONTINUE READING

Decision leaves students reeling

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Stunned, confused and disappointed were among the words used by Winston-Salem State students to describe their feelings after an assault led to the cancellation of the CIAA football championship game between WSSU and Virginia State.

As night fell on campus, students were still trying to absorb news as the band and flag team practiced for a game that would not be held.

What do you think about how the CIAA handled the situation between Winston-Salem State and Virginia State universities?

The CIAA volleyball championships, which was to be played at WSSU this weekend, also was canceled.

The assault occurred in a restroom at WSSU’s Anderson Center during a luncheon being held to honor conference football players associated with the championship game.

“It’s kind of messed up for this to happen between two teams and two universities who really don’t have that much of a rivalry to begin with,” said Shanah Washington, a freshman from Charlotte. She was planning to attend today’s game with several friends.

CONTINUE READING

Assault cancels CIAA title weekend at WSSU

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina --The much-talked about CIAA football championship game between Winston-Salem State and Virginia State universities was canceled Friday after a player was assaulted at an awards luncheon.

Quarterback Rudy Johnson, who is 9-0 as the Rams’ starter this season, was attacked in a restroom at the Anderson Center on WSSU’s campus by several Virginia State players, coach Connell Maynor of the Rams said.                 

One of the Virginia State players, backup running back Lamont Darnell Britt, 22, of Portsmouth, Va., was arrested by Winston-Salem police and charged with assault and inflicting serious injury.

Lt. Henry Gray of the Winston-Salem State University Police said Britt assaulted Johnson by hitting Johnson in the face and head, according to the arrest warrant.



CONTINUE READING

CIAA Statement Regarding the Cancellation of This Weekend's Championships

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  (November 15, 2013, 6:55 p.m. EST) -- Based on the incident that occurred today, and after consulting with the leadership of each institution and the Football and Volleyball championship committees, the CIAA is saddened to announce that this weekend's Football and Volleyball conference championships that were scheduled to take place in Winston-Salem have been canceled. On the eve of such an important weekend for dozens of our student-athletes, many of whom have waited a lifetime for such a moment, we are left to focus instead on what might have been.

Our singular focus is on the safety and security of the CIAA's student-athletes and those who follow them. It is important that everyone involved in the CIAA embody our mission every day by acting as upstanding individuals on and off the field. We must work together to hold each other to higher standards of responsible judgment and conduct because we must demand that if we are to succeed.

We did not make this decision lightly, as its impact is far and wide - affecting our student-athletes, alumni, fans, sponsors and more. But the CIAA has long had policies to encourage responsible behavior, and must consider what is necessary to assure days like today are not repeated, ever.

We will cooperate fully with the NCAA as it relates to its upcoming Division II national championships.

Ticket holders for the Championship Game should contact the place of purchase for a refund on their tickets. Ticketholders who specifically purchased their tickets through TicketMaster will automatically receive a refund.

Jacqie Carpenter, CIAA Commissioner

For media inquiries, contact Sharon Goldmacher, 404.386.0500 (cell) or by email at sgoldmacher@c21pr.com, or the CIAA office at (757) 865-0071.

CIAA championship canceled after Winston-Salem State QB is attacked

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Winston-Salem State quarterback Rudy Johnson was expected to lead his team on the field Saturday as it attempts to win its third consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) football championship. But after an alleged incident at a celebratory banquet Friday, Johnson won't be able to play, and neither will anyone else.

The CIAA on Friday night canceled the game between Winston-Salem State and Virginia State in the wake of the incident, as well as the conference's volleyball championships that also were to be held in Winston-Salem, N.C., this weekend. The move comes after Johnson was allegedly beaten by a group of Virginia State football players in a bathroom of a WSSU campus building during the CIAA football banquet.

The Winston-Salem Journal obtained an arrest warrant from Winston-Salem State campus police for Lamont Britt, a Virginia State sophomore running back, who was charged with misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury. According to the Journal, Britt is being held in Forsyth County (N.C.) Jail with bond set at $7,500 and has a date in Forsyth District Court set for Dec. 9.

CONTINUE READING

Looking at the world upside down with A&M long snapper Jordan Roman

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Each Wednesday this football season, we'll meet one of the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, who host Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Jordan Roman

Year: Senior

Position: Long Snapper

Hometown: Lithonia, Ga.

A&M senior Jordan Roman (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

High School: Lithonia High

Family: Mother Leila Roman, father Artlas Roman, sister Caitlan Roman, brother Drew Roman.

Major: Sports management.

Why that major? "I want to be around the sports field. I eventually want to work for Nike one day, or be an equipment manager for an NFL or NBA team."

Here's a confession. I helped write a term paper years ago for a friend who was a college long snapper. It got him an A. Have you written about it? "I wrote in my sophomore year in high school. I had to write about something you do different from everybody else. I can't remember the grade but it was good. It was a two-page paper.

"I do remember saying I thought I'd be snapping the ball. But I told how my dad was my little league coach and we never had a snapper so my dad was like, 'I'm the head coach so I'll make my son do it.' I'd go home after practice and just learn how to do it on my own."

What's it like looking at the world upside down? "To be a long snapper you're supposed to look, but I don't I look to see if the punter is ready and then I look back down. I don't like putting my head down because somebody's always hitting me. They say don't hit the snapper, but they hit the snapper."

Did you sign as a long snapper? "When I was in high school I wanted to play defense. I was looking for a school that would let me play defense and do long-snapping. When Coach (Anthony) Jones told me he'd let me do both, I wanted that. But as Coach Jones said I snapped so good he didn't want me to play defense."

How many snaps in a practice? "Maybe 100 snaps a day ... To me right now it's second nature."

How far can you snap it? "When I tried it, I stopped at 50 yards. I don't know if I can go farther than that."

You don't get to play defense, but on punt coverage you're one of the first ones there. "I always want to make contact. I get there as fast as I can to try to be the first one to make the tackle."

What were you listening to this morning? Future.

Favorite movie: "I love Chris Tucker, so it'd have to be 'Money Talks.'"

Must-see TV: "I like watching the Food Network channels. I wanted to be a cook. I might go back later to a culinary arts school."

Tattoos: "No. My mama and my grandmama wouldn't let me."

Pets: "I have a dog. It's sorta my sister's dog. It's a white poodle."

A poodle? You need to keep saying it's your sister's. "Yeah, you're right."

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State Football to host Alcorn State Saturday

Date: Nov. 16

Time: 2:00 p.m. CST

Location: Jackson, MS

Venue: MS Veterans Memorial Stadium

TV Broadcast: Video Stream

Radio Broadcast: 95.5 FM (pregame show starts 1 hour before kickoff)

Series Record: JSU leads 43-28-2

Last Meeting: JSU won 37-11

Gates Open: 11:30 AM

Ticket Information: Call JSU Ticket Office at 601-979-2420

    Game Notes (vs. Alcorn St.)

WATCH LIVE:
The JSU vs. Alcorn football game will be video streamed live at jsums.edu

THE GAME:
Jackson State and the Alcorn State Braves meet for the 74th time on Saturday. The JSU Tigers come into the contest on a seven game winning streak. The Tigers have already won the SWAC East Division title and clinched a berth into the SWAC Championship game at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Tigers lead the series 43-28-2 against the Braves. JSU has won the last three games of the series, including last year’s contest which was played in Lorman, MS (for the first time in 13 years). Although the Tigers have secured a spot in the SWAC Championship game, JSU is seeking a perfect conference record.

HEAD COACH RICK COMEGY:
Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy (Millersville, ‘76) enters his eighth season at the helm of the Tigers’ football program. He comes into the game with a 56-34 overall record at JSU and a 164-84 career record. Over the previous seven seasons, Comegy has led the Tigers to six winning seasons, three Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division titles and one SWAC championship. Last season the Tigers fell just short of claiming a second SWAC championship by falling 24-21 in OT to Arkansas Pine Bluff in the conference title game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Prior to coming to Jackson State, Comegy was the head coach at Tuskegee University where he won four Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships (NCAA D-II), three Pioneer Bowl crowns and a Black College National Championship (2000). In 2000 his Tuskegee Tigers recorded a perfect 12-0 record. Since coming to JSU Comegy has a 5-2 record against Alcorn State.

SCOUTING ALCORN STATE:
The Alcorn State Braves come into Saturday’s game with an 8-3 overall record and a 6-2 conference mark. The Braves have scored 393 points this season and has allowed 261. The Braves are led by quarterback John Gibbs who has recorded 2292 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. To date, he has completed 56.8% of his pass attempts and is averaging 208.4 passing yards per game. Arnold Walker is the leading rusher on the team with 1104 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averages 100.4 yards per game. Tollette George is the team’s leading receiver. He has 49 receptions for 598 yards and two touchdowns. Devon Francois is the defensive leader for Alcorn State. He has 82 tackles, a tackle for loss and two interceptions.

ALCORN STATE HEAD COACH: JAY HOPSON
Jay Hopson enters his second season as the head football coach at Alcorn State. Hopson came to Alcorn State from the University of Memphis where he served as the defensive coordinator. Before going to Memphis, he was the linebackers coach at Michigan. Under Hopson, three of the top five tacklers for the 2009 season were Stevie Brown, Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton. Ezeh was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award that season. He also had two stints at Southern Miss. Prior to Michigan he spent three seasons as defensive coordinator and defensive backs and middle linebackers coach at USM from 2005-2007. In 2007, he was named the All-American Football Foundation Top Assistant Coach. While at USM, the Golden Eagles participated in three bowl games: the 2005 New Orleans Bowl, 2006 GMAC Bowl and the 2007 Papajohns.com Bowl. During his career, Hopson has coached numerous all-conference players and three All-Americans. Two of his players have been nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award and two of his players were named to the Sports Illustrated All-Bowl Team.

NEXT GAME:
Jackson State returns to action on Dec. 7 when the Tigers and the Southern Jaguars square off for the 2013 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kickoff is set for 12 pm and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman Hosts Hampton for Senior Day

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  –  No. 18/16 Bethune-Cookman hosts Hampton University this weekend for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest with the Pirates at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

CatEye Network TV  |  WELE Radio  |  WSIR Radio

The Game
The No. 18/16 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats look to bounce back this weekend after suffering a disappointing 27-24 setback a week ago to Norfolk State. This weekend, the Wildcats host the Hampton Pirates to Municipal Stadium in which the Cats will celebrate Senior Appreciation Day prior to the contest. B-CU will say “good bye” to 24 student-athletes playing in their final regular season game at Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

The Series
The series between Bethune-Cookman and Hampton is as tight as any other since Hampton joined the MEAC prior to the start of the 1995 season. In that span, Hampton leads the Cats by the thinnest of margins in the series, 10-9. However, Bethune-Cookman has won the previous five contests. In natural home/away games, the series is tied in both Daytona Beach (4-4) and Hampton (5-5).

The Broadcasts
The game will be carried live by 1380 WELE Radio and the CatEye Network (online) with Joe LaBarbera (play-by-play) and Larry Wesley (analyst). Terrance Gatling will provide sideline coverage.

The Coach
Head coach Brian Jenkins is in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach with all four years coming at Bethune-Cookman. He holds a 35-10 overall record. His overall record against Hampton is a perfect 3-0, two of those games being played in Hampton, Va.

The Weather
Projected weather on game day: Daytona Beach. – 75/71 (30% chance of rain). Hampton, Va. – 63/55.

Wildcats in the Polls
Bethune-Cookman enters the game ranked No. 18 in The Sports Network poll, and No. 16 in the FCS Coaches poll.

#5THINGS
1.   The Bethune-Cookman vs. Hampton series is as tight in all aspects as possible. In fact, the series is tied home and away all-time between the two schools.
2.   Only three opponents have rushed for more than 100 yards against the Wildcats all season (Tennessee State, Florida State, Norfolk State).
3.   Bethune-Cookman already has 25 sacks through 10 games, while amassing a total of 22 all last season.
4.   Bethune-Cookman leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in three categories, including scoring defense,total offense and rushing offense.
5. The Wildcats defense has forced a turnover in 29 of the last 30 games.

A WIN OVER HAMPTON WOULD...
•     Give the Wildcats their sixth consecutive win over the Pirates.
•     End the 2013 regular season with a 4-1 home record at Municipal Stadium.
•     Improve Brian Jenkins’ MEAC record to 27-4.
•     Improve Brian Jenkins’ Bethune-Cookman record to 36-10 overall.
•     Advance B-CU to a half-game lead in the MEAC standings.
•     Improve the Wildcats to 9-2 overall (6-1 MEAC).

#IKECANFIXIT
•   Senior running back Isidore Jackson is heading up the walls of the B-CU record books at a fast pace. Two weeks ago at North Carolina Central, he became the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards after a season-high 182-yard performance. Additionally, he needs just four rushing touchdowns to match Clyde Sanders (1953-54) at second place all-time for career rushing scores in school history.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES
•   The Bethune-Cookman defense has allowed just 37 second half points against FCS opponents this year.
•   In second half play dating back to Hampton in 2011 (a stretch of 481 total minutes of second half action), the Cats are outscoring opponents at a 243-93 clip. That includes 21 points given up at ACC opponent Florida State this season.

#WRECKTANGLE BACKFIELD
•   The Wildcats’ secondary appears to be a rectangle (or WRECKTANGLE) for opposing offenses as one of the best defensive backfields in the nation through the halfway point of the year. The four defensive backfield mates of Nick Addison, Tim Burke, Thomas Finnie and Dion Hanks is causing havoc for opposing defenses under the guise of defensive coordinator Charles “Yogi” Jones.

RUNNING FOUR-EVER
•   Not only do the Wildcats have three quality quarterbacks, but they have FOUR running backs in this year’s backfield. The quartet of Drexler Dixon, Isidore Jackson, Anthony Jordan and Cary White may be inserted at any time during the game — each possibly getting the ball at any time.

STAY BEHIND THE LINE
•   Through 10 games thus far on the year, Bethune-Cookman has brought tremendous defensive pressure on that side of the ball. The Wildcats have picked up 25 sacks already this season by 11 different players. That combines with 79 tackles for loss by a total of 18 different players.

For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron, and make sure to ‘Like Us’ on Facebook at BCUathletics. Join the conversation for all things related to B-CU Football in 2013 by using the official hashtag #NeverSatisfied in all tweets.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Saints defeat Gold Nuggets 92-86 in LSUS Classic

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- In a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I women's basketball teams, Our Lady of the Lake defeated Xavier University of Louisiana 92-86 Friday in the opening game of the LSUS Classic.

Whitney Gaston-Loyd, playing in her hometown, and Vinnie Briggs had career-highs of 19 points apiece for the Gold Nuggets (2-2), who are ranked 15th. Paige Gauthier had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Whitney Gathright scored 10 points.

Also contributing for Xavier were Carmen Holcombe with eight points, six rebounds and four steals and Danielle Tucker with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Nashae Owens led the Saints (2-0), who are ranked 17th, with 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Courtney Bayliss and Ornela Bacchini scored 16 points apiece, and Chelsea Solis scored 10.

OLLU led wire-to-wire, building a 16-point lead en route to a 49-40 halftime advantage. The Saints took their biggest lead, 61-44, on Sam Offord's basket with 15:55 remaining. Xavier rallied and cut OLLU's margin to 88-86 on Holcombe's two free throws with 44 seconds remaining, but the Gold Nuggets did not score on their final two possessions.

Offord made 4-of-4 free throws in the final 22 seconds to make the Saints the first XU non-exhibition opponent in nearly five years to reach 90 points.

Both teams shot nearly 50 percent from the floor. Xavier had a 24-19 advantage in made free throws. OLLU made seven 3-pointers, six in the first 11 minutes, and Xavier made four.

It was the first meeting between the two programs, both qualifiers for the national tournament last season.

Xavier will play NAIA No. 25 LSU-Shreveport at 5 p.m. Saturday in the final game of this two-day
event.

Box score

Live stats for XU women's basketball, 5 p.m. Saturday

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

Late Rally PropelsTSU Lady Tigers to Victory over Troy

TROY, Alabama  -- In an impressive and hard fought road win, the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team knocked off Troy, 77-71, Friday afternoon in Trojan Arena.

The Lady Tigers (1-2) picked up their first win of the season as the Trojans (2-1) suffered their first loss of the 2013-14 campaign. The game was tied when TSU outscored Troy 15-3 down the stretch. Despite a late rally by the opponent, TSU was able to knock down free-throw s to seal the win.

Four Lady Tigers posted double-digits in scoring led by I’mani Davis who registered a double-double behind 15 points and 11 rebounds. Chelsea Hudson also notched a double-double, her second straight, with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Alana Morris was strong for TSU with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals off the bench. Rachel Allen rounded out the leading scorers with 10.

Tennessee State got off to a good start, jumping out to a 10-3 lead over Troy. The Trojans responded with a run to pull within one and eventually took a, 20-17, advantage.

With about six minutes left in the half, TSU went on a run that was fueled by a couple of three pointers from I’mani Davis and Diamond Beatty to go back on top, 25-20.

The Lady Tigers led, 35-30, at halftime.

The second frame was a battle that featured a number of ties and lead changes.

Following two free-throws  from Alana Morris, the score was at a, 56-56, deadlock with seven minutes remaining. On the next possession Chelsea Hudson knocked down a couple of freebies to give the lead back to the Lady Tigers.

Over the next few minutes, TSU put together a 15-3 run to pull away, 73-59.

Troy scored 11 unanswered points in the final two and half minutes but the Lady Tigers were able to keep the Trojans at bay.

The Lady Tigers shot 41.4 percent (29-of-70) from the field, including 40 percent from downtown.

TSU committed 30 turnovers in the contest but won the battle of the boards, 53-48. The Lady Tigers also held the advantage in assists, 17-13, and bench points, 28-20.

Tennessee State will conclude its season-opening road trip this Sunday when the Lady Tigers play Florida A&M in the Al Lawson Center. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. (ET).

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Savannah State Tigers' Blackman Starts Pro Basketball Career In Europe

PRESTON BLACKMAN
PHOTO COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE ATHLETICS

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Team FOG Naestved of the Basketilgaen League in Denmark has announced the addition of former Savannah State point guard Preston Blackman to their roster.

Blackman, a Hopkins, South Carolina native, played four years with SSU.

During the 2012-13 season, he averaged 11.9 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game, 3.5 assist per game and 1.0 steals per game. He was named to All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2nd Team and National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All-District 15 2nd Team.

For his career at Savannah State, Blackman scored 1,250 points, had 541 assists, 252 rebounds and 138 steals. He also made 159 of his 3-point attempts and converted 155 of 198 free throw attempts.

The 6-foot Blackman is looking forward to playing for Naestved  and help make a difference. "I plan to get better day-by-day," Blackman said. "I will do everything I can for us to win. I look forward to experiencing basketball in a new country and new surroundings. "

Director of Team FOG Næstved Andreas Larsen stated "we have a really good impression of Preston. We look forward to getting him into the team."

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Bison Men's Basketball Preview: Howard at Harvard

Harvard Men's Basketball Continues Homestand Friday Versus Howard

Tickets | Directions | Video | Live stats    

Game Info Date Time Venue Tickets Television Talent Stream Talent Radio Talent Stats Notes

Harvard vs. Howard Friday, Nov. 15 7:00 p.m. Lavietes Pavilion Buy Tickets -- -- Ivy League Digital Network Scott Sudikoff, Bill Spaulding WHRB 95.3 FM-Cambridge Brecka Fetzer, Zack Guzman Live Stats Harvard Game Notes

The Storyline
The Harvard men's basketball team continues its three-game homestand as it hosts Howard University in Lavietes Pavilion Friday, Nov. 15 live on the Ivy League Digital Network. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Last Time Out
The Harvard men's basketball team opened its home schedule with a convincing 79-37 win over cross-town foe MIT on Tuesday at Lavietes Pavilion.

12 of the 13 Crimson to see minutes scored at least two points led by Wesley Saunders' 14. Zena Edosomwan chipped in 13 points with Kyle Casey adding 11 points and seven rebounds. Harvard finished the night shooting 45.5 percent (30-66) from the floor and was 15-of-21 at the line.

The bigger story for Harvard may have been its effort at the defensive end as the Crimson forced 29 MIT turnovers while registering 19 steals. The 29 turnovers forced represent a team-high under head coach Tommy Amaker, while the 19 steals are just one shy of the program's all-time record of 20. Casey, Saunders and Laurent Rivard each picked up three steals in the victory with Matt Fraschilla and Evan Cummins adding two.

Harvard scored 35 points off the MIT turnovers including 12 on the fast break. The Crimson also owned a sizeable advantage in the paint, where it outscored the Engineers, 42-16.




Noteables
• Harvard has won 13 of its last 17 games dating back to 2012-13 and is 2-0 this season.

• A win on Friday versus Howard would improve the Crimson to 3-0 to start the year for a third time under head coach Tommy Amaker.

• The Crimson is 50-4 at home dating back to 2009-10 and has won 12 straight games in Lavietes Pavilion. The team's run of dominance includes a program record 28-game home win streak that lasted more than two calendar years between Feb. 19, 2010 and Feb. 24, 2012.

• Harvard's 42-point margin of victory against MIT on Tuesday was the second largest under head coach Tommy Amaker, behind only a 94-51 triumph against Daniel Webster on Dec. 28, 2008.

• The Crimson allowed just 37 points to MIT, marking the third time under head coach Tommy Amaker that an opponent has scored fewer than 40 points (most recent at Yale, 65-35, 1/27/12).

Ivy League Digital Network
For the first time ever, all of Harvard's home games and road Ivy League contests which are not being televised will be streamed in HD quality featuring a live scoreboard, new graphics package and play-by-play commentary through the Ivy League Digital Network. Subscribers to the network can watch games both live and On-Demand on their computers, tablets or smart phones, and will have access to live and On-Demand content for all Harvard events throughout the duration of their subscription.

COURTESY GOCRIMSON.COM

FAMU football: Blount making own name

 Akil Blount
Photo Courtesy FAMU Athletics

Rattlers linebacker is son of NFL Hall of Famer

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The second that FAMU linebacker Akil Blount intercepted a pass from South Carolina State’s quarterback Richard Cue last weekend, his father’s name came up.

That’s nothing new for the sophomore, who is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount. But given the development he has shown despite the Rattlers’ struggles, Blount seemingly is on his way to establishing his own name.

That’s the way he’s always wanted it.

“I’m trying to make big plays so people know who I am, but I will always be titled as the son of Mel Blount,” he said. “That’s not a problem with me, but at the end of the day, I
want people to know who Akil Blount is, as they know who my dad is.”

He’s doing a decent job laying that foundation. Blount is fourth in tackles for the Rattlers with 43. He also has the second-most tackles for loss with eight, along with a blocked kick, a quarterback hurry and three pass breakups. Oh, and his interception on Saturday that set up FAMU for a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ 3-yard line.

CONTINUE READING 

Southern making headway with football recruits

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The Southern football team has reaped the benefits of what a productive signing class can provide for a football program.

The Jaguars have received major contributions from true freshman wide receiver Randall Menard, who has 315 yards and four touchdowns this season; running back Kylum Favorite, who is third on the team with 145 rushing yards; and Blake Monroe, who started the first three games of the season at safety.

Additionally, Southern brought in former LSU commitment Chuck Baker and signed Southern Lab standout quarterback Deonte Shorts — players who are both redshirting this season.

Now, the Jaguars coaching staff is hot on the recruiting trail again. Southern has landed two prospects so far for the 2014 class: quarterback Cordelral Cook of Stone Mountain High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., and defensive back Bryan Anderson of Edna Karr High.

Cook, a 6-foot-1 dual-threat prospect, is a three-star prosepct, according to ESPN. He has completed 108 of 185 passes for 1,711 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Cook has also rushed for 551 yards.



CONTINUE READING