FAMU looks into postgame altercation

Coaches reportedly involved in fight after Stetson game

 

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- FAMU men’s basketball coach Clemon Johnson could face disciplinary action depending on the outcome of an investigation into a fight that occurred following last Thursday night’s game against Stetson at the Lawson Center.

 

It is unclear who all was involved in the altercation, but multiple people contacted the Democrat over the weekend and stated that it involved members of both coaching staffs.

 

The witnesses also expressed outrage about the late start of the game, which was scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip but didn’t actually get under way until 8:20 p.m.

 

Shortly after the game, several people were seen pushing their way back from the causeway to the visitors’ locker room, while security officers moved in to quell the incident, which lasted about five minutes.

 

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Clutch Free Throw Shooting Lifts ASU Past Chicago State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Alabama State was able to hit six consecutive free throws in the final 21 seconds to lift the Hornets past Chicago State 79-75.

The Hornets led by as many as 14 points (56-42) in the second half with 10:20 left only to see the visitors start chipping away at the lead and actually cut it to 77-75 after Quinton Pippen hit three free throws with four seconds left. DeMarcus Robinson put the game away as he hit the final two of the six free throws to push the lead back out to the final 79-75 score.

"Like any good team they are going to make a run and the thing you have to do is make your free throws, take care of the basketball and get good shots," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. "I thought tonight we did not do a good job of stopping penetration when we were not in our zone, but we came back and made our free throws and were able to hold them off."

It was the second consecutive game the Hornets has been solid at the free throw line. After making 32 of 39 in ASU's win at Jacksonville State the Hornets hit 21 of 26 (80.8%) at the charity stripe and that includes 20 of 24 in the second half alone.

Robinson led the Hornets in scoring with a team-high 21 points. He had plenty of help in scoring as Jamel Waters added 18 and Bobby Brown came off the bench to score 14.

ASU (3-2) out rebounded Chicago State 35-32 with Luther Page leading the way with seven and Bobby Brown with six. Waters had six assists, but ASU only had 11 as a team. ASU did force 13 turnovers that led to 20 points off turnovers and their 15 offensive rebounds led to 20 second chance points.

Along with shooting their free throws, the Hornets also shot well from the field finishing the game knocking down 46.4 percent (26-56) of their field goals, although they only hit six of the 21 three point field goals (28.6%).

CSU (2-3) would not go away easily as Quinton Pippen led the visitors with 21 points including nine points in the final 1:43 seconds to get CSU back into the game. Clarke Rosenberg came off the visitor's bench to score 14 and Matt Ross added 12, and had a team-high seven rebounds.

CSU shot 47.3 percent from the field (26-55) and also shot well from the free throw line canning 18 of their 25 attempts (72%). They hit five of 14 three point attempts for 36 percent.

Even though CSU was able to hang around, it was the Hornets zone defense that held the Cougars scoreless for the final 4:25 of the first half and the first 4:03 of the second half. During that time the Hornets went on a 15-0 run to turn a 29-24 deficit into a 39-29 lead.

"What they were doing was just attacking the basket early on and we were not doing a good job of rotating on our defense; sliding over and cutting off the baseline and stepping up and taking charges," Jackson said. "We wanted to hold the zone further into the second half but they kept attacking. It worked for us later in the first half and we came back to tie the score at halftime."

The two teams went into the half even at 29. ASU had jumped out and led by as many as seven at 9-2 after the Hornets hit their first four shots of the half. From there the visitors started to attack the basket and make their run.

With ASU leading 19-15 Chicago State went on a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 21-19 with 8:11 left in the half. CSU would go on to build their lead to 27-21 after a Rosenberg three.

ASU went into a zone coming out of the final media timeout with CSU leading 29-24. The zone slowed the Cougars offense down allowing the Hornets to score the final five points of the half to even the score.

Robinson and Brown had eight points each to lead ASU while the Horents shot 41.4 percent from the field.

CSU was led by Pippen's seven points while Eddie Denard and Rosenberg added six each. CSU shot 43.3 percent from the field in the first half.

There are a lot of things the Hornets will work on before their next game, but the coaching staff knows how important the team's free throw shooting has been these past two games.

"Our free throw shooting has been really, really important these last two games," Jackson said. "They tell you all the time at the line is the difference between winning a

The Hornets will be off for two weeks with their next game coming Dec. 7 when they travel to Troy to face the Trojans at 1 p.m.
nd losing and we lost a lot at the line last year. These last two ball games the guys have really stepped up and concentrated and made their free throws down the stretch. If you want to win ball games you have to do that because a lot of the games are going to be close and you have to be able to stretch out a lead or catch up."

Box Score      

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION     

East Carolina Storms Back to Down Norfolk State, 76-74

DURHAM, North Carolina – East Carolina erased a 17-point second-half deficit, and a last-second tip-in by Norfolk State was waived off as the Pirates escaped with a 76-74 victory over the Spartan men's basketball team on Monday night in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Down by as much as 13 in the first half at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, NSU came back thanks to its defense creating transition points as well as a huge edge in points in the paint. Down by one at the half, NSU came out and hit a quick trey for the lead, an advantage that the Spartans methodically stretched to 17 with nine minutes in the game.

Some full court pressure slowed the Spartans offense, and East Carolina slowly whittled the NSU lead down to just one with less than four minutes left. The Pirates twice went up by two, only to watch the Spartans tie it up, the second time at 72-72 on a layup by redshirt junior Jamel Fuentes.

A 3-point play by Paris Roberts-Campbell with 50.8 seconds left gave the Pirates a three-point edge, but senior Pendarvis Williams hit a layup on the other end with 29.2 to go. Down by one, NSU forced Akeem Richmond to travel to set up a last second attempt.

Williams had the ball stripped from his hands as he drove to the lane, and Roberts-Campbell hit 1-of-2 from the foul line with 6.3 seconds left for a two-point edge. Williams attempted a floater from 10 feet out, and a good tip-in by senior Jordan Weathers came just a split-second too late as the Pirates escaped with the win.



NSU (2-2) will face UNC Asheville at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the consolation of the NIT East Regional.

Williams finished with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting and second rebounds, while redshirt senior Malcolm Hawkins added 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting with eight rebounds.

Roberts-Campbell led ECU (4-0) with 22 points, while Richmond and Michael Zangari added 17 and 16 points, respectively.

The Spartans had a 50-16 edge in points in the paint, and created 24 points off 18 ECU turnovers.

The Pirates, meanwhile, hit 10-of-25 from 3-point range, including a trio of deep treys from Richmond for a 14-4 lead to start the game. NSU cut it to five, 19-14, thanks to a 3-pointer from redshirt senior Marese Phelps at the top of the key and then a fastbreak layup right after. ECU, though, answered right back with a pair of 3-pointers from Roberts-Campbell.

The Spartans then began to really cut into the ECU lead, as a 3-point play from redshirt senior Anell Alexis and a layup from Williams when NSU had numbers made it 29-24 in favor of the Pirates. A driving spin move in the lane by junior LaTre'e Russell got NSU to three, and a pair of free throws by Hawkins tied it up at 32-32 at 1:32.

Hawkins hit a shot from just inside the 3-point arc at the buzzer to cut NSU's deficit to one at the half, 35-34.

A pair of back-to-back, alley-oop dunks from senior Brandon Goode and Williams put the Spartans up 43-37 early in the second half, eliciting a few floor slaps as the Spartans went back on defense. Weathers had an easy fastbreak for a 50-40 advantage, and NSU went up by 11, 56-45, on a fastbreak by Phelps at 11:57.

NSU began to roll from there thanks to its defense creating opportunities on the other side of the court. Fuentes got down the court after a tipped pass on the other end for a 64-47 lead, capping an 8-0 run and forcing an ECU timeout.

The Pirates then began to get going, using a 23-4 run to take the lead back with less than three minutes remaining. Altogether, East Carolina outscored Norfolk State 29-10 to close out the game.

NSU held a 45-33 edge on the boards. Fuentes finished with nine points, six assists and five rebounds.

East Carolina shot 24-of-38 from the foul line, while NSU was on 10-of-20 despite committing just five more fouls.

NIT Season Tip-Off Tickets

Box Score

By Mike Bello, Assistant Sports Information Director
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU/VSU bathroom brawl gets national attention.

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- WSSU/VSU championship game cancellation because of bathroom brawl gets national attention.

NCCU Eagles Clamp Down on Campbell Camels in Second Half

BUIES CREEK, North Carolina  –  In game No. 2 of the 2013 Global Sports Hoops Shootout, North Carolina Central University turned the defense up a notch in the second half, holding the host Camels of Campbell University to just two field goals as the Eagles earned the 62-43 victory on Monday night inside Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C.

The host Camels came out blazing from the field as Campbell drilled their first seven three-pointers through the first seven minutes to bolt out to a 21-11 lead, but the Eagles kept their composure and didn't panic.

With the score at 22-11 with 11:32 to go, senior point guard Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) found Jeremy Ingram for a wide-open three that got the maroon and gray rolling.


Subject to Change Customs, LLC presents the highlights of NCCU's masterful 62-43 win over Campbell on Monday, Nov. 18. Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks chats with head coach LeVelle Moton and senior guard Jeremy Ingram.  Special thanks to NCCU sophomore Justice Davis for putting together the entire video.

Over the next seven minutes, NCCU went on a 17-6 rally to tie the game at 28, that included a Reggie Groves (Raleigh, N.C.) three-pointer from 25-feet.

CU outscored the Eagles down-the-stretch 6-2 to take a four-point cushion into the locker room at 34-30.

Ingram struggled offensively going 4-for-12 from the field to end up with 12 points to lead the Eagles.

NCCU took control of the game in the second half in all phases of the contest that began with 17-3 run to take a 47-37 advantage of the Camels in which Ingram scored 15 points to set the tone for the rest of the evening.

That's when the Eagle defense put the clamps on CU, forcing eight turnovers, winning the rebound battle 21-10, and holding the Camels to 2-for-19 (10.5 percent) shooting from-the-field as the maroon and gray saw the lead grow to as high as 20 on the way to a 62-43 win.

Ingram ended the night with 29 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field that included 3-for-7 from three-point range, while Chapman grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, seven assists, four points, and five steals.

Junior forward Jay Copeland (Suffolk, Va.) nearly recorded his second double-double of the season with nine points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes of action.  Senior Alfonzo Houston (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) finished with nine points and four rebounds in the win.

As a team, the Eagles turned it up a notch offensively in the second half shooting 10-for-20 (50.0 percent), finished the night going 16-for-22 (72.7 percent) from the charity stripe, and won the rebounding battle 38-27, along with dominating in the paint 32-12.

Campbell (2-2) had two players in double figures led by Andrew Ryan's double-double 11 point 10 rebound effort, along with Darius Leonard who finished with 10 points in the loss.

NCCU (2-1) looks to make it three-in-a-row on Wednesday night in game No. 3 of the 2013 Global Sports Hoops Shootout as the Eagles make the short trip to PNC Arena for their fifth matchup since 2007 with the Wolfpack of N.C. State University.

For more information about NCCU athletics, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.

Photos:  NCCU at Campbell (Special Thanks to Will Bratton): http://nccueaglepride.com/galleries/?gallery=110

Box Score
            
By Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/Broadcast Media Coordinator

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Battle of the Bands: Savannah State Coastal Empire Sound Explosion vs. North Carolina A&T Blue and Gold Marching Machine

WATCH ALL VIDEOS IN 1080p High Definition, Wide Screen

AFA Falcons Rally to Down Arkansas-Pine Bluff 67-64

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado  -- Marek Olesinski scored 20 points and Max Yon added 14 points and a career-high seven assists to lead Air Force past Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 67-64, Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game at Clune Arena.

The Falcons struggled to get started for the second straight game and found themselves down by as many as 12 points in the first half and trailed 38-29 at halftime. An 11-1 run midway through the second half gave the team its first lead, 51-49, with 7:44 remaining. The lead was Air Force’s first since the opening minutes of the game. The game featured six lead changes and two ties from that point until the Falcons took the lead for good, 62-61, on two free throws by Yon, who scored eight of the team’s final 11 points. He later added a dunk and a pair of free throws with 16.5 seconds left to put the Falcons up 66-62. Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored with 4.7 second left to cut the lead to two, but a free throw with 1.8 second left by freshman Darrius Parker sealed it.

Parker tied his career high with 12 points and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds while Justin Hammonds added 11 points and six rebounds for the Falcons. Parker logged a career-high 26 minutes while Olesinski played all 40 and finished hitting seven-of-10 field goals, including a six-of-eight clip from 3-point territory. Air Force finished the game hitting 42.2 percent from the field, including nine-of-21 from 3-poing range. The team also hit 20-of-26 from the free throw line, including five of the last six in the final 1:29 of the game.

Marcel Mosley scored 16 points to lead Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Davon Haynes added 13 points and Jaylon Floyd 10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff hit 43.4 percent from the field and forced 15 turnovers while collecting 12 steals.

“They didn’t attack as much in the second half and we wanted to drive the ball and it helped us out,” said Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich. “We were just kind of stuck in sand there at the start of the game, but we got better energy in the second half. Max driving the ball was the key for us getting going.”

The Falcons improved to 2-2 with the win while UAPB falls to 2-2. The Falcons return to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. vs. Colorado Christian.

Final Stats

COURTESY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

East: Clark Atlanta game served SU Jaguars’ purpose

PHOTO COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern’s game against Clark Atlanta on Saturday was over almost as soon as it began.

The Jaguars scored a defensive touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, added touchdowns on each of their first two offensive possessions and never looked back.

The Panthers were clearly outmanned against the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division champions and didn’t present much of a challenge.

Nonetheless, Clark might have been exactly what Southern needed at this point in the season, just ahead of an open date with the Bayou Classic and the SWAC title game looming.

The Jaguars had made a habit of not securing victories until the final moments, even when they seemed to be taking control midway through games. They’ve gone to overtime in three games, and seven of their previous eight games had been decided by eight or fewer points.

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WSSU Quarterback Speaks

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- In a news conference Monday afternoon quarterback Rudy Johnson said VSU players were talking trash.

AAMU Bulldogs Lose Close One At Western Michigan, 73-69

Kalamazoo, Michigan -- The Bulldog basketball team nearly defeated the Western Michigan Broncos in a close four-point game at University Arena on the campus of Western Michigan University.

After 40 minutes of action, A&M found themselves on the losing end of a 73-69 contest.

The Maroon & White came out of their locker room with a great energy and asserted themselves early. Tyler Davis opened the scoring with a long range three on A&M's first shot of the game. The Bulldogs did the same on the defensive side of the ball, forcing WMU into turnovers. After four minutes of play, the teams were tied at eight.

The home team would take the lead on the next play starting an eight-nil scoring run. The run was cut by a two-point bucket by Demarquelle Tabb. Although the run was broken and the lead cut to within three-points, the Broncos would not look back. WMU went on to dominate first half play and took a 14 point lead into the break after leading by as many as 17 in the first period.



The Bulldogs shot 34 percent from the field and were one of four from the charity stripe; a 41.7 three-point percentage on 5-12 shooting wasn't enough to tame the home team. The Broncos shot 42 percent from the field, 50 percent behind the arc (6-12), and 63 percent from the free throw line to outscore the Bulldogs 40-26.

The second half began where the first left off. The Broncos stretched their lead to 20 points and held A&M scoreless for the first 3:01 of action.  For the next four minutes, The Bulldogs slowly tried to cut into the lead but Head Coach Willie Hayes was forced to call a time out after an alley-oop dunk by WMU's Shayne Whittington had the scoreboard read 51-36.

Coming out of the time out, the Maroon & White dialed up the defensive pressure and increased their offensive efficiency.  Defensively things began with a monster block from Demarquelle Tabb, while the offense was lead by the lights out shooting of Arthur Caper who came off the bench.  Caper sunk consecutive three pointers cutting the deficit too seven points at 58-51 forcing a timeout from the Western Michigan head coach with just under nine minutes left to play.

As time elapsed, the Bulldogs would see their deficit even further. With just 1:37 left on the clock, the Maroon & White were within in one point of the home team at 67-66. Down the stretch, A&M didn't have enough to edge the Broncos. After a David Brown layup and two clutch free throws with just 26 seconds left, the Broncos went on to win the contest 73-69.

Tabb tallied a double double (10 points & 13 rebounds), while Capers scored a game high 23 points to lead the Bulldogs. The Maroon & White outscored the Broncos 43-33 in the second half and 47-13 in points off the bench during 40 minutes of action.

The Bulldogs will return to the hardwood, Tuesday, November 19, when they visit  Eastern Kentucky University for a 7 p..m contest.

Box Score     

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

N.C. A&T's Rod Broadway Talks 2013 Season & Home Finale

Views Differ on Fight Before CIAA Title Game

ETTRICK, Virginia  -- Virginia State and Winston-Salem State have drastically varying versions of a fight that left the WSSU quarterback beaten in a bathroom.

Competing news conferences held Monday on the respective campuses only served to highlight just how far apart their perspectives are.

 

The only thing clear is that Winston-Salem State quarterback Rudy Johnson was injured during a fight at a luncheon the day before last week's scheduled CIAA championship game and a Virginia State player was arrested.

 

VSU coach Latrell Scott said there was a "rush to judgment" and that one player "made a bad decision."

 

A few hours later in Winston-Salem, N.C., WSSU Chancellor Donald Reaves called for further sanctions against Virginia State and declared his school "damaged" by the fight.

 

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Jackson State must rebound after loss

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State has three weeks to recover — three weeks to learn from its mistakes.

But no time to hang its head.

The Tigers lost 48-33 to Alcorn State on Saturday. Now they have to gear up for Southern University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game Dec. 7.

“You learn more when you lose than when you win,” quarterback Clayton Moore said. “If anything I think it will make it stronger for next week.”

While yesterday’s ugly game wasn’t how the Tigers (7-3, 8-1 SWAC) wanted to head into Houston and compete for the title, it exposed issues they can’t ignore.

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Tennessee State Track and Field to Host Blue and White Meet

Photo Courtesy Tennessee State University Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- With winter track season set to begin in December the Tigers and Tigerbelles are set to kick-off the season with a meet Tuesday.

 

The annual event will feature both the Tigers and Tigerbelles as a warm-up before the season begins. Tuesday’s meet will be run just like a regular season meet in order to prepare the athletes for the meets later on in the season.

 

Both teams are coming off fifth place finishes in this May’s OVC Championships.

 

On the men’s side the Flying Tigers are led by senior jumper Royce Dates. In the spring the Memphis, Tenn. native was named Co-OVC Field Performer of the Year for his efforts in the outdoor season. Dates finished third in the long jumps at the OVC Championships with a jump of 7.43 meters.

 

For the Tigerbelles, Ashontae Jackson leads the charge. The 2012 Outdoor OVC Female Athlete of the Year returns for her senior year. In May Jackson took home the OVC Crown for the long jump with a jump of 6.08.

 

Jackson is joined by sophomore Clairwin Dameus who placed second in the long jump to Jackson with a distance of 5.85 meters. Dameus and Jackson made up half of the TSU 4x100 that won the event in May with a time of 45.95.

 

The meet is set to run from 5:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday in the Gentry Center.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU will visit Spring Hill again in NAIA tournament opener

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana will get a rematch with Spring Hill this weekend in the 2013 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round.

The Gold Nuggets (26-7) and Badgers (35-3), both with lengthy active win streaks, will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spring Hill's Arthur Outlaw Rec Center in Mobile, Ala. It will be the third meeting this season between Xavier and Spring Hill and the second time in three years that the Nuggets and Badgers play in the opening round.

The NAIA announced first-round pairings Monday afternoon.

Twenty-four teams -- the XU-Spring Hill winner, 11 other Saturday winners and 12 teams with first-round byes -- will advance to the 2013 NAIA Volleyball National Championship, presented by J&L Enterprises and CNOS Foundation, at Sioux City, Iowa, from Dec. 3-7.

This is Xavier's third consecutive appearance at nationals and third overall. The Nuggets lost 25-13, 25-11, 25-21 at Spring Hill in the 2011 opening round and 23-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-20 at Georgetown (Ky.) in the 2012 opening round.

The Nuggets and Badgers opened their seasons against each other Aug. 23 in the UMobile/Spring Hill Tournament. Spring Hill won 25-8, 25-20, 25-22. Spring Hill also defeated Xavier 25-12, 25-20, 25-9 at Spring Hill on Sept. 3. The Nuggets have won 21-of-24 matches since that second meeting and will enter the tournament with a school-record 20-match win streak.

Xavier hasn't lost since Sept. 7 when it dropped matches to Lourdes and Georgetown -- both national tourney qualifiers -- in Georgetown's Rumpke Invitational.

Outside hitters Taylor Reuther (387 kills, 378 digs, 39 aces) and Chinedu Echebelem (251 kills, 287 digs. 37 aces), middle blockers Moira Kirk (311 kills, 80 blocks) and Claudia Haywood (173 kills, 54 blocks), setter Franziska Pirkl (834 assists, 183 digs) and libero Jodi Chatters (348 digs) are Xavier's statistical leaders. Reuther, Kirk and Pirkl were All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selections this year, and Haywood was MVP of the GCAC Tournament, which Xavier won to earn an automatic bid to nationals.

First-year head coach Hannah Lawing led the Nuggets to a school record for victories in a season.

Spring Hill, ranked 23rd, has won 27 straight since losing in five sets to tournament qualifier Lindsey Wilson on Sept. 6. The Badgers have a 17-match home win streak and have won 42 of their last 43 at home.

Defending champion and second-ranked Concordia (Calif.) was among the 12 to receive first-round byes. There are two unbeaten teams in the field: top-ranked UT Brownsville (31-0) and fourth-ranked Madonna (38-0).

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

TU Golden Tigers make history by advancing to Division II Playoffs

First playoff appearance in school history for Tuskegee University

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- The Golden Tigers Football team, at the result of their division rivals' misery, will live to fight for another day after all.  This afternoon, the NCAA announced that Tuskegee will travel to Florence, Ala. to Tom Braly Municipal Stadium to play the Lions of North Alabama in the first round of the Division II Football playoffs.  Tuskegee intentionally backed out of its' agreement to play Alabama State in the annual Turkey Day Classic on Thanksgiving, and was not assured of getting into the postseason until Miles College lost to Albany State in the Centennial SIAC Championship Game by a score of 17-14 on Saturday night in Atlanta.

Tuskegee was ranked seventh in Super Region II in the final Super Regional standings release last weekend.  However, as a result of Miles' loss, Tuskegee was the best ranked team in the SIAC. There's a catch as to why Tuskegee got into the playoffs, and it's one that multiple teams have been affected by (both positively and negatively) over the past few years.  It's called Earned Access.  Per the NCAA, through their website:

"Earned access to the playoffs can be gained by a conference if a conference representative finishes in the top eight of the final super regional rankings."

Since the Golden Tigers were allowed access into the postseason, they knocked out West Alabama, which was prevented from getting access to the playoffs for a third consecutive season.  The Tigers set both a school record and Gulf South Conference record for points in a game by defeating Central State by a score of 91-28.

"I know that there's been some other coaches that have been out there lobbying for their team," said Tuskegee Coach Willie Slater.  "I know Central State, West Alabama beat them 91-28.  They made it sound like Central State beat us.  But, Central State didn't beat us, and we didn't run the score up on them.  We don't do things like that.  But, I'm excited.  We're not just happy to be in the tournament. We actually think that we have a legitimate chance if we play well."

Regarding Miles' loss last night in the SIAC Championship Game, Slater said that he did not watch the contest, and that he felt bad for Miles Football Coach and former Tuskegee Assistant Reginald Ruffin.

"I know a lot of coaches that saw the game," Slater said.  "I didn't.  I didn't even want to look at it, to be honest with you.  But, I got phone calls about the game, and I hate it for Coach Ruffin.  Coach Ruffin is a very good friend of mine, but I knew that he had a tough task on his hands.  They played well against us.  I thought they played really well against us.  I think it's hard to duplicate that, and I knew that they were going to have to play really well to defeat Albany State.  Albany is a defensively minded team, and their offense feeds off of that defense."

Slater is very excited to return to Florence, home of the Division II National Championship Game since 1986.  For historical purposes, the Golden Tigers will not play at a better location for their first ever appearance in the Division II playoffs.

"Thirteen of our  fourteen times, I've been a part of the winning team in that stadium," Slater said. "That's a special place for me, so I'm excited about going back there, and I'm excited about these young men.  I think that they want to play.  They've proven it to me.  So, we will go back to that drawing board on the practice field, and see if we can't get it done."

In Slater's time as an assistant coach at North Alabama, he became very familiar with many of the members of the staff that are up there today.

"I coached there for seven years," Slater said.  "I coached for Coach (Bobby) Wallace.  Coach Wallace was the guy that hired me there, and he is the coach right now.  The offensive coordinator is Cody Gross.  He was my quarterback.  As a quarterback, he was 42-1-1 as a starter.  He won three national championships, and was up for the Harlon Hill Award.  There's a lot of history that goes back to North Alabama.  That is a special place for me."

The Lions are making their seventh playoff appearance under Coach Wallace, and are making their 18th playoff appearance overall, tying them with UC-Davis and Northwest Missouri State for most playoff appearances of all time.  Northwest Missouri State also made their 18th playoff appearance in Division II history.

Kickoff for the game on Saturday will begin at Noon.  The men's basketball team will also compete with North Alabama in a regular season game on campus.
Due to the first round of the playoffs, that game will be postponed until 5:00 p.m.
 

BY: Michael Stewart, Sports Information Director, Tuskegee University
COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELAITONS

UNA's Playoff Selection Ties DII Record; Lions Hosting Tuskegee Saturday

FLORENCE, Alabama -- Not only did the University of North Alabama football team receive a bid to the 2013 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Sunday but the Lions selection to host Tuskegee in a first round match-up also tied a Division II record for the most appearances by any school in the playoffs.

Riding a seven-game winning streak and boasting an overall 8-2 record, UNA will host Tuskegee in an opening round playoff game at Braly Stadium on Saturday, November 23 at noon. The playoff selection was the 18th all-time for the Lions dating back to 1980. That ties UNA with the University of California-Davis, a former Division II member, along with Northwest Missouri State, for the most selections in Division II history. Northwest Missouri State also received its 18th selection Sunday.

While UNA tie for the most playoff appearances, Tuskegee will be making its first. The Golden Tigers had not previously participated in the NCAA Division II Playoffs due to the Golden Tigers annual game on Thanksgiving Day with Alabama State.

A total of 24 teams were selected for the playoffs with six from each of the four NCAA Super Regions. UNA was seeded third in Super Region 2 behind Lenoir-Rhyne and UNC Pembroke, respectively. Tuskegee, 8-2 overall with losses to Miles and Winston-Salem State, is seeded sixth. The winner of the UNA-Tuskegee game will face UNC Pembroke in the second round. Fourth seeded Carson-Newman hosts fifth seeded Newberry in the other opening round game with the winner facing Lenoir-Rhyne.

“We’re excited to be in the playoffs and pleased to be hosting in the first round,” said UNA head coach Bobby Wallace. “Winning the Gulf South Conference championship and making the playoffs were our first two goals and now we just have one left - and that’s winning a national championship. This gets us one step closer to that goal but we know we have a long way to go and will have to win five more games to reach that goal. That’s half as many as we’ve played in the regular season and if we can do it that means we’ll finish the season with a 12-game winning streak. We’ve got our work cut out for us but we’re excited to have the opportunity.”

The Golden Tigers are coached by former UNA offensive coordinator Willie Slater who helped lead the Lions to three NCAA Division II National Championships in the 1990s under Wallace. Slater was also an assistant on Wallace’s staff at Temple. He has a stellar 73-17 record in his eight seasons as Tuskegee’s head coach.

“I’d rather not be playing against Willie (Slater),” Wallace said. “He did such a great job when he was here at UNA and at Temple and has obviously done a great job at Tuskegee. He is a great coach and a great person.”

Tuskegee has won 29 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) football championships and has claimed eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) National Championships. The Tuskegee program has produced 23 National Football League draft picks.
This will be just the third all-time meeting between Tuskegee and UNA in football. The Lions picked up a 26-7 win at Tuskegee in 1979 and then downed the Tigers 25-13 in Florence in 1980.

North Alabama is 39-5-1 all-time against teams from the SIAC and UNA has a perfect 2-0 record against SIAC schools in the playoffs. Of UNA’s 29 all-time post-season wins, the Lions are 19-8 against non-GSC schools in the post-season and 10-6 against GSC squads.

UNA has an all-time 29-14 record in the Division II playoffs with nine regional championships and three national championships. UNA’s 29 playoff wins are the third most in Division II history and second most among current Division II schools. The Lions are 22-6 all-time at Braly Stadium in the playoffs.

North Alabama is the only Gulf South Conference school among six teams selected to compete in the Super Region 2 playoffs, marking the first time since 2002 that only one GSC school is represented in the post-season. In the 23 seasons since the NCAA went to the Super Regional format in 1990, a Gulf South Conference school has won the regional crown 17 times, including in 10 of the last 11 years. UNA has six of those (1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2008).

The playoff selection is the seventh for UNA under Bobby Wallace and the Lions are 13-3 in the playoffs under Wallace. Wallace led UNA to the post-season in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997 during his first stint as the Lions’ head coach and is now taking UNA back to the post-season in just his second season since his return to Florence in 2012. Wallace also led the University of West Alabama to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009, marking that school’s first post-season trip since 1975. Wallace has an overall 14-4 all-time playoff record and he and former Northwest Missouri State Head Coach Mel Tjeerdsma are the only coaches to have won three Division II football national championships.

Even though the Lions did not receive a first round bye and a week off, UNA will get a rest from the road after playing away from home three of the last four weeks of the regular season. UNA travelled more than 3,800 miles for road games at Valdosta State, Florida Tech and Tarleton State but the Lions rolled to three blowout wins by a combined score of 156-42.

TICKET INFORMATION
UNA season ticket holders will have until Wednesday at 12:00 pm to purchase their seats. After 12 p.m. on Wednesday, all seats will be available to the public. Visiting side (East Stands) general admission tickets are $5 for youth and $10 for adults. On the home or West Stands, outer bench and prime bench bleachers are $5 for Youth and $10 for adults. Bench-back seats are $15 for both youth and adults.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Slippery Rock learn NCAA playoff pairings

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania  -- Still bothered by its experience in 2011, Slippery Rock's football team worried that its loss in Saturday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title game might've again cost the team a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The Rock's resume convinced the selection committee that Slippery Rock deserved one of the bracket's 24 playoff spots this time.

 

Slippery Rock secured a place in the D-II playoffs for the first time since 1999, as it earned the No. 5 seed in Super Region One. The Rock (9-2), which watched the unveiling of the bracket Sunday night, will travel to play No. 4 Winston-Salem State (9-1) on Saturday.

 

This past weekend, The Rock lost the PSAC title game, 42-38, to Bloomsburg. Because it entered that game as No. 5 in the Super Region One rankings and knew only the top six would advance to the playoffs, Slippery Rock feared it fell out of postseason positioning.

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WSSU to play Slippery Rock on Saturday in first-round of D-II playoffs

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Ninth-ranked Winston-Salem State didn’t get to play for the CIAA championship Saturday, but it will have a chance to chase a bigger prize.

WSSU (9-1) fell two spots in the Super Region One rankings after the CIAA championship game against Virginia State was canceled Friday and dropped to a No. 4 seed for the Division II playoffs. WSSU play 18th-ranked Slippery Rock (9-2) in a first-round game Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Kickoff is expected to be at noon or 1 p.m., with the time set to be announced today. The Rams are 5-1 the last two seasons in playoff games at Bowman Gray.

“ That’s our ultimate goal anyway — the national championship,” Coach Connell Maynor said at a team viewing party Sunday night at the Bowman Gray Stadium field house.



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New Tennessee State Tigers Prepare for 2014 Season

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE ATHLETICS
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Head softball coach Jeff Dabney is preparing for the 2014 season with the completion of their fall playing season and individual workouts. Dabney moves into his fourth season with nine returners and eight newcomers. Freshmen Angela Adkins (Bowling Green, Ky.), Rebekka Gross (Angels Camp, Calif.), Olivia Lawson (Rogersville, Tenn.), and Hannah St. Clair (Taylorsville, N.C.), along with sophomore-transfer Carmen Hill (Marietta, Ga.) join 2012 early signees Courtney Gearlds, Sydney Shoulders and Liz Stansberry as the new group of Tigers for the upcoming season.

 

“These five, and when you add Sydney (Shoulders), Liz (Stansberry) and Courtney (Gearlds), is a great incoming class,” said Dabney. “I think each year we have gotten better with quality athletes. This group, if you set aside the athleticism and the pure playing ability, they bring the one aspect we needed around here, that is new prospective and a great attitude.” 

Adkins was a four-year starter at Greenwood High School and closed out her senior season as part of the only undefeated team in Kentucky fastpitch history as the Lady Gators captured the state championship with a 44-0 record. Adkins won the National Guards Best and Brightest Award and the South Central Outstanding Regional Excellence in Sports Award, as well as being named GHS Best Female Athlete. As a freshman, she was voted Rookie of the Year at GHS and was a three-time Best All-Around Player selection. Adkins earned a spot on the All-State, All-Region and All-District teams as a sophomore and as a senior. 

The outfielder was selected to play in the Kentucky/Tennessee All-State Game and was a two-time member of the Kentucky East/West All-State game. Adkins was also a four-year member of the basketball team and was named to the All-District team in 2011 and 2013 and earned a spot on the All-Region team as a senior. Adkins played travel ball for the Louisville Magic who finished ninth at the 2013 PGF Platinum National Championships. Off the field, Adkins was a two-year student volunteer at the Bowling Green Humane Shelter and was a pledge drive volunteer for WKYU. 

“Angela is someone we tried to get in the early signing period,” Dabney said. “She is a great kid with a great personality and has a big upside. I anticipate a great career out of this kid. She’s an outfielder who can play the infield. She is the type of kid we are looking for; solid bat with speed, a good arm, good instincts, and she understand the game.” 

Gross is a four-year letter-winner for head coach Jacey Bray at Bret Harte High School. The catcher hit .393 as a four-time All-League and All-Area selection. Gross was also a four-year member of the basketball team and served as captain for both sports during her senior season. The California native played her travel ball for John Heinz and the All American Sports Academy, as well as for the late Phil Mumma and Sorcerer Softball. 

“Becca was an accidental find,” Dabney stated. “I saw her playing centerfield the first time I ever watched her. She was a solid outfielder, but at the time, we weren’t really looking for an outfielder. It was during a camp and she came up and asked what I thought, I asked her if she did anything else besides outfield. She replied, ‘I am a catcher’. We were in the market for a catcher. We put her behind the plate and it did not take long to realize she understood what it took to be a catcher. She was a person you could not just say no too. I had to have her in our program. Great instincts behind the plate and she is exactly what we wanted. Our pitchers will love throwing to her.” 

Lawson batted .479 with a .825 slugging as a four-year player at Cherokee High School under Charlie Christopher. Lawson was selected to the All-Conference team as a sophomore, junior and a senior, as well as to the District All-Tournament Team in those same seasons. The utility player was named All-Lakeway as a senior. Lawson was a four-year member of the CHS volleyball team and won the Hustle Award as a junior and named All-Conference in her senior campaign. 

In the classroom, Lawson was a 4.0 Athletic Award recipient and a Tennessee-Virginia Scholar. She ranked seventh in graduating her class and was a member of the Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. Lawson finished school with perfect attendance from Kindergarten-through-end of senior year, as she graduated with honors and distinction. 

Lawson started her travel ball career with the Morristown Hurricanes where she batted .575 for head coach Kenny King. Lawson continued her playing career with Mike Mayfield and the Tennessee White Lightning before closing out her travel experience hitting .500 for Coach Courtland Styles and the Knoxville Speed. 

“We did know exactly what we were getting in (Olivia) Lawson,” Dabney commented. “I saw her on video and saw potential. She played multiple positions and having a true utility kid, in every sense of the word, is good for us. What I didn’t realize is how she is such a big of a competitor and hard worker. She just brings a high level of competitiveness to the field all the time. I like what she is going to bring in the circle and I believe she will be able to give us good quality innings. I like what she is going to bring at the plate as a strong kid with power potential. But, her attitude is the biggest draw for our program.” 

St. Clair played for four seasons with coach Montey Sherrill and Alexander Central High School. The pitcher was selected as the MVP of the State Championship team her sophomore season. St. Clair competed in volleyball, soccer and basketball while at ACHS and earned the Coaches Award in volleyball. She was an Honor Graduate and a member of the Beta Club. St. Clair competed in the 2013 ASA National Tournament with the Atlanta Vipers, coached by Charlie Sullivan. 

“We were looking for quality another arm and she stood out,” Dabney stated. “I love her mentality; she is a competitive kid and likes to work. Everything we needed in a freshman pitcher. Hannah came to camp last year and we’re watching this kid moving the ball around and popping the glove pretty good. Obviously, pitching is a big part of this game and I believe she will be a big part of our success this year.” 

Hill transferred after one season as a member of the SWAC Champions, Mississippi Valley State. At MVSU, the outfielder played in 19 games, starting 16, and finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 81 chances. Hill excelled academically being named to the President’s List and an NFCA Academic All-American.

Hill competed for Nancy Donnelly at Marietta High School. The four-year letter-winner was named defensive MVP as a junior and team MVP as a senior. In her final season at MHS, Hill earned a spot on the All-Region 1st Team. During travel ball, her Georgia Elite team, coached by Daniel Caldwell, claimed a Top-10 finish at the 2011 Premiere Nationals. 

“We had seen her in the summer prior to going to MVSU,” Dabney said. “Our staff really thought she could play, but we didn’t have the means at the time. We had signed everybody by the time she popped up on the radar. It just happened to work out that she wanted to be a student at Tennessee State. So we took a chance on her, and having played against her former team, we had a chance to see her in person. She will fill a role and will have the potential to play.” 

The additions of this year’s class will look to mesh with the returnees. 

“We have heard from the returners about how much they like the newcomers,” Dabney said. “When your freshman class fits in quickly, the chemistry works. If they keep doing things the right way, that, in itself, makes us a better team and a better program. 

Beyond that, kid-for-kid, they are bringing a level of play that they are all going to push for playing time. A few of them are going to be everyday starters. I can see that already. From top to bottom, we have solid pitching, speed, power, athleticism, leadership qualities and flexibility. Outside of Hannah as a pitcher, there isn’t one person in the group that plays just one position. Everybody else has flexibility. You can put them anywhere on the field and they will still thrive. That will give us more options as a program. Our goal when we first got here was to have a team that was so athletic, so flexible, that we never had to worry about injuries or slumps. There is always someone who can play a position.”

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Lady Rattlers Roll in 66-49 Win over TSU Lady Tigers

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The Florida A&M Women’s Basketball team picked up their third win of the season as the Lady Rattlers defeated Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State 66-49, here Sunday afternoon at the Al Lawson Center in a non-conference matchup.

FAMU (3-1) was led by both Jasmine Grice and Taneka Rubin as they both finished the contest with 19 points each, while Jamie Forman led the Lady Rattlers on the boards with a game-high 11 boards.

TSU (1-3) was led by Alana Harris as she scored 12 points, followed by Briana Lawrence with eight. Chelsea Hudson led the Lady Tigers on the boards with eight.

Grice gave the Lady Rattlers a 7-4 lead as connected on a three-pointer with 15:27 to go in the first.

TSU would make the score 7-7 as Alana Morris converted on a traditional three-point play with 15:03 to go in the half.

FAMU would make an 8-4 run to take a 15-11 lead, capped off by a Tori Mitchell free throw with 11:12 to go in the first half.

The Lady Tigers would use a 5-0 run to take a 16-15 lead with 9:11 left, capped off by an Imani Davis free throw.

Grice would nail her second three pointer of the night making the score 29-22 with 2:59 left, capping a 14-6 run by the Lady Rattlers.

TSU closed out the half with a 4-0 run as FAMU would go into the break with a 29-27 lead.

The Lady Rattlers finished the first half shooting 34.3 percent (12-of-35), while the Lady Tigers shot 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from the field.

TSU tied the contest at 29-29 to open the second half as Jayda Johnson connected on a free throw at 19:02 and then Rachel Allen at 17:36.

FAMU would then score in bunches as Rubin hit a jumper with 12:27 to go in the game, capping an 11-2 run by the Lady Rattlers, giving FAMU a 42-31 lead.

The Lady Rattlers would pull away in the remainder of the second half as they extended the lead to much as 17 points for the 66-49 finale.

FAMU will return action on Fri., Nov. 22 as they will travel to Babson Park, Fla., to take on Webber International in a 7 p.m. start.

FINAL STATISTICS

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton University wins first-ever MEAC Volleyball Title

PHOTO COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- The Hampton University Lady Pirates knocked off Coppin State, 3-2, to capture its first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Coppin State University.

Hampton was led by Vendula Strakova with 25 kills and six digs in the match and was named the Tournament Outstanding Performer. Krista Kraskura added 12 kills and 13 digs, while Bibiany Fonseca dished out 46 assists. Sheileen Pagan finished with 18 digs to lead the Lady Pirates defensively.

Lady Pirates Head Coach Karen Weatherington was named the Outstanding Coach of the Year.

“There have been so many firsts this season and I am elated for my players,” Weatherington said. “I am glad to see all the hard work has paid off. They’ve all put in so many hours to get to the championship that many people don’t get to see. I am just so excited for them and so proud of them. They gave their all and that is why we are sitting here today as the conference champions.”

Cindy Okpegbue paced the Coppin State offense with 24 kills, while Chelsee Sauni finished with 52 assists. Gabrielle Otero and Ariel Richard chipped in with 18 and 13 digs, respectively.

Hampton (19-10) advances to the NCAA Tournament in December. The Lady Pirates will find out their seeding and their opponent on Sunday, December 1 at 9:30 p.m., during the NCAA selection show, which will air on ESPNU.

Hampton 3, Coppin State 2

 

 

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Tuskegee, Winston-Salem State Selected for NCAA Division II Football Tournament

Interactive Bracket  Printable Bracket Selection Show(Video)

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced the field of 24 teams for the 2013 NCAA Division II Football Championship.

Eight first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, two teams per super regional have earned first-round byes. The first-round winners will all advance to face a bye team in their super regional in the second round on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Six teams selected per super regional make up the field of 24 teams.

All contests shall start at noon local time. Other times may be established if approved by the committee.

Valdosta State defeated Winston-Salem State in the 2012 national championship game to claim last year’s NCAA title.

Winston-Salem State  (9-1) is seeded at #4 in Super Regional One and will play host to #5 seed Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (9-2) in the first round on November 23.



Tuskegee University, made the field of 24 as a #6 seed in Super Regional Two.  The SIAC Golden Tigers (8-2) will travel to Florence, Alabama to battle the University of North Alabama on November 23.  The UNA Lions (8-2) clinched a share of Gulf South Conference title and is seeded #3 in the tournament.

The championship game will be played Dec. 21, at noon ET at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala., and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.

COURTESY NCAA.COM

North Carolina A&T Aggies Get Historic WNIT Win

NACOGDOCHES, Texas  -- The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team took a crack at history Saturday night and was successful. A&T forced Stetson into 26 turnovers to win their second straight preseason WNIT game with a 73-68 win over Stetson at Stephen F. Austin’s William R. Johnson Coliseum.

The win makes A&T the first HBCU to win consecutive games in the preseason WNIT. Along with their 2009 preseason WNIT win over Chicago State, the Aggies have now won more preseason WNIT games than any other HBCU.

It was during the 2010 postseason WNIT when the Aggies became the first HBCU to win consecutive games in an NCAA sponsored postseason Division I tournament.

“My hat goes off to my ladies today, we put together two solid days after a good week of practice before we got here,” said A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. “The Quinnipiac game, we got off to a slow start and our biggest thing was to finish this thing 2-1.”

The Aggies would take a 64-59 lead on a Tracy King jumper with 5:21 remaining in the game. The Hatters (1-2) answered by scoring field goals on consecutive trips down the floor to cut A&T’s lead to one. The Hatters had a chance on their ensuing trip, but a turnover led to a Christina Carter jumper with 3:02 to play.

After the two teams traded free throws, Debbie Smith’s steal led to a King layup that gave A&T a 69-64 lead with 55 seconds remaining. An Ariel Bursey steal and two Carter free throws added two more points for good measure.

The Aggies (2-1) took the Hatters’ 26 turnovers and turned them into 32 points. Another sign of A&T’s strong defensive showing over the weekend was the number of charges they took. They took four on Saturday and six in the win over Georgia State Friday.

“We practice charges just about everyday,” said Robinson. “Tracy King and Adriana Nazario normally lead us in charges both in games and in practices. It’s a competition to them and everybody is catching that disease of taking a charge.”

Carter led the Aggies with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. King added 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Redshirt Aprill McRae finished with 11.

“My hat goes off to the whole team, it was a team effort. I can’t really point out any player individual, but it was a good effort,” said Robinson.


The Aggies return to Greensboro in preparation for their home opener on Thursday, Nov. 21 at Corbett Sports Center at 6 p.m., versus Appalachian State.

A&T 73, Stetson 68

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION