USM to host Alcorn, Appalachian State in football in 2014

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Southern Miss announced Thursday that Alcorn State and Appalachian State will be part of the 2014 home football schedule.

The Golden Eagles are scheduled to play at Mississippi State on Aug. 30, 2014, and at Alabama on Sept. 13.

The Golden Eagles will host Alcorn State on Sept. 6 at M.M. Roberts Stadium and host Appalachian State on Sept. 20.

The Golden Eagles also announced that the Brigham Young game, originally scheduled at BYU during the 2014 season, will be pushed back to a later date.

"I'm very pleased with the balance we've been able to achieve with our 2014 schedule," Southern Miss Director of Athletics Bill McGillis said in a news release. "Obviously, it will be highly competitive with a blend of quality opponents, including the defending national champions in Alabama, in-state games with Mississippi State and Alcorn State and ...

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Rapper Wale donates $5K to Grambling State

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Wale, a musician from Washington, D.C., pledged to  help Grambling State’s football team with new uniforms and equipment during a Nov. 7 homecoming concert.

In the midst of his performance, he announced to students and fans he wanted to help the historically black university.

Wale’s donation comes after the football team received national media attention for refusing to attend practices and forfeiting a football  game against Jackson State during JSU’s homecoming weekend in October.

The team argued that athletic facilities were inadequate and pushed for the return of their head football coach, Doug Williams, who was relieved of duty on Sept. 11.

Debra Johnson, interim associate vice president for institutional advancement and director of alumni affairs, said Wale is the first celebrity to ...

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Homecoming game: Alabama A&M's Robert Nelson returns to Atlanta for his final performance

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Georgia Tech came visiting Robert Nelson. Now there's turnabout.

Nelson, the Alabama A&M senior linebacker, was a standout at Stone Mountain High School on the outskirts of Atlanta. Tech sent a coach to recruit him; coincidentally, it was the same day that Georgia also had a coach visiting Nelson.

However, Nelson had his mind set on going out of state. He signed with Tennessee, which in 2009 under Lane Kiffin was not exactly rivaling DisneyWorld as the happiest place on earth.

Nelson transferred to Alabama A&M - "I was blessed to be able to have another opportunity and a coaching staff that was going to give me an opportunity to lead a defense and play more football," he said -- and has been a consistent standout for the defense.

He's the tackle leader with 89 and he's "looking to break" the 100-tackle mark Saturday.

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NSU coach hopes same team that beat Bethune shows up vs. S.C. State

NORFOLK, Virginia – Ask him to describe Norfolk State’s 2013 football season and head coach Pete Adrian compares it to a classic American toy.

“We’re like a yo-yo sometimes,” said Adrian during Tuesday’s weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teleconference. “We seem to play up to the competition and down to the competition at times and just trying to figure it out. Kids are going every game. They’re prepared to play and they want to play hard and they do.



“Sometimes we drop a ball, sometimes we miss a block, sometimes we miss tackles and it’s been kind of frustrating to be honest about it, because we know we’re not a bad football team. But our record doesn’t show it.”

A stunning 27-24 road victory over Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference co-leader Bethune-Cookman followed this past weekend by a disappointing 24-13 loss at North Carolina Central was typical of the Spartans’ play this season. The effective, opportunistic effort displayed against the Wildcats was replaced by mistakes on special teams.

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Defense Helps A&T Defeat Davidson

GREENSBORO, N.C.  – Three Aggies scored in double-figures to help the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team defeat Davidson 62-53 in its home opener at Corbett Sports Center Thursday evening.

A&T (3-1), who is on a three-game winning streak,  was led by junior Ariel Bursey with 18 points. Bursey was 7-fof-14 from the floor which included three 3-pointers. She grabbed five rebounds and recorded two steals.

“That’s Ariel Bursey,” head coach Tarrell Robinson said about Bursey's team-leading performance. “I hope this is a breakthrough game for her. Our staff has a tremendous amount of confidence in her and the caliber of player she is and can be. We know she can be a leader and reliable scorer for us.”

Redshirt-sophomore Christina Carter added 13 points and senior Tracy King had 12. The duo has scored in double-figures in each game of the season. Eleven of King’s points came in the second half as she finished with six rebounds.  Carter also added a game-high six assists.

“They’ve been absolutely consistent,” Robinson said about Carter and King. “TK being a leader of this team has taken it upon herself to make sure that she shows up every night ready to play. Ever since the Quinnipiac game, Carter is back to the young lady that she was at Virginia Commonwealth.”

The Aggies got off to a slow start in the first half, but Bursey gave them the spark they needed with back-to-back points to lift them to a 21-17 edge with 2:24 remaining. She wasn’t done with the Wildcats (2-3) just yet as she nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give A&T the 26-21 advantage at halftime.

“At halftime I told the girls to settle down,” Robinson said. “We did a good job of defending early but we weren’t hitting our shots. We put ourselves in a position to be up at the half which helped us. Davidson is a good team but we just picked it up defensively. It wasn’t a good offensive night for us but our defense did a great job of holding Davidson to 53 points.”

A&T surged to a 41-30 lead after DeAndra Davis pounded to the rim for a layup with 12:09 left. With just under four minutes in the game, King pushed the Aggies to a 47-35 lead with a basket. A&T held a steady advantage until it was plagued with fouls which sent the Wildcats to the free throw line and allowed them to cut A&T’s lead to 53-47 with 1:17 remaining. A pair of free throws from Carter gave the Aggies a 55-47 edge but Laura Murray hit a 3-pointer to bring Davidson within three with 1:08 left.

Fouls sent the Aggies to the free throw line for the remainder of the game. Davidson made a desperation 3-pointer with 27 seconds left but it didn’t harm A&T’s lead as it closed out the game on an 8-3 run.

Defensively, redshirt-sophomore Aprill McRae led A&T with nine rebounds while adding eight points. The Aggies defense held Davidson to just 53 points, which is a team that has averaged 75.5 points per game this season. A&T also forced 21 turnovers, took a 32-20 advantage in the paint, and recorded eight steals.

Laura Murray led the Wildcats with 21 points and Dakota Dukes posted 10 in their third straight loss.
A&T will face Richmond on Sunday, Nov. 24 in a non-conference game at Corbett Sports Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

A&T 62, Davidson 53

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

North Carolina A&T Aggies Sign 3-Point Shooter

Arturs Bremers
(Photo Courtesy N.C. A&T Sports Information) 

GREENSBORO, N.C.  – North Carolina A&T will lose some of its perimeter shooting next season with the departure of seniors Jeremy Underwood and Lamont Middleton.

Head coach Cy Alexander hopes to replace those losses with the signing of guard Arturs Bremers (6-4, 185, Sigulda, Republic of Latvia, Columbia State Community College, Tenn.). The Aggies signed Bremers during the NCAA’s early signing period.

“He’s a tremendous 3-point shooter,” said Alexander. “He will really give us a major 3-point shooting threat when he’s on the floor.  He has to be accounted for, which is going to cause our opponents problems.”

Bremers will come in as a junior after transferring from Columbia State (Tenn.).  He played with current Aggies center Bryan Akinkugbe during his freshman season at Columbia State. The 21-year-old began playing basketball at age 9. He moved to Phoenix, Ariz., to finish his last two years of high school where he played basketball for Westwind Preparatory Academy.

Bremers will graduate from Columbia State in the spring with an associate degree. He plans to major in construction management at A&T.  During the 2010-11 season at Westwind, he helped the Warriors compile a 30-2 record by averaging 8.5 points and 1.6 assists. Max Preps gave him a No. 9 ranking in the state of Arizona.

During the 2012-13 season at Columbia State , Bremers averaged 11.2 points over 21 games, while shooting 45 percent from 3-point range and 44 percent from the floor. In eight games this season, Bremers is averaging 11.8 points and shooting an impressive 52.8 percent from beyond 3-point range.

“He’s a phenomenal shooter and a phenomenal student,” said Columbia State head coach Brian Collins. “A&T is getting a great player and a Class A person. He’ll be a fan favorite there. He’ll be something to watch.”   

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

S.C. State women get first win of the season

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- The South Carolina State women opened their home basketball season with a 43-41 victory over Presbyterian Thursday behind 18 points by junior Kourtney Williams. The win was the first of the season for the Lady Bulldogs, who improved to 1-2.

Williams, who made half of her 16 attempts from the field, hit the second of her two 3-pointers on the night with 4:50 remaining to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 43-40. The long-range basket was the final points of the contest for Coach Doug Robertson’s team and proved to be the difference as the visiting Blue Hose could only muster a single point the rest of the way – a free throw by Keyonna Allen with 1:29 to play.

Mykala Jones added 12 points on four 3-pointers for S.C. State and was the only other Lady Bulldog in double figures. Cabriel Duren, who had just one basket in the contest, had a game-high eight rebounds for Robertson’s team, which also got seven boards each from Williams and Persephone Goodwin. Both teams finished with 31 rebounds.

PHOTO GALLERY: South Carolina State vs. Presbyterian women's basketball

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Commentary: Tuskegee setting a new tradition

TUSKEGEE, Alabama — Playing against Alabama State in the Turkey Day Classic is a big deal. Getting a chance to play for a national championship is a bigger deal.

Tuskegee senior quarterback Rashard Burkette has a full understanding of that.

“There is a lot more at stake,” said Burkette, a Montgomery native. “The Turkey Day game is for bragging rights. Alumni bragging rights, teammates bragging rights and we see each other a lot, but this game? There’s history at stake.”

I’m as big on traditional rivalry games as anyone else because it resonates beyond the players, but Tuskegee (8-2) can start establishing a new tradition of being a consistent national title contender in NCAA Division II by beating third-seeded North Alabama (8-2) in Saturday’s first-round game.

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Slippery Rock has potent offense

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- All season long, Winston-Salem State’s top-ranked defense has been tested. Come Saturday against Slippery Rock at Bowman Gray Stadium it will face its biggest test.

Slippery Rock is one of the highest scoring teams in the country, averaging 45.5 points a game. George Mihalik, The Rock’s veteran coach, said his offense changed from a traditional set to a more open spread attack two seasons ago.

"I think it’s basically worked a lot better because we are in our second year in the system and everybody kind of knows what their role is,” said Mihalik, whose team is fifth in Division II in scoring.

The attack is led by quarterback Nigel Barksdale, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference offensive player of the year. Barksdale (5-10, 170 pounds) is in his second season with the Rock. He’s fourth in Division II in total yards with 4,096 (3,669 yards passing and 427 rushing); he’s thrown for 30 touchdowns and rushed for four more.

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Week 13: HBCU Football Schedule & ScoreCard

WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

Saturday, November 23rd

NCAA Division II Championship Playoffs
Slippery Rock at Winston -Salem State, 1 PM
Tuskegee at North Alabama, 1 PM

MEAC
South Carolina State at Norfolk State, 1 PM
North Carolina Central at North Carolina A&T, 1 PM
Howard at Hampton, 1 PM
Morgan State at  Delaware State, 2 PM
Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman, 2 PM,   Florida Blue Florida Classic, 2 PM TV: ESPN Classic

SWAC:
Alabama A&M at Georgia Tech, 1:30 PM, TV:ESPN3
Arkansas Pine Bluff at Prairie View A&M, 2 PM

All start times are shown in the Eastern Time zone.


WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

Nick Haywood is still in the spotlight — he's Mr. Xavier

NICK HAYWOOD
MR. XAVIER 

NEW ORLEANS — Nick Haywood will have a prominent role on the basketball court at the Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon, representing Xavier University of Louisiana again. Bright lights, lots of applause and cheering. You'll hear his name called on the public-address system, but you won't see his name in the final game statistics.
   
Haywood, a fifth-year senior from Monroe, La., who completed his two years of eligibility with the Gold Rush last March, has moved on to a different role. Earlier this semester, he was selected as Mr. Xavier for the 2013-14 academic year, and as a result he has a significant part in this week's alumni homecoming activities.
   
The idea was his from the start.
   
"I wanted to be more involved with the school for my final year," Haywood said. "Basketball players aren't just basketball players. They can get involved in school and campus life."
   
To become Mr. Xavier, Haywood was required to step forward and compete one more time. He beat out three others for the title at a pageant in September, telling a three-judge panel why he wanted the title and what he could to do to help Xavier. The pageant included a talent competition, and Haywood recited a poem he composed. His poem compared life to a TV remote.
   
"You know . . . pause, play, rewind," Haywood said.
   
Audience response factored into the selection, and Gold Rush players didn't let Haywood down. "They were making a lot of noise for me," he said.
   
Since becoming Mr. Xavier, Haywood has been part of the student planning team for homecoming week and its numerous events. But his contributions will extend past this weekend. Haywood also has been involved in planning for a couple of pre-Christmas fundraisers — one to assist a local child-advocacy group, the other for the annual Toys For Tots campaign.
   
"I just want to do whatever I can to help others," Haywood said. "I want to be somebody who represents Xavier well."
   
Haywood's involvement with XU basketball has not ended yet, either. He's a student assistant coach with the Gold Rush this season, "going to as many practices and games as I can and helping the team any way I can," he said. "I'm tutoring one of our newcomers in one of the classes I had."
   
Haywood played shooting guard in 64 games for Xavier the past two seasons after transferring from the University of Houston. He helped the Rush win 47 games, a pair of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and two berths in the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. He scored in double figures for Xavier 19 times, made seven 3-pointers in a road game and a school-record 86.6 percent of his career free throws. He will receive his bachelor's degree in computer information systems in May.
   
Athletes have not dominated the list of Miss Xavier and Mr. Xavier winners — women's basketball's Dawn Montgomery was Miss Xavier in 1991-92 — but Haywood hopes he has opened a door for others. He's even willing to provide a recommendation.
   
"Gary Smith could be a good Mr. Xavier," Haywood said of XU's sophomore point guard. "He's a positive person, he has a good head on his shoulders, and he likes helping people out."

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

NCCU Shocks N.C. State in Overtime on Historic Night

COACH LEVELLE MOTON
HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
NCCU EAGLES

RALEIGH, North Carolina – November 20, 2013 will be a date that the North Carolina Central University men's basketball program will not soon forget, as the Eagles stunned the Wolfpack of NC State University 82-72 in overtime on Wednesday night at PNC Arena, as the maroon and gray earned their first victory over a school from the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) since moving to the NCAA Division I level.

In the fifth meeting between these two programs, the Wolfpack came out strong to take hold to a 7-0 lead following a Ralston Turner three-pointer with 16:47 left in the first frame.

The Eagles chipped away at the small deficit by going on a 14-to-5 run to grab their first advantage of the evening on a Reggie Groves (Raleigh, N.C.) layup with 9:24 remaining.

Over the next 29 minutes, the Eagles never allowed NC State to officially grab the lead back despite the seven ties throughout the contest.

With the NCCU lead teetering around four points, back-to-back free throws by junior forward Karamo Jawara (Bergen, Norway) gave the Eagles its largest lead of the first half at 31-23 with 1:23 left, and saw the maroon and gray take a six-point lead into the locker room at 33-27 following an Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) runner off the left side.

With senior Jeremy Ingram saddled with three fouls in the first 20 minutes, the scoring load quickly moved over to Chapman who stepped it up with his patented floaters and drives to the basket, shooting 5-for-8 from the field, tying his career-high with 12 points to give NCCU the early edge.

The drama skyrocketed in the second half as NCSU cut the margin down to two over the first five minutes only to see junior transfer Jordan Parks (Queens, N.Y.) drill the Eagles first three-pointer of the night to switch momentum back on NCCU's side at 40-36.

NC State tied the game at 46 with 8:56 to go on Cat Barber's layup, firing up the PNC Arena crowd, but the Eagles persevered by scoring the next seven points, highlighted by Ingram's clutch three pointer that forced Mark Gottfried to take a timeout to slow the maroon and gray down.

The Wolfpack returned the favor to knot the game up at 53 apiece with 3:29 left, but missed a golden opportunity to take the lead as Lennard Freeman missed the free throw.

Two minutes later, a long jumper from Alfonzo Houston, and free throws by both Ingram and Chapman saw NCCU up 59-53 with 1:33 to go, and NC State went into desperation mode.



Over the final minute-and-a-half, NCSU quickly chipped the margin down to three at 63-60 with Ingram at the line for two free throws and the score 63-60 with 11 seconds left.

After hitting the first shot from the charity stripe, Ingram missed the second, in which Barber drove the length of the floor, dishing to walk-on Patrick Wallace who drilled a three-pointer from the right corner sending the 9,754 fans in attendance into a frenzy, tying the game at 63-63 with 2.7 seconds left.

Groves half-court heave just missed and the game was sent to overtime.

With the red and white rejuvenated, the Eagles showed true poise by starting the extra session with an 11-0 run.  Ingram dropped in nine straight points during that rally as NCCU pulled out front 74-63 with 1:26 left in overtime.

The Wolfpack had no answer down-the-stretch as the maroon and gray pulled away for the 82-72 victory.

For the fourth straight game, Ingram scored 20 points or more finishing with a game-high 29 points for the second straight contest.  Ingram went 19-for-21 (90.4 percent) from the foul line in the win.  His 19 free-throws are the most by an individual in school history.

The remaining four student-athletes in double figures saw Chapman finish with a career-high 18 points as did Jawara who added 12 points going 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) from the charity stripe, while senior Alfonzo Houston ended the night with 12 critical points in the landmark win.

As a team, the Eagles were an unreal 41-for-45 (91.1 percent) as a team in the win that included a perfect 12-for-12 in overtime, while out rebounding the Wolfpack 37-30.

With the victory, NCCU (3-1) has now won three straight contests, earns its first victory over an ACC opponent (Atlantic Coast Conference), while NC State is now 29-1 all-time against members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Eagles have no time to rest on their laurels with a quick turnaround as NCCU will compete in the final contest of the 2013 Global Sports Hoops Shootout on Friday night inside the friendly confines of McDougald-McLendon Gym taking on the Mountaineers of Appalachian State at 7:00 p.m.

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.

ESPN Video Highlights: Ingram, NC Central Top NC State In OT

ESPN3 GAME REPLAY

Box Score

GAME PHOTO GALLERY - BUY HISTORIC PHOTOS

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

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION   

Florida Blue Florida Classic 2013: FAMU seniors hoping to upset Bethune-Cookman in final game

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Like most of his senior teammates, FAMU safety John Ojo has big plans to make Saturday’s Florida Classic his showcase.

Ojo just won’t get as much time on the field as the other 12 seniors because of a targeting penalty. Not only did the team get a 15-yard penalty last weekend against Delaware State, but Ojo has to sit out the first half against the Wildcats.

“It’s disappointing because I’ve came a long way,” said Ojo, a sixth-year senior out of Florida High. “This is my last game and I only get a half to play, so I’m going to try not to think about it and whenever I get to play just come out banging.”

After he got past the frustration of his situation, he turned his attention to the significance of the game for the seniors. They get one last chance to go out with a victory in their last season after they fell shorts on seniors’ day at Bragg Stadium last weekend in a 29-21 loss to Delaware State.

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N.C. Central shocks N.C. State 82-72 in overtime

RALEIGH, North Carolina — North Carolina’s loss on Sunday and Duke’s close call on Tuesday were warnings for N.C. State.

An 82-72 overtime loss to N.C. Central on Wednesday was a dose of reality for the Wolfpack.

“Anything is possible, that’s just how it is in college basketball,” N.C. State junior Ralston Turner said. “On any night, anybody can get beat.”

With 29 points from senior guard Jeremy Ingram, N.C. Central knocked off N.C. State for its first win over an ACC team.

The Eagles (3-1) had lost their first 13 games against the ACC since making the transition to Division I before the 2007-08 season. They had lost the previous four games to N.C. State by an average of 23 points.


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Southern’s pursuit of Randall Menard pays off

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern quarterback Dray Joseph took the shotgun snap and observed his receiving targets — noticing his top threat, Lee Doss, was not on the field because of a suspension.

Joseph came back to the right side of the formation and lofted a pass toward the corner of the end zone, where 6-foot-3 receiver Randall Menard — whose left arm was being held by an Alabama State defender — stretched out with his right arm and hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass.

It barely surprised his teammates.

“I knew what (Menard) was capable of during ...



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Record-breaking senior class of Bethune-Cookman not done yet

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Jordan Murphy doesn't like to look back, but sometimes the Bethune-Cookman tight end can't help thinking about his first Florida Classic three years ago.

“We were actually beating (Florida A&M) pretty good,'' the senior said. “Then our quarterback, Matt Johnson, got hurt and the tide change. You still think about it every now and then, like what would have happened if he didn't get hurt. He would have been able to play in the playoff game (the next week). We dropped that one. But you just try to forget and move forward.''

 

The Wildcats' senior class has done a pretty good job of that over the years. Heading into Saturday's annual season finale with FAMU, this group has won more games (36) than any senior class in school history.

 

“These guys have only lost four conference games,'' B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. “And that's something special to be said about these seniors. This senior group has helped establish this program as one of the best, and they've done a good job of representing this program.''



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TSU's Reed to Appear on 102.1 FM on Thursday From 6-7 PM

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State head football coach Rod Reed will be a guest on 102.1 FM on Thursday, Nov. 21 to discuss the Tiger’s season.

 

Reed will field questions from callers and TSU radio play-by-play man Albert Dawson from 6 to 7 p.m.

 

Possible topics include TSU’s nine victories, Reed being a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award and the possibility of making the FCS Playoffs, among others.

 

Tiger fans are encouraged to call-in to the station at 615-737-8300 and ask coach their questions.

 

The show can be heard, here, starting at 6 p.m. CT.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Panthers Baseball Brings In New Recruiting Class

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Prairie View A&M signed five junior college players and one high school standout in its 2013 recruiting class. Days after Prairie View A&M coach Waskyla Cullivan used a shovel at the team's groundbreaking ceremony for its new baseball facility, he ushered in a class full of players that could potentially shape the program for the better.

"This recruiting class addressed the needs for the 2015 season," Cullivan said. "Currently those are pitching depth and RBI guys who were capable of hitting in the middle of the lineup. Assistant Coach Byron Carter did a great job recruiting this talented group; we feel this class will help make an immediate impact as we look to build on our previous success."

 

The Panthers have been to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game for two-consecutive seasons and brought home the title in 2012. Cullivan would like to capture the 2014 SWAC Championship after falling just short in the 2013 title game.

 

2014 Prairie View A&M Baseball Recruiting Class:

NAME                       CL.         POS.      HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL) Otis Latin                  Jr.           P             Pearland, Texas (Louisiana State-Eunice JC)
Joseph Mack            Jr.           P/OF      Baytown, Texas (San Jacinto CC)
Alberto Aveytia         Jr.           P             El Paso, Texas (El Paso CC)
Eudor Garcia            Jr.           INF         El Paso, Texas (El Paso CC)
Joel Melendez          Jr.           INF         El Paso, Texas (El Paso CC)
Dylan Pointer            Fr.          U            Bay City, Texas (Bay City)

 

 

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Georgia Tech's option offense only adds to challenge this week for Alabama A&M

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - It's tough enough that Alabama A&M is "playing up," a Football Championship Series team going up against a Football Bowl Series team like Georgia Tech.

What complicates the issue even more this Saturday as the Bulldogs (4-7) travel to Atlanta for the 12:30 CST kickoff against the Yellow Jackets (6-4) is the diabolical anachronism that is Tech's option offense.

Tech coach Paul Johnson has the Yellow Jackets running a triple-option that, except for a few twists, is not unlike the offense that was rampant in college football in the 1970s. It's called a "flexbone" in Johnson-speak, but it's based on the same principles as the old wishbone. And Tech runs it to perfection.

"A different brand of football," A&M coach Anthony Jones called it.

"It's not just the option," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said before his Tigers beat Tech on Nov. 14. "People make a big deal, there's a lot of people that can run the triple option, it may not be very good. But the deal with Georgia Tech is that they're really good at what they do. They're very well coached."

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SU Jaguars hit road to Rice, Nebraska

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- After a disappointing 74-67 defeat at the hands of Florida A&M on Friday, the Jaguars will hit the road again this week to take on Rice on Thursday and then on to Lincoln, Neb., to square off against Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.

Southern began the Florida A&M contest sluggishly, as they committed 17 of their 26 turnovers in the first half.

Additionally, Southern was held to 35.5 percent shooting and had just three trips to the free-throw line through the first 20 minutes.

“I thought the kids really played hard,” Southern coach Sandy Pugh said. “We weren’t clicking in the first half and just seemed to be out of rhythm.”

Southern was troubled in a few areas, including being outscored by FAMU 14-0 in second-chance points. And the Rattlers attempted more than twice as many free throws: 40-to-18.

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Verdict on coach's lawsuit vs. Jackson State expected

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- A verdict on former Jackson State women’s basketball coach Denise Taylor’s lawsuit against the school is expected to be reached by the end of this week, her lawyers said.

Taylor was fired from Jackson State in June 2011 and filed a lawsuit against the university in January 2012, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination.

The university denied the allegations.

Taylor, who coached at Jackson State for 10 seasons and led the program to the 2008 SWAC Tournament title, is claiming a breach of contract by JSU; a sex discrimination claim; Title IX violations against former athletic director Robert Walker and current Jackson State president Carolyn Meyers; and retaliation for the Title IX complaints.

Taylor’s lawyers — Robert Norris and Louis Watson — said they are seeking...

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Error-Free NSU Spartans Down UNC Asheville, 80-78

DURHAM, North Carolina – The Norfolk State men's basketball team shot better than 57 percent from the field and committed just four turnovers in an 80-78 victory over UNC Asheville Tuesday night in the NIT Season Tip-Off at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Senior Brandon Goode scored a career-high 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 12 straight points in the closing stretch of the game that prevented the Bulldogs from mounting a complete comeback. The Spartans held the lead throughout the entire second half, as well as most of the first, but NSU never got more than 10 points ahead of UNC Asheville at any point in the game.

Goode had seven boards, but as a team, NSU (3-2) was outrebounded 41-22. It was about the only blemish on the night for the Spartans, who hit 57.4 percent from the field on 31-of-54 shooting. Norfolk State had a 19-4 assist-turnover ratio as well.

It was a battle of big men throughout the second half, as Goode matched up with Asheville's D.J. Cunningham, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds – all but one rebound in the second half – after sitting most of the first with two fouls.

Cunningham had six offensive boards, and UNC Asheville (1-4) had 21 rebounds on the offensive glass to give the Bulldogs a slight edge in second-chance points.



Malcolm Hawkins finished with 16 points, and the senior found his stroke early in the second half, giving NSU a 39-32 lead on a 4-point play and then swishing another 3-pointer from the right corner. Redshirt senior Anell Alexis hit a trey from the left key for NSU's only double-digit lead of the game, 49-39, but the Bulldogs used a 14-4 run to tie it up at 53-53 right after the under-12 media timeout.

The Spartans took the lead back on two quick buckets by Phelps, and Hawkins nailed a trey followed by a fastbreak bunny for a seven-point edge, 67-60, with 7:55 left. Goode scored 12 straight points for NSU late in the game to keep the Spartans in the lead, but after his last basket Andrew Rowsey sank a pair of free throws to cut NSU's lead to just one with 12.5 seconds left.

Junior LaTre'e Russell missed the front end of a 1-and-1 but got the offensive rebound and sank 1-of-2 with 9.8 seconds to go for a two-point edge. UNC Asheville had to call timeout with 0.7 seconds left after failing to get a shot off, and two straight inbound passes were unsuccessful as the Spartans held on.

Rowsey finished with 12 for the Bulldogs, who had five players in double figures. Sam Hughes had a team-high 16 points and eight rebounds.

Alexis also reached double figures for NSU with 13 and scored eight of the Spartans' first 10 points of the game for an early lead. Norfolk State had to call timeout with 10:57 on the clock when the Bulldogs tied it up at 15-15 on a dunk by Jaleel Roberts. The Spartans hit just one field goal in nine minutes of play before Russell finally ended the drought.

Norfolk State used a 9-2 run to go up by seven, 26-19, and Goode added another baseline jumper while junior Paulius Vinogradovas had a putback with 25 seconds left to give the Spartans a 32-27 lead at the half.

The teams combined for 99 points in the second half after totaling just 59 in the first. The Spartans hit 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) in the second half.

Redshirt junior Jamel Fuentes finished with nine points and eight assists.

UNC Asheville shot 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) on the night.

NSU will continue play in the NIT Season Tip-Off next Monday and Tuesday at a yet-to-be-determined location.

Box Score

By Mike Bello, Asst. SID COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UDC trustees keep athletics for now, but cut 17 academic programs

WASHIGTON, D.C. -- Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia voted Tuesday night to delay a proposal to disband the school’s intercollegiate sports teams, strongly signaling that they want the school to remain in NCAA Division II athletics. But they approved the end of 17 academic degree programs that have drawn relatively few students.

The proposal from the university’s interim president, James E. Lyons Sr., marked a major effort to reshape the struggling public university. Lyons sought to end participation in NCAA sports, including men’s and women’s basketball. The athletic program cost about $4.1 million in the past fiscal year, more than the $1.1 million it generated in revenue. Lyons said money spent on the Firebirds teams, which have only a handful of athletes from the District, would be better spent on health and wellness programs and intramural athletics available to all students.

But the Board of Trustees voted 7 to 5 to delay action on disbanding sports teams and seek other ways to find savings. Jerome Shelton was one of several trustees who voted against the motion because they said they wanted to cast a clear vote in favor of preserving the athletics program.

“It is critical to the life of a university that there be these types of opportunities,” Shelton said. “Please understand, this is almost a life-or-death question for me.”

CONTINUE READING

Gold Rush lose to Loyola; it's XU's first loss of season

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NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana suffered its first men's basketball loss of the season, 74-70 to Loyola on Tuesday at XU's Convocation Center.

Morris Wright led the Gold Rush (4-1), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, with a career-high 18 points. Gary Smith scored a career-high 16 points, and Sydney Coleman produced Xavier's first double-double of the season, 14 points and 11 rebounds. Coleman has scored in double figures in every game this season.

Kyle Simmons and Mason Ibert scored 15 points apiece for the Wolf Pack (1-3). Jalen Gray scored 14 points, and Cameron Hill scored 11.

Simmons made the second of two free throws with 10:43 remaining to put Loyola ahead to stay, 52-51. Ibert's basket at 6:18 gave Loyola a 64-55 lead.

Xavier rallied and twice cut Loyola's lead to one in the final 75 seconds -- the second time on Wright's 3-pointer with 26 seconds remaining -- before Gray made 3-of-4 free throws to close the scoring.

Xavier led 37-35 at halftime after shooting 60 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush led by six three times in the second half, the last time at 47-41 after Wright's basket at 14:37.

Smith, a sophomore guard, reached double figures for the first time at Xavier. He scored 12 points in the second half.

Loyola outshot Xavier 47.2 to 41.8 percent from the floor for the game and 46.4 to 31.4 percent in the second half. It was the first game this season that the Gold Rush shot less than 50 percent. At the line Xavier shot a season-high 87 percent, making 20-of-23 free throws.

The city rivals will meet again at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Loyola.

Next for Xavier will be its homecoming game at 2 p.m. Saturday against Texas College at the Convocation Center. The game will be preceded by a noon matchup between Xavier's and Texas College's women's teams.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  

TSU's Inman Announces the Signing of Three Touted Athletes

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Head coach Larry Inman sports two three-star athletes and a two-star post player for his Lady Tigers 2018 class. Tia Wooten (Memphis), Michelle Cox (Denver, Colo.) and Samantha Palma (Dayton, Ohio) will add to the future of TSU women’s basketball.

 

“This is another piece to the puzzle,” said coach Inman. “We have added more depth to some positions and It allows us an opportunity to grow as a program.”

 

Wooten has been a big part of Memphis Central High School success. She has guided MCHS to three consecutive Tennessee State Championships, including the title as a freshman in 2011. Wooten has been given an 85 scout grade and is a three-star athlete who has been ranked 72nd in the country at her position. The 5-11 wing/pots player played her AAU ball for the Memphis Elite and is currently with the Memphis Elite.

 

“Tia could be regarded as the Memphis player of the year,” Inman said. “She is a great athlete and a great player. We are very fortunate to get her. She is coming off an injury, but they are expecting great things out of her this year. And we expect great things in her four years at TSU.”

 

Cox is a three-star athlete with an 83 scout grade who is ranked 99th at the point guard position. Cox guided Denver East High School to a 20-5 record and a perfect 8-0 conference record as she averaged 9.0 points per game and 5.7 assists. The 5-8 guard tallied 18 points with six assists and eight rebounds in the Colorado State Tournament’s round of 32. Denver East was eliminated in the sweet-16 as Cox scored nine points with six assists and three rebounds. She will complete her high school career at Highlands Ranch High School.

 

“Michelle is a true point guard and will give us a little more size at the point,” Inman said. “Despite being a bigger guard, she is still extremely quick. If you look at her accolades as a player, she’s one of the most outstanding players in that part of the country. She is a good shooter, passer and an excellent student. She brings a lot of promise to our program.”

 

Palma is the 58th ranked post and a 78 scout grade. The two-star athlete plays for Wayne High School, as well as the Dayton Lady Hoopsters. Palma’s competed in 22 games, starting in 15, as a sophomore at WHS and averaged 4.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Her top performance came against Sydney High School as she recorded her first double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while swatting away five attempts. Palma’s numbers increased during her junior campaign averaging 11.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game. The 6-2 post player registered seven double-doubles and highlighted her season with a 24 point, 15 assist and eight block performance in December of 2012.

 

“Sam is a 6-2 post player who can run and jump,” said Inman. “She can even handle the ball for someone her size. She is an outstanding who fits our needs. We need help in the post area and she brings all the tools needed.”

 

Inman’s second signing class will join his first class of seven for the 2014-15 season. The two groups are part of the vision of creating an Ohio Valley Conference Championship contender.

 

“The problem is, we will still be young,” Inman commented. “It will take a little time and some development to get where we want to go.”

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION