WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- No. 9-ranked Winston-Salem State can get back to doing what it does best today — play football.
After weathering a consuming media blitz after the attack on quarterback Rudy Johnson at last week’s CIAA championship-game luncheon, the Rams say they are ready to play. They’ll take on high-scoring Slippery Rock (9-2) at 1 p.m. at Bowman Gray Stadium (WTOB 1380) in the first round of the Division II playoffs.
Johnson, who was left with a swollen right eye and several scratches in the attack, was back at practice Monday and will start the game.
Coach Connell Maynor said he never lost faith in his team during the upheaval of the last week. The Rams are 9-1, on a nine-game winning streak and well-rested.
When asked if they had what it ...
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Friday, November 22, 2013
Kentucky State Wins SIAC Centennial Volleyball Championship
ALBANY, Georgia -- In a match that went down to the wire, the Kentucky State University Thorobrettes pulled off a remarkable fifth set comeback to defeat the Claflin University Panthers, 3-2, to claim the SIAC Centennial Volleyball Championship on Friday evening at the HPER Arena on the campus of Albany State University.
Emily Grieshaber, named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, led the way with 20 kills in the match. Scoring the game's winning point, Latosha Scott added 18 kills and five digs to lead Kentucky State to its third title in four years. Scott and Grieshaber were also named to the All-Tournament team. Anjelique Kyle added a match-high 49 assists for the Thorobrettes.
Chelcey Foster tied a match-high 20 digs and Caleen Hawkins recorded 42 assists to lead the runner-up Lady Panthers.
The Thorobrettes will now compete in the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament, which will be played Thursday, December 4 through Saturday, December 6.
After dominating the competition through the first three matches of the tournament, Kentucky State had to battle in its match against Claflin.
Claflin came out aggressive and won the first set convincingly. Kentucky State regrouped, however, to win the second and third set 25-21 and 25-19, respectively. Led by Chelcey Foster, the Lady Panthers dominated the fourth set for a 25-18 victory.
In the final set, Claflin raced out to a 9-5 lead, until Kentucky State stormed back to tie the set at 10-10. With the momentum on their side, Kentucky State outscored Claflin 5-1 to take the match and the SIAC Championship title.
All-Tournament Team
Cori Smith, Outside Hitter, Clark Atlanta
Emily Grieshaber, Outside Hitter, Kentucky State
Latosha Scott, Outside Hitter, Kentucky State
Chelcey Foster, Outside Hitter, Claflin
Caleen Hawkins, Setter, Claflin
Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament: Emily Grieshaber, Kentucky State
Most Outstanding Setter of the Tournament: Anjelique Kyle
Most Outstanding Libero of the Tournament: Courtney Person, Claflin
Most Outstanding Coach of the Tournament: Christina Coleman, Kentucky
COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Emily Grieshaber, named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, led the way with 20 kills in the match. Scoring the game's winning point, Latosha Scott added 18 kills and five digs to lead Kentucky State to its third title in four years. Scott and Grieshaber were also named to the All-Tournament team. Anjelique Kyle added a match-high 49 assists for the Thorobrettes.
Chelcey Foster tied a match-high 20 digs and Caleen Hawkins recorded 42 assists to lead the runner-up Lady Panthers.
The Thorobrettes will now compete in the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament, which will be played Thursday, December 4 through Saturday, December 6.
After dominating the competition through the first three matches of the tournament, Kentucky State had to battle in its match against Claflin.
Claflin came out aggressive and won the first set convincingly. Kentucky State regrouped, however, to win the second and third set 25-21 and 25-19, respectively. Led by Chelcey Foster, the Lady Panthers dominated the fourth set for a 25-18 victory.
In the final set, Claflin raced out to a 9-5 lead, until Kentucky State stormed back to tie the set at 10-10. With the momentum on their side, Kentucky State outscored Claflin 5-1 to take the match and the SIAC Championship title.
All-Tournament Team
Cori Smith, Outside Hitter, Clark Atlanta
Emily Grieshaber, Outside Hitter, Kentucky State
Latosha Scott, Outside Hitter, Kentucky State
Chelcey Foster, Outside Hitter, Claflin
Caleen Hawkins, Setter, Claflin
Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament: Emily Grieshaber, Kentucky State
Most Outstanding Setter of the Tournament: Anjelique Kyle
Most Outstanding Libero of the Tournament: Courtney Person, Claflin
Most Outstanding Coach of the Tournament: Christina Coleman, Kentucky
COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
East: As Southern knows, a team’s fortunes can change in a flash
COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
The Jaguars (7-3) have their annual nationally televised Thanksgiving weekend game against Grambling in the Bayou Classic coming up Nov. 30.
One week later, they will try to win their first Southwestern Athletic Conference championship since 2003 when they play Jackson State in the league’s title game in Houston.
Southern’s past 15 months are a good example of how dramatically the pendulum can swing in college football.
The 2012 season had barely begun when the university reacted to an 0-2 start by firing coach Stump Mitchell and naming defensive coordinator Dawson Odums interim coach.
The Jaguars pushed the reset button and salvaged some respectability by compiling a 4-5 record on Odums’ watch.
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USM to host Alcorn, Appalachian State in football in 2014
COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
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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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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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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“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 (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) |
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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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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Thursday, November 21, 2013
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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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 |
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 |
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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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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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.
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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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.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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.
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.
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)
"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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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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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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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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Wednesday, November 20, 2013
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
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
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