Why Black College Football Players Fall Behind In Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New research raises concerns about low graduations rates for black college football players. Host Michel Martin finds out more from education reporter Emily Richmond, and professor Shaun Harper of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Michel Martin. We're going to spend some time today talking about some important issues in the world of sports and entertainment. We'll talk about how and why it's becoming clearer that head injuries are not just a problem in football.

But first, we want to talk about college football. There are three new reports out now, which raise troubling new evidence about a wide achievement gap between white college football players and their African-American counterparts. We wanted to talk more about this so we've called on Emily Richmond. She wrote about these studies in a recent piece for The Atlantic. Welcome back, Emily Richmond. Thanks for joining us once again.

EMILY RICHMOND: Oh, it's my pleasure, Michel. Thank you.

MARTIN: Also joining us is Shaun Harper. He is an associate professor and executive director of the Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education. That's at University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. That center published one of those reports that we're going to talk about titled "Black Male Student-Athletes and the 2014 Bowl Championship Series." Professor Harper, welcome to you. Thank you for joining us.

SHAUN HARPER: Thanks so much for having me.

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How Colleges Fail Black Football Players

At least half of black football players on the top-10 teams won’t graduate within six years of enrolling.

ATLANTA, Georgia (Dec. 11, 2013)  -- As the nation’s top college football teams prepare to take the field for the elite bowl games, three new reports out this week raise similarly troubling concerns about dismal graduation rates for many of the black players constituting the bulk of the starting lineups.

While the formulas used in the three reports vary to some degree, the pictures painted are not dramatically different. First up: the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity’s report on football teams participating in the 2014 Bowl Championship Series.  Based on completion rates across four cohorts (rather than focusing on a single year) at least half of the black football players won’t graduate within six years of enrolling, the report concluded. That’s compared in the report with "a graduation rate of 67 percent for student-athletes overall in the seven major NCAA Division I sports conferences."

Take a look at the infographic for the 10 teams playing in the elite bowl games and national championship:

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Black Male Student-Athletes and the 2014 Bowl Championship Series

Will Black Bowl Players Be Academic Losers?

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania – Data released today (Dec. 9, 2013)  from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education details the low graduation rates of Black male student-athletes on teams participating in the 2014 Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Based on six-year graduation rates at the 10 schools, at least half the Black players taking to the gridiron in a BCS game this year will not graduate. Teams playing in the five BCS Bowls were announced last night.

This year’s data (infographic available for download at www.gse.upenn.edu/equity/bcs) is focused on the top 25 BCS schools. The data also show that although Black men make up 60% of the top 25 BCS football teams, only 12% of coaches and athletic directors are Black.

“In some instances, at Florida State University, for example, Black men comprise nearly 70% of the football team, yet just over one-third of those Black male student-athletes will graduate,” said Dr. Shaun R. Harper, a professor in the Penn Graduate School of Education and the Center’s Executive Director. “These numbers are shameful. In my view, no team with rates this low for a population that comprises such a significant portion of the team should be allowed to play in any BCS Bowl. These schools and their athletic conferences must be held more accountable.”

This updated research on Black male student-athletes and racial inequities in college sports examines the poor performance of these colleges and universities in graduating their Black male athletes. Only 50% of Black male student-athletes graduate within six years from universities in the seven major NCAA Division I sports conferences, compared to 67% of student-athletes overall, 73% of undergraduate students overall, and 56% of Black undergraduate men overall.

To download the original Harper, Williams, and Blackman report on Black male student-athletes, please visit www.gse.upenn.edu/equity/sports.

Bowl Breakdown of Black Male Student-Athlete Graduation Rates:
National Championship

• Florida State: 37% [21% lower than student-athletes overall]
• Auburn: 51% [8% lower than student-athletes overall]

Sugar Bowl

• Alabama: 53% [15% lower than student-athletes overall]
• Oklahoma: 42% [13% lower than student-athletes overall]

Orange Bowl

• Clemson: 47% [20% lower than student-athletes overall]
• Ohio State: 50% [25% lower than student-athletes overall]

Fiesta Bowl

• Baylor: 50% [14% lower than student-athletes overall]
• Central Florida: 47% [13% lower than student-athletes overall]

Rose Bowl

• Michigan State: 49% [23% lower than student-athletes overall]
• Stanford: 82% [11% lower than student-athletes overall]

The Harper, Williams, and Blackman report notes that problems as pervasive as the underrepresentation of Black men in the undergraduate student population at predominantly white colleges and universities, their overrepresentation on revenue-generating NCAA Division I sports teams, and their comparatively lower six-year graduation rates warrant a multidimensional response from various stakeholders.  The report authors offer numerous concrete strategies and recommendations for five groups: the NCAA and Sports Conference commissioners; college and university leaders; coaches and athletic departments; journalists and sports media, and Black male student-athletes and their families.

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About Penn GSE
Penn GSE is one of the nation’s premier research education schools. No other education school enjoys a university environment as supportive of practical knowledge building as the University of Pennsylvania. Penn GSE has long been known for excellence in qualitative research, language and literacy studies, practitioner inquiry, and teacher education. Over the past 15 years, Penn GSE has also developed remarkable strengths in quantitative research, policy studies, evaluation, higher education, and psychology and human development. The School is notably entrepreneurial, launching innovative degree programs for practicing professionals and unique partnerships with local educators, and the first-ever business plan competition devoted exclusively to educational products and programs. For further information about Penn GSE, please visit www.gse.upenn.edu. 

WSSU to start CIAA play

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The newcomers to the Winston-Salem State basketball program will get their first taste of the intensity of CIAA play tonight when Virginia Union visits the Gaines Center.

WSSU is 5-5; Virginia Union is 2-8 (1-0 CIAA).

“I’ve heard it’s a crazy atmosphere in every game,” said Preston Ross, a transfer from Western Carolina. “You have to ready to play and get up for the games. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Rams (5-5) will have three home games in the next five days, but the atmosphere will be rather tame with WSSU students still out on break. Coach Bobby Collins says he hopes fans will come out to help fill the void.

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Throwback: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, Coach Archie "the Gunslinger" Cooley

COACH ARCHIE "THE GUNSLINGER" COOLEY
SWAC HALL OF FAME 2007

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Long before there was a gulf coast offense, the pistol, the west coast offense, the spread and the 2-minute drill, there was Archie Cooley -- a gunslinger of a football coach at Mississippi Valley State.  Some described his coaching style as gimmicky, suspect and unorthodox. 

That was the published opinion of the mainstream coaching establishment, but those that played black college football knew that Cooley's wide-open offense was light-years ahead of all others.  Knowledgeable football experts would later say, the gunslinger was an offensive genius who never received full credit for his offensive creations. 

Cooley was noted for designing the "Satellite Express" passing offense, which was a 60 minute no huddle offense, featuring five wide receivers and a playbook with over 200 plays. This was all before the invention of slow motion video, HD-TV, flat screen televisions, i-phones, tablets, ipads and laptop computers.

Cooley produced the greatest player in NFL history -- wide receiver, Jerry Lee Rice and a "Satellite" quarterback --Willie Totten, who set eighteen NCAA passing and offensive records. In the 1984 season, Totten threw for 5,043 yards and 58 touchdowns and then threw for 39 touchdowns in 1985, without Rice, averaging 51 points per game.

Legend has it that in 1984, Totten and the Delta Devils team of hard working country boys bused 21 hours from Itta Bena to Topeka, Kansas to play Washburn University. It was a no-contest with the Delta Devils demolishing the Ichabods 77-15.

 

Prior to arriving at MVSU in 1980 as the head coach, believe it or not, the gunslinger had been a defensive assistant at Alcorn State and Tennessee State. Within three years, Valley was the number one team in all of 1-AA (FCS) Football. 

 

One of our all-time favorite game was The Day The Godfather Did In The Gunslinger, i.e., Alcorn State vs. Mississippi Valley State before 63,808 at Mississippi Memorial Stadium in Jackson. The atmosphere was set--with two undefeated teams, ranked No. 4 and 5 in all of 1-AA football, offense vs. defense, and the Gunslinger vs. the Godfather.  Here is what Sports Illustrated (SI) had to say about this game and the Gunslinger.

We were very lucky to find a video of this 1984 contest that is described as one of the best SWAC football game ever, with commentary by JSU legendary coach W.C. Gorden. 

In 2007, Archie "the Gunslinger" Cooley was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame.



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TSU Mourns the Loss of Olympian Eleanor Montgomery

Eleanor Inez Montgomery
(November 13, 1946 - December 23, 2013)
Cleveland, Ohio
(Courtesy Greater Cleveland Hall of Fame)

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tigerbelles lost one of their greatest athletes as 2013 came to a close.

 

Tigerbelle Eleanor Inez Montgomery passed away on Dec. 23, 2013. Montgomery was a member of the legendary Tigerbelles that took the Olympic Games by storm as a member of Ed Temple’s team.

 

The Cleveland, Ohio native wasted little time making the national stage, as she took home her first national title at 14-years-old in the long jump. Montgomery qualified for the 1964 Toyko Olympics in the high jump, where she finished eighth, with a jump of 1.71 meters.

 

The Tigerbelle returned to the games in 1968, competing in the high jump at the Mexico City games, finishing tied for 19^th.

 

Overall Montgomery won 13 AAU indoor and outdoor titles during her career, as well as taking home the high jump crowns at the 1963 and 1967 Pan American Games. In the 1963 event she set the meet record in the event.

 

This past November Montgomery was elected to the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame becoming the 10^th member of the Tigerbelles to receive the honor. The high jumper was also inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.

 

The viewing is this Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Calhoun Funeral Home in Bedford Heights, Ohio. Montgomery’s funeral service is set for following day at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, beginning at 10 a.m.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UC Irvine Hosts Morgan State Thursday Night

Tickets | Audio | Video | Live stats |

GAME #15
Morgan State (3-9) at UC Irvine (7-7)
Thursday, January 2, 2014 – 7:30 p.m.
Bren Events Center (5,000) – Irvine, California
Series Record:  First meeting
Radio:  KUCI/88.9 FM (Mark Roberts, 20^th Season, & Steve Henkle)

UC IRVINE LOOKS TO SETTLE IN AT HOME AS 2014 BEGINS
● UC Irvine, which has played six of its last seven games on the road, hosts Morgan State Thursday night to begin a stretch of five of the next seven contests at home.

● Fourth-year head coach Russell Turner's Anteaters host San Diego Christian Saturday evening in the last non-conference game before opening Big West play next Thursday at Long Beach State.

● Thursday night marks the first meeting between UCI and Morgan State.  The Bears, coached by Todd Bozeman, are coming off recent West Coast losses to Cal State Northridge, 86-80, last Friday and Oregon, 97-76, on Sunday.

● UCI, 7-7 on the season, lost 74-61 at Arizona State last Saturday in the Anteaters' fourth meeting against a Pac-12 school this season.

● Junior forward Will Davis II and 7-6 freshman center Mamadou Ndiaye each recorded a double-double at ASU.  Davis had 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and eighth of his career. Ndiaye registered his first double-double with 12 points (5-of-8 shooting) and 12 rebounds, plus he added four blocked shots, giving him 49 on the season.  Freshman guard Luke Nelson also scored 12 points and he had a game-high five assists.

● The 'Eaters, who trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, cut the margin to six on two occasions within the last four minutes.

● UCI is 3-3 at home and 4-4 on the road this season.



UC IRVINE NOTES
● UCI is 127-51 (.713) in the Bren Center dating back to February 2000.  UCI is 208-148 all-time in the Bren and 3-3 this season.

● The Bren Center marks its 27^th anniversary in January. The center opened Jan. 8, 1987, when the 'Eaters defeated Utah State, 118-96, on the strength of 43 points by Scott Brooks, the current head coach of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.

● UCI is 6-0 this season when the opposition shoots under 40 percent from the field.

● UCI is 5-2 when shooting at least 50 percent from the field this season.  The Anteaters shot a season-best 61.5 percent in the Dec. 21 victory at Denver.

● UCI is 7-3 when outrebounding its opponent this season.

● Senior guard Chris McNealy has scored 987 points in his career as he closes in on becoming the 23^rd player in Anteater history to score 1,000 points.  He is averaging 11.9 points on the season.

● McNealy is tied with Stanislav Zuzak for 14^th in UCI history with 109 career threes and he is 15^th with 235 assists.

● Junior forward Will Davis II leads the Anteaters in scoring (12.1) and rebounding (7.2).  He is UCI's career leader in blocked shots with 160, including a school single-season record 88 last year.  He ranks first in the Big West Conference this season with a field-goal percentage of .609.

● Davis is 19 of 28 (.679) from the field in the last three games.

● Davis was named MVP of the 2K Sports Classic Irvine Subregional (Nov. 22-24) after averaging 11.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games.

● Davis earned last season's Big West Conference's "Best Defensive Player" Award and was named to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Defensive All-America team.

● Freshman guard Luke Nelson is averaging 12.0 points and he leads UCI with 28 threes and 16 steals.  He has 47 assists for the season, including 15 in the last three games.

● Sophomore point guard Alex Young is averaging 9.4 points and he leads UCI with 57 assists.  Young broke UCI's freshman single-season record with 144 assists last season when he was named Big West Conference co-Freshman of the Year and also was selected to the Mid-Major Freshman All-America team.

● Freshman center Mamadou Ndiaye, the nation's tallest player at 7-6, leads UCI and the Big West with 49 rejections.  He ranks sixth in the nation as of Monday in total blocks (49) and is 11^th in blocked shots per game at 3.5.  He is shooting 72.9 percent on 51 of 70.

● Ndiaye is 18 of 22 (.818) from the field in the past four games.  After averaging 17 minutes of playing time in the first 10 games, he has averaged 26 in the last four contests.

● Ndiaye had a school and Big West-record 10 blocked shots in the 81-58 win over Eastern Washington Nov. 24.  He had nine blocks, along with 18 points and eight rebounds, in the 86-72 victory at Washington Nov. 14.

● Junior guard Travis Souza is shooting 45.2 percent (19/42) from three-point range to rank fourth in the Big West.

● UCI ranks first in the Big West in field-goal percentage defense (.405) and blocked shots (6.21 per game).

● The Anteaters are 18^th in the nation in assists per game (16.79) and 21^st in blocked shots per game (6.21).

ABOUT MORGAN STATE
● Morgan State, under eighth-year head coach Todd Bozeman, is located in Baltimore, Md.

● The Bears, 3-9 this season, competed in the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Tournaments, and the 2008 NIT. The Bears have advanced to the championship game of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament five times in the past seven seasons.

● Senior guard Justin Black leads the Bears in scoring at 19.0 points per game and he has 26 steals in 12 games.  Ian Chiles, a 7-2 senior center, is averaging 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.  He has 33 blocks on the season.

● Senior guard Anthony Hubbard is averaging 10.4 points and he leads Morgan State in rebounding at 5.5 boards per game.
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Mississippi State Back At Home Thursday To Face UMES Hawks

STARKVILLE, Mississippi  -- After having its four-game winning streak snapped in the finals of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic against UNLV last week, Mississippi State returns to Humphrey Coliseum to face Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. on Thursday.


It’s the first meeting between the two, while MSU is 6-0 all-time against foes from the MEAC. Early this year, the Bulldogs beat league member Florida A&M, 78-65.

Tickets can be purchased at a special price of $5.

The Bulldogs sport a 9-3 ledger and with a victory would match last year’s win total. The Hawks enter the contest 2-9 after losing at Virginia Tech on Dec. 31.

Craig Sword, who has scored in double-digits the last 11 games, leads MSU with 15.3 points and 1.8 steals. On the boards, Gavin Ware paces the Bulldogs with his 8.3 clip. The sophomore from Starkville is also second in scoring at 10.4.

Kyree Jones leads UMES in scoring at 16.2.

This game is also the final non-conference outing for the Bulldogs, who open SEC play on Jan. 8 at Kentucky. Tip is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.

MSU Game Notes

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Game Notes: Gardner-Webb Men Travel To Delaware State Thursday

THE GAME Gardner-Webb will return from a 12-day break to take on Delaware State at 7:00 pm in Dover, Delaware. The meeting is a return game for the Hornets visit to Boiling Springs for the now defunct ESPN BracketBusters series in 2012. Live stats for Thursday’s meeting will be available at DSUHornets.com.

SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb holds a 1-0 lead in the series by virtue of a 57-56 win on February 18, 2012 in Boiling Springs ... Donta Harper knocked down two free throws with 10 seconds left to complete a comeback win for the Runnin’ Bulldogs ... Tashan Newsome led the squad with 13 points in a low-scoring affair ... GWU’s last meeting with a school from the MEAC came in Cancun, Mexico in November 2012 – a 10-point win over Howard at Moon Palace Resort.

THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tim Craft is in his first season with the program and is off to a 7-7 start. Delaware State head coach Greg Jackson is 198-211 in his time with the Hornets, and 361-289 overall for his career. 

  GAME NOTES (PDF)

 THE LOWS AND MIDS
In its six games against members of low-mid major conferences, Gardner-Webb has forged a solid 4-2 record that includes wins over IUPUI and Morehead State in Las Vegas. GWU is averaging 71.2 ppg in those six games, placing five men in double figures scoring. GWU is shooting 45.9 percent in those games from the floor and 71.1 percent from the free throw line. Naji Hibbert (13.6 ppg), Jerome Hill (12.5 ppg), Donta Harper (11.4 ppg), Tyrell Nelson (10.8 ppg) and Tyler Strange (10.5 ppg) are each averaging more than 10 points against low-mid major foes this season.

HIBBERT HAS HELPED
Transfer guard Naji Hibbert (6-5, 190, RSr.) has provided needed scoring punch in his first, and only, season with Gardner-Webb. A three-year performer at Texas A&M, Hibbert helped the Aggies to a pair of 24-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances during his time in College Station. Hibbert is averaging a team-high 12.8 ppg for Gardner-Webb, and has topped the 20-point mark twice – both GWU wins.

OPPOSING TIDBITS
Delaware State has dropped five games in a row and is 2-10 so far this season against a brutally tough schedule ... The Hornets have played road games at Georgia Tech, Clemson, Dayton and Oklahoma State – and a total of seven games away from home ... DSU averages just 58.6 ppg as a team, but gets more than 10 ppg from center Kendall Gray (10.3 ppg), guard Kendal Williams (10.3 ppg), forward Casey Walker (10.3 ppg) and forward Tyshawn Bell (10.6 ppg).

DEFENDING THE ARC
Gardner-Webb ranks first in the Big South Conference and among the best in the nation (25th) in 3-point field goal defense through 14 games. GWU has allowed just 59 made 3-pointers in 209 attempts this season (28.2 percent), with its toughest defensive outing coming against one of the nation’s top shooting teams – 7th-ranked Duke (9-of-22 from 3-point range).

THAT’S STRANGE ...
Point guard Tyler Strange (5-10, 180, Jr.) has been exceptional for GWU this season, ranking 22nd nationally in assists per game (5.9 apg), 24th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.19) and second in the Big South Conference with 2.1 steals per game. Strange ranks 13th nationally according to stats guru Kenneth Pomeroy in assist rate – currently assisting on 23.7 percent of Gardner-Webb’s made field goals so far in 2013-2014.

PRESEASON RESPECT
Gardner-Webb was picked second in the preseason South Division poll by the Big South Conference’s head coaches and select media members, falling just behind defending division and overall regular season champion Charleston Southern. GWU finished a game behind the Bucs last season, but picked up a pair of overtime wins over Charleston Southern during the regular season. GWU lost just twice against South Division teams last season, falling on the road at Winthrop and Presbyterian and finishing with a 8-2 mark against Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, UNC Asheville, Winthrop and Presbyterian.

HILL CLIMBING
South Georgia native Jerome Hill (6-5, 210, So.) performed at his best at #7 Duke, matching up nicely on the offensive end against projected NBA Lottery pick Jabari Parker. Despite giving up three inches and nearly 30 pounds, Hill went to work for a career-high 22 points (9-of-10 shooting) and pulled down nine rebounds. Hill had another strong performance against Hiwassee (Tenn.), going for 19 points and a career-high 17 boards in a blowout win.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Gardner-Webb will play its eight true road game of the season Thursday night, and has won just once in its first seven games this season. GWU is 2-0 in neutral court games (Las Vegas Invitational). Five of Gardner-Webb’s six road losses this season have come to “high major” conference teams.

BIG SOUTH PLAY BEGINS SOON
Gardner-Webb will get into the meat of its most important season segment next week, hosting UNC Asheville (Jan. 8) and Coastal Carolina (Jan. 11) to open Big South Conference play in Paul Porter Arena. Gardner-Webb is one of only two teames (Winthrop) with a record of .500 or better heading into Thursday night’s action in the South Division. Asheville has won three in a row, however, and sits just behind those two at 6-7 overall – tied with Coastal Carolina’s .462 winning percentage (6-7). Both games next week will air live on the Big South Network and WGWG-FM (88.3).




COURTESY GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

FIU at Florida A&M: Game Notes

Teams - FIU Panthers (8-6 overall, 2-2 away); Florida A&M Rattlers (3-10 overall, 2-0 home)
Date - Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014
Location - Tallahassee, Fla
Arena - Al Lawson Center (9,639)
Tickets - (850) 599-3141
Television - N/A
Twitter - @FIUMensBBall
Facebook - FIUMensBBall
Live Video Streaming - N/A
Live Stats - www.famuathletics.com
Records - FIU enters Thursday’s game with an overall record of 8-6 following a 92-57 loss at Georgetown on Saturday, Dec. 28. Florida A&M enters Thursday’s game with a 3-10 record following a 75-70 win over Sacred Heart on Monday, Dec. 23.
Rankings - FIU is not ranked in either poll. FAMU is not ranked in either poll.
FIU Head Coach Anthony Evans - Coach Evans (St. Thomas Aquinas ‘94) enters Thursday’s contest with a career record of 107-100 (.517 - seventh season overall) and 8-6 at FIU (.571 - first season).
FAMU Head Coach Clemon Johnson - Coach Johnson (FAMU ‘78) enters Thursday’s contest with a career record at FAMU of 15-30 (.333 - second season).
Series History - Thursday’s game between FIU and FAMU will mark the 11th meeting all-time between the two teams with the FAMU leading the series history, 5-4 (actual on-court record is 5-5 - FIU vacated one victory due to NCAA sanctions). The last meeting between the two squads resulted in an 88-72 win for FIU on Jan. 2, 2013 in Miami, Fla.
Officials - Announced on game day - See more at: http://www.fiusports.com/Sports/MensSports/MBasketball/Article/tabid/417/article/20665/FIU-at-Florida-A-M-Game-Notes.aspx#sthash.QmtEbTNb.dpuf

FIU Game Notes (PDF)

 

 

FIU Tips Off 2014 in Tallahassee to Face FAMU

 

Coming off back-to-back losses, the FIU men’s basketball team (8-6) will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on the Florida A&M Rattlers on Thursday, Jan. 2. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

 

The Panthers are coming off a 92-57 loss at Georgetown on Saturday, Dec. 28. Redshirt junior Dennis Mavin led all Panthers with 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, while draining a career-high four 3-pointers. Seniors Tymell Murphy and Rakeem Buckles added 15 points each. Buckles also grabbed a team-high six boards. Redshirt sophomore Cody Mann recorded a game-high six assists.

 

The Panthers struggled in the first half, shooting 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from the floor. A scoring drought of over 11 minutes resulted in a 24-0 run by the Hoyas. The Panthers trailed 6-4 with 17:16 left in the first half. However, GU’s run put FIU down 31-4 with 6:57 left in the half.

 

Sophomore Jerome Frink and Mavin led all Panthers in the first half with five points apiece.  

 

FIU came out in the second half outscoring the Hoyas, 23-12, including a 14-2 run through the first 12 minutes of the second half. The Panthers’ offense found its stroke in the final 20 minutes, shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-27) while holding a 43-42 edge over GU on the scoreboard.

 

FIU finished the afternoon shooting 41.3 percent (19-of-46) from the floor, including a 5-of-13 performance from beyond the arc (38.5 percent). The Panthers were out-rebounded by the Hoyas, 33-22, as GU out-scored FIU in the paint, 58-26. 

 

FIU comes into Thursday’s contest averaging 70.1 points-per-game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from 3-point range. The Panthers are converting 68.1 percent of its attempts from the free-throw line. Defensively, FIU is allowing 69.3 points-per-game as the opposition is shooting 41.7 percent from the floor. The Panthers are out-rebounding their opponents 553-463, averaging 39.5 boards-per-contest. 

. 

FIU – Florida A&M Series History 

Thursday’s game between FIU and Florida A&M will mark the 11th meeting all-time between the two teams. 

- The series is tied, 5-5

- The last meeting between FIU and Florida A&M resulted in an 88-72 win for FIU 

on Dec. 2, 2013, in Miami, Fla.

- FIU is 12-9 all-time versus teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

- FIU has won three-straight versus the Rattlers.

- FIU is 1-4 all-time versus FAMU in Tallahassee.

- FIU will be looking for its second-straight win over FAMU in Tallahassee.

- See more at: http://www.fiusports.com/Sports/MensSports/MBasketball/Article/tabid/417/article/20665/FIU-at-Florida-A-M-Game-Notes.aspx#sthash.QmtEbTNb.dpuf

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Southern White Teams Just Didn’t Play Black Ones, but One Game Ended All That

FLORIDA A&M  COACH JAKE GAITHER
(Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- On a Saturday night 40 football seasons ago, just before kickoff of the penultimate game in his career, Coach Jake Gaither of Florida A&M strode toward midfield of Tampa Stadium. There he extended his hand to the opposing coach, Fran Curci of the University of Tampa, and they strained to speak above the din of a capacity crowd.

“Jake, this is bigger than I thought it would be,” Coach Curci recently recalled saying. “Not me,” Coach Gaither responded.

Both men were trying to fathom the event they had set into motion, the first interracial football game in the South, a landmark in sports and civil rights that has gone relatively uncelebrated. It pit the Florida A&M Rattlers, long one of the dominant teams among black colleges, against the Tampa Spartans, a rising power that was overwhelmingly white.

What was at stake that night was twofold. The match-up would prove whether a black team with a black coach from a black school really could compete with a white one. And, in a city that suffered a race riot two years earlier, the stadium was divided racially into its Tampa and A&M rooting sections, and the spectators had to demonstrate that they could peaceably coexist.

CONTINUE READING 

Terps wide receivers coach Lee Hull a finalist for Morgan State coaching vacancy

Coach Lee Hull
University of Maryland - College Park
(Courtesy UMD Athletics)

BALTIMORE, Maryland (Dec. 31) -- Maryland wide receivers coach Lee Hull remains in the running for Morgan State’s vacant head coaching position, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who said Hull is a finalist.

Morgan State, which has not responded to requests for comment, is expected to hire a new coach early next month.

Maryland is already looking to replace defensive line coach Greg Gattuso, who became Albany’s head coach earlier this month, and offensive line coach Tom Brattan, whose contract was not renewed.

In six seasons on the Terps' staff, Hull has seen ...

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The FAMU Mystique: Coach Billy Joe's Gulf Coast Offense

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Delta Devils end non-conference slate with victory over Selma

CLARKSDALE, Miss. -- All season long, Missississippi Valley State has proved that it can put loads of points on the scoreboard.

And Tuesday was no different.

The Delta Devils shot over 50 percent from the field and came up one point short of eclipsing the 100-point mark in a 99-87 win over Selma University at The Pinnacle on the campus of Coahoma Community College.

It marked the final non-conference game of the season for the Delta Devils (4-9), who will open conference play Saturday when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 5 p.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center.

On Tuesday, Jeffrey Simmons scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Delta Devils while Anthony McDonald chipped in 19, including a trio of 3-pointers.

In all, five Valley players scored in double-figures, incluidng James Currington who had a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds). Cameron Dobbs had 13 points and Blake Ralling chipped in 12 for a Delta Devil team that shot 52.9 percent from the field.

MVSU led 47-39 at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs 52-48 in the second half.

Jamie Washington led Selma with 24 points.

Box Score

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Rush defeat Belhaven 64-55 in overtime

JACKSON, Miss. — Morris Wright scored 20 points Monday, and Wesley Pluviose-Philip had career highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds in Xavier University of Louisiana's 64-55 overtime men's basketball victory against Belhaven.
    
The Gold Rush (10-4), ranked 25th in NAIA Division I, won for the fifth time in six games. Xavier has won both its overtime games this season.
    
Wright's layup with 54 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 54 and forced overtime. Xavier outscored the Blazers 10-1 in the extra period, with Wright and Lucas Martin-Julien collecting four points apiece. The Gold Rush scored the first eight points of overtime, and the Blazers scored their lone point on a free throw with 32 seconds remaining.
    
Wright scored in double figures for the 11th time this season and reached 20 points for the second time. The double-double was the first at Xavier for Pluviose-Philip, a redshirt freshman. It was the first time that Pluviose-Philip scored in double figures.
    
Sydney Coleman had 14 points and six rebounds for the Gold Rush. Coleman scored in double figures for a team-leading 12th time this season.
    
Jordan Bedford had 15 points and 10 points for Belhaven (4-7), and Datodrick Pinkston scored 12 points.
    
Xavier trailed 12-3 through 6½ minutes before rallying for a halftime tie at 25. Wright made 3-of-4 3-pointers in the first half.
    
Xavier will travel to Nashville, Tenn., for a 5 p.m. game Saturday at Fisk. It will be the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener for both. Xavier is the two-time defending GCAC regular-season champion.

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

Mobile defeats LSU-Shreveport in Xavier Classic

NEW ORLEANS — Raven Lyons scored 17 points Tuesday to lead Mobile to a 66-54 women's basketball victory against LSU-Shreveport in the Xavier Classic.

Both teams finished 1-1 in the four-team event. Faulkner played Xavier in the final game.

Molly Speed and Deonica McCormick scored 12 points apiece for the Lady Rams (8-3), and Jakela Johnson had 10 points and nine rebounds. Speed made four of Mobile's six 3-pointers.

Shanovia Gamblin had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Lady Pilots (9-3), and Byroneshia Santiago had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Mobile never trailed. After a tie at 2, Johnson's basket at 16:59 put the Lady Rams ahead to stay. Mobile led 35-27 at halftime — Lyons scored 11 points in the first half — and maintained a double-digit lead for the final 12:42.

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LSUS Lady Pilots beat Lady Eagles in Xavier Classic opener

NEW ORLEANS — Byroneshia Santiago scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half to help LSU-Shreveport earn a 75-65 women's basketball victory against Faulkner in the opening game of the Xavier Classic.

Xavier defeated Mobile 72-60 in the second game.

Jenna Diakos scored 18 points and Shanovia Gamblin 15 for the Lady Pilots (9-2).

Christina Hayes scored 14 points for Faulkner (4-6), and M.C. Bell and Nyla Johnson scored 10 apiece.

After a halftime tie at 32, LSUS took the lead for good, 56-55, on two Santiago free throws with 6:34 remaining. LSUS made 24-of-26 second-half free throws and finished 30-of-34.

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Gold Nuggets rally in second half, extend win streak to 6

NEW ORLEANS -- Danielle Tucker, Paige Gauthier and Whitney Gathright sparked a decisive second-half run Tuesday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 65-51 women's basketball victory against Faulkner in the Xavier Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (10-5) won their sixth in a row, including both games in this four-team, two-day event.

Xavier trailed 42-36 with 14:22 remaining, then outscored Faulkner 18-1 during the next nine minutes. Tucker scored seven points, Gauthier five and Gathright four during the run.

Gathright finished with 15 points and a career-high seven rebounds. Tucker scored 14 points, and Gauthier had nine points, four assists and a career-high and Xavier Classic-record-tying seven steals. Emoni Harvey had career bests of eight points and five steals, and Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored eight points, all in the first half.

Christina Hayes had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Faulkner (4-7), and M.C. Bell scored 13. The Lady Eagles, who were 2-0 against Xavier this past season, lost both their games in the event.

Faulkner outshot Xavier 37.5 to 32.8 percent from the floor, but the Gold Nuggets dominated at the line, making 23-of-31 free throws to the Lady Eagles' 12-of-18. Xavier committed 21 turnovers and gained 32, nine during the second-half rally.

Faulkner led 32-31 at halftime.

It's the first time since the 1998-99 season that the Gold Nuggets won six in a row after losing their previous three games. Xavier has won 11 in a row at home, all by 12 or more points.

Mobile defeated LSU-Shreveport 66-54 in the other Tuesday game. Both teams finished 1-1 in the Xavier Classic.

Xavier, the three-time defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season champion, will play its GCAC opener at 3 p.m. Saturday against Fisk in Nashville, Tenn. The Gold Nuggets' next home game will start at 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 against GCAC and city rival SUNO.

Box score

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

WSSU Rams dismiss Holloway from the team

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Attrition is starting to take a toll on the Winston-Salem State men’s basketball team.

Coach Bobby Collins said Tuesday that center Victor Holloway, a 6-7 senior who was averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, has been kicked off the team for disciplinary reasons.

“We just decided it was in the best interest that he is no longer on our team,” Collins said before practice.

Holloway was averaging 15.6 minutes in eight games. He had his best game Nov. 9 in a 76-73 win against Concord at the Gaines Center, coming off the bench to score a career-high 17 points and grab 15 rebounds in 22 minutes.

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Terps basketball offers new hope for new year with 70-56 win over N.C. Central

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland — In Maryland’s final nonconference game, on the last day of the calendar year, coach Mark Turgeon seemed to coax from his team the sort of relentless defense that had often eluded it.

Maryland’s 70-56 victory Tuesday before an announced 9,554 at Comcast Center did not come against a name opponent. But North Carolina Central had a 10-point win over an Atlantic Coast Conference team to its credit and features a top-notch scorer in senior guard Jeremy Ingram, who entered averaging 24.6 points per game.

Ingram was held to 11 points on 4-for-19 shooting from the floor by the Terps (9-5). The Eagles (7-4) shot 32.7 percent overall.

Junior guard Nick Faust (City), who entered shooting 35 percent, led Maryland with 19 points, matching his career high. He gave a fist pump to the crowd after converting his third 3-pointer to push Maryland’s lead to 68-45.

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Southern sets NCAA record in rout

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern set an NCAA record by scoring the first 44 points of the game en route to a 116-12 blowout of Champion Baptist College on Monday.

The Jaguars (4-9) broke the all-divisions record that used to be held by Seton Hall, which scored the first 34 points against Kean College on Nov. 19, 1998. They did not set a record for margin of victory. Long Island University beat Medgar Evers 179-62 on Nov. 26, 1997.

Tre Lynch scored 27 points to lead Southern. Calvin Godfrey had 17 points and 15 rebounds, Trelun Banks had 21 points, Frank Snow had 10 rebounds, and Christopher Hyder had 10 assists.

Champion Baptist, which finished 3-for-44 (6.8 percent) from the field, did not get on the board until Kris Connor made two free throws with 5:10 left in the first half. The score was 57-6 at halftime.

The Tigers, located in Hot Springs, Ark., are an independent member of the Association of Christian Colleges.

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SCSU Bulldogs Win Season Sweep Over CCU

CONWAY, South Carolina — Senior's Theron Stephens and Matthew Hezekiah tossed in a game-high 15 points each as South Carolina State completed a season sweep knocking off Coastal Carolina, 68-58, Monday at The HTC Center.

The Bulldogs snapped their two year road winless streak with the win, when SC State knocked off Kennesaw State 104-98(11/26/11) on the road in two overtimes.

"It's a great win to come on the road and beat a well coach team like Coastal Carolina," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. "This was our first road win since 2011 and it's great for our program and I am very proud of these young men."

Stephens, the 5-9 senior, in his first start was deadly from behind the arch connecting on 5-of-9 three-pointers, while Hezekiah added a team-high eight rebounds.

Freshman point guard Jalen White seemed to be the difference maker down the stretch finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, seven assist and three steals. White scored 10 of his 12 points with less than five minutes to play in the victory.

South Carolina State (4-8) jumped out to a 15-point lead at half. Coastal Carolina's Badou Diagne made a layup to pull the Chanticleers within one, 53-52 with 5:24 to play. White was fouled on the next possession, and hit one of two free throws to give South Carolina State a 54-52 lead. The Bulldogs sealed the deal closing out on a 14-6 run.

The Chanticleers (6-7)was led in scoring by Josh Cameron with 12 points and forward Badu Diagne with 10 points. Forward Michel Enanga grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and tossed in nine points in the loss.

Garvin stated, "We (coaching staff) talked to the players about finishing 2013 how we want to start 2014 to able to compete strong during conference play."

SC State returns to action on Friday (Jan.3) against intrastate rival South Carolina in a 7 p.m. non-conference matchup at Colonial Life Arena.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

DSU Hornets Falter Down Stretch in Loss to St. Francis Terriers

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State was outscored 13-5 in the last six-and-a-half minutes in a 60-57 loss to St. Francis Brooklyn in Memorial Hall today.

The Hornets led 52-47 after a lay-up by A.J. Thomas with 6:29 left to play. The Terriers answered with an 8-0 run, and pulled ahead 55-52 on a three-point basket by Brent Jones with 3:12 remaining.

Delaware State trailed 56-53 when Kendall Gray hit a short jumper to pull the Hornets to within one with 24 seconds to go.

Ben Mockford knocked down two free throws with 14 seconds left  to give the Terriers a 58-57 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Delaware State had a chance to tie the game with a three-point shot, but committed a turnover to give the ball back to St. Francis with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Jalen Cannon hit two free throws with four seconds on the clock to seal the win for the Terriers.

The score was 25-25 at halftime. The game was tied at 32 when St. Francis began to pull away. Mockford hit three three-point shots over the next five minutes to key the Terrier rally. His fourth three-pointer of the game gave St. Francis a 45-38 lead with 12:03 left to play.

Delaware State answered with a 12-0 run, and opened up a 50-45 lead on two free throws by Gray with 7:25 remaining in the game. Gray had six points and Albert Thomas four during the spurt.

The Terriers missed each of its four shots and committed two turnovers during the Delaware State rally.

Gray led the Hornets with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. He has reached double figures in scoring and rebounds in each of the last two games. Gray has 24 rebounds in the last two contests to increase his team leading average to 6.3 per game.

Kendal Williams added 13 points and three assists, while Casey Walker had 12 points for DSU. Williams has scored in double figures in four straight and five of the last six games. He has climbed into a tie for second on the Hornets in scoring at 10.3 points per game.

The Hornets played without leading scorer Tyshawn Bell (10.6), who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury.

Cannon (9-9 FTs) was tied for game-high scoring honors with 17 points for St. Francis. He also led the Terriers with 12 rebounds.  Mockford came off the bench to also tally 17 points for the visitors. His performance was highlighted by five three-point field goals (5-9).

The Terriers were eight-for-30 from three-point territory, while Delaware State had one three-pointer on just seven attempts.

Delaware State was 21-for-50 from the field (42.0%), while St. Francis was 19-of-50 (38.0%). The Hornets were 14-of-22 at the free throw line (63.6%). The Terriers hit 14 of their 19 shots at the line (73.7%).

DSU had two more turnovers (13-to-11), while each team had 35 rebounds.

The Terriers won their fourth straight game to improve to 9-5. The Hornets dropped their fifth in a row to fall to 2-10.

Delaware State returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 2) at home against Gardner Webb. Game time is 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

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COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Hawaii Men's Basketball Battles Past Norfolk State

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team used a strong second half to get past Norfolk State, 77-66, Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbows Warriors moved to 10-3—the program's best start since the 2004-05 season—with its eight win in its last nine contests.

The Rainbow Warriors looked out of sync early and trailed by one at the half,  but  came out firing on all cylinders after the break to win by double-digits. UH was led by the duo of Christian Standhardinger (29 points) and Garrett Nevels (21 points) who combined for 50 of the team's 77 points.

The Spartans (8-5) used its length and athleticism to control the pace in the first half and held a slim one-point lead, 28-27, at the break. NSU out-rebounded UH 18-13 in the first half and got eight second-chance points, while also holding the 'Bows without a field goal for a five-minute stretch.

UH, however, came out strong in the second half. The Rainbow Warriors went on a 16-6 run to start the half to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish. UH led by as many as 14 points pushing the ball in the open court, while forcing 13 Spartan turnovers in the second half. UH got 24 points off 19 NSU turnovers and exploded for 50 points after the break.

UH shot 57 percent and out-rebounded the Spartans 15-8 in the second half.

The Rainbow Warriors will wrap up their five-game homestand when they take on Omaha in their first game of the New Year on Friday, Jan. 3. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Box Score

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Detroit Mercy Titans Conclude Non-Conference with 73-53 Topping of Bethune-Cookman

DETROIT, Michigan -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team had five players score in double figures and led wire-to-wire en route to a 73-53 win over Bethune-Cookman Monday night at Calihan Hall.

The Wildcats trimmed UDM's lead to six, 44-38, with 13:05 left in regulation, before the Titans closed the game with a 29-15 run to record their third-straight non-conference win at home.

Detroit (7-8) was led by junior forward Juwan Howard Jr. with 15 points, while Carlton Brundidge and Evan Bruinsma added 11 apiece and Jarod Williams and Anton Wilson pitched in 10. Bruinsma also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to record his third double-double of the season.

Detroit opened the game with a 16-3 run over the first six minutes of action, with three-pointers from Williams, Howard and Wilson, before the Wildcats trimmed the lead to 24-15 with 4:42 left. Detroit then closed the half with a 12-5 run including a three-pointer from Grant to take a 36-20 lead into the locker room. Howard and Williams led Detroit with seven points apiece, while Brundidge and Wilson added five.

Detroit looked liked it would runaway early in the second half after scoring the first basket off a Brundidge layup, but the Wildcats answered back with an 18-6 run to trim the Titans lead to 44-38. But that would be as close as the score would get as Detroit responded with a 10-1 run, including a pair of monster jams from Patrick Onwenu and Jermaine Lippert, to extend its lead to 54-39 with 7:20 left. B-CU would cut the lead to 56-46 with six minutes left, before the Titans closed with a 17-7 run.

Detroit finished shooting 50 percent (24-of-48) overall, while holding Bethune-Cookman to just 27.7 percent (13-of-47). The Titans finished 7-of-20 from downtown, while the Wildcats finished 7-of-27 from beyond the arc. Detroit also forced 11 turnovers, with nine steals, while dishing out 14 assists.

Malik Jackson led Bethune-Cookman (2-14) with a game-high 18 points, while Maurice Taylor added seven points and six rebounds.

Detroit will tip-off Horizon League play on Saturday, Jan. 4 when it hosts Wright State at historic Calihan Hall. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be televised live on WADL TV 38. The game can also be heard on 97.1 The Ticket's webstream with Dan Leach the voice of Titans Basketball.

GAME NOTES: Detroit leads the all-time series 3-0 … Juwan Howard Jr. has scored in double figures 14 times this season … Evan Bruinsma has recorded a team leading three double-doubles this season … Five Titans scored in double figures in the same game for the first time since Jan. 26, 2013 vs. Loyola … Detroit has improved to 5-2 at home this season.

Box Score



COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS