Golfweek: Men's spring preview - SWAC

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- During the month of January, Golfweek will preview the spring season for each conference. Today, we look at the SWAC Conference.

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Top of the class: Alabama State

•Player to watch: Francis Berthiaume, Alabama State.

•Freshman to watch: Donnell Lynch, Jackson State

•Conference championship: April 21-23, Oak Wing Golf Club, Alexandria, La.
•Past champions (since 2009): Alabama State (2012-13), Jackson State (2009-11)

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CONFERENCE CAPSULES
(Golfweek/Sagarin rank in parentheses)

• Alabama State (No. 219): Won the ASU Fall Classic while sophomore Francis Berthiaume captured the title for a clean sweep at home.

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HU Lady Pirates Stifle Savannah State on the Road

SAVANNAH, Georgia – Host Savannah State couldn't buy a basket in the opening 20 minutes on Saturday at Tiger Arena, and the Hampton University women's basketball team took full advantage en route to a 70-46 win.

The Lady Pirates (15-4, 6-0 MEAC) have won their last 36 games against MEAC foes, and they have not lost since the start of the new calendar year – a streak of five games.

Senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) led four Lady Pirates in double figures with 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting, and she finished one rebound shy of her eighth double-double of the season. Freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.) added 15 points.

Junior guard Kenia Cole (Silver Spring, Md.) and senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) each added 11 points and four assists.

The Lady Pirates led 5-0 to open the game, and when Tate-DeFreitas hit a pair of free throws with 12:45 left in the half, Hampton had opened up a 16-6 lead. Savannah State cut the lead to seven, 16-9 on a 3-pointer from Kenyata Hendrix, but Hampton scored nine of the next 13 points to take a 25-13 lead at the 7:16 mark after a Bennett free throw.

Ezinne Kalu cut the lead to 26-18 with 4:38 left in the half with a trey, but the Lady Pirates closed out the half on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a floating 3-pointer from Hamilton at the buzzer.

Hampton went into the break up 36-18.

Bennett led the Lady Pirates with 13 points in the first half, and Savannah State went just 7-for-29 from the floor (24.1 percent) in the opening 20 minutes, while also committing 12 turnovers.

Savannah State cut Hampton's lead to 41-24 with 13:42 left in the second half – after the half got off to a slow start for both teams – before the Lady Pirates scored the next nine points to take a 50-24 lead at the 10:24 mark on a jumper from Cole.

Cole later added two free throws with 5:42 left to put the Lady Pirates up 59-32, giving Hampton its largest lead of the game. Savannah State went on an 11-3 run to cut the lead to 62-43 with 3:29 left on two Kalu free throws.

But the Lady Pirates maintained control, and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Georgianna Gilbeaux (Washington, D.C.) with 15 seconds left pushed the game to its final margin.

The Lady Pirates shot 40.7 percent (22-for-54) from the floor and made five of their 16 3-pointers (31.3 percent). Hampton held a 43-39 advantage on the glass, and the Lady Pirates turned Savannah State over 22 times.

Savannah State (11-9, 4-2 MEAC) shot just 28.3 percent (17-for-60) from the floor and went just 3-for-16 (18.8 percent) from behind the arc. The Tigers also went just 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from the free throw line.

Kalu led the Tigers with 15 points, despite going just 4-for-16 from the floor.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Monday, when they head to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on South Carolina State at 5:30 p.m. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern women roll past AAMU Bulldogs

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The Southern women’s basketball team overwhelmed Alabama A&M from the opening tip and rolled to an 81-59 victory Saturday afternoon in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

The Jaguars remained undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with their most one-sided league victory.

Southern (10-5, 7-0 SWAC) will host Alabama State on Monday night. The Bulldogs are 3-13 and 1-5.

“Overall I was pleased with the effort,” Jaguars coach Sandy Pugh said. “We came out with the intensity I wanted. I was pleased with the bench coming in.

“Defensively we had some good sequences where we kept the pressure up, then I thought we got lackadaisical.”

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Pirates Bounce Back, Roll Past Savannah State

SAVANNAH, Georgina  – The Hampton University men's basketball team looked like it felt right at home in Tiger Arena Saturday evening, withstanding a couple Savannah State runs to emerge with an 80-71 win.

The win snapped a two-game skid for the Pirates (9-10, 4-2 MEAC).

Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.) led three Pirates in double figures with 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting, and he fell one rebound shy of his third double-double of the season. Sophomore guard Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) added 17 points.

Sophomore guard Breon Key (Hampton, Va.) came off the bench to score a season-high 14 points.

A Jyles Smith dunk with 5:12 left in the game cut the Pirates' lead to 66-60, but Hampton withstood the pressure with a 6-1 run that ended with a dunk from Maxwell to put the Pirates up 72-61 with 2:15 left to play.

Key added a free throw with 1:38 left to give Hampton a 74-63 lead.

Savannah State answered with an 8-2 run, cutting the Pirates' lead to 76-71 with 38 seconds left after a clutch 3-pointer from Jeremiah Hill. But the Pirates hit all four of their free throws down the stretch – all from Key, who went 8-for-11 from the charity stripe – to ice their second MEAC road win.

The Pirates led for most of the game, despite being tied 2-2 early – mostly because Hampton answered that with a 7-0 run to take a 9-2 lead with 16:56 left in the first half after a layup from sophomore guard Ke'Ron Brown (Savannah, Ga.).

Darden added a 3-pointer at the 14:57 mark to put Hampton up 15-4.

Savannah State scored 10 of the next 13 points, cutting Hampton's lead to 18-14 with 11:44 left in the half following a jumper from Patrick Hedley. The Pirates scored the next seven points after that, taking a 25-14 lead at the 8:33 mark after a Maxwell jumper.

Sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.) hit two free throws at the 4:58 mark to give the Pirates their largest lead of the half, 33-21, before Savannah State went on a 13-1 run to tie the game at 34-34 on a Deven Williams free throw with 17 seconds left.

A Maxwell layup 15 seconds later sent the Pirates into the intermission with a 36-34 lead.

Savannah State opened the second half with an 8-2 run to take a 42-38 lead with 17:24 left, before the Pirates answered with a 10-0 run, taking a 48-42 lead with 15:01 remaining after a jumper from Maxwell.

After the Tigers cut the lead to 48-45, the Pirates scored the next seven points to take a 55-45 lead after a free throw from junior center Emmanuel Okoroba (Garland, Texas) with 11:35 left to play. Sophomore guard Dwight Meikle (Baltimore, Md.) added a trey with 9:24 left to put Hampton up 58-48.

The Tigers scored the next five points, cutting the lead to 58-53 with 8:48 left, but another 10-0 Hampton run put the Pirates up 63-53 with 8:00 left after Key hit a pair of free throws. Alante Fenner hit a layup with 7:28 left to cut that lead to 63-58, but the Tigers never sustained a long run to catch the Pirates.

The Pirates shot 40.0 percent (24-for-60) from the floor and hit four of their 13 3-pointers (30.8 percent). On top of out-rebounding the Tigers 47-42, Hampton also hit 28 of 44 free throws (63.6 percent) and turned 19 Savannah State turnovers into 15 points.

Savannah State (7-13, 5-1 MEAC) shot 40.9 percent (27-for-66) from the floor, but the Tigers only went 6-for-22 (27.3 percent) from behind the arc and 11-for-20 (55.0 percent) from the free throw line.

Hill led four Tigers in double figures with 15 points.

The Pirates will be in Orangeburg, S.C. on Monday, when they take on South Carolina State at 7:30 p.m. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Page's 20 Paces ASU Hornets Past Alcorn State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Jamel Waters only scored four points but none was bigger than his two free throws with six seconds left and Alabama State clinging to a 56-54 lead.  Those two free throws gave the Hornets a two possession lead which was all the Hornets needed in the 58-54 win.

 "It was an ugly game and it was hard fought, very physical and we didn't shoot the ball well," Head Coach Lewis Jackson.  "Our guys stayed the course and we persevered down the stretch."

After scoring a career-high 22 points in ASU's last outing, junior Luther Page again led the Hornets with a game-high 20 points.  Brandon Graham scored a career-high 16 points as those two were the only two Hornets to reach double digits.

"Luther has played well for us the last couple of games and we need his leadership," Jackson said.  "He talks on the floor and he understands the defense we are trying to get done and he has been doing a good job of posting up, finding the open guys for open shots."

"Brandon Graham did a good job of moving around without the ball and making some shots.  He also did a good job of getting in there and getting some rebounds."

The game was close the entire 40 minutes with neither team holding more than a six-point lead.  Alcorn (7-12/4-3 SWAC) held a 52-49 lead with 3:30 left in the game, but the Hornets defense stepped up and held the Braves to only a field goal the rest of the game as ASU outscored the home team 9-2.

Both teams struggled from the field and ASU (11-6/5-1 SWAC) finished the game hitting 34 percent from the field and only hit four of their 21 three point attempts for 19 percent.  The Hornets only shot 10 free throws but knocked down eight of them.

Graham almost completed a double-double with nine rebounds while Page added six and Bobby Brown five.  Waters had a game-high three assists as ASU finished with 10.

Alcorn's leading scorer was Octavius Brown with 13 points.  Anthony Evans and Marquis Vance had 12 each.  Brown also led Alcorn's rebounding effort with a game-high 11.

Alcorn shot 37 percent from the field and like the Hornets they struggled on their three point field goals only hitting four of their 15 attempts for 27 percent.  Alcorn hit six of its 13 free throws.

"We told the guys we could not come in here and rely on our offense and expecting our outside shot to be as good as it has been and if it is that's good and well," Jackson said.  "Our defense was certainly going to have to stand up and I thought holding them to 58 points was good. Again, it was not pretty but that's the sign of a team that is trying to grow up."

The first half saw Alcorn's Evans throw up a three at the horn to give the Braves a 24-21 halftime lead.  Vance led Alcorn with six points and Evans had five.

ASU struggled from the field but Page was able to score nine first-half points while Brandon Graham hit two three point field goals for six points.

ASU continues the present road trip with a game at Southern Monday, Jan. 27 with the tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.  The game will be for first place in the conference as Southern has a half game lead on the Hornets.

 Box Score

 COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Team Effort Helps A&T Cruise By Morgan State

A&T Eboni Ross works the Paint

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- Four players scored in double figures as the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team cruised to a 78-48 win over Morgan State Saturday evening at Corbett Sports Center.

The Aggies (14-3 overall) move to 4-1 in the MEAC and the Bears (2-16) fell to 0-5 in the conference.

A&T has played exceptionally well at home this season where they remain undefeated at 7-0 and have held their opponents to just an average of 47.0 points at Corbett Sports Center. Saturday was no different as the Aggies defense scored 27 points off turnovers, recorded 10 steals, and beat the Bears on the boards 56-39.

Redshirt junior Debbie Smith led A&T in scoring for the third time this season with a game-high 14 points. Senior forward Tracy King added 13 points, tallied five assists and four steals. Redshirt sophomore Aprill McRae finished with 11 points and led the Aggies in rebounds with eight. Junior center Temitope Oladele came off the bench to register a career-high 11 points and seven rebounds.

“The keyword tonight was team,” head coach Tarrell Robinson said. “I think everyone who played contributed. We did a great job defensively and that carried over from the first half to the second.  My hat goes off to Temitope Oladele who made the most of her 21 minutes tonight. It’s the most minutes she’s played all season, and she really impacted the game. She had a great overall game.”

A&T led 33-17 at the half and enjoyed a 19-6 run to bust open the game in the second half, taking a 52-23 lead after a layup from Smith with 14:23 remaining in the game. The Bears were never able to respond to such a substantial first-half deficit.

The Aggies opened the game on an 11-3 run until Danielle Robinson hit a 3-pointer to nip A&T’s lead to 11-6 with 15:26 remaining in the half. Smith’s baseline jumper at the 9:40 mark gave A&T its first double-digit lead, 22-11, which they held for the remainder of the half.

A&T took advantage down low and outscored Morgan State 38-10 in the paint. The Aggies bench also contributed significantly adding 34 points.

Tracy Carrington who is the MEAC’s top scorer, couldn’t handle A&T’s pressure and led the Bears with 13 points. Robinson finished with 11, and Ivy Harrington added 10 and eight rebounds.

“We wanted to limit Carrington’s touches,” Robinson said. “We know that she leads their offense but as far as this game, we wanted to move up in the conference standings. We plan on going undefeated at home this season. The energy that we get from our fans is important. We had a great crowd today but now we have to move on and get ready for Monday.”

The Aggies will host Coppin State on Monday, Jan. 27 beginning at 6 p.m.

A&T 78, Morgan State 48

Photo Album

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU Downs Coppin State to Earn Fifth Straight Win

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  North Carolina Central University earned its fifth straight win to move to 4-1 in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) behind 18 points in the first half by senior Jeremy Ingram (Charlotte, N.C.) to go along with the staunch maroon and gray defense holding Coppin State University to 33.3 percent shooting on the way to an 87-63 win at McDougald-McLendon Gym on Saturday afternoon.

The host Eagles were scorching from the field offensively to take the early advantage as NCCU jumped out to a 9-2 lead through the first three minutes.

Both teams went back-and-forth through the first nine minutes cutting the early deficit to two at 18-16 with 11:28 to go in the first frame on senior Michael Murray's three-pointer.

The maroon and gray responded with an 8-to-2 run to take a 26-18 lead on sophomore Dante Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) jumper with 8:46 to go.

Over the next four minutes, the host Eagles heated up from behind-the-arc and stretch the lead out to 14 at 40-26 and used that momentum to take a 50-37 advantage into the locker room.



In the first half, Ingram went 3-for-4 from three-point range and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line to pace the maroon and gray with 18 points.  As a team, NCCU shot 18-for-29 (62.1 percent) from-the-field, 7-for-10 (70 percent) from three-point range to jump out to the double-digit lead.

Coppin State came out in the second half determined to get back in the game, cutting the margin to eight at 52-44 after Sterling Smith's three-pointer with 18:17 left.

With 16:46 left in the second stanza, CSU's Brandon St. Louis free throw cut the deficit to seven at 54-47.

The host Eagles got a big boost from junior Jordan Parks' (Queens, N.Y.) top-of-the-key three-pointer to push the advantage back to 11 at 60-49 with 15:09 to go.

CSU made it 64-58 on Daquan Brickhouse's layup with 10:50 left, and that's when the maroon and gray dropped the hammer and went on a 17-0 run to put the visiting Eagles away at 81-58.  During that span, Coppin State missed seven straight shots as the host Eagles pulled away for the 87-63 win.

In the win, NCCU shot 51.6 percent from the field, 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) from three-point range, while connecting on 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe.  On the other hand, the host Eagle defense held Coppin State to 20-of-60 shooting from the field and outscored them in the paint 42-18, and 16-to-2 in fast break points.

Ingram led all scorers with 24 points as he connected on 3-of-6 shots from deep and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line.  Senior Point guard Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) ended the day with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting as he went 2-for-4 from three-point range in the win.  Parks ended up with 12 points, while both Alfonzo Houston (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and Holmes finished with 10 points respectively.

CSU (6-13, 3-3 MEAC) was led by the duo of Taariq Cephas and Michael Murray who both piled up 16 points in the second straight league loss for the Eagles.

NCCU (13-5, 4-1 MEAC) will be playing for a spot atop the league as they move on to take on Morgan State on Monday night to wrap up the season long five game homestand.  Tipoff from McDougald-McLendon Gym is set for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27.

Visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon for the latest on NCCU Athletics. 

Box Score

Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/Broadcast Media Coordinator

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former MVSU football standout featured in news article

COACH VICENT BROWN
CO-DC/LINEBACKERS COACH
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Photo Courtesy MVSU Athletics

STORRS, Connecticut -- When Vincent Brown said goodbye to professional football after he was cut by New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells during training camp in 1996, he decided it was time to get as far away from football as he could.

The game had been his whole life ever since high school, but now, it was time to chart a new course, start a new career.

So he went back to school, got his Series 7 Securities license and went to work for MassMutual as a financial broker in his hometown of Atlanta.

"Every day I'd go into the office with a coat and tie on and sit there and be miserable," Brown said. "There were some aspects of it that were OK, but it was nothing like being on the (football) grass."

During that time, Brown's son, Vincent Jr., was getting into football, playing Pop Warner, and Brown -- who during his playing days earned the nickname "The Undertaker" for his tackles that drove opponents into the ground -- felt the tug of the game pulling at him again.

"When I got cut by the Patriots, coach Parcells said to me, `You have the ability to influence others ... you've got to find a way to use it,'" Brown said. "It took me a couple of years to realize what he was saying. But it's been rewarding ever since."

From starting as a high school volunteer in 2001, Brown has used coaching to get back into football and will head into 2014 as the co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the UConn Huskies under new head coach Bob Diaco.

"There's going to be challenges," Brown said recently at a sit-down with all the assistant coaches at the Burton Family Football Complex. "There's going to be growing pains, but at the end of the day, I'm very excited to work with these young men, get their confidence up and get them playing at an extremely high level.

CONTINUE READING 

Dawson Odums signs new Southern deal

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern football coach Dawson Odums took a moment away from recruiting this week to sign his new four-year contract with the Jaguars.

Odums and Southern Athletic Director William Broussard agreed to terms, which included a 25-percent pay raise to $175,000 per year, last month. The SU System Board of Supervisors approved the deal earlier this month.

“It’s good (to have the contract signed),” Odums said Friday. “I hadn’t thought about it much. Dr. Broussard has been doing a good job since I’ve been here, and there wasn’t any doubt or question that it would get done.”

Odums led the Jaguars to an 8-4 record and their first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship in 10 years in 2013.

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Dannton Jackson shares the love at Xavier

“When it’s time, we’re going to be where we’re supposed to be.” “God doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes. I’m not going to move until God tells me to move.” --- Dannton Jackson

NEW ORLEANS  -- Xavier’s Dannton Jackson heads into Saturday night’s game against rival Dillard as his school’s all-time winningest coach because he’s not afraid to ask for help.

Not afraid to admit he doesn’t know everything, realizing he can always get better — even after posting 241 wins in just more than a decade.


Xavier men's basketball coach Dannton Jackson
Courtesy Photo by Irving Johnson III, Xavier University  

So can his assistant coaches, who are required to have mentors outside the program. So can his players, whom he’s preparing for life after the final shot clock expires.

In a male-dominated profession, full of ego and secrecy, Jackson’s list of mentors, advisers and friends reads like a Who’s Who of college basketball: North Carolina’s Roy Williams and Bill Self of Kansas. John Calipari of Memphis and Texas’ Rick Barnes.

These coaches and others have opened their programs and playbooks to Jackson, who has studied and mimicked every detail — all to make the Gold Rush better.

CONTINUE READING

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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FAMU Lady Rattlers Stop Howard Bison 87-42 at Lawson

Courtesy FAMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Women’s Basketball team snapped their two-game losing streak with an 87-42 win over Howard University, here Saturday afternoon at the Al Lawson Center in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest.

FAMU (9-11, 3-4 MEAC) was paced by Jasmine Grice as she scored a game high 34 points to lead all scorers. Kimberly Sparkman added 26 points as she connected on seven-of-nine three pointers from behind the arc, while Taneka Rubin finished with 11. Both Tierra Prothro and Rubin finished with eight boards each to lead the Lady Rattlers, while Sparkman dished out a four assists.

HU (7-11, 3-2 MEAC) was led by Victoria Gonzalez with 14 points and six boards to lead the Lady Bison.

FAMU jumped out to a 21-11 lead on a Grice free throw with 11:52 to in the first.

The Lady Rattlers would close out the first half with a 20-12 run as FAMU would go into the break with a 41-23 at the half.

FAMU finished the first half shooting 37.5 percent (12-of-32), while HU shot 34.5 percent (10-of-29).

The Lady Rattlers would open up the second half with an 11-6 run to take a 54-29 lead, capped off by a Grice jumper with 14:03 to go in the.

FAMU would extend their lead to 73-37 on a Grice layup with 6:56 to go in the game as the Lady Rattlers went on to win the contest 87-42.

The Lady Rattlers finished the game shooting 43.1 percent (31-of-72), while HU shot 31.0 percent (18-of-58).

FAMU will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 1 as they will host South Carolina State at the Al Lawson Center in a MEAC matchup in a 4 p.m. start.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's Coach Inman Records 500th Career Win in MSU Victory

Photo courtesy of Sam Jordan / TSU Athletics

Coach Inman receives game ball after reaching 500 career wins.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Head Tennessee State University women’s basketball coach Larry Inman recorded his 500^th career win Saturday night with an, 87-70, victory over Morehead State in the Gentry Center.

 

With the win, Tennessee State improved to 7-13 overall and 4-3 in the OVC. For the second time this season five players scored in double-digits for TSU led by Chelsea Hudson’s double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. Brianna Lawrence finished the game with 14 points while Rachel Allen and Alana Morris each tallied 13. Briana Morrow had 11 points in the contest.

 

Morehead State (9-11, 3-4 OVC) was led in scoring by Terrice Robinson who had a game-high 26 points. Almesha Jones, the only other player to post double-figures, had 22.

 

In the first half, TSU fell behind 13-6 with eight minutes ticked off the clock. The Lady Tigers picked it up after an old fashioned three-point play by Briana Morrow sparked a 9-0 run that put them on top, 15-13.

 

Morehead State regained the lead, 18-17, on a triple from the corner before the teams began to trade buckets.

 

The game was tied, 22-22, when TSU scored five unanswered to move ahead, 27-22. The Lady Tigers closed out the half by outscoring the Eagles, 8-4, and went into the break leading, 35-26. After trailing early, TSU outscored MSU, 29-13, during the last eight minutes of the frame.

 

MSU used a 7-2 run to open the second half and cut the deficit down to just four points, 37-33, with 16:55 left to play. The Eagles knotted the score at 40-all about one-minute later but the Lady Tigers regained the advantage, 46-40, behind a floater from Rachel Allen.

 

TSU built its advantage back up to 52-44 but the opponent scored the next four points to cut into the deficit.

 

With 7:58 on the clock, Brianna Lawrence stepped beyond the arc and buried a three to give TSU a double-digit lead, 62-52.

 

Later in the game, Alana Morris scored on a break-away lay-up after Jayda Johnson forced a turnover to put TSU on top, 72-56. The Lady Tigers never looked back.

 

Despite only connecting 1-of-7 from long range, Tennessee State shot 54 percent from the field. TSU dominated the boards, 49-23, and made 32-of-45 from the charity stripe.

 

MSU shot 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the field, including 25.0 percent (6-of-24) from three-point range. The Eagles made 26-of-32 from the free-throw line for an 81.3 percent clip.

 

TSU had 23 turnovers in the contest but held the advantage in points in the paint, 38-20, second chance points, 21-11, and bench points, 33-10.

 

The Lady Tigers return to action on Monday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. against Eastern Kentucky. TSU will welcome students from Davidson County Metro Schools for the Kid’s Day game.

 

FINAL STATS

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Gold Rush defeat Dillard, regain first place in GCAC

NEW ORLEANS -- Morris Wright scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half Saturday to help NAIA No. 16 Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 62-54 men's basketball victory against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush (16-5, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) defeated the Bleu Devils (4-7, 0-5) for the 16th time in the last 18 meetings. Xavier leads the series 79-48.

Xavier leads the GCAC by a half-game over Talladega, Edward Waters and Philander Smith. Talladega began the day in first place but lost 90-89 at Philander Smith.

Wright was 3-of-3 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line in the second half. He scored the final five points after Dillard reduced its 14-point deficit to three in the final two minutes.

Anthony Goode scored 14 points for Xavier and reached double figures for the fourth consecutive game. Wesley Pluviose-Philip had eight points and seven rebounds, and Sydney Coleman had seven points and nine rebounds.

Jarrain Jenkins had 10 points and seven rebounds for Dillard, which has dropped six straight, and Lance Theard scored nine.

Dillard scored the first two points but never led again. Xavier answered with three consecutive 3-pointers -- the first two by Xavier Rogers, the other by Goode -- in 93 seconds. Xavier led 28-21 at halftime and held its largest advantage, 44-30, after Goode's two free throws with 10:47 remaining.

Both teams shot 36 percent from the floor. Xavier dominated at the line, making its first 16 attempts of the second half and finishing 25-of-32 overall. Dillard made 10-of-15 free throws.

Xavier outrebounded Dillard 41-21. It was the eighth consecutive time and the 13th time in the last 14 meetings that the Gold Rush outrebounded the Bleu Devils.

The game attracted a Convocation Center-record crowd of 2,700. The teams drew 2,500 a year ago.

Xavier will conclude a six-game home stand with a 7 p.m. Tuesday game against Belhaven.

PHOTOS

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Gold Nuggets' second-half rally topples Dillard 71-60

NEW ORLEANS -- Sophomore guard Whitney Gathright scored nine of her 20 points during a decisive second-half run Saturday to lead NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-60 women's basketball victory against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (16-6, 6-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) defeated the Lady Bleu Devils (1-10, 1-4) for the 10th consecutive time and the 19th time in the last 20 meetings. Xavier leads the series 60-19.

Xavier trailed 43-38 after Dillard's Alena Evans made 1-of-2 free throws with 12:44 remaining, but the Gold Nuggets answered with a 28-6 run, which lasted nearly 11 minutes, and made 5-of-6 3-pointers. Gathright made a pair of 3-pointers during the surge, and a Vinnie Briggs 3-pointer put Xavier ahead to stay, 46-45, with 11:14 remaining.

Freshman Kelsey Joseph's trey, her second of the season, capped the run and gave Xavier a 66-49 lead with 1:54 remaining.

Gathright finished with a career-high-tying four 3-pointers in six attempts. Briggs scored 15 points. Xavier was 9-of-16 on 3-pointers and made its most in a game since November 2010.

Evans had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Dillard. Keylantra Taylor scored 14 points and Shea Collins had 12, all on 3-pointers.

Xavier led 29-28 at halftime.

Dillard outshot the Gold Nuggets 39.7 to 38.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 38-34. Xavier made 22-of-34 free throws -- 14-of-18 in the second half -- and Dillard made 8-of-15. Xavier blocked a season-high-tying six shots, two apiece by Whitney Gaston-Loyd and freshman Jasmine Bush.

Xavier's Carmen Holcombe grabbed eight rebounds for the second consecutive game and matched her season high.

Xavier has a 15-game home winning streak -- all the games were decided by double digits -- and has won 54 of its last 58 GCAC games. Overall, Xavier has won four straight and 12 of its last 13 games.

It was the last of four consecutive home games for the Gold Nuggets, who will visit Tougaloo at 3 p.m. next Saturday.

Photos
Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Weather has Southern baseball playing catch-up

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The weather isn’t helping Southern’s baseball coaching staff make up ground.

The arrival of weather better suited for the Winter Olympics forced cancellation of the Jaguars’ first preseason practice Friday.

“With so many kids living off campus, we didn’t want to take the chance of having them drive to campus,” coach Roger Cador said as freezing precipitation fell Friday afternoon.

Cador said the team will try to convene indoors Saturday for some conditioning and fundamentals work.

“We’ll do what we can do,” Cador said. “It’s not that big of an issue.”

Cador’s newly hired assistants, Rick Greene and Mike Partida, already are playing catch-up because of their recent arrival.

“The biggest disadvantage is ...

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B-CU men top Maryland Eastern Shore in basketball, end 17-game losing streak

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida –- Malik Jackson and Clemmye Owens both scored career highs of 27 and 20 points, respectively, to key a 69-62 win for Bethune-Cookman Saturday afternoon over Maryland Eastern Shore at Moore Gymnasium.

The law of averages played out for the Wildcats in a game featuring teams with long losing streaks. B-CU snapped a 17-game tailspin, while the visiting Hawks extended the nation's longest road losing streak to 31 games.

 

Jackson hit five 3-pointers from the floor and had 17 points in the second half to help B-CU (3-19, 0-6 in MEAC) overcame a halftime deficit. The Wildcats came out firing after intermission, turning a 32-25 deficit into a 34-32 advantage in a span of 72 seconds. Owens was also a key to the rally after the break, canning four 3-pointers and scoring 13 points.

 

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NFL Bengals hired Brian Braswell, Morehouse coach as assistant offensive line coach

CINCINNATI, Ohio  -- The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that they've hired Brian Braswell as the team's newest assistant offensive line and offensive quality control coach. The position was previously held by Kyle Caskey, who was promoted as the team's running backs coach after Hue Jackson slid into the vacant offensive coordinator spot.

Braswell will work closely with Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Paul Alexander and also handle other game preparation duties.

 

Braswell has coached since 2005 at Morehouse College, an NCAA Division II school in Atlanta, Ga. For the last six seasons (2008-13), he served as Offensive Line coach and run game coordinator. He also coached the field goal and extra point teams, and he developed and installed strength programs for athletes at the school.

 

Braswell has two brief NFL stints on his ...

 

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JUCO QB Foster Heading to North Carolina A&T Aggies

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- When you think about all around success in an athlete, former Valhalla High and Southwestern College quarterback FRANK FOSTER comes to mind.

Foster finished a brilliant season with the Jaguars and has accepted a football scholarship to North Carolina A&T of the Mid Eastern Conference. The Aggies finished 7-4 a year ago.

As a sophomore for the Jaguars, Foster completed 210 of 332 passes threw for 2,213 yards and 18 touchdowns. His impressive performance doesn’t stop there, as his legs are just as dangerous. Foster rushed 103 times for 348 yards, and 10 TDs.

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Man accused of killing S.C. State student-athlete appears in court

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- A family cried out in grief Saturday as a man accused of killing a South Carolina State University football player appeared before a judge.

“I would have given my life for him. Why didn’t he take me?” one woman said during the hearing.

S.C. State industrial engineering technology major Brandon Robinson died Friday after being shot.

After a manhunt that drew in the assistance of several agencies, 19-year-old Justin Bernard Singleton of Charleston was arrested early Saturday morning.

Singleton has been charged with murder.

A warrant claims Singleton was arguing with Robinson outside of K Hall of Hugine Suites on Friday. Singleton then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Robinson in the neck.

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Justin Bernard Singleton charged with murder of Brandon Robinson at South Carolina University

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  Police arrested a suspect early Saturday in the fatal shooting at South Carolina State University. Justin Bernard Singleton, 19, was charged with Friday's murder of 20-year-old student Brandon Robinson, according to a statement from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

The two were arguing, when Singleton pulled out a gun and fired at Robinson, hitting him in the neck, police said.

After the shooting in Orangeburg County, police initially started an manhunt for a total of four possible suspects.

"He was a very nice young man," university President Thomas Elzey said of Robinson, fighting back tears in a brief statement to reporters Friday. "And it hurts. It hurts us all."

Elzey said "we are pulling together as a community," announcing that counselors would be made available to grieving students.

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ASU Interview Super Bowl Bound QB Tarvaris Jackson

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- In our first Google Hangout, we chatted with former Alabama State quarterback and current Seattle Seahawk Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson is in his eighth NFL season, and his second with the Seahawks as they prepare to play in Super Bowl 48 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Feb. 2.



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State's Cox joins Senior Bowl Roster

JSU''s QUA COXCOURTESY SWAC.ORG

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Two-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and Jackson State defensive back, Qua Cox, will play in the 2014 Reese's Senior Bowl.

Cox received the invite two days prior to the event and will join the South Team and Coach Gus Bradley. The game is slated for Saturday, January 25, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Kick-off is set for 3 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on the NFL Network.

During the postseason, Cox was named a Sheridan Broadcast Network (SBN), Boxtorow, Heritage Radio Sports Network and a BSTN All-American. He finished his senior campaign with 32 tackles and six pass break-ups (second on the team) helping guide JSU to back-to-back SWAC Eastern Division crowns and football championship game appearances.

The Tuskegee, Ala. native was named to the 2013 Sports Network Buck Buchanan and the 2013 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) preseason watch lists. He was also named The Sports Network preseason All-American. During his career at JSU, Cox recorded 10 interceptions, 145 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks.

Cox makes his second all-star game appearance after playing in the Medal of Honor Bowl on January 11.

 

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

TSU's Edwards to Play in the Senior Bowl on Saturday

#73 Kadeem Edwards
Courtesy TSU Athletics
 

MOBILE, Alabama -- On Saturday, Tennessee State guard Kadeem Edwards will suit up for the North Team in the 2014 Reese’s Senior Bowl at 3 p.m.

 

Edwards is just one of 10 players from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and one of two players from an HBCU.
 

“I thought Kadeem came out and showed he belonged here with some of the other top lineman in college football,” former TSU and current Jacksonville Jaguars coach Kevin Mashack said. “He more than held his own and represented Big Blue very well.”
 

Edwards has had the opportunity in this week’s practices to protect and go up against some of the top collegiate players from around the country while also receiving instructions and evaluations from the Jaguars’ coaching staff.
 

The Sanford, Fla. native, who was named an All-American by the Associated Press and Sports Network, was the top offensive lineman for the Tigers who finished the season 10-4 overall, 6-2 and second place in the OVC and earned an at-large berth to the FCS Playoffs.
 

The senior helped block for Tim Broughton who rushed for 1,146 yards (25th-most nationally) and six touchdowns and for a quarterback duo that combined for 26 passes touchdowns and also four interceptions in 14 games.
 

Edwards was a four-year starter for Big Blue, amassing 43 career starts. He was also a member of the President's List, the All-OVC Academic Team and is a National Football Foundation Student Athlete.
 

He is the first Tennessee State player to be invited to the Senior Bowl since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in 2008 (and the first TSU offensive lineman since Michael Thompson in 2000).
 

Edwards and the rest of the North Squad will square off against the South on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
 

The game can be seen on the NFL Network at 3 p.m.
 

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

South Carolina State University football player shot dead on Orangeburg campus, 4 suspects on the loose

Brandon A. Robinson

High School: Orangeburg-Wilkson

High School: Orangeburg-Wilkson

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- A manhunt is underway for four suspects after a student was shot dead around 1:30 p.m. on the South Carolina State University campus in Orangeburg on Friday.  Brandon A. Robinson, 20, was taken to a local hospital after being shot outside the Hugine Suites, a dorm complex on campus. He later died.

Robinson was a defensive lineman on the school's football team. The 6-foot tall, 230 pound redshirt junior was a defensive lineman for the Bulldogs.

Police have yet to reveal a motive for the murder.  The entire campus was on lockdown as police pursued ...

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S.C. State football player killed; four sought in manhunt

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  A South Carolina State University football player was shot and killed outside Hugine Suites the day before his stepfather's funeral.

Brandon A. Robinson, 20, of Goff Ave., Orangeburg, was shot at about 2 p.m. Friday. The S.C. State football roster says he was an Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School graduate.

The autopsy has been scheduled for Saturday, the same day as the funeral for his stepfather, Steven Rolley Sr.

"South Carolina State University is saddened today. We are saddened by the loss of one of our own students," President Thomas Elzey said in a release. "Our deepest condolences go to the family of the victim."



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Florida A&M Releases 2014 Rattler Football Schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Jan.24) -- FAMU Athletics announced the 2014 Rattler Football schedule in a press conference today at the Al Lawson Center. Present at the press conference was head coach Earl Holmes, interim athletic director Michael Smith and the entire Rattler football coaching staff. The theme for this season was also revealed at the junket. “Set the Record Straight,” is the mantra for 2014.

Dr. Larry Robinson, FAMU interim president, is fully involved in the process and is excited for the release of the new schedule. "We have heard our fans loud and clear and nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our student athletes and our fans. We will take these factors into serious consideration as we finalize the details of our 2014 football schedule," Robinson said.

Smith echoed Robinson’s sentiment. “We are proud that we were able to release the schedule a full month ahead of last year. As we move forward with solidifying times. We will ensure to take all factors into consideration as we create an environment optimal for the Rattler spirit we know will come with a new season,” Smith said.

The schedule is highlighted by five home games for the second year in a row. The Rattlers open the season on the road with the renewing of their SWAC rivalry with the Jackson State Tigers on Aug. 30. The following week, the Rattlers travel to Miami to take on the Hurricanes of the University of Miami on Sept. 6. FAMU welcomes Coastal Carolina to Bragg Stadium in the first-ever meeting of the schools for Hall of Fame weekend on Sept. 20. The Rattlers close out September in Nashville, Tenn., as they take on the “Big Blue” Tigers of Tennessee State on Sept. 27.

The Rattlers open a two week home stand with Morgan State on Oct. 4, followed by Savannah State on Oct. 11. The Rattlers will visit the nation’s capital on Oct. 18., as they take on the Howard Bison, followed by a trip to Greensboro, NC on Oct. 25 to face the NC A&T Aggies.

Norfolk State returns to Tallahassee on Nov. 1, which will be homecoming. The Bulldogs of S.C. State visit Bragg Stadium on Nov.8 to close out our home schedule.

The final two games feature a trip to Dover, Del., to battle the Hornets of Delaware St., on Nov. 15. The last regular-season finale in the newly renovated Florida Citrus Bowl will be on Nov. 22, against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

Holmes was pleased that the schedule provides an opportunity for Rattler fans to see the team grow. “We took our lumps and growing pains last year. That has fueled us in preparing to embark on the journey we set out to accomplish, which is to restore FAMU football to its rightful place, atop the MEAC. We look forward to playing five home games again and seven times in the state of Florida. I want to thank athletic director Michael Smith and the entire athletic department for putting together a solid schedule, We are going to do our best to make the Rattler nation proud of us on and off the field,” Holmes said.

2014 FAMU Football Schedule Release Opponent Date Location Series Record Time Jackson State Aug. 30 Jackson, Miss. 7-8-2 TBA Univ. of Miami Sept. 6 Miami, Fla. 1-8-0 TBA COASTAL CAROLINA SEPT. 20 Tallahassee, Fla. 0-0-0 TBA Tennessee St. Sept. 27 Nashville, Tenn. 24-28-0 TBA MORGAN ST. OCT. 4 Tallahassee, Fla. 20-6-0 TBA SAVANNAH ST. OCT. 11 Tallahassee, Fla. 6-0-0 TBA Howard Univ. Oct. 18 Washington D.C. 27-9-0 TBA N.C. A&T Oct. 25 Greensboro, NC 43-13-2 TBA NORFOLK ST. Nov. 1 Tallahassee, Fla. 13-1-0 TBA S.C. STATE Nov. 8 Tallahassee, Fla. 33-22-3 TBA Delaware St. Nov. 15 Dover, Del. 22-9-0 TBA Bethune-Cookman Nov. 22 Orlando, Fla. 48-18-1 TBA Home games in bold caps.

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WSSU's Owens enjoyed time at all-star game

DONNIE OWENS

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State’s Donnie Owens won’t show up in anybody’s mock NFL Draft or on a list of draft prospects to watch.

But Owens, a 6-3, 295-pound defensive lineman, was excited at how he played last weekend at the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl in Carson, Calif. His goal was to get noticed by the NFL scouts who were there most of the week watching practices.

Owens started on the line for Team American and had two tackles and a sack that forced a fumble.

“That was the highlight of my week, obviously,” Owens said. “My mom (Yolanda Gerald) had a little party to watch the game, and I guess she couldn’t believe it when I got the sack.”

Owens, an All-CIAA selection who ...

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