Gold Rush 12th in NAIA; two ranked opponents are next

NEW ORLEANS — After five consecutive weeks of climbing, Xavier University of Louisiana dropped one place to 12th Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25. But the Gold Rush will have significant opportunities to climb again during the closing weeks of the regular season.
   
One opportunity was later Tuesday evening at fourth-ranked William Carey, which Xavier defeated in overtime in December. Then the Gold Rush (18-6, 7-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) will play a GCAC opponent, No. 24 Philander Smith, at 7:30 p.m. Monday at XU's Convocation Center.
   
Xavier is in the top 25 for the 32nd consecutive time — the longest active streak in the division — and the 45th time in the last 46 polls. Xavier is one of 10 schools in the top 25 in every poll this season.
   
The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's other top-25 team is Talladega, which remained seventh — this time in a tie with Emmanuel (Ga.) — and is in the top 10 for the sixth consecutive poll.
   
Cal State San Marcos received 9-of-10 first-place votes and is No. 1 for the third consecutive week.

The top 25:

1. Cal State San Marcos
2. Pikeville
3. Freed-Hardeman
4. William Carey
5. Southwestern Assemblies of God
6. Columbia (Mo.)
7. (tie) Talladega
7. (tie) Emmanuel (Ga.)
9. Vanguard
10. Culver-Stockton
11. Rocky Mountain
12. Xavier
13. Concordia (Calif.)
14. Mid-America Christian
15. Rio Grande
16. Benedictine (Kan.)
17. Evangel
18. LSU-Shreveport
19. Georgetown (Ky.)
20. Montana State-Northern
21. St. Gregory's
22. Biola
23. Wiley
24. Philander Smith
25. Martin Methodist


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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After 2 straight losses, Nuggets fall from 20th to 23rd

NEW ORLEANS — Two consecutive losses moved Xavier University of Louisiana down but not out of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 on Tuesday.
   
The Gold Nuggets (17-8, 7-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) dropped from 20th to 23rd. It's the fourth consecutive week and the 49th time in the last 52 polls that Xavier is in the top 25.
   
The other GCAC team in the top 25 is Talladega, which climbed from 22nd to 20th.
   
Vanguard received 9-of-10 first-place votes and is No. 1 for the eighth time in as many polls this season. Vanguard and No. 2 Freed-Hardeman are the only unbeaten teams in the division. It's the fourth consecutive week that Vanguard, Freed-Hardeman and Westminster (Utah) rank 1-2-3.
   
New rankings will be announced February 18.
   
Xavier visited William Carey in a non-conference game Tuesday. The Gold Nuggets will play at home at 5:30 p.m. Monday against GCAC opponent Philander Smith at the Convocation Center.

The top 25:

1. Vanguard
2. Freed-Hardeman
3. Westminster (Utah)
4. Campbellsville
5. Oklahoma Baptist
6. Oklahoma City
7. The Master's
8. Georgetown (Ky.)
9. Our Lady of the Lake
10. Westmont
11. Wiley
12. Columbia (Mo.)
13. MidAmerica Nazarene
14. Baker
15. Hope International
16. (tie) Lewis-Clark State
16. (tie) John Brown
18. Bethel (Tenn.)
19. Montana State-Northern
20. Talladega
21. Cumberlands
22. Martin Methodist
23. Xavier
24. Central Methodist
25. LSU-Shreveport

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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MVSU Comegy adds five to football coaching staff

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  --  Mississippi Valley State head football coach Rick Comegy has started the process of building his staff.

Five assistant coaches have begun their duties for the Delta Devil program, including three who arrive in the Mississippi delta from Comegy's old stomping grounds, Jackson State.

The new additions include: Jack Bush (Recruiting Coordinator/Strength Coach), James "Jimmy" Joe (Wide Receivers), Jonathan Thompson (Defensive Line), Gregory Black (Offensive Line) and Darrin Hayes (Defensive Coordinator).

Hayes previously spent the last eight seasons as defensive coordinator at JSU under Comegy. Last season, the Tigers finished third in the SWAC in total defense, allowing 365.6 yards per game. In 2009 the "Dark Side Defense" was ranked first in the SWAC for the third consecutive season. The Tigers were ranked first in total defense, pass defense, and red zone defense. Before JSU, Hayes served at Tuskegee University as defensive coordinator and Lane College. He was the defensive coordinator from 2000-02 before being elevated to head coach at Lane in 2003. His career began as defensive backs coach at Knoxville College in 1994. The Cleveland, Ohio native is a 1993 graduate of Knoxville College where he received his bachelor's degree in business management before earning his master's in Sports Administration.

Black most recently served as the offensive line coach at JSU, where he worked for the past three seasons. Last season, the Tigers finished fourth in the SWAC in rushing offense and fifth in pass offense. Following the season, three JSU offensive linemen were tabbed All-SWAC, including two on the First Team. Prior to his time in Jackson, he spent five seasons as the offensive line coach at Tuskegee University. Black is a 1988 Central State graduate, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education.

Thompson previously spent the last six seasons as the defensive line coach at JSU. Last season, two JSU defensive linemen were named All-SWAC, including Javancy Jones who was named First Team and Freshman of the Year. Under Thompson's leadership, former JSU standout Marcus Benard set JSU's single season sack record in 2008. Thompson joined the JSU staff after spending one season as defensive line coach at Savannah State. Prior to his stint at Savannah State, he was the defensive line coach at Central State from 2004-05. From 2001-02, he served as the defensive line coach with the Dayton Skyhawks of the Indoor Arena Football League. The Miami native is a 2000 graduate of Central State where he earned a bachelor's degree in health and recreation.

Joe arrives at MVSU after spending three seasons as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Miles College, where he introduced the Gulf Coast and No Huddle Offense. He, however, made a name for himself at Florida A&M, where he began as Recruiting Coordinator before working his way up to Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. In his 11-year tenure at FAMU from 1994-2005, Joe helped lead the Rattlers to four MEAC championships (1995-96, 1998, 2000), a Black National Championship (1998) and seven straight playoff appearances. During Joe's tenure at FAMU, he helped produce 11 All-Americans and 10 NFL players, including Earl Holmes. Prior to his time at FAMU, he served at Central State University from 1981-1993 as Assistant Head Coach and Associate Athletic Director. While at CSU, he helped produce two NAIA national championship teams (1990, 1992) and six Black College championships (1986-90, 1993). While at CSU, seven players were named All-Americans and 15 played in the NFL, including former Philadelphia Eagle defensive lineman Hugh Douglas. Joe earned his bachelor's degree in Recreation and Rehabilitation Theory from Morgan State University.

After serving as defensive backs coach at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo., Bush has agreed to become to the Recruiting Coordinator and Strength Coach for the Delta Devils. Bush also previously worked as the Director of Football Operations at Jackson State under Comegy in 2007. He served as the defensive line/special teams coach at JSU in 2006. In 1995, Bush served as Comegy's defensive coordinator at Central State University. His first collegiate stint was at Johnson C. Smith University, where he served as defensive coordinator from 1988-89 before working as defensive line coach at Central State from 1989-90, helping the Marauders to a No.1 finish in total defense and a Black College National Championship. He was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Bowling Green State University, 1991-93; an NFL scout for the New England Patriots, East Coast Region, 1993-94; and head football coach and Physical Education Department Chair at Randallstown High School in Maryland from 1994-95. In 1995, Bush returned to Central State and served as defensive coordinator in 1995 and head coach in 1996. Central State went 10-1 and was named NAIA National Champions. From 1997-98, Bush worked as Assistant to the President for Football Development at Lincoln University (Mo.). Then, in 1998, he was appointed head football coach at Lincoln University (Mo.). He later accepted the position as tight ends coach at Alabama State University (2003-04). Bush is a 1971 Lincoln University alumni, with a bachelor's degree in physical education.  

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

SU tabbed to win SWAC West

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Southern’s baseball team was picked to win the Western Division of the Southwest Athletic Conference, while Alabama State was chosen to win the East in the league’s preseason voting.

Jackson State’s Charles Tillery was voted Preseason Player of the Year, while Alabama State’s T.J. Renda (Pitcher of the Year) and Emmanuel Marrero (Defensive Preseason Player of the Year) also earned preseason accolades.

The squads were voted by the league’s 10 head coaches and sports information directors. Head coaches and sports information directors were not allowed to vote for players from their respective teams.

Defending Western Division regular-season champion Southern was predicted to repeat with 74 points, including seven first-place votes. Prairie View A&M was tagged second with 72 points and eight first-place votes. Arkansas-Pine Bluff garnered 57 points for third along with five votes for first. Texas Southern (55) and Grambling (32) closed things out.

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ASU Baseball Hornets Picked To Win The Division; Renda, Marrero Lead Six All-SWAC Selections

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State baseball team was selected to finish first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division, while six players were named to preseason All-SWAC team.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason team was announced Monday, and was voted on by the league's 10 head coaches and sports information contacts.

"We're honored to be picked to finish first, but we all know there are some very good teams in our division," third-year Hornets' Head Coach Mervyl Melendez said. "The story will be told on field in between the lines throughout the season. It's nice to see that we have a quality team with talented players, but you just have to go play."

T.J. Renda was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year and Emmanuel Marrero was named Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.

Renda (6-0, 200, Jr., Orlando, Fla.), a preseason first-team All-SWAC selection, was a 2013 first-team All-SWAC, SWAC player of the year, and a first team American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) selection. He recorded a 9-1 record with a 2.19 ERA. He was a two-time SWAC Player of the Week and a Collegebaseballinsider.com Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week.  Last year's weekly awards followed Renda's season-opening no-hitter against Chicago State when he recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts. Renda led the SWAC in strikeouts (85), wins (nine) and ERA (2.38).

Marrero (6-0, 190, Jr.; Caguas, Puerto Rico), who also earned preseason second-team All-SWAC honors, finished last season with a .953 fielding percentage along with 63 putouts. He led ASU with 118 assists and was second on the team in fielding double plays with 14.

"We are happy for T.J. and Emmanuel for the honors that they have received, as well as their teammates that were selected," Melendez said. "Now the real work begins for them because they have to go out there and get it done."

Joining Renda on the All-SWAC first team are outfielders Waldyvan Estrada and Dillon Cooper, and catcher Richard Gonzalez.

Estrada (6-0, 205, Jr.; Loiza, Puerto Rico) was a 2013 second-team All-SWAC and second team ABCA selection. He finished first in the SWAC in RBI (51) and second in total bases (95), home runs (seven) and RBI (68).

Cooper (5-11, 220, Soph.; Orlando Fla.) was the 2013 SWAC Freshman of the Year a 2013 Louisville Slugger Division I Freshman All-American. Cooper hit .301 with three home runs, 26 RBIs and 59 hits.

Gonzalez (C, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Caguas, Puerto Rico) finished first in the SWAC in runners picked off with seven in 2013 and was second in on-base percentage (.472). Gonzalez led the Hornets in hitting with a .348 batting average.

Joining Marrero on the All-SWAC second team was third baseman Branden Castro.

Castro (6-2, 220, Soph., Orlando, Fla.) saw action in 46 games with 45 starts. He hit .251 with two HRs, 24 RBIs and 44 hits.

The Hornets open the 2014 season at home this Friday in a three-game series against Eastern Kentucky. First pitch Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 6 p.m., with Sunday's game set for a 1 p.m. start.


COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Jackson State filling out coaching staff

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State football is expected to name Destry Wright as its running back coach, a university source told The Clarion-Ledger.

The former standout for the Tigers holds the school’s record in single-season rushihng (1,644 yards) and career rushing (4,050). He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000 as an undrafted free agent. But in a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, he broke his right leg and dislocated his ankle, ending his football career without playing a single regular season game.

Wright has been working as a ...
 

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Grambling State earns first DI victory in over 700 days

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Grambling State ended numerous losing streaks on Monday night as the Tigers knocked off Alcorn State 95-80 to earn a SWAC home win. Grambling State hadn’t won a game against a Division I opponent since March 4, 2012 when they knocked off Alabama A&M for a 75-72 overtime win.

The win for Grambling State snapped a 45-game Division I losing streak and 28-game losing streak in the SWAC for the Tigers. Grambling State defeated Central Baptist earlier in the year to snap a 32-game overall losing streak as the Tigers finished 0-28 during the 2012-13 season. Grambling State fans stormed the court after the win and it had to be a unique and relieving feeling for people that root for the Tigers.

Grambling State is now 2-18 on the season — 1-10 in the SWAC — but the pressure of ending that losing streak is probably a huge relief for everyone involved with the Grambling State men’s basketball program.

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Hampton Lady Pirates Win Offensive Struggle Over UMES

HAMPTON, Virginia – The Hampton University women's basketball team grinded its way to another 20-win season on Monday evening, holding off Maryland Eastern Shore 54-35 at the HU Convocation Center.

The Lady Pirates (20-4, 11-0 MEAC) have won 20 games for the fifth straight season.

Hampton, which is on a 10-game winning streak, has won 41 straight games against MEAC foes (including conference tournament games) and 17 straight home MEAC games. The Lady Pirates tied their season low for points allowed in a game.

Senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) was the only Lady Pirate in double figures, scoring a game-high 25 points – 18 in the first half – on eight field goals, three 3-pointers, and six free throws. Freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.) added eight points.

Redshirt-freshman guard Sade King (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) scored seven points off the bench, and redshirt-sophomore forward Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md.) grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds.

Sophomore forward Tyler Hobgood (Oxford, N.C.) blocked a season-high five shots.

UMES held an 8-7 lead at the 13:18 mark of the first half after Shawnee Sweeney hit a 3-pointer, before the Lady Pirates went on a 15-0 run to take a 22-8 lead with 7:08 left in the half after a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Ryan Jordan (Manassas, Va.).

The Lady Hawks didn't connect on a field goal until Mariah McCoy hit a trey with 6:01 left in the half to cut the lead to 22-11, before senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) hit a jumper to give Hampton a 24-11 lead with 5:46 left.

Hamilton hit two free throws at the 4:38 mark to put Hampton up 26-13, before adding a layup at the 3:46 mark to put the Lady Pirates up 28-15.

King's layup with 38 seconds left gave Hampton its largest lead of the half at 32-15.

Taryana Kelly hit a jumper with 15 seconds left, sending the Lady Pirates into the locker room with a 32-17 lead. UMES shot just 12.5 percent (4-for-32) from the floor in the first half and turned the ball over 12 times.

The Lady Pirates opened the second half by scoring 11 of the first 16 points, taking a 43-22 lead with 12:44 left to play after a layup from Tate-DeFreitas. UMES answered with a 9-2 run, cutting the lead to 45-31 with 8:28 left after a free throw from Sweeney.

Hamilton stopped the run with a jumper with 6:35 left, putting the Lady Pirates up 47-31 – then, after a Kelly layup cut the lead to 47-33, Hamilton hit a layup of her own to give Hampton a 49-33 lead with 4:10 remaining.

Kelly's layup, which came at the 5:39 mark, was UMES' last field goal of the game.

Hamilton hit a trey with 2:23 left to put Hampton up 52-35, then Hobgood added two free throws with 1:26 left to push the game to its final margin.

The Lady Pirates shot 26.3 percent (18-for-72) from the floor, but out-rebounded UMES 60-57 and turned 21 Hawks turnovers into 17 points.

UMES (5-16, 1-8 MEAC) shot just 12.5 percent (9-for-67) from the floor, managing just four field goals in the first half and five field goals in the second half. Six of the Lady Hawks' nine field goals came from behind the arc.

Sweeney led UMES with 15 points.

The Lady Pirates will cross the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Saturday to take on Norfolk State in Echols Hall at 4 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.

Box Score

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

A&T Downs Bethune-Cookman

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- They live by it and they played by it on Monday evening as the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team’s defense was in full effect in a dominating 66-35 victory over Bethune-Cookman.

The Aggies (18-4 overall) controlled the game on both sides of the court as they improved to 8-2 in the MEAC. The Wildcats (8-16) dropped to 5-7 in the league.

“We were a little disappointed that we let Florida A&M score over 70 points on us in our last game,” head coach Tarrell Robinson said. “We wanted to come out in this game and really focus on our defense. It was a great effort by the ladies and it was good to see how well they shared the ball.”

Bethune-Cookman cut A&T’s lead to 13-10 with a 3-pointer from Shakeyia Colyer with 13:03 in the first half. But the Aggie’s defense began to emerge, causing 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Aggies leaped on a 14-5 run to close out the half with a 27-15 advantage heading into the locker room. Senior forward Tracy King ignited A&T’s offense with 10 points in the opening half.

By the second half, A&T's pressure started to overwhelm the Wildcats. A&T used BCU's struggles on offense to spark its offense. The Aggies used a 23-12 rally to bust open the game, taking a 50-27 lead with nine minutes remaining in the game. The Aggies closed out the final minutes holding the Wildcats to just eight more points.

Debbie Smith led all players in scoring with 13 points. King added 12 points, five assists, and a game-high four steals. Ariel Bursey chipped in 10 points. Aprill McRae and Christina Carter added eight points each while Carter tabbed a game-leading eight assists. DeAndra Davis led the Aggies on the boards with eight rebounds.

Bethune-Cookman was led by Chastity Rene Taylor and Colyer who finished with 11 points each. The Wildcats shot just 23.8 percent from the field.

The Aggies scored 28 points off BCU’s 25 turnovers and took a 40-12 advantage in the paint, with 30 of those points coming in the second half alone.

A&T will visit Savannah State on Saturday, Feb. 15 and S.C. State on Mon. Feb. 17 for a pair of MEAC games.

A&T 66, BCU 35

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WSSU assistant Brown grieving loss of 'best friend'

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Jamal Brown, an assistant men’s coach at Winston-Salem State, has been involved in a lot of college basketball games, but next week’s game against Shaw will be more personal than most of the others.

The teams will meet on Feb. 17 at the Gaines Center in a game originally scheduled for Wednesday but moved to next week because of the forecast for a winter storm. The women’s game will start at 5:30 p.m., and the doubleheader will be part of the Play for Kay initiative started to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer.
 Brown, in his first season with the Rams, is still grieving for his wife, Lola, who lost her 10-year battle with breast cancer Oct. 22. She was 38, and Jamal Brown said it was a fight to the finish.

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Late Run Lifts Cold Hampton Pirates Over UMES

HAMPTON, Virginia – For nearly 33 minutes Monday night, the Hampton University men's basketball team couldn't buy a basket – or a free throw. But a late run propelled the Pirates past Maryland Eastern Shore 71-65 at the HU Convocation Center.

The Pirates (13-11, 8-3 MEAC) kept themselves in the thick of the MEAC race.

Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.), the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, led the Pirates with 17 points and 14 rebounds, recording his fourth double-double of the season. Senior guard Ramon Mercado (Hollywood, Fla.) added 13 points behind three 3-pointers.

Sophomore guard Ke'Ron Brown (Savannah, Ga.) added 11 points.

Mercado hit two free throws with 7:22 left in the second half to cut UMES' lead to 53-50, then he tied the game at 54-54 with a corner trey at the 5:35 mark. Junior center Emmanuel Okoroba (Garland, Texas) then went 1-for-2 at the free throw line to put Hampton up 55-54 with 5:10 left.

Another Mercado trey with 4:45 left put the Pirates up 58-54, then sophomore guard Breon Key (Hampton, Va.) hit a breakaway layup with 4:00 left in the game to put Hampton up 61-54 and cap a 15-1 Pirates run.

UMES went from 10:41 to the 3:13 mark of the second half without a field goal.

The Hawks cut the lead to 61-57 with 3:13 left on a Hakeem Baxter layup, before Maxwell hit a floater at the 2:45 mark to give the Pirates a 63-57 lead.

Key added a jumper with 1:50 left to give Hampton a 65-59 lead, before Baxter cut into that gap with a trey on the next possession. Meikle answered with a dunk with a minute left to put the Pirates up 67-62, before Baxter hit another 3-pointer.

Sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.) answered with a strong drive to the lane, hitting the open layup with 16 seconds left to put the Pirates up 69-65.

Baxter drove into the lane, but was blocked by Meikle with 10 seconds left, before Brown hit two free throws to give the Pirates a 71-65 lead – and the win.

UMES had just four field goals in the final 10:41.

The Pirates led 11-9 after a layup from Pressley with 16:17 left in the first half, before UMES rattled off six straight points to take a 15-11 lead after a jumper from Francis Ezeiru at the 13:57 mark.

Maxwell tied the game at 19-19 with a tip-in with 7:35 left in the half, but the Hawks went on an 11-1 run, taking a 30-20 lead with 3:49 left in the half after a 3-pointer from Pina Guillaume. UMES held the Pirates off for the remainder of the half, but Meikle hit a jumper with 59 seconds left to cut UMES' edge to 34-27.

The Hawks took that lead into the half, thanks to 15 points from KyRee Jones.

UMES took a 43-32 lead with 15:26 left in the second half after Jones nailed a deep 3-pointer, before the Pirates scored the next six points to cut the lead to 43-38 after a breakaway layup from Brown with 13:11 left.

Hampton shot 43.8 percent (28-for-64) from the floor – buoyed by a 16-for-30 effort in the second half – despite going just 4-for-18  (22.2 percent) from behind the arc. The Pirates also held a 43-34 edge on the glass.

UMES (3-18, 1-8 MEAC) shot 33.3 percent (16-for-48) from the floor, but struggled to a 6-for-23 clip in the second half.

Jones led UMES with 27 points.

The Pirates will cross the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Saturday to take on rival Norfolk State in Echols Hall at 6 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.

Box Score

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Grice is right as FAMU women best NCCU women

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Too much Jasmine Grice.

Grice scored 18 points in the first half against N.C. Central as Florida A&M built an 11-point halftime lead en route to a 70-63 win on Monday.

Grice left McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium with a game-high 34 points.

“You have to know where Grice is at all times,” NCCU coach Vanessa Taylor said. “She’s a high-powered offensive machine by herself.”

Another slow start clipped the Lady Eagles’ wings. NCCU outscored FAMU 35-31 in the second half, but the snail’s pace early on, plus 15 missed layups and 10 botched free throws, put NCCU in a bad way.

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TSU Lady Tigers Down Murray State in Play4Kay Game

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Despite getting off to a slow start, the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team defeated Murray State, 72-65, to pick up its fifth straight home win Monday night in the Gentry Center.

Tennessee State (10-14, 7-4 OVC) led by as many as 18 points and had to hold off a late Murray State (8-14, 1-9 OVC) rally in the victory.

Chelsea Hudson led all TSU scorers with 16 points while Jayda Johnson scored 11. Briana Morrow and Jemilah Leonard each finished with 10 points.

Murray State was paced by Jessica Winfrey’s 17 points while Taylor Porter (14) and Janssen Starks (11) also posted double-figures.



Without its starting point guard the TSU offense was stagnant early on. Midway through the opening frame, the teams had played to an 11-11 tie.

Over the next six minutes there were three ties and four lead changes. TSU was trailing, 20-19, when the Lady Tigers used a 14-1 run, fueled by six points from Briana Morrow, to capture a 34-21 advantage.

With 34 seconds on the clock, Murray State scored after going five minutes without a bucket before TSU went into halftime with a, 36-24, led.

TSU opened up the second half with six unanswered points but MSU responded with a rally and cut the deficit down to 49-40.

On the next possession, Jemilah Leonard buried a triple to put the Lady Tigers back on top by double-digits. TSU went ahead, 63-47, when I’mani Davis scored on a break-away lay-up at the 6:21 mark but the visitors wouldn’t go away.

The Racers went on a 14-3 run to slice the Lady Tiger lead down to just, 66-61, with less than three minutes remaining.

TSU was leading, 68-63, when Murray State was forced to foul.

The Lady Tigers were able to make enough free-throws to keep the Racers at bay.

Tennessee State returns to action on Saturday, Feb.15 across town at Belmont. Game is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Curb Event Center.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU's Leonard, Edwards Invited to NFL Combine

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State football team will have a pair of former players competing in the NFL Combine which will take place in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium from February 22-25. 

 

A.C. Leonard and Kadeem Edwards will try to improve their draft stock by impressing scouts and coaches in the nationally televised event.

 

Leonard earned All-American honors from the Associated Press for the second-straight year despite battling injuries for most of the season. The junior caught 34 passes for 441 yards and five touchdowns for the Tigers who finished second in the OVC and earned an at-large berth to the FCS Playoffs (the team's first berth since 1999). He declared for the NFL Draft despite having one year of eligibility remaining.

Edwards, who was one of two OVC players to compete in the Senior Bowl this season (along with Garoppolo) 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 (where they topped Butler in the first round). Edwards 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. He was named to four FCS All-American teams following the season.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Doug Williams joins Redskins front office

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  The Washington Redskins have hired Doug Williams as a front office personnel executive.  The Redskins confirmed the move. The team’s former Super Bowl-winning quarterback rejoins the franchise to work for General Manager Bruce Allen.

Williams previously worked for Allen with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“It’s great to be home again,” Williams said in a written statement released by the team. “It also is great to be affiliated with a GM and coach who are so focused and dedicated to winning. I have only one mission: to help this team obtain the talent it needs so the fans can experience the Super Bowl they deserve.”

Williams and the Redskins had been discussing the job in recent weeks, and by last week the hiring appeared inevitable. It is not clear if Williams considered any other job offers.

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SU Jaguars look to extend winning streak at Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi — The Southern men’s basketball has won four consecutive games since suffering its only Southwestern Athletic Conference loss.

It had its easiest conference victory of the season when it rolled to a 104-54 victory at Grambling on Saturday night.

The Jaguars are showing signs of a strong finishing kick as the stretch run gets under way.

But after little more than a scrimmage against a team that has won two games in two seasons Saturday, the first-place Jaguars (13-10, 9-1) expect a stiffer challenge when they visit Jackson State (8-14, 4-6) Monday. Tip-off will be approximately 7:50 p.m.

“It’s all about being consistent this time of year,” Southern coach Roman Banks said.

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TSU Lady Tigers Play4Kay on Monday vs. Murray State

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | VIDEO

GAMEDAY

The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team will return to action on Monday, Feb.10 with an OVC match-up against Murray State. With only six games remaining in a tight play-off race, each game is crucial. The contest is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start in the Gentry Center.  All fans are asked to wear pink to the game in support of the  fight against breast cancer.

 

THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Tennessee State is coming off a dominating, 96-61, win over Austin Peay on Saturday. The victory improved TSU to 9-14 (6-4 OVC) and moved the team into third place in the East Division. It was the Lady Tigers’ fourth consecutive home win.  TSU has won four of its last six.

 

TSU is averaging 70.0 points per outing while shooting 38.1 percent from the field. Chelsea Hudson leads the team in scoring with 15.7 points per game while Rachel Allen (12.0 ppg), Alana Morris (7.4 ppg) and Brianna Lawrence Davis (7.0 ppg) round out the top scorers for TSU.

 

The Lady Tigers, under second year head coach Larry Joe Inman, returned four letterwinners from last year’s squad and added eight newcomers, including seven freshmen, to the roster. TSU finished last season with an overall record of 13-15 and a 9-7 conference mark. In an Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll that was released in October, TSU was predicted to finish fifth in the East Division standings.

LAST TIME OUT

Tennessee State used one of its best shooting performances of the year to defeat Austin Peay, 96-61, Saturday night in the Gentry Center. In the first half, TSU shot a scorching 61.1 percent in the and built a commanding lead. Jayda Johnson came off the bench to lead TSU in scoring with 17 points while Rachel Allen scored 15. Alana Morris and Chelsea Hudson each tallied 14 points.

 

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Murray State (8-13, 1-8 OVC) is coming off an, 86-71, loss to Austin Peay last Thursday. The Racers have dropped six straight and sit in sixth place in the West Division.

 

In the loss to Austin Peay, senior Jessica Winfrey recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Janssen Starks scored 21 points and four rebounds. She was a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw.

 

Overall, is led in scoring by Keiona Kirby who averages 18.3 points per game. Janssen Starks (10.1 ppg) and Taylor Porter (9.9 ppg) round out the top scorers for MSU.

 

As a team, the Racers average, 73.8 points per game while shooting 35.8 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from long range.

 

TSU vs. MURRAY STATE

Tennessee State will match-up with Murray State for the 54th time in the series history with MSU holding a, 32-21, advantage. Last season, TSU claimed the only meeting between the two teams, 67-61, on the road. The Racers’ last win over the Lady Tigers was an, 87-83, victory in the CFSB Center on Feb. 23, 2012.

 

COVERAGE

Updates on the game will be available throughout the game on the official twitter page via @TSU_Tigers. Live stats and video will also be available for the games. Links can be found on tsutigers.com under the schedule.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Tennessee State will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 15 across town at Belmont. Game time is slated for 5:00 p.m. in the Curb Event Center.

 
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Nuggets lose 4-0 to Tulane in matchup of ranked teams

NEW ORLEANS -- Tulane won the doubles point and three singles matches Sunday to record a 4-0 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in a matchup of city rivals and ranked women's teams at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.

Tulane, ranked 56th in NCAA Division I, is 3-3. Xavier, ranked third in the NAIA, is 1-1.

Meredith Maltby and Ipek Birol clinched the doubles point for the Green Wave with a 6-0 decision against Brion Flowers and Simone-Alyse Ewell at No. 2. The dual was stopped after Maltby defeated Ewell 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

Two freshmen posted the Gold Nuggets' best scores in unfinished singles matches. Xavier's Nour Abbes trailed Klara Vyskocilova 6-1, 1-4 at No. 1, and teammate Brandi Nelson trailed Margaux Hyman 7-5, 0-1 at No. 6.

It was the first of nine duals this season for the Gold Nuggets against NCAA D-I opponents. Xavier's women and men will visit another D-I, Louisiana-Lafayette, at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The next home duals for the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will be Feb. 22 against Alabama State.

 Results

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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2014 SWAC Championship Night Party Featuring Wale & Sevyn Streeter

Weeklong Celebration Highlighted by Championship Night Party Featuring Wale & Sevyn Streeter

HOUSTON, Texas  –  Officials with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) have announced the schedule of conference-sanctioned special events that will take place in support of the 2014 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament.  Events begin in Houston on March 11 and carry on through March 15.

 

Activities begin with the “Tip-off Tuesday” mixer on Tuesday, March 11 at the House of Blues located at 1204 Caroline Street in downtown Houston from 4pm – 7pm.  The events continue with the late night “SWAC Turn Up Tuesday with DJ Good Grief” party at Social Junky located at 2412 Washington Avenue from 10pm – 2am. 

 

Following tournament play on March 12, “Wednesday Night Live HBCU Alumni/Greek Mixer” will take place at Sugarhill Social Club located at 2533 Southmore from 8pm – 2am.  Additionally, the SWAC will partner with Mathew Knowles and ICE Artistry for the ICE Artist Showcase at the House of Dereon Media Center at 2204 Crawford Street from 8pm – 11pm. 

 

Thursday, March 13, SWAC will feature a College and Community Expo in the 94-95 Room at Toyota Center from 12pm – 6pm.  Through this event, all ten SWAC schools will feature booths and admissions information to prospective students.  The College and Community Expo is free to the public and accessible from the Polk Street entrance.

 

After the quarterfinal games on Thursday, SWAC will present “Neo-Soul Unplugged” featuring live performances by Dwele and Raheem DeVaughn.  The concert will take place at the House of Dereon with doors opening at 9pm.  SWAC “Thursday at 5^th” will conclude the night with the late night party at 5^th Amendment located at 2900 Travis Street.

 

The talent continues to heat up following the semifinal games on Friday, March 14.  SWV and Bel Biv Devoe will take the stage at center court of Toyota Center with the “Post Game Old School Concert” that is included in the Friday night game ticket. 

 

The “SWAC Alumni Happy Hour & Free Friday Tip-Off Party” will take place at Grooves of Houston with the alumni happy hour running from 4pm – 7pm and the tip-off party going from 8pm – 2am.  Grooves is located at 2300 Pierce Street.

 

The evening continues with the SWAC “March Madness Official Alumni Party” at Sugarhill Social Club from 8pm – 2am.  Additionally, SWAC and Aristocrat Life will present the “Official Weekend Kick-off Party Hosted By August Alsina” from 10pm – 2am at Gatsbys located at 1902 Washington Avenue. 

 

After the SWAC basketball champions are crowned on Saturday, March 15, fans will be treated to a “Post Game New School Concert” at Toyota Center featuring Wale and Sevyn Streeter.  The concert ticket is included with the tournament championship ticket for Saturday.

 

Wale will keep the party going at the “Official SWAC Championship After Party” at Club Venue located at 719 Main Street from 10pm – 2am.  The “Official SWAC Alumni Championship After Party” will take place at Prospect Park at 3100 Fountainview Drive from 10pm – 2am.

 

Festivities will conclude on Sunday, March 16 with the “SWAC Sunday Funday Party” at Social Junky from 2pm – 5pm. 

 

Tickets to the 2014 Toyota SWAC Football Championship are available online at www.houstontoyotacenter.com, on the phone at 1-866-446-8849, or in person at the Toyota Center box office.  All session booklets are available starting at $125 for access to all men’s and women’s tournament games.  The purchase of an all session booklet is the only way to access off-site special events at no additional charge.  Individual session passes and tickets to the championship night games are also available for purchase.  Discounted ticket pricing is available for groups of ten or more by calling the Toyota Center box office.

 

The 2014 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament will feature men’s and women’s teams vying for the conference title with the chance to advance to the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  Additional information may be found on the official basketball tournament website at www.swachoops.org. 

 

Southwestern Athletic Conference

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), established in 1920, is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., which is comprised of historically black universities in the Southern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). 

For Canton High School's Keontre Anderson, his decision was pure agony

CANTON, Mississippi -- It's 2 a.m. and Keontre Anderson is wide awake. He had a nightmare. It was about football. He hasn’t played since the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic in December. But, lately, he’s more consumed than ever before by the sport and the role it will play in his future.



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NSU Spartans Take Down Morgan State, 64-53

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Norfolk State men's basketball team shut down Morgan State and got a measure of revenge in the process in a 64-53 victory over the Bears on Saturday afternoon at the Talmadge Hill Field House.

Both teams were tied for second place in the MEAC coming into the day, but the Spartans pushed ahead of MSU in the standings thanks to 16 points from senior Pendarvis Williams and a defensive effort that held the Bears to just 33 percent shooting on the day.

The victory moved NSU into sole possession of second place in the conference at 7-2 behind league leader North Carolina Central. The Spartans now stand 13-10 overall as well.

MSU (8-13, 6-3), which won the season's earlier meeting in Norfolk, was led by Justin Black with 16 points and Ian Chiles with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks.



Sophomore RaShid Gaston added 11 points, and junior Jamel Fuentes also scored in double figures for NSU with 10.

The Spartans overcame an early deficit to start the game thanks to an extended 13-2 run in the first half. NSU never relinquished the lead the rest of the game and eventually went into the half up by five.

The Bears then cut the deficit to just two early in the second stanza, 30-28, on Chiles' putback dunk. Williams drained a 3-pointer and a 10-foot baseline jumper to put the Spartans back up by nine, 39-30, at 15:42. Fuentes later completed a 3-pointer play, and junior Kievyn Lila-St. Rose came up the court and quickly drained a trey for a 47-34 Spartan edge with less than 12 minutes to go.

The Spartans pushed their lead to the largest of the game at 15, 51-36, on a layup from Goode. Morgan State cut the lead to 10 with 4:28 left when Bozeman went in for an easy layup following an inbounds pass on the other end.

Shaquille Duncan had a pair of dunks in the last three and a half minutes of the game, getting the Bears to within eight at one point. Those two buckets, though, were the only points MSU scored over that closing stretch.

The Bears finished 19-of-57 (33.3 percent) from the field, including a paltry 2-of-22 from 3-point range. The Spartans shot 26-of-62 (41.9 percent), with all but six of those attempts coming from inside the arc.

Morgan State scored seven of the first nine points of the game, but Goode had six early points to keep NSU on pace with the Bears. The second of those baskets for the senior started a 13-2 run for the Spartans that lasted almost nine minutes and pushed their lead to 17-11, with less than nine minutes to go in the half.

Chiles finally ended that drought with a pair of free throws, but Gaston's bucket down low gave NSU an eight-point advantage, its largest of the first stanza, at 23-15. A pair of free throws from Anthony Hubbard with 9.0 seconds on the clock cut the Spartan lead to 28-23 heading into the intermission.

For the second game in a row, NSU finished with single digit turnovers, committing just eight against the Bears. Fuentes also tallied eight assists and three steals, while senior Anell Alexis added eight points and six boards.

Williams led NSU with seven boards.

The Spartans will return home to face Howard Monday night at 8 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

Box Score

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

NCCU Sets School Record in Victory over B-CU

DURHAM, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University shot a season-best 61.9 percent from the field and forced the visiting Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University into 20 turnovers as the Eagles cruised to the 77-54 win on Saturday afternoon, setting a new school record as the maroon and gray have now won 20-straight games inside McDougald-McLendon Gym.

The win breaks the previous mark of 19-straight which was set from Jan. 7, 1989 till Feb. 17, 1990 as the Eagles won the last six home games during the magical National Championship season, then went unbeaten at home in 13 contests in the 1989-90 campaign.  This now stands as the new mark on record as there were no home or away designations for games played prior to the 1987-88 campaign in the record books.  The maroon and gray are tied with Harvard for sixth in the nation with 20 consecutive wins at home.

NCCU jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first nine minutes aided by the golden touch of Reggie Groves (Raleigh, N.C.) who drilled his first three shots from deep to get the Eagle offense rolling.  The maroon and gray led by as many as 13 in the first frame and took that margin into the locker room with a 35-22 advantage.



Bethune-Cookman continued to fight in the second half, mounting a rally through the first three-and-a-half minutes as Malik Jackson's three-pointer cut the margin to single digits at 41-32, but a minute later an Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) three-pointer and a Karamo Jawara (Bergen, Norway) dunk stretched the lead back to 14 at 48-34 with 14:27 to go.

The Wildcats were never able to get it within single digits again as the Eagles used a 14-8 spurt to make it a 20-point ballgame at 68-48 with 4:13 left following Groves' fifth three-pointer of the game.

NCCU rolled from there to upend B-CU 77-54 and earn their ninth straight win on the year.  The Eagles dominated in the paint 30-to-18 over the Wildcats, 24-to-10 in points off turnovers, and 12-to-4 in fast break points.

In the victory, NCCU shot an astonishing 9-for-13 (64.3 percent) from behind-the-arc, the best performance from deep since Nov. 29, 2011 when the Eagles shot 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) in a 94-60 blowout win over Southern Wesleyan.  The 61.9 percent from the field (26-for-42) is the first game in which the Eagles have shot better than 60 percent since Jan. 8, 2013 as NCCU beat Virginia University of Lynchburg, 97-28, shooting 39-of-65 from-the field (60 percent).  The maroon and gray also earned the regular season sweep over B-CU for the third straight season.

Groves led the maroon and gray with 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting from-the-perimeter, while Chapman recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 assists, along with five rebounds, and two steals.  Redshirt junior forward Jay Copeland (Suffolk, Va.) finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and a season-high three blocks in the win.

Bethune-Cookman had three Wildcats in double figures led by Jackson's 14 points, which had the 6-6 senior not fouled out, could have been much more as he caught fire in the second half.  Mikel Trapp was limited to six shot attempts and finished with 13 points, while guard Maurice Taylor contributed 10 points in the loss.

NCCU (17-5, 8-1 MEAC) looks to make it 10-straight wins on the year, 21-straight at home on Monday night, Feb. 10, as the Rattlers of Florida A&M University make the trip to the Bull City for an approximate 7:30 p.m. tipoff in McDougald-McLendon Gym.  FAMU issued the only defeat in league play to the Eagles at this point back on Jan. 11 (63-60) inside the Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

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.  

Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/Broadcast Media Coordinator

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern Jaguars cruise over Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- The Southern and Grambling men’s basketball teams pretty much kept doing what they’ve been doing all along Saturday night.

The Jaguars kept winning to maintain their hold on first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Tigers kept losing to maintain their hold on last.

Southern raced to a 55-29 halftime lead and cruised to a 104-54 victory against Grambling in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

“Whenever you play your rivalry school like Grambling and you see the crowd that’s going to be here, you’re always concerned about focus and I know that’s a weakness of this team,” Jaguars coach Roman Banks said. “I was glad to see our shoot-around this morning was really good and this was one of our better focused games.”

CONTINUE READING

Southern women get crazy win

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Southern women’s basketball coach Sandy Pugh walked out of the visitor’s locker room, shook her head and said, “I’ve never seen anything like that in all my days.”

She was referring to the Jaguars’ bizarre 74-72 victory against Grambling on Saturday afternoon in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

Pugh had just watched the Tigers cut her team’s late lead from eight points to two on one trip up the floor. Then she saw her team fall behind, regain the lead, have a chance to put it away, turn it over and withstand a missed layup just before the buzzer.

“SWAC-tion,” Pugh said. “You’ve got to love it.”

Southern (12-6 overall), which hadn’t played since suffering its first league loss to Alcorn State a week earlier, remained in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference at 9-1. The Jaguars play at Jackson State on Monday. Grambling is 8-13, 5-5.

CONTINUE READING

Hot Shooting TSU Lady Tigers Dominate Austin Peay, 96-61

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team used one of its best shooting performances of the year to dispatch Austin Peay, 96-61, Saturday night in the Gentry Center.

 

The 96 points was a season-high for the Lady Tigers who extended their home winning streak to four with the victory. TSU had four players to score in double-digits, led by Jayda Johnson’s 17 points. Rachel Allen added 15 while Chelsea Hudson and Alana Morris each tallied 14. I’mani Davis just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.

 

Tennessee State improved to 9-14 overall and 6-4 in league play while Austin Peay fell to 9-15 (6-5 OVC).

 

The Lady Govs were led in scoring by Jennifer Nwokocha’s 15 points while Nicole Olszewski tallied 13.

 

In the first half, Austin Peay burned a timeout with just 2:28 ticked off the clock after TSU jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The Lady Tigers extended their advantage to 15-6 before the first media timeout but the Lady Govs responded with a run to cut the deficit down to four.

Over the next several possessions, however, TSU regained control and posted the next nine points to increase its advantage to 27-14.

 

The Lady Tigers dominated the rest of the half and outscored the opponent, 27-13. TSU led by as many as 30 points before going into the break ahead, 54-27.

 

The home team shot a scorching 61.1 percent from the field while Jayda Johnson exploded for 17 points off the bench in the first half.

 

Austin Peay made the first two buckets of the second frame but Tennessee State scored the next six points to go up, 60-31.

 

At the 15:24 mark, Alana Morris buried a jumper from near the top of the key to make the score, 67-31, in favor of the home team.

 

The Lady Tigers swelled the advantage up to 38 points and maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way.

 

The Lady Tigers forced Austin Peay into 23 turnovers, in which they turned into 25 points. TSU also controlled the glass, outrebounding APSU, 46-33.

 

TSU shot 53.6 percent from the field and 70.4 percent from the free-throw line. APSU finished the game with a 40.3 percent clip from the field but only managed to connect,54.5 percent from the charity stripe.

 

Tennessee State returns to action on Monday against Murray State. Game time is slated for 6:00 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

 

FINAL STATS

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION