XU Nuggets move to No. 2, their highest rank of the season

NEW ORLEANS -- Not only did the Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis team defeat Auburn Montgomery, but the Gold Nuggets also helped knock the Warhawks out of the top spot in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll on Tuesday.

Xavier (8-4) climbed from fifth after four consecutive victories since the previous poll, including a 5-4 decision at AUM on March 9. It was the Gold Nuggets' first-ever victory against a top-ranked team. Xavier has a season-best five-dual winning streak, and the poll position is its highest since being No. 1 in three consecutive polls in 2013. Before Tuesday, Xavier's highest rank this year was third in the preseason.

The Gold Nuggets are in the top 10 for the 11th consecutive time.

Second-year program Georgia Gwinnett, the only NAIA team to beat Xavier this season -- 5-2 at Hattiesburg, Miss., on Feb. 16 -- is the new No. 1. The Grizzlies (12-2 overall, 7-0 against NAIA teams) received 11-of-12 first place votes, with AUM (10-6, 9-1) getting the other.

AUM is ranked third, four points behind Xavier.

Beginning Thursday, the Gold Nuggets will be on the road for four duals in four days. They'll visit No. 4 Lindsey Wilson on Friday, play No. 18 Milligan in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday and visit No. 15 Cumberland on Sunday. XU's Thursday dual will be against Graceland, which missed the top 25 by six points.

The top 25:

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Xavier
3. Auburn Montgomery
4. Lindsey Wilson
5. SCAD Savannah
6. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
7. Brenau
8. Northwood (Fla.)
9. Vanguard
10. Lewis-Clark State
11. Oklahoma Baptist
12. Westmont
13. Concordia (Calif.)
14. SCAD Atlanta
15. Cumberland
16. Coastal Georgia
17. Indiana Wesleyan
18. Milligan
19. William Carey
20. Cardinal Stritch
21. Marian (Ind.)
22. Campbellsville
23. Northwestern Ohio
24. Olivet Nazarene
25. Davenport

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Gold Rush jump from 9th to 7th in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana made the second-biggest climb Tuesday -- from ninth place to seventh -- in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Rush (4-7) are in the top 10 for the 24th straight time and in the top 25 for the 54th consecutive time dating to April 4, 2007.

Xavier is 2-2 since the previous poll, but both victories were against ranked teams, Coastal Georgia and Cumberland. Coastal Georgia made the largest climb in the poll, from 25th to 15th.

Defending champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) remained No. 1 for the fourth time in as many polls, but it's the first time this season that the Eagles are not a unanimous choice for the top spot. Embry-Riddle received 7-of-12 first-place votes, with No. 2 Auburn Montgomery collecting three and No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett getting two. Embry-Riddle is three poll points ahead of AUM.

Beginning Thursday, the XU men will be on the road for four duals in four days. In Nashville, Tenn., they'll play No. 13 Graceland on Thursday and unranked Milligan on Saturday. The Gold Rush will visit No. 6 Lindsey Wilson on Friday and No. 8 Cumberland on Sunday.

The top 25:

1. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
2. Auburn Montgomery
3. Georgia Gwinnett
4. Vanguard
5. Westmont
6. Lindsey Wilson
7. Xavier
8. Cumberland
9. Belhaven
10. Aquinas
11. Concordia (Calif.)
12. William Carey
13. Graceland
14. Bethany
15. Coastal Georgia
16. Northwestern Ohio
17. Bethel (Tenn.)
18. Warner
19. Lewis-Clark State
20. Davenport
21. Northwood (Fla.)
22. Pikeville
23. Olivet Nazarene
24. Campbellsville
25. Oklahoma Baptist


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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NCCU Spring Football Practice Starts Tuesday

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- On Tuesday, March 18, North Carolina Central University football head coach Jerry Mack will make his O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium debut when his squad takes the field at 4 p.m. for the first spring practice.

Mack is encouraging fans to attend Tuesday's opening practice session to get an early glimpse of the team as the Eagles prepare for the 2014 gridiron season.

The four-and-a-half week spring practice schedule will culminate with a "Maroon vs. Gray" Spring Football Game on Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m. under the lights of O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Admission to the spring game is free.

For more information about NCCU football, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network mobile app for iOS, Android or Kindle Fire HD.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

GCAC honors four from Xavier for their weekly work

NEW ORLEANS -- Four from Xavier University of Louisiana -- Amber Brown in women's tennis, Vincenzo Ciccone in men's tennis, Catherine Fakler in women's track and Devinn Rolland in women's field -- are the recipient of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player/Performer of the Week awards for March 10-16.

It's the first time that Brown and Ciccone have been honored.

Brown, a senior from Decatur, Ga., won in singles and doubles in the Gold Nuggets' 5-4 home
victory against Oral Roberts and clinched the dual with a 6-3, 6-3 decision against Mairead Cleary in the final match on the court. The team victory was the Gold Nuggets' first since 2004 against a non-HBCU member of NCAA Division I,

Ciccone, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of Aspirations High School and ASA College, scored the lone Gold Rush point in a 6-1 loss at Troy. Ciccone's 7-5, 6-1 victory against Tadju Davies was his second of the semester against an NCAA Division I opponent.

Fakler, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, earned her second victory of the season in the 1,500-meter run. Her time  at the McNeese Cowboy Relays was 4 minutes, 44.21 seconds. Fakler is a 10-time GCAC weekly winner -- three times in track (twice this season) and seven times in cross country.

Rolland, a junior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, reached the NAIA's A-qualifiying standard in the long jump for the second time in as many meets this season. She finished second in the McNeese meet with a mark of 19 feet, one-half inch and finished ahead of 16 jumpers from NCAA Division I.

Rolland is a 10-time GCAC weekly winner. Last year she won the field award six times and the track award three times.

Xavier's tennis teams will be on the road for four dual matches apiece in four days, beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday against Graceland in Nashville, Tenn. The next XU track competition will be March 29 in the Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Top-seeded UConn women to open NCAAs vs. Prairie View A&M

STORRS, Connecticut -- The path toward potentially achieving perfection and making history for the UConn women has been mapped out.

The defending national champions stand six wins away from securing the fifth unbeaten season in program history, an unprecedented NCAA-record ninth national championship and a team single-season record 40 wins.

The Huskies (34-0) will begin play as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament Sunday when they face No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M (14-17) in the first round of the Lincoln Regional at Gampel Pavilion (8 p.m.; ESPN).

UConn would then meet eighth-seeded Georgia (20-11) or ninth-seeded St. Joseph's (22-9) in the second round March 25.

"I think in the back of your mind it's inevitable. How do you not think about (making history),'' UConn senior Stefanie Dolson said. "But I think in the moment when the games are going on, you don't think about that.

CONTINUE READING

UAPB to play Central Arkansas Wednesday at Taylor Field

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff home baseball game against the University of Central Arkansas on Tuesday, March 18 at the Torii Hunter Softball/Baseball Little League Complex has been moved to Wednesday, March 19 at Taylor Field in a 6 p.m. start, in their annual Community Night game.

"It is a way for us to give back to the community for the great support they have given us over the years," said Head Baseball Coach Carlos James, who is in his fourth season as skipper of the Golden Lions.

James also stated, "It also gives our fans a chance to come out and watch us play at historic Taylor Field."

On Tuesday, the Golden Lions will travel to Conway, Ark., to take on UCA in a single game at Bears Stadium in a 6 p.m. start.

2014 UAPB Baseball season tickets are still available for more information contact UAPB Ticket Office at (870) 575-8601 or visit the UAPB athletic website: uapblionsroar.com.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS GOLDEN LIONS SPORTS INFORMATION

New Jackson State coaches want to see who will be the playmakers

JACKSON, Mississippi -- While the football players practice on the field, the coaches will practice names.

Jackson State begins spring practice today, with more than 60 players expected to return from the 2013 roster. First-year coach Harold Jackson, who’s three months into the job, and the six new members of his coaching staff get to work with the players on the field for the first time.

“Just like how I told them, every position on this football team is wide open because I don’t know nobody’s names,” Jackson said. “That’s how I’m going to learn your name: Once you go out there and show me that you can play at that position.”

With that, here are some storylines to ...

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Hampton U. Lady Pirates earn 12 seed, make MEAC history

HAMPTON, Virginia (WAVY) – The routine was almost the same as it’s been for the previous four years. The result is what Hampton University and its fans have been waiting for.

On Monday afternoon, a packed student center on Hampton’s campus, filled with cheering students, fans, faculty, administrative, and family members rose as one and applauded the Lady Pirates who earned a 12-seed in the upcoming NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

The seed is the highest ever awarded to a men’s or a women’s basketball team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Needless to say, Hampton’s head coach is happy his team finally received the respect they deserved.

CONTINUE READING

Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers To Face Top-Seeded Connecticut On Sunday Night

HEAD COACH DAWN BROWN
Photo Courtesy: PVAMU Athletics

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team will head to the East Coast for the third time in its NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament history as they drew top-seeded Connecticut for the second time in three seasons.  Prairie View A&M will face the Lady Huskies at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. on Sunday, March 23 at 7 p.m. in front of a nationally televised ESPN audience.

Sunday's game marks the second time in three seasons that the No. 16 Lady Panthers (14-17) will face the Huskies (34-0) as they squared off in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament in Bridgeport, Conn.  Prairie View A&M played one of its best postseason contests in its five-year NCAA history against the Huskies with a solid first half as former standout Latia Williams scored a game-high 20 points.

 

"I'm very excited anytime you have an opportunity to go to the NCAA Tournament as it's a rewarding experience," said head coach Dawn Brown.  "My mindset going into Sunday's game is to compete and survive as we're going to study UCONN like we do any other team.  I have a lot of respect for them as they're undefeated but we're going to go and compete while also having a good time."

 

This will mark the sixth NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament appearance for the Lady Panthers and the seventh postseason appearance overall.  Head coach Dawn Brown will make her first-ever appearance as a head coach in the tourney and the fourth overall as she was an assistant during PVAMU's previous three trips.

 

"We're going to approach this game like any other game," said Lady Panther junior standout Jeanette Jackson.  "We will show up with a winning mentality as we want to compete."

 

Connecticut is a member of the newly created American Athletic Conference.  PVAMU has an all-time mark of 1-14 against teams from the league with a win over Memphis in 2012.

 

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PVAMU WBB POSTSEASON HISTORY (0-7)
2013       at Baylor                                                                82-40 (NCAA)
2012       vs. Connecticut (Bridgeport, Conn.)                 83-47 (NCAA)
2011       at Baylor                                                                66-30 (NCAA)
2010       at Kansas                                                             82-70 (NIT)
2009       vs. Oklahoma (Iowa City, Ia.)                            76-47 (NCAA)
2008       Texas State                                                          84-83 (NIT)
2007       vs. North Carolina (Pittsburgh, Pa.)               95-38 (NCAA)

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton University Lady Pirates Earn 12 Seed, Draw Michigan State in NCAAs

HAMPTON, Virginia  --  It would be entirely accurate to call David Six a happy man.

And why not? His Hampton University women's basketball team, fresh off its unprecedented fifth straight MEAC Tournament crown, earned a No. 12 seed in the Stanford Region. The Lady Pirates will face No. 5 seed Michigan State on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. at 12:30 p.m.

The game, to be played in Carmichael Arena, will be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com.

Bracket | Purchase Tickets

"We're real happy [with a 12 seed]. We're elated," Six said. "I thought we were a 12, and it's nice to see the NCAA did the right thing."

It is not only the highest seed the Lady Pirates have ever earned, but it is also the highest seed ever for a MEAC team in the 64-team format – bettering the No. 13 seed the Lady Pirates received in 2011.

Hampton (28-4) has won its last 18 games after defeating Coppin State 50-47 on Saturday in the MEAC championship game. The Lady Pirates, who have won their last 49 games against conference foes, are making their fifth straight NCAA appearance and eighth overall.

The Lady Pirates are led by freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.), the MEAC Rookie of the Year who is averaging 18.5 points per game. Senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) is a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MEAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The First Team All-MEAC selection averaged 22.3 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in the MEAC Tournament.

Senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) was also a First Team All-MEAC selection after ranking second in the conference in both assists and assist-turnover ratio, and her 20-point performance on Saturday keyed the Lady Pirates' victory.

No. 20/24 Michigan State (22-9) won the Big Ten regular-season championship this season after tying Penn State with a 13-3 mark in league play. The Spartans had their six-game winning streak snapped on March 8 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, falling 86-58 to Nebraska.

Redshirt-freshman guard Aeiral Powers, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, leads a balance Michigan State attack, as four players are averaging double figures in scoring. Powers is averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds a contest, while freshman guard Tori Jankoska and senior forward Annalise Pickrel are each pouring in 12.4 points per game.

Junior forward Becca Mills, shooting a team-best .506 from the floor, is averaging 10.1 points per game.

Pickrel was named Second Team All-Big Ten, while Mills, Jankoska, and senior guard Klarissa Bell each earned honorable mention accolades. Bell was also named to the All-Defensive Team.

Hampton and Michigan State have never met.

Sunday's second game in Chapel Hill will pit No. 4 seed North Carolina against No. 13 seed UT-Martin. The winners of Sunday's game will meet in the second round on Tuesday.

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

NCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Tournament: Hampton and Prairie View Destinations Set

SWAC Champions #16 seeded Prairie View faces #1 Connecticut in Storrs; MEAC Champions #12 seeded Hampton plays #5 seeded Michigan State in Chapel Hill

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- Historical milestones weave the way through the 64-team field of competitors for the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, as announced on Monday by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee.

Highlighting the selections are five programs that are making their first appearance, while two others are celebrating being selected more than 30 times in the 33-year history of the championship.

Earning No. 1 seeds are Connecticut (34-0), Notre Dame (32-0), Tennessee (27-5) and South Carolina (27-4). Tennessee was the Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament champion, while South Carolina was an at-large selection from the SEC after winning the conference regular-season championship. UConn and Notre Dame each concluded the regular season with unblemished records en route to winning conference regular season and tournament titles in the American Athletic and Atlantic Coast Conferences, respectively. The perfect records mark only the second time in the history of Division I women’s basketball that two teams enter the tournament undefeated. The only other time was in 1998 when both Tennessee and Liberty were undefeated entering tournament play. Tennessee went on to win the national championship with a 39-0 record, while Liberty was eliminated in the first round.

Thirty-two conferences were granted automatic bids for the championship and the remaining 32 teams were selected at-large.

First- and second-round games will be played at 16 sites Saturday, March 22 through Tuesday, March 25, with the 16 second-round winners moving on to the four regional sites. The Lincoln Regional (Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Neb.) and the Notre Dame Regional (Purcell Pavilion, Notre Dame, Ind.) will be played on Saturday, March 29 and Monday, March 31, while the Louisville Regional (KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky.) and the Stanford Regional (Maples Pavilion, Stanford, Calif.) will be held Sunday, March 30 and Tuesday, April 1. The four regional winners will advance to the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four, April 6 and 8 in Nashville, Tenn. at Bridgestone Arena.

Tennessee continues its appearance streak, participating in all 33 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships. Second on the all-time appearance list is Georgia, making its 31st overall appearance. Akron, North Dakota, South Dakota, Winthrop and Wright State are all making their first NCAA tournament appearance.

In the history of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, 14 schools have captured the national title. Tennessee and UConn lead the way with eight championships apiece. UConn is the defending national champion after claiming the 2013 title in New Orleans with a 93-60 win against Louisville in the title game, matching Tennessee for the most national championships won by a single school. If it is able to score six more wins in the 2014 championship, UConn would equal Baylor’s record for most wins in a season, with Baylor going 40-0 in 2012.

Interactive Bracket
Printable Bracket
                                  

Automatic Qualifiers

CONFERENCE	SCHOOL	RECORD	APPS.	WON	LOST	LAST APP.
America East	Albany	28-4	2	0	2	2013
American Athletic	Connecticut	34-0	25	91	17	2013
Atlantic Coast	Notre Dame	32-0	20	41	19	2013
Atlantic Sun	Florida Gulf Coast	26-7	1	0	1	2012
Atlantic 10	Fordham	25-7	1	0	1	1994
Big East	DePaul	27-6	18	10	18	2013
Big Sky	North Dakota	22-9	FIRST APPEARANCE
Big South	Winthrop	24-8	FIRST APPEARANCE
Big Ten	Nebraska	25-6	11	7	11	2013
Big 12	Baylor	29-4	12	30	10	2013
Big West	Cal State Northridge	18-14	1	0	1	1999
Colonial	James Madison	28-5	9	7	9	2011
Conference USA	Middle Tennessee	29-4	16	5	16	2013
Horizon	Wright State	26-8	FIRST APPEARANCE
Ivy	Pennsylvania	22-6	2	0	2	2004
Metro Atlantic	Marist	27-6	9	5	9	2013
Mid-American	Akron	23-9	FIRST APPEARANCE
Mid-Eastern	Hampton	28-4	7	0	7	2013
Missouri Valley	Wichita State	26-6	1	0	1	2013
Mountain West	Fresno State	22-10	6	0	6	2013
Northeast	Robert Morris	21-11	2	0	2	2008
Ohio Valley	Tennessee-Martin	24-7	3	0	3	2013
Pac-12	Southern California	22-12	15	29	13	2006
Patriot	Army	25-7	1	0	1	2006
Southeastern	Tennessee	27-5	32	115	24	2013
Southern	Chattanooga	29-3	11	1	11	2013
Southland	Northwestern State	21-12	2	0	2	2004
Southwestern	Prairie View A&M	14-17	5	0	5	2013
Summit	South Dakota	19-13	FIRST APPEARANCE
Sun Belt	Western Kentucky	24-8	16	17	16	2008
West Coast	Gonzaga	29-4	6	8	6	2013
Western Athletic	Idaho	25-8	2	0	2	2013

At-Large Bids
 

SCHOOL	CONFERENCE	RECORD	APP.	WON	LOST	LAST APP.
Arizona State	Pac-12	22-9	11	13	11	2011
BYU	West Coast	26-6	9	3	9	2012
California	Pac-12	21-9	9	9	9	2013
Dayton	Atlantic 10	23-7	4	2	4	2013
Duke	Atlantic Coast	27-6	20	52	20	2013
Florida	Southeastern	19-12	13	11	13	2012
Florida State	Atlantic Coast	20-11	12	13	12	2013
Georgia	Southeastern	20-11	30	55	30	2013
Georgia Tech	Atlantic Coast	20-11	8	5	8	2012
Iowa	Big Ten	26-8	22	18	22	2013
Iowa State	Big 12	20-10	14	17	14	2013
Kentucky	Southeastern	24-8	10	15	10	2013
LSU	Southeastern	19-12	22	41	22	2013
Louisville	American Athletic	30-4	16	19	16	2013
Maryland	Atlantic Coast	24-6	21	33	20	2013
Michigan State	Big Ten	22-9	13	16	13	2013
North Carolina	Atlantic Coast	24-9	24	42	23	2013
NC State	Atlantic Coast	25-7	21	19	21	2010
Oklahoma	Big 12	18-14	16	30	16	2013
Oklahoma State	Big 12	23-8	11	8	11	2013
Oregon State	Pac-12	23-10	5	2	5	1996
Penn State	Big Ten	22-7	24	30	24	2013
Purdue	Big Ten	21-8	23	45	22	2013
St. John’s (N.Y.)	Big East	22-10	8	6	8	2013
Saint Joseph’s	Atlantic 10	22-9	12	6	12	2013
South Carolina	Southeastern	27-4	10	11	10	2013
Stanford	Pac-12	29-3	27	71	25	2013
Syracuse	Atlantic Coast	22-9	5	0	5	2013
Texas	Big 12	21-11	26	32	25	2012
Texas A&M	Southeastern	24-8	10	18	9	2013
Vanderbilt	Southeastern	18-12	26	39	26	2013
West Virginia	Big 12	29-4	9	7	9	2013

NCAA RELEASE

Deonte Shorts trying to grow, become Southern’s leader at quarterback

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Jogging out to practice at A.W. Mumford Stadium seems eerie for Southern redshirt freshman quarterback Deonte Shorts.

Although he talks or texts with departed quarterback Dray Joseph nearly every day, Shorts said the first spring without Joseph in pads still strikes him as weird.

But while Joseph — Southern’s all-time leader in touchdown passes — won’t throw another ball or don the blue and gold, he’s still invested in the success of the position he left vacant.

“Be yourself on the field,” Joseph tells Shorts. “Show them boys the right way and lead them in the right direction.”

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Florida A&M Rattlers To Hold Pro Day Tomorrow At Noon

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The Florida A&M University Rattler Football Program will showcase its' cadre of pro prospects at their annual Pro Day on Tuesday, March 18 at the Hansel Tookes Recreation Center, starting at 12 Noon. 

Graduating seniors as well as rising seniors will be put through their paces by the FAMU Staff under the watchful eyes of professional football scouts. 

The talent showcase will begin inside the Tookes Center with vertical jumps and bench press, followed by outdoor testing which will include the shuttle run and the 40-yard dash.
 

Contact: Vaughn Wilson or Alvin Hollins (850) 599-3200/3736

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Texas Southern set to face Cal Poly in NCAA Tournament Opening Round

When: Wednesday, 6:40 p.m. ET (truTV)

DAYTON, Ohio --  The Texas Southern Tigers will face Cal Poly on Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 pm in UD Arena in the Opening Round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Texas Southern enters the game riding a nine-game winning streak and a 19-14 overall record.

Cal Poly of the Big West Conference enters the game after winning their league tournament defeating Cal State Northridge 61-59 in Anaheim.

The game will be shown live on TruTV and will also be broadcast on KTSU Radio 90.9 FM.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 NCAA FIRST FOUR
Cal Poly vs. Texas Southern
March 19, 2014 5:30 pm CT
UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)

A limited number of tickets will be available through the Texas Southern University Athletic Department. More details will become available no later than Tuesday morning. NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tickets are also available online at http://www.ncaa.com/final-four/tickets-hospitality.

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tuskegee Golden Tigers advance to NCAA Division II South Region championship game - "The Sweet 16"

LAKELAND, Florida  --  The Tuskegee men's basketball team has achieved what no other team in the history of Golden Tiger basketball has accomplished. The Golden Tigers' basketball team has advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament. Tuskegee (20-11) posted a 93-87 win over the University of North Alabama Lions (23-10) in semifinal play in Lakeland, Fla., on Sunday evening at the Jenkins Field House on the campus of Florida Southern College.

The Golden Tigers took a 12-11 lead at the 11:39 mark in the first half and never trailed again in the game. After trailing the Golden Tigers by sixteen points in the second half, the Lions made several runs, but they could only narrow the Golden Tigers' lead to three points. Again, clutch free-throw shooting in crucial moments contributed to the six-point win by the SIAC champions.

Tuskegee had five players in double figures, led by senior All-SIAC forward Richard Dixon with 22 points. Javier McKinney had 14 points; Kevin May had 12 points; and Camden Foster, Elliot Dean and Graham Olatunji with 10 points apiece. Foster pulled down seven rebounds and May dished out nine assists to lead the Golden Tigers.


Tuskegee University pep band at 2014 SIAC Tournament -- Song: Holy Grail

The Golden Tigers, who led the Lions 50-36 at halftime, were 27 of 40 (67.5 percent) from the free throw line, while the Lions were 31 of 43 (72 percent) for the game.

Bruce Adams led the Lions, winner of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) basketball tournament, with 21 points, followed by Nathan Spehr and Rashaun Claiborne with 18 points apiece. Calvin Dade added 10 points. Claiborne grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for the Lions.

With the win over the Lions, the Golden Tigers are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

On Tuesday night, March 18, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. CT, the Golden Tigers will face the Delta State University Statesmen in the championship game of the South Region of NCAA II. The Statesmen defeated Saint Leo 70-61 in the other semifinal game.

The winner of Tuesday night's basketball game will move on to Elite 8 action, scheduled for the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., March 26, 27 and 29.


Tuskegee University pep band at 2014 SIAC Tournament

Story by Arnold L. Houston
COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

JSU Announces 2014 Football Schedule; Seven Home Games

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JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Jackson State University Division of Athletics has announced its 2014 football schedule and the Tigers will offer fans an exciting 12 game slate of football action, seven of which are home games at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

JSU (8-4, 8-1 SWAC), which finished the 2013 season with a second straight trip to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game, opens the 2014 season under first year head coach Harold Jackson.

The Tigers open the Jackson era against Florida A&M at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30. The two teams have met 17 previous times and JSU holds the series edge (8-7-2). JSU will then welcome Virginia Lynchburg to Memorial Stadium on Sept. 6 in the first ever meeting between the two programs on the gridiron.

On Sept. 13 the Tigers will travel to Memphis, Tennessee to face Tennessee State for the 25^th Annual Southern Heritage Classic. JSU returns to Memorial Stadium on Sept. 20 when the Tigers host Grambling State. JSU takes to the road for the second time of the season when the Tigers travel to Pine Bluff, Arkansas to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

JSU then returns to Jackson for a four game home stint. JSU hosts Prairie View A&M on Oct. 4 and Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 11 for the homecoming football game. Following an open date JSU takes on Southern on Oct. 25 and Alabama A&M on Nov. 1 for senior day.

The Tigers will remain on the road for the rest of the season.

On Nov. 8,  JSU travels to Montgomery, Alabama to face Alabama State. JSU then makes a trip to Houston, Texas to face Texas Southern on Nov. 15. The regular season ends with a visit to Lorman, Mississippi to take on Alcorn State on Nov. 22.

JSU Tigers 2014 Football Schedule

Aug. 30           Florida A&M “Rattlers” (W.C. Gorden Classic)
Sept. 6             Virginia Lynchburg “Dragons”
Sept. 13           vs. Tennessee State “Tigers” (25^th Annual Southern Heritage Classic)
Sept. 20           Grambling State “Tigers” (High School/Transfer Day)
Sept. 27           at Arkansas – Pine Bluff “Golden Lions”
Oct. 4              Prairie View A&M “Panthers”
Oct. 11            Mississippi Valley State “Delta Devils” (Homecoming)
Oct. 18                        Open
Oct. 25            Southern “Jaguars”
Nov. 1             Alabama A&M “Bulldogs” (Senior Day)
Nov. 8             at Alabama State “Hornets”
Nov. 15           at Texas Southern “Tigers”
Nov. 22           at Alcorn State “Braves”
Dec. 13            SWAC Championship Game

Home games in bold font, dates and locations subject to change


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COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

NCCU Eagles Earns 14-Seed in NCAA Tournament, Will Face Iowa State on Friday

Eagles earn the best seed in MEAC History, will play at approx. 9:00 p.m. (CT)

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  After winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, North Carolina Central University now knows its fate in the NCAA Tournament as the Eagles were selected as a 14-seed in the East Region and will battle the third seeded Cyclones of Iowa State on Friday night at approximately 9:00 p.m. (CT) from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The Eagles enter the NCAA field of 68 winners of 20-straight contests and have tied for the most wins in a single season in school history, tying the 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship team who went 28-4 and the legendary John McClendon's 1950-51 team that finished 28-5.

NCCU clinched its first berth into the NCAA Tournament at the NCAA Division I level on Saturday, March 15 with a 71-62 win over Morgan State inside the Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Eagles have only faced two Big 12 Conference opponents (Kansas State and Oklahoma).  NCCU dropped a 95-49 contests on Feb. 17, 2009 to Kansas State, and gave the University of Oklahoma fits falling to the Sooners in overtime (71-63) on Nov. 15, 2010.

NCCU enters the NCAA Tournament with an impressive resume that includes a win against the No. 12-seed in the Midwest region, Wolfpack of NC State, on Nov. 20 (82-72), and a number of close loses to the No. 5-seed in the East Region Bearcats of Cincinnati (74-61) on Nov. 8, and lost to the No. 1 seed  in the Midwest, Wichita State (77-66) on Dec. 22.

Not to be forgotten, for the second straight season, the maroon and gray finished 15-1 in the MEAC to run away with the regular season crown and recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1996-1997 campaign.

The game will be broadcast live on TNT as the all-star trio of Marv Albert (Play-by-play), Steve Kerr (Color Analyst), and Craig Sager (sideline) will be on the call for the final game of the night in San Antonio.

For more information about NCCU athletics, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.

Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/Broadcast Media Coordinator
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

SWAC champ TSU to face Cal Poly in first round of NCAA Tournament

HOUSTON, Texas  -- Texas Southern gathered in the player's lounge at H&PE Arena Sunday afternoon to learn their NCAA Tournament destination.

About halfway through the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, loud chants of "TSU! TSU! TSU!" began to echo from players and support staff to celebrate the school's first NCAA appearance in 11 years.

"It was a proud moment for Texas Southern," senior guard Ray Penn said.



The Tigers (19-14), winners of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's automatic bid, will face Big West champion Cal Poly (13-19) in a First Four play-in game at 5:40 p.m. CT Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.

The winner of the game, matching No. 16 seeds, will face No. 1 seed Wichita State (34-0), the nation's only unbeaten team, in the second round of the Midwest Region Friday in St. Louis.

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