NCCU Falls in NCAA Tournament Debut to Iowa State

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- In North Carolina Central University's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance at the Division I level, the Eagles ran into a ninth-ranked Iowa State Cyclone squad that simply couldn't miss on the way to a 93-75 defeat, ending a historic season for the program on Friday night inside the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The maroon and gray finish the 2013-14 season 28-6 overall, tying the 1950-51 and 1988-89 squads with the most wins in a single season.

In the first meeting between NCCU and Iowa State, both teams came out guns blazing as a Karamo Jawara (Bergen, Norway) three-pointer put the Eagles up 14-11 with 14:46 to go.

A 10-2 Cyclone run gave Iowa State a 21-16 following the first of Georges Niang's four three-pointers on the night with 11:27 remaining.

The first half saw seven ties and six leads changes, but Jawara's second straight bucket tied the game at 30-30 with 6:47 left in the first frame, but Iowa State came alive as the Cyclones scored the next eight points with Melvin Ejim sending the crowd to their feet with a fastbreak dunk to make 38-30.

Head coach LeVelle Moton's squad responded with a 9-2 run forcing an Iowa State time out with 1:45 to go in the frame.

ISU took a 45-39 lead into the locker room as Cyclone small forward Dustin Hogue helped take a six-point lead on his putback dunk with four seconds left.

In the final half, the Cyclone buzzsaw keep going as Iowa State missed just nine shots including 7-for-12 (58.3 percent) from three-point range, while the Eagles simply could not keep up.

With 11:09 to go, a DeAndre Kane layup made it 68-53 forcing Moton to call a 30-second timeout, but the Cyclones were well on their way.

Iowa State led by as much as 23 points as the Cyclones advanced to the round of 32 in the 93-75 win over NCCU.

ISU shot a season-high 63.6 percent from the field, including 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from three-point range on the way to the victory, while NCCU shot 46.2 percent from-the-field in the tough defeat.

In his final game donning the maroon and gray uniform, Jeremy Ingram (Charlotte, N.C.) scored a game-high 28 points to finish his career with 1,525 points which ties him for sixth all-time at NCCU.



Jawara ended up with a career-high 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting with three assists, while senior Emanuel Chapman added 10 points along with four assists to finish his career with 617 helpers.

NCCU ends a historic season as the 2013-14 MEAC Regular Season Champion and the MEAC Tournament Champions.

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

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

Kollack looking to grab SCSU’s starting QB spot

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  Adrian Kollack surprised many South Carolina State football observers when he was actively utilized late in the 2013 season.

The redshirt freshman quarterback out of Spartanburg made an impact on the Bulldogs’ offense, rushing for four touchdowns and passing for another in three games. Despite his success on the ground, Kollack insists there’s more to his game than just running the “Wildcat.”

“I’m more of a pocket passer,” he said. “I like to pass the ball compared to last year when I played when I had to run the ball a lot. I really like to throw the ball a lot and spread it around a lot. I actually run too, but I like to really like to throw the ball more.”

With the graduation of Richard Cue, the starting quarterback position is now open for either Kollack or fellow redshirt freshman ...

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Howard University Men's Soccer Join Sun Belt Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  The Howard University men's soccer program joined the Sun Belt Conference as an affiliate member beginning in the 2014 season, the conference announced.  The conference will reintroduce men's soccer this upcoming fall.

The Bison join their new league as part of the Sun Belt's revitalization of men's soccer as one of the conference's 18 championship sports after a nearly 20-year hiatus.

The men's soccer group will consist of six institutions that will play a five game, single round robin schedule:

• Appalachian State (full-time member)
• Georgia Southern (full-time member)
• Georgia State (full-time member)
• HOWARD (affiliate member)
• Hartwick (affiliate member)
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (affiliate member)

The Sun Belt will also have an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will be determined by a full-team postseason tournament where the top two seeds earn a bye to the semifinals. The host site and dates of the tournament will be announced in May.

"Howard University is extremely proud to be a member of the Sun Belt Conference in the sport of men's soccer," said Howard Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Louis B. "Skip" Perkins, Jr. "This gives our soccer program the opportunity to compete in a conference tournament and ultimately a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. We look forward to the challenge and are excited about being a part of the Sun Belt Conference."

"The reintroduction of men's soccer to the Sun Belt Conference means that we will be able to provide valuable opportunities for student-athletes and deliver them a first-class championship experience," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. "Our new affiliate members provide us with a full field of competitive teams and we welcome them to the Sun Belt Conference."

"We are looking forward to having an automatic qualifier in the sport to represent us in the NCAA postseason," said Benson.  "And we are optimistic at the possibility of sending multiple teams to the tournament field each year."

The Sun Belt previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976 to 1995.  In fact, the first ever Sun Belt Championship in any sport was the 1976 men's soccer championship.

Of note is the fact that the three new affiliate members were all part of the former Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) at some point in the past. Howard was a founding member from 2000-2011 before playing the last two seasons as an independent; NJIT was a member from 2004 (their first season in Division I) to 2011; and Hartwick was as founding member from 2000-2006 before departing for the Mid-American Conference from 2007-2013.

Come July 1, 2014 the Sun Belt membership will consist of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (non-football), Arkansas State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, the University of Idaho (football only), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, New Mexico State University (football only), the University of South Alabama, the University of Texas at Arlington (non-football), Texas State University, and Troy University.  Hartwick College, Howard University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology will compete as affiliate members in men's soccer.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

XU Nuggets' rally falls short in 2nd-round loss to Lady Tigers

XU sophomore Whitney Gathright is the only Louisiana collegiate
 female this season with 40 made 3-pointers, 100 made free throws,
100 rebounds and 100 assists. She’s the only Gold Nugget in the
program’s history to reach 40 made 3-pointers and 100 made
free throws in the same season.

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- Katie Allen made three 3-pointers during a momentum-changing first-half run which carried Campbellsville to a 59-55 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the second round of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship on Friday.

The Lady Tigers (32-3) overcame an early nine-point deficit and withstood a second-half rally from the Gold Nuggets (24-10), whose season ended in the second round for the third time in four years.

Allen, a senior guard, finished with 15 points. Ellen Sholtes and Kristen Jacob scored 10 points apiece for the Lady Tigers, ranked fourth in the coaches poll and a No. 1 seed.

Xavier, ranked 20th in the poll and a No. 5 seed, got all but four of its points from three players. Whitney Gathright scored 19, Danielle Tucker 17 and Whitney Gaston-Loyd 15.

The Gold Nuggets made five of their first six shots from the floor, including a Gathright 3-pointer which gave them an 11-2 lead at 16:11. But during the next 12 1/2 minutes, Xavier was 2-of-21 from the floor and committed six turnovers to open the door for a 24-5 Campbellsville run.

"That stretch killed us," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We really struggled offensively."

Gathright made 1-of-2 free throws at 10:38 to give Xavier its final lead, 14-11. Allen's 3-pointer at 10:12 tied the score, and a Sholtes basket at 8:06 put Campbellsville ahead to stay, 18-16.

Allen capped the Lady Tigers' run with a 3-pointer at 3:48, and Campbellsville led 31-20 at halftime.

Campbellsville led by 15 early in the second half before Gathright made back-to-back 3-pointers in an 11-2 run to close the margin to 39-33. But the Gold Nuggets didn't move any closer until Gathright scored two baskets in the final 11 seconds.

Gathright, a sophomore guard, made three 3-pointers and also had four rebounds and four assists. Tucker's point total was her best in two XU seasons, and the senior forward led the Nuggets with eight rebounds. Gaston-Loyd, a senior center, grabbed six rebounds and, for the third consecutive game, reached 15 points or more.

It also was the final XU game for seniors Carmen Holcombe (four points, seven rebounds, two steals), Paige Gauthier (no points, six rebounds, two assists, a block and two steals) and Chelsea Broussard (no points, five rebounds, two steals).

The Gold Nuggets' Mount Seniormore of, from left, Whitney Gaston-Loyd,
 Paige Gauthier, Danielle Tucker, Chelsea Broussard and Carmen Holcombe.

Campbellsville outshot Xavier 36.5 to 34.8 percent from the floor and was 15-of-23 from the line to the Nuggets' 5-of-9. Xavier had a 44-40 rebound advantage.

Xavier is 0-8 in second-round games at nationals, but this was the Nuggets' closest losing margin in that round -- the previous seven losses were by an average of 19.3 points.

"They say if you knock on the door long enough, it'll open for you," said Browder, whose teams are 4-13 at nationals. "We're going to keep knocking."

Campbellsville will take a nine-game win streak into a 4 p.m. EDT Saturday quarterfinal against Oklahoma City, a two-point overtime winner at home against Xavier on Nov. 29. The Stars advanced Friday with a 58-55 victory against Montana State-Northern.

NOTES: The Nuggets limited Campbellsville to their second-fewest points in a game this season. The Lady Tigers entered averaging 82 points . . . Xavier scored 22 points in the final 7:08 -- nine by Gathright and seven by Tucker . . . Tucker, who started her collegiate career at NCAA Division II's Gannon, produced 1,036 points and 608 rebounds in four collegiate seasons . . . Gauthier became the fifth in Nuggets history to reach 600 points, 400 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals in a career . . Gathright's 417 points are the most by a Nugget in one season since Brittany Powell's 499 in 2009-10, and they're the most by an XU sophomore since Jarryn Cleaves' 425 in 2004-05 . . . Holcombe who averaged 4.2 rebounds per game during her career, averaged 7.8 rebounds in her final five games.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Seventeen Participate in TSU Pro Day

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- On Thursday, Tennessee State held its annual Pro Day inside the Indoor Football Facility. Seventeen took part in the event in front of scouts from 26 NFL teams.

The standouts of the day were safety David Van Dyke and center Demetrius Rhaney who both improved their chances of making a professional team roster.

 

Van Dyke started the day by recording 18 repetitions in the bench press and then had a vertical jump of 38.5 inches.

 In the agility drills, Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and did the 20-yard shuttle in 4.12.

 

At close to 300 pounds, Rhaney clocked a 4.89 in the 40-yard dash and a shuttle time of 4.72.

 

Rhaney impressed in the bench press, recording 24 reps and also hopped 29 inches in the vertical jump.

 

Van Dyke and Rhaney could join Kadeem Edwards and A.C. Leonard on NFL rosters in the fall.

 

Edwards and Leonard mostly stuck with their Combine records, but Edwards improved his vertical by two inches to 29 and Leonard finished his shuttle in 4.39 seconds.

 

The other TSU participants were Gregory Barksdale, Tim Broughton, DeShawn Byrd, Holt Claiborne, Antonio Harper, Marquaveus Jackson, Wilson Robinson, Wesley Samuels, Andrew Taylor and Devin Wilson.

 

The Tigers will await their fate in the upcoming NFL Draft on May 8-10.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets, Gold Rush lose at Lindsey Wilson

XU's Kourtney Howell and Nour Abbes

COLUMBIA, Kentucky -- Xavier University of Louisiana lost to Lindsey Wilson in matchups of top-10 NAIA women's and men's tennis teams Friday. The Gold Nuggets lost 5-4, and the Gold Rush lost 6-3.

Xavier's women are ranked second, and the men are seventh. Lindsey Wilson's women are ranked fourth, and the men are sixth.

Lindsey Wilson's women (2-3) rallied from a 3-1 deficit to snap the six-dual winning streak of the Gold Nuggets (9-5). In the final match on the court, Anna Gaprindashvili clinched for the Blue Raiders with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory at No. 5 singles against Simone-Alyse Ewell.

XU's Nour Abbes and Kourtney Howell defeated NAIA-ranked singles players. Abbes improved to 9-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against 28th-ranked Sarah Bernos. Howell rallied to beat 19th-ranked Alejandra Galvis 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

In the men's dual, Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer accounted for all the Xavier points. Lindsey Wilson won three of the four singles matches which went to a third set, with Pablo Vilches clinching for the Raiders at No. 6 with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 decision against Vincenzo Ciccone.

Montrel defeated 18th-ranked Edberg Espinoza 6-4, 6-2. Soifer beat regionally ranked Raul Mendez 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-1.

Lindsey Wilson's men are 5-1, and the Gold Rush are 5-8.

"Very difficult defeats," XU coach Alan Green said. "We weren't prepared for Lindsey Wilson, and that is my fault. I have to do a better job of getting us ready mentally and physically."

Both XU teams will play Milligan at 11 a.m. Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. Milligan's women are ranked 18th in the NAIA.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Behind the scenes of JSU's Harold Jackson Photo Shoot

COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

MEAC to host 2014 Bowling Championship

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host its 2014 MEAC Bowling Championship, March 21-23, at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Coppin State, Delaware State, Maryland Eastern Shore and Morgan State qualified from the northern division, while Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T will compete from the southern division.

Maryland Eastern Shore, the three-time defending NCAA Champion, captured their fifth northern divisional title with 28-2 mark in MEAC play. The Lady Hawks posted a 14-1 mark in team play and 14-1 record in Baker games during northern division action this season.

Norfolk State Spartans finished atop of divisional play for the fourth straight year with a 18-6 record en route to the southern crown to clinch the title. The Spartans were 6-2 in team play and 7-1 in Baker games during southern division action this season.

Only the top four teams from each division are eligible to compete in the championship tournament. Howard (11-41), Hampton (9-63), and North Carolina Central (36-53) were eliminated from postseason play.

The tournament begins tomorrow with a qualifying round of traditional play to determine seeding. The action continues on Saturday with teams competing in a best-of-seven Baker series in a bracket format.

The 2014 MEAC Bowling Championship will conclude on Sunday, March 23 beginning with the semifinal round at 9:30 a.m. and concluding with the championship final. The championship finale will air tape-delayed on ESPNU on Monday, March 31 at 10:30 p.m.

For the latest on MEAC Bowling and other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY MEACSPORTS.COM

After run to MEAC finals, Coppin State women's basketball looks forward to next year

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- After Coppin State lost the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship and a bid to the NCAA tournament by three points, coach Derek Brown made the walk upstairs to the concourse level of Norfolk Scope Arena in to meet family and friends.

He looked around the crowded scene and found two of his former players: Sherrie Tucker and Shalamar Oakley, with whom he won league titles in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He approached them, then called over Larissa Carter, who had just played her last game for the Eagles, a demoralizing 50-47 loss to Hampton.

“Even though this group didn’t win a championship, I love these girls just as much as you guys,” Brown said to his former players.


Part of it is because of the fight the ...

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TSU Lady Tigers drop game to SMU in WNIT first round

DALLAS, Texas -- Texas Southern University ended their season on Thursday night after dropping a 84-72 decision to SMU in the first round of the WNIT inside Moody Coliseum.

Brianna Sidney led all TSU scorers with 21 points, with four other players adding at least eight points. Morgan Simmons collected 12 rebounds, and SWAC Player of the Year Jazzmin Parker scored eight points on three-of-eight shooting.

The Lady Tigers shot 46 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line in the first half to stay within six points of SMU but fell behind by nine in the final seconds of the half after a 3-pointer by SMU's Keena Mays gave the Mustangs a 44-35 lead at the break.

TSU's Sidney led a charge early in the second half, and the Lady Tigers tied the game at 48-48 with 16:47 to play. The Lady Tigers kept it close over the next seven minutes, but a 15-2 run from 8:17 to 4:47 distanced SMU and sealed the win.



COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

CIAA Women's Bowling Tournament Starts Today

DURHAM, North Carolina -- The 2014 CIAA Women’s Bowling Championships will be held Friday, March 21 thru Sunday, March 23 at AMF Durham Lanes in Durham, N.C. Admission is free to the tournament, which is co-hosted by Saint Augustine’s University and Shaw University.

The event begins Friday with the regular season awards ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Team matches start at 10:50 a.m.

The action continues Saturday with Baker matches at 9 a.m. and double elimination bracket play at 3 p.m.

Bracket play continues Sunday with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. Sunday’s matches start at 10 a.m.

Bowie State University is the defending CIAA champion. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Virginia State University in the championship round to claim the crown last season in Durham, N.C.

Webstream of CIAA Bowling Championship

Watch live streaming video from ciaa at livestream.com

COURTESY CIAA.COM

Hampton Pirates Spring Football Begins on Wednesday

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
& MSUTTON PHOTOGRAPHY 

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- The Hampton University football program, getting set for its first season under head coach Connell Maynor, will begin spring football practices on Wednesday.

The Pirates, looking to improve upon last season's 4-8 mark, will use the upcoming few weeks of practice to gear up for the annual Spring Game, which will be held on Friday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m.

The game will be played at Armstrong Stadium and attendance will be free.

For more information on Hampton University football, 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

NAIA's top defense stymies Gold Rush, 61-52

KANSAS CITY, Missouri  --  In a matchup of two of the NAIA's top defenses, No. 1 prevailed.

Hope International, the national leader in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense, limited Xavier University of Louisiana to a season-low 35.7 percent from the floor and defeated the Gold Rush 61-52 in the opening round of the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship on Thursday.

Senior guard Jeremy Kilgore scored 12 of his career-high-tying 28 points during Hope's 16-2 run to open the game. The Royals (23-10), ranked 22nd in the final coaches poll before the tournament, never lost that lead.

The Gold Rush (23-9), No. 12 in the poll and seeded 12th in the tournament, rallied to within one point late in the first half and three points early in the second half but did not threaten in the closing minutes. Xavier's points were its fewest ever in 19 tournament games and its second fewest of the season. The Rush averaged 85.7 points and shot 51.1 percent from the floor in the six games preceding nationals.

Morris Wright scored 20 points, Anthony Goode 10 and Lucas Martin-Julien nine for Xavier, which made its 15th appearance at nationals and its fourth in a row.

Xavier, ranked third in the NAIA in field-goal percentage defense and eighth in scoring defense, regrouped after Hope's early run and limited the Royals to 30.2 percent from the floor in the final 34 minutes -- 37.3 percent for the game. The Gold Rush also outrebounded Hope 37-29 -- Xavier's best rebound margin at nationals since 1973.

Kilgore's second and final 3-pointer of the game gave the Royals a 16-2 lead at 14:06, and it was 17-4 after Garrett Neilan made 1-of-2 free throws at 11:45. But Xavier rallied, with Wright scoring 13 points -- including 3-of-3 3-pointers -- during a 17-5 run. Wright capped the surge with a trey to cut Hope's lead to 22-21 at 3:47.

Hope then closed the half with six unanswered points, and Neilan's basket with one second remaining made it 28-21.

The Royals extended their lead to nine in the first 75 seconds of the second half before Goode capped a 12-6 XU rally with a basket and two free throws, leaving Hope in front at 38-35 with 13:26 remaining.

Hope then missed its next three shots, but Xavier didn't get any closer. The Royals then hit four shots in a row, including a Matt Green 3-pointer, to lead 47-36 at 9:35. The Gold Rush never got closer than six points thereafter.

Wright, an Àll-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference sophomore guard, reached 20 points for the second straight game and the fifth time this season. He was 5-of-10 from the floor, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and 6-of-6 from the line. Wright grabbed seven rebounds to share team honors with Sydney Coleman.

Green, Hope's No. 3 scorer entering the tournament, had 15 points in the second half and finished with 19.

NOTES: It was the final XU game for seniors Olivier Siewe and Xavier Rogers, both of whom played two seasons for the Rush . . . The game, the last of eight Thursday, tipped off at 10:15 p.m., 30 minutes behind schedule. It ended at 12:01 a.m. . . . The Gold Rush set school season records with 904 free-throw attempts and 653 free throws made. Previous records were 877 attempts in 2010-11 and 626 made in 2010-11 . . . The Gold Rush lost for the fourth consecutive year in the first round. The XU men have not won at nationals since the 2007 first round, which is their only victory since 1973 . . . The Royals will play at 9:45 p.m. Friday in the second round against unseeded St. Catharine (Ky.), a 99-97 winner against fifth-seeded Southwestern Assemblies of God.

 Box score


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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SWAC Announces All Conference Bowling Teams

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2014 ALL-SWAC Bowling Teams with Danielle Walker (Alabama State) spotlighting the accolades receiving SWAC Bowler of the Year honors.

Lynsie Rodriguez (Prairie View A&M) was named Freshman of the Year with Alabama State head coach Andrew Chatmon voted Coach of the Year.

Walker captured the MVP title with a pin fall count of 5,637 in conference play to complement a 201.3 average against the league. She finished 15 games above 200 pins including five over 225 while eclipsing the 250-mark twice. She bowled her best game among the SWAC field recording a score of 284 against Grambling State in the SWAC East Bowling Round Up.

Rodriguez garners the top freshman award after ending SWAC play with a 178.6 average while appearing in 21 conference games. She posted a pin fall count of 3,752, scoring 200 pins of more on four occasions, hitting a high of 232 in conference play.

Chatmon was tabbed Coach of the Year after guiding Alabama State to a SWAC regular season crown with a 19-5 record during the league's round ups. The Lady Hornets registered a collective pin fall of 25,609 finishing ahead of the pack by more than 600 pins. ASU finished with a combine team average of 914.6 notching its best team-game high of 1,100 pins.

Currently ranked No. 19 in the NTCA Coaches Poll, ASU finished the two round-ups with an average of 195.96 and built their non-conference resume with wins over No. 3 Nebraska, No. 6 Stephen F. Austin and No. 13 Long Island.

Joining Walker on the All-SWAC First Team includes: Dyanna Scott (Jackson State), Brianna LeForbes (Texas Southern), Kaila Ryan (Alabama State) and Rebecca Goodwin (Alabama A&M). The second team is comprised of Camille Collins (Alabama A&M), Briana Wells (Alabama State), Rakia Jenkins (Southern), Kaylene Adams (Southern), and Ashle Reid (Prairie View A&M).

The SWAC Bowling All-Conference teams was selected among the top ten averages in league play. The top five averages were named to the first team with the bowlers ranked six through 10 completing the second team.

The MVP and freshman awards were handed to the top bowlers with the best average fitting the respective criteria and must participate in 2/3 of the conference matches.

The SWAC Bowling Coach of the Year award is nominated and voted on by the league's head coaches.

Moving into the 2014 SWAC Bowling Championship Tournament, the six-team field will consist of Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Southern, Jackson State, Prairie View and Texas Southern.

BOWLER OF THE YEAR

Danielle Walker (Alabama State)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Lynsie Rodriguez (Prairie View A&M)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Andrew Chatmon (Alabama State)

SWAC BOWLING ALL CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

Danielle Walker (Alabama State)

Dyanna Scott (Jackson State)

Brianna LeForbes (Texas Southern)

Kaila Ryan (Alabama State)

Rebecca Goodwin (Alabama A&M)

SWAC BOWLING ALL CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

Camille Collins (Alabama A&M)

Brianna Wells (Alabama State)

Rakia Jenkins (Southern)

Kaylene Adams (Southern)

Ashle Reid (Prairie View A&M)

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

Rush, Nuggets win every match against Graceland

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  — Xavier University of Louisiana, back on the road for four consecutive days of tennis, opened its trip Thursday with 9-0 men's and women's victories against Graceland.
   
It was the fourth victory of the season for the Gold Rush (5-7) against a ranked NAIA opponent. Xavier is ranked seventh, and Graceland (5-5) is 13th. The Gold Nuggets (9-4), ranked second, extended their winning streak to six, which includes five road victories. Graceland's women, who missed this week's top 25 by six points, are 5-3.
   
Winning for the Rush in doubles and singles were Kyle Montrel, Nikita Soifer, Tushar Mandlekar and Adam Albrecht.
   
Montrel snapped a three-match losing streak in singles with a 6-2, 6-2 decision against regionally ranked Jamie Sordyl at the top flight. Soifer earned his second victory of the semester against a nationally ranked opponent when he defeated Jose Daniele Razo Torres 6-1, 6-2. The ITA ranks Soifer 40th and Razo Torres 23rd. Mandlekar snapped an eight-match singles losing streak with a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Brezile Hamilton, and he teamed with Kevin Chaouat for their fifth doubles victory in six attempts, 8-3 against David James Parker and Adolfo Guerrero Contreras.
   
Albrecht, one of three Rush freshmen to win singles matches — Mandlekar and Jordan Harrell were the others — defeated Oscar Chang Tun Jie 6-4, 7-5.
   
Kourtney Howell, Brandi Nelson, Nour Abbes and Simone-Alyse Ewell earned doubles and singles victories for the Gold Nuggets. Howell and Brion Flowers defeated Jessica Worring and Zahra El Otmany, ranked 13th in NAIA doubles, 8-0. Howell won 6-0, 6-0 against El Otmany, who is regionally ranked, and Nelson won by the same score against Ilse Karina Cardiel.
   
Abbes, in the lineup for the first time since Feb. 24, teamed with Ewell for an 8-1 doubles victory against regionally ranked Melynda Simmons and Sofia Jaramillo. Abbes improved to 8-0 in singles with a 6-2, 6-2 decision against Worring — Abbes is ranked fourth nationally and Worring 13th — and Ewell beat Simmons, who is regionally ranked, 6-3, 6-1.
   
Nelson and her older sister, Carmen, improved to 4-1 in doubles with an 8-3 decision against Amy Haberthier and Cardiel. Amber Brown defeated Jaramillo 6-4, 6-3 for her fifth consecutive singles victory,
   
XU graduate and former player Monroe Walker coaches both Graceland teams.
   
Both XU teams will travel to Columbia, Ky., to play Lindsey Wilson's fourth-ranked women and sixth-ranked men at 11 a.m. Friday.

Results:  Men    Women

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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WSSU Rams Sweep Double Header From Kutztown Bears, 9-0 and 3-2

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- The Winston-Salem State Rams used solid pitching and timely hitting to sweep a double header from Kutztown University on Wednesday at BB&T Ballpark in downtown Winston-Salem.

With the two wins, the WSSU Rams improve to 19-9 overall, while Kutztown falls to 7-3.

In the first game, WSSU used a big inning and home runs from Anthony Nutall, and two from Leland Clemmons, as the Rams blanked the Bears 9-0.

WSSU was able to score first, when in the bottom of the first inning, Leland Clemmons would lead off with a double down the left field line, and Gavin Culler would advance him to third on a sacrifice bunt. Ray Crawford would bring Clemmons home on a sacrifice fly to deep right field, giving the Rams the early 1-0 lead.

The score would remain at 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Winston-Salem State would blow the game open with six runs on four hits.

Leland Clemmons led off the fifth with a deep solo home run to left field. Gavin Culler would single and promptly steal second. Culler advanced on a Ray Crawford groundout. Conner Andrus would reach on a fielder's choice, with Culler scoring. Andrus would eventually steal second base, and Colby Keane would draw a walk before Rafael Gonzalez would single to left field, scoring Andrus. Anthony Nutall would cap the  big inning with a three run home run to left field, putting the Rams out in front 7-0.

Winston-Salem State would score again in the sixth inning, when Leland Clemmons would go yard for the second consecutive inning to lead off the inning giving WSSU a 8-0 lead. Gavin Culler reached on a single up the middle and advanced to second on a groundout by Ray Crawford. Gavin Culler would advance to third on a wild pitch, and Levi Grassley who would walk, also advance to second on the play. Culler would score on another Bear wild pitch, giving the Rams the final run of the game and eventual win at 9-0.

Winston-Salem State was led at the plate by Leland Clemmons, who finished the game three for four with three runs scored, two runs batted in and two home runs. Gavin Culler went three for three with two runs scored, and Colby Keane and Rafael Gonzalez each went two for three with a run scored.

Gonzalez also had a run batted in. Anthony Nutall also had the long ball going, as he hit his first home run of the season, going one for two with three runs batted in and a run scored. Ray Crawford picked up a rbi, as did Conner Andrus who also scored a run to go with his run batted in.

Wesley Helsabeck continued to be strong on the mound for WSSU, as he picked up his fifth win of the season, going 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits, while striking out four and walking three. Alex Grubb came out of the bullpen to pitch the final inning.

In game two, Kutztown was able to get on the scoreboard first, as the plated a run in the fourth inning, helped out by two WSSU errors in the inning.

Winston-Salem State would answer in the bottom of the fifth inning after Rafael Gonzalez doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a Anthony Nutall groundout. Gonzalez would score on a passed ball. The rams would load the bases after a Aaron Hatch single and a Leland Clemmons walk, followed by a single from Gavin Culler. Ray Crawford would bring home Hatch on a sacrifice fly to deep right field, giving the Rams a 2-1 lead.

The Kutztown Bears would come right back in the sixth inning with another run, to tied the game at 2-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Anthony Nutall walked to start the inning, then was replaced for pinch runner, Eddie Araujo, who advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Aaron Hatch would then reach on an error by the first baseman, and Leland Clemmons would be intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.

After a pitching change by Kutztown, Gavin Culler would come to the plate with a chance to give the Rams the win.

He wouldn't disappoint, as he would take a pitch into right field, scoring Eddie Araujo, to give the WSSU Rams the walk-off win, 3-2, and the series sweep.

For the Rams, Gavin Culler finished three for four with a rbi, and Aaron hatch went two for three with a run scored. Rafael Gonzalez was one for three with a run scored and Ray Crawford finished one for two with a run batted in. Conner Andrus went one for three in the game.

Scott Wells pitched 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, while striking out two and walking one. Eric Corlett picked up the win coming out of the bullpen, going 1.2 innings, and allowing just one hit.

Winston-Salem State will play out of conference this weekend, when they travel to Mars Hill University to take on the Bulldogs in a three game series.

Box Score

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Miles College fires men's basketball coach Will Cotchery

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  Will Cotchery didn't need to be sat down and told his job was on the line.

As head coach of Miles College's men's basketball team and a veteran of the profession, he knew immediate improvement as expected after a nine-win campaign in 2012-2013.

So, when he was fired, following his seventh season, four as head coach, after going 4-24, including an 18-game losing streak to start the season, he understood the decision was, as he put it, "the nature of the beast".

"Unfortunately, the way things panned out, we didn't get that done," Cotchery said.

Golden Bears endured several key ...

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HU Pírates' Season Ends With Loss at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania -- The Hampton University men's basketball team made a battle of it for 40 minutes Wednesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center, but Penn State escaped with a 69-65 win in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

The Pirates finish the 2013-14 season with an 18-13 record.

Sophomore guard Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) led the Pirates with a career-high 22 points, hitting four of his six 3-pointers and eight of 11 free throws. Sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.) added 19 points, going 8-for-12 from the floor.

The Pirates took their only lead of the night with 11:17 left in the second half, when sophomore guard Breon Key (Hampton, Va.) stuffed home a breakaway dunk off a Penn State miss to give the Pirates a 43-41 lead.

That basket capped off a 14-2 run for Hampton – a run that started after the Nittany Lions took a 39-29 lead with 16:19 left to play.

After Key's dunk, D.J. Newbill answered with a jumper to tie the game at 43-43, before a pair of Tim Frazier free throws put Penn State up 45-43 with 9:19 left.

The Nittany Lions ultimately went on a 10-2 run to take a 55-45 lead with 5:43 left after a pair of free throw from Geno Thorpe. But the Pirates hung tough, slowly chipping at the deficit until Powers drained a layup with 29 seconds left to cut the lead to 64-61.

Thorpe answered with two free throws, before Powers again hit a layup to cut the lead to 66-63 with 16 seconds left. Another Powers layup 10 seconds later cut Penn State's lead to 67-65.

But Thrope hit two free throws with four seconds left to clinch the game.

The Nittany Lions scored the first eight points of the game, before the Pirates went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 10-8 on a 3-pointer from Darden at the 14:07 mark. Penn State scored the next eight points, taking an 18-8 lead, before another Darden trey at the 12:10 mark stopped the run.

Penn State later led 21-11, before Darden scored six straight points – on three free throws and a trey – to cut the lead to 21-17, before senior guard Ramon Mercado (Hollywood, Fla.) added a trey of his own to cut the lead to 21-20 with 9:57 left in the half.

The game was a one-possession affair for the next roughly four minutes, before Penn State extended its lead to 30-21 at the 3:43 mark on a layup from John Johnson. Hampton scored the next four points, cutting the lead to 30-25 on a fastbreak layup from Powers.

But the Nittany Lions took a 33-25 lead into the half thanks to a 3-pointer from Graham Woodward.

Darden had 15 points at the break, hitting all four of his 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes.

The Pirates shot 41.3 percent (19-for-46) from the floor and hit six of 14 3-pointers (42.9 percent).

Penn State (16-17) shot 40.5 percent (17-for-42) from the floor and held a 42-18 edge in rebounds.

Newbill led four Nittany Lions in double figures with 19 points.

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.
Hampton also shot 72.4 percent (21-for-29) from the free throw line and committed just seven turnovers.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY PIRATES SPORTS INFORMATION

GAME NOTES: NCCU Takes on Iowa State in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

#14-Seed - NCCU (28-5, 15-1 MEAC, 3-0 Neutral)
vs.
#3-Seed - Iowa State (26-7, 11-7 Big 12, 7-0 Neutral)
March 21, 2014 - 8:50 p.m. (CT)

 - AT&T Center (17,731) - San Antonio, Texas -
TV/Video:  TNT (Marv Albert- PxP, Steve Kerr- Color, Craig Sager)
Audio: WNCU 90.7 HD2, Westwood One
Game Notes: #14-NCCU vs. #3 Iowa State (PDF)
Twitter Talk:  #NCCUMBB, Follow @NCCUAthletics

THE GAME
After earning its first-ever trip to the Big Dance, at the NCAA Division I level, the 14th- seeded Eagles of North Carolina Central University face the Big 12 Tournament Champion, the third-seeded Cyclones of Iowa State University for the first time in program history.  NCCU is 0-2 against the Big 12 all-time.

NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
The NCCU Sports Network will call the action live from the AT&T Center in San Antonio beginning with the Denny's of Durham Pregame Show beginning at 9:20 p.m. (CT) as play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network and guest color analyst Ronnie Enoch will broadcast on WNCU 90.7 HD2.  Due to Westwood One's partnership with the NCAA as the National Broadcast Partner, the NCCU Sports Network will not be able to have a live audio stream going online.  Instead, fans can tune in to legendary play-by-play broadcast Brad Sham and former World Champion with Chicago Bulls, WIll Perdue.  Fans can still interact with the broadcasters by following @NCCUAthletics, use the hashtag #NCCUMBB, or send an e-mail to whooks@nccu.edu or nccusn@nccu.edu.

SCOUTING REPORT:  #3 SEED- IOWA STATE
-The third-seeded  and ninth-ranked Cyclones of Iowa State University enter the NCAA winners of four straight contests as the Cyclones swept through the 2014 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball tournament with wins over Kansas State (91-85), Kansas (94-83) and Baylor (74-65).  The Cyclones earned their 16th NCAA Tournament berth in school history and have compiled a 14-15 record all-time in the Big Dance.  During the Big 12 Tournament, ISU shot 51.9 percent from behind-the-arc, connecting on 27-of-52 threes.

-The Cyclones averaged 86.3 points per game in the Big 12 Tournament, while the stellar Eagle defense surrendered only 51.0 points a game on the way to their first-ever MEAC crown.

-Iowa State enters March Madness as one of the top scoring teams in the nation averaging 82.9 points a game, good enough for sixth, while NCCU is seventh in the country in scoring defense allowing 58.5 points per game.  ISU is 10th in the nation in three-point field goal attempts, while defending the three is NCCU's strength.  The maroon and gray are 11th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense as opponents are shooting 29.5 percent from-the-outside against the Eagles.  The Cyclones take great care of the basketball and distribute it equally as well sitting second in the nation in Assist-to-Turnover Ratio at 1.76, No. 1 in the nation in assists per game at 18.5 helpers per contest.

-ISU has a trio of scorers averaging in double figures as 6-6, 220 senior Melvin Ejim tops the squad averaging 18.1 points per contest.  The Big 12 Player of the Year also averages 8.5 boards per game.  The Big 12 Championship's Most Outstanding Player, 6-4 senior DeAndre Kane is second on the team averaging 17.0 points per game while ripping down 6.7 boards and dishing out 5.8 assists.  The final double-figure scorer is 6-7, 240 pound sophomore Georges Niang, as he averaged 16.5 points per contest for the Cyclones.  Freshman point guard Monte Morris is No. 1 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 5.4.

-In his fourth season at the helm, Fred Hoiberg, Iowa State's favorite son and native of Ames, has compiled a record of 88-46 (.657) during his time and has recorded at least 23-wins in the last three seasons, including the 2013-14 Big 12 Regular Season Championship.  Hoiberg has led the Cylcones to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, putting the program back into the national spotlight.  Hoiberg was hired at ISU on April 28, 2010 as the 19th head men's basketball coach in Iowa State University history.

-NCCU has faced only two teams from the Big 12 since making the leap to the Division I level.  The Eagles nearly shocked the world in LeVelle Moton's second season at the helm falling in overtime to the Oklahoma Sooners.  NCCU is 0-2 vs. Big 12 opponents.

11/15/10- at Oklahoma- 63-71 W (OT)
2/17/09- at Kansas State- 49-95 L

NCCU IN THE POSTSEASON
With NCCU in its infant years of the NCAA Division I level, this is the first time the Eagles have made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  This is also the first NCAA Tournament appearance at any level since March 7, 1997 when the maroon and gray dropped a 78-66 decision to St. Augustine's.  The Eagles are 10-5 All-time in postseason play and won the 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship.


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

Norfolk interested in keeping MEAC tournament in town

COURTESY MEAC.ORG

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Talks between the city and the MEAC regarding the future of the league's basketball tournament here are temporarily on hold, but a government official said the city is “definitely interested” in keeping the annual event at Scope.

John Rhamstine, who oversees Norfolk's arts and entertainment cultural facilities, said the weeklong tournament has been good for commerce.

“It seems like the hotels and restaurants are happy to have the business, especially during a slow time,” Rhamstine said. “I think it's been a win-win.”

The tournament completed the second year of a three-year agreement to stay in Norfolk when North Carolina Central beat Morgan State for the title on Saturday. Discussions on extending the deal have begun, but they won't resume until after the NCAA tournament ends next month, Rhamstine said.

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Previous NCAA trips prepare Hampton U. women for competition

HAMPTON, Virginia — Shortly before they took the court in Albuquerque, N.M., to face Kentucky in the 2011 NCAA tournament, Hampton University coach David Six sensed that his players were uncharacteristically quiet and edgy.

Six tried to snap them out of it.

"I can see y'all aren't like me," he said to them.

What do you mean, several of them asked.

"I know I'm the best coach here," Six told them.

They laughed.

"I said, no, I'm dead serious," he said. "I said, they have more resources than me, but I tell you what: If you listen to me, I'm going to level the playing field for you. But you've got to do what I tell you to do."

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Former SWAC top frosh Howard plans return to Jackson State

Head Coach Wayne Brent
Jackson State University
 

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Former Jackson State star Kelsey Howard plans to come back.

“He came to me around Christmas and asked (if he could come back), and I told him as soon as the season is over with, you need to show up to workouts and team meetings,” men’s basketball coach Wayne Brent said.

Howard played under former JSU coach Tevester Anderson, who retired last March. Brent was hired later in the month and said Howard, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top freshman in 2011-12, stopped showing up after a couple of offseason workouts.

“People say I cut Kelsey, but I never cut him,” Brent said.

Jackson State lost to Grambling State in the first round of the SWAC tournament last week in Houston. Brent said he spoke with Howard at a team meeting on Wednesday.

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NCAA to visit Southern University in April

University trying to get APR records in order after postseason ban

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- NCAA officials will visit Southern next month to evaluate the university’s efforts to provide complete and accurate data on student-athletes’ Academic Progress Rates.

It’s expected that the Jaguars’ attempt to have an NCAA postseason ban will be resolved by the end of the spring semester in May. The ban was instituted in December and already impacted the men’s and women’s indoor track and basketball teams as well as the women’s bowling team.

It’s likely Southern will be unable to fully satisfy the NCAA demands, which would lead to additional sanctions along with the establishment of an end date for the currently indefinite ban.

“If sanctions are introduced, we want to be able to mitigate them as much as possible,” Southern Athletic Director William Broussard said. “Ultimately something has got to happen that allows us to finally hit the reset button as we enter a potential next phase. We’ve got to get out of the mire we’re in right now.”

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MVSU to face rival JSU on ESPNU on April 26

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Next month, the Mississippi Valley State softball team will be playing live on ESPNU.

The Devilettes will play the first of its doubleheader on Saturday, April 26 against rival Jackson State live on ESPNU. The televised game is set for 4:30 p.m. at the MVSU Softball Complex and the final matchup will take place afterwards.

To view the full MVSU softball schedule, click here.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB's rally falls short in 18-12 loss to Central Arkansas

CONWAY, Arkansas (March 18) -- The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Baseball Team late innings heroics where not enough as the University of Central Arkansas holds on for a 18-12 win, here Tuesday night at Bears Stadium.

UAPB (7-12) finished the contest with eight hits with Tyler Oertle finishing with a team high two hits in three at-bats, while scoring one runs and batting one in.

UCA (10-8) tallied 15 hits in the contest with three Bears finishing the contest with three hits each in Doug Votolato, Justin Treece and Brandon Montalvo.

Both teams combined used 10 pitchers in the contest with each team using five pitchers apiece in the contest.

Josh Markel (1-0) picked the win for UCA as he pitched three innings in relief, allowing two walks and striking out two in the 10 batters he faced. Riley Echols was the Bears start as he pitched four innings, allowing four hits, four earned runs and striking out four in the 19 batters he faced. Also making appearances on the mound for UCA was Carson Daily, Landon Mason and Bo Stitch.

Daily in his appearance on the mound, gave up four earned runs, and two walks in the four batters he faced.

Mason in relief, pitched two-third innings, allowing two hits, three earned runs and one walk in the seven batters he faced, while Stitch finished the contest pitching one and one-third innings, allowing one and one-third innings, allowing two hits, and striking out two in the six batters he faced.

Samuel Olson (0-1) received the loss for the Golden Lions as he pitched two innings, allowing three hits, five earned runs and striking out one in the 13 batters he faced. UAPB used four relief pitcher as Humberto Zavala pitched one-third innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs. Dixon Marble pitched, two innings, allowing six hits, five earned run and striking out one, followed by Skyler Henson, who pitched two and two-third innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs and striking out five in the 18 batters he faced, while Jaron Gold pitched one inning, striking out one in the three batters he faced.

The Golden Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as both Mike Wieland and Oertle scored on Andre Davis triple to center field, followed by a an Isias Alcanter single to center field scoring Davis.

UCA would plate five runs in the bottom of the second, sparked by a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch scoring B. Montalvo. Then Scott Zimmerle would score on a bases load walk by Votolato, followed by a C. Chris Townsend bases loaded single scoring Votolato, Tyler Langely and Brad Dillenberger, giving the Bears a 5-3 lead.

UCA would take a 10-3 lead into the top of the fifth inning as the Bears plated three runs in their half of the third and two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Tillman would cut the UCA's lead to 10-4 as he scored on an Oertle single in the top of the fifth inning.

The Bears would increase their lead to 18-4 as they plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth and three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Then the UAPB rally would begin as the Golden Lions plated eight runs, sparked by a Cassidy bases loaded hit-by-pitch scoring Ibrahim. Then a catchers' interference would place Jerimiah Figueroa on first with the bases loaded scoring Jose Hernandez, followed by a Rashawn Tillman bases loaded walk scoring Joshua Bruckshaw.

UAPB would then score three more runs on a Jason Ibrahim double to right center scoring both Mike Wieland and Tillman, followed by a Hernandez single to left field scoring Ibrahim cutting UCA's lead to 18-12.

UAPB will return to action on Wednesday, March 19 as they will host UCA at Taylor Field in Pine Bluff, Ark., in a 6 p.m. start

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION