Both WSSU QBs lead scoring drives in spring finale

KERNERSVILLE, North Carolina  — After battling for the starting quarterback’s position throughout spring practice, Rudy Johnson and Phillip Sims made strong cases to win the job Saturday in Winston-Salem State’s spring football game at Glenn High School.

Johnson, last season’s starter, shook off a slow start and completed 7 of 13 passes for 86 yards and led the Rams to points on three of his five drives. Sims, who transferred from Virginia before last season, completed 7 of his 8 passes and led scoring drives on two of his three possessions.
                   
Both led drives that ended with touchdowns — Johnson connected with Chase Powell for a 10-yard score, and Sims connected with Rashan Williams on a 54-yard bomb.

The game matched the first-team...

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Alabama State baseball: ASU junior Amion leads nation in runs scored

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Alabama State center fielder Richard Amion scored twice on Sunday to give Alabama State the series’ victory over Alcorn State after splitting a doubleheader on Saturday.

The two runs give Amion 53 for the year, tops among all Division I baseball players in America.

“It feels great to be at the top of the list,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll stay at the top of the list. When I get on base, I don’t have to steal as many bases as last year because I know the big dogs behind me are going to drive me in.”

Amion didn’t get here by accident. The leadoff hitter for the Hornets has worked hard off the field and studied his opposing pitchers to become a well-rounded hitter.

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Lincoln's Lewis Breaks Meet Record In 100m At Missouri Relays

COLUMBIA, Missouri  --  Romel Lewis broke the meet record in 100m, highlighting the Lincoln men's outdoor track & field team's performance at the Missouri Relays on Saturday (April 12). The Blue Tigers won five events at the meet, which was hosted by the University of Missouri.

Lewis won the 100m in 10.28, an automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships that breaks the previous Missouri Relays mark of 10.39. That previous record was also set by a Blue Tiger, Lerone Clark, back in 2004. Romone Hill finished one second behind Lewis, taking second in 10.29, also an automatic qualifier. Wesley Best placed fifth in the 100m (21.21) while Khorey Spalding finished seventh (10.72).

Hill and Lewis also helped Lincoln take first place in the 4x100m relay, teaming with Best and Spalding to win in 40.24, another Missouri Relays meet record. The foursome beat the previous record of 40.48, also set by Lincoln back in 2004. The Blue Tigers also won the 4x400m relay, with the grouping of Winston Edwards, Michael Ashley, Jermaine Blake and Roger Blake finishing in 3:12.41. Both of those winning times are provisional qualifiers.

Jermaine Blake took the crown in the 800m, winning in 1:54.97, and also placed 13th in the 1,500m (4:18.60). Edwards had Lincoln's other individual victory of the day, taking the 400m hurdles in 53.01. Ashley, meanwhile, was the runner-up in the 400m, finishing second in 48.41, while Roger Blake placed seventh (49.30) and Neville Daley took 10th (50.51).

The Blue Tigers had four athletes finish among the top-12 in the 200m, led by Hill, who took third in 21.21. Best finished fifth in that event, coming in at 21.46, and Spalding placed seventh (21.65) while Stallone Watson came in 12th (22.28). Watson was Lincoln's top finisher in both the 110m hurdles, where he took fourth (14.81), and the long jump, where he placed third at 7.11m. Orneldo Thomas took fourth in the long jump with a distance of 7.06m while Owen Smith took 10th (6.24m).

Hampton Mayson had two nice finishes for LU in the field events, including taking seventh in the shot put at 13.28m. In the javelin throw, Mayson claimed 10th with a distance of 35.46. Darran Hunter placed eighth in the latter event, finishing with a distance of 41.63m.

Next week, Lincoln is scheduled to compete in two meets, including the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan. from April 17-19. LU is also slated to compete in the Dewey Allgood Invitational, which will be hosted by Missouri S&T University in Rolla, Mo. on April 19.

Complete Results

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Texas Southern Women's Track Head Coach Pauline Banks Inducted into MVSU Hall of Fame

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Seven former Mississippi Valley State University standouts were inducted into the MVSU Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday during a banquet at the H.M. Ivy Cafeteria on the MVSU campus.

The inductees include: Pauline Banks, Stephanie Gardner, Robin Williams, Roy Hazzle, Rufus Williams, Albert Jo Williams and Larry Harmon.

Pauline Banks was named the Most Valuable Player at Greenwood High School in track and field for a three-year span from 1983-86. She was also a Big 8 champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meters in 1986. She continued her success at MVSU in 1987 by being selected All-SWAC in the 200 and 400 meter dash. She was also selected in 1987, 1989 and 1990 as the MVSU Most Valuable Player for Outdoor Track & Field. Banks was selected All-SWAC in the 400 meters in 1988-1990. She was All-SWAC in the 4x400 relay in 1990. During her employment at Jackson State University, she became the first woman selected as head coach for the track and field team in 2003. The JSU 4x400 relay team was selected NCAA Division I Mid-East All-Region Team. The 2008 and 2009 JSU indoor and outdoor track and field teams earned SWAC titles. Banks moved on with her trail blazing, becoming the first woman selected as head women's track and field coach at Texas Southern in 2009.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION   

Lincoln Blue Tigers Win Seven Events At The Missouri Relays

COLUMBIA, Missouri  -- Yanique Ellington broke the meet record in 100m, posting one the Lincoln women's outdoor track & field team's seven victories at the Missouri Relays on Saturday (April 12). The Blue Tigers turned in 33 overall top-10 finishes at the meet, which was hosted by the University of Missouri.

Ellington was one of six Blue Tigers to finish among the top-15 in the 100m, winning the race in 11.52. That time, an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, beat the previous Missouri Relays meet record of 11.58, set in 2007 by another Blue Tiger, Nandelle Cameron. Janae Johnson was the runner-up in the 100m, taking second in 11.60, while Judith Riley (11.98) and Kimberly Bailey (12.01) finished sixth and seventh, respectively. Nickeisha Beaumont, meanwhile, finished 12th (12.42) while Erika Spencer placed 15th (12.81).

Lincoln also had tremendous success in the 200m, with Johnson emerging as the winner with a time of 23.65. Ellington was the runner-up, clocking in at 23.86, and Riley finished seventh in 24.63. Bailey came in ninth (24.80) and Marcia Harrison placed 11th (25.12), tying fellow teammate Shakeisha Miller.

Tamara Keane
5'-8" Senior Sprinter
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri
Photo Courtesy: Lincoln University Athletics

The Blue Tigers also dominated the hurdle events, including the 400m race, where Tamara Keane won with a provisional time of 1:00.19. Ladonna Richards also had a provisional mark in the 400m hurdles, finishing second in 1:01.04, and Harrison rounded out the top-three with a time of 1:02.93. Juneille Barker finished fifth in both the 400m hurdles (1:03.52) and the 100m hurdles (13.94), with Richards winning the latter event in 13.44. Miller took seventh in the 100m hurdles (14.26) while Nadia Harriott finished 10th (14.74).

Monique Thompson led four Blue Tigers in the 800m, winning the race in 2:11.34. Jhevere Hall came in third (2:14.90) and Willomena Williams placed fourth (2:16.14) while Ebony Rose came in sixth (2:20.42). Hall, meanwhile, won the 1,500m, clocking in at 4:41.26, while Williams finished 10th (5:01.46).

The other win of the day for Lincoln came in the 4x400m relay. LU entered three foursomes into that event, with all three finishing among the top five. The group of Lovan Palmer, Donna-Lee Hylton, Hall and Keane won with a provisional time of 3:42.24. The group of Thompson, Barker, Harrison and Williams finished second, coming in at 3:46.00, and the unit of Rose, Richards, Bailey and Cynthia Halbert came in fifth with a time of 3:56.73.

The Blue Tigers also turned in a pair of second place results, including finishing as the runners-up in the 4x100m relay. In that event, it was the foursome of Bailey, Ellington, Richards and Johnson taking second in 45.78, a provisional-qualifying mark. Hylton finished as the runner-up in the 400m dash, clocking in at 55.17. Palmer finished seventh in the latter event, timing in at 57.13.

In the field events, Beaumont led LU with a third-place result in the long jump (5.79m). Miller placed eighth in that event, posting a top distance of 5.39m, and Jonelle Campbell took 12th (5.04m). Daniele Newman, meanwhile, turned in a pair of fourth-place finishes, including in the high jump (1.64m) and the triple jump (12.36m). Campbell placed sixth in the triple jump, posting a top mark of 11.97m.

Next week, Lincoln is scheduled to compete in two meets, including the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan. from April 17-19. LU is also slated to compete in the Dewey Allgood Invitational, which will be hosted by Missouri S&T University in Rolla, Mo. on April 19.

Complete Results

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Lincoln's 2014 Spring Game: Photo Gallery and Video

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  -- The Lincoln football team held its annual spring game on Saturday (April 12), with LU's offensive players running drills against the defense as a culmination of the Blue Tigers' spring practices. In addition to running unit drills, the players lined up for some 7-on-7 plays and showed off the current offense and defense to Blue Tiger fans at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

In the above video, head coach Mike Jones discusses what he liked from his defense, identifies some stand-out offensive players and talks about how much Julio Segura and Andrew Fishel have improved after their impressive play during the fall.

The below photo gallery, meanwhile, features 47 pictures from the day, covering everything from the pre-game drills to some of the in-game highlights.

Photo Gallery: Lincoln's 2014 Spring Game

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Dillard Bleu Devils dominate competition and claim men's GCAC Track and Field Championship

Dillard University's men's track and field team is crowned 2014 GCAC champions.
Photo Courtesy By R. Costanza

NEW ORLEANS -- The Dillard Bleu Devils track and field team scored 178 points en route to a 2014 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Track and Field Championship at Tad Gormley Stadium. The win marked the second GCAC Track and Field Championship in the last four years for the men's team.

Junior runner Jevonte Ezzard (JR/College Park, GA) kicked things off with a first place finish in the Men's 3000 Meter Steeplechase with a time of 11:02.78, a personal best, as Dillard proceeded to have runners finish third, fourth and fifth respectively in the same event. The men's 4x100 meter relay team also earned a first place finish, posting a time of 42.06. Seniors Matthew Jones, Wendell Collins (SR/New Orleans, LA), and juniors Tobyus Simmons (JR/Chattanooga, TN) and Kermit Buggage rounded out Dillard's relay team.

Jones also finished first place overall in the Men's 400 Meter Dash with a time of 49.32 while Simmons finished second in the men's 100 Meter Dash, posting a time of 10.66, virtually tying the first place finisher (Stanley Johnson-Voorhees) who also produced a time of 10.66.

Edward Waters College finished second overall with 153 points while GCAC newcomer Voorhees College finished in third with 106 points. In the previous two seasons, the Bleu Devils ended up on the short end of the stick with two second place finishes as Edward Waters earned back to back championships.

For Dillard, senior Sean Wilson (JR/New Orleans, LA) finished first in the Men's 110 Meter Hurdles with a time of 16.41 while junior Rudy Garza (JR/Rosenberg, TX) placed second with a time of 17.32. Senior Emory Nash (SR/Ft. Worth, TX) finished first place overall in the Men's 800 Meter Run, posting a time of 2:01.00.

The Bleu Devils will now participate in Friday's track meet at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond as they prepare for NAIA Nationals in Gulf Shores, AL, which begin on May 22.

COURTESY THE GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (GCAC)

Florida A&M Defeats Savannah State 9-8, Wins Series

RYAN KENNEDY

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – Florida A&M (15-20, 10-7 MEAC) scored eight of nine runs with two outs en route to a 9-8 weekend series clinching victory over Savannah State (13-24, 4-11 MEAC) Sunday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. Ryan Kennedy’s three-run home run in the sixth gave the Rattlers the lead for good while William Carrasco earned his first save of the season.

The win marks the fifth win of the season for FAMU over the defending MEAC Champions.

Marlon Gibbs and Logan Seymour both went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to help pace the Rattler offense. Brandon Fleming (2-3) earned the win while pitching 4.1 innings of middle relief. Fleming gave up two runs on four hits while striking out two Tiger batters. Carrasco worked the final scoreless inning and a third for the save.

Following a two-out single by Zachary Brigham, Brian Miller came in as a pinch runner in the bottom of the ninth for Savannah State representing the tying run at first base. Lee Moore roped a single deep into left field and Miller was going to attempt to score from first. Miller had rounded third base but changed his mind and was thrown out at third as he tried to get back to the base.

Savannah State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Todd Hagen and Hector Benitez recorded back-to-back hits to start the inning and David Richards drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Charles Sikes then grounded into a double play that scored Hagen from third. Benitez later came home on a wild pitch from Montague for the second Tiger run of the inning.

The Tigers added an unearned run, to make the score 3-0, in the third inning on a misplayed ball by Devin Perry at third base that would have ended the inning for the Rattlers.

FAMU took the lead 4-3 as the bats came alive with four hits in the home half of the third inning. Seymour singled to left and Gibbs bunt single put runners on first and second with one out. Both runners advanced a base after a balk from Savannah State starter Zach McCormack and Ryan Kennedy drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Michael Birdsong’s hard hit single to left brought home Seymour and Gibbs , but the ball got past Tiger left fielder Parker Nix allowing Kennedy to score all the way from first. Perry’s RBI single plated Birdsong for the go-ahead run.

Savannah State answered back with three runs in the fourth to regain the lead by a score of 6-4. Nix had the only hit of the inning for the Tigers, an RBI single, that tied the game at 4-4. SSU scored two more unearned runs, courtesy of a pair of Rattler errors, to take the lead.

The Rattlers wouldn’t be denied, scoring four runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, for an 8-6 advantage. The sixth inning was highlighted by Kennedy’s three-run home run, his sixth of the season. FAMU had four hits in the inning as Birdsong, Jeremy Barlow and Taylor Strauss each had singles for the Rattler offense.

Florida A&M added what proved to be an important insurance run in the seventh as Bennie Robinson grounded into a double play, but still scored Seymour for the score of 9-6.

SSU got within one, at 9-8, as they added two more runs in the eighth. Devin McHugh’s RBI groundout plated Lee Moore and Hagen’s RBI single back up the middle scored Nix.

Savannah State’s starter Zach McCormack (2-2) took the loss after giving up eight runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work. McCormack struck out two with four walks.

Florida A&M continues its six games in six day stretch as it travels to face Central Florida (22-15, 10-2 AAC) on Tuesday, April 15. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm at Jay Bergman Field.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rush, Nuggets earn 5-2 victories at Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Kyle Montrel and Amber Brown delivered clinching singles victories Sunday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 5-2 men's and women's tennis decisions over Jackson State.

It was the first victory of the season for the Gold Rush (8-9), ranked 10th in the NAIA, against an NCAA Division I opponent, and the second such victory for the Gold Nuggets (12-6), who are ranked second.

Montrel's 6-1, 6-3 victory against Hernan Geria at the top flight gave Xavier a 5-0 lead. Jordan Harrell, Tushar Mandlekar and Kevin Chaouat earned straight-set singles victories for the Rush.

The Rush swept all three double matches and clinched that point when Montrel and Nikita Soifer beat Ryan Swanier and Geria 8-2.

Brown gave the Gold Nuggets a 4-2 lead in their dual when she defeated Rebekah Adewumi 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 6-1. It was Brown's seventh consecutive singles victory and the second straight time she won in three sets.

Also extending XU streaks were Nour Abbes and Simone-Alyse Ewell. Abbes is 12-0 in singles this season after her 6-0, 6-0 victory against Angela Condorelli at the top flight. Ewell teamed with Abbes for an 8-3 victory against Anastasia Zviahintseva and Julie Angermann which clinched the doubles point. It was Ewell's 13th consecutive doubles victory and her sixth in a row with Abbes. 

Kourtney Howell and Brion Flowers won in doubles and singles for the Nuggets.

It was the second consecutive year that both XU teams won at Jackson State. JSU's men are 3-13, and the women are 4-14.

Next for the Nuggets will be a 3 p.m. Monday dual against Southern at the XU Tennis Center. The Rush will visit the University of New Orleans at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

ASU Black Team Wins Black and Gold Game

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Alabama State brought its spring football campaign to a close today with the annual Black and Gold Game.  It was a game which pitted the defense (Black) against the offense (White) with the black team taking advantage of several point gaining plays to defeat the white team 82-18.

"For us this spring this was our finale, the spring game," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said.  "It's an opportunity for our fans to see where the team is and see where these guys have done and accomplished over the spring."

"For us it was more about letting these kids get out there and playing without the coaches actually being on the field and ultimately trying to keep everybody healthy.  All-in-all it was a pretty good spring and we have some things to evaluate on and go from here."



ASU's defense returns nine starters from last year's team and it showed all spring as the defense turned in big play after big play.  In the 81-play game ASU's offense only managed 222 yards and scored two touchdowns, while also getting a field goal.

The scoring system which heavily favored the defense awarded five points for an interception and three points for any three-and-out, sacks and fumble recoveries.  Tackles for lost yardage awarded the defense with two points.

The defense recorded eight sacks led by Chris Terry and Marcus Owens who had two each.  There was a total of 18 tackles for lost yardage as Owens led the way with four and Terry and Roderick Henderson recording three each.



Kourtney Berry picked up a fumble which he returned 27 yards for a score and Justin Mitchell also fell on a loose ball.  JaQuez Bowser had a first half interception for the Black team and Henderson finished off an outstanding spring game when he picked off the game's final pass for the defense's fourth turnover of the game.

"Obviously I went and discussed the scoring system with the defensive coaches because I wanted to make sure I was fair to them and of course they were all like yea, yea a sack should be three points and a loss of yardage should be this and it kind of got out of hand," Barlow said jokingly.

The White team did manage a touchdown pass from Quinteris Toppings to Earl Lucas which covered 35 yards in the opening half.  In the second half Andre Kincey ran in from 10 yards out for the White team's second score and the final three points came off the foot of kicker Alex Louthan who booted a 21 yard field goal in the final quarter of play.



Toppings completed 11 of 19 passes for 82 yards and the scoring toss to Lucas who had 40 yards on two receptions.  The game's leading rusher was Kincey who finished the game with 37 yards on 11 carries including his 10 yard sprint to the end zone.

"Obviously, I was a bit disappointed in the (offensive) performance today," Barlow said. "The game of football has to be played with emotion and energy and excitement and when you don't have that, it shows. Even if you don't have all the ability, if you play with energy and effort you'll make some plays. I just didn't think our guys displayed that from an offensive standpoint."

"Yeah, we know our defense is good but our offense is good. We've got the same guys who averaged 30 points except for Crowell and Edmond. You've still got Damian, you've still got Bell, you've still got Cyrus. There's no reason for us not to be able to put on a better show. They lacked energy and it showed on the field."



The coaching staff handed out their spring awards following the game which were;
"Peter Rabbit" Award: JaQuez Bowzer
Rico Wells Award:  Marcus Owens
Most Improved Defensive Player:  Antonio Humphreys
Most Improved Offensive Player:  Andre Hammond
Most Valuable Defensive Player:  Trey Jenkins
Most Valuable Offensive Player:  Damian Love

The Hornets will begin preparations for the 2014 season in August with the team's first game against Football Championship Series (FCS) power Sam Houston State, Saturday August 30 in Huntsville, Texas.



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MVSU Delta Devils showcase skills at Green & White Game

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  --   The White team, consisting of the Mississippi Valley State offense, came away with a 51-25 win Saturday over the Green squad (MVSU defense) at the Green and White scrimmage game at Rice-Totten.

One of the largest spring game crowds in school history flocked to campus to witness what the Delta Devils would be like under new head coach Rick Comegy. 

"I was very pleased with the crowd," said Comegy. "I want to thank the crowd for coming…..They came out and supported these guys and I'm happy about that."

The first-year head coach said he saw some positive things Saturday, especially on the defensive side of the ball. 

"I saw some good things from a defensive stand point of view," said Comegy," and I saw us score some points. And I saw some running backs that could run the football pretty good."

MVSU alternated running backs throughout the game, with John Johnson, Jeremy Dobson, Cody Gilchrist and Dwayne Springs sharing carries. Dobson, a sophomore from Byram, exploded for a 21-yard gain midway through the game. 

Patrick Ivy, Carl Davis, Marcus Reed and Rashad Jones all split time at quarterback. Davis, a senior Mobile, Ala. native, connected with Trey Ford on a 50-yard TD to give the White team a 21-6 lead. Ivy threw a late TD pass to Joshua Rice to give the White squad a 44-19 advantage. 

Defensive linemen Byron Scott, Sean Fugate and Jeremiah Russell along with linebacker Brandon Powe all played well and did a great job of getting to the quarterback. 

Although the spring game is over, the Delta Devils will continue spring practice this upcoming week.

 

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Pharrell Williams has key to being "happy" but not one to city?

WATCH IN 720p HD, WIDE SCREEN FOR MAX ENJOYMENT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia -- Gymnast Gabby Douglas has one. So does Super Bowl champ Plaxico Burress. (That was before he did a stint in prison on gun charges.)

But homegrown singer, songwriter and superstar Pharrell Williams?

No key. Not even a key ring.

While the whole world is dancing to Pharrell's infectious hit "Happy," Virginia Beach City Hall is barely tapping its feet.

"We're very proud of Pharrell and we look forward to honoring him when the opportunity is right," a city spokesman replied by email Friday after I inquired about honors - past or present - for the Princess Anne High School grad. "In fact, we would be very HAPPY to do so!"


WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN FOR MAX ENJOYMENT

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Rolland, Fakler lead XU Nuggets to repeat as GCAC champ

NEW ORLEANS -- Led again by juniors Devinn Rolland and Catherine Fakler, Xavier University of Louisiana repeated as women's team champion at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium on Saturday.

Rolland won three individual events -- the long jump and the 100- and 200-meter dashes -- for the third consecutive year. Fakler won the 1,500, 3,000 steeplechase and 5,000 and anchored the Gold Nuggets to victory in the 3,200 relay by nearly 46 seconds.

Fakler won the 1,500 for the third consecutive year, repeated as steeplechase and 5,000 champion and finished second in the 800. She won the 5,000 by nearly 90 seconds.

The Gold Nuggets, No. 14 in the NAIA National Team Computer Rankings, scored 213 points and won the conference team championship for the third time in four years. Dillard was second with 168 points, followed by Edward Waters with 143, SUNO with 26 and Voorhees with 19.

In the men's division, Xavier's Kwame Jackson won the 5,000 for the third consecutive year, and Brent Kitto won the 1,500. The Gold Rush were fifth of six teams with 34 points; Dillard outscored Edward Waters 178-153 for the title.

Xavier got meet records from Fakler in the steeplechase (12:01.53) and 5,000 (19:50.14) and Rolland in the 100 (11.66). Rolland's 100 time was a personal best.

The Gold Nuggets scored 30 more points than they did in their 2013 title run. They scored in 16-of-19 events, and 18 individuals scored. Xavier took the top four places in the 1,500 and 5,000.

Also winning for Xavier were Angelica Alexander, a repeat champion in the high jump, and freshman Terri Cunningham in the 400 hurdles. Cunningham scored in four events and was the Nuggets' No. 3 scorer with 21 1/2 points. Fakler scored 40 1/2 points, and Rolland scored 32.

Joining Fakler on the champion 3,200 relay were Briana Simms, Ashley Flournoy and Zahri Jackson.

Also finishing second for the Nuggets were Hannah Finnegan in the 5,000, Simms in the steeplechase, Tramaine Shannon in the 400, Flournoy in the 1,500 and the 400 relay team of Kaylee Moore, Rolland, Shannon and Chelsea James.

The women's team championship is the 19th on the conference level in coach Joseph Moses' nine seasons at Xavier. Moses led the Rush and Nuggets to eight GCAC cross country titles apiece from 2006-13.

Xavier's next event will be the Southeastern Invitational at Hammond, La., on Friday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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With choices to sort out at QB, Spartans add an option

COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian is weighing his options in more ways than one.

As he spends a good chunk of the spring identifying a frontrunner at quarterback, he's installing a modified offense that includes an option wrinkle as a second read.

But don't confuse the Spartans for Navy; the option is in the playbook, but it's not anywhere near the front page.

"We might go three weeks and not run an option," Adrian said Saturday morning at Dick Price Stadium, after NSU's seventh practice of the spring and its first with full contact. "It all depends what the defense is going to give you."

The scheme, which will operate under new offensive coordinator Donald Hill-Eley, sends a man in motion through a one-back backfield and gives the quarterback the true option of pitching the ball if necessary.

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Curtis High School's Mohamed Bah accepts track and field scholarship to Howard University (video)

STATEN ISLAND, New York  --  Curtis High School assistant track and field coach Donald Pierce has a vision of senior Mohamed Bah returning to the school years down the road with a new title.

"I definitely can see myself calling him ‘Dr. Bah,’ ” Pierce said. “These sort of student-athletes just don’t come along very often.”

Bah signed a national-letter-of-intent this week to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., on a full athletic scholarship, but that significant news was almost a backdrop to the West Brighton resident’s impressive overall resume.

Bah said he plans on entering the pre-med program at Howard with an eye on ...



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New athletic director Jason Horn couldn't be happier at Xavier

JASON HORN
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Photo Courtesy: XU Athletics

NEW ORLEANS  --  New Xavier athletic director Jason Horn has bounced around the college world at schools both large and small.

Horn, who started on Monday, said he enjoys smaller athletic departments. Xavier is his smallest college athletic department yet and he couldn’t be happier.

 

“I remember talking to the last athletic director at Arizona State and he had about 225 employees,” Horn said. “How do you get to know 225 employees? It’s just a big moving machine.” 

 

And how many employees does Xavier have in its athletic department? Horn pulled out a small piece of paper with names and telephone numbers and quickly counted them up.

 

“About 20,” he said.

 

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Tennessee State Dominates Boston/Moon Relays

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State track and field teams recorded 13 first-place finishes during the two-day Boston/Moon Relays in the sole home outdoor meet of the season.

Amber Hughes started the day with a win in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.92 and Oetia Prince continued the trend by clocking a 13:44.83 in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

In the field events, Brittani Logan recorded the longest throw in the shot put with a toss of 13.59 while Angel Davis placed first in the discus (39.90).

 Hughes, Ashontae Jackson, Quanisha Sales and Clairwin Dameus came in first in both the 4x100 (45.75) and 4x400 (3:52.30) in two of the final relays of the day.

Jerome Henderson took home titles in the 100 (10.73) and 200 meters (21.20) and Quamel Prince followed suit in the 800 meter (1:53.64).

The Flying Tigers were tops in the 400-meter events, too, as Michael Johnson won the dash (48.43) and Jaleel Michael bested everyone in the hurdles (53.48).

Prince, Johnson, Michael and Emmanuel Thornton easily won the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:15.31 and Tyler Anderson rounded out the winners with a leap of 7.39 meters in the long jump.

TSU will next travel to Lexington for the Kentucky Relays on April 18 as a final preparation before the OVC Outdoor Championship on May 2.

Results (,pdf)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Just Sayin': UMES choice of Collins safe, unimaginative and wrong

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland --  Well, they did it again.

I almost can’t bring myself to talk about it, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has once again managed to take an opportunity to set off a boom across the Shore and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference that would cause people to take notice.

Instead they went with a great big plop — and everyone shrugged in indifference.
See, I’ve gone through this for a decade.

Ten years.

It feels like longer ...

Larry Lessett, Meredith Smith and Frankie Allen combined for a 59-242 record since my arrival on the Shore, leading me to think that good basketball and UMES would never mix.

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Maryland-Eastern Shore hires WSSU's Bobby Collins as head coach

COACH BOBBY COLLINS
Photo Courtesy: WSSU Athletics

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland  -- (April 8, 2014) – Bobby Collins, who leads men’s college basketball teams to conference championships and national tournament appearances, will be the next head coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Collins, 48, comes to Princess Anne from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, where he was named head coach in 2006. His last four Ram teams averaged nearly 20 wins per season and qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“It feels like I’m coming home, professionally,” Collins said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of re-engaging with some of my old friends and rivals in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.”

Collins is no stranger to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Before taking the Winston-Salem State job, he was head coach for four years at Hampton (Va.) University, where he was MEAC’s 2005 coach of the year. His team won the conference tournament the following season, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“The university has an opportunity to hire an outstanding coach. He’s an even finer person,” UMES athletics director Keith Davidson said. “He has a proven record of success at his previous institutions.”

Collins was Hampton’s assistant head coach in 2001 when the 15^th-seeded Pirates pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in NCAA tournament history, defeating the 2^nd-seeded Iowa State Cyclones. Two years later, he was promoted to the head coaching position at Hampton and established a school record for most wins by a first-year coach.

“He’s had great coaching experiences where he’s worked previously,” Davidson said. “He’s an excellent recruiter who has great relationships with players and we believe he’s the right person for our program.”

The university and Collins agreed to a four-year contract with a base salary of $135,000.

Collins teaches an offense that puts a high value on fast-break scoring and he believes in employing man-to-man defense roughly two thirds of the time.

He told the UMES search committee he expects his players to be “the hardest working team in the country,” and to follow a strict code of conduct off the court, including taking caps off when indoors and when traveling.

“We are excited that Coach Collins has accepted the opportunity to lead our men’s basketball program,” President Juliette B. Bell said. “He has demonstrated that he is a proven winner and a role model when it comes to guiding student-athletes on and off the court. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and its Hawk Nation welcome him to our ‘nest.’”

In his 12 years as a head coach at two universities, Collins has compiled a 181-171 record, including his first three years at Winston-Salem State when he was trying to position the basketball program to compete at the Division 1 level. He scheduled road games against the likes of Georgetown, Notre Dame, Kansas and cross-town neighbor, Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Collins graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and management, and was a four-year letterman on the Colonels’ basketball team. He was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshmen team and was Honorable Mention All-Conference as a senior. After college, he played in the Helsinki, Finland Classic (tournament), earning MVP honors.

Collins was as an admissions counselor at his alma mater from 1992 to 1994 before joining the Old Dominion University basketball program as a restricted earnings coach.

He was on the Monarchs’ bench in 1995 when the Colonial Athletic Association champions shocked Villanova University during a first-round win in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Collins, the youngest of 10 siblings, is the son of two non-denominational ministers. He grew up in Southern Pines, N.C., where he graduated from Pinecrest High School and helped his team to 18-5 and 20-4 records during his junior and senior years. In 1984, he earned All-State honors and was conference Player of the Year.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

XU's Wright receives All-Louisiana honorable mention

MORRIS WRIGHT

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Morris Wright received honorable mention on the All-Louisiana collegiate men's basketball team announced late Saturday.

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the team.

Wright -- a 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard from Zachary, La., a graduate of Zachary High School and a former Baton Rouge Community College standout -- is the only player in Xavier history to lead the team in scoring, assists, steals and 3-point accuracy in the same season. He's the third player in XU history -- the first in 23 seasons -- to reach 400 points, 40 made 3-pointers, 100 rebounds and 50 steals in the same season.

Wright averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, three assists and 1.7 steals per game in 2013-14. He shot 47.9 percent from the floor, 43.5 percent from 3-point range (47-of-108) and 79.5 percent from the line. He was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Xavier finished 23-9 and won its third consecutive GCAC regular-season championship. The Gold Rush qualified for a fourth consecutive Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and tied for 16th in the NAIA Division I coaches postseason poll.

2013-14 All-Louisiana Men's Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM
Jonathan Blount, senior, Centenary
Shawn Long, sophomore, Louisiana-Lafayette
Johnny O'Bryant, junior, LSU
Elfrid Payton, junior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Jalan West, sophomore, Northwestern State

SECOND TEAM
Louis Dabney, sophomore, Tulane
Brandon Davis, senior, LSU-Shreveport
Ledrick Eackles, senior, McNeese State
Jordan Mickey, freshman, LSU
Kenneth Smith, junior, Louisiana Tech

THIRD TEAM
Calvin Godfrey, junior, Southern
Alex Hamilton, sophomore, Louisiana Tech
Will Nelson, senior, LSU-Shreveport
Tylor Ongwae, junior, Louisiana-Monroe
McCall Tomeny, junior, Loyola

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Elfrid Payton, Louisiana-Lafayette
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Will Nelson, LSU-Shreveport
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Jordan Mickey, LSU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bob Marlin, Louisiana-Lafayette

HONORABLE MENTION
DeQuan Hicks, senior, Northwestern State
Dantrell Thomas, senior, Nicholls State
Morris Wright, sophomore, Xavier

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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New-look Lane expects to keep improving

JACKSON, Tennessee --  The alarm clock doesn’t bother Lane quarterback T.J. Ayers.

Lane’s football team used to practice at 3:45 p.m., after classes, but this spring interim coach Malik Hoskins started conducting practices at 5:30 a.m.

Hoskins sees a positive sign in his players’ reception of the change, and Ayers participates willingly as he thinks about pushing toward a conference title and getting the city of Jackson more involved with the team.

“Honestly we feel like everybody in the SIAC is not up at 5:30 a.m.,” Ayers said.

After a 6-4 season last year, Lane
football closed its spring practices Saturday with a scrimmage at Lane Field. Approximately 100-150 supporters attended.

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Celtics' Robinson set to show he's up for Howard Bison college challenge

OCALA, Florida  -- All Alizah Robinson wants is a chance.  A chance to show he has the goods to succeed at the next level.

The Trinity Catholic defensive back knows he is undersized. But the confident senior also knows that what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for with speed, agility and instinct.

 

That much was evident on the football field last fall when Robinson earned a starting spot right out of the gate in his only year at Trinity.

The transfer from Lecanto put together enough solid game film to send away to colleges, and when Howard University came calling with a spot on its team, Robinson jumped.

 

"This opportunity has eliminated (the size issue) with me," the 5-foot-8, 150 pounder said. "I've never had my talent questioned. As long as I keep getting bigger, I know I have what it takes to perform at the college level."

 

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St. Aug sweeps ECSU to secure berth in CIAA baseball tourney

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina  —  Both Jeremy Sandifer (Jr./Virginia Beach, VA) and Bryan Rivera (Jr./Cidra, Puerto Rico) had masterful pitching performances as Saint Augustine’s University swept Elizabeth City State University 3-1 and 11-0 in a CIAA baseball doubleheader at Knobbs Creek Park on Saturday, April 12, 2014.

With the wins, the Falcons qualified for the CIAA Baseball Tournament, which will be held April 17-19 in Petersburg, Va. The Falcons entered the day two games ahead ECSU and needing two victories in the four-game series to gain the fourth seed in the tournament.

After Saturday, the Falcons are 8-10 in the CIAA and 16-26 overall. The Vikings are fifth at 4-14 in the CIAA and 7-19 overall.

Sandifer set the tone on the mound in the first game. He threw a one-hitter and struck out six batters with four walks in seven complete innings. Rivera followed with a five-hitter and 16 strikeouts for a seven-inning complete shutout. He did not walk a batter. After Saturday, Rivera leads the CIAA with 68 strikeouts and Sandifer is third in the conference with 54 strikeouts.

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10th-ranked Rush defeat 13th-ranked Crusaders 8-1

NEW ORLEANS -- Five from Xavier University of Louisiana won in doubles and singles Saturday in an 8-1 men's victory against William Carey at the XU Tennis Center.

It was the fifth victory of the season for the Gold Rush (7-9) against a ranked NAIA opponent. Xavier is ranked 10th, and William Carey (8-7) is 13th. Xavier is 2-0 against the Crusaders this season.

"Everyone played hard, which I was really proud of," XU coach Alan Green said. "We were ready to play, took charge from the beginning, played strong in doubles and never let up. I hope that will continue."

Nikita Soifer and Jordan Harrell, partners for the first time since the fall semester, gave Xavier a 1-0 lead when they defeated Aleksei Tumakov and Michael Vetter 8-3 at No. 3 doubles. Viktor Svoboda and Adam Albrecht followed with an 8-3 victory against Jose Ruda and Lukas Moritzen, and the Gold Rush completed the doubles sweep when Kevin Chaouat and Tushar Mandlekar beat Ricky Keppeler and Phillipp Mueller 8-4 at the top flight.

Chaouat and Mandlekar are 9-2 as a doubles team this semester.

Mandlekar gave Xavier a 4-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-0 decision against Vetter at No. 4 singles. Soifer, playing No. 1 singles, clinched for the Gold Rush when Keppeler retired after trailing Soifer 7-5, 1-0.

Chaouat defeated Ruda 6-2, 6-0, and Harrell and Svoboda won third-set super tiebreakers to give the Rush an 8-0 lead. Harrell beat Moritzen 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-3), and Svoboda defeated Mueller 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8).

Svoboda snapped his four-match singles losing streak and won for the first time since Feb. 28. It was the first time in eight opportunities this season that Svoboda won in doubles and singles in the same dual.

Both Xavier teams will travel to Jackson, Miss., to play Jackson State at 1 p.m. Sunday. Green announced an addition to the men's schedule -- 3 p.m. Wednesday at the University of New Orleans.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Purple Defeats Gold in Alcorn State 2014 Spring Game, 21-16

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  It was a beautiful day on the "Reservation" as Head Coach Jay Hopson and his Alcorn State Braves strapped up for the 2014 Spring Game this afternoon at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

The Braves gave the fans a little taste of what to expect this fall season.  Star quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. looked very impressive moving the chains and staying poised for the gold team while backup quarterback Lenorris Footman proved he could get the job done as well for the purple squad.

The gold team struck first on a 18 yard scamper by Robert Clay to go ahead 6-0.  A few minutes later kicker Haiden McCraney nailed a 41-yard field goal to extend the gold teams' lead to 9-0.

But the purple team went to work led by Footman who had a huge rush for 22 yards which set up a one-yard touchdown run by junior college transfer Darryan Ragsdale to cut the lead to 9-6.

Starkville native Billy Shed caught a three-yard dagger from Footman to give the purple sqaud the lead 14-9.

Second Team All-SWAC wide receiver Jordan Payne retook the lead for the gold team when Gibbs hit down the sideline for 64-yard touchdown making the score 16-14.

The defense played an outstanding spring game on both sides but it was the purple squad who came up big.  Jamil Cooks intercepted a pass in the second half for and returned it for the game-winning touchdown as purple defeated gold 21-16.

Defensive back, Kylan Johnson, also intercepted a pass for the purple squad.

"I thought we played very physical this afternoon and it was also a hard,clean scrimmage between our guys," stated Head Coach Jay Hopson.  "Certainly there are plenty of areas we need to clean up before we wrap spring practice but other than that our guys got after each other which shows the competitiveness in our ball club."

The Braves will practice for another week in and half before closing out spring practice as they continue to prepare for the 2014 season home opener on August 30th against Virginia University of Lynchburg.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION