Rain halts play at 2014 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships

CAYCE, South Carolina — Inclement weather halted Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships at the Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center.

The women’s final between Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 20. Bethune-Cookman reached the championship with 4-0 wins over Hampton and Morgan State. South Carolina State, the defending MEAC Tournament Champions, reached the finals with 4-0 and 4-1 victories over Delaware State and Howard, respectively.

The men’s final between South Carolina State and Norfolk State will begin at Noon. South Carolina State, the defending MEAC Tournament Champions, got to the finals with 4-0 and 4-1 wins over Howard and Florida A&M. Norfolk State advanced to championship with back-to-back 4-0 victories against Coppin State and Bethune-Cookman.

For the latest on the 2014 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships, long on to www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY MEACSPORTS.COM

Howard University Gospel Choir: "All In His Hands"

WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University sings "All In His Hands" in Detroit, Michigan.  Happy Easter 2014!



COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR

Bussie Named PVAMU Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

ASST. COACH LANDON BUSSIE
Photo Courtesy: Xavier University
of Louisiana Athletics



 

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Prairie View A&M head women's basketball coach Dawn Brown announced today that Landon Bussie will join the staff as an assistant coach.  Bussie will be involved with the day-to-day operations of the program, with a special emphasis on recruiting and guard development.

Prior to his time at Prairie View A&M, Bussie spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team, and completed two years as a graduate assistant.  At Xavier, Bussie helped guide the squad to three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Regular-Season Conference Championships (2012, 2013, and 2014), with four consecutive appearances at the NAIA National Championship Tournament. In addition, six Gold Rush players added all-conference honors to their resumes' during Bussie's tenure.

 

Bussie was a two-year letterman as a forward for the men's basketball team at Xavier University of Louisiana, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2010. He later earned a master's degree in educational leadership in 2014.

 

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Bussie is a graduate of Woodlawn High School and went on to play two seasons for Livingstone College of the CIAA (NCAA Division II) before transferring to Xavier.

 

Bussie is the son of Loretta Bussie and the late Gerald Bussie and has two siblings, brother, Gerald, and sister Asya. Asya was an All-American standout at West Virginia University before being drafted by the Minnesota Lynx as the 15th-overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

 

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic Consortium Begins Prep for 2014 Game

(L) FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow, Sr., FAMU president Dr. Elmira
Mangum; (R) B-CU president Dr. Edison O Jackson, B-CU Director of Athletics
Lynn W. Thompson, and Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. 
Photo Courtesy: B-CU Athletics
 

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Florida Classic Consortium met Wednesday, April 16, kicking off plans for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University. This year’s game will take place November 22 at the reconstructed Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The consortium, consisting of several members from both institutions including the presidents and athletics directors, met with members from Florida Citrus Sports on a number of topics to begin planning for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend.

Plans for the renovated Citrus Bowl indicate construction is on schedule and is expected to be fully functional by game day.

Fans can get a live look-in on stadium development by visiting the Turner Construction page dedicated to the stadium (http://turnerwzc.workzonecam.com).

We’re so excited to open Orlando’s brand-new stadium with a game that has a deep history in this region,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. “The Florida Blue Florida Classic has resulted in some of the best games – and biggest crowds – that the old Citrus Bowl hosted. There’s no better event to commemorate the opening of the new building.”

During the meeting, Hogan presented each institution with a check for the proceeds from last year’s event. Bethune-Cookman won the 2013 Florida Blue Florida Classic, 29-10.

Afterward, Hogan, B-CU president Dr. Edison O Jackson, FAMU president Dr. Elmira Mangum, B-CU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson and FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow, Sr. paused for a photo officially kicking off the 2014 campaign.

For more information on the Florida Blue Florida Classic, please log on FloridaClassic.org.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU's Johnson: No Regrets

CLEMON JOHNSON
Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Clemon Johnson said he didn’t see his firing Friday as the head men’s basketball coach at FAMU coming, but he had no regrets about taking the job at his alma mater three years ago.

An hour before FAMU released a terse press release concerning Johnson’s firing, he told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was placed on administrative leave with pay until July 29, his effective termination date.

Johnson, 57, said he was informed of the decision in a letter hand-delivered by former interim athletic director Michael Smith.

“It was definitely a joy and a thrill to give back to the university that that I love and grew up with, and helped raise me,” Johnson said.

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Fans Invited to Tailgate and After-Party at Norfolk State Spartans Final Spring Football Scrimmage on April 26

COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Norfolk State athletics department is inviting fans to attend the Spartans' final football scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, April 26 and enjoy a festive day free of charge.

NSU's final scrimmage will run from 10 a.m. to noon on April 26 at William "Dick" Price Stadium. Admission is free. Fans will be allowed to tailgate in the Community Hospital lot on campus, also free of charge. Fans are also invited to meet and greet the players and enjoy live music and games on the field after the scrimmage. The Spartan Legion Marching Band will be in attendance, and fans can also register or renew memberships in the NSU Athletics Foundation.

The tailgating area must be cleaned up and cleared by 3:30 p.m.

After the football scrimmage, fans are also encouraged to attend the Spartan softball team's doubleheader against North Carolina Central at the NSU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission to the softball games is also free.

By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
 

NSU Men Advance to MEAC Tennis Championship with 4-0 Semifinal Win over B-CU

CAYCE, South Carolina  – Norfolk State, the MEAC south No. 2 seed, has advanced to the finals of the 2014 MEAC Men's Tennis Championship after posting a 4-0 win in the semifinals over the southern division's No. 4 seed, Bethune-Cookman, on Friday morning at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. The win marks the first time that NSU's men's tennis program has advanced to the MEAC finals.

The Spartans (14-6) will play the MEAC south No. 1 seed and reigning MEAC champion, South Carolina State, in the finals on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have won the last seven MEAC championships. S.C. State defeated the southern division's No. 3 seed, Florida A&M, 4-1, on Friday morning to advance to the title match.

NSU took the doubles point in the first and second positions. Sophomore Dzmitry Zyhmantovich and senior Peter Ramstromer-Pello upended Gilbert Rotich and Greg Almeida, 8-3. Also picking up a win were sophomore Robin Riethmueller and junior Igor Braga. They defeated Walid Gtari and Alvaro Barrero, 8-3. The No. 3 match featuring juniors Pascal Domnik and Daniel Grauel against Santiago Lobelo and Diego Garavito was abandoned after the Spartans clinched the point.

The Spartans picked up wins in singles play at the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Zyhmantovich improved to 14-4 on the season with his 6-3, 6-2 victory against Gtari. Riethmueller (11-5) claimed a 6-1, 6-3 win over Rotich. Braga closed things out for NSU with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Garavito. The other singles matches were abandoned because the Spartans won the match.

The men's championship title match begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Complete Match Results

By Chaundrea Lee, Media Relations Assistant
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Coaching Carousel: Clemon Johnson Fired at Florida A&M

Courtesy FAMU Athletics

Former NFL star Kellen Winslow has made his first big move as the athletic director at Florida A&M as he'll replace basketball coach Clemon Johnson.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- When you visit our mid-major transfer list one of the things that will standout to you are the amount of transfers for the Florida A&M Rattlers. FAMU currently has six players on our list and that number was expected to grow. FAMU's new athletic director, former NFL star Kellen Winslow, has made his first big move and is expected to replace Clemon Johnson as the Rattler's head coach.

Johnson will leave FAMU with a 32-64 mark after three seasons at the Tallahassee based school. Johnson is a former ten year NBA veteran.

 

Florida A&M has not had a winning season since 2006-07 when the Rattlers went to the NCAA Tournament. The Rattlers are the fourth MEAC school to make a coaching change this year joining Coppin State, Delaware State, and Maryland Eastern Shore.

 

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FAMU Men's Basketball Coach Clemon Johnson Fired

FAMU president Dr. Elmira Mangum and
athletics director Kellen Winslow.
Photo Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Florida A&M Director of Athletics, Kellen Winslow, today announced the release of men's basketball coach Clemon Johnson and his staff.

"We thank Coach Johnson and his staff for their efforts over the past three years to improve our men's basketball program. However, we have decided to seek new leadership of this program in order to achieve our academic and athletic goals," Winslow said.

Johnson was hired in 2011 and in three seasons at FAMU, compiled a ...

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Alabama A&M football putting product on display in first spring under James Spady

NORMAL, Alabama  --  New Alabama A&M football coach James Spady isn't hiding anything.

In fact, during his spring training, the former Nevada assistant is inviting any and everyone out to see what the Bulldogs have going on. 

 

Wednesday, Spady invited local high school coaches along with their players to checkout his team's 10th practice of the spring, a controlled scrimmage during which the Bulldogs simulated real-game situations such as third-down conversion plays and long-yardage packages. 

 

"Yeah, I'm so looking forward to cultivating those relationships," Spady said. "Just a chance to meet those guys and be in a social setting with them is really cool, especially since I'm new here. We want to try and recruit all the best athletes we can get from our local area. Having those conversations with those guys is really enlightening, telling us who they think are the players and we want to continue that and do as much as we can to outreach the area coaches." 

 

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FAMU Rattlers Set For Orange & Green Game Saturday

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M head football coach Earl Holmes will preview the 2014 edition of the Rattler football team tomorrow at Bragg Memorial Stadium at 2 p.m.  The reloaded Rattlers will showcase several new players that were added to the roster through aggressive recruiting.

The action begins at 12 noon with a Venom Kids Easter Egg Hunt in the North End Zone.  This event is free to kids who want to participate.  There will be music, a bounce house and of course Easter Eggs.

At 2 p.m., the 2014 Rattler Football team takes the field.  The team is looking to focus on improving from last year's 3-9 record.  The game will have a scoring system, consisting of points for defensive stops, interceptions, fumble recoveries and more.

Admission to the game as well as parking is free.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Women’s Basketball Signs Markayla Parker

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Tennessee State University head women’s basketball coach Larry Inman has announced the signing of Markayla Parker to a National Letter of Intent.

Parker, a native of Madison, Alabama played one season at Madison Academy after transferring from James Clemens High School.
 
“Markayla Parker is a great addition to the Lady Tiger program,” said head coach Larry Inman. "She’s a first class citizen,  good student and  great basketball player.”

 

During her lone season with the Mustangs she shot 46 percent from the field while helping lead the team to the Class 3A Northwest Regional championship game. The 6-1 Guard/Forward scored a team-high 15 points in a, 61-58, regional final loss to eventual state champ Lauderdale County.

 

During her stint at James Clemens HS, Parker averaged 10.2 points and eight rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the field. She was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and garnered an All-Area Team selection.

 

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Parker excelled academically. The National Honor Society member served as President of the Peer Helping Organization, Vice President of the Senior Class, Homecoming Queen and a member of the Anchor Club.

 

“She’s a very talented young lady with a promising future,” Inman continued. “She is 6-1 and can play the three or the four position, which makes her versatile. Her work ethic is off the charts and we are expecting her to come in and help us early.”

 

Parker also spent two seasons at Bob Jones High School where her team finished as the runner-up in the 2012 State Tournament.

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers http://www.facebook.com/tsutigers  and Twitter @TSU_Tigers http://www.twitter.com/tsu_tigers

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rock Hill (S.C.) to Host 2014 SIAC Track and Field Championships

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today announced that the 2014 SIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held from April 24-26 at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Complex on the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

"We are pleased to bring our 2014 SIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships to the city of Rock Hill," said SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore. "These championships showcase both our outstanding student-athletes and member institutions as we continue to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the SIAC."
 

This marks the first season that the three-day conference championships will be held in Rock Hill, with 13 SIAC member institutions vying for the 2014 conference title.

"We are very pleased to host the SIAC championships for the very first time," said Auvis Cole, sports sales manager - Rock Hill/York County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We look forward to this new partnership and its success."

Events at the 2014 SIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will begin at 8:00 a.m. on April 24 -25, with the final day of competition starting at 9:00 a.m. on April 26. General admission is free to the public.

COURTESY THESIAC.COM

Kentucky State Set to Face the Marauders of Central State in Circle City Classic®

Photo Courtesy Kentucky State University Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Today it was officially announced that the Kentucky State University football program will be facing off against rival Central State this upcoming season in the 31st Annual Circle City Classic®.

The two teams will meet on October 4, 2014 for the Circle City Classic® game which will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The two teams, who played their first game in 1947, have been longtime rivals and will meet for the 55th time this upcoming season.
 

While the Thorobreds have beaten CSU in six straight seasons (2008-13) the Marauders have a 35-18 edge in the overall rivalry. In 1957 the two teams played in their only tie of the series, ending the contest knotted at 13-13.
 

In their most recent matchup, the Thorobreds traveled to Central State in their second game of the 2013 season and defeated CSU, 38-17. In that game, KSU running back Jacquise Lockett rushed for a season-high 240 yards against the Marauders. That game also marked the first time the teams met as Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent's with Central State's football program joining the SIAC at the begging of the 2013 season.

The Circle City Classic® is a joint collaboration between Indiana Black Expo, Inc. and the Indiana Sports Corporation. The net proceeds from the classic help support youth initiatives for each organization. Additionally, each year the Classic's educational partner, the Indianapolis Black Alumni Council, host an educational college fair that exposes over 2,500 youth to colleges and universities with scholarship opportunities exceeding $3 million.

"We are thrilled to have these two teams and their strong bases of alumni to participate in Classic this year," said Tanya Bell, President & CEO. "We will rally together this year in the name of football, culture, music and tradition during the first weekend of October."
 

The theme for this year's Classic is "Buy One. Send One.," which reflects the purpose that Classic serves as a fundraiser to send Indiana students to college. "A ticket purchase will help pay for a student to attend college," Bell said. Since 1984, more than 3 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to Indiana youth.

The Circle City Classic® game this year will feature the anticipated Battle of the Bands, one of the highlights of HBCU classics.

Kentucky State's Mighty Marching Thorobreds band is under the direction of Robert Griffin, Director of Bands. The Thorobreds marching band has performed in several classics and has participated in the Honda All-Star Battle of the Bands.

"We are so excited to be returning to the Circle City Classic," KSU Athletic Director Denisha Hendricks said. "This will be a great experience for our student-athletes and the entire KSU family."

Kentucky State's last Circle City Classic® appearance was in 2011 where the Thorobreds fell to Albany State University, 57-31. Central State has not played in Circle City Classic® since 2006.

Tickets for Circle City Classic® officially go on sale Monday, April 21, 2014. Tickets are available by calling the IBE Box Office at 317.925.2702, the Lucas Oil Stadium Ticket Office at 317.262.3389, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at any Ticket Master outlet.

More information about tickets and events at the 31st Annual Circle City Classic® can be found here: http://www.circlecityclassic.com/

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

VSU Trojans, WSSU Rams Advance to Semifinals of 2014 CIAA Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament

ETTRICK, Virginia – The Virginia State Trojans and the Winston-Salem State Rams kicked off the 2014 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament in style when the two teams took 5-0 wins in the quarterfinal round of the tournament. With the victories, both teams will advance to the semifinal round of the tournament where they will take on the conference regular season co-champions Shaw and Chowan respectively.

The host Trojans opened the tournament with an impressive 5-0 win over their rival Virginia Union Panthers to open the tournament. The Trojans got things started with gutsy performance in doubles play. The team kicked things off in the #2 doubles when Nicholas Pfab and Evan Dirksen took an 8-1 win which was followed by an 8-6 win by Kwamane Tonkins and Delwin McCurdy at the #3 doubles. The highlight of the match came at the #1 doubles when Matthew and Nicholas Brown took a 9-8 (7-4) win at #1 doubles. From there, the Trojans wrapped up the match when Tonkins took a 6-0, 6-0 win at #5 singles while Pfab took a 6-1, 6-0 win at #3 singles.

The Rams played the nightcap match when the team took a 5-0 win over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls. The match got off to an exciting start when the Rams took an 8-1 win at #1 singles behind Creighton Jones and Jonathan Aubrey’s strong play. The Rams kept things going when the tandem of Christopher Jeter and Christopher Shew took an 8-4 win at #3 doubles. Joshua Aubrey and Corey Bonnette rounded out doubles play with an 8-5 victory. In singles play, the Rams fininshed the match with Bonnette taking a 6-0, 6-0 win at #4 singles while Shew ended the match with a 6-0, 6-0 win at #6 singles.

Both teams will return to action tomorrow in the semifinal round of the tournament. The Trojans will take on the Shaw Bears while the Rams will take on the Chowan Hawks in a rematch of last season’s conference championship match. Tournament play will resume at 1:00 p.m. at the VSU Tennis Complex on the campus of Virginia State University.

COURTESY THECIAA.COM

Bill Proctor: (Florida's) Senate displays a dim view of black students

BILL PROCTOR
LEON COUNTY COMMISSIONER
DISTRICT 1

Bill Proctor serves the Leon County commissioner for District 1, in which both Florida A&M and Florida State universities are located. Contact him at ProctorB@leoncountyfl.gov.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- One cannot miss the influence of the controversial theories on race and intelligence of Arthur Jensen and William Shockley as the guiding core of the Florida Senate’s thinking in voting to separate the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. This legislative act bolsters white supremacy and further marginalizes black communities. Clearly, the Senate deems the majority of FSU’s students superior in intelligence and worthy of investing millions more of taxpayer dollars.

Sen. John Thrasher declares his budget amendment to separate the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering would strengthen Florida State’s stride toward becoming a Top 25 public (taxpayer-supported) universitiy.

Like Gov. George Wallace, why are Thrasher and the Senate, legislatively speaking, standing in the doorway of the College of Engineering and decreeing that FAMU students cannot come in? In effect, Thrasher and the senators want FAMU’s students to get out and stay out of engineering sciences at FSU. Does “pre-eminence” mean that students from a black school are not welcome to tag along and mess up the white members-only society?

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TSU Tigers Play at Home for Final Time This Season



HEAD COACH JEFFREY DABNEY
Photo courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State hosts SIU Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference double headers on Friday and Saturday. TSU will take to Tiger Field for the final time this season with both days starting at 1:00pm. TSU will honor Olivia Gamache and Ashley Haynes on Saturday during the senior day celebrations.

 

The Tigers have dropped five straight, including three in conference play. TSU, still fighting for a spot in the OVC tournament, is in tenth and will have to go through the top two teams in the West Division in consecutive days. The games can be seen on ovcdigitalnetwork.com.

 

Gamache enters the weekend in the top 10 in several pitching categories. The senior is sixth in appearances and games started. Gamache is seventh in wins and is six strikeouts away from surpassing 200, to become just the fourth Tiger to cross the threshold.

 

Haynes is ninth in games played and is four starts away from entering the top 10. Haynes has walked 37 times in her career, good for eighth. The senior has made her mark defensively as well and is one putout out of tenth. Haynes is fifth in assists and has a .935 fielding percentage, eighth best in history.

 

SIU Edwardsville (20-19, 12-3)

2013 Record: 35-13

Conference: Ohio Valley

2013 Finish: 17-5/2nd West

Series Record: 2-6

Last Time Played: 4-6-13, L 1-8

Last Win: 5-6-12, 4-1

 

SIUE turns to Haley Chambers to handle most of the pitching duties appearing in 29 of the teams 39 games. Chambers has tossed 159.1 innings and has earned a 12-12 record and a 1.97 ERA. Chambers is second in the conference with 163 fanning’s. Erin Greenwalt offers support at 8-7 and a 3.94 ERA with 71 punch outs in 80.0 innings. Chelsea Yankolovich sits atop the Cougars stat page, leading in average (.315), hits (40), runs (26) and stolen bases (9). Allison Smiley is batting .308 with a squad leading 17 RBI.

 

Eastern Illinois (30-11, 10-4)

2013 Record: 36-14

Conference: Ohio Valley

2013 Finish: 20-3/1st West

Series Record: 11-36

Last Time Played: 4-7-13, L 1-7

Last Win: 4-2-11, 7-3

 

The Panthers are batting .288 as a team and have four players hitting over .300. Jennette Isaac and Brooke Owens lead the way each batting .350. Isaac is tied with Rey Hutchinson (.325) in stolen bases with 10. Owens has a team high 28 runs, 10 doubles and five home runs. Hannah Cole is hitting at a .348 clip with nine doubles, three triples, five dingers and a team best 31 RBI. EIU relies on the pitching duo of Hannah Mennenga and Stephanie Maday. Mennenga is 16-4 with a 1.87 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 146 innings of work. Maday has compiled a 13-5 record with a 2.13 ERA and has sat down 100 in 115 innings.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION  

Gold Rush defeat Privateers for third consecutive year



XAVIER UNIVERSITY TENNIS CENTER

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's men won five consecutive matches Thursday to score a 5-4 decision against the University of New Orleans at XU Tennis Center.

The Gold Rush (9-9), ranked 10th in the NAIA, have a season-best three-dual win streak and defeated the Privateers (6-9) for the third consecutive year. It was Xavier's second victory in five days against an NCAA Division I opponent.

Blake Gregor and Luis Albuquerque gave UNO its only lead when they defeated Tushar Mandlekar and Kevin Chaouat 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. But Xavier won the next five matches to clinch the dual.

Viktor Svoboda -- honored in a senior day ceremony before the dual -- and Adam Albrecht beat Gonzala Garcia and Chris Appelgren 8-5. Then Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer gave the Gold Rush a 2-1 lead with their 8-5 victory against Timo Kranz and Rui Silva at the top doubles flight.

Mandlekar, winning for the third straight time in singles, made it 3-1 with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Gregor at No. 4. Montrel defeated Kranz 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1, and Soifer clinched at No. 2 with a 6-2, 6-4 decision against Garcia.

Soifer is 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles in two seasons against UNO.

"Good win today," XU coach Alan Green said. "UNO is always tough to play against. But it was different today because we played them on our campus for the first time. Hopefully this will carry us over to next week and the unaffiliated tournament."

The Gold Rush will play Alcorn State at 2 p.m. next Thursday at Xavier to conclude the regular season, then compete the following day in the opening round of the NAIA Unaffiliated Group 2 Tournament in New Orleans.

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

Prairie View hires XU's Bussie as women's assistant

Coach Landon Bussie
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

NEW ORLEANS -- Prairie View A&M University announced Thursday the hiring of Xavier University of Louisiana's Landon Bussie as a women's basketball assistant coach.

Bussie served the past four seasons on Xavier's men's basketball coaching staff, the last three as a graduate assistant. He was part of Gold Rush teams which won 97 games, won three consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and qualified four times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship.

Bussie was a two-year letterman for the Gold Rush (2008-09 and 2009-10) after transferring from Livingstone College. He is from Baltimore, Maryland and a graduate of Woodlawn High School. Bussie received his bachelor's degree from Xavier in 2011.

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

XU's Jackson chosen LABC Coach of Year for first time

Dannton Jackson's 249 victories rank first in
Gold Rush history.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Dannton Jackson has been chosen Louisiana Small College Coach of the Year for 2014, the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches announced Thursday.
   
This is the first time for Jackson to receive the award, which is chosen annually by the state's men's college basketball coaches. Jackson will receive the award May 3 during the LABC's 40th annual awards banquet in Baton Rouge.
   
Jackson became the Gold Rush all-time leader in coaching victories when Xavier won 71-66 at Spring Hill on Dec. 17. The Gold Rush were 23-9 in 2013-14, winning a third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship and qualifying for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship or the fourth straight year. Jackson retooled a program which had five senior starters the previous season, and his team produced seven victories against NAIA national tourney qualifiers, including an overtime home decision against top-10 William Carey.
   
Jackson set a GCAC record in 2013-14 with his third consecutive Coach of the Year award.
   
The Gold Rush's 97 victories during the past four seasons are the program's winningest four consecutive seasons since 1937-41.
   
Jackson's 11-year record with the Gold Rush is 249-107. His nine 20-win seasons trail only hall-of-famers Fred Hobdy (Grambling) and Dale Brown (LSU) in Louisiana men's collegiate history.
   
He is the second Xavier coach to win the LABC award and the first since Dale Valdery in 2001.
   
The Embassy Suites Hotel (4914 Constitution Ave., zip 70808) will be the site of the banquet, which will start at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25.  

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

FAMU Completes Sweep of Alabama State With 2-1 Win

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M (17-21, 10-7 MEAC) held Alabama State (28-15, 16-2 SWAC) scoreless over the final eight innings, for a final of 2-1, to complete the mid-week sweep on Thursday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. The win marked the eighth victory of the season for the Rattlers by one run and FAMU has now won six of their last eight games.

Rattler starter Chase Jarrell (4-2) earned the win while pitching five innings and only allowing one unearned run with three strikeouts. David Duncan pitched the final four scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.

Bennie Robinson went 3-for-4 at the plate for FAMU with an RBI and a run scored, while Marlon Gibbs went 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI in the third inning.



Alabama State picked up an unearned run in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. Cesar Rivera singled into right center and stole second before scoring on a throwing error by Robinson, who overthrew third basemen Ryan Kennedy, trying to catch Rivera at third.

The Rattlers scored all they needed for the win with a pair of runs in the third inning, in what proved to be the final score of 2-1. Logan Seymour drew a one out walk and stole second. As Seymour stole second, Hornet catcher Richard Gonzalez tried to throw him out but the ball sailed into center field advancing Seymour to third. Robinson followed with an RBI single to plate Seymour for Florida A&M’s first run of the game. Robinson was aggressive on the base paths second and advanced to third on a wild pitch to setup what proved to be Gibbs game-winning RBI single.

Duncan came in in the sixth inning and pitched the rest of the way for FAMU. In the sixth, Duncan worked out of a bases loaded jam after two walks and a single from Richard Gonzalez. Dexter Price grounded out to third to end the inning, leaving the bases full for Alabama State.

The Hornets only had two hits over the final four innings.

Alabama State starter Michael Estevez (3-4) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work. Estevez also struck out four and walked four Rattler batters.

Florida A&M is off over the Easter weekend, but next travels to face No. 18 Florida in Gainesville on Wednesday, April 23. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

BOX SCORE

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Southern signs BRCC’s Ashley Williams

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana --  The graduation of Adrian Sanders left the Southern women’s basketball team with some big sneakers to fill, but coach Sandy Pugh thinks she found someone who can do it.

The Jaguars signed Baton Rouge Community College’s Ashley Williams on Wednesday, adding a versatile leader to the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season champions.

“She’ll be able to step right into Adrian’s shoes,” Pugh said. “She can rebound and get up and down the floor. She’s a hybrid like Adrian was.



“She has toughness, which definitely will fill a void. She can put the ball on the floor and finish in the lane. She’s a natural leader.”

Williams, who played at Walker High School, averaged ...

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Alcorn Braves Sign Elite Class on Basketball Signing Day

COACH LUTHER RILEY
HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
Courtesy: ASU Athletics

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Head Coach Luther Riley was at it again this year signing a few elite players across the south region today on national day. The Braves will add four new faces to last year's team who went 12-19 this season.

The class includes, Juwan Henderson (Georgia), Reginald "Monsta" Johnson, Jr. (Louisiana), Tamarico Wilson (Holmes CC), and Xavier Graves (Coahoma CC).

Henderson, is a 5-11 point guard from Atlanta, Ga. who averaged 23.0 ppg and seven assists at Stephenson High School. He earned All-Distrcit, All-Region, All-Dekalb County and All-State honors during his senior year. He's known for his cat-quickness and ability to distribute the ball.

Johnson, is a 6-5 215 pound guard and forward who avearaged over 30 points per game, eight rebounds, and four assists. He attended Richwood High School in Monroe, La. where he led his team to a state championship, a runner-up in the state championship (2014), and four district 2-3A championships. He was also named the Class 3A MVP back-to-back years and this year was crowned as the 2014 Mr. Basketball for the State of Louisiana.

Wilson is a 6-2, 205 pound combo guard who attended Holmes Community College this past season. He averaged 12 points, four rebounds, which earned him a spot on the Mississippi JUCO All-Star Team this past season. He was also a member of the MACJC All-State 2nd Tema this year.

Graves (Bassfield, MS) was a force inside for the Tigers this season nearly averaging a double-double. His 13 points and nine rebounds per game, along with two blocks, were a big reason that CCC advanced to the MACJC playoffs for the second consecutive season. He was Co-MVP in the 2014 MACJC All-Star game.

"My focus during this recruiting period was to add quality players to go along with the nucleus that's returning next season," stated Head Coach Luther Riley. "Not only do I think we have good basketball players joining our program, but we have some great student-athletes with outstanding personalities."

Riley and his staff are planning on signing two more student-athletes later on before recruiting season is over.

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Alcorn State signs Louisiana's Mr. Basketball

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State landed a big target Wednesday when Reginal Johnson Jr. signed with the Braves.

Johnson Jr. was recently named Mr. Basketball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Farm Bureau. The 6-foot-4 forward from Monroe, La., averaged 32 points and 15 rebounds for Richwood High School, which finished runner-up in the Class 3A. He chose Alcorn among offers from Arkansas-Monticello and LSU-Alexandria.

"We wanted to fill three spots. We wanted a point guard, a big and a utility guy like Reginal," Alcorn coach Luther Riley said. "And I think he has the body makeup, he has the toughness and mentality."

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AAMU Bulldogs play host to area high school coaches

NORMAL, Alabama – With nine practices down, the Alabama A&M football program hosted a high school coach's social and clinic Wednesday, April 16.

Head coach James Spady and his staff met with each and every coach introducing themselves then explaining their football philosophy.

The Bulldog coaching staff then went into the tenth session of spring football allowing the area coaches and opportunity to see the pistol offense and 4-3 defense in action.



After two and a half hours of work A&M ended their tenth practice of the spring with a controlled scrimmage that allowed the coaches to see certain plays in action.

Next up A&M will complete their "Taking the show to the community" event with their second scrimmage of the spring at Bob Jones High School on April 18, at 10 a.m.

Everyone is invited to witness Bulldog football "Spady Style"

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