Florida A&M's Ken Riley to be enshrined in Black College Football Hall of Fame

CINCINNATI, Ohio --  Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He deserves to be in the Ring of Honor, when the Bengals decide to invest in their legends, history and traditions. He deserves complete recognition.

He will get it this February, though not in the NFL.

Riley was one of six that were named to the 2015 class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Riley, who will be enshrined on Feb. 28, will be joined by Roger Brown, Richard Dent, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, Donnie Shell and former Jackson State head coach W.C. Gordon.

 

Riley played quarterback for Florida A&M University, posting a starting record of 23-7 in college -- even leading his team to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles each season that he started.

 

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FAMU Giving At Record Pace Under New President’s Leadership

Dr. Elmira Mangum, President
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Since her arrival in April 2014, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., has spent countless hours traveling the country to raise the University’s profile. Her efforts have shown a sizeable return on investment as giving during the first five months of the current fiscal year is at a record pace.

Since June of this year, FAMU has received more than $3 million in cash donations as compared to $1.1 million for the same period last year. In addition, nearly $4 million in pledges has been made to the University, bringing the total amount of donations through November to almost $7 million.

“The outpouring of donations and pledges shows the renewed faith that people have in the University and the direction it is headed,” said Mangum. “As I travel the nation, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response that I have received and by the high esteem to which people hold the University.”

“People are beginning to see how important giving is to the lifeblood of the institution and that their contributions, no matter how small, can help the University to achieve its mission,” Mangum added.

According to Thomas Haynes, Ph.D., vice president for University Advancement, a renewed spirit of giving has ignited across the University community.

“Grassroots support from Rattlers and friends like Cecka Rose Green, John Crossman, Thomas Bolen, and the family of Hubert Reddick, as well as alumni chapters across the nation, and FAMU students, faculty, and staff demonstrates how people are willing to give their time and resources to help FAMU continue its legacy of providing access and opportunity for underserved students,” Haynes said.

“From $10 to $1,000 to $100,000 our supporters understand that every dollar counts when it comes to ensuring that the students we serve are provided with a quality and affordable education,” Haynes added.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Southern University football vs. Mississippi Valley State game capsule

When/Where: Saturday at 6 p.m. at A. W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Television: There will be a live stream on gojagsports.com for Saturday's game, but Cox Sports will also have it on tape delay at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Radio: WYNK 97.7

Coaches: Southern — Dawson Odums (second season as head coach, was interim in 2012, 20-12). Mississippi Valley State — Rick Comegy (first season, 2-8).

About Southern: The Jaguars (7-3) extended their current winning streak to five games with a 30-20 victory against Texas Southern last weekend, and running back Lenard Tillery was the star. 

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Cal men’s basketball hosts Alcorn State in first game of the season

BERKELEY, California -- As the head coach at Tennessee, Cuonzo Martin built a team centered on an aggressive defense, a system successful enough to take the Vols into last year’s Sweet Sixteen. So when Martin was announced as the Cal men’s basketball head coach in April, many fans hoped Martin’s style of play would help get the Bears get back to the NCAA tournament after a disappointing trip to the NIT.

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At home at 7 p.m. on Friday, Cal will take on Alcorn State in the first game of the season and the 2K Classic. It will be the first real look at this new Bears team — a team that will be without last year’s stars, Justin Cobb and Richard Solomon.

“This year, coach Martin has kind of shaped all of our games to kind of just play as the game goes. His whole thing is ‘Don’t be good at one thing, be good at all things,’ ” said sophomore guard Jordan Mathews. “He tells us, ‘If you’re not going 100 (percent) all game, you’re coming right out.’”

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Season preview: Brent relishes underdog role for Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Despite a promising start, the Jackson State men's basketball team didn't end on a good note in coach Wayne Brent's first year.

The Tigers dropped their last three regular season games and were knocked out of the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship by last-seeded Grambling State.

With that, as well as the loses of Julysses Nobles and Brandon West, expectations are low for JSU this year, as it was predicted to finish eighth.

Brent doesn't mind that, saying it leaves more room for surprises.

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IU Hoosiers open tonight against Mississippi Valley

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana -- James Blackmon and Robert Johnson face their college basketball debut with a veteran’s burden. They are young, expected to play fast, required to play smart.

Granted, this is Mississippi Valley State and not, say, Louisville, which looms in a couple of weeks. Tonight’s competition should not rattle them into non-stop mistakes, which doesn’t mean it will be easy.

IU has multiple keys to restore national relevance and one of the biggest is limiting turnovers. When you start two freshmen, as the Hoosiers will tonight with Blackmon and Johnson, mistakes happen. When you play fast, when your offense emphasizes full-throttle pace and attack-the-basket ruthlessness, mistakes happen.

Combine the two and you get … what?

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Grambling women missing critical parts

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- When Nadine Domond accepted the Grambling State women’s basketball coaching position in August, she gave Lincoln Parish colleges an all-new coaching staff as she joined Lady Techsters coach Tyler Summitt as new kids on the block.

Domond, who had a brief WNBA career before playing overseas for several seasons, is tasked with rebuilding the Lady Tigers, who finished 11-20 last season. She will do it without a lot of firepower in the lineup. Joanna Miller, the SWAC’s second leading scorer in 2013-14 at 18.8 points per game, graduated, along with Victoya Ricks (10.6 ppg) and Jasmine Godbolt (10.6 ppg).

Also missing will be former Benton All-Stater and Times Female Athlete of the Year Dennisha Chambers for an undisclosed reason. Chambers was the SWAC’s 14th best scorer at 11.4 per outing.

The Lady Tigers open the season with ...

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Hampton U. upsets Bethune-Cookman 40-35 on Senior Night

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
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HAMPTON, Virginia  --  Hampton University’s frustrating football season included all manner of losses – high scoring and low scoring, red-zone snafus and defensive collapses, breakdowns early and late.

Facing yet another potential meltdown against perhaps the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s premier program, the Pirates stood tall in the waning minutes and came away with a signature win.

Hampton carved up Bethune-Cookman’s nationally-ranked defense, and the Pirates’ own depleted defensive group made necessary plays as they held on for a 40-35 win on a raw, chilly Thursday night before a sparse Armstrong Stadium crowd and a national TV audience.

“We don’t have any quit in us,” HU coach Connell Maynor said. “What we always say is that we’ve got to find a way to win a game in the fourth quarter, and make plays late and finish, and that’s what we did today.”



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Gold Nuggets lead wire-to-wire, defeat No. 22 Mobile

NEW ORLEANS -- Vinnie Briggs' 15 points Wednesday led Xavier University of Louisiana to a wire-to-wire 71-66 women's basketball victory against Mobile in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I teams.

The Gold Nuggets (1-2), ranked 18th, won for the 23rd consecutive time in a home opener and extended their home winning streak to 20. The Lady Rams (1-1) are ranked 22nd.

Briggs, Xavier's scoring leader in every game this season, also led her team with six rebounds. Teammate Whitney Gathright had 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Alesha Smith and Kelsey Joseph reached career highs with 11 and nine points, respectively.

Jammieca Hudson had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Mobile, and Kali Koenig scored 14 points.

Xavier led 6-0 after 46 seconds -- two baskets by Smith and another by Briggs -- and never lost the lead. The Gold Nuggets led 42-27 at halftime and took their biggest lead, 46-27, on a Briggs basket with 18:27 remaining.

Three-pointers by Hudson and Koenig in the final minute twice cut Xavier's lead to five points, but the Lady Rams never got closer.

Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor, but Xavier made five more field goals than Mobile. The Gold Nuggets blocked eight shots -- more than they did in any game last season -- and outrebounded Mobile 41-33. Eleven of Xavier's 12 active players scored, and all of them grabbed at least one rebound.

"I liked the way we played in the first half after two tough losses to start the season," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We were fresh. We played outstanding defense. It was a great team effort in the first half.

"But we've got to get better and find a way to put two good halves together."

Xavier will play 11th-ranked Our Lady of the Lake at 2 p.m. Saturday in the LSUS Classic at Shreveport, La. It will be the Gold Nuggets' fourth consecutive game against a ranked NAIA opponent to start the season.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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TSU Women’s Basketball Begins Season at NC State

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The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team will open the 2014-15 season on Friday, Nov. 14 at ACC member North Caroline State. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. ET in Reynolds Coliseum.

THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Tennessee State finished fourth in the OVC East Division with a league mark of 9-7 (12-18 overall).

Under the guidance of third year head coach Larry Inman, the Lady Tigers returned 10 letterwinners from last year’s team including preseason All-OVC selection Chelsea Hudson. Hudson led TSU with 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season while posting nine double-doubles throughout the course of the year.

Senior Rachel Allen also returned to the Lady Tiger backcourt. The 5-5 point guard was the anchor for the TSU offense averaging 11.4 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per outing as a junior. She posted double-digits 20-times and recorded her first career double-double of 12 points and 10 assists against Tennessee Tech.

Tennessee State returned four starters and 86 percent of its offense from a year ago. Last season TSU led the OVC in offensive rebounds (16.2) while ranking second in steals (8.9) and fourth in scoring offense (69.4). Five newcomers, including four freshman joined the squad.

LAST TIME OUT

After a slow start Tennessee State got its offense and defense going before defeating Tennessee Temple, 109-37, in an exhibition game on Monday. Freshman Samantha Palma led TSU with 17 points off the bench while Jayda Johnson (16) and Chelsea Hudson (13) also put up double-digits in scoring. Hudson also pulled down seven boards.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

North Carolina State will officially begin its season against Tennessee State after, defeating LeNoir-Rhyne, 70-52, in an exhibition contest last Friday.

In the win over Lenoir-Rhyne, Miah Spencer led the Wolfpack with 15 points while Carlee Schuhmacher also posted double-digits with 14. Jennifer Mathurin added nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.

NC State is under second year head coach Wes Moore. In Moore’s first season, the Wolfpack finished 11-5 in conference play. State returns two starters from a 2013-14 team which won 25 games, was nationally ranked for 12 straight weeks to end the season and finished fourth in the ACC regular-season standings.

NC State’s two returning seniors are both regular starters and will lead a young group which includes six newcomers (four freshmen and two transfers).

TSU vs. NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Tennessee State will match up with North Carolina State for the first time in the program’s history.

COVERAGE

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

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU Nuggets produce 3 All-GCAC first-team selections



Nuggets produce 3 All-GCAC

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Chinedu Echebelem, Claudia Haywood and Franziska Pirkl have been chosen first-team All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in women's volleyball.

A fourth XU student-athlete, Darian Harris, was selected to the All-GCAC second team.

The conference announced its All-GCAC players Wednesday, two days before the start of its postseason tournament. The conference's eight head coaches chose the teams.

Echebelem, a senior outside hitter from Dallas and a graduate of Duncanville High School, is all-conference for the third time and on the first team for the second time. Echebelem has 187 kills, 217 digs, 14 blocks, seven aces and a .208 hitting percentage in 19 matches this season.

Pirkl, a junior setter from Anchorage, Alaska, and a graduate of Theolinden Gymnasium, is All-GCAC first team for the third consecutive year. She has 692 assists, 57 kills, 30 aces, 22 blocks, 171 digs and a .223 hitting percentage in 23 matches. Pirkl ranks second in the conference in assists per set.

Haywood, a junior middle blocker from Memphis, Tenn., and a graduate of Cordova High School, is All-GCAC for the first time. Haywood ranks second in the GCAC and 49th in the NAIA with a .301 hitting percentage. She has 208 kills and 46 blocks in 23 matches.

Harris, a junior libero from Gretna, La., and a graduate of McGehee School, earned her first All-GCAC recognition. Harris had 316 digs and 13 aces in 23 matches and is third in the conference in digs per set. She produced 31 digs in a four-set home victory against Wiley on Sept. 9.

The GCAC will announce its Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year at a banquet for the tournament teams Thursday evening.

Xavier, the GCAC's regular-season champion for the fourth consecutive year, will play in the tournament semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday at XU's Convocation Center. The Gold Nuggets await the winner of a noon quarterfinal match between Philander Smith and Talladega.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Voorhees' withdrawal advances XU to GCAC semifinals

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's women's volleyball team will play its first match in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament one round later than previously announced.

The Gold Nuggets received a bye to the semifinals after their quarterfinal opponent, Voorhees College of Denmark, S.C., announced Wednesday its withdrawal from the postseason event.

"Due to some circumstances that were out of their control, Voorhees has regretfully withdrawn from our championship tournament," GCAC Commissioner Steven B. Martin said.

There will be two tournament matches Friday at XU's Convocation Center. Philander Smith will play Talladega at noon in the quarterfinals, and that winner will play Xavier in the semifinals at 3 p.m. The championship match will start at noon Saturday at the Convocation Center.

Tickets for the GCAC Tournament will cost $5 for ages 13 and older. There will be free admission for children 12 and younger and for GCAC-member students with valid school identification cards.

Xavier is the tournament's No. 1 seed and a three-time defending champion. The Gold Nuggets won their fourth consecutive GCAC regular-season championship on Nov. 1.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Tuskegee preparing for a slugfest in Saturday's SIAC championship game against Albany State

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- This one's going to be a battle of wills--a slugfest that pits the SIAC's best offense against its best defense.

As Tuskegee (8-2, 7-0) prepares for Saturday's conference title game against Albany State (7-2, 7-0), its coaches and players know that it will be a hard-hitting battle between the two most deserving of opponents.

Tuskegee's offensive firepower leads the SIAC in scoring (35.3 points) and total offense (387.5 yards) per game, while Albany State's shutdown defense leads in all major defensive categories, including scoring (14 points), total (229.4 yards), rushing (84.1) and passing (145.3).

Something's gotta give, and Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater knows it.

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There’s no looking back for NCCU

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DURHAM, North Carolina  --  Each season is getting harder and harder for N.C. Central coach LeVelle Moton to fill out a non-conference schedule.

The phone rang off the hook when the men’s basketball program first reclassified to Division I status and mostly lived on the road for five years. But now that Moton has built a winning program, the silence is deafening.

“We just finished our schedule a couple of days ago,” Moton said recently during a MEAC teleconference. “The toughest thing for us is getting games. When we transitioned to Division I, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing.”

But Moton happily will take the snub if it means the Eagles can keep building on their success.

And now that Eagle Nation has tasted that success, Moton says there’s no turning back.

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FAMU notebook: Fuller hasn't applied for head coaching job

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M interim head coach Corey Fuller said his contract isn't up until Jan. 20, and he'll keep coaching and recruiting for the Rattlers until his final day on campus.

He also said during a meeting of the 220 Quarterback Club and New Times Country Buffet on Monroe Street he still hasn't applied for the now-vacant position of full-time head coach because he's focused on delivering two wins to end the season.

"No I haven't," Fuller said when a member of the club asked if he applied for the top job.

He continued, "I'm not even sure yet. I haven't even prayed about it. What I've been praying about is for four weeks the kids will play hard, put a great model on the field and we'll do our best. I haven't even prayed about the job."



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Struggling Hampton U. faces MEAC leader Bethune-Cookman

HAMPTON, Virginia -- When Hampton U. football coach Connell Maynor watches Bethune-Cookman, he sees what he wants his program to look like.

"That's exactly the way we want to be," Maynor said Wednesday. "They've been dominating the MEAC for the last four years, since Coach (Brian) Jenkins has got there. To say that's how we want to be is exactly right. That's what we want to be."

Maynor and the Pirates (2-8, 1-5 MEAC) get an up-close look at the two-time defending conference champ Wildcats in front of a national TV audience 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Armstrong Stadium.

Bethune-Cookman (8-2, 5-1 MEAC) is tied for the conference lead with South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T. The Wildcats' only conference loss was to S.C. State, and they don't play North Carolina A&T this season.



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GW Men's Hoops Tips Off 2014-15 on Friday Versus Grambling State

WHO: GW Men's Basketball (0-0)
WHAT: 2014-15 Game #1 vs. Grambling State Tigers (0-0)
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338), 600 22nd Street NW
Directions to Smith Center | Parking Options | Public Transportation
WHEN: Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m.
HOW: Buy Tickets | Gameday Info | Tickets Policy
VIDEO: FREE on RaiseHigh Live & A-10 Mobile App
AUDIO: FederalNewsRadio.com, 1050 AM, GW IMG Sports Network via TuneIn | WRGW Sports
STATS: GameTracker
TWITTER: @GW_MBB | @GWGeorge | #RaiseHigh
INSTAGRAM: GW_MBB | GW_GEORGE
FACEBOOK: GWMensBasketball
PROMOTION: Fourth annual Home Opener Tailgate starting at 4 p.m., and now relocated to Lerner Health & Wellness Center Third Floor

WASHINGTON, DC  --  George Washington men's basketball begins a new century of competition on Friday when it hosts Grambling State at the Charles E. Smith Center to open the 2014-15 campaign, its 101st season of college hoops. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Friday's game will be preceded by the fourth annual Home Opener Tailgate starting at 4 p.m. on the third floor of the Lerner Health & Wellness Center adjacent to the Smith Center on 23rd and G Streets. Enjoy a game day atmosphere with food, music, activities and drinks (ID required for 21+) with fellow Colonials fans.

The 2013-14 season was a banner one for the Colonials, who celebrated their 100th season of intercollegiate competition by amassing the second-most victories in program history (24) en route to a berth in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. A banner recognizing the program's 11th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance will be unveiled prior to Friday night's tipoff.

Led by a quartet of juniors and returning starters, GW has been picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 and contend for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15. The Colonials will begin the 2014-15 season receiving at least one vote in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.

Three of those returning juniors - Patricio Garino (16 points), Kevin Larsen (13) and Kethan Savage (10) - were joined by senior John Kopriva (11) and freshmen Darian Bryant (13) and Yuta Watanabe (12) in scoring in double figures as GW cruised to an 89-47 rout of Bloomsburg in exhibition action at the Smith Center on Saturday. The Colonials shot 66 percent (35-53) from the field, including better than 71 percent (15-21) in the second half, and assisted on 24-of-35 baskets against the Huskies.

GW returns to the Smith Center and its monument-laden Tex Silverman Court - the #MonumentalHomeCourtAdvantage - for the first time after posting a 14-1 record at home last season. Since being installed prior to the 2013-14 athletics season, Colonials' teams that compete on the #MonumentalHomeCourtAdvantage have a combined .794 win percentage (54-14 across MBB, WBB, VB and GYM).

Friday's contest will be the first ever between GW and Grambling State. The Tigers return five players from last season's team, including two of their top four scorers in Preseason Second Team All-SWAC guard/forward A'Torri Shine (13.8 ppg) and guard Remond Brown (8.9 ppg), and have seven newcomers for Shawn Walker's first season at the helm.

Following Friday's opener, the Colonials will quickly prepare to visit new Big Ten member Rutgers on Sunday night in Piscataway, N.J. GW Alumni will host its first of several road pregame receptions this season at the Rutgers Zone beginning at 5 p.m. 

COURTESY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Football remaining primary focus for ASU's Barlow

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Reggie Barlow is staying focused on football in the face of uncertainty for one main reason – his team.

Despite Alabama State asking him to resign last week after he signed a three-year extension Sept. 9, Barlow continues to press forward for the sake of his players.

"What I do is for them," Barlow said after Wednesday's practice. "To get the text messages and the calls and all that stuff from these guys. The thing I love about them is when we lose a game or when we're going through something? Usually a coach checks on the players.

"These guys check on me. I have a real strong appreciation for that because that means they care about their coach. I appreciate that. I think that's what keeps me focused."

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Southern University's focus on Mississippi Valley not Bayou Classic

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The Bayou Classic is near lock for a de facto SWAC West championship game between Southern University and Grambling. But don't tell Jaguars coach Dawson Odums that.

As far as he's concerned Southern (7-3, 6-1 in the SWAC) will be locked in difficult game against Mississippi Valley State this week in Baton Rouge and that's all he and his team are focused on. Never mind that the Delta Devils (2-8, 1-7 in the SWAC) are the worst team in the league if you go by record.

It's easy to look ahead, though, as the Bayou Classic, set for Nov. 29 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, is shaping up as one of the most important in years.

If Southern knocks off Mississippi Valley this week, the Jaguars and Grambling (7-3, 7-0 in the SWAC) will play for the SWAC West title and a chance to compete in the SWAC Championship on Dec. 6 in Houston against SWAC East titlist Alcorn State.



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Coleman leads Xavier past Loyola in overtime, 72-66

Box score

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NEW ORLEANS -- Senior center Sydney Coleman scored five of his season-best 15 points in overtime Tuesday to lead NAIA No. 13 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 72-66 men's basketball victory against Loyola at XU's Convocation Center.

It was the second overtime game in the city rivalry. Xavier (5-1) leads the series 32-8 against and won at home against the Wolf Pack (1-1) for the first time in four tries.

Nick Parker's 3-pointer for Loyola with three seconds remaining tied the score at 63, but Xavier scored the first four points of overtime and never lost the lead. Coleman made 1-of-2 free throws at 4:48 and a basket at 2:44 for a 66-63 advantage.

With 21.6 seconds remaining and Xavier leading 68-66, Loyola's Robert Lovaglio missed the first of two free throws, then was called for a lane violation on the second shot. Coleman followed with two free throws with 19.8 seconds remaining to give the Gold Rush a four-point lead, and Jarvis Thibodeaux tacked on two more free throws with 1.1 seconds to play.

Coleman also grabbed a season-high nine rebounds. Morris Wright scored 12 points, and Troy Salvant and RJ Daniels scored 10 apiece for Xavier.

Lovaglio and McCall Tomeny scored 15 points apiece for Loyola. Jalen Gray scored 14 points, and Parker had 10.

Loyola led 27-26 at halftime after trailing by eight. Xavier scored the first 10 points of the second half and led 50-39 after Wright's 3-pointer at 5:57.

Parker's tying 3-pointer came after Coleman made 1-of-2 free throws with 13.8 seconds remaining.

Loyola outshot Xavier 36.4 to 35 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush had a 50-38 rebound advantage -- Thibodeaux grabbed 11 rebounds, and Daniels had nine.

The Rush will visit the Wolf Pack at 7 p.m. Dec. 3.

Xavier's next game will start at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Wiley.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Lane College Announces Resignations in Athletics Program

JACKSON, Tennessee (11/10/14)  --  Lane College today announced that Interim Athletic Director Penny Minter and Interim Head Football Coach Malik Hoskins have resigned their positions, effective immediately.

Lane President Logan Hampton has accepted the resignations and appointed Lane’s Sports Information Director (SID) and Head Softball Coach Roger Ogden as the Athletic Director on an interim basis. Ogden is a seven-year employee of the College and has served in his former capacities since 2008. He will retain the SID and Head Softball Coach responsibilities during the interim period.

During the 2014 Season, Coach Ogden led the Lady Dragons Softball Team to its highest single-season win total in the College's history. He also had two players selected as All-Conference with one Player of the Year, and he was selected by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) as the 2010 and 2014 Coach of the Year. Ogden is married to Valerie Hathcock Ogden and they are the parents of an adult daughter, son-in-law and a grandson.



"I recognize the value that Director Minter has contributed to Lane College in her interim position. This year, she established the Lane College Booster Club, implemented Football Game Day promotions, and provided leadership to the entire athletics department, consisting of 12 sports,"said Hampton.

"Likewise, I thank Coach Hoskins for his leadership over the Football Program serving in the role as Interim Head Football Coach,"said Hampton. "Last season, Hoskins served as the program’s Assistant Football Coach and Offensive Coordinator. Primarily because of his offensive prowess and keen acumen in the development of key offensive plays, the 2013 Football Dragons amassed major offensive yardage and passing statistics, and helped lead the Dragons to their first winning season in four years and the selection of its Quarterback as the SIAC Player of the Year. Also, during his tenure, seven members of his football squads have been placed on the 1st and 2nd All-SIAC Conference Teams,"he added.

"I sincerely thank Director Minter and Coach Hoskins for their service to Lane College, and I wish them well in their future endeavors,"Hampton concluded.

The College will conduct a national search for Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, and Marching Band Director.

COURTESY LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS SPORTS INFORMATION 

New Gaines Center floor won't be ready for WSSU season-openers

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State is going “old school” with its opening of basketball season on Saturday.

Because the newly-installed wooden floor at the Gaines Center is not ready the WSSU women and men will play their games at tiny Whittaker Gym, which is located adjacent to the Gaines Center.

The women are hosting a tournament on Saturday and the first game is at 2 p.m. with Shepherd against St. Augustine’s. The Rams will play Urbana at 4 p.m.

The WSSU men will make its debut at 7 p.m. at Whittaker against Allen University.

CONTINUE READING

Former NFL Player Charles Grant Caught on Video Body-Slamming Bowie State Student

BOWIE, Maryland  --  Bowie State University fired a former NFL player from his volunteer football coach position after TMZ Sports posted video of him body-slamming a student.

University police is investigating Charles Grant. He can be heard shouting and cursing at the student before throwing him to the ground then into the bleachers as people are heard laughing in the background.



Grant is a former defensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints. He was on the team the season it won Super Bowl XLIV.

Grant previously was brought up on an involuntary manslaughter charge after ...

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Virginia State QB Tarian Ayres arrested, charged with DUI

WAVERLY, Virginia -- Tarian Ayres, the Virginia State sophomore quarterback who Monday was suspended by the school for this weekend's CIAA championship game, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, underage possession of alcohol and speeding in the town of Waverly.

A Waverly police officer who spotted Ayres speeding on westbound U.S. 460 stopped his vehicle about 2:05 a.m. after he crossed the highway’s double solid line near Main Street, said Waverly police officer C.M. Washington.

The officer administered a series of sobriety checks, including a breathalyzer test, and determined Ayres was intoxicated, Washington said. Police declined to provide his blood-alcohol level.

Washington said a couple of other people were in the car with Ayres but ...

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Dwight Floyd Commentary: It Was Good for My Dear Father

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  When he was born the midwife attempted to name him Willow, after the tree, but somehow the spelling became Willer. Such a unique name it was, perhaps even backwards by way of intent, yet in his life Willer Aldrich Floyd brought dignity to the name. One of nine children, son of a sharecropper, he married the girl of his dreams, served in the military, graduated from college, and taught life skills throughout his professional career.

Willer was blessed to have others in his corner from childhood forward. As he told the story his teacher went out into the field and asked his father if Willer could go to school full time and skip tending to the family farm. Willer was a little guy and his younger brother, K.P., who would grow to be much bigger than him, told their dad that in exchange he’d skip school and carry my father’s load. It was a tremendous sacrifice by K.P., but truth is even without a primary education the younger brother was able to own and run a successful automobile towing and mechanics business.

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