Accused killer of West St.John High football coach turns himself in

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The accused killer of a West St. John High School football coach turned himself in to authorities Tuesday evening.

The Baton Rouge Police Department reported Kendric Cloud, 25, of Baker, surrendered around 7:30 p.m. He was accompanied by his attorney. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and felon in possession of a firearm in the death of Juan Joseph, 27, of Edgard. No bond has been set.

His cousin, Lemark Cloud, 25, was booked earlier in the day in connection with the murder. Police said he is an accomplice in the shooting. He's charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, accessory after the fact to illegal use of a weapon and accessory after the fact to felon in possession of a firearm. He is believed to be the getaway driver after the shooting. He's being held in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison in lieu of a $300,000 bond.

Both men have a lengthy criminal history.

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Nuggets lose 69-53 to NCAA DI Louisiana-Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana  --  Junior guard Keke Veal scored 18 points Tuesday to lead Louisiana-Lafayette to a 69-53 women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

For the second consecutive year, the Ragin' Cajuns (2-0) of NCAA Division I defeated the Gold Nuggets (2-4), who are ranked 18th in NAIA Division I.

Simone Fields scored 13 points for the Cajuns, and Kia Wilridge scored 12.

Ireyon Keith and Whitney Gathright scored 10 points apiece for Xavier, and Vinnie Briggs scored nine. Keith, a freshman, reached double figures for the first time with the Gold Nuggets.

Xavier's only lead was 5-4 in the fifth minute. The Cajuns led 29-23 at halftime and took their biggest lead, 67-44, on a Fields layup at 2:33 to cap a 13-0.

UL Lafayette outshot the Gold Nuggets 42.1 to 33.9 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 45-32. It was Xavier's lowest shooting percentage and worst rebound margin of the season.

Both team committed 16 turnovers. The Cajuns excelled at the line, making 16-of-22 free throws to the Nuggets' 8-of-10.

The Cajuns defeated the Nuggets 62-54 last season.

Xavier will play Warner University of Lake Wales, Fla., at 2 p.m. Saturday for homecoming at the Convocation Center. The game will follow a noon matchup between Xavier's men and LeMoyne-Owen.

Box score


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Coleman's last-minute scoring helps Rush defeat Mobile

XU men's basketball vs. Mobile (22 photos)

photos by Yamlak Tsega — at Xavier University Convocation Center

NEW ORLEANS -- Sydney Coleman scored six points in the final minute to lift NAIA No. 13 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 62-60 men's basketball victory against Mobile.

The Gold Rush (7-1) rallied from a 38-22 halftime deficit to extend its win streak to four.

Coleman's two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining put Xavier ahead to stay, 61-60. Mobile's Lawrence Pierce committed a turnover on the ensuing possession when he stepped over the baseline trying to inbound the ball, then XU's Morris Wright made 1-of-2 free throws for the final points.

Wright did not miss a shot the first 39 minutes, including five 3-pointers, and scored 22 points. Jacques Johnson scored 10, and Coleman had nine.

Pierce scored 11 points, Will Hornsby 10 and James Davis nine for the Rams (3-2).

Xavier rallied after CJ McGill's steal and basket gave Mobile a 53-48 lead with 5:26 remaining.

Coleman's field goal -- his only one of the game -- gave Xavier a 57-56 lead with 59 seconds remaining, and his two free throws with 34 seconds to play gave the Rush a 59-58 lead.

Daouda Soumaoro scored eight points and Kenny Davison seven to spark Mobile to its commanding halftime advantage, but neither scored in the second half. Xavier got back into contention by outscoring the Rams 19-3 in the first 10 minutes of the second half and took its biggest lead, 46-41, on an RJ Daniels basket at 10:16. From that point until the final minute, there were three ties and three lead changes.

It was the sixth time in three seasons that Xavier won in its Convocation Center after trailing by double digits.

Xavier outshot the Rams 45.9 to 34.1 percent from the floor, 57.9 to 28.6 in the second half. Mobile made 27-of-32 free throws, and the Gold Rush made 22-of-34. Three Mobile players and one from Xavier fouled out.

Mobile outrebounded Xavier 28-25 to become the first Gold Rush opponent this season to win the boards.

Xavier beat Mobile for the 10th consecutive time -- the longest streak in the series -- and leads 35-26 overall. They'll meet again at 3 p.m. December 13 at Mobile.

Xavier will play LeMoyne-Owen College of Memphis, Tenn., at noon Saturday for homecoming at the Convocation Center. That will be followed by a 2 p.m. matchup between Xavier's women and Warner.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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TU Golden Tigers to Host NCAA Division II Playoff Game

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- For the second consecutive year the Golden Tigers' are back in the NCAA Division II football playoffs. Saturday's contest marks the first time, Tuskegee University will host a playoff football game. This weekend, TU will host the Wolves of the University of West Georgia; kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CST in Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium.

Tickets are $10 per person, and student/children's tickets are $5 with a valid student ID. Tickets will be available for purchase on Thursday, November 20th at the Tuskegee University cashier window, however prepayment orders are being accepted now. To prepay please call: (334) 727-8594.

In addressing the team following the selection show, Head Coach Willie Slater said, "Let's get ready, we have work to do."

The Golden Tigers defeated seventh-ranked Albany State 47-41 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship to clinch the third seed and home field advantage. The Wolves defeated Shorter 31-17 to punch their playoff ticket.



The Tuskegee/West Georgia winner will travel to Cleveland, Mississippi, to take on second-seeded Delta State University on November 29th.

Last season, the Golden Tigers advanced to the playoffs for the first time in the program's lengthy history. They suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of North Alabama, 30-27 to end their post-season run.

Please follow us @MyTUAthletics on twitter and facebook.com/GoldenTigerSports for playoff information. Remember goldentigersports.com is always a source for updates on Tuskegee Athletics.

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

VSU Set To Host NCAA DII First Round Playoff Game

ETTRICK, Virginia  --  On Sunday, November 16 the NCAA Division II Football Committee announced Virginia State University Trojans as the number 3 seed in Super Region One.  The Trojans will play host to the number 6 seed the Pioneers of Long Island University-Post of Brookville, N.Y.  Kick-off is slated for noon on Saturday, November 22 at Rogers Stadium on the VSU campus.

Head football coach Latrell Scott had the playoffs in mind when selecting a strong 2014 schedule. Going up against California University of Pennsylvania and Lenior-Rhyne University early in the season along with winning the CIAA championship helped propel the Trojans to securing the number three seed in Super Region One.
 
It is the first trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs in program history for the Trojans. LIU-Post is 8-3 on the season and competes in the North East-10 Conference. It will be the first meeting between the two programs and the fourth NCAA playoff appearance for the Pioneers.
 
Tickets can be purchased from the VSU Athletic Department between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. beginning Wednesday, November 19. General admission tickets are $15 and students with a valid school I.D. are $10. Event parking will be $10.
 
For more information contact the VSU Athletic Department at 804-524-5031.

NCAA Division II
Super Region I Ranking

1. Concord (11-00
2. Bloomsburg (10-1)
3. Virginia State (9-2)
4. West Chester (10-1)
5. Slippery Rock (9-2)
6. LIU- Post (8-3)

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Silence is Morgan St. football's approach to MEAC title possibility

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- As one of four teams trailing Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leader North Carolina A&T by one game for the league championship, Morgan State knows it has a chance to gain a share of the title.

That opportunity depends on a few scenarios, two of which include the Bears (6-5 overall and 5-2 in the conference) defeating Delaware State (2-9, 2-5) on Saturday and the No. 24 Aggies (9-2, 6-1) losing to North Carolina Central (6-5, 5-2). But those possibilities are not part of the conversation in the Morgan State locker room, according to coach Lee Hull.

“We’re not discussing that,” he said Tuesday morning during his weekly conference call organized by the MEAC. “All we’re worried about is winning the game and playing Delaware State. There has to be some other things to happen for us to share the title. So we’re just really concerned about our gamen and then we’ll see what happens.”

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Saturday's B-CU game with FAMU could be another classic

ORLANDO, Florida  -- Some Classics are more classic than others.

It's about storylines. And surprises. And drama.

The best Florida Classics toy with your emotions. They contain shocking twists and astonishing turns, heroics and crash-and-burn failures, championship celebrations and bitter disappointments.

Saturday's game between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman at a refurbished Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando has a chance to be remembered among the best of the 35 Florida Classics since the game was renamed in 1978 and moved permanently to a neutral site (the teams didn't play each other in 1984-85).

Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming will be playing in his final game as a Rattler. After struggling early this season, Fleming moved into second place on the school's all-time passing list last week with 6,868 yards.



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PVAMU To Break Ground for Multi-Million Dollar Football Stadium and Athletic Field House

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  --  In what can only be described as an historic moment at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), the $60 million dollar Football Stadium & Athletic Field House project scope and budget were approved by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents.

The 2-year project, slated to begin in December, includes the demolition of the existing Blackshear Field and the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in the same location. The complex will feature a 15,000-seat stadium, with the capability of expansion to 30,000-seats.



Planned stadium amenities include:

· West side (home) grandstand capacity of 9,000 and east side grandstand capacity of 6,000
· Artificial turf playing surface
· Press level
· Covered concourse including concessions and merchandising space
· Premium seating and luxury seats
· The Athletic Field House immediately adjacent to the stadium will house a strength and conditioning area, sports medicine suite, team meeting rooms, academic support space and locker rooms.

"Indeed this is truly a momentous occasion for the entire Prairie View A&M University community," said Dr. George C. Wright, President, Prairie View A&M University. "Alumni, students, faculty and staff wanted a state of the art, first class facility that was worthy of our beloved Panthers and we all worked together make the dream come to fruition. We are excited to be moving forward from the initial planning to the approval stage and we will be breaking ground in the coming month."

About Blackshear Stadium

For 66 years, Blackshear Stadium, formally known as Blackshear Field, served as the home field for the Prairie View A&M University Panther football team as well as the track & field teams. The stadium is named after Edward L. Blackshear, a former principal of the university who served from 1897 to 1915. The 1948 Football team were the first team to play in Blackshear stadium and since then the team has brought home 11 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles and 5 national championships.

The new complex is scheduled to open for the 2016 football season.

For a look at the sports complex visit http://www.panther-stadium.com.

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

PVAMU Announces Football Coaching Staff Changes; National Search for New Head Coach Begins Immediately

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M University Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson has announced that the contract of head football coach Heishma Northern will not be renewed. The decision is effective immediately.

Northern completed his fourth season as head coach of the Prairie View A&M Panthers.  The 2014 team finished with a record of 5-5. His four-year record stands at 19-25.

"I wish to thank Coach Northern for his contributions to Prairie View A&M both on and off the field," said Robinson. "This was a difficult decision but after careful review and consideration, I have decided to take the program in a different direction."

Northern served as the 31st head football coach in Prairie View A&M history. Before accepting the position of head coach in 2011, Northern spent six seasons as the team's defensive coordinator. During his tenure as defensive coordinator, Northern produced several All-Americans and fielded a nationally ranked defensive unit.  

"We are grateful for the progress Coach Northern made both as head football coach and as defensive coordinator. His leadership and dedication to the students helped to create exceptional student athletes.  It is important as we prepare to break ground on our new multi-million dollar stadium and athletic facility, that Coach Northern's successor shapes the program into a championship level team," stated Robinson. 

Defensive backs coach Bubba McDowell will serve as interim head football coach.  A national search for Northern's replacement will begin immediately.

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU trustees OK no-confidence vote in Winslow

PHOTO COURTESY: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Embattled Florida A&M University athletic director Kellen Winslow, a member of the NFL Hall of Fame, issued a public apology last week for the way he has behaved since being hired six months ago.

That apology didn't carry much weight with the FAMU Board of Trustees, who approved a vote of no confidence in Winslow on Monday night by a 6-3 margin.

The vote has no impact on Winslow's tenure at FAMU, but it sends a message to President Elmira Mangum that FAMU's governing body expects significant changes from the head of its athletic department., her first hire since becoming the university's 11th president April 1.

Mangum did not address board members during Monday's conference call.

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West St. John High School community to honor fallen football coach at Friday's playoff game

His younger brother, Dray Joseph, was named the most valuable player for 2013's SWAC championship-winning Southern University Jaguars.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- West St. John High School's football team will begin its first playoff game of the season on a somber note, but with one main focus, "do it for Juan."

Friends, family, co-workers and students of Juan Joseph, 27, who was fatally shot outside a nightclub during the early morning hours of Nov. 16, will honor his memory during a 27-balloon release and moment of silence before Friday's game.

Joseph, a quarterback coach at West St. John High School, was walking toward a car in the parking lot outside Allure nightclub at 4700 Bennington Ave. with two men around 2 a.m. when at least one of the three got into an argument with two men in a vehicle. One of the men in the vehicle fired shots, striking Joseph in the upper torso. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries. No one else was injured, police said.

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Gathright, Hopkins rally Gold Nuggets past LSUS, 80-69

The 2014-15 Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team.

Roster  

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- Whitney Gathright scored 21 points and Trana Hopkins 17, both season highs, to rally NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana to an 80-69 women's basketball victory Sunday against LSU-Shreveport in the final game of the LSUS Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (2-3) gained a split of their two games in the four-team event and earned their first road victory of the season.

Gathright and Hopkins both went 2-for-2 from 3-point range during a decisive second-half run. Xavier trailed 48-44 with 16:38 remaining, then outscored the Lady Pilots 30-7 during the next 11 1/2 minutes to take a 74-55 lead. Gathright scored eight points, Hopkins seven and Eliqua Brooks five during the comeback.

Brooks finished with 13 points and a season-high-tying four steals, and Vinnie Briggs scored 12 points for Xavier. Kourtney Pennywell had 22 points, 12 rebounds and three steals for LSUS (1-1), Myeisha Williams scored 19, and Alexandra Miller had 11.

Xavier led 42-36 at halftime. There were nine ties and nine lead changes before a Brooks 3-pointer with 14:40 remaining put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 52-49.

Xavier reached 80 points for the first time this season. The Gold Nuggets shot a season-best 46.2 percent from the floor and limited LSUS to 36.8 percent. Xavier made a season-high seven 3-pointers, and Gathright and Hopkins both finished 3-of-4 from long range.

"We shot pretty well on the road and had some new players step up," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We did a much better job making free throws (76.5 percent) than we did yesterday. We're getting a little better each game."

Xavier blocked six shots, two apiece by Amara Person-Hampton and Kelsee Singleton.

Xavier beat LSUS for the third consecutive time and the eighth time in their last nine meetings. They'll meet again Dec. 29 in the Xavier Holiday Classic.

The Gold Nuggets will visit NCAA Division I's Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. Tuesday, then play Warner at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center during homecoming.

NOTES: NAIA No. 11 Our Lady of the Lake, a one-point winner Saturday against Xavier, defeated Lindenwood-Belleville 112-69 in Sunday's first game . . . Gathright reached 20 points for the fifth time at Xavier . . . It was the third straight game that the Gold Nuggets reached 70 points -- first time that's happened in five years . . . Brooks, Briggs and Gathright have scored in double figures four times apiece in five games . . . Brooks has made 11-of-22 3-pointers this season.

Box score


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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XU to visit No. 12 Lindsey Wilson at 6:30 p.m. Saturday

NEW ORLEANS -- For the second time in three years, Xavier University of Louisiana will travel to Kentucky for the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round.

The Gold Nuggets (20-5) will play 12th-ranked Lindsey Wilson (32-3) at 6:30 p.m. CST Saturday at Biggers Sports Center in Columbia. It'll be one of 12 first-round matches nationwide, and winners will advance to the NAIA National Championship, presented by J&L Enterprises, in Sioux City, Iowa, from Dec. 2-6.

Xavier qualified for nationals for the fourth consecutive year by defeating SUNO 25-9, 25-19, 25-17 at home Saturday in the championship match of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Lindsey Wilson earned an at-large bid after losing 25-18, 25-18, 25-19 to Georgetown (Ky.) in the Mid-South Conference tournament final. The loss ended the Blue Raiders' 28-match win streak.

"It's exciting," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "We like playing challenging teams, and I know that Lindsey Wilson is an extremely competitive team.

"I know their coach (Andy Cavins) really well, and he's looking forward to hosting us. He's a fantastic coach who will be prepared for us -- and we will be as well-prepared as possible for them. We'll need to stay focused and not let our surroundings affect our performance."

Thirty-six teams qualified for nationals, 12 with opening-round byes. Twenty-two qualifiers were in last year's tournament, but only six have a longer active streak of tournament appearances than Xavier.

The Gold Nuggets never have won in the opening round. They were three points from advancing in four sets at Spring Hill a year ago, but the Badgers rallied and defeated Xavier 15-6 in the fifth.

In the 2012 opening round, Xavier won the first set before losing at 13th-ranked Georgetown (Ky.) 23-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-20. Xavier's other opening-round loss was 25-13, 25-11, 25-21 at Spring Hill in 2011.

Lindsey Wilson will be Xavier's first top-25 opponent since No. 23 Spring Hill last season. It will be the second meeting between the Gold Nuggets and Blue Raiders. Xavier opened its 2012 season with a 25-16, 25-23, 25-7 loss to Lindsey Wilson in the Lee Invitational at Cleveland, Tenn.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Culver Column: All eyes on the Florida Classic

DOVER, Delaware -- From the outside looking in, Florida A&M's win on Saturday was just a victory over a team with a losing record and one of the worst offenses in FCS football.

Look a bit closer though.

That win over the Hornets was Corey Fuller's first as interim head coach. That win made it impossible for the Rattlers to finish with 10 losses. That win creates some positive vibes heading into the Florida Classic, which is arguably FAMU's biggest game of the year, regardless of whether or not the team is undefeated or sub-.500.


COURTESY: WDSU-TV   WATCH IN 720 HD, WIDE SCREEN

Most importantly, that win put smiles on the faces of players and coaches who haven't had much to smile about since before Homecoming.

Beating Delaware State prevented a lost season from becoming a disastrous one.

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Moves Into Top 25

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (SportsNetwork.com) -- There was cause for a little celebration on Monday within North Carolina A&T's football program.

What the Aggies really want is to stage a full celebration on Saturday.

A&T moved into The Sports Network FCS Top 25 for the first time since the 2004 preseason poll, earning the No. 24 ranking just in front of fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Bethune-Cookman.



Two MEAC teams in the poll is rare, and come Saturday, the Aggies want to be the one team left standing in the conference's deep title race. They have sole possession of first place and have clinched at least a share of their first conference title since 2003, but five other teams, including the North Carolina Central squad they visit on Saturday, trail them by only one game and can still earn a share of the crown.

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Davis seeks to make Texas Southern a NCAA regular

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana -- Apparently the San Antonio Spurs weren't available.

Other than that, Texas Southern plays a basketball schedule designed for losing, but that's not the point when you play teams such as Indiana tonight, and Tennesee on Thursday and then SMU, Baylor, Florida, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Auburn, Kansas State and more, all on the road.

What is the point? Raising money for 14 sports programs.



Coach Mike Davis, however, takes it another step.

“All these non-conference games are to raise money and so we can see where we are. Can we go into an opponent's gym and play and keep our concentration and execute?”

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Indiana fans welcome TSU's Mike Davis back with big ovation

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana -- Snowy roads and an early tip-off time prevented Assembly Hall from filling up before tip-off Monday night, but those Indiana fans who arrived early made sure to voice their appreciation for the visiting coach.

They gave Texas Southern coach Mike Davis a rousing ovation when he was introduced along with his team's starting lineup.

A respectable 83-64 loss served as Davis' first game back in Bloomington since he stepped down as Indiana's coach after the 2006-07 season. Davis led the Hoosiers to a co-Big Ten title and an appearance in the national title game in his second season in Bloomington, but he never approached those heights again, nor did he ever enjoy the full support of a fan base that yearned for his predecessor Bob Knight.

In his final three seasons at Indiana, Davis lost ...

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Dillard Snaps 20-Game Losing Streak with Homecoming Win over Wiley Wildcats

NEW ORLEANS -- December 30, 2013. Bleu Devil fans know that date because it was the last time the men's basketball team had walked off the court victorious. Tonight, inspired by a raucous home crowd and by watching the men's track team recieve their championship rings, head coach Bernard Griffith and his team picked up their first win of the season by defeating Wiley College 59-58 in the Battlefield at Dent Hall.

The game was finished with some controversy as a last second put back by the Wildcats was ruled to have been scored after time had expired. After a brief huddle by the referees the basket was waved off and Dillard fans stormed the court.

illard (1-6, 0-0 GCAC) was led by freshman forward Patrick Thompson (FR/Dutchtown,LA) who filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six boards, two assists, one block, two steals, two turnovers, all while playing with four fouls for a large portion of the contest.

Dillard was outrebounded 38 to 28 by the much bigger Wildcats, but made up for it by clamping down on the defensive end as they forced 14 turnovers for Wiley and held them below 40 percent shooting in the game. Wiley grabbed 20 offensive boards but the young and hungry bunch from Dillard would not relent.

Junior forward and former GCAC Freshman of the Year Jarrain Jenkins (JR/White Castle, LA) had a solid game with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The win was a fantastic gift for Jenkins, who was celebrating his birthday. The birthday boy also added six rebounds to go along with two steals, one assist and only one turnover in 32 minutes for Dillard. Redshirt sophomore Houston Chatman (JR/Houma, LA) was a true floor general for his Bleu Devils as he scored 10 points and dished out a game-high eight assists in the victory.

Dillard hosts Tennessee Wesleyan College on Monday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Battlefield. In an earlier contest this season, the Bulldogs won 94-70 in Tennessee.

COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Tuskegee fans camp out, cheer at SIAC championship game

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Disc jockeys hyped up Tuskegee tailgaters with hip-hop and R&B music as they waited for the faceoff between their Golder Tigers and Albany State inside Cramton Bowl on Saturday night.

It was a big night for football in Montgomery as Tuskegee alumni and Albany fans rallied around fire pits and warm hotdogs, excited to see their teams compete in the SIAC Championship Game.

This was the first year for the championship tilt to be held in Montgomery, after being played in Atlanta the last couple of years.

The game was a huge deal for Kimani King and his wife, Adrienne King, both alumni of Tuskegee.

CONTINUE READING

Board chairman of Alabama State University resigns

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Larry D. Thornton Sr., the chairman of the board of Alabama State University, resigned from the board on Friday, citing his relationship with a Coca-Cola bottling company as the reason.

Thornton said because of new university business with the bottler, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United Inc., he thought it best to resign as a board member.

"I have professional affiliations with the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United," Thornton said in an email to Alabama State University officials, alumni and students. "I have served on the company's board since 2003 and have a 35-year history with the company. On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Coca-Cola Refreshments announced the transfer of custody of their Alabama State account to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United."

Thornton, a Birmingham businessman, said CCR had held the contract for beverage services with Alabama State University. The change caused a conflict of interest for Thornton.

CONTINUE READING

NCCU Rallies to Beat Norfolk State, 19-14

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Eagles of North Carolina Central University came back from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Spartans of Norfolk State, 19-14, with the game-winning touchdown courtesy of a blocked punt and recovery in the end zone by senior defensive back C.J. Moore with less than six minutes left in the contest.

"I am so proud of this football team," said NCCU head football coach Jerry Mack following the comeback victory. "These guys came out and they played with all their heart tonight."

The Eagles appeared to be on their way to a productive day on offense, even with redshirt sophomore quarterback Malcolm Bell out due to injury, as junior signal caller Quinn Billerman led the charge for the Eagles' offense.

NCCU scored on its second drive of the day with a rushing touchdown coming from senior Andre Clarke, putting him at 14 on the year and 29 in his career. Clarke has now moved past Joe Simmons for sole possession of second place on the career rushing touchdown list.

However, the NCCU offense was unable to find its way back to the end zone after that drive.

After a one-play, 53-yard drive for Norfolk State tied the game at 7-7, the Eagles had a field goal attempt from 44 yards blocked.

NCCU added three more points to its total before right halftime, as a 44-yard pass from Billerman to Anas Hasic set up a career-long 47-yard field goal by freshman kicker Eric Fenton to make the score 10-7 heading into the locker room.

At the 5:21 mark of the third quarter, the Eagles settled for an 18-yard field goal by Fenton after having first-and-goal from the 1-yard line to increase the lead to 13-7.

On the very next drive, Norfolk State found the end zone to go up one point, 14-13, with 3:20 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles appeared to be in danger of losing their third conference game of the year as the defense of Norfolk State began to tighten up, making it harder for NCCU to move the ball.

Defense was a deciding factor in Saturday's game as NCCU had four sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions to hold the offense of Norfolk State to just 53 rushing yards on 34 attempts.

Despite the role the defense played in the game, the deciding play of the game came from special teams, with Moore's blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown at 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. The failed two-point conversation put the score at 19-14.

"Coach (Mike) Mendenhall was telling me all game long how close I was getting (to a punt block), and he was coaching me up on the little mistakes I was making," said Moore. "I just made up my mind that I was going to go there and try to make a play for us, and the ball just bounced the correct way. Everything happened right."

The Eagles sealed their victory on defense as Norfolk State's final three drives resulted in an interception from sophomore cornerback Michael Jones (his fifth pick of the season), a fumble recovery by senior safety Sayyid Muhammad, and a game-saving interception in the end zone by junior safety Theo Livingston on the Spartans' final play.

"The entire night, defense came up with some big turnovers, and some big plays," said Mack. 

NCCU (6-5, 5-2 MEAC) amassed 250 yards of total offense. Billerman threw for 151 yards, while completing 12 of his 22 passes, without a touchdown or an interception on the day. Clarke led all runners with 67 yards on 19 carries, and junior wide receiver Quentin Atkinson had a game-high six receptions for 66 yards.

Along with the game-winning blocked punt for a touchdown, Moore amassed a team-high 11 tackles, including 2.0 hits for a loss, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.

NCCU senior defensive ends Ty Brown and Felix Small spent most of the chilly afternoon heating up the NSU backfield. Brown had eight tackles, including 3.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage with a sack. Small, who entered the game ranked third in the nation with five forced fumbles, caused two more fumbles on Saturday to go along with six takedowns with 2.5 sacks and a pass deflection.

Before the Eagles began their rally, an announcement was made over the stadium loud speaker that the South Carolina State Bulldogs fell to the Morgan State Bears, putting SC State in the group of MEAC teams with two conference losses.

"I think you saw those guys kind of come to life a little bit when they made that announcement," said Mack. The announcement was significant, because now North Carolina A&T is the only school left in the MEAC with one conference loss.

Next week (Nov. 22, 2 p.m., O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, Durham, N.C.), NCCU hosts the rival Aggies of NC A&T. If the Eagles beat the Aggies, they will win a share of the MEAC regular-season championship.

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Alcorn Braves Dominate Arkansas-Pine Bluff 56-6

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Devon Francois intercepted two passes to lead the Braves to a 56-6 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

Francois scored the first touchdown after returning his first interception of the game for a 28-yard touchdown to put the Braves ahead 7-0.

Later in the first quarter, the Braves drove 80 yards down the field and finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown by Arron Baker to give themselves a 14-0 lead.

Midway through the second quarter Gibbs found Brandon Campbell (first career touchdown) from 10 yards out to extend the Braves lead to 21-0.

UAPB finally got on the board on an 11-yard pass from Benjamin Anderson to Willie Young with 1:31 to play before the half but the Braves weren't done having fun in the first half just yet.

With .06 seconds left before the half, Gibbs connected with Norlando Veals for a 12-yard touchdown.  The Braves headed to the locker room with a 28-6 halftime lead.

On the ensuing kickoff following halftime, junior wide receiver Jarvis Turner returned a 92-yard kickoff for a touchdown to push the Braves lead to 35-6.

A little over seven minutes later, Gibbs hit Billy Shed for a four-yard touchdown to make the score 42-6.

Baker scored the final two touchdowns of the game from 21 and two yards out as the Braves picked up their ninth win of the season.

Gibbs completed 15-of-19 passes for 200 yards and threw three touchdowns.  He also led the team in rushing yards with 75 yards on seven carries.  Baker finished with 55 yards on eight carries and scored three touchdowns.

Along with his two interceptions, Francois led the Braves defense with eight total tackles (6 solo).  Deion Roberson recorded 3.5 tackles for a loss and five total tackles.Kicker Haiden McCraney was a perfect 8-for-8 on PATs.

The Braves play rival Jackson State in the home finale next Saturday.  Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

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Southern turns it on in the second quarter to blitz Mississippi Valley State 44-13

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern prepared all week knowing that a victory against Mississippi Valley State would enable it to play for the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title in two weeks.

Then, less than an hour before kickoff, the Jaguars had already been assured of that title opportunity when division-leading Grambling lost to Alabama State. That outcome guaranteed that the winner of the Southern-Grambling game in the Bayou Classic on Nov. 29 in New Orleans will win the West and face East Division champ Alcorn State for the league title.

Still, the Jaguars took the field in A.W. Mumford Stadium determined to extend their five-game winning streak and continue building momentum for the Bayou Classic.

After falling behind by 13 against the team with the worst record in the SWAC, Southern used a 30-point second-quarter blitz to roll to a 44-13 victory.

“We didn’t really concern ourselves with them,” Odums said of Grambling, which lost 37-23. “It didn’t matter what happened to them. At the end of the day, we needed to win. We had to take care of our business.”

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Morgan State Wins Prestigious $23.3 Million Biomedical Research and Training Award

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State University (MSU) received a $23.3-million award, the second largest competitive award in its history and the highest from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Morgan’s award is one of 12 announced today by the NIH totaling $31-million in fiscal year 2014 to develop new approaches that engage researchers, including those from backgrounds underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. The purpose of the awards is to not only attract more minorities into the biomedical sciences but also to encourage their success in the NIH-funded work environment.

“While past efforts to diversify our workforce have had significant impact on individuals, we have not made substantial progress in supporting diversity,” said Dr. Francis S. Collins, director of NIH. “This program will test new models of training and mentoring so that we can ultimately attract the best minds from all groups to biomedical research.”

The NIH points to social science research suggesting that a fundamental shift in the way scientists are trained and mentored is required to attract and sustain the interest of people from underrepresented groups in the scientific workforce at all career stages.

“Morgan has a very good track record of enhancing diversity in the sciences in Maryland and around the country and this is the goal of the NIH initiative,” said university President David Wilson. “We believe that winning this competitive award is recognition by NIH and others that the best way to bring more minorities into the sciences is with best practices, programs that work. And Morgan has surely proven that it has the ability to show how it is done.”

“In order to out-build and out-innovate the rest of the world, we must first out-educate,” said U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds NIH and who is an advocate of the BUILD Program because of its positive impact on life sciences workforce diversity. “Morgan State is on the front lines of preparing a diverse biotech workforce for in-demand jobs right here in Maryland. This partnership between NIH and Morgan State, one of Maryland’s and the nation’s great historically black colleges and universities, is a smart investment in the future of Maryland life science jobs. The impact of this partnership goes beyond the lab. The impact is in our communities where new leaders in research and innovation will develop new ideas becoming new businesses that support jobs today and jobs tomorrow. I will continue to fight to keep our state and our nation a super power in the global economy with a super educated workforce.”

“One of the top five universities nationally in the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to African Americans each year, more schools should follow Morgan State University’s lead in how well it prepares all its students in the skills needed for success in today’s economy. NIH has selected the very best as a partner to foster the next generation of biomedical researchers, scientists and clinicians. Diversifying our biomedical workforce will help mitigate many of the inherent disparities of our health care system,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. “I’ve been a proud partner with Morgan State University as they strengthen their STEM education programs and reach deep into our communities to make a difference in people’s lives.”

“Promoting diversity in biomedical research ensures that a range of views is always present in the important studies undertaken in this field. This award will support the training of bright young minds who are often underrepresented in biomedical science,” said Congressman Elijah Cummings. “I am confident this grant will enhance the outstanding educational opportunities at Morgan, and as a member of the University’s Board of Regents I look forward to the positive impact it will have on both students and the broader community.”

“The NIH BUILD Award affirms Morgan’s commitment to faculty and student research, leading to innovative outcomes which will transform our Maryland communities as we focus on the future in creating a biomedical workforce with the technical prowess to make critical research contributions to our Nation’s challenges”, according to Dr. Victor R. McCrary, Morgan’s vice president for research and economic development.

Researchers from Morgan State University have designed an innovative research training method that it calls, “A Student-Centered Entrepreneurship Development (ASCEND) Training Model.” This method provides students with considerable room to be creative and to acquire entrepreneurial skills in research. The University will establish a dedicated environment, where student researchers can exchange ideas and enjoy substantial peer support. Additionally, using this award, MSU plans to strengthen its training and research infrastructure, create Active Learning Centers, improve science curricula, and acquire state-of-the-art educational technology, all aimed at providing a highly enhanced training in science and biomedical research.

“We are pleased that the NIH reviewers agree with us that this is a radically novel program. We aspire to be leaders in training a new generation of biomedical researchers and to make a substantial impact at the national level,” said Dr. Farin Kamangar, the lead investigator of this project.

Unlike apprenticeship models, Morgan’s ASCEND training model allows students to be creative and take ownership of their training by proposing and selecting their topic of research, developing the research methods, writing small grants, and moving the project forward. The model has been tested in international environments with great success. The overall goal is to create a university atmosphere that will allow students to engage in biomedical research in ways that promote creativity among students and encourages excitement about pursuing a career in biomedical research.

“The NIH and Morgan, along with its partners, are of one accord when it comes to the ultimate goal of this five-year award,” added President Wilson. “It is to increase diversity in biomedical research by implementing highly innovative methods to train students from underrepresented minority backgrounds. We believe in the mission and understand how very important this is today.”

Morgan’s research partners on the project are Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, the Intramural Program of NIH, Tufts University, Lehigh University, and Northeastern University. The award calls for $2.9-million in the first year and more than $5-million in each of the next four years. Successful execution of the project may allow for a potential five-year renewal.

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie classified doctoral research institution offering more than 60 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s public urban university, Morgan serves a multi-ethnic and multi-racial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information on Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

PVAMU Panthers Rally To Defeat AAMU In Season Finale

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  --  Gabe Dunlap caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jerry Lovelocke with 21 seconds remaining as Prairie  View A&M rallied to defeat Alabama A&M 38-35 at Lewis Crews Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Panthers' season finale.

Trailing 28-24 late in the fourth quarter, junior running back Johnta' Hebert broke free for an 88-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season as his run gave PVAMU a 31-28 lead with 4:07 left.  It appeared the Panthers secured the win on the ensuing drive as cornerback Stephen Meighan picked off AAMU's Jaymason Lee.  The Panthers played it conservatively and attempted to burn clock from that point but turned the ball over on downs with 1:51 left.  AAMU went into hurry-up mode on its next drive and was down to its final play until Lee found Octayvius Myles for a 46-yard touchdown reception on 4th-and-10 at the PVAMU 46.  The PAT was successful as AAMU moved ahead 35-31 with 1:08 remaining.



An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by AAMU moved them back on the ensuing kickoff which set up solid field position at the PVAMU 39 following Hebert's 23-yard kick return.  Down by four with 59 seconds left, the Panther offense went to work as Lovelocke connected with Hebert for four yards, Nick Pitre for 25 yards and Rayshaun Givens for 18 yards as the ball was on the AAMU 14.  Lovelocke misfired on his next attempt but made his final throw as a PVAMU Panther count as he found fellow senior Gabe Dunlap in the corner of the endzone for a 14-yard game-winning strike.

AAMU had one last desperation attempt on its final drive but ran out of time as Lee's final heave to wideout Tevin McKenzie stalled at the PVAMU 13.

The Bulldogs opened the game with a surprising 12-0 lead after a pair of first quarter touchdown runs.  AAMU had a special teams mishap late in the first quarter and turned the ball over at the PVAMU 1 after an illegal kick which turned into a 12-7 PVAMU deficit following Lovelocke's two-yard run.

AAMU moved ahead 15-7 midway through the second quarter via a field goal but PVAMU kept answering as Hebert scored on a three-yard run coupled with a Christopher Barrick field goal.

A 38-yard pass from Lovelocke to Pitre gave PVAMU its first lead of the afternoon early in the third quarter.  However, the lead was brief as AAMU tacked on a 14-yard touchdown pass five minutes later to reclaim the lead which set-up the fourth quarter heroics.

The Panthers finished with 453 total offensive yards as 313 yards came via the pass in addition to 140 rushing yards. Hebert finished with 128 yards on 17 carries as he became the second consecutive Panther to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season.  Pitre led the way with 114 yards on five receptions while Meighan and Jerome Howard finished with 10 and nine tackles, respectively.

Prairie View A&M closes out the 2014 season with a 5-5 record as they won five of its final six contests.

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