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TSU's Ford Signs Armani Chaney to National Letter of Intent

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Head men’s Basketball coach Dana Ford announced the signing of Armani Chaney to a National Letter of Intent. Chaney is a 5’10 point guard will attend Tennessee State after his final season at St. Rita High School in Chicago, Ill.

“We are really excited to bring in Armani and add him to our puzzle,” Ford said. “We are trying to bring in players that fit our coaching style and personality. We feel like he can come in right away and give us something we are lacking.”

Chaney is a 2-Star prospect according to verbalcommits.com, who is a three year letter winner at St. Rita. As a junior, Chaney averaged 10 points and six assists per game. He is considered a true point guard who brings a strong handle and keen court instincts. Chaney has the ability to be a solid penetrator who is unselfish and can get to the rim.

“He comes from a good school in St. Rita,” Ford added. “He is a quick scoring guard who has a tremendous ability to handle the basketball.”

Chaney helped St. Rita to a Class 4A Oak Lawn Regional championship in 2014, giving the Mustangs their first regional title since 2003. It also marked the first championship for St. Rita after moving from Class 3A.

Chaney is teamed at St. Rita with University of Kentucky signee, Charles Matthews. The duo, along with their teammates, is picked to be contenders in the race for the Regional Championship in 2015.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton U. hopes to build on Bethune-Cookman win in finale at Howard

HAMPTON, Viriginia -- The lesson didn't take hold as quickly as Hampton U. coach Connell Maynor intended, but it finally produced a signature win. The next step in the Pirates' makeover is duplicating the process to conclude the season.

HU took down two-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champ Bethune-Cookman 40-35 last Thursday, an oasis in a frustrating season filled with competitive losses and missed opportunities.

"You showed that you could play with one of the best teams in the nation," Maynor said he told his players, "and not only play with them, you could beat them. You did it for 60 minutes, you outplayed them from the opening kickoff to the last second. We need to play like that every week — one play at a time, one drive at a time, one quarter at time, one half, one game, every single game. There's no reason you can't play like that every week."

The Pirates (3-8, 2-5 MEAC) aim for a season-ending win at Howard (4-7, 2-5 MEAC) Saturday at 1 p.m. in Washington, D.C. A 4-8 record is far from acceptable to Maynor and the program, but it would provide some momentum heading into the offseason and demonstrate that players listened.

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Transfer U: Former FBS players find a home at Bethune-Cookman

ORLANDO, Florida -- Joshua Richardson of Moss Point, Mississippi, said he learned about Bethune-Cookman from watching them play on ESPN.

Of B-CU's 25 Division I FBS transfers, Richardson is one of a very few who are not from a Florida high school.

“I saw Coach (Brian) Jenkins (on TV). He was real enthusiastic on the sidelines,” the cornerback said.

Richardson will join Jenkins and the rest of the Wildcats in the Citrus Bowl at 2 p.m. Saturday when they meet Florida A&M in the Florida Classic.

The game will be televised by ESPNClassic, providing B-CU a chance to be seen by more potential recruits and transfers.

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AAMU QB Throws for 430 Yards on Torn ACL

Normal, Alabama -- Lost in all that was college football last Saturday afternoon is quite possibly the guttiest performance of the season by anyone, anywhere. Alabama A&M suffered it’s 3rd loss by three points or less, but QB Jaymason Lee walked off the field a winner. The 215 pound senior from Hawaii played on a torn ACL and he didn’t just play. Lee played one of his best games, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns.

Doctors and coaches all advised Lee not to play. They reminded him that he would have no mobility and another bad hit could be detrimental to the recovery process. Lee was not having any of it, and there was no chance he was sitting out his final collegiate home game. Afterwards, head coach James Spady spoke on his quarterback’s behalf.

“He didn’t just play hurt, he shouldn’t have played. He’s one-legged right now, playing on a torn ACL,” Spady said. “He is a guy that has put his own personal health aside so he can play for his teammates.”

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Alcorn State closes regular season against Jackson State

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State hasn't recorded consecutive victories over Jackson State in a decade.

The No. 23 Braves (9-2, 7-1 SWAC) entertain their biggest rival on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spinks-Casem Stadium in Lorman. Two years ago, the contest was played at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium for the first time since the early 1990s.

Alcorn has already clinched the Eastern Division championship and nailed its first-ever berth in the SWAC championship on Dec. 6 at Houston's Reliant Stadium against either Grambling or Southern University.

"We're headed to Houston, I couldn't be happier," Braves coach Jay Hopson said. "These players, these coaches, they did a tremendous job."

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FAMU counts on Damien Fleming to steer Rattlers to upset of B-CU in Florida Classic

FAMU quarterback Damien Fleming
PHOTO COURTES: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

ORLANDO, Florida -- Doubt finally seemed to rattle Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming in August.

Rattlers coach Earl Holmes announced there would be an open competition for the starting quarterback job, forcing the veteran dual-threat athlete to fight for the spot after returning from a foot injury that required two offseason surgeries.

"That bothered him a little bit and he was even contemplating whether he wanted to finish out the year," said Anthony Flynn, Fleming's former coach at Jacksonville Ribault High. "He fought through it just like he's always fought through adversity. Although things may not be going his way, he's still persevering."

The Rattlers are counting on Fleming, a four-year starter, to deliver one final dazzling performance when FAMU takes on rival Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic. Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m. at Orlando's newly renovated Citrus Bowl and the contest will air on ESPN Classic.

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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Seven from Xavier receive preseason rankings from ITA

NEW ORLEANS -- Led by sensational sophomore Nour Abbes, Xavier University of Louisiana placed seven Thursday in the first Intercollegiate Tennis Association National NAIA Rankings of the 2014-15 season.

Abbes is No. 1 in women's singles after winning the NAIA division of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in October and finishing second in the "Super Bowl" playoff. Abbes is seventh in doubles with teammate Carmen Nelson. Abbes and Nelson were South Regional runner-up in September.

This is the first time the Gold Nuggets have held the top spot in a USTA/ITA player ranking since Kourtney Howell and Brion Flowers were No. 1 in doubles on April 17, 2013. Flowers is 32nd on the new singles list.

For the second time in XU men's history and the first time since 2011, the Gold Rush have three nationally ranked singles players in November. Kyle Montrel is 13th, Nikita Soifer is 47th, and Tushar Mandlekar is 48th.

Mandlekar is 21st in doubles with Kevin Chaouat.

In the women's South Region rankings, Abbes is first, and Flowers is 14th. Abbes and Nelson are third in doubles.

In the South Region men's rankings, Montrel is sixth, Soifer is 15th, and Mandlekar is 16th. The doubles team of Chaouat and Mandlekar is sixth.

Player rankings in the spring will be announced March 11, April 15 and May 27. The NAIA's preseason team rankings will be revealed Jan. 28, followed by the first regular-season polls Feb. 18.

Xavier will resume competition with dual matches during the final week of January. The schedule will be announced soon. Abbes will enter the spring semester with a 30-1 singles record in her XU career.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XU's Williams, Wright are GCAC Players of the Week

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's CeCe Williams (women's volleyball) and Morris Wright (men's basketball) are Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Week for Nov. 10-16.

Williams, a junior outside hitter from Houma, La., and a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School, was chosen MVP of the GCAC Tournament, which the Gold Nuggets won for the fourth consecutive year. She had 12 kills and 16 digs in a three-set championship victory against SUNO, including five kills to turn a 9-6 deficit into a 15-10 XU lead in the second set.

Wright, a junior from Zachary, La., a graduate of Zachary High School and a former Baton Rouge Community College standout, averaged 18 points in Gold Rush victories against Loyola and Wiley. He scored a season-high 24 points against Wiley.

The GCAC weekly awards are the first for both players.

Xavier (20-5) will play 12th-ranked Lindsey Wilson (32-3) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Columbia, Ky., in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship opening round. The Gold Rush, 7-1 and ranked 13th, will play LeMoyne-Owen (0-2) at noon Saturday to lead off a homecoming basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Corey Fuller confirms he has applied for FAMU head coaching job

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M interim head coach Corey Fuller told the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday he applied to be permanent head football coach before the team left for its game against Delaware State University last Friday.

He said he has not yet been approached by anyone from FAMU's administration, but he also plans to apply for other coaching positions with the team within the week.

FAMU plays arch-rival Bethune Cookman University this Saturday in the annual Florida Classic, the season finale for FAMU.

Fuller and all of FAMU's assistant coaches were given 60-day non-renewal notices after head coach Earl Holmes was fired four days before the team's Homecoming game earlier this month.

He is 1-2 as the interim head coach.

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VSU Quarterback Ayres Reinstated to Team After Suspension

ETTRICK, Virginia -- Virginia State University's sophomore quarterback Tarian Ayres has been reinstated to the team after serving a one game suspension for violating team rules.

Ayres appeared in a Sussex County court yesterday on a DWI charge.

He was appointed an attorney and his next hearing is set for December 9th.

Meanwhile, the Trojans play in round one of the Division Two Playoffs this Saturday.

VSU Head Coach Latrell Scott says he hasn't decided if Ayres or true freshman and Hermitage graduate Niko Johnson will start the game. He says it all depends on who has the better week of practice.

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Barlow believes he will remain ASU’s head coach

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Reggie Barlow doesn’t think Saturday’s game will be his last as Alabama State’s head coach.

Despite being asked to resign earlier this month, Barlow expects to continue coaching the Hornets (6-5, 5-4 SWAC) after the Turkey Day Classic against Stillman (5-5) to close out the 2014 season.

“I’m happy and proud with what we have done here,” Barlow said Wednesday. “You always want to leave a place better than how you got it. ASU has been good to me. It was my only scholarship out of high school. I made the best of it and then my only opportunity, really, to coach, and I think I’ve made the best of it. I’m grateful, but I’m sure that I will be the coach here at Alabama State. That’s my focus.”

Barlow’s new three-year deal through Dec. 31, 2017 for ...

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Morgan State football's Lee Hull names Moses Skillon as starting quarterback

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- In the last three weeks, Morgan State has used both redshirt senior Robert Council and redshirt junior Moses Skillon as the starting quarterback.

For Saturday’s season finale against Delaware State (2-9 overall, 2-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), Morgan State coach Lee Hull said Tuesday that the Bears (6-5, 5-2) will go with Skillon.

Skillon completed 25 of 43 attempts for 289 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 27-24 win over South Carolina State. He also threw two interceptions against the Bulldogs (7-4, 5-2), but Hull said Skillon demonstrated his command of the offense.

“The two interceptions were not totally his fault, but he needs to see that the receiver ...

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Predicting the FCS playoff's field of 24 teams with 1 Saturday to go

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Last week, we broke down the key games in the lower divisions as they prepared for the final week of their regular seasons. Here's how those playoff fields turned out. This week, it's Division I FCS that is wrapping things up, and it's time to check in on them. First, a predicted field of 24 teams, and then a closer look at each conference.

As things stand, the following 24 are probably in. But upsets might shake things up.

Definitely in via autobid (5): Sacred Heart, Jacksonville State, Fordham, San Diego, Chattanooga
Definitely in no matter what (7): Eastern Washington, Coastal Carolina, New Hampshire, Villanova, North Dakota State, Illinois State, Eastern Kentucky. Playing each other, winner in as at-large (1 of 2): Richmond, William & Mary.

On the right side of the bubble (11, including MEAC and Southland autobids): Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, North Carolina A&T, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, Bryant, Bucknell, Southeastern Louisiana, San Houston State.

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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

XULAATHLETICS

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

XULAATHLETICS