North Carolina A&T Aggies Win Away From Home, Defeat ORU

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi  --  The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team saw its first action away from Corbett Sports Center in 2014-15. Despite the different venue, the Aggies were victorious.

The 17th-ranked Aggies (mid-major poll) used 13 points, five assists and four steals from Christina Carter to defeat Oral Roberts 47-38 the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic at Southern Mississippi University.

This win was head coach Tarrell Robinson’s 50th. He is the fastest to 50 wins (68 games) in school history. Teams are shooting just 36 percent against the Aggies this season and only one team, William & Mary, scored more than 50 points.

“Defense will continue to be the staple of our team and my program,” said Robinson. “I thought our team came down here and set the tone.”

The Aggies defense was certainly relentless Friday night. A&T held the Golden Eagles to just 36 percent shooting. The one bright spot for the Golden Eagles (2-4) was Vicky McIntyre who finished with 10 points, 19 rebounds and six blocks on 5-for-7 shooting. Outside of McIntyre, however, the Golden Eagles were 10-for-35 (.286) from the floor.

A&T (4-1) didn’t exactly have superb day from the floor, shooting just 33 percent. But the Aggies significantly cut down on their turnovers – 15 – while forcing the Golden Eagles into 33 miscues.

For the second straight game, the Aggies found themselves down 5-0. Also, for the second straight game the Aggies initial run gave them the lead for good. Debbie Smith took a pass from Carter and gave the Aggies an 11-9 lead eight minutes into the game. The Aggies turned Smith’s jumper into an 11-0 run that was capped off by an Eboni Ross steal and a Carter transition layup to give the Aggies a 20-9 advantage.

The Golden Eagles scored the next four points before an Adriana Nazario 3-pointer gave the Aggies a double-digit lead. The Aggies relinquished their double-digit lead once the remainder of the first half as McIntyre’s jumper with 1:19 to play made it a 28-19 halftime score.

It didn’t take the Aggies long to rebuild their lead once the second half started. Dana Brown scored in transition and Carter pumped in a three to give the Aggies a 33-19 lead. Nazario, Carter and sophomore Kenya Hailey all followed with baskets of their own to complete the 11-0 run to start the half as A&T took its biggest lead of the game at 39-19 at the 14:26 mark.

Oral Roberts did get the lead down to seven, 45-38, on a McIntyre jumper with three minutes to play. But the Aggies, who had 20 steals, picked up two more over the next two minutes to keep the Golden Eagles at a distance.

The Aggies are now 4-1 overall as they look to win the tournament tomorrow night at 7 against Southern Mississippi.

BOX SCORE

 

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU Makes Astounding Comeback in Victory over UNC Asheville

DURHAM, North Carolina -- The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team created a 19-0 comeback run in the final 3:27 to beat out the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, 55-52 Friday, Nov. 28 in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

"I'm excited for the young women," said head coach Vanessa Taylor. "To see the tenacity and the toughness and the fight we have to play with, and for it to materialize into a win for us is really exciting."

Redshirt senior Racquel Davis (Brooklyn, New York) accumulated 18 points, 17 rebounds, and five steals during Friday's contest.

Redshirt senior Khyra Conerly (Oakland, California) added 15 points and three steals.

With a low-scoring first half of 29-20, NCCU was down by as much as 16 points, and was only shooting 22.7% from the field. The Lady Eagles also allowed 20 Bulldog points off turnovers.

The Lady Eagles sparked a fire with 3:27 remaining in the game, taking the Bulldogs on a 19-0 run led by Davis, who contributed 11 of her 18 points.

During the NCCU comeback, freshman Imani Atkinson (Greensboro, North Carolina) collected three steals and the Eagles managed to score 20 points off turnovers in the second half.

NCCU was trimming the Bulldogs' lead point-by-point, and a free-throw shot by Davis knotted the score at 52 with 25 seconds remaining on the clock.

"We were clutch with our free-throw shooting at the end of the game," said Taylor, as the Lady Eagles shot 71% from the free-throw line.

A steal from Davis and a Bulldogs' foul put Davis back at the free-throw line for two shots; both were good and the Lady Eagles took a three-point lead.

UNCA sophomore Ja'Da Brayboy attempted a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds, but was unsuccessful as NCCU took the victory against the Bulldogs, 55-52.

The Lady Eagles will be on a six-game road trip, starting with No. 1/2 University of South Carolina Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., in Columbia, South Carolina.

BOX SCORE

Written By Andrea Wheeler, Assistant Sports Information Director
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets beat Fisk, reach .500 for 1st time this year

XU women's basketball vs. Fisk (41 photos)

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Ireyon Keith scored a career-high 13 points and did not miss a shot Friday in a 74-51 women's basketball victory against Fisk in the Xavier Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (4-4), ranked 18th in NAIA Division I, reached .500 for the first time this season and extended their home winning streak to 22 games. They are 3-0 at home this season.

Keith, who did not start, was 4-of-4 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the line in 15 1/2 minutes. She became the first XU freshman in six years to score in double figures in three consecutive games.

Xavier trailed 11-4 through seven minutes, then scored 16 consecutive points to start a 36-6 run which gave the Gold Nuggets a 40-17 halftime advantage.

Kelsee Singleton scored a season-high 10 points for Xavier, Whitney Gathright and Eliqua Brooks scored nine apiece, and freshman Daylin Boatner scored a career-high eight. Donyeah Mayfield grabbed seven rebounds, and Boatner had five to match her career high.

Ataya Horn and Nailah Whitlock scored 11 points apiece for Fisk (0-9), which lost to a ranked team for the second consecutive day at this event. Sommer Griffin grabbed 10 rebounds.

Keith's layup with 8:35 remaining gave Xavier its largest lead, 69-33.

No one played more than 22 minutes for Xavier, and all 11 Gold Nuggets scored.

Xavier shot 38.9 percent from the floor, and Fisk shot 28.8, the lowest by an XU opponent this season. Xavier shot a season-best 85.7 percent from the line (12-of-14) and produced a season-best 18 assists.

The Gold Nuggets' next game will start at 6 p.m. Monday at NAIA No. 22 Mobile. The Nuggets' next home game will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday against LeMoyne-Owen of NCAA Division II.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Bayou Classic game capsule: Southern, Grambling to meet with SWAC West title on the line

NEW ORLEANS -- Southern University and Grambling State will meet in the 41st Bayou Classic on Saturday with the SWAC West title on the line. The Jaguars are the defending SWAC champions and Grambling is looking to go from worst to first.

The Tigers were 1-11 last year but are tied for first place with the Jaguars in the SWAC West. The winner moves on to next week's SWAC Championship in Houston against Alcorn State.

Here's the breakdown on the game:

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY vs. GRAMBLING STATE

When/Where: 1:30 p.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Radio: 97.7 FM in Baton Rouge.

Television: NBC.

Records: Southern 8-3, 7-1 in the SWAC West. Grambling 7-4, 7-1 in the SWAC West.

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Langston beats Fisk 85-40 on first day of Xavier Classic



Fisk vs. Langston women's basketball in Xavier Classic (40 photos)


NEW ORLEANS -- Lynette Holmes had 23 points and eight rebounds to lead NAIA No. 24 Langston to an 85-40 women's basketball victory against Fisk in the Xavier Classic.

It was the only game played Thursday in the event, which originally was scheduled for four teams but was reduced to three teams and two games. Fisk will play NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana in the other game at 4 p.m. Friday.

Holmes, the NAIA Division I scoring leader last season, was 9-of-13 from the floor and made 3-of-4 3-pointers in 27 minutes.

Lulu Perry scored 14 points for the Lady Lions (7-0), and Jewel Rogers and T'Keya Mason scored 11 apiece.

Sommer Griffin, with 12 points, was the lone double-figure scorer for Fisk (0-8).

Holmes made consecutive 3-pointers to start a 24-4 run which lasted nearly 8 1/2 minutes and gave Langston a 37-13 lead. The Lady Lions led 44-18 at halftime and built their advantage to 50 points twice in the final six minutes.

Langston outshot the Lady Bulldogs 50.8 to 25.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 41-33. Langston made 9-of-17 3-pointers, and Fisk was 0-of-5. Langston committed 20 turnovers and gained 30.

Cheryl Miller, a hall-of-famer and three-time national player of the year, is in her first season as Langston's coach.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Southern University, Grambling overcome adversity in quest for SWAC West title

NEW ORLEANS -- Grambling's 2014 football journey has been well documented with deserved plaudits for first-year coach and Tiger alum Broderick Fobbs. After a train wreck of a 2013 season that included a player boycott that drew national attention and a 1-11 record, Fobbs has turned the program in 180-degree fashion.

The Tigers (7-4, 7-1) meet Southern University (8-3, 7-1) in Saturday's Bayou Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at 1:30 p.m. with the SWAC West title on the line along with a berth in next week's SWAC Championship in Houston against Alcorn State.

Southern's 2014 story may not have received as much attention but the adversity the Jaguars coaches and players have had to overcome this season was no less daunting than what Grambling faced.



CONTINUE READING

Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Parade 2014

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Southern bought in to coach Dawson Odums, and he has rewarded the Jaguars for that

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Grambling’s unexpected and dramatic ascension from the Southwestern Athletic Conference cellar to championship contender in one year has left a lot of people scratching their heads. But not at Southern.

“Yeah, it’s believable,” Jaguars receiver Justin Morgan said.

It’s believable because Southern authored a similar (albeit less dramatic) turnaround just a year ago: It came off a 4-7 season to win its first SWAC championship in 10 years.

The Jaguars are in position to win another, but first they must beat the resurgent Tigers in the Bayou Classic on Saturday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Both teams are 7-1 in the conference, and the winner claims the West Division title and a berth opposite Alcorn State in the conference title game Dec. 6 in Houston.

Southern’s turnaround, like Grambling’s, began with a coaching change, which ...

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Lee Hull and Morgan State have overcome long odds to reach FCS playoffs

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- There's a sense of dread hovering over Morgan State football coach Lee Hull, but it has little to do with Richmond, his team's opponent in its first Football Championship Subdivision playoff game in school history.

"I still think I'm dreaming and that somebody is going to wake me up and say that this has all been a cruel joke," Hull said. "But it's great. It's a great feeling."

As the Bears (7-5) prepare to meet the Spiders (8-4) in Saturday's first-round game at Robins Stadium in Richmond at 1 p.m., excitement surrounding the program's success has grown immensely.

Tickets for the 8,700-seat stadium have been sold out, at least two busloads of students will depart from Morgan State's campus, and athletic director Floyd Kerr's phone hasn't stopped ringing since Saturday when the team captured a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and earned the league's automatic berth in the postseason.

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Plenty of history in playoffs, Bayou showdown

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Two teams making historic playoff runs and a showdown in perhaps the most celebrated game in black college football are the remaining story lines as the 2014 season marches on. Virginia State, who won its first CIAA championship since 1996 two weeks ago in an upset of two-time recent champion Winston-Salem State and is alive in the NCAA Div. II playoffs, and Morgan State, who Saturday captured a piece of the MEAC title for the first time in 35 yards and grabbed its first FCS playoff berth in history, will share the stage this week with Southern and Grambling State, two SWAC dynamos whose battle this week determines who plays in the Dec. 6 league championship game.

Virginia State
The Trojans (10-2), under second-year CIAA Coach of the Year, Latrell Scott, followed up their CIAA title game win with their first-ever Div. II playoff win as they downed LIU Post, 28-17 Saturday in a first round Super Region I home game (see related story). VSU, seeded third in the region, now travels to face No. 2 Bloomsburg (10-1) Saturday (12 noon) in a second round region semifinal. Bloomsburg was undefeated at 10-0, the region's top team and ranked fifth in the nation before losing its last game, a 28-26 decision to Slippery Rock in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Game. The Huskies received a bye in the first round by virtue of its No. 2 seeding.

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Grambling's Johnathan Williams has gone from third string to one of the best SWAC QBs

NEW ORLEANS -- Johnathan Williams was convinced during the summer that Grambling would be an improved team in 2014. The Tigers junior quarterback said during the Manning Passing Academy in July that new coach Broderick Fobbs had brought a new attitude to the squad, one where the team came before the individual player.

That, he said, would be the difference.

Williams truly bought into that philosophy as he went from starter at the end of the 2013 season to third string at the end of preseason camp in August.

But Williams, a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder from Tampa, Fla., never pouted about his plight and kept working to make the Tigers better.

ONTINUE READING 

Hampton U.'s Maynor vows to improve on 'rough' first year

HAMPTON, Virginia — Intellectually, Connell Maynor knew that restoring Hampton University football required time and patience. That didn't make the experience any more palatable for a man with a room full of rings and championships.

The Pirates' 3-9 season was their worst as a Division I program and accounted for more losses in one year than Maynor had in his previous four years as a head coach, at Division II Winston-Salem State.

"It's very disappointing," said Maynor, who went 45-6 at WSSU, "but you've got to understand that it's a new coach, new program, new systems, new players that have got to familiarize themselves with you and what you want to do and what you won't put up with. Guys weren't used to winning and you have to teach them how to win. It's a process and we knew it was going to be a process."

Hampton tied for ninth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, two spots lower than its preseason pick. But Maynor was encouraged by his team's performance in most games.

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Ram Ramblings: WSSU waiting to hear from CIAA on punishments

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Last night’s Winston-Salem State-Barber Scotia game was one for the books.
The Rams easily won 105-64 but that wasn’t the interesting part.

It all started with the three game officials not showing up so Vierl Banks, who is a former official with the CIAA who was the neutral observer for the conference office, had to quickly spring into action. Banks was able to get three officials who live nearby to the game so it could get played.

According to Adrian Ferguson, an associate commissioner of media relations for the CIAA, the conference didn’t have the game on its master schedule. Therefore, there were no officials assigned to the game.

“On Winston-Salem State’s original schedule that they sent us it didn’t have the game on it,” Ferguson said.

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S.C. State Marching 101 at Medal of Honor Bowl

CHARLESTON, South Carolina — Medal of Honor Bowl Chairman Tommy McQueeney has announced that South Carolina State University’s famed “Marching 101” Band will again perform during halftime of the second annual game on Saturday, Jan. 10, at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.

The Medal of Honor Bowl is a premier all-star game the features the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL Draft. The game honors the Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, disabled veterans and wounded warriors.

“South Carolina State’s ‘Marching 101’ Band is among the top college performance bands in America and they did a terrific job for us last year,” McQueeney said. “We are fortunate that SCSU President Tom Elzey and Band Director Eddie Ellis have once again accepted our request and are again sending this state treasure to the Lowcountry. The ‘Marching 101’ is entertaining, well-choreographed and exudes in American Patriotism.”



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First-year coach Broderick Fobbs returns Grambling to traditional place as a winner

NEW ORLEANS -- Along with Grambling’s now infamous forfeiture, walkout and boycotts last season, Robert Bruno struck the biggest nerve with the venerable program.

Speaking to WWL-TV in June, Bruno — then the commissioner of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District — suggested separating Southern and Grambling’s annual rivalry in the Bayou Classic, wary that Grambling’s struggles in the previous two seasons would lead to decreased attendance and decreased interest.

“If Grambling has fallen off that bad, maybe Southern could take the lead, and it could be an earned-in game and bring in somebody else,” Bruno was quoted in the report. “I just don’t know if Grambling can carry the load.”

Five months later, Grambling is rejuvenated.

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TSU Lady Tigers Prepare for Thanksgiving Classic Opponents

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

GAMEDAY

The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team will return to action after the holiday to host the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic. The four-team tournament will see TSU match up with Norfolk State on Saturday at 3 p.m. before facing Youngstown State on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Gentry Center.  

THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Tennessee State (1-3) is coming off a, 97-46, road loss to #4 Tennessee on Monday. TSU’s only win of the season was a, 73-55, victory over Lipscomb.  

After four games, Chelsea Hudson is leading the team in scoring with 13.8 points and a team second-best 6.5 rpg. Briana Morrow is leading the team in rebounds per game with 7.5 while Rachel Allen (9.3 ppg) and Brianna Lawrence (6.8 ppg) round out the top three scorers. 

As a team, TSU is shooting 34.3 percent from the field while averaging 57.3 points per outing. The Lady Tigers have struggled shooting from the free-throw line, only connecting on 61.1 percent of their attempts to start the season.  

The Lady Tigers are led by third year head coach and Hall of Famer, Larry Joe Inman.

LAST TIME OUT

Tennessee State stunned #4 Tennessee and jumped out to a 6-0 start. The Lady Tigers led, 13-5, at one point and, 20-14, at another but the Lady Vols used a 23-0 run to take control of the game. Ultimately, TSU fell to the SEC opponent, 97-46, in Thompson-Boling Arena. Rachel Allen led TSU with 13 points while Briana Morrow pulled down 12 boards. Hudson, TSU’s leading scorer, was held to six points. 

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

Norfolk State (0-4) is coming off of a, 64-47, loss to Hofstra. The Spartans were led in scoring by Rae Corbo (9) and Alvah Parham (9). NSU is averaging 56.8 points per game while shooting .319 from the field. Rae Corbo (18.5 ppg) and Kayla Roberts (9.3 ppg) are the top scorers for NSU.  

Youngstown State (4-0) has opened the season undefeated, including its most recent, 69-54, victory over Bucknell. Four YSU players scored in double-digits led by Heidi Schlegel’s 14 points. The Penguins average 72.5 points per game behind a 44.9 shooting percentage. Heidi Schlegel (14.0 ppg), Indiya Benjamin (12.8 ppg), Nikki Arnabaa (11.0 ppg) and Latisha Walker (10.5) are averaging double-digits in scoring for YSU.  

SERIES INFORMATION 

TSU vs. Norfolk State

Series Record:TSU 1-0

Last Meeting:1997-98, TSU W 91-70

Last TSU Win:1997-98, 91-70

Last NSU Win:  n/a 

TSU vs. Youngstown

Series Record: YSU St. 2-0

Last Meeting: 1987-88

Last TSU Win: n/a

Last YSU Win:.1987-88, 81-72  

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 TSU games on OVCDigitalNework.com. Links can be found on tsutigers.com under the schedule. 

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

HBCU Men's Basketball Coaches Go After Top-Tier Talent During Early Signing Period

Jaquan Harrison, a 6'5 small forward committed to Bethune-Cookman in Florida, continues to display his ridiculous leaping ability. Harrison is known around Ohio for his crazy dunks, his hangtime, playing above the rim and pretty much putting people on posters. Returning to Africentric as a senior, Harrison will be a leader along with junior, Houston Smith and senior Ulmer Manzie (B-CU).

Future Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Recruits for 2015-2016

Player College Pos HT WT Born Birth City High School/Prep School

• Ahmad Frost Maryland-Eastern Shore SG 6-1 190 N/A Cincinnati (OH)  Fishburne Miltary Academy (VA)
• JaQuan Harrison Bethune-Cookman SG 6-3 N/A N/A Columbus (OH) Columbus Africentric High School (OH)
• K'Ja Johnson Florida A&M SG 6-2 170 N/A Douglasville (GA) Douglas County High School (GA)
• Francois Lewis Florida A&M SF 6-7 N/A N/A Orlando (FL) Edgewater High School (FL)
• Ulmer Manzie Bethune-Cookman PF 6-6 N/A N/A Columbus (OH) Columbus Africentric High School (OH)
•  Darius Speaks Coppin State SG 6-4 N/A N/A Temple Hills (MD) Mount Zion Christian Academy (LA)
• Moses Toriola Norfolk State C 6-10 215 N/A Meriden (NH) Kimball Union Academy (NH)

Shaq Benson, 6'-10"PF,  22 points 15 rebounds 3 blocks signs with PVAMU.

Future Southwestern Athletic Conference Recruits for 2015-16

Season Player College Pos HT WT Born Birth City High School/Prep School

• Malik Amos Prairie View A&M PG 6-1 145 N/A Katy (TX) Cinco Ranch High School (TX)
• Shaquille Benson Prairie View A&M PF 6-10 290 N/A Boutte (LA) Hahnville High School (LA)
• Trenton Clayton Alabama State PF 6-9 N/A N/A Montgomery (AL) Robert E. Lee High School (AL)
• Brendon Ganaway Southern PG 5-10 N/A N/A Richmond (TX) George Bush High School (TX)
•  Branden Johnson Alabama State SF 6-7 195 N/A Garfield Heights (OH) Garfield Heights High School (OH)
• Javier Roper Grambling State SF 6-6 185 N/A Ruston (LA) New Living Word School (LA)

Future Ohio Valley Conference Recruits for 2015-16

Season Player College Pos HT WT Born Birth City High School/Prep School

• Armani Chaney Tennessee State PG 5-10 150 N/A Chicago (IL) St. Rita of Cascia High School (IL)

FAMU Head Coach Samuels Signs Two To 2015-2016 Class

HEAD COACH BYRON SAMUELS
MEN'S BASKETBALL
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University Men’s Basketball coach Byron Samuels announced the early signing last week of two ace prep players to join the 2015-16 Rattler squad.

The dynamic prep duo features Francois Lewis, a 6-8, 200-pound forward from Orlando Edgewater High, and 6-1, 170-pound guard Kentrelle “K’Ja” Johnson from Douglas (Ga.) County High in the Atlanta area.

Coach Samuels commented on both signees, offering the following assessments:

BHSN: Francois Lewis signs with FAMU 

On Francois Lewis:
"Francois is 6'8"200 pounds and a very skilled and versatile basketball player from a super basketball program, Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida.  He has been applauded by his high school coach, Jason Atherton and everyone who has coached him. Francois can really shoot the basketball from deep and he possess great ball handling skills.

“What excited me the most about Francois is his ability to pass the basketball. He has a rare combination of size, skill and athleticism that will allow him to play multiple positions for our team. He is an excellent student and we are very excited to welcome him and his family into the Rattler Nation."

LEWIS BY THE NUMBERS: Averaged 12.0 ppg * 4.0 rbs * 2.0 assists * 40% from three point range / 80% from free throw line…. Also had 3.3 GPA in honors classes.

What HOOP SEEN.COM says about LEWIS:
"Let's get to the part where college coaches will like: Lewis is a good student. Good enough to be recruited by West Point (United States Military Academy). So, there's that. The left-handed 6-foot-7 bouncy prospect seems to be the kind of guy that is on the brink of taking his game to the next level. He defended a host of much taller players and defended them well. On the flip side, Lewis showed some flash out the midrange game. Mid-majors will want to keep close watch."



On “K’Ja” Johnson:
"K'Ja is a very talented back court player that can play both guard positions. He has the speed, quickness and court awareness to be a very good point guard, yet it's his ability to shoot the ball and score that will allow us to play him at either perimeter spot.

“He comes from a perennial high school basketball power in Douglas County High School, Coached by Hollis Bethea. A competitor in every sense, we believe K'Ja has a very bright future with our program. He has a great support from his family and community in the Douglas County area, and he is a great fit for how we want to play here at FAMU.

JOHNSON BY THE NUMBERS: Averaged 23.0 points per game, 8.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Norfolk State Spartan Hawkins to Play in Lithuania

NORFOLK, Virginia – Former Norfolk State men's basketball guard Malcolm Hawkins recently signed a contract to play in Lithuania. He will compete for Jazz-Diremta Kaunas in the Lithuania NKL (National Basketball League).

It will not mark his first games overseas, though, since finishing his career at NSU. He played one game for BK Jekabpils in the Latvia LBL League as well as one game in the Baltic League this fall. Hawkins spent the preseason with Helios Suns Domzale in the Slovenia-Telemach League.

A second-team All-MEAC honoree in 2014, Hawkins played for the Spartans for two years from 2012-14 after transferring from Delaware. He averaged 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists last season. He led the MEAC in 3-point shooting at 41.5 percent (59-of-142) and also ranked eighth in 3-point field goals per game, ninth in scoring and 14th in free throw shooting (78.1).

He tallied more than 800 points in just two seasons with the Spartans, helping the program finish first in the MEAC regular season standings at 16-0 his junior year. After playing in the NIT that year, NSU advanced to the CollegeInsider.com tournament his senior year. The Spartans went 40-27 overall during Hawkins' two seasons with the program.

He becomes the third former Spartan to sign a contract to play in Europe this year, joining Michael Deloach and Pendarvis Williams who are currently competing in Italy. Former NSU players Kyle O'Quinn (NBA's Orlando Magic) and Brandon Goode (NBA Development League's Delaware 87ers) are also competing professionally this year.


By Mike Bello, Asst. SID
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NSUSPARTANS
https://www.facebook.com/NorfolkStateAthletics
https://twitter.com/NSUSpartans
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 

Southern U. QB Austin Howard learns college game quickly

NEW ORLEANS -- Southern University offensive coordinator Chad Germany recalled the summer conversation he had with freshman quarterback Austin Howard before preseason camp began.

Howard didn't sound arrogant, Germany noted, just determined.

"He said, 'Hey coach, I've started for four years. I've never sat on the bench,' '' Germany said. "That competitive approach he has is something that I like about him. It will carry him a long way.''

It already has.

This time last year, Howard, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, was the starting quarterback for West St. John High.



CONTINUE READING

Benedict Fires Football Coach James Woody

COLUMBIA, South Carolina  -- Benedict College has released head football coach James Woody from his contract, announced Willie Washington, the school's Director of Athletics.

"We appreciate the hard work Coach Woody and his staff performed over the last few seasons," Washington said. "But after a careful review of the entire football program, it was determined that a change in direction was necessary."

Woody took over midway through the 2011 season and went 1-5 as interim coach. Benedict went 1-9 in 2012 before going 4-6 in 2013 and 2014. Woody went 10-26 in three and a half seasons as head coach. He was 4-10 in home games and 6-20 in SIAC conference games.

A national search for a head football coach will begin immediately, Washington said.

COURTESY BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION 

Morgan State makes FCS playoffs for first time

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Before the college football season began, Morgan State was predicted to finish 10th in the MEAC. Championships and games are not won on paper, though.

The Bears won a share of the conference championship and grabbed the MEAC's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs.

Morgan State crushed Delaware State 69-7 on Saturday putting it in position for their first MEAC football championship and their first trip to the FCS playoffs. They finished in a five-way tie for the top spot with Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central and South Carolina State.

Morgan State (7-5 overall, 6-2 MEAC) will face Richmond (8-4 overall, 5-3 CAA) this Saturday at Robins Stadium. The winner of this contest will play No. 7 seeded Coastal Carolina on Dec. 6.

It's been an amazing year for Lee Hull, Morgan State's first-year head coach, who took over the Bears football program after spending six years as the wide receivers coach at the University of Maryland. Hull saw a lot of good things with the Morgan State football team.

After Bayou Classic, Southern awaits another NCAA visit, hopes for relief

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The postseason ban the NCAA has placed on Southern will not prevent the Jaguars from participating in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game if they defeat Grambling in the Bayou Classic on Saturday.

Soon, Southern hopes to be rid of the ban altogether.

The one-year ban, which the NCAA instituted as punishment for inadequate reporting of student-athletes’ Academic Progress Rates, expires Tuesday. A group of NCAA officials will visit the Southern campus next Thursday to determine what to do next, athletic director William Broussard said.

“I imagine everything is on the table,” Broussard said Tuesday. “They’ve given us a list of things they wanted done, and we’re going to show them that we’ve done them.”

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S..C. State Women Knock Off USC Upstate 60-50

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina –  Senior guard Kourtney Williams had game-highs of 18 points and three blocks, while teammate junior guard Amber Howard tallied 14 points and six rebounds to lead the South Carolina State women's basketball team to a 60-50 win over USC Upstate on Wednesday night at the S-H-M Memorial Center.
 
Upstate (3-3) got on the board first with a jumper by Brittany Clency with 18:57 left in the first half and led by four, 13-9, after a layup by Brittany Starling at the 11:28 mark. Seventeen seconds later, freshman guard Brittany Drumgoole was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer and made all three free throws. Drumgoole forced an Upstate turnover and Howard scored a bucket to give SC State (3-0) a two-point lead (15-13). With 10:31 left in the half.
 
The Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to nine, 32-23, after a pair of free throws by junior forward Toni Grier to go into halftime.
 
SC State kept the Spartans at bay the entire second period, leading by as many 17 (51-34) along the way.
 
Upstate shot 33.3 percent from the floor for the game (18-of-54), was 3-of-17 from the 3-point line and made 11 of its 19 free-throw attempts. Raven Jefferson led the Spartans with 11 points, while Starling had a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Lady Bulldogs were 20-of-48 from the floor, including 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. They missed just one free throw (17-of-18), but lost the rebound battle 35-33 on the boards. Junior forward Jasmine Coleman grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and added four points, two blocks and a steal.
 
The Lady Bulldogs hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Clinton, S.C. to take on Presbyterian on Saturday.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

Box Score 

Karen M. Carty, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
 

Daniel, Miller Combine To Lead Howard To Road Win Over UMBC

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- James "J-Byrd" Daniel scored a game-high 19 points and James "JT" Miller and James "JC" Carlton added 18 and 10, respectively to lead Howard University (3-3) to a 68-54 win over the University of Maryland Baltimore County at the RAC.
           
Daniel, who suffered a thigh contusion in the last game and was doubtful up until game time, got the Bison going by scoring 12 of his points in the first 20 minutes.  With the attention focused on Daniel, Miller stepped up as Howard led 26-19 at the half.
           
"J-Byrd was doubtful for the game but he pushed through his thigh contusion and he and JT led the charge early for us," said Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry.
       
Added UMBC assistant coach John Zito, following the game, "We knew going in that we had to stop Daniel but he got them going.  His play was key for them early."
           
Buoyed by the play of Daniel and Miller, Carlton, Damon Collins and Jared Norsworthy began to contribute and resulted in a 28-16 second half run that opened a 17-point lead and all but decided the outcome.
 
The Bison defense and rebounding were also keys.  Howard forced the Retrievers (0-4) into a 2 for 15 shooting from beyond the arc.  The Bison swarming defense forced too many scoring droughts.  Howard held a 38-28 advantage on the boards.
 
"I'm very proud of this group of young men," said Nickelberry. "They played in another loud arena, but you could tell they learned from earlier losses. They started the game with the mentality that no matter what we were coming out with a victory.  A very solid performance on the road  and relieved to break the non-conference losing streak."
 
Collins finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds, Norsworthy with 6 points and 5 rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench and Carlton with a team-high 8 rebounds.
 
UMBC was led by Aaron Morgan with 13 and Charles Taylor and Jourdan Grant with 11 and 10, respectively.
 
NEXT UP: Howard will look to go above .500 when it hosts Gwynedd Mercy University at 4 pm Saturday in Burr Gymnasium.  

BOX SCORE

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION