MEAC/SWAC SPORTS MAIN STREET&#8482;

Florida A&M's Townsend: No new coach by Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Nelson Townsend, Florida A&M’s interim athletic director, said although the search is going well, he will not name a new head football coach by Friday.

Townsend said Tuesday he wanted to name the Rattlers’ new head coach by Friday. Now he’s looking to hit a Christmas deadline, and said he’ll have candidates in after the weekend.

“We’re in a bit of a holding pattern,” he said.

“The search is moving along ...

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Pa.'s Auditor General DePasquale Says Future of Nation’s First Historically Black University (Cheyney U.) is Dire Without Swift, Decisive Action at State Level

“We cannot sit idly by as this historic and prestigious university fights for survival,” DePasquale said.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (12/17/14) -- Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said that the future of historic Cheyney University in Chester County is bleak and projected to worsen, unless drastic action is taken at the state level to address escalating debt, falling revenues, and declining enrollments.

Cheyney University’s financial position has consistently deteriorated since 2009 and continues to get worse, said DePasquale, citing a financial analysis of the university’s financial data from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013.

DePasquale said that while Cheyney University has troublesome finances it is clearly not the only one struggling among the 14 state-owned universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. A financial review will be included in future audits of state-owned universities.

“The situation at Cheyney University should be a warning to the systemic financial issues facing state universities. Our best and brightest state leaders and stakeholders must work together to develop a long-term plan to ensure the stability of these public universities to provide affordable college education for families across the state,” DePasquale said. “The consequences of inaction are dire.”

Cheyney was founded in 1837 as the Institute for Colored Youth to provide free classical education for qualified young people. Nearly 80 percent of its students are from Pennsylvania. It is the nation’s first historically black university.

“We cannot sit idly by as this historic and prestigious university fights for survival,” DePasquale said.

According to the audit:
• Expenses exceeded revenue in four of the past five years.
o Cheyney’s deficit increased by $4.5 million in 2013 to a cumulative deficit of $12.3 million. Cheyney officials project another $5.5 million shortfall in 2014-15.
o Increased expenses include bad debt which grew from $1 million in 2012 to $1.5 million in 2013.

• Enrollments are declining. The number of full-time equivalent students is expected to decrease to 1,053 in 2014-15, a 28 percent decrease from 2008-2009 when there were 1,471 full-time equivalent students.

• Declining revenue from state appropriations, tuition, and fees.
o Over the past five years, the state decreased its appropriation to the State System which, in turn, reduced funding to Cheyney and the 13 other universities in the system.
o Cheyney’s allotment from the State System dropped from $15.6 million in 2009 to $12.8 million in 2013.
o The amount collected in tuition and fees dropped from $12.1 million in 2009 to $11.55 million in 2013.
o Overall, revenue is down from $27.8 million in 2009 to $24.4 million in 2013, a negative 12.2 percent.

“It is a losing proposition. When you have fewer state dollars and fewer students, then you have less money to invest into the university to attract more students. It is a vicious and destructive cycle that must be stopped,” DePasquale said.

Officials at Cheyney University agreed with, and have started to implement, several recommendations in the audit, including:

develop a plan to systematically reduce the deficit and restore a positive net position;
evaluate sources of revenue to determine if funds could be obtained through such efforts as a third-party collection agency for student accounts; and
work closely with the State System to increase enrollment and seek revenue sources for needy students, who otherwise won’t be able to attend college.

The audit report also recommends that the State System immediately perform a comprehensive financial analysis of Cheyney’s operations.

“It is clear that Cheyney University and State System officials recognize the fiscal challenges and they are working on solutions, but it is also clear that they cannot do it alone,” DePasquale said, noting a couple of cost-cutting measures Cheyney is already taking, including:

decreasing its workforce by 23 percent through reductions in administrative and facility staff; and
decreasing non-personnel expenses by 22 percent by requiring offices to reduce discretionary spending by 50 percent.

Administrative leaders at Cheyney University say they are in the process of more aggressively recruiting students to increase tuition revenue. They also plan to target more high ability students and improve student retention and graduation rates, according to the audit.

The State System will continue to monitor the university’s financial position, including weekly reviews of cash levels.

The audit also found Cheyney University was not following established policies and practices for obtaining background checks for employees, volunteers, and contractors involved in youth athletic and academic camps on campus.

Cheyney officials acknowledged the shortcomings and stated in the audit report that a new policy would be presented to the university cabinet this month for implementation in January.

The Cheyney University audit report is available online here.

PERFORMANCE AUDIT: CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

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READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Pennsylvania-owned universities, Pitt seek sharply higher state funding
Cost of public colleges in Pennsylvania continues to soar, report finds
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education hopeful enrollment drop is abating
Pa. state-owned universities seek to avoid tuition hike

Southern women hold off FAMU

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern women’s basketball team got just what it needed Wednesday night in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

After losing six straight games on the road, mostly against teams from power conferences, the Jaguars came home and never trailed during an 80-69 victory against Florida A&M.

Five players scored in double figures and the defense helped get the fast-break going by making a dozen steals.

“I thought we did a good job of sharing the basketball and hitting the open guy,” Southern coach Sandy Pugh said. “The offense looked fluid. We were hitting shots. We seemed really comfortable and I was really pleased to see that.

“Defensively we had some communication breakdowns that happened, but we did a good job of getting out in transition. That was good to see.”

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Commentary: Christmas comes early for ASU in hiring Jenkins

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State got its Christmas wish for a new head football coach.

The university believes Brian Jenkins can bring it some things Reggie Barlow couldn't — SWAC championships, sellout crowds at its $62 million stadium and much fanfare.

"You look at all the things he's done and he's accomplished, it gets you excited," Alabama State interim athletic director Melvin Hines said. "It makes you want to come out and see what this guy going to bring to the table? What type of team is he going to put on the field? Because if he does just a little bit of what he did at Bethune-Cookman, the sky is the limit here at Alabama State."

Hines made a list of people to contact about the 43-year-old Jenkins, checked it twice and decided to go full bore after the three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coach of the year.

"We went through a very, very detailed process," Hines said. "Not just me, but the university in doing our research on Brian Jenkins. I talked to so many people, a lot of people."

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Arkansas Pine Bluff Upsets Houston Cougars

HOUSTON, Texas -- Marcel Mosley scored a career high 33 points and Arkansas-Pine Bluff knocked off Houston 61-56 in overtime on Wednesday night. The upset marked the first victory over a non-conference opponent in a power conference since a 58-56 victory over Conference USA opponent Florida International during the 2010-11 season.

The Golden Lions (2-8) scored their first road victory in seven tries while handing the Cougars (5-2) their first home loss in five games.

UAPB led 27-16 at halftime and was up 16 points with 15:29 left in the game before Houston scrambled back, tying the game with 36 seconds left on two free throws by LeRon Barnes. Neither team scored in regulation after that.

The Golden Lions scored the first eight points of overtime. Houston got within three with 30 seconds left after a free throw and grabbed an offensive rebound, but Tevin Hammond made a steal and Mosely hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Mosley carried the load for the Golden Lions in more ways than one. The Marion, Ark. native played a career best 45 minutes while also connecting on 10 of his 16 shot attempts including a 5-of-9 mark from three point range

JoVaughn Love had 10 rebounds for the Lions.

Jherrod Stiggers led Houston with 16 points. Barnes added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Houston is a member of the American Conference, the same league that w
on last season’s National Championship with UCONN.

Game Book | Quotes | USATSI Photos | Season Stats

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Albany State University coach Mike White resigns

Longtime ASU coach expected to be named new coach at Benedict

ALBANY, Georgia -- Longtime Albany State football coach James “Mike” White announced his resignation at ASU on Wednesday and is expected to be named the new football at Benedict College on Thursday.

A news conference has been called for 3 p.m. Thursday to announce the hiring.

Albany State athletic director Richard Williams said White turned in his letter of retirement on Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t say shocked, but more so excited,” Williams said. “I’m excited to see people who love Albany State and have given so many years of service move on to bigger and better things. He’s proven himself to be an excellent coach in the SIAC and I’m very happy for him and his family.”

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Bethune-Cookman interested in TSU coach Rod Reed

COACH ROD REED

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State football coach Rod Reed told The Tennessean that Bethune-Cookman athletics director Lynn Thompson has received permission to speak to him about the Wildcats coaching vacancy.

Brian Jenkins resigned as Bethune-Cookman's coach on Tuesday and was introduced Wednesday as the new coach at Alabama State.

Thompson told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that he as "moving rapidly," toward hiring a replacement for Jenkins and already had narrowed his search to a small group of candidates.

"We have focused in on a few people who have what we feel it takes to ...

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Bethune-Cookman moving fast to replace football coach Brian Jenkins

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- The search five years ago that led to Bethune-Cookman’s hiring of Brian Jenkins took about a month.

The process to hire his successor should take just a few days, B-CU athletic director Lynn Thompson said.

While Jenkins was being introduced as the new head football coach at Alabama State on Wednesday afternoon, Thompson was already paring down his possibilities to replace the highly successful coach to three candidates, “plus a wild card.”

“We have focused in on a few people who have what we feel it takes to be our next head coach,” Thompson said. “This is not a cattle call.”

Thompson said a new coach could be announced as early as Friday.

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Brian Jenkins introduced as new ASU coach, says he's excited to be in the 'football powerhouse' of Alabama

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- In his introduction Wednesday as the new football coach at Alabama State University, Brian Jenkins said the Hornets program currently has the talent and opportunities to win at a high level.

"We already have enough in place to succeed," Jenkins said. "There is work that has to be done, but the opportunities are there."

Jenkins, 43, comes from Bethune-Cookman, an FCS program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) where he compiled a 34-6 conference record and won two HBCU national titles; he replaces fired head coach Reggie Barlow. (It was announced on Nov. 24 that the school's Board of Trustees would not renew Barlow's contract.)

Jenkins recognized Barlow's contributions during the press conference, but also said that he would make some foundational changes.

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Briar Cliff Masters Gold Nuggets, wins 64-60 in Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- Slone Masters scored a season-high 29 points and made all 17 of her free throws Wednesday, leading Briar Cliff to a 64-60 basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the Cruzin Classic.

The Chargers (9-4) of Sioux City, Iowa, and NAIA Division II won their fourth in a row and snapped the five-game winning streak of the Gold Nuggets (7-5), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I.

Masters, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, scored 18 points and made 10 free throws to lead Briar Cliff to a 34-24 halftime advantage. Xavier closed the gap early in the second half but led only once in that period, at 55-54 on Donyeah Mayfield's basket with 1:46 remaining. Briar Cliff then scored the next six points, capping the run on Kaylee Blake's two free throws with 21 seconds remaining.

Trailing 60-58, Xavier had a chance to tie when it gained a turnover with 14 seconds remaining -- but the Nuggets committed a turnover six seconds later. Briar Cliff then made four free throws, the last two by Masters.

Masters grabbed 12 rebounds and had three steals and two blocks. Blake scored 11 points.

Whitney Gathright scored all 16 of her points in the second half for Xavier and led the Gold Nuggets with six rebounds and six assists. Vinnie Briggs and Alesha Smith scored 10 points apiece.

Briar Cliff dominated at the line, making 34-of-40 free throws to Xavier's 19-of-25.

Xavier, 0-3 at neutral sites this season, lost for the third time by four or fewer points.

Xavier will play its second and final game of the Cruzin Classic at 2 p.m. EST Thursday against Northwood (Fla.), the host school. Northwood is 1-4 and lost 80-64 Tuesday to Briar Cliff.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Townsend hoping to name FAMU head football coach by Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Nelson Townsend, Florida A&M’s new interim athletic director, is tackling the athletic department’s most pressing issue head on.

Townsend told the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday he hasn’t ruled out naming a head coach by Friday, even though two of the top eight candidates announced for the job have accepted head coaching positions at other schools.

Willie Simmons, a Quincy native who worked as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State, accepted a job as Prairie View A&M's head coach. Latrell Scott, who coached at Virginia State last season, is now the head coach at Norfolk State, another MEAC school.

“Yes, it’s disappointing (Simmons and Scott) were candidates we could not hire,” Townsend said.

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Alabama State Hornets 2015 Baseball Schedule Announced

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State baseball program announced its 2015 schedule today, a 50-game regular season slate for the SWAC Eastern Division champions and conference runners-up.

The Hornets are coming off a school-record 37 wins during the 2014 season, which saw Alabama State win its first division title in 20 years and advance to the SWAC Tournament title game for the first time ever.

2015 Baseball Schedule

Among the highlights of the schedule are five opponents and 12 games against teams which played last year's NCAA Tournament, including Louisville, who advanced the College World Series, Cal-State Fullerton, Florida State, Jacksonville State, and Jackson State.

"Our schedule is once again very competitive and will test our team both physically and mentally," fourth-year Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. "We are playing teams for the first time in the history of the program that are traditionally national championship contenders. Our team will be ready for a challenging 2015 schedule and our expectations are very high."

The opening weekend is filled with first-time matchups, as the Hornets open on the road for the second time in the Melendez era. Alabama State will face Louisville, Cal-State Fullerton, and South Florida in a three-game season opening tournament at USF Feb. 13-15.

Alabama State will play the first of two games at Auburn on Feb. 18 before opening the home schedule in a three-game weekend series against MEAC Regular Season champion Florida A&M Feb. 21-22 at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

The Hornets will complete the five game home stand with mid-week contests against South Alabama (Feb. 24) and UAB (Feb. 25), before traveling to play a three-game weekend series at The Citadel (Feb. 27- Mar. 1).

Alabama State will host Troy on March 3 before opening Southwestern Athletic Conference play with back-to-back series at Mississippi Valley St. (March 7-8) and at Alcorn St. (March 14-15). ASU will complete the seven-game road trip at South Alabama (Mar. 17).

The Hornets will then play 18 of their next 22 games at home. ASU will host Jacksonville St. (Mar. 18) before the conference home opener with Alabama A&M March 21-22 and a home game with Samford (March 24). Alabama State will then travel to Florida State (March 25) before returning home to host Jackson State March 28-29, and end the month at Troy March 31.

Alabama State will open April with seven consecutive home games, with weekend series against Savannah State (April 3-4) and Mississippi Valley State (April 11-12) sandwiched around an April 7 game against Jacksonville State.

The Hornets will play at Auburn (April 14) and at Jacksonville State (April 15) before playing their final home games of the season against Alcorn State (April 18-19).

Alabama State will end the regular season with SWAC series at Alabama A&M (April 25-26), and at Jackson State (May 2-3) before a non-conference game at UAB (May 5).

The SWAC Tournament will be held May 13-17 in New Orleans.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Brian Jenkins Named Head Football Coach at Alabama State -- Watch Press Conference Live At 3 P.M.

COACH BRIAN JENKINS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University has named Brian Jenkins head football coach, Interim Athletic Director Melvin Hines announced Tuesday.

Jenkins will be introduced Wednesday at a 3 p.m. press conference in the Club Lounge at the New ASU Stadium. The press conference will be video streamed live - Click HERE to watch.

In five seasons as head coach at Bethune-Cookman (2010-14), Jenkins' Wildcats won more than 76 percent of their games (46-14), winning or tying for four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles, earning three FCS playoff berths and two HBCU national titles. B-CU won at least eight games each season, including a pair of 10-win seasons, and never finished below second place in the conference standings in posting a 34-6 record in MEAC contests, including a perfect 8-0 mark in 2012. The Wildcats also won 18 straight conference games between 2011-13, the second-longest streak in league history.

A three-time conference coach of the year, Jenkins' teams also defeated arch-rival Florida A&M four straight seasons (2011-14) for the first time in school history.

Jenkins' success was not limited to FCS opponents. In both 2013 and 2014, the Wildcats defeated FBS member Florida International University, with both triumphs coming on the road. Of Jenkins' 14 losses as a head coach, four are to BCS schools (Miami 2011, '12; eventual national champion Florida State 2013, eventual American Conference Champion Central Florida 2014), and three came in the FCS Playoffs.

One of the bright young coaches in college football, the 43-year old Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native was an assistant coach for 16 years in collegiate and professional football before taking the head coaching reigns at B-CU. Jenkins began his career as wide receivers coach at Western Kentucky (1994), before coaching both receivers and running backs for five seasons at Eastern Illinois (1995-99). After a one-year stint as running backs coach at Bowling Green (2000), Jenkins coached one season as running backs / special teams coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe in 2001.

Jenkins also worked in the dual role of coaching running backs and special teams at Louisiana-Lafayette for seven seasons (2002-08), and had a one-year stint as receivers coach at Rutgers (2009) prior to being named head coach at Bethune-Cookman.

Jenkins played college football as both a wide receiver and running back at the University of Cincinnati. He was among the all-time leaders in kickoff return yards for a season (505) and ended his career as the Bearcats' career leader in kickoff returns (62) and kickoff return yards (1,506). He graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in social work and an Associate's degree in education.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Willie Simmons Named PVAMU Head Football Coach

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Renowned offensive coordinator Willie Simmons has been selected as the 32nd head football coach in Prairie View A&M history on December 16, 2014.

Simmons comes to Prairie View A&M after an impressive three-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State, which recently won the SWAC and SBN Black College National Championships. With Simmons on staff, Alcorn State fielded one of the most potent offenses in the country as they led the SWAC in seven offensive categories while also finishing second in the nation amongst Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in scoring offense with 44 points per game during the 2014 season.

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. flourished in Simmons' offense as he was named SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year while breaking several long-standing records held by ASU legend and former NFL standout Steve "Air" McNair. In addition to Gibbs' accolades, ASU had four players who rushed for at least 691 yards and a balanced wide receiving corps which featured four players catching 22-plus receptions.

In Simmons' second season at Alcorn State in 2013, the Braves had a major turnaround offensively from his first season as they finished second in total offense, second in scoring offense, third in rushing offense, fourth in pass offense and third in pass efficiency. Three offensive players earned All-SWAC honors with senior Arnold Walker having a career season as he led the SWAC in rushing yards (1,191) and rushing touchdowns (16). Walker also finished as ASU's all-time rushing leader and the Braves finished 9-3 and had their first winning season since 2006 and nine-win campaign since 1984.

Prior to Alcorn State, Simmons spent five seasons at Middle Tennessee State University and was a part of history as MTSU had its most successful run during his tenure. As one of the newest members in the Football Bowl Subdivision (former Division I) level at the time, the Blue Red Raiders made two consecutive postseason bowl appearances for the first time in school history (2008 and 2009) and set an MTSU FBS-record with 10 wins in 2009.

In 2011, Simmons was named offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State as he was one of the youngest coordinators in the nation at only 30 years old. During that season, the Blue Raider offense led the Sun Belt in total offense and rushing offense, while ranking second in passing offense and scoring. Before being elevated to the role of offensive coordinator, Simmons served as running backs coach and passing game coordinator at MTSU from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, Simmons coached the three-headed backfield of Phillip Tanner, Benjamin Cunningham, and D.D. Kyles which helped the Blue Raiders produce one of the top rushing attacks in the country while combining for 21 touchdowns. All three averaged more than 4.5 yards a carry, and Tanner garnered All-Conference honors.

Simmons had a real challenge in 2009 when Tanner went down with an injury in the second game of the season, leaving the Blue Raiders without an experienced running back. Simmons guided D.D. Kyles to a career year as the sophomore posted 857 yards on 139 carries (6.2 ypg average), scored three touchdowns, and had 14 receptions. Kyles, the team's leading rusher down the stretch, had three straight 100-yard rushing games during the last half of the season.

In 2008, Tanner had personal bests at the time in rushing yards, receptions, and touchdowns. Also under Simmons' watch, Tanner earned National Player of the Week honors after setting a Sun Belt Conference and Blue Raider scoring record with six touchdowns in a win over North Texas.

Under Simmons' leadership in 2007, DeMarco McNair led the conference in touchdowns scored, and Tanner registered his first 100-yard rushing game with 144 yards on national television against Louisville.

Simmons made his way to Murfreesboro, Tenn. in 2007 after one season on Tommy Bowden's staff at Clemson, where he was a graduate assistant. Simmons worked with the offense while handling various other duties with the program as the team earned a spot in the 2006 Music City Bowl.

Before joining Bowden's staff, Simmons served as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Lincoln (FL) High School in 2005.

Simmons, a native of Quincy, Fla., lettered three years as a quarterback at Clemson from 2000 to 2002 and passed for 2,530 yards and 16 touchdowns in 24 games. As a freshman, Simmons came off the bench for a hurt Woodrow Dantzler and threw for 228 yards and a record-tying four touchdowns in Clemson's 38-24 win at North Carolina to earn ACC Rookie of the Week honors. Simmons played two years as a backup to Dantzler before becoming the starter in 2002.

Following three years at Clemson in which he participated in four postseason bowl games, Simmons transferred to the Citadel in 2003 and earned First Team All-Southern Conference honors.

A prep star at Shanks High School, Simmons threw for over 6,000 yards and 96 touchdowns during his brilliant career while also earning a 3.8 grade point average.

Simmons, who was born on October 12, 1980, in Tallahassee, Fla., earned a degree in Sports Marketing from Clemson in 2002. He was the fastest football player to graduate at Clemson, accomplishing the milestone in three years.

Simmons and his wife Shaia Rene, have a daughter, Raven and a son, Louis III.

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

19th-ranked Nuggets earn 5th consecutive victory

NEW ORLEANS -- Junior point guard Whitney Gathright scored 18 points Monday to lead NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 64-49 women's basketball victory against Faulkner.

The Gold Nuggets (7-4) won their fifth in a row and snapped the three-game winning streak of the Lady Eagles (8-3).

Gathright, the preseason Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year, also had seven rebounds, four assists and a career-high-tying five steals. She was 8-of-11 from the floor and committed one turnover in 32 minutes.

Eliqua Brooks made four 3-pointers and scored 13 points for Xavier, and Vinnie Briggs scored 12.

Taylor Love had 15 points and 14 rebounds and was Faulkner's only double-figure scorer. Olivia Adamson grabbed 12 rebounds.

Gathright scored 14 points and Brooks 10 to help Xavier take a 37-24 halftime lead. The Gold Nuggets built the lead to 21 points, 58-37, when Gathright passed to Briggs for a basket with 3:06 remaining.

Faulkner scored less than 50 points for just the fourth time in the program's five seasons. The Lady Eagles entered the game No. 2 in NAIA Division I with 10.1 made 3-pointers per game, but Xavier limited them to 2-of-17 from long range.

For the game, Xavier outshot Faulkner 33.3 to 28.6 percent from the floor. Faulkner had a 52-38 rebounding advantage, but the Gold Nuggets were plus-21 in turnovers, committing seven -- matching their fewest in a game in the last three years -- and gaining a season-best 28. Ireyon Keith had four steals, and Brooks had three.

Xavier will fly Tuesday to Florida and play Wednesday against Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Thursday against Northwood (Fla.) in the Cruzin Classic at West Palm Beach. Both games will start at 2 p.m. EST at Northwood's Hoernle Student Life Center.\

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

from THE EDITOR: My Top Pick for the Next FAMU Rattler Head Football Coach

DWIGHT FLOYD

“We felt we needed a system in order to be successful and a quarterback to operate within the confines of that system.” Pete Richardson, former head coach of Southern University.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M recently announced its top 8 applicants, one of which will be the next Rattler head football coach. After GOOGLING for information on the top 8 and checking other sources, I decided on only two potential head coaches among the eight. Below I listed in the order I would select them, my list of potential head coaches. I would only pick from this list if I was unable to get Texas’ coach Charlie Strong to offer up one of his disciples.

1. Mark Orlando
Why?

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No. 22 Rush do it Goode and Wright, defeat Faulkner

XU men's basketball vs. Faulkner
photos by Yamlak Tsega

NEW ORLEANS -- Guards Anthony Goode and Morris Wright snapped out of shooting slumps Monday and combined for 35 points, leading NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 72-63 men's basketball victory against Faulkner.

The Gold Rush (10-4) defeated the Eagles (8-5) for the first time in 25 years. Faulkner, which leads the series 5-3, had won five straight and had beaten Xavier each of the past two seasons.

Goode scored 20 points and Wright 15. They combined to make 9-of-14 from the floor, 7-of-11 3-pointers and 10-of-11 free throws. Goode made a season-high four 3-pointers in five attempts.

Cortez Riley scored 16 points, Di'mar Hill 13 and Nick Drake 10 for Faulkner.

Xavier trailed 14-8 through eight minutes before rallying to take a 29-28 halftime lead. Faulkner took a 37-34 lead in the first three minutes of the second half before Gary Smith's basket at 16:06 put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 39-37.

Goode made back-to-back 3's to give Xavier a 58-50 lead with 4:55 remaining. Wright's two free throws at 3:29 gave Xavier its largest lead, 60-50.

Goode and Wright, Xavier's top two scorers for the season, had combined to average 16.9 points and shoot 26.3 percent from the floor in the previous five games, three of which were XU defeats. Goode reached 20 points for the first time since Oct. 31, and Wright scored in double figures for the first time in four games.

Xavier outshot the Eagles 50 to 43.4 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 37-16. The rebound margin is Xavier's best this season. Wesley Pluviose-Philip of the Rush grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, and Jarvis Thibodeaux and Sydney Coleman had six apiece.

Xavier shot 85.7 percent from the line -- 24-of-28 -- after making 55.6 percent the previous three games. Wright made 6-of-6 free throws, and Smith and Coleman both were 4-of-4.

The Gold Rush had not beaten Faulkner since a two-game sweep in the 1989-90 season.

Xavier will visit NAIA No. 5 William Carey at 7 p.m. Thursday in the first of three consecutive Gold Rush games against top-10 opponents. The next home game will start at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 against Concordia (Calif.), which is ranked ninth.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS