Chowan Athletic Department Set to Host Play4Kay Game February 11th

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina -- The Chowan University athletic department is set to host the annual Play4Kay game in conjunction with the women's basketball program and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on February 11th. This is the seventh year that the athletic department, women's basketball program and SAAC will host the event, which is intended to raise cancer awareness along with money dedicated for cancer research. Chowan is set to host the Virginia State Lady Trojans at 5:30 pm in the Helms Center.

This year's event will feature a photo booth, cotton candy, in-game contests and prizes. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support. Chowan students that are in attendance by tip-off will receive free popcorn and pizza.

T-shirts will also be available for sale, with proceeds benefiting cancer research. The price for t-shirts is $10. Nationwide, the Play4Kay campaign has raised over $3.8 million to support women's cancer research since its inception in 2007.

It takes a village to battle cancer. The athletic department is seeking cancer survivors to celebrate that village with a survivors walk during halftime on February 11th. Survivors come in many forms, from family and friends to personal diagnosis.

The athletic department is hoping to have active community participation to help raise cancer awareness and funds for cancer research. To take part in this event please contact Meredith Long at longm@chowan.edu or (252) 398-6468.

COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Clark Atlanta football coach sues, claims racial discrimination

ATLANTA, Georgia -- A former Clark Atlanta University football coach has filed a lawsuit against the college and its president claiming he was harassed and fired because of his race.

Ted Bahhur, who is white, was fired in 2009 during his fifth season as head coach of the Panther football team because President Carlton Brown wanted a black coach, according to a civil suit filed this month in Fulton County Superior Court.

The lawsuit follows a racial-discrimination complaint filed in 2009 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC investigation found there was reasonable cause to conclude that Bahhur was discriminated against because of his race, which is a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act, according to a determination letter the commission issued last year.

BAHHUR LAWSUIT

CONTINUE READING

Nelson Townsend to be honored in FAMU's Black Archives (Video)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Diane Townsend confidently stood at the front of an afternoon meeting of the 220 Quarterback Club, and — much like her late husband Nelson Townsend — challenged the Rattler community to make a difference by supporting the athletic department.

Townsend stood in front of nearly 60 members of the club Wednesday afternoon at New Times Country Buffet on Monroe Street and said she wants to see her husband's vision for Florida A&M's future fulfilled.

"I'm in orange too," she said.

"This is home now. This is where (Nelson Townsend) died and this is where we're going to stay. I would love to see the vision he had for his school – that was really not his school, but he loved – to do exactly what he knows it can do."

Townsend also learned a plaque honoring her husband — who ...

CONTINUE READING

Meet The Coaches: Jumping High In The Coaching Game

Former head women's cross country, track and field coach at Jackson State University, Pristina Jones brings passion, experience to Irish staff.

NOTRE DAME, Indiana -- One bold step is one huge gain for the Fighting Irish.

Pristina Jones stepped down from her head coaching position at Jackson State University, a place where she oversaw a program (cross country, indoor track and outdoor track) that achieved a perfect score of 1000 in the Academic Performance Rate for three straight seasons (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14), to become the newest track and field assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame.

"I just applied, and after I did, [Irish head coach Alan Turner] called me and said, `Pristina, are you sure you want to leave being a head coach to come be an assistant coach?' and I was thinking, `Yeah!'

"Sometimes when you have these opportunities, it's not about the title that you have, it's about what you're able to do," Jones said. "I'm able to still do what I had done in my previous coaching position here, just not the title. It's a refreshing position."

Jones will be focusing on sprints and jumps at Notre Dame, events in which she herself was a standout athlete.

CONTINUE READING

Bill Hayes to receive community award

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Bill Hayes might be retired from athletics — but he’s still winning awards.

Hayes, who retired last February as athletics director at Winston-Salem State, will be given a Rhythm of Triumph Award for his long-standing work in the community.

The award, which is sponsored by the owners and operators of the Triad McDonald’s franchises, recognizes those in the community who give back beyond their job titles.

“This is our 15th year of doing this and it’s a celebration of Black History Month and we honor three dignitaries from the three cities,” said Nancy Tate, who is the marketing director of the event.

Also receiving an award on Friday night at ...

CONTINUE READING

National Signing Day celebration set for Feb. 4

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University head coach Dawson Odums will unveil the Jaguars’ 2015 National Signing Day class during its Feb. 4 recruitment celebration in the Smith-Brown Royal Cotillion Ballroom on the Baton Rouge campus at 7 p.m.

Admission for next Wednesday's event, which is sponsored by the Southern University Quarterback Club and the Blue and Gold Century Club, is $20 and includes a buffet-style dinner and appearances by the SU varsity cheerleaders. Table sponsorship is also available for $300 per table.

All proceeds will be donated to the Southern Jaguars football program.

Odums is scheduled to provide commentary on the new recruits while career highlights of the 2015 class is shown during the two-hour event. Members of the Jaguars coaching staff will also be in attendance.

Fans are encouraged to contact 225-572-5878 for ticket information.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

South Carolina State Releases 2015 Football Schedule

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State announces an 11-game football slate for 2015 that includes two non-conference opponents, five home games at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium and a return to the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, FL.

SC State will open the season on Sept.5 on the road against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge held in Orlando, FL.

The Bulldogs then kick off their home campaign at O.C. Dawson Stadium on September 12 against Coastal Carolina. Other home games include Florida A&M (Sept. 19), Howard (Oct. 17), Hampton (Oct. 31), and North Carolina A&T (Nov. 7).

Additional road games are at Furman (Oct. 3), Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 10), Delaware State (Oct. 24), Norfolk State (Nov. 14), and Savannah State (Nov. 21).

Bulldogs fans and supporters are encouraged to purchase season tickets at the SC State Ticket Office. For additional information, call 803-536-8579 or 800-298-9157.

Starting times and dates for all games on the 2015 schedule, which is listed below, are subject to change.

For more information on South Carolina State University football, please call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060, or visit the official Bulldogs website at www.scsuathletics.com.

2015 South Carolina State Bulldogs Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time#
9/05	Arkansas-Pine Bluff (ESPN MEAC/SWAC     Challenge Classic)	Orlando, FL+	TBA
9/12	Coastal Carolina (Business & Industry Day)	Orangeburg, SC	6:00 p.m.
9/19	Florida A&M* (Former Student-Athlete  Appreciation Day	Orangeburg, SC	6:00 p.m.
10/3	Furman	Greenville, SC	TBA
10/10	Bethune-Cookman*	Daytona Beach, FL	TBA
10/17	Howard* (Youth/ROTC/Military  Appreciation Day)	Orangeburg, SC	2:00 p.m.
10/24	Delaware State*	Dover, DE	TBA
10/31	Hampton* (HOMECOMING)	Orangeburg, SC	1:30 p.m.
11/07	North Carolina A&T *(Senior/Faculty & Staff Appreciation/High School Band Day)	Orangeburg, SC	1:30 p.m.
11/14	Norfolk State*	Norfolk, VA	TBA
11/21	Savannah State*	Savannah, GA	TBA

 
*MEAC Contest
Home Games in BOLD
Dates, times and locations subject to change



COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M Head Football Coach Alex Wood Release Names of New Assistant Coaches

COACH THEO LEMON

COACH RICHARD SOLOMON

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Tuesday afternoon was a day of excitement and promise for the football program at Florida A&M University with the announcement of the first members of the new Rattler Football coaching staff.

FAMU head coach Alex Wood, was all smiles Tuesday as he commented on the appointments to his staff.

“I am extremely excited to work with all these great men. They are coaches, teachers, family men, men of faith who will be great ambassadors for Florida A&M University.

COACH DENNIS R. SMITH

“Many of them I’ve known a long time, and they bring extensive experience to us, and I know they will do nothing but great things for our young men, the football program and the university,” Wood said Tuesday afternoon.

In all Tuesday, five men have been brought aboard to the Rattler coaching staff, with one additional coach retained from the previous staff. “We actually have two more coaches to be hired, one on defense and one on offense,” he said. “I hope to announce them within the next five or six days.”

The newest faces in the Rattler Football realm include:

• Martin Spieler, former wide receivers, tight ends and special teams coach at the University of Buffalo, who will serve as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Spieler has served as assistant coach at Cincinnati, Allegheny College and Georgia Southern.

COACH  EDWIN PATA

• Theo Lemon, former head coach at Savannah State, Central (Ohio) State and College of Dupage (Ill.), will serve Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach. His extensive experience also includes staff appointments at Wake Forest, Rutgers, East Carolina, Northeastern, Central State, Kentucky State and Ohio University. 

•  Richard Solomon, former assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, will serve as Defensive Backs Coach. Solomon has a lengthy resume which includes professional (Arizona, Minnesota, New York Giants) and collegiate (Western Illinois, Illinois, Syracuse, Iowa, Southern Illinois and the University of Dubuque).

• Donald “D.J.” McCarthy, former director of player personnel and assistant to the head coach at Bethune-Cookman University, will serve as Wide Receivers Coach. McCarthy also has assistant coaching experience at LSU, UCLA, UCF, Nevada-Reno, along with an NFL stint (Oakland Raiders), as well as high school and junior college experience.

COACH "D. J." McCARTHY

• Dennis R. Smith, formerly an assistant coach and special team coordinator at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, comes aboard to serve as Tight Ends and Special Teams Coach. Smith had worked prior to his time in junior college on the staffs of the University of Miami and Florida International University.

• Retained from the previous staff was Offensive Line coach Edwin Pata, a Miami native, who served the last two seasons (2013, 2014) at FAMU, after working two years (2011, 2012) as an assistant offensive line coach at Florida International (FIU).

NOTE: Click on coach name for link to biography and other info.





COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VIDEOS COURTESY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO

For 2nd straight year, XU Nuggets are No. 3 in preseason

NEW ORLEANS -- For the second consecutive year, Xavier University of Louisiana is No. 3 in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. The NAIA announced rankings Tuesday.

The Gold Nuggets are in the same position they held in the 2014 postseason poll. Xavier was 17-7 last season and became the first XU team in any sport to reach the NAIA's national semifinals two straight times.

The Gold Nuggets' active poll streaks include 22 consecutive top-25 appearances, 17 straight times in the top 10 and seven consecutive top-3 appearances.

Xavier returns eight letterwomen from 2014, including All-Americans Nour Abbes, Brion Flowers and Simone-Alyse Ewell. Abbes, a sophomore, is the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's top-ranked NAIA singles player.

The Gold Nuggets will play their first dual match of 2015 at 3 p.m. Friday against city rival Loyola at XU Tennis Center. XU's and Loyola's men's teams also will play at that time. The XU men are ranked eighth.

Defending champion Georgia Gwinnett, 18-4 last season, is the preseason No. 1. It's just the third time in 15 seasons that Auburn Montgomery does not hold that distinction.

There are five preseason top-25 teams on the Gold Nuggets' schedule: No. 6 Brenau (Feb. 23 at Mobile, Ala.), No. 11 Vanguard (March 30 at Costa Mesa, Calif.), No. 17 Lewis-Clark State (March 31 at La Mirada, Calif.), No. 12 Westmont (April 1 at Santa Barbara, Calif.) and No. 5 Auburn Montgomery (April 10 at XU).

The first regular-season rankings will be announced Feb. 17.

The top 25:

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
3. Xavier
4. Lindsey Wilson
5. Auburn Montgomery
6. Brenau
7. Northwood (Fla.)
8. SCAD Savannah
9. Oklahoma Baptist
10. Concordia (Calif.)
11. Vanguard
12. (tie) Davenport
12. (tie) Westmont
14. Milligan
15. Indiana Wesleyan
16. Coastal Georgia
17. Lewis-Clark State
18. Cardinal Stritch
19. Northwestern Ohio
20. Marian (Ind.)
21. Campbellsville
22. Southeastern (Fla.)
23. Olivet Nazarene
24. McPherson
25. Cumberland

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

https://www.facebook.com/

XU Rush 8th in preseason, in top 10 for 30th straight time

NEW ORLEANS -- For the Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis program, the beat goes on.

The Gold Rush were eighth in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. It's the 30th consecutive top-10 appearance for Xavier in a streak which began May 3, 2011.

Xavier will play its first dual match of 2015 at 3 p.m. Friday against city rival Loyola at XU Tennis Center. XU's and Loyola's women's teams also will play at that time.

The XU men have the same ranking they finished 2014 with. It's the Gold Rush's 60th consecutive top-25 appearance; that streak began April 4, 2007.

Defending champion Georgia Gwinnett, 21-0 last season, is the preseason No. 1. There are six preseason top-25 teams on Xavier's schedule: No. 10 Belhaven (Feb. 7 at XU), No. 22 William Carey (March 19 at Hattiesburg, Miss.), No. 4 Vanguard (March 30 at Costa Mesa, Calif.), No. 19 Lewis-Clark State (March 31 at La Mirada, Calif.), No. 9 Westmont (April 1 at Santa Barbara, Calif.) and No. 3 Auburn Montgomery (April 10 at XU).

All-Americans Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer are among six Gold Rush returning lettermen.

The first regular-season rankings will be announced Feb. 17.

The top 25:

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
3. Auburn Montgomery
4. Vanguard
5. Lindsey Wilson
6. Cumberland
7. Bethany (Kan.)
8. Xavier
9. Westmont
10. Belhaven
11. Concordia (Calif.)
12. Graceland
13. Coastal Georgia
14. Northwood (Fla.)
15. SCAD Atlanta
16. Pikeville
17. Olivet Nazarene
18. Oklahoma Baptist
19. (tie) SCAD Savannah
19. (tie) Lewis-Clark State
21. Mobile
22. (tie) William Carey
22. (tie) Indiana Wesleyan
24. San Diego Christian
25. Webber International

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

https://www.facebook.com/

XU Gold Nuggets 34th overall and still receiving votes

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana collected five points Tuesday to rank 34th in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Nuggets (12-10 overall, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) are among others receiving votes for the fourth consecutive week. And for the second time in that period, they're not the GCAC's leading vote-getter.

That distinction belongs to city rival SUNO, which received eight points and is 31st. SUNO won 73-43 at Xavier on Jan. 19 and gave the Nuggets the second-largest home defeat in their history.

But Xavier has won twice since then, both in GCAC road games, and will enter a 3 p.m. Saturday contest at city rival Dillard with four victories in its last five games.

Xavier's next home game will start at 5:30 p.m. Monday against Edward Waters.

The top of the rankings has a familiar look. Freed-Hardeman, defending champion Oklahoma City and Campbellsville are 1-2-3 for the fourth consecutive week. Freed-Hardeman (19-1) is No. 1 for the fifth consecutive poll.

The top 25:

1. Freed-Hardeman
2. Oklahoma City
3. Campbellsville
4. Westminster (Utah)
5. Bethel (Tenn.)
6. Loyola
7. Langston
8. (tie) Oklahoma Baptist
8. (tie) Concordia (Calif.)
10. Montana State-Northern
11. The Master's
12. Vanguard
13. Our Lady of the Lake
14. Wiley
15. MidAmerica Nazarene
16. Shawnee State
17. Westmont
18. Lewis-Clark State
19. Carroll (Mont.)
20. Lyon
21. Lindsey Wilson
22. Great Falls
23. Martin Methodist
24. Columbia (Mo.)
25. Benedictine (Kan.)

Others receiving votes, in order of points:
Texas Wesleyan
Cumberland
Georgetown (Ky.)
Wayland Baptist
Pikeville
SUNO
Culver-Stockton
Baker
Xavier
William Woods
Auburn Montgomery

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

https://www.facebook.com/

Xavier Rush are 19th after 3rd consecutive climb in rankings

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana is still winning and still gaining support in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Rush (16-6 overall, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) climbed for the third straight week, moving from 20th to 19th Tuesday. It's Xavier's highest rank since the preseason, when it was 13th.

Xavier won 73-59 Monday at Voorhees and improved its win streak to a season-high five games.

The Gold Rush are in the top 25 for the 43rd consecutive time. That's the longest active streak among NAIA DI men's teams. Xavier appeared in 56 of the last 57 top-25s.

The GCAC has three top-25 teams for the sixth time in as many polls this season. Talladega climbed from sixth to fourth, and Philander Smith dropped from 24th to 23rd. Talladega will visit Xavier at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9.

Campbellsville, No. 1 for the past three polls, dropped to sixth after losing both its games this past week. Ascending to the top spot is Cal State San Marcos, which received 5-of-10 first-place votes and is No. 1 for the first time since Dec. 9.

Xavier will visit city rival Dillard at 5 p.m. Saturday, then play Edward Waters at 7:30 p.m. Monday at XU's Convocation Center.

The top 25:

1. Cal State San Marcos
2. Pikeville
3. Hope International
4. Talladega
5. Freed-Hardeman
6. Campbellsville
7. Benedictine (Kan.)
8. Dalton State
9. Wayland Baptist
10. Arizona Christian
11. Our Lady of the Lake
12. Great Falls
13. Columbia (Mo.)
14. (tie) Concordia (Calif.)
14. (tie) Martin Methodist
14. (tie) Georgetown (Ky.)
17. Mid-America Christian
18. Montana Western
19. Xavier
20. Oklahoma Baptist
21. Evangel
22. Bethel (Tenn.)
23. Cumberlands
24. Philander Smith
25. LSU-Alexandria

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

https://www.facebook.com/

Southern U.Track and Field turns in notable marks at UAB

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern University Men’s and Women’s track and field recorded several top-three finishes during a two-day span at the UAB Vulcan and UAB Green and Gold track meets last weekend in Birmingham, Ala.

UAB Vulcan Invite, Friday, Jan. 23

Harold Fluellen finished fifth in the 60-meter hurdles with a speed of 8.33. Montel Brown sprung for a sixth-place finish in the high jump with a mark of (1.90m). Yanik Duffus collected an impressive finish in the 60 meters as he finished with a time of 6.97, while also placing in the top ten during the 200 meters (22.36). John Haynes’ performance in the 800 meters allowed him to place in the top ten with a time of 1:56.34.

The women’s 4x400 relay team earned a sixth-place finish with a time of 4:00.63. Deandra Deveaux gained the longest distance in the women’s long jump with a mark of 5.28 meters for the SWAC. Tiana Cephers collected a leap of 10.31m in the triple jump, while Georgeanna Felder received a tenth-place finish in the shot put, nailing a mark of 11.55m.

UAB Green and Gold Invite, Saturday, Jan. 24

Southern’s John Haynes placed third in the 400 meters with a mark of 49.85. Yanik Duffus placed fifth in the 60 meters (7.04), followed by Justin Pearson in seventh (7.16). Harold Fluellen’s 8.44 time secured him a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles. Tylor Lighten gained a sixth-place finish in the 200m with a time of 22.36. The men’s 4x400 relay team placed fifth with a mark of 3:26.75.

Southern’s experienced field corp garnered the teams highest mark led by Georgeanna Felder, who produced a second place finish in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 17.09m. Ashley Shepard’s 5.47m jump earned her a third-place finish in the long jump. Celeste White gained a third-place finish in the 5000 meters with a time of 19:54.79, while Reyna Anderson crossed the finish line first for the Jaguars in the 200 meters with a time of 25.33. The women’s 4x400 relay team received an eighth-place finish with a mark of 4:02.94. Briana Radford tossed a 13.90m throw in the shot put finishing fourth in the field.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

UDC Firebird Spotlight - Denikka Brent, Women's Basketball

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Denikka Brent is a standout senior and mechanical engineering major on the women’s basketball team from Chesapeake, Virginia.  Denikka started playing basketball in the 5th grade with great influence from her uncle, whom she considers more like her older brother. Her father, David Brent, has a career in the Navy which required her and her two younger siblings to live in many places including Tennessee and Virginia Beach.

Denikka Brent was honored for scoring her 1,000th point in a road
game at American International College on Dec.1, 2014.

Favorites:  Denikka loves seafood and is an exceptional pianist. Not only does she come from a family of athletes, but also a family of musicians. She has played the piano seriously since her sophomore year in high school. As a musician, she is a big fan of music including gospel, hip-hop, R & B, and rap. Her favorite artist is Beyoncé.

About UDC/Future Career Plans: Denikka was highly recruited and ultimately wanted a school with an engineering program. She loves Washington, D.C., and plans on returning to the area to work. She aspires to one day pursue a career in engineering, then earn her Master’s degree and continue her education with a Ph,D. in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in NASA.

She says her student-athlete experience at UDC has thus far been great. She notes her professor, Dr. Kline, has taught her a lot and has been an encouraging force behind her studies and athletic career.

Basketball Career: Denikka’s most noted highlights of her basketball career include wining the East Coast Conference Championship and reaching the 1,000-point milestone. To prepare for games, she keeps to herself by listening to music. On the court, she finds she “thinks about a lot”, but her main focus is on winning. The advice she would give to other student-athletes is balancing athletics and academics. Also, she added that you must manage your time wisely.

Quote from Coach Lester Butler, Jr. -  “Denikka has been the face of the women’s basketball program for the last three years. She is everything you want in student-athlete – a great student and a special talent on the basketball court. She will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play for this school.”

High School: Brent is a 2011 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School...played guard for the basketball team...1st Team All-District and Team MVP…also was a member of the National Society of high school Scholars, Math National Honor Society, and National Honor Society…graduated 4th in her class with a cumulative GPA of 3.85

Personal: Daughter of David and Medina Brent...has two siblings, Destinee and David...Mechanical Engineering major…favorite athletes include Kobe Bryant, Maya Moore and Lebron James… favorite food is seafood…favorite movie is The Temptations … favorite musicians are Beyonce and Chris Brown…also recruited by Florida A&M, East Carolina, Longwood, and Furman… greatest athletic experience is getting to the NCAA tournament in her freshman year… dream as a college athlete is to make it to the NCAA tournament one more time and to win the conference title…greatest athletic influence is her father.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTS INFORMATION

Albany State women scorch visiting Claflin

ALBANY, Georgia — The Albany State Lady Rams’ basketball team got their second win in three games Monday night as they returned home and defeated Claflin 65-52 at the HPER Gym.

The win puts the Lady Rams at 8-9 on the season and 7-3 in the SIAC.

The second half started with a putback from Artisha Holston, which sparked a 9-0 run by the Lady Rams. They held the Lady Panthers scoreless for the first five minutes of the half and went on to build a 48-28 lead with 12:20 left.

Claflin, however, did not go away. The Lady Panthers chipped away at the lead and with 5:41 remaining, Jaquanna Davis hit a lay-up and drew a foul. She sank two more free throws on the next Claflin possession to make it an eight-point game with five minutes left, capping a 20-6 run.

CONTINUE READING

Virginia State on five-game winning streak heading into big CIAA tilt

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Virginia State (13-5, 7-2) travels to Maryland on Wednesday to face Bowie State (16-5, 8-1) in the first of two games between the two teams atop the CIAA Northern Division. The Trojans currently sit at 4-0 in the division, the Bulldogs are 3-0.

Virginia State enters the game on a five-game winning streak since losing back-to-back games to Shaw and Winston-Salem State early this month. Bowie State has won four straight since a loss to Shaw on Jan. 10.

The Trojans have played nine conference games and are holding CIAA teams to 60.8 points per game - lowest in the conference. The Bulldogs are allowing a third-best 68.6 points per game.

CONTINUE READING

The Show: Honda Battle of the Bands 2015

WATCH IN 1080p HIGH DEFINITION, WIDE SCREEN

Full Battle of the Bands show at the Georgia Dome by Da Edge

Red-Hot NSU Defeats Savannah State, 70-54

SAVANNAH, Georgia  –  For the third game in a row, the Norfolk State men's basketball team shot better than 60 percent overall, and the result on Monday night was a 70-54 victory over Savannah State in MEAC action at Tiger Arena.

The Spartans hit 28-of-45 from the field (62.2 percent) to win their third in a row and fifth in the past six games. The victory moved their record to 7-1 in conference play, with all seven victories coming by at least 14 points. NSU improved to 14-9 overall.

Junior RaShid Gaston had 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 13 rebounds for his second straight double-double. He had 11 points in the second half as NSU pulled away from the Tigers after SSU had cut the deficit to just six.



Gaston had eight points during a 12-4 run midway through the second stanza. NSU later went on a 15-4 spurt right near the end of the game to go up by as much as 19.

Savannah State (5-15, 1-5 MEAC) led in the early part of the game, but NSU took a 10-point lead at the break. The teams traded buckets early in the second half before Savannah State scored six straight to get to within six, 39-33, at the 14:20 mark. Freshman Jordan Butler stopped the bleeding with a three-point play, and Gaston scored eight points during a 12-4 run for the Spartans that made it 54-39 with 6:27 on the clock.

The Tigers made one last run. Alante Fenner sank a pair of free throws at 3:55 to cap an 8-1 run, cutting the Spartan lead to eight, 55-47. NSU, though, scored 15 of the next 19 points in the game to put Savannah State away for good.

The Spartans connected on 16-of-24 in the second half. For the game, they also shot 5-of-12 from 3-point range.

NSU had its good and bad moments in the contest. The Spartans had a big edge on the glass, 38-20, and outscored the Tigers by a 20-8 margin in second chance points. Butler had a career-high five blocks, helping the Spartans finish with a 10-0 edge in rejections for the night.

For the second game in a row, though, NSU had more than 20 turnovers. Savannah State had just 10 giveaways compared to 21 for the Spartans, although NSU still led in points off turnovers, 13-10.

Along with Gaston, NSU had three other players in double figures. Junior Jeff Short added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while junior D'Shon Taylor added 13 on 5-of-7 shooting. Senior Jamel Fuentes scored 10 points on 4-of-7 field goal attempts for his first double-figure scoring game of the season.

Savannah State shot 20-of-55 (36.4 percent) for the game, including a 1-of-12 effort from beyond the arc. Brian Pearson led the Tigers with 14 points.

Pearson sank a pair from the free throw line to give Savannah State an early 11-7 lead four and a half minutes into the contest. The Spartans then held the Tigers scoreless for nearly five and a half minutes. Their 7-0 run only got the lead to three, 14-11, as Fuentes finished it off with a jumper in the lane.

Senior Malik Thomas put NSU up by eight, 25-17, after sinking back-to-back 3-pointers, the latter near the right corner with 5:02 to go before intermission. The Spartans led by as much as 11 after Gaston hit a pair of layups with less than two minutes left, and NSU went into the half up 31-21.

Thomas had seven points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Butler totaled five points, six rebounds, five blocks, two assists and two steals.

NSU will return home to host Hampton in the Battle of the Bay on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

BOX SCORE

Mike Bello, Asst. SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB Rips Prairie View A&M, 105-68

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Men's Basketball Team won their third straight as the Golden Lions defeated Prairie View A&M University, 105-68 here Monday night at the H.O. Clemmons Arena.

The contest was originally to be aired on ESPNU, but due to inclement weather in Bristol, Conn., ESPN was unable to broadcast the game. UAPB's next scheduled television appearance will be on February 16 against Alcorn State on the SWAC Digital T.V. at the H.O. Clemmons Arena, with the Lady Lions tipping off at 5:30 p.m. and the Golden Lions tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

This is the first time that UAPB has scored 100 –plus in a game in seven seasons. The last the Golden Lions reach the century mark in a contest was during the 2008-09 season, when UAPB defeated Alcorn State, 101-77.

PVAMU jumped out to a 6-2 lead start the contest with a Jacoby Green three pointer, followed by a Montreal Scott free throw and a put-back by Reggis Onwukamuche with18:23 to go in the half.

UAPB tied the contest at 6-6 on back-to-back scores by Thaddeus Handley and Devin Berry at the 17:47 mark of the half.

Scott gave the Panthers a 12-11 lead with his made three pointer with 15:31 left in the first.

The Golden Lions answered with a 10-0 run to take a 22-12 lead on a Marcel Mosley jumper with 11:40 left in the half.

PVAMU cut UAPB's lead to 25-23 on a Green put back with 7:22 to go, capping an 11-3 run by the Panthers.

UAPB ended the first half with a 25-10 run to take a 50-33 lead into the break.

The Golden Lions finished the first half shooting a blazing 67.9 percent (19-of-28), while PVAMU shot 52.2 percent (12-of-23).

UAPB opened the second half with an 18-7 run to take a 68-40 lead, capped off by a Hammond three pointer with 16:07 to go in the game.

The Golden Lions extended their lead to 81-51 on a Trent Whiting field goal at the 10:37 mark.

Whiting scored the Golden Lions 100th point with his made free throw giving UAPB a 100-63 lead with 2:37 left in regulation.

Mosley and Austin Cox scored the Golden Lions finals points of the contest with three pointer by Mosley and a pair of made free throws by Cox for the 105-68 finale.

PVAMU (5-15, 3-4 SWAC) had three Panthers to score in double-figures with a Scott scoring a team high 16 points, followed by Josh Brisco with 12 and Green with 10. Tre Hagood led the Panthers on the boards with seven, while Hagood dished out a team high five assists.

UAPB (6-15, 3-4 SWAC) had a quintet to score in double-figures with Mosley scoring a game high 26 points to lead all-scorers, followed by Hammond with 17, Handley added 15, and Whiting dropped in 13, while JoVaughn Love finished with 10. Whiting led the lead Golden Lions on the boards with eight, while Mosley dished out a game high seven assists.

The Golden Lions will return to action on Saturday, January 31 as they travel to Grambling, La., to take on Grambling State at Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in a 5 p.m. start.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Is $1 billion too high a price for a new Florida State University engineering school?

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- $1 billion -- it seems like a lot of money to pay for new separate, but supposedly equal, engineering schools in Florida. But that's been the push of Florida State University president John Thrasher who has coveted splitting the exisiting school that serves FSU and Florida A&M University.

As a former state senator, Thrasher pushed hard to get a bill through the Florida Legislature to split the engineering school away from Florida's historic black university in hopes of boosting the national image of garnet and gold. Of course, the FAMU nation wanted no parts of a break-up.

Now as FSU president, Thrasher faces the reality of what the dreams of an individual engineering school with cost his university. According to a new study released this week, breaking up the school could cost $1 billion and would draw legal challenges on civil-rights grounds.

CONTINUE READING

Separate FSU-FAMU engineering schools could cost $1 billion, study says

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Splitting the engineering school shared by Florida State University and Florida A&M University into separate programs could cost $1 billion and draw legal challenges on civil-rights grounds, according to a new study on the issue.

But the report, from the California-based Collaborative Braintrust Consulting Firm, also says that changes are needed at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering if it remains a single institution.

In many ways, the final version of the study is similar to an early draft. It maintains that the start-up costs of a separate FSU engineering program that could help the university gain national prominence would run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, and that a Supreme Court ruling on education segregation known as the Fordice decision could double that.

"The cost to set up a new FSU engineering college that has the scope of a top 25 public engineering college is estimated at $500 million," the report says. "The Fordice decision seems to imply that the same $500 million would need to be invested in the FAMU engineering college. Hence, the overall cost to set up a two-college system may be prohibitive."

CONTINUE READING

McDonald's 3-Pointer Lifts NCCU to 55-54 Win Over DSU

DURHAM, North Carolina – Anthony McDonald scored a game-high 23 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 27 seconds left, to lift North Carolina Central University to a 55-54 win over Delaware State on Monday night in front of a live television audience on ESPNU.

An electrifying, near-capacity crowd inside McDougald-McLendon Gym energized the host Eagles from an eight-point second-half deficit to their 31st consecutive home victory, the third-longest home win streak in Division I men's basketball.

A home court celebration seemed improbable when Delaware State senior guard Amere May was fouled in the act of attempting a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. Needing two free throws to tie and all three to win, the 83 percent free-throw shooter toed the line and, with more than 3,000 fans roaring, calmly drained the first freebie. After a timeout, May, who made all seven from the charity stripe up to this point, missed his second free throw and a chance to win in regulation. His last attempt, the potential game-tying free throw, also bounced off the rim, sending the fans to mid-court for a post-game party.



During NCCU's game-changing 9-0 run, Jordan Parks deflected a pass, Jamal Ferguson tracked down the loose ball, and, while falling out of bounds, tossed a blind pass over his head to a wide open Parks, who brought down the house with a thunderous two-handed slam.

McDonald finished the night with four three-pointers and was a clutch 9-for-10 from the free-throw line to lead NCCU (16-5, 8-0 MEAC). Senior point guard Nimrod Hilliard, who left the game with an apparent knee injury, but returned to spark the Eagles' comeback, finished with 13 points, five assists and two steals.

Delaware State (10-10, 4-2 MEAC) was topped by Tyshawn Bell with 13 points, while May ended with 12 points.

NCCU will attempt to extend its 10-game win streak when visiting East Tennessee State on Jan. 31.

Watch Replay 

BOX SCORE

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

S.C. State gets key MEAC win over Hampton

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Improved defense and a balanced scoring effort helped South Carolina State (7-15, 5-3) match its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win total from a season ago with a key 65-56 victory over Hampton Monday night before 707 fans at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

With nine games to play, the Bulldogs sit tied for third place in the MEAC standings and remain in the thick of the conference’s regular-season title race.

“There’s plenty of games left,” S.C. State head coach Murray Garvin said. “We’re still competing to try to win a regular season title. We’re coming out and competing, not just to finish a game but to compete for a championship.”

CONTINUE READING

Texas Southern Tigers get a triple overtime win over MVSU

GREENWOOD, Mississippi -- Tonnie Collier scored 26 points including two free throws with 11 seconds left in triple-overtime as Texas Southern beat Mississippi Valley State 85-84 on Monday.

Collier's free throws came after Isaac Williams' jumper put MVSU up 84-83 with 19 seconds left. MVSU had one last possession, but a turnover and foul by Billy Jackson sealed it.

Mississippi Valley State had the last shot in regulation and the first two overtimes, but missed each time.

MVSU's Vacha Vaughn forced overtime with his lone basket of the game, a layup with 50 seconds left.

TSU's Malcolm Riley prompted the third overtime with a jumper with 25 seconds left.

Collier was 8 of 14 from the floor and made five three pointers for the Tigers. Madarious Gibbs added 17 points.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama A&M Bulldogs roll over Alcorn State

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  –  Ladarius Tabb and Adrian Edwards each had a double-double Monday night to help lead the Bulldogs to a 78-66 win over Alcorn State.

Tabb, the No. 3 scorer in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, had a season-high 33 points while Edwards had 13. Tabb also pulled down 12 rebounds and Edwards had 10.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak and lifts the Bulldogs to 4-3 in the SWAC. Alcorn State falls to 3-5 in the conference.

Alabama A&M hits the road this weekend with a game Saturday at Prairie View A&M and Monday at Texas Southern. Monday's game will be televised on ESPNU. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.

Rakiya Battle, who averages 5.4 assists per game to lead the conference, had 12 assists Monday, several to Tabb – including a couple of alley-oop slams.

Marquis Vance led a trio of Braves in double figures with 17 points; LeAntwan Luckett scored 13 and Kenyan Pittman added 10.

The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field and led at the half 42-35.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION