FAMU baseball coach Jamey Shouppe: ‘We don’t coach to lose’

FAMU Baseball 2014-2015
Courtesy FAMU Sports Information

Roster

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Rattler fans might like to talk about Florida A&M’s baseball victory over Florida from last season, but coach Jamey Shouppe is only interested in what the Rattlers can do this year.

Shouppe said he knows only perfect execution will give the Rattlers a chance to repeat last season’s hallmark victory against the then-No. 6 Gators.

“We aren’t worried about playing Florida,” Shouppe said.

“We’re just worried about playing the game as well as we can play it. We don’t coach to lose. We’re not going to approach Florida any different from Alabama State next week or the MEAC opponents when we have to face them.”

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Air Force will open football season with FCS Morgan State

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO -- Air Force will open the 2015 football season against Morgan State on Sept. 5 - the Saturday before Labor Day.

Morgan State plays in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and is a member of the Football Championship Subdivision, so this continues Air Force's recent tradition of bringing in an opponent from the lower division to play on Parent's Weekend.

Morgan State, which went 7-6 last year and lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs, released its schedule online Wednesday.



Air Force has not made an announcement regarding the opener or a potential 13th game, which it could schedule because Mountain West rules allow for that flexibility during a season in which a team travels to face Hawaii.

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In the FCS Huddle: Chance to turn some heads

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- Following are the (HBCU) FCS players participating among 320-plus players at the Combine. Buchanan's current draft evaluation is included with each player.

Jerry Lovelocke, QB, Prairie View A&M, 6-5, 200

Big pocket passer who is viewed as a developmental prospect coming out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference ... Has to improve mechanics, but has the physical tools ... Highly experienced after being relied on early in his Prairie View career ... In a 10-game schedule as a senior, he passed for 2,473 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 10 TDs ... Played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl ... Josh Buchanan's draft evaluation: priority free agent.

Robert Myers, OG, Tennessee State, 6-5, 310

Intriguing upside despite never earning higher than All-Ohio Valley Conference second-team honors ... Strong coachability has led to his maximizing athleticism and technique ... Has fared well with movement in the run game and against the pass, although he will face challenges against stronger NFL defenders ... Has the body frame to put on more weight ... Participated at the Senior Bowl ... Josh Buchanan's draft evaluation: fourth-fifth round.

Lynden Trail, OLB, Norfolk State, 6-7, 260

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Hampton, Burroughs seek to reshape Lane College athletics

Derrick Burroughs: Director of Athletics

Courtesy: Lane Athleticsi

JACKSON, Tennessee -- Derrick Burroughs headed south from Jackson to a bigger Jackson in the fall of 2013, and he expected it to be a one-way trip.

Hired to be a defensive coordinator at Jackson (Miss.) State, he left Lane College and worked one year for the Tigers. To his surprise, he was not retained after the 2014 season.

Burroughs returned to Lane in January, but in a sense it's not the same place. While Burroughs was gone Lane hired a new president, Dr. Logan Hampton. Penny Minter and Malik Hoskins resigned as athletic director and football coach, respectively, making room for Burroughs to take both jobs.

He and Hampton want to improve the perception and performance of Lane's athletic program, and in recent interviews they explained their motivations and preliminary plans for doing so.

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How basketball legend Cheryl Miller found her way to Langston

LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Stretching out along the Oklahoma plains, the horizon shows no hint of the coming sunrise when Cheryl Miller and her team start practice.

Their campus is as dark as the sky. Dorm windows. Academic buildings. Not even the electronic sign on Highway 33 is blinking its normal hello to passers-by.

But every light at the fieldhouse blazes.

Pull open the glass doors, and you hear them. Voices shouting. Basketballs bouncing. Follow the sounds up some stairs, down a hallway and through blue doors, and you find them.

And there on the court at Langston, you find Miller. The greatest women’s basketball player that the game has ever seen stands silently on the sideline. She wears a white do-rag, a red long-sleeve shirt and black sweatpants. On the back of the shirt are the words, “LIFE IS GOOD”.

Yes, it is.

When Miller was introduced as the women’s basketball coach at the small historically black college last spring, many wondered what the world was going on. An Olympic gold medalist? A former major-college and WNBA coach? A longtime NBA sideline reporter on TNT? What was she doing at Langston?

Photo Gallery: Cheryl Miller at Langston 



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Florida House Bill Could Be Detrimental to Homeless Students in the State

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The HB 4031 proposes to eliminate payment of tuition and fees at school districts that provide workforce training programs and public post-secondary educational institutions for students who do not have a regular nighttime residence or sleeping accommodations.

Kevin Priest, CEO and president of Capital City Youth in Tallahassee, Fla. is motivated to prevent homelessness, delinquency and dependency for youth.

“I don’t know why a bill would prohibit someone from furthering their education. It should be the exact opposite,” Priest said.

The bill was introduced by Republican Rep. John Tobia and would become effective July 1, 2015. Tobia was elected into the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 and has been in the house ever since.

According to The Washington Times, over 58,000 college applicants claimed to be homeless in 2013.

“The bill will have a negative impact on students’ ability to pay college costs,” said Lisa Stewart.

A Look Into The 'Double Lives' Of America's Homeless College Students 
(Click to Read Story)


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UDC Firebirds Remain Locked at No. 4 for 3rd Straight Week in D2SIDA East Region Poll

Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore scored 19 points and had three steals as Firebirds roll 79-61 
to sweep Molloy College Lions and earn 10th straight win. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team remained No. 4 for the 3rd straight week in the Week 13 D2SIDA East Region poll released today.

The Firebirds (21-3) won their 9th and 10th games in a row, respectively last week as they defeated the No. 8 ranked team in the region, Queens, 66-61 on Wednesday night, and Molloy, 79-61 on Saturday afternoon. They are currently No. 1 in the East Coast Conference standings – a league which also features the No. 7 and 8 ranked teams in the region – Roberts Wesleyan (16-5) and Queens (16-6) – as well as NYIT who is also receiving votes.

Fourteen of UDC's 21 wins (the 2nd most wins in the East Region) have come by double-figures, and the Firebirds are 7-1 outside of conference play and 11-1 on the road this season. UDC also boasts a win over a top-25 ranked team as they dominated No. 25 Virginia State, 88-62 back on November 19th.

Ahead of UDC are the same three Northeast-10 Conference teams from the previous two weeks: Stonehill, Adelphi and New Haven. Adelphi – which suffered a 66-61 loss at No. 5 Franklin Pierce last week, fell from No. 1 to No. 2 in the poll. The Panthers are 22-3 overall and ranked No. 9 in the most recent WBCA Top-25 national poll. Stonehill, previously ranked No. 2 in the poll, jumped Adelphi and moved to No. 1 in this week's East Region poll after a pair of home wins vs. Assumption (71-64) and Southern New Hampshire (64-49). The Skyhawks are currently No. 15 in WBCA National Poll and are 20-2 overall this season after clinching the NE-10 Northeast Division Regular Season Championship on Wednesday. New Haven stayed put at No. 3 in the poll after a pair of home wins vs. Le Le Moyne (80-64) and Pace (83-73).

UDC will visit Oakdale, NY on Wednesday night to take o
n ECC foe Dowling and then return home to host league foe Bridgeport on Saturday.

EAST REGION

Rank	School (First-Place Votes)	W-L	Pts.	Prev.	Last Week's Results
1	Stonehill (3)	20-2	30	2	WH Assumption (71-64); WH Southern N.H. (64-49)
2	Adelphi	22-3	27	1	LA Franklin Pierce (66-61); WA Southern Conn. (77-62)
3	New Haven	21-3	24	3	WH Le Moyne (80-64); WH Pace (83-73)
4	Dist. Columbia	21-3	21	4	WH Queens (66-61); WH Molloy (79-61)
5	Franklin Pierce	14-8	18	6	WH Adelphi (66-61); WH Saint Anselm (80-72)
6	USciences	18-5	15	5	WA Wilmington (57-56); LA Dominican (N.Y.) (65-59)
7	Roberts Wesleyan	16-5	9	9	WA Bridgeport (73-61); WA Dowling (79-67)
8	Queens	16-6	8	8	LA Dist. Columbia (66-61)
9	Philadelphia	18-5	6	7	WH Holy Family (80-65); WA Nyack (69-56)
10	Southern Conn.	13-11	3	t10	LH Adelphi (77-62)
Also receiving votes:			NYIT, Le Moyne

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTS INFORMATION

Small lineup helps Southern offense

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- After Southern lost to Jackson State last Monday, coach Roman Banks analyzed his substitution pattern.

He was searching for answers in the wake of a 62-52 defeat in which the Jaguars offense had gone stagnant. They shot 37 percent and scored their fewest points in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game this season.

Banks decided to tweak his rotation when Southern returned to the court at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday night.

At times, he surrounded 6-foot-10 Keith Davis with four perimeter players to spread the defense and create better shot opportunities.

It paid off as the Jaguars shot 49 percent and scored their second-most points in a SWAC game this season, beating UAPB 74-56.

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Ram Ramblings: Livingstone player trying to fight back

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I realize this is a blog about Winston-Salem State athletics but the Livingstone debacle with the use of an ineligible player obviously affects the Rams’ women’s program.

Because Livingstone’s record is now 4-19 (it lost to Johnson C. Smith today) instead of 22-1 the Rams will be a higher seed once the CIAA Tournament starts in nine days. The Rams moved up in the Southern Division and are now tied with Livingstone at 4-4.

Obviously this changes everything for the CIAA Tournament, or maybe it doesn't. The Blue Bears could still win the tournament, but it won't be easy with Crosby in street cloths. Shaw is the four-time defending champion.

On her Facebook page Coach Anita Howard posted: "This too shall pass!" in reference to a link to an article about the forfeiture of 18 games.

The athlete in question was leading scorer Kyra Crosby, a transfer from Alabama and Georgia State. Crosby, who was ...

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CIAA Tourney Time

2015 CIAA TOURNAMENT PAGE | PURCHASE TICKETS | RESERVE HOTEL ROOMS

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber CEO and president, talks with Jacqie McWilliams, CIAA commissioner, about the 2015 men's basketball tournament and why the organization chose to move its headquarters to Charlotte.

MSU Hosts Hampton on ESPNU Monday Night

Game Dates: Monday, February 16, 2015
Opponent: Hampton Pirates (10-14, 6-5 MEAC)
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 9:05 p.m.
Television:  ESPNU - Dr. Jerry Punch (Play by Play), Stan Lewter (Color Analyst)
Record:  MSU 7-18 (5-6 MEAC)
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman (150-134 - 9th yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com/www.hamptonpirates.com

MSU Notes | Hampton Notes | Watch Live |  Live Stats  |  Live Audio  |  Twitter Updates 


BALTIMORE, Maryland –The Morgan State men's basketball team (7-18, 5-6) will try to win its fourth straight game on Monday when it hosts Hampton (10-14, 6-5), a team the Bears lost to on December 8 at HU Convocation Center. The game marks the finale of a 4-game home stretch for the Bears. Tip-off is set for 9:05 p.m. at Hill Field House. MSU enters the contest coming off a 73-70 win against Norfolk State. The Pirates will enter the ballgame fresh off a 6-game layoff and riding back to back wins. Monday night's game will be televised live on ESPNU and available on the WatchESPN App.

IT'S OK TO BE A FOLLOWER 
MSU men's basketball fans can follow their favorite team, or any of the other MSU athletics programs on Twitter through the handle @MorganStBears.

LAST TIME OUT
Feb. 14, 2015 -- Andrew Hampton hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points -- both career highs -- andCliff Cornish hit two free throws and blocked a shot in the final seconds to help Morgan State upset Norfolk State 73-70. Hampton, a sophomore walk-on, had played just 28 minutes and scored nine points all season before hitting 6 of 7 field goals, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Cedric Blossomscored 19 and Emmanuel Matey had seven points and eight assists.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES
• The Pirates welcomed back 11 letterwinners and four starters, from a squad that posted a 18-13 overall record, and finished 2nd place with an 13-3 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
• Edward Joyner Jr. (Johnson C. Smith '95) enters his sixth season as the Pirates head men's basketball coach. He currently holds a 92-92 record as a head coach.
• Dwight Chievous leads the Pirates by averaging 12.8 ppg and a team-best 7.3 rpg. Quinton Chievous (10.8)and Reginald Johnson (10.7) are also averaging double-digits for the Pirates. Deron Powers leads the Pirates in assists by averaging 3.7 dishes per contest.

FOR THE RECORD
MSU will square off against Hampton for the 39th meeting in history between the two schools.
• The Pirates lead the series 24-14.
• Deron Powers had 17 points, Quinton Chievous scored 13 and Hampton held on to beat Morgan State 62-58 on Dec. 8, 2014.
• The last win against the Pirates was on Feb. 4, 2014 when the Bears held on for a 94-92 double-overtime win in an ESPNU nationally televised game at Hill Field House.

MORGAN STATE TABBED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
Morgan State was picked to finish third in the 2014-15 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball preseason poll behind defending regular season champion North Carolina Central.

BLAKE BOZEMAN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior guard Blake Bozeman was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Third Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.

BOZEMAN IN THE MEAC FACTS
Morgan State has made six MEAC Tournament Championship appearances in eight seasons under head coach Todd Bozeman.
• The Bears have won a pair of MEAC Tournaments titles (2009 & 2010).
• Bozeman has led the Bears to 17 of the school's 32 MEAC Tournament wins.
• He was the 2009 and 2010 Outstanding Coach of the MEAC Tournament.
• Morgan State has advanced to the MEAC Semifinals seven times in the last eight seasons under Bozeman.

COMFORTABLE AT HILL FIELD HOUSE
Todd Bozeman has won at least 10 home games in three of his eight seasons in Baltimore. The 2007-08 (12-1) and 2009-10 (11-1) squads finished with just a single loss, while the 2010-11 squad went 10-2. Bozeman has led the Bears to a 71-28 (.717) overall home record at Hill Field House. The Bears are 5-3 at home so far this season.

ROAD UNKIND
The Bears finished 5-9 in true road contests and 3-3 on neutral floors in 2013-14 and posted a 5-3 road conference ledger.
• This season's schedule will send MSU on the road for 20 games, including a trip to Cancun, Mexico.
• The Bears captured its first road win of the season with a 73-69 win at Delaware State (Jan. 10), MSU is 1-13 on the road.

FRESH FACES
Morgan State's roster includes eight (8) newcomers in graduate students Jordan Omogbehin (C) andZech Smith (C), redshirt sophomore Cliff Cornish (F), and freshmen Jamar Redmond (G), Conrad Chambers (G), Clive 'C.J.' Vaughan Jr. (G), Jeremiah Curtis (F) and Anthony 'A.J.' Vernon (F).

BEWARE THE BEAR
Under the direction of Todd Bozeman, Morgan State has collected a couple of memorable wins against big-time opponents. The Bears have recorded historic wins against: Long Island (2009); Manhattan (2009); Arkansas (2009); DePaul (2008); and Maryland (2009).

 COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Race is factor in South Carolina State ‘mess’

Phil Noble
Businessman
Co-founder, Envision South Carolina

By Phil Noble

CHARLESTON, South Carolina --Let’s begin with the obvious: South Carolina State University is a mess. No, it’s way beyond a mess; it is on life support and its very existence is in grave danger.

But it can be fixed and, in fact, the solution is fairly straightforward. It’s not rocket science; if GM can go from the brink of extinction to making a profit in less than 24 months, then S.C. State’s problems can be solved.

The barriers to these solutions are politics, race, intransigence, corruption and political dysfunction — sort of a microcosm of the problems that are afflicting our state today and have been for generations.

This is not the place to recount all the problems of S.C. State; that would take a book. Suffice it to say, the finances have been incompetently — if not criminally — mismanaged for years. Corrupt politicians have tried to use S.C. State as their own profit center, triggering some, though not nearly enough, jail terms for a number of school officials. It is hemorrhaging students, with a 40 percent drop in enrollment since 2007.

CONTINUE READING

Phil Noble is a businessman in Charleston and serves as president of the SC New Democrats, an independent reform group founded by former Gov. Richard Riley. He is co-founder of Envision South Carolina and author of "A New Golden Age for South Carolina."

SCSU supporters suing state: Legal action claims S.C. has caused problems via segregated system

 “If it shuts down, it will never re-open — not a chance.”

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- A group of former and current South Carolina State University students is suing the state, claiming South Carolina has caused the institution’s financial problems by funding competing programs at traditionally white schools.

Using the same approach as similar lawsuits in Mississippi and Maryland, Orangeburg attorney Glenn Walters says the state has perpetuated a segregated system in violation of federal law.

At the same time, he says there have also been mistakes at S.C. State, a historically black university.

“There has to be this mea culpa – everybody has to admit their sins. ... What we want is a constructive dialogue and in order to have that dialogue, we have to be honest about the past,” he said.

The lawsuit was filed Friday at the end of a tumultuous week for S.C. State. A House subcommittee called for the closure of the debt-ridden university for two years while its finances are straightened out, citing a lack of transparency. That isn’t expected to happen.

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South Carolina must prove it wants to save SCSU

Dr. Kofi Lomotey
Bardo Distinguished Professor
Western Carolina University

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A South Carolina State House of Representatives subcommittee and the House Ways and Means Proviso Subcommittee want to close South Carolina State University (an HBCU) for two years — firing all trustees and employees and starting anew in two years.

While I do not know as much as many with regard to the circumstances surrounding the issues on this particular campus, I do know there has never been an instance where a state has closed down an HBCU (temporarily or otherwise) seeking to make the institution better. This situation smells of politics, nay, racism.

Have you ever heard of such a proposal for another public institution of higher education? In fact, it appears to be an effort to permanently close another HBCU. Moreover, it sets a dangerous precedent; What will happen to the numerous other black institutions that are struggling? Will other states try to close them also, claiming to seek to save them — with little or no input from the people on the campuses?

Actually, I believe there are some colleges and universities — including some HBCUs — that have some grave problems that in many cases have persisted for decades with no serious corrective actions. But the proposed solution in South Carolina is not the answer.

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Dr. Kofi Lomotey has taught at SUNY-Buffalo and LSU. He was Provost at Medgar Evers College-CUNY and at Fisk University. He served as Chancellor at Southern University and President at Fort Valley State University. Kofi earned a PhD, Stanford University,1985; MEd, Stanford University,1981; MA Cleveland State University,1978; and BA Oberlin College,1974.  BIO 

Livingstone College women forfeit 18 games

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE
OFFICIAL RELEASE

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Livingstone’s women’s basketball team, which was 22-0 and ranked No. 5 in the nation, has reported to the CIAA and the NCAA the use of an ineligible player.

According to a release sent out by Livingstone the school determined that the player — Kyra Crosby, a senior from Atlanta who was the team's leading scorer at 14.8 points a game — was improperly certified for this season. Crosby transferred to Livingstone before the season from Alabama.

Livingstone’s president, Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., said in the release that the school will forfeit the 18 games Crosby competed in. The CIAA confirmed that Livingstone’s record now stands at 4-18.

We rely on our athletics department to ...

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE OFFICIAL RELEASE

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Serious allegations leveled against ASU football coach

The contract ASU trustees approved will pay Jenkins a first-year salary ($175,000) that's $90,000 less than what he was earning at Bethune-Cookman ($265,000).

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins turned the Bethune-Cookman University football program into a winner, but off the field former players and coaches say the program was rife with rules violations and teetering on the edge of dysfunction because of the animosity between them and Jenkins, who is the new head coach at Alabama State University.

In the past month, the Montgomery Advertiser was contacted by, or made contact with, more than a dozen former players and four former coaches from the school in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With one exception, they independently provided nearly identical details of rules violations and what they felt was Jenkins' mistreatment of players.

Allegations against Jenkins and his program include:

•Improper benefits provided to players;

CONTINUE READING 

Offense leads Southern past UAPB

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern followed its lowest point total in a conference game this season with one of its highest.

The Jaguars bounced back from a 62-52 home loss to Jackson State on Monday by beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 74-56 on Saturday night in the H.O. Clemmons Arena. They scored their second-most points in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game this season.

Southern beat Mississippi Valley State, which it visits Monday, 79-55 on Jan. 19. The Jaguars improved to 9-3 and 12-14 overall. The Golden Lions are 5-7 and 8-18.

“We showed great effort tonight,” Southern coach Roman Banks said. “I’m really proud of how we responded. There’s no question we were disappointed with the way we played in our last game, but I think that made us focus better and we played with a much more consistent effort.”

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4-point play gives Panthers 61-60 victory against Rush

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Teviin Morris' 4-point play with two seconds remaining Saturday lifted Philander Smith to a 61-60 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana.

RJ Daniels fouled Morris as he made a 3-pointer to tie the score at 60. Morris then made a free throw, and Xavier's Morris Wright missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Morris scored 22 points — he made all nine of his free throws — for the Panthers (16-6, 6-3 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference). Aquill Baynard had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Sydney Coleman scored a career-high 23 points, 16 in the second half, for the Gold Rush (19-8, 8-3), and Wright scored 16. Wesley Pluviose-Philip grabbed a season-high-tying nine rebounds.

Xavier trailed 35-30 at halftime and 48-38 with 13:05 remaining, but the Gold Rush rallied to lead 60-57 on Wright's two free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

Xavier produced a season-best 10 steals and outshot the Panthers 38.6 to 31.4 percent from the floor. Philander Smith made seven 3-pointers, four more than Xavier.

For the second straight game, Xavier was denied its 20th victory of the season. The loss dropped the Gold Rush into third place in the GCAC. Xavier will visit the new second-place team, Tougaloo, at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Xavier's next home game will start at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/  

FAMU Rattlers Defeat A&T Aggies 57-50 For First Win of Season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Rattlers (1-23, 1-10 MEAC) got their first win of the season in a 57-50 win over the Aggies of North Carolina A&T (6-20, 3-8 MEAC). Jermaine Ruttley and Jorge Rosa combined for 46 points to lead all scorers in the game.

Ruttley, shot .500 from the field, going nine-of-18 from the field, including four-of-seven from the three-point arc. Rosa, went six-of-14 from the field, three-of-nine from three-point range. Rosa also went seven-of-eight from the free throw line. Ruttley also led the Rattlers with nine rebounds.

Denzel Keyes was the only Aggie in double-figures with 13 points. He rounded out his double-double with 12 rebounds.

Jermaine Ruttley scored 24 points to lead all scorers.
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

FAMU jumped out to a 10-point lead, scoring the first 10 points behind hot shooting from Ruttley. They would not relinquish the lead until the second half. That was only momentarily as they took the lead again and held on until the end.

Several times this season, the Rattlers have outscored their opponents in the second half, but dug such a steep hole in the first half, the lead was too much to overcome. “I felt I needed to come out aggressive if we were to win tonight,” Ruttley said. “I felt like if I could get it going, Jorge would feed off of that and it worked out tonight,” he added.

“These kids…if you could see how they get after it and battle in practice, you would not be surprised at the outcome tonight,” head coach Byron Samuels said.

The Rattlers led by as many as 13 points in the game. While NCA&T held a 24-18 point lead in points in the paint and a decidedly lopsided 18-0 in points in the paint, FAMU’s 38.8 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 70.6 percent from the free throw line, were the stories of the game. The Rattlers were able to come up with key buckets when they needed to.

What’s next for the Rattlers: FAMU will take on the defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central University Eagles, Monday at 8 p.m.in the Lawson Center.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rush and Nuggets win duals against William Carey

XU women's tennis vs. William Carey Photo Gallery

photos by Yamlak Tsega

NEW ORLEANS -- Both Xavier University of Louisiana tennis teams earned dual-match home victories Saturday against William Carey. The Gold Rush won 7-2, and the Gold Nuggets won 6-3.

It was the second victory of the season for the XU men (3-1) against a ranked NAIA opponent. The Gold Rush, ranked eighth in the NAIA, are 3-0 at home.

Kyle Montrel, Nikita Soifer, Manav Chakma and Tushar Mandlekar won in doubles and singles for the Gold Rush. Chakma clinched the dual with his 6-2, 6-2 victory against Andreas Brune at No. 5 singles. Soifer, unbeaten in doubles and singles this semester, and Montrel dropped a combined four games at the top two singles flights.

The Gold Nuggets (4-3), ranked third, got doubles and singles victories from Sha'Nel Bruins. Freshman Caroline Vernet clinched with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles against Caroline Vernet. NAIA champion Nour Abbes improved her XU career singles record to 34-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 decision against Audrey Leitz.

William Carey's men are 0-1, and its women are 0-2. William Carey will play host to both XU teams at 3 p.m. March 19 in Hattie
sburg, Miss.

Both Xavier teams will break for Mardi Gras. The Nuggets will return to the court at 3 p.m. Saturday at the University of New Orleans. The next Gold Rush dual will be 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at home against Alcorn State.

Facebook photos:  Men    Women

Results:  Men    Women

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/  

Davis and Morrow Lead TSU in Win over EKU

Nashville, Tennessee -- Tennessee State had two players to score at least 20 points in an, 86-74, win over Eastern Kentucky, Satuday night in the Gentry Center.

The victory extended TSU’s winning streak to four games and improved the team’s overall record to 12-12 (9-4 OVC).

Tennessee State trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but outscored Eastern Kentucky, 48-33, in the second frame.

Briana Morrow led the charge for the Lady Tigers posting a career-high 24 points to go with 13 rebounds for a double-double. I’mani Davis also registered a career-high with 23 points. Chelsea Hudson notched her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 boards.

Eastern Kentucky was led in scoring by Michaela Hunter’s 19 points while Shelly Harper and Shameekia Murray each tallied 14. Harper also pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double.

TSU got off to a slow start and fell behind, 11-4, early in the half. The Lady Tigers responded with an 8-2 run to pull within one, however. After briefly taking a one-point lead, another scoring drought saw the home team sink into a, 32-19, hole.

Brianna Lawrence knocked down a three-pointer from the corner to end a four and a half minute scoring skid but the Lady Tigers still trailed by double-digits.

A steal and break-away layup by Lawrence cut the deficit down to seven before the Lady Tigers rallied to go into the halftime break only down by three.

TSU scored the first four points of the second half to go ahead, 42-41, and from there, the teams traded buckets.

The Lady Tigers were able to create a small five-point cushion after back-to-back triples from I’mani Davis. The six-point spurt forced an EKU timeout.

The Lady Colonels scored out of the timeout to make the score, 53-50, but consecutive buckets from Briana Morrow followed by a Jayda Johnson layup gave TSU a double-digit lead with 11:04 remaining.

By the 7:35 mark, TSU had built its advantage up to, 70-56. Despite a late push by the opponents, the Lady Tigers maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way.

TSU outscored EKU, 44-26, in the paint and held a, 57-42, advantage in rebounds.

Tennessee State will have a week off before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Jacksonville State. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. in Pete Mathews Coliseum.  

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION