Saturday, February 28, 2015

Virginia State Trojans Releases 2015 Football Schedule

ETTRICK, Virginia  --  The VSU Athletic Department released their 2015 Trojan Football schedule on Monday, February 16.

The Trojans have a strong 2015 schedule with first year Head Coach Byron Thweatt.  "We have a very challenging schedule this year. Opening up with three quality non- conference programs should prove beneficial for us in terms of our ability to establish a new identity in 2015," said Coach Thweatt. "The CIAA is a very tough conference and hopefully we can benefit from having 4 conference games at home."

VSU kicks off their 2015 campaign at home against California University (PA) on Saturday, September 5. This is their second consecutive season opener against a PSAC opponent. The Trojans will then travel to Grenville, TN for their first ever matchup against Tusculum College on Saturday, September 12. On week three, VSU three will come back home to Rogers Stadium to face Kentucky State University on Saturday, September 19.

Following the Kentucky State game, VSU will get into conference play facing Fayetteville State University on Saturday, September 26 at Rogers Stadium.

VSU will welcome Trojan Alumni for Homecoming 2015 on October 17. The team will take on Bowie State University at 2 p.m.

The final regular season home game will be on Saturday, November 7 against VSU's longtime I-95 rivals, Virginia Union University.

For more information on the 2015 Trojan Football season, visit www.govsutrojans.com.


2015 VSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATEOPPONENTLOCATIONTIME
September 5, 2015California PA UniversityEttrick, VA1:00 p.m.
September 12, 2015Tusculum CollegeGreeneville, TNTBA
September 19, 2015Kentucky State University
(Military Appreciation Day)
Ettrick, VA2:00 p.m.
September 26, 2015Fayetteville State University
(Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day)
Ettrick, VA2:00 p.m.
October 3, 2015St. Augustine's College
(Take A Kid to the Game Day)
Ettrick, VA2:00 p.m.
October 10, 2015Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NCTBA
October 17, 2015Bowie State University
(Homecoming)
Ettrick, VA2:00 p.m.
October 24, 2015Lincoln UniversityLincoln, PATBA
October 31, 2015Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NCTBA
November 7, 2015Virginia Union University
(Senior Day)
Ettrick, VA2:00 p.m.
November 14, 2015CIAA Football ChampionshipsTBDTBA
November 21, 2015NCAA Play-OffsTBDTBA
 
HOME GAMES IN BOLD


COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU rips Bethune-Cookman, wins MEAC regular-season title

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Led by stars Jordan Parks and Nimrod Hilliard, N.C. Central slammed Bethune-Cookman 72-49 on Senior Day at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium, clinching the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title and the No. 1 overall seed at the upcoming MEAC Tournament in Norfolk, Virginia.

The regular-season title is the second straight for the Eagles, who went on to win the MEAC Tournament a year ago and gain the league’s only berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Eagles have won 32 conference games in a row, the longest streak in Division I, and extended their home winning streak to 34 games in the process.

The Eagles improved to 22-6 overall and remained unbeaten at 14-0 in MEAC play. Norfolk State (18-11, 11-3 MEAC), which had a bye Saturday, had been the only remaining threat to NCCU’s bid for the No. 1 seed but had to win its final two regular-season games and hope NCCU lost its final three MEAC games in order to remain in contention.

CIAA 2015 Women's Final



The Lincoln Lady Lions (21-7, 11-5) vs. Virginia State Lady Trojans (19-9, 9-7)
LINCOLN GAME NOTES                   
 
Date:                       Feb. 28, 2015
Site:                        Time Warner Cable Arena (19,000)
Game Time:            4:00 p.m.
Television:              ASPiRE TV
Radio:                     HSRN Radio
Live Stats:               http://theciaa.com/sports/wbkb/2014-15/boxscores/20150228_4u19.xml
Live Video:             http://theciaa.com/sports/wbkb/2014-15/boxscores/20150228_4u19.xml
Tournament Page:  http://theciaa.com/bballtournament/index



ASU facing battle for first place with Texas Southern

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State men's basketball team would like to forget its previous meeting with today's opponent.

Last month, Texas Southern shot 55 percent from the field and defeated Alabama State 80-65, handing the Hornets their first conference loss.

The Hornets (16-7, 12-2 SWAC) have won five of seven since that loss and now will look to break the tie atop the SWAC with the Tigers at the Acadome today. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Hornets return home after a pair of nail-biting finishes on the road last weekend.

Against Alcorn State last Saturday, the Hornets hit seven free throws in the final minute to avoid giving up a 19-point, second-half lead in a 71-67 win.

CONTINUE READING

Anthony Mason, Bruising Knicks Forward, Dies at 48

NEW YORK, New York  -- Anthony Mason, a muscular, bellicose forward whose bruising play helped the Knicks reach the National Basketball Association finals in 1994, has died in Manhattan, the Knicks said Saturday. He was 48.

Mason’s death was reported on the Knicks website. He had been treated for heart disease, but the cause of death was not reported.

Mason, who played for six teams in 13 N.B.A. seasons, was an unlikely success story. His college team, Tennessee State, was never a power, and he spent three years on the fringes of the professional game, playing mostly abroad and in American leagues of lesser quality before he became a regular player with the Knicks in 1991 under their new coach, Pat Riley.



Athletic and chiseled at 6 feet 7 inches (he was sometimes listed as 6-8) and 250 pounds or more, he had bowling-ball shoulders, surprising quickness, especially around the basket, and a deft touch with a pass or a dribble in the open court. He also had a fearsome court persona; he gave hard fouls, glared at opponents, badgered referees and never shied away from a scuffle, in or away from the arena.

SLIDE SHOW

CONTINUE READING

Tennessee State University Basketball Legend Anthony Mason Passes Away

ANTHONY MASON
Mason averaged 28 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in his senior year, and was drafted in the third round by the Portland Trail Blazers.

COURTESY TSU SPORTS INFORMATION

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State men’s basketball legend Anthony Mason passed away due to heart complications, Saturday, at the age of 48.

Mason played for Tennessee State University from 1985-88 and left as the school’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 2,076 points. The Miami, Florida native also tallied 894 career rebounds, ranking him sixth in the school’s record book.

The forward was so dominant down-low during the 1987-88 season that he was fouled and put on the line a TSU record 247 times, making 191.

After becoming the school’s first All-Ohio Valley Conference Player in 1988, Mason was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft. He went on to play with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, averaging 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career.

Mason blossomed in New York, leading his team to the Finals in 1994 and winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1995. He was named to the 1996-’97 All-NBA Third Team and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He led the league in minutes played in 1995-’96 (3,457), also setting a Knicks record with the number.

Mason’s oldest son, Anthony Jr., played for St. John’s University while his other son, Antoine, plays at Auburn after transferring from Niagara.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M's Ken Riley inducted into Black College Football Hall of Fame Today

  • FAMU football coach Ken Riley at a practice session - Tallahassee, Florida in 1986. Riley was a former professional American Football defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1986 he took over as the head coach of his alma mater, Florida A&M. Riley coached Florida A&M from 1986-1993, compiling a 48-39-2 record, with two Mid-Eastern Athletic conference titles and 2 MEAC coach of the year awards. Riley then served as Florida A&M's athletic director from 1994-2003.
  • COURTESY: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, Mark T. Foley, Photographer
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Former Bengals cornerback Ken Riley will be inducted into the Black College Football  Hall of Fame on Saturday in Atlanta.

Riley lives on as a legend in Bengals history after a 14-year career (1969-83) where he set the team record for interceptions with 65. The Rattler, as he would be known, ranks fifth on the all-time NFL list for picks and the most by a player with a single team. His nine interceptions in the 1976 season are only topped in Bengals history by the 10 picks by Deltha O'Neal in 2004.

He'll enter the Hall this weekend for his accomplishments at Florida A&M University.

The 2015 Class includes Roger Brown (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), Richard Dent (Tennessee State University), L.C. Greenwood (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd (Grambling State University), Ken Riley (Florida A&M University), Donnie Shell (South Carolina State University) and Coach W.C. Gorden (Jackson State University).

This marks the latest Hall of Fame induction for Riley, who also is a member of Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the Florida A&M Hall of Fame, the Polk County Hall of Fame, the cities of Bartow and Tallahassee Halls of Fame and the public-school Hall of Fame.

Despite his myriad accomplishments in both the collegiate and then professional ranks with Cincinnati, he's still not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earlier this month, Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin made a pitch for his inclusion on the veteran's committee list.

Senate panel OKs removing SC State's trustees

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A Senate panel approved a proposal to fire the trustees of financially troubled South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, one day after the board put the school's embattled president on paid leave.

The subcommittee will consider Tuesday the proposal by Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman of Florence. Co-sponsors include the Senate's Democratic leader and two graduates of South Carolina's only public historically black college.

After more than two hours in a closed-door meeting on Monday, South Carolina State University's Board of Trustees voted to place President Thomas Elzey on administrative leave.

Interim Provost W. Franklin Evans has been named the acting president of the university. Elzey did not comment on the board's decision after the meeting.

Elzey currently has three years left on his contract that pays out about $305,000 per year.

Claflin Shut-out Paine in SIAC Season Opener

NYESHA ARNOLD
COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina The Claflin University softball team defeated Paine College, 11-0, in its 2015 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) opener.  With the win the Lady Panthers improve to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the SIAC.
 
After scoring three runs in the first, Claflin had a breakout third inning.  The Lady Panthers put up seven runs off eight hits and one Lady Lion error to take the 10 run lead.  Claflin put one additional run in the bottom of the fourth for its 11th run of the game. 
 
Nyesha Arnold picked up her seventh win of the season, pitching five innings and allowing only three hits with nine strikeouts.
 
Courtney Taylor was the losing pitcher for Paine, who dropped to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the SIAC.
 
The teams will close out the three game series with a double-header tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 27.  First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Adden Street Field in Orangeburg.


 BOX SCORE

COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

OSU Beavers’ Late Rally Subdues Grambling State Tigers

CORVALLIS, Oregon – Kyle Nobach’s two-run double in the eighth inning snapped a 7-7 tie and sent the Oregon State baseball team to a 10-7 win over Grambling State Friday night at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.

Nobach laced a 1-2 pitch from reliever Creighton Hoover into right field to score two after the Beavers had loaded the bases. Earlier, Billy King, pinch hitting for Joe Gillette, was hit by a pitch, also with the bases loaded, to tie the game at seven apiece.

Jeff Hendrix added a bloop single that scored another run and Mitch Hickey got out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to send the Beavers (6-3 overall) to the victory. Hickey improved to 3-0 on the year while Hoover dropped to 0-2.

Andrew Moore took a perfect game into the seventh inning in his third start of the season. He did, however, not figure in the decision.

Moore’s perfect outing ended with two down in the seventh when the Tigers reached base three times on a single, double and error. Grambling State (2-6) scored two runs on the double but that was all the Tigers managed against Moore, who came out to a standing ovation in the eighth after a season-best 10 strikeouts.

The Beavers went up 5-0 through five innings thanks to Moore’s outing and a solo home run by Gabe Clark.

Clark hit a solo home run in the fifth, a 1-1 pitch he deposited into the parking lot in left field. It was his second run driven in of the game as he reached on a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the third.

Oregon State opened the game’s scoring on a triple by Gillette in the second. The Beavers opened the game up with a three-run fourth that saw Clark’s hit by pitch and a two-run single by Logan Ice.

Grambling State, however, tied the game in the eighth when Larry Barraza hit a grand slam. The Tigers took the lead on a bases-loaded walk.

Ice, Hendrix and Trever Morrison both had two hits to pace the Beavers; for Morrison, it extended his hit streak to five games. Hendrix also extended his hit streak to seven games.

Oregon State and Grambling State conclude their series Saturday with a doubleheader that begins at 1:05 p.m. PT. Fans in the Corvallis/Albany region should note that the game will air on KLOO 1340-AM as Oregon State women’s basketball will be on KEJO 1240-AM.

Fans should take their seats early Saturday as the Beavers’ will honor the 2014 Pac-12 Conference Championship team before the game.

For more information on the Oregon State baseball team, follow the club’s official Twitter account at Twitter.com/Beaver_Baseball, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateBaseball or on Instagram at Instagram.com/BeaverBaseball.

BOX SCORE


SATURDAY GAME DAY
Oregon State (6-3) vs. Grambling State (2-6)
Rasmussen/Eckert vs. TBA/TBA
February 28, 2015 • Corvallis, Ore. • Goss Stadium • 1:05 p.m. PT
The Game
Oregon State and Grambling State wrap up their three-game series by playing two on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader at Goss Stadium is slated for 1:05 p.m. PT.
Radio
The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Network, osubeavers.com and the TuneIn application. All games air on the Beaver Sports Network with pre-game 30 minutes before first pitch. Affiliates include KICE 940-AM (Bend, Ore.), KEJO 1240-AM (Corvallis), KKNX 840-AM (Eugene), KLZS 1450-AM (Eugene),  KCFM 1250-AM (Florence), KCFM 104.1-FM (Florence), KAKT 104.7-FM (Grants Pass - Weekends), KLAD 960-AM (Klamath Falls), KCFM 103.1-FM (Mapleton), KTMT-AM 580 and 96.1 (Medford - Weekends), Fox Sports Radio 620-AM (Portland), KSKR 1490-AM (Roseburg) and KBZY 1490-AM (Salem - Weekends, Weekday Day Games).
Television
The game will not be televised.
Live Video
A free live stream of the series can be found by visiting osubeavers.com. The link is available on the baseball schedule page.
Online
Live stats for the game can be accessed by clicking on the live stats link located on the baseball schedule page on osubeavers.com.
Social Media
Stay informed with all of Oregon State’s official accounts. See below for everything related to Oregon State Baseball.

• Twitter - @Beaver_Baseball
• Facebook - @OregonStateBaseball
• Instagram - @BeaverBaseball
• Pinterest - @BeaverAthletics
• YouTube - @OSUBeaversAthletics
• Snapchat - @BeaversPac12
• Tumblr - @BeaverAthletics

Last Game
Kyle Nobach doubled home two in the eighth to break a tie and help send the Beavers to a 10-7 win over Grambling State in the opener Friday night. Jeff Hendrix, Logan Ice and Trever Morrison all had two hits in the win. Andrew Moore did not get the decision after allowing just three hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out 10.


Related Links


COURTESY OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATION

Earl Lloyd, who died at age 86, made leap from CIAA to NBA

Editor’s note: This story on CIAA legend Earl Lloyd, who died Thursday at age 86, was originally published on March 2, 2007.

FAIRFIELD, Tennessee – Earl Lloyd can’t come up with the number of CIAA basketball tournaments he has attended. There are too many for him to keep track of.

Instead, he remembers the cities.

“Richmond, Norfolk, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, “ Lloyd says. “Now Charlotte.”

Lloyd is perhaps best known as the first African American to play in an NBA game. But this week he is content to be one of the thousands of CIAA fans in town for the tournament at Bobcats Arena.

But he is also one of the scores of former players who faithfully make the annual trip to the event, to reconnect with old teammates, foes and coaches in hotel lobbies and restaurants. They walk together to the games in a glistening uptown arena that’s nothing like what they played in almost 60 years ago.

Lloyd, 78, now lives comfortably with his wife Charlie in a sun-drenched home in a resort called Fairfield Glade, a retirement community that sits atop Tennessee’s Cumberland Gap.



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WSSU rolls into CIAA championship game

CHARLOTTE — Winston-Salem State wasn’t going to be denied a chance to play for the CIAA title.

The Rams, behind the inspired play of Javan Wells, Marquez Jones, Donta Harper and WyKevin Bazemore, beat Fayetteville State 88-70 on Friday night in the CIAA Tournament semifinals. The win sets up a rematch of last year’s CIAA championship game with Livingstone. The Blue Bears advanced with an 83-65 win over Bowie State and will have a chance to defend their title.

The Rams had two scoring spurts in the first half Friday, led by as many as 20, and then turned up their defensive pressure in the second half to ease past the Broncos for the third time this season. The Rams had beaten the Broncos twice in the regular season.

Wells led the Rams (18-9) with 19 points; Jones was right behind him with 17 points. Harper added 13 points and Bazemore was all over the court with 13 points and 16 rebounds to go along with four assists.



CONTINUE READING

Livingstone Advances to CIAA Championship Game By Knocking Off Bowie State, 83-65

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The defending CIAA champion Livingstone knocked off CIAA Northern Division Champion Bowie State 83-66 in the semifinals of the 2015 CIAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on Friday evening.

Livingstone jumped on Bowie State early, opening up a 10-5 lead capped by an Eric Mayo layup at the 16:28 mark. That basket forced BSU to call a timeout to slow the Blue Bear momentum.


The Blue Bears continued to build the lead, going up 17-7 after Ty Newman knocked down a free throw with 12:58 left. After a Bowie State miss, Livingstone's Daryl Traynham hit a long jumper to make it 19-7.

Bowie State cut the Livingstone lead to 21-11 after Julian Livingston scored on a tip-in while being fouled. Livingston's free throw was good to make it 21-12 at the 11:14 mark.

The Livingstone lead ballooned to 29-14 when Traynham converted a fast break layup while getting fouled. Traynham's free throw dropped, staking the Blue Bears to their largest lead. Bowie State responded with a three point play of their own when Justin Beck got a twisting layup to go. Beck's free throw trimmed the Blue Bear lead to 29-17 with 9:21 left. Beck added another free throw to further cut into the lead, making it 29-18.

Livingstone's Eric Dubose added a three pointer, pushing the lead back to 14 points at 32-18. Bowie State's Andre Jackson followed up with a tip-in, but Livingstone's Cristian Henry got a layup to go making it 34-20. Bowie State's Cameron Knox, the CIAA Player of the Year, then knocked down a three pointer, cutting the lead to 34-23 at the 7:07 mark.

After a Ty Newman long three pointer and a Juwan Cole layup, Livingstone found itself on top 40-23 with 5:15 to go. The Blue Bears extended their lead to 42-23 after Dubose made two free throws.

Bowie State would go on a 15-8 run to close the half, but Livingstone's Dwight Adams just beat the halftime buzzer with a tip in to spark the Blue Bears to the 50-38 halftime lead.

Livingstone shot 47.4% in the first half compared to BSU's 37.9%. Livingstone forced 14 BSU turnovers, translating into 13 points. The Blue Bears also pounded the ball inside, scoring 33 points in the paint, compared to BSU's 14 inside points.

In the second half, the Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the Livingstone lead, cutting it to 54-48 with 15:15 remaining on a pair of Justin Beck free throws. Livingstone would respond by jumping back up by nine points (57-48) after a Hakeem Jackson dunk at the 14:33 mark. The Blue Bear lead would swell to 13 points after a Darresse Johnson tip in that made it 61-48 with 11:18 left.

Bowie State would then embark on a 9-0 run over a span of nearly three minutes sparked by a Cameron Knox three pointer from the corner. Knox was fouled on the play, but the resulting free throw was no good. Following a Livingstone miss, BSU would miss a three pointer, giving Livingstone the ball. The Blue Bears' Robert Flint would make a three pointer of his own, making it 64-58 at the 7:08 mark.

Livingstone was able to get to the free throw line after a BSU turnover, their 18th of the game. Livingstone's Daryl Traynham would hit the first shot. After missing the second shot, Traynham boarded his own miss and laid it in, extending the Livingstone lead to 67-58 with 6:56 to play.
Bowie State was able to connect on a pair of free throws to draw within 67-60 with 5:38 on the clock. Ty Newman then connected on a tip in for Livingstone, providing the 69-60 lead. BSU then committed their 19th turnover of the evening, giving the Blue Bears the opportunity to extend their lead.

On the ensuing possession, Hakeem Jackson found his way to the foul line. Jackson drilled two free throws, putting Livingstone up 71-60.

The Blue Bears got another basket from Jackson on a hook shot as the shot clock expired to make it 73-60. Bowie State quickly sped down the floor and Julian Livingston nailed a three pointer from the top of the circle to make it 73-63 with 2:53 remaining.

Bowie State could get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way and Livingstone would go on to hit 10 free throws over the last 2:30 of the game to seal the 83-65 win.

The Blue Bears would place four players in double figures, led by Ty Newman's 18 points. Other players scoring in double figures for the Blue Bears include Daryl Traynham (15), Eric Mayo (12) and Eric Dubose (10). Bowie State's Justin Beck finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds while teammates Cameron Knox and Ahmaad Wilson finished with 17 and 10 points, respectively.
Livingstone's defense forced BSU to shot only 32.2 % for the game (19-59). The Blue Bears also forced 21 BSU turnovers and turned those miscues into 22 points.

The loss drops Bowie State to 22-8 overall. Livingstone improves to 17-9 overall and advances to their third-straight CIAA Championship Game on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. where they will take on the Winston-Salem State/Fayetteville State winner.

Livingstone Head Coach James Stinson:

I think the guys came out with a vision and played hard from the beginning. I think we were able to score inside a little bit more than we're used to. We also did well with not turning over the ball as much.

We knew Bowie would make a run with Cameron Knox (CIAA Player of the Year)

On 19 point lead
Our guys never wavered. I thought they would panic, but we were able to extend the lead. We were able to use our depth and we stayed consistent and were able to hit free throws toward the end.

On 3rd Straight Championship Game Appearance
For the community of Salisbury and Livingstone College, our alumni and fans, we wanted to build our program into a winner and that was our goal. The expectations from our community and fans are to win another one.

I feel like these experiences will translate our players into great men in the future.

Livingstone's Ty Newman
We shared the ball and I feel that we are peaking at the right time (during this tournament).

Bowie State Head Coach Darrell Brooks (with Cameron Knox, Justin Beck)
Livingstone did a great job tonight and beat us in every facet of the game. I was very proud of our guys because they played hard to get back into it. I don't expect this to be our last game and we look forward to moving on to the NCAA tournament
Early on, they got the ball inside, and I think our carelessness with the basketball led to some easy looks inside for them.

On 19 point comeback in the 2nd half.
We talked at halftime and how we needed to do a better job of protecting the basketball and to keep them off the glass. We also didn't want to allow a lot of second shots. Tonight, their size and physicality wore us out.

I didn't think we ran out of energy. We missed some free throws and made some turnovers. Early in the game we were not attacking the zone and were settling for three's. We got more into an attack mode in the second half.

We will go back home and rest for a few days then we will start our preparation for the NCAA Tournament.

On NCAA Bid & Preparations
We have to get back to taking care of the basketball. We're going to get back to working on what we can control, and that is taking care of the ball.
Our first goal this year was to win as many non-conference games as we can, then the (Northern) division, then the (CIAA) tournament.

We are going to lick our wounds, go back and be the best Bowie State team that we can be.
We feel like and we really believe that we have earned an NCAA bid. We're going to get over tonight, and start preparing for whomever. It doesn't matter who we play, we are just going to go get better and see what happens (as to their potential opponent will be).

BOX SCORE

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

Friday, February 27, 2015

Lincoln edges out victory, faces tough Virginia State

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Playing for the CIAA women's title means a chance at school history for Lincoln (Pa.).

The Lions, who returned to the league in 2010, turned back Livingstone 57-55 on Friday in the semifinals at Time Warner Cable Arena to earn a berth opposite Virginia State, which knocked off Shaw 69-47. Lincoln and Virginia State shared the North Division championship and split the regular season series.

"It means the world to us right now," said Lions center Mieana Gaines. "Three or four years ago, nobody even believed in Lincoln. Right now, we're just living in the moment."

Lincoln (21-7, North No. 1 seed) needed a couple of clutch plays by guard Amani Clark in the final seconds to put Livingstone away. Clark hit a layup with 20.7 seconds left and a steal on the Blue Bears' final possession to preserve the win.

Livingstone (26-2), which was the South's third seed after self-reporting an ineligible player, trailed by as many as 10 points early, but scratched its way to a 55-55 draw on Precious Roberts' basket with under a minute to play.

CONTINUE READING

Morgan State Bears Hire Mike Fanoga As Defensive Coordinator

COURTESY MSU ATHLETICS
BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Morgan State Bears announced today that they have named Mike Fanoga as their defensive coordinator.

Fanoga assumes the role of defensive coordinator entering his 28th season of coaching the collegiate level, having spent the previous season at Virginia Union as the defensive coordinator. The Panther completed the season ranked No. 1 in rush defense (93.6), No. 2 in scoring defense (18.8) and No. 2 in total yards allowed (290.9).

Fanoga will take over a Bears defensive unit that ranked 6th overall in total yards allowed per game (356.7) in 2014, including No. 7 in scoring defense (26.5) and a No. 10 ranking in rushing yards allowed per game (203.2).

"We are very excited to have Mike Fanoga as our defensive coordinator," said Lee Hull, entering his second season as MSU's head coach. "He brings vast experience from different levels – FBS, FCS and Division II.

"We look for him to improve our defense," said Hull. "We need to get back to the top of the MEAC and I think he is the right guy to lead us in this direction."

Prior to Virginia Union, Fanoga worked as defensive line coach and linebacker coach at Division II member Benedict College (2012-13), followed by a stop at Lane College in 2011.

Fanoga spent three seasons on Dave Christensen's staff at Wyoming where he coached the Cowboys outside linebackers from 2009-2011. He coached linebacker Weston Johnson, who went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Johnson recorded 106 tackles his senior season, and led the team in tackles for losses (13.0) and interceptions (three).

At New Mexico State, Fanoga was the associate head coach and defensive line coach for four seasons from 2005-08. He helped coach an Aggie defense that ranked No. 1 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and No. 3 in the nation in pass defense in 2008, allowing only 159.4 yards per game. New Mexico State also ranked No. 5 in the WAC in total defense, giving up 379.6 yards per game. The NMSU defense gave up an average of only 20.7 first downs per game -- third best in the conference.

He coached under head coach Hal Mumme at New Mexico State. Fanoga has a long coaching relationship with Mumme, also coaching with him at the University of Kentucky, Valdosta State (Ga.) and Iowa Wesleyan.

While at Kentucky, Fanoga was part of a coaching staff that helped guide the Wildcats to back-to-back bowl appearances in 1998 and `99. Kentucky played in the Outback Bowl following the 1998 season and the Music City Bowl at the conclusion of the 1999 campaign.

Between Fanoga's coaching stops at Kentucky (1997-1999) and New Mexico State (2005-08), he coached the defensive line for five seasons at Western Kentucky (2000-04). Over that five-year span, the Hilltoppers earned their way into the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs each of those five seasons, and captured the 2002 National Championship with a 12-3 record. WKU defeated McNeese State, 34-14, in the I-AA National Championship game. In 2002, the Hilltopper defenders ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring defense (allowing only 16.4 points per game to opponents), were No. 23 in total defense (279.2 yards per game) and were No. 27 in rushing defense (118.9 yards per game).

At Valdosta State from 1994-96, Fanoga served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. His stay with the Blazers was highlighted by a 1996 season that saw Valdosta State reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs after posting a 10-2 record and capturing the Gulf South Conference Championship. In 1994, the Blazers posted an 11-2 mark and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation, led by a defensive unit that ranked No. 2 in the country in scoring defense.

He coached the defensive line and special teams at Iowa Wesleyan from 1990-93. His 1991 Iowa Wesleyan squad earned a berth in the NAIA Division I Playoffs, and finished the season ranked No. 7 in the country in the final NAIA rankings.

Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Livingston University in Livingston, Ala., from 1989-90.

In addition to almost 30 years of college coaching experience, on two different occasions Fanoga participated in the National Football League (NFL) Fellowship program. He served fellowships with the Miami Dolphins in 1998 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2002. The program provides college coaches the opportunity to work with NFL organizations during the offseason to gain insight into the operations of NFL teams and NFL coaching staffs.

Fanoga, a native of American Samoa, is a former linebacker who initially played at Snow Community College in Ephraim, Utah from 1983 to 1984 before transferring to UTEP, where he earned varsity letters in 1985 and 1986 and earned a bachelor's degree in social work. He began his college-coaching career at UTEP from 1987-88.

Fanoga and his wife, Soana, have one daughter, Sydney.

Bear Note:
MSU's additional coaching move includes the promotion of offensive line coach Dwayne Foster to assistant head coach.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Mid-Major Report: Moton has made N.C. Central an annual contender

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- There’s a team out in Durham that has won its last 28 conference games (31 if you count the conference tournament) and is led by one of the most engaging coaches in college basketball. That team is not Duke. It’s North Carolina Central.

Don’t get me wrong; the Blue Devils are really good, and the ACC is a bit of a step up from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but that doesn’t make what LeVelle Moton is building any less of an accomplishment. Now in his sixth season at the helm, Moton has the Eagles (21-6, 13-0 MEAC) poised as a regular contender in the conference. This year will be the team's third straight 20-win season.



When you consider that the Eagles were an independent navigating the journey from Division II to D-I and won just seven games in Moton’s first year, it makes the achievement even greater. Moton, a former Eagles player himself, was inducted into the North Carolina Central Hall of Fame in 2004 and had a standout career at Enloe High School in Raleigh. The team made its first NCAA tournament appearance, a 93-75 loss to Iowa State, last season and has its sights set on getting back there again in 2015.

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Oregon State vs. Grambling State: Beavers baseball series preview

Oregon State vs. Grambling State

Where: Goss Stadium, Corvallis

When: 5:35 p.m. Friday; 1:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. Saturday

On air: No TV, but the series will be live streamed on osubeavers.com; Radio on KEX-AM 1190 (Portland) and KEJO-AM 1240 (Corvallis); Live stats can be found on the baseball schedule page on osubeavers.com

Records: Oregon State (5-3); Grambling State (2-5)

Probable starters: OSU junior right-hander Andrew Moore (1-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. TBA on Friday; OSU freshman right-hander Drew Rasmussen (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. TBA in first Saturday game; OSU junior right-hander Travis Eckert (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. TBA in second Saturday game

OSU's script: After a 2-2 showing at the Surprise Tournament, the Beavers stuck in Surprise, Arizona last week and went 3-1 in the Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge. Their offense thrived for the most part, while the pitching was up and down.

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Day 3 Of The CIAA Basketball Press Conferences



WSSU Escapes Upset Bid By Shaw, 64-61

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- (Feb. 26, 2015) – Sixth-seeded Shaw University battled back from a 10 point second half deficit to tie the game late, but Winston-Salem State held on to take a 64-61 win in the quarterfinals of the 2015 CIAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Rams were able to stake a 15-12 lead, their largest of the first half when WyKevin Bazemore connected on a layup at the 9:31 mark. Shaw, playing in its third game in three days, closed the gap to 15-14 after Joe Reid connected on a pair of free throws with 8:37 left in the first half.

WSSU then raised the lead to four points (18-14) when Donta Harper knocked in a free throw to complete a three-point play after being fouled by Shaw's DeAaron Ward with 7:57 left.

The Rams would go on a 9-1 run over the next minute to stretch the lead to 27-15 at the 6:15 mark after a Donta Harper basket.

With WSSU leading 29-20 at the under four-minute media timeout, Shaw got a dunk from Larry Richardson. Richardson was fouled on the play and converted the free throw, bringing the Bears to within six points at 29-23.

Shaw was able to force four WSSU misses, but could not capitalize, as the Bears committed two turnovers and missed two shots of their own. WSSU was then whistled for an offensive foul to make it five straight scoreless possessions for the Rams. Shaw's AliBaba Odd was able to drive to the basket but was fouled with three seconds left before halftime. Odd knocked down a free throw to cut the WSSU lead to 29-24 at halftime.

The WSSU halftime lead quickly evaporated as Shaw came out of the locker room as the aggressor. The Bears were able to put together a 9-4 run to cut the deficit to two points at 33-31 with 17:08 remaining. During the run, Shaw got a dunk from Larry Richardson. Joe Reid and Koron Reed also added baskets for the Bears.

Winston-Salem State responded, stretching the lead back to seven points at 37-31 after Donta Harper hit one of two free throws.

After the teams traded misses, WSSU freshman Terrell Leach found his way to the line, hitting both shots to boost the lead to 39-31 with 14:25 to play.

WSSU would take the 10 point lead at 41-31 with 13:25 left, but Shaw would cut it to 43-38 after a Reid jumper with 10;55 to play. Shaw continued to drive the ball inside, with Jamar Cooper sliced into the WSSU defense and got a layup to fall and was fouled in the process. His subsequent free throw closed the gap to 45-41 with 9:19 remaining.

After WSSU built the lead back to eight points at 54-46, Shaw again trimmed it to six points, this time thanks to a pair of John Savoy free throws with 5:08 remaining. On the next Ram possession, WSSU returned the favor, with WyKevin Bazemore connecting on two free throws.

Shaw's AliBaba Odd responded by knocking down a three pointer to make it 56-51, but a delay of game technical gave WSSU another pair of free throws. The Rams connected on one attempt to make it 57-51. Shaw then got a Larry Richardson jumper to fall. Richardson was fouled on the play and knocked down the resulting free throw to draw to within 57-54 with 3:45 left.

WSSU's Donta Harper scored on a layup to make it 59-54, but Shaw again worked it inside, drawing a foul. AliBaba Odd knocked down the first foul shot and his second attempt was off the mark. Shaw controlled the rebound but could not get a jumper to fall. WSSU then pushed it ahead, only to commit their 11th turnover of the game. Shaw then got a Joe Reid basket to cut the Ram lead to 59-57 with 2:04 to play.

On their next possession, WSSU's WyKevin Bazemore was whistled for an offensive foul, his fifth of the game, turning the ball back over to the Bears. After a Shaw timeout with 1:26 left, the Bears tied the game when Jamar Cooper scored after a missed three pointer, tying the game at 59-59 with 1:13 left.

WSSU's Marquez Jones was able to get to the line and gave WSSU the 61-59 lead with 42.8 seconds remaining after two free throws.

On Shaw's next possession, a three pointer was off the mark, but the Rams' Javan Wells controlled the rebound and WSSU called a timeout with 20.5 seconds remaining. With Shaw forced to foul to extend the game, WSSU's Wells hit a pair of free throws to make it 63-59 with 17 seconds left.

Shaw quickly pushed it ball up the floor and got a finger-roll layup from Odd with 12.2 left to trim the WSSU lead to 63-61. Shaw then sent Wells back to the line with 11.1 left. He connected one shot, leaving Shaw a chance to ty in the waning moments.

Larry Richardson's three-pointer with two seconds remaining was no good, and WSSU escaped with a 64-61 win.

The Rams got 22 points from Donta Harper and 12 points from Marquez Jones. WSSU also shot 40.7% (19-47) on the game. WSSU also scored 25 points on 26 Shaw turnovers. The Bears got 15 points from Joe Reid and 11 from AliBaba Odd. Playing in their third game in three days, Shaw managed to out-rebound WSSU 37-31.

With the loss, Shaw completes the season at 12-16 while Winston-Salem State improves to 17-9.

Winston-Salem State will take on Fayetteville State on Friday, Feb. 27 at 9:00 p.m. in the second semifinal game of the 2015 CIAA Men's Basketball Tournament.


WSSU Head Coach James Wilhelmi
When Shaw Starting chipping away
"We told them to stay the course. We were fouling a little too much and we told them to keep playing."

On being the last team to play in the Tournament
"We're fortunate to be playing in "prime time" We're lucky that we had a lot of fans able to see us, so we embrace it."

On Semifinal matchup vs FSU
"It's going to be "shock and awe" versus "total chaos" coming tomorrow night. Fayetteville State vs. Winston Salem State, that's classic CIAA basketball and I know a lot of people are looking forward to it.

Shaw Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr.
It was a very exciting game for the fans. It was a very good game. Our guys fought extremely hard. I'm definitely proud of my guys.

"I emphasized in timeouts to stop and score. We got a couple of possessions where we could get a stop and we executed to close the gap."

On Last Shot by Larry Richardson
"Larry (Richardson) is a great shooter. He had two great looks late in the game and I'd let him shoot it anytime."

Joe Reid On the CIAA Tournament
"It was a great experience playing in this tournament. I've never won a game before, so winning two in this tournament was a good feeling. Even though we didn't get it done tonight, it was a great experience. This experience will help me grow as a man."

BOX SCORE

PHOTOS

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION


Livingstone’s lock-down defense stops Lincoln in CIAA men’s basketball tournament

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Livingstone is pretty good when it commits to defense.

The Blue Bears limited Lincoln (Pa.) to 34.8 percent shooting and outscored the Lions 44-30 in the paint to earn an 83-69 win in the quarterfinals of the CIAA tournament Thursday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Livingstone, which won last year’s title, gave the defensive effort coach James Stinson has sought all season but didn’t always get.



“I’d have to say about a ‘C’,” he said. “We did a lot of reaching and we made a lot of mistakes that were not conducive to what we want to do. We left some wide-open shots, but we were fortunate they didn’t make a lot of them.”

Livingstone, the South Division’s second seed, made more than enough to seize a 42-28 lead at intermission, hitting 17-of-33 field goal attempts (51.5 percent) and holding Lincoln, the North’s No. 3, to 9-of-28 (32.1 percent).

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The Lincoln Lady Lions Have Historic Win Over Livingstone

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Lincoln University advanced to its first CIAA Women's Championship Game because the Lady Lions never buckled in the semifinals.

Guard Amani Clark scored a layup and made a key steal in the final 24 seconds to lift the Lady Lions over Livingstone College in a thrilling 57-55 semifinal basketball victory in the CIAA Tournament on Friday, February 27, 2015. The Lady Lions can win their first CIAA title on Saturday against Virginia State University at 4 p.m. The contest will be televised live on the ASPiRE Network.

"It means the world to us right now," Lady Lions center Mieana Gaines said. "Three or four years ago nobody believed in Lincoln. I am just living in the moment."

The Lady Lions, the Northern Division co-champions, defeated a team many thought would be in the finals. Even though the Lady Blue Bears were stripped of 20 wins because of an ineligible player, they were still a formidable unit. At one time, the Lady Blue Bears were ranked as high as fifth nationally in Division II.

But the Lady Lions, the top Northern Division seed, got key contributions from several players to gain the victory. Clark finished with 11 points while guard Courtney Smith and swing player Teira Pendleton each added nine points. All-CIAA center Zephrah Pam had seven points and 10 rebounds before fouling out, and forward De'jah Taylor contributed six points and six rebounds off the bench.
The Lady Lions frontline including Pam, Taylor and Gaines (four rebounds) battled the Lady Blue Bears even on the boards as both teams recorded 51 rebounds. The Lady Lions' guards including Clark, Smith and Alaysia Washington nailed key shots and came up two steals apiece.

Because of their team effort, the Lady Lions never bent when the Lady Blue Bears, the No. 3 Southern Division seed, climbed back in the game from a 10-point halftime deficit.

"It was a dogfight from start to finish," Lady Lions' Head Coach Jessica Kern said. "Coach [Anita] Howard and her team did a phenomenal job. Our young ladies have been playing with a purpose. We never say die. Our [inside] players made several key shots and key stops."

Down 53-48 with 3:38 remaining, the Lady Blue Bears made one final push. Precious Roberts scored four points during a 7-2 run including a midcourt steal and layup to tie the game at 55-55 with 1:09 remaining.

The Lady Blue Bears had a chance to take the lead but missed two free throws with 33 seconds remaining. That set the stage for Clark, who drove to the basket for a layup after catching the inbounds pass at midcourt. Her basket put the Lady Lions back ahead 57-55 with 24 seconds left.

"We wanted to take the bigs away from the basket," Kern said. "Amani made a great read."

Clark clinched the victory when she stripped Amber Curtis as Curtis attempted a three-pointer with three seconds left.

"She came up with a really big stop," Kern said. "That is a momentum builder for her going into the [championship] game."

Livingstone Head Coach Anita Howard never panicked when her team trailed 32-22 at halftime. But the Lady Blue Bears, who shot 30.8 percent from the floor, could never snatch momentum away from the Lady Lions. The 55 points were the third-fewest scored by the Lady Blue Bears this season.

"Lincoln got the best of us," Howard said. "We just missed out on some opportunities at the end of the game and fell short. I thought we would be able to pull out the game. Lincoln was playing pretty consistent."

Curtis scored 15 points for the Lady Blue Bears (8-20 overall). Roberts scored 10 points off the bench and Wende Foster had 10 rebounds and four blocks.

The Lady Lions (22-7 overall) were tenacious in building their first-half lead. The contest was even in the early going but the Lady Lions took charge behind back-to-back three-pointers by Washington. She banked in a three and drained a trey from the corner for a 21-14 Lady Falcons lead. The lead stretched to nine points on a fadeaway jumper by Courtney Lucas.

The Lady Lions had chances to extend the lead, but made only 8 of 17 free throw attempts in the first half. The missed free throws allowed the Lady Blue Bears to trim the deficit. Sophie Lepzem scored two layups and Labrea Walker scored a layup off a steal as the Lady Blue Bears got within 24-20.
It appeared the Lady Blue Bears would gain control, but the Lady Lions finished the first half in a flurry. They went on an 8-2 run to lead 32-22 at halftime.

Pendleton led the Lady Lions with seven points while Clark and Washington each added six points in the first half. Walker scored five points for the Lady Lions, who shot 27 percent.

Kern sensed the Lady Lions would have an exceptional season. Her intuition was correct.

"This is the first offseason that every kid did their individual work," Kern said. "When the girls showed up in the summer, I knew something special was going to happen, I just didn't know what it [was going to be]."

Now she knows.

QUOTES
The Lincoln Head Coach Jessica Kern
"It was a dogfight from start to finish. Coach Howard and her team did a phenomenal job. Our young ladies have been playing with a purpose. We have to do everything that nobody else does."

"Every time you think you are down and can look up, you have a long ways to go. We never say die. If you have the ability to do that on both ends of the floor (she didn't finish sentence). Some really big players came up with big shots and big stops. They do the dirty stuff that nobody puts out on a stat line."

Mieana Gaines (On reaching the finals):
"It means the world to us right now. Three or four years ago nobody believed in Lincoln. I am just living in the moment.

Kern (On Facing Shaw):
"It will be about living in that moment and going into the next. We are going to give our all. They got to make the bunnies under the basket and make free throws."

Kern (On the game-winning layup):
"We wanted to take the bigs away from the basket. Amani made a great read."

Kern (On Clark's game-clinching steal):
She came up with a really big stop. That is a momentum builder for her going into the [championship] game."

Kern (On Lincoln's potential heading into the season):
"This is the first offseason that every kid did their individual work. When the girls showed up in the summer, I knew something special was going to happen, I just didn't know what it [was going to be]."
De'jah Taylor (On Lincoln's potential heading into the season): "We already had in our mind that we were going to the championship in the preseason."

Livingstone Head Coach Anita Howard: (On the loss)
"It is tournament time. Lincoln got the best of us. We just missed out on some opportunities at the end of the game and fell short."

"We got off to a late start on the floor and didn't get into our usual routine. We were also missing two key players and another player was injured. We didn't get a chance to really get a good practice. We figured it out in second half."

I thought we would be able to pull out the game. Lincoln was playing pretty consistent."

"This team has been through many adversities and they stuck it though. I am indebted to them for what they did for me at Livingstone [this season]."

(About Losing Cosby due to ineligibility):
You can't complete a puzzle without all the pieces. We had an unfinished puzzle but we figured it out and moved on. We've been plagued with adversity, but adversity builds character. We bonded throughout adversity.

(On the game-winning layup by Clark of Lincoln):
"We were trying to get a five second call on the inbounds play. We missed an assignment on the outside."

(About first half when Livingstone fell behind by 10):
"It was effort. Lincoln showed that they wanted it more. In the first half, Lincoln got its hands on all the loose balls, and they were taking the ball out of our hands. I told them if you don't want to be in the locker room crying after the game, then show why we are where we are today."

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Southern falls 8-2 to Prairie View in SWAC baseball opener

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Prairie View took advantage of Southern’s pitching and defensive miscues to beat the Jaguars 8-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Lee-Hines Field.

Southern put 12 Panthers runners on base via walks and hit batsmen and committed five errors. Starter Santos Saldivar (0-2) lasted just a third of an inning after three times walking batters with the bases loaded.

Jose De La Torre had a sacrifice fly, and Nkosi Djehuti-Mes hit an RBI double for the Jaguars.

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