BTW’s Donnita Rogers accepts Langston AD position

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- Booker T. Washington boys basketball coach Donnita Rogers, who previously served as Grambling State’s women’s basketball coach, has accepted the athletic director’s position at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma.

Rogers, 47, will replace former USC athletic director and Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett in leading Langston’s nine sports, including football, along with men’s and women’s basketball. Langston competes in the NAIA’s Red River Athletic Conference along with LSUS.

“It is bittersweet, because I absolutely love my boys and the BTW community. This was an extremely tough decision,” said Rogers, who indicated she received a
call “out of the blue” from Langston president Kent Smith Jr. “But opportunities like this don’t come up very often, so I believe this is the best move for my career.”

Langston announced in mid-April that the 71-year-old Garrett, who was hired in 2012, was leaving his position to pursue other interests. Rogers, one of the few women coaching a boys basketball program in the state, crafted the Lions into winners during her three years (two as a coach) at the Shreveport school. Her final team went 22-9 and advanced to the LHSAA Class 3A quarterfinals.



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Alcorn State University names Montez Robinson Head Men’s Basketball Coach

HEAD COACH MONTEZ ROBINSON
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BRAVES

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State University Director of Athletics Derek Horne announced today that Montez Robinson has been hired as the Braves new head men’s basketball coach.

For the past four seasons, Robinson has served as an assistant coach for the Bethune-Cookman University Men’s Basketball program. In his time at Bethune-Cookman, the Wildcats advanced to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament quarterfinals twice with a trip to the championship game in 2012.

“Robinson is an experienced recruiter and developer of dynamic talent,” said Horne. “Combine all of that with his commitment to academic achievement and we have a coach who is a good fit to develop a first-rate basketball program.”

Robinson served as the camp director for the Bethune-Cookman Men’s Basketball Fundamental Camp, Elite Camp and Team Camp for the past two years. He was also the lead coach for working directly with post players, including All-MEAC Tournament selection Anthony Breeze.

“It’s extremely exciting to become the head men’s basketball coach at Alcorn State University where knowledge and character is the emphasis both on the court and in the classroom,” Robinson said. “Alcorn has an impressive vision for the basketball program and I am looking forward to building a foundation of success. I cannot wait to start working with current players and incoming freshmen.”

Prior to his time at Bethune-Cookman, Robinson spent six seasons at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Kennesaw, Georgia.

While at KSU, Robinson helped the team to transition from Division II to the Division I level of athletics. In just their first season of reclassification, KSU reached the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament semifinals and won more games than any other in NCAA history for a team in reclassification in a four-year period. They would go on to rank amongst the To
p 5 in the mid-major polls.

While at KSU, Robinson helped identify and recruit top-rated athletes. He helped coach the conference’s Freshman of the Year, as well as five members of the all-league team. Robinson coached a total of 14 Players of the Week, with seven players going on to play professionally.

Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from North Georgia College & State University and a master's degree in transformative leadership from Bethune-Cookman University.

Robinson and his wife, Leah have two children, Tezlyn and Montez Jr.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State Wins 10th Women's Outdoor T&F Championship

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
2015 CHAMPIONS

NORMAL, Alabama -- Alabama State University claimed their 10th Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship Sunday at Louis Crews Stadium in Normal, Alabama. The Lady Hornets secured the top spot earning them their fifth consecutive conference outdoor title with a point total of 284. This also marks the third consecutive season that ASU takes home the SWAC Triple Crown (Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track and Field).

Texas Southern finished in second place with 104 points, Prairie View came in third with 100 points, Southern finished fourth with 83 and Grambling State rounded out the top five with 72 points. Arkansas Pine Bluff (57), Alcorn State (50), Alabama A&M (34), Mississippi Valley (22) and Jackson State completed the scoring finishing with 13 points.

Individually, Sydnee Worlds of Arkansas-Pine Bluff earned Most Outstanding Field Performer honor rolling up 26 points through four events.
Artrailia LaSane of Alabama State claimed the Most Outstanding Track Performer accolades for the second straight season, finishing with 36 points. She took first place in the 1500 Run (10) and Steeplechase (10).

Other top finishers included Narricka Williams Ferebee (Alabama State) winning the 100 Meter Hurdles.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SWAC
Alexis Ferebee – Alabama State
Santina Williams – Alabama State
Tatiana Etienne – Alabama State
Artrailia Lesane – Alabama State
Paige Rankin – Alabama State
Narricka Williams – Alabama State
Doenca Bookman – Prairie View
Alicie Terrell – Alabama State
Tyler Anderson – Grambling State
Sydnee Worlds – Arkansas Pine Bluff
Briana Radford – Southern
Georgeanna Felder – Southern
Karina Foster – Texas Southern
Lori Davis - Alabama State
Robyn Hancock – Alabama A&M
Kourtney Lacey – Alabama A&M
Angela Uhegwu – Prairie View
Tatiana David – Alcorn State
Jada Curbea, - Prairie View

SECOND TEAM ALL-SWAC
Dikerria Wilson – Alabama State
Creshonda Carter – Grambling State
Tierra McGowan – Texas Southern
Brandee Ebert – Alabama State
Shakalia Williams – Alabama State
Sydney Edwards – Texas Southern
Sarah Westbrook – Prairie View
Ashley Shepard – Southern
Kadijah Gordon – Alabama State
Kenya Wheeler – Grambling State
Dominique Edwards – Alcorn State
Imani White – Alabama State
Carla Leblanc – Southern
Destiny Thurmond – Alabama A&M

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Grambling State Wins Seventh Straight Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
2015 CHAMPIONS 

NORMAL, Alabama  -- The Grambling State Tigers claimed their seventh straight conference title on Sunday at the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Louis Crews Stadium. GSU scored 170 points to earn their 11 title overall, earning Bertram Lovell Coach of the Year honors.

Texas Southern finished the meet second with 127 points, while Prairie View was third with 125 points. Jackson State was fourth with 87 points and Mississippi Valley State rounded out the top five with 86 points. Southern was sixth (67 pts), Alcorn State Alabama State eighth tied for seventh (48) with Alabama A&M (41) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (15) closing out the scoring

Individually, Micah Hill of Mississippi Valley State was the championship’s Most Outstanding Field Performer scoring 26 points.

Jesus Hernandez of Grambling State was the meet’s Most Outstanding totaling 27 points.

Other top finishers included Kameron Cowan from Grambling State winning the 100 Meter Dash (10.16) along with his teammate Jameal McTear winning the 200 Meter Dash (20.97). Prairie View’s Michael Prejean finished first in the 110 Meter Hurdles (13.63). D’Andre Lewis of Texas Southern won the 1500 Meter Run with a time of 4:02.90 with Tammarick Johnson of Jackson State claiming the 400 Meter Dash (46.88).

Hernandez (Grambling State) crossed the line first in the 5000 Meter Run (15.55). Ian Williams of Texas Southern took first place in the Men’s Triple Jump with a distance of 49-11.00 (15.21m). Devauntay Brown (Alabama State) matched last season’s mark finishing first in the High Jump 6-09.00 (2.06m), Jawalyn Brooks (Texas Southern) came away with the highest mark in the Pole Vault with 13-11.25 (4.25) topping his mark from last season, while Prairie View’s Sorone Batiste won the 800 Meter Run clocking in at 1:50.14.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SWAC
Kameron Cowan – Grambling State
Jamael McTear – Grambling State
Tamarick Johnson – Jackson State
Sorone Batiste – Prairie View
D’Andre Lewis – Texas Southern
Jesus Hernandez Grambling State
Michael Prejean – Prairie View
Dannie Luckey – Prairie View
Romello Nalepa – Mississippi Valley State
Devauntay Brown – Alabama State
Jawalyn Brooks – Texas Southern
Demetrius Williams – Texas Southern
Ian Williams – Texas Southern
Micah Hill – Mississippi Valley State
Deshaun Allen – Jackson State
Phillip McClain – Grambling State
Afton McClammy – Alabama A&M
Charles Hughes – Alcorn State
Khalil Upshaw – Southern
Darryl Jones – Alcorn State

SECOND TEAM ALL-SWAC 
Keon Campbell – Prairie View
Lloyd Benjamin – Southern
Montieco Harris – Grambling State
Jose Medina – Texas Southern
Bentrell McGee – Jackson State
D’ante Almo – Jackson State
Quin-Tarius Crenshaw – Prairie View
Christopher Amisial – Alabama State
Maurice Buchanan – Alabama State
Chauncey Wells – Grambling State
Samuel Reese – Grambling State
Christopher Bazile – Grambling State
Trauvon Martin – Texas Southern
Lawerence Williams – Southern
Maurice Jones – Alabama A&M

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Rush, Nuggets lose 9-0 at NCAA-ranked West Florida

PENSACOLA, Florida -- Xavier University of Louisiana's men's and women's tennis teams lost dual matches Sunday to NCAA Division II-ranked West Florida. Both scores were 9-0.

The Gold Nuggets' Nour Abbes and the Gold Rush's Kyle Montrel both won the second sets of their singles matches at the top flight, then lost third-set super-tiebreakers.

Abbes, a sophomore and the NAIA's top-ranked singles player, lost for just the third time in 48 XU singles decisions. The Argonauts' Laure-Eline Faure defeated Abbes 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 1-0 (10-5).

Montrel lost 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (12-10) to Alex Peyrot.

Montrel and Vincenzo Ciccone also lost a doubles tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-2) to Pablo Borrero and Pablo Tellez at No. 3. Montrel and Ciccone led 8-7 in games and were tied at 2 in the tiebreaker.

Xavier didn't win any other sets. At women's No. 3 doubles, Brion Flowers and Brandi Nelson lost 8-5 to Katarina Dikosavljevic and Giovana Patitucci after leading 5-4.

The duals were the first for the Gold Nuggets (15-9) and Gold Rush (12-7) since March 31. The XU women are ranked seventh in the NAIA, and the men are No. 6.

West Florida's women (25-3) are No. 8 in NCAA Division II, and the men (24-3) are No. 2.

The Nuggets and Rush will learn if they qualify for the NAIA National Championship with at-large bids after a coaches poll is announced next Sunday. Another coaches poll will be announced Tuesday.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Baylor College of Medicine Partners with Texas Southern University to Provide Healthcare for Student Athletes

HOUSTON, Texas -- Sports medicine physicians at Baylor College of Medicine are now the official team physicians for Texas Southern University men’s and women’s athletic teams.

Through this new collaboration, Baylor Sports Medicine physicians will handle all aspects of TSU’s team medical care, including on-site injury evaluation and assessment, treatment and follow-up clinic visits. Baylor physicians and athletic trainers from both Baylor and TSU will be on the field, court, and track for TSU home and away football games as well as men’s and women’s basketball and track events.

“I am excited to introduce the expertise and resources of our multidisciplinary sports medicine team to the student-athletes at TSU,” said Dr. Theodore Shybut, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor, who travelled with the men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament last month. “Our goal is the provision of high value, individualized, evidence-based care, with a strong emphasis on injury prevention and innovative treatment of sports injuries. We are honored to partner with another landmark Houston institution and we look forward to developing a program that enhances student-athlete health and achievement.”

“We are extremely excited to have the expertise of the Baylor College of Medicine sports physicians and athletic trainers in the care and prevention of injuries for our student-athletes,” said Dr. Charles McClelland, vice president for intercollegiate athletics at TSU. “Baylor College of Medicine has a reputation of providing high quality and personalized patient care, they bring the latest technology and treatment to the forefront of patient care and their doctors are among the best.”

“We are thrilled about this new collaboration with the TSU Department of Athletics and look forward to working alongside their staff,” said Dr. Thomas Hunt, chair of orthopedic surgery at Baylor. “Baylor sports medicine combines excellence in multidisciplinary patient-centered care with cutting-edge prevention and treatment strategies to help TSU student athletes attain their goals like never before.”

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MVSU Opens the Student-Athletic Academic Success Center (SAASC)

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Valley State University's athletic department has a great reason to celebrate, the grand opening of the Student-Athlete Academic Success Center.

For the first time in the history of athletics at "The Valley" the student-athletes have a learning center and a staff on hand to assist them in their studies. Ms. Sherese Parker, who serves as the Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services/Senior Women Administrator, leads the SAASC staff.

"The opening of the Student-Athlete Academic Success Center today was phenomenal! It has been a much anticipated event, and to have our NCAA partners on campus today to share in the opening, made it an even greater occasion," said Ms. Parker.

Parker also stated, "This center will be is a critical component in the continued academic success of our student-athletes. Being able to have academic support staff (counselors, a learning specialist, interns and tutors) in the same centralized area will make it easier for students to connect with academic resources. This will add to the proactive strategies being put into place to improve our current APR and maintain (and surpass) the NCAA requirements. I am excited for the future of athletic academic services here are Mississippi Valley, and even more elated for the student-athletes it will serve."

Student-athletes, representing every sport, were present and given an opportunity to speak candidly with the NCAA representatives as a part of the day festivities. There were a few seniors present during a roundtable with the NCAA staff, however they were just as excited about the changes as the underclassmen.

"Today was a great day in "The Valley" for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and athletics stakeholders to see a promise fulfilled. The Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) grant has solidified the vision of Dr. Bynum and Mrs. Ford-Kee for our program. It was a privilege to see the reactions on the students and coaches faces as they walked into the center, commented Ms. K. Renia Edwards, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs.

"Ms. Parker and her staff will be able to engage the student-athletes in several different mediums to enhance their academic, social and professional development during their time at MVSU. This will help in our recruiting efforts and enhance our graduation rates in the future. A special thanks to the Oversight Committee, the faculty and staff that serve in the roles of certifying our student-athletes to represent MVSU with pride," stated Edwards.

Today was a day of smiles and celebration in "The Valley" and it shall be remembered for years to come. The student-athletes were able to see that the department and NCAA are deeply invested in their education and future success.

Mrs. Dianthia Ford-Kee (Athletic Director) said, "Today was a historic moment in MVSU athletics for our student-athletes. We wanted to commemorate the grand opening of our new Student-Athlete Academic Success Center in a manner that our student-athletes would not forget. Having the grand opening [of the center] while the NCAA AASP Grant Team was on campus, meeting about our progress in Year 1 of the initiative would prove to be a highlight of their visit. It also provided the NCAA AASP Grant Team the opportunity to witness the impact of the grant resources to transform the space within the Academic Skills Parlor into a new computer lab, tutorial lab, lounge area, office space for the staff and meeting space."

Ford-Kee finished with, "I'm proud of my staff and the members of the Oversight Committee for supporting the vision as well as the collaborative effort being done to bring about change to improve academic support services for our athletes. The grant resources will continue to make a difference in the academic success of our student-athletes for years to come."

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JSU Getting to Know: Robert Johnson, IV

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Jackson State University Sports Media Office recently sat down with rising sophomore and Raymond, Mississippi native Robert Johnson. Last season as a true freshman, Johnson averaged 4.8 yards per carry, finishing the season with 304 yards and a touchdown on 64 carries. He also caught 12 passes for 112 yards for a 9.3 yard per reception average.



COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State Freshman Jailah Mason Sets New Penn Relays High Jump-College Record

Jailah Mason
Hometown: Sterling Heights, Michigan
High School: Adlai E. Stevenson HS

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- Morgan State freshman Jailah Mason set a school and Penn Relays record in the high jump on Thursday during the 121st edition of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mason's personal-best height of 6-00.5 in the high jump-college, broke the previous Morgan State and Penn Relays mark of 5-10.75, which was set by Brittany Robinson during the 2006 Penn Relays.

Fellow freshman Jess St. John would place ninth in the shot put-championship with a throw of 46-11.

On Friday, Shenel Crooke ran a time of 11.91 in the 100 meter dash to finish 15th.

121st Penn Relays
April 22-25, 2015
Philadelphia, Pa.

Morgan State Finishers

High Jump College
1. Jailah Mason, 6-00.5

Shot Put Championship
9. Jess St. John, 46-11

100 Meter Dash
15. Shenel Crooke, 11.91

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M Moves into First Place with 9-4 Win at Fenway Park

BOSTON, Massachusetts – Florida A&M (17-22, 13-8 MEAC) moved into first place in the MEAC Southern Division after completing the sweep over North Carolina Central (19-25, 12-11 MEAC) by a score of 9-4 on Saturday at Fenway Park. The Rattlers scored six runs over the final four innings and Ryan Kennedy’s two-run home run over the Green Monster in the eighth inning sealed the win. The FAMU bullpen held NCCU scoreless and with just three hits over the final 3.2 innings.

Alec Wong led the offense going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Michael Birdsong added a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

Rattler reliever Brandon Fleming (6-1) earned the win after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief with two hits and a season-high four strikeouts. Starting pitcher Ryan Anderson pitched 5 1/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout.

NCCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind Christian Triplett’s two-run home run over the Green Monster. Ronald Thompson led off with a walk and Triplett blasted a two-run home run down the left line that was just fair.

The Rattlers grabbed their first lead, at 3-2, with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jeremy Barlow doubled off the Monster while Peter Jackson and Jared Walker drew back-to-back to load the bases with two outs. Wong then tied the game with a two-run single into right field. Walker broke the tie as he scored on a passed ball that went through the legs of Eagle Catcher Kocalcik.

Florida A&M pushed its’ lead to 4-2 with a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marlon Gibbs doubled into the left center gap, with one out, and was awarded third on a balk. After Ryan Kennedy walked, AJ Elkins brought home Gibbs with a sacrifice fly to left.


N.C. Central would tie the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Triplett cut the FAMU lead to 4-3 as he led off the inning with his second home run of the game over the Monster. Eric Kimber quickly followed with a double to right and advanced to third on a sac bunt from Kovalcik. Trevor Theissen then tied the game as he plated Kimber with an RBI single to right. Theissen stole second and took third on the errant throw as Barlow tried to catch Theissen stealing second. Brandon Fleming would come in for relief and struck out the next two batters to keep the game tied.

FAMU broke the game open with three runs in the sixth to make the score 7-4. Jackson walked to start the home half of the sixth and went to second on a sac bunt from Walker. Wong’s single to left would put runners on the corners with one out and Wong later moved to second on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch allowed Jackson to score from third and Wong to go to third. Still with one out, Gibbs walked as runners were now on the corners to force another pitching change as Andrew Vernon came in for the Eagles. Gibbs stole second as Kennedy struck out looking, before Wong came home on a passed ball and Gibbs was able to score on a wild pitch.

Kennedy’s two-run home run into the second row of the Green Monster, in the eighth inning, put the game away by a final score of 9-4.

NCCU reliever Kyle Shields (2-4) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Shields only recorded one out with one walk. Starter Devin Sweet lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits with five walks and one strikeout.

Florida A&M will be off this week due to finals, but returns to action next weekend at North Carolina A&T for the final MEAC series of the season. Game one is Saturday, May 2 at 5:00 PM ET and the series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, May 3 beginning at noon.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Freshman Romero Hines Wins Long Jump at Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania  --  Redshirt freshman Romero Hines helped the Norfolk State men's track and field team cap its 2015 outdoor season in style by winning the college section of the men's long jump on Friday at the Penn Relays.
 
Hines set a new personal record for the second time in three meets, leaping 7.51 meters (24 feet, 7.75 inches) to top the field of 40 athletes. His previous best was a mark of 24-3.5 from the Hampton Relays two weeks ago.
 
Hines also ran a leg on the Spartans' 4x200 meter relay team on Friday. He joined Steve Coles, Jaylen Carr and Michael-Thomas Brownas the quartet finished second in its heat and 14^th overall out of 44 teams in the event.
 
Freshman Chris Lee also competed Friday in the shot put, recording a best throw of 15.32 meters (50-3.25).

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications

COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Hampton Pirates Win Two Relay Titles at Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- Relay gold is a big deal at the historic Penn Relays, which were held at Franklin Field this past Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and the Hampton University men's track & field team won two such races.

The Pirates took home gold in the IC4A final of the 4x200-meter relay and the college final of the 4x400-meter relay.

Jasper Savoy (Branywine, Md.), Trey Holloway (Chesapeake, Va.), Justin Beatty (Bowie, Md.), and Chidi Okezie (Philadelphia, Pa.) ran a 1:24.36 in winning the 4x200 IC4A race, after turning in a 1:25.88 – the 11th fastest time – in the heats.

Beatty and Okezie were also on the 4x400 squad – along with Edose Ibadin (Glendale, Md.) and Rayon Black (Kingston, Jamaica) – that took college gold with a season-best 3:08.67.

Holloway was also sixth in the 110-meter hurdles with a 14.11 – after running a season-best 13.87 in the heats.

Donmanique Hardy (Lawrenceville, Va.) was sixth in the college long jump with a mark of 7.26 meters (23 feet, 10 inches).

On the women's side, Hampton turned in a pair of top-seven finishes in the relay events, finishing seventh in the championship final of both the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay. Tanisha Greene (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Le'Quisha Parker (Silver Spring, Md.) were on both squads.

Greene and Parker teamed with Kristian Young (Dallas, Texas) and Meshala Morton (Stafford, Va.)
to run a 46.79 in the 4x100 final, while Greene, Parker, Ce'aira Brown (Philadelphia, Pa.), and Malekah Holland (Brooklyn, N.Y.) ran a 3:38.88 in the 4x400 final.

The 2015 MEAC Outdoor Championships will be held this coming Friday and Saturday at North Carolina A&T's Irwin Belk Track in Greensboro, N.C. The Lady Pirates are the defending MEAC outdoor champions, as well as the reigning indoor champs.

For more information on Hampton University track & field, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

RESULTS

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Chris Clack throws 3 TDs, But Morgan State Defense posts victory in Spring Game

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Chris Clack entered today's Blue-Orange Spring Game as the Bears' third string, but his play on the field showed that he is certainly in the race for the starting quarterback position.

The redshirt sophomore-to-be completed 8 of 13 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Blue, however it was the Orange who held on for a 62-57 win before a spring-game crowd at Hughes Stadium.

"Chris [Clack] did a great job," said Coach Lee Hull. "Chris always tells me, 'Don't forget about me coach, I'm in this race coach.' "

"He did a great job today. He had very good command of the offense and he hit the receivers when they were open. He did a great job!"

Coach Hull was enthused about the overall performance of his team.

"I thought the game was very competitive on both sides of the ball," said Hull. "It [the game] came down to the very last play. Because it was tied (57-57), that's why we went for it on fourth down... so if the offense made the first down they would've won, and if the defense stopped them they would've won. The defense came up with the stop to win the game."

"The game turned out exactly how I wanted. It was a very competitive game and everybody was competing. There were a lot of good things, and there were some bad things that we have to clean up. But for the most part it was a pretty clean game."

Defense had dominant moments throughout the contest. Ayodeji Agbelese registered three of the 10 sacks for the Orange.

"I thought they flew around and made plays," Hull said of the defense. "They didn't have any takeaways or turnovers, but they played sound and that's what you really want."

"They made it hard on the offense to move the football. I like what I see out of them so far!"

The game was played under partly sunny skies with temperatures in the 60s.

Trailing the defense 25-8, Clack helped put the Blue team on the scoreboard when he hit Maurice Lewis on a 53-yard scoring pass with 11:51 left in the half. He also tossed a 16-yard TD strike to freshman wideout Ryan Davis, followed by a 41-yard TD pass to Aaron Strums.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Nuggets reach NAIA qualifying mark in 400 relay again

Clarke Allen #1263 & Devinn Rolland #1275

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Chelsea James, Tylor Row, Clarke Allen and Devinn Rolland ran the 400-meter relay in a national qualifying time of 48.13 seconds Saturday and finished third at the Southern Miss Invitational track and field meet.

The Gold Nuggets met the B-standard for next month's NAIA National Championships at Gulf Shores, Ala. It's the fourth time this season that the XU women produced a qualifying mark in this event.

James, Allen and Rolland were part of the other three XU qualifying marks. Row ran this relay for the first time this season.

Xavier's best 400-relay time this season was a school-record 47.22 April 11 at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships.

Also earning top-10 finishes for Xavier were Rolland (5.20 meters/17 feet, three-quarters of an inch) and Ireyon Keith (5.09 / 16-8 1/2) in the long jump and Row in the 100 hurdles (15.76). Rolland was fifth, Row placed sixth, and Keith finished eighth.

The meet was Xavier's sixth of the outdoor season and probably the final one before nationals. Tulane canceled its May 2 meet in which Xavier planned to compete. The NAIA National Championships will be May 21-23.

Here are all of Xavier's Saturday results from the Southern Miss Invitational:

Women
 100:  Chelsea James, 12th in 12.40; Devinn Rolland, 15th in 12.71; Katelyn McMorris, 19th in 13.01
 100 Hurdles:  Tylor Row, 6th in 15.76
 400 Relay:  Chelsea James, Tylor Row, Clarke Allen, Devinn Rolland, 3rd in 48.13
 Long Jump:  Devinn Rolland, 5th in 5.20 meters (17 feet, 3/4 inch); Ireyon Keith, 8th in 5.09 meters (16 feet, 8 1/2 inches)

Men
Did not compete

Results

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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WSSU Rams Roll Over VSU Trojans 13-0; Clinch CIAA Regular Season Crown

North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State Rams rode the arm of Sam Burton on the mound, and Dylan Dombrowskas and Nathan Steger hit back to back home runs in the third inning to propel the Rams to a 13-0 beating of the Trojans this afternoon at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, NC.

With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 32-13 overall, 12-1 in the CIAA, while Virginia State falls to 23-13 overall and 8-5 in the CIAA.

The Rams also earn their fourth consecutive CIAA regular season crown, and will go into next week's CIAA Tourney as the top seed.

WSSU got on the board early, as Nathan Steger singled to right scoring Des Roberts and Colby Keene in the first inning to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.

The Rams added three runs in the third inning, as Connor Andrus doubled to start the inning and Dylan Dombrowskas homered to left field. Nathan Steger followed with a solo home run to give WSSU a 5-2 advantage.

Winston-Salem State would blow the game wide open with eight runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings, to give the Rams a 13-0 win.

Sam Burton pitched a masterful game for the Rams, throwing a complete game, giving up just two hits, with three walks and five strikeouts in the shutout. Only three balls left the infield on the afternoon.

Nathan Steger led the Rams with the bat, going 5 for 5 on the afternoon, with one run scored and five runs batted in. Des Roberts went 3 for 3 with three runs scored and one run batted in, while Jacob Barber went 2 for 5 with three runs batted in. Dylan Dombrowskas was 2 for 4 with one run scored and two runs batted in, and Connor Andrus was 2 for 4 with three runs scored and a run batted in. Taylor Idol also finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and one run batted in. Colby Keene went 1 for 4 with a run scored, and Chris Kane also went 1 for 4 with a run scored. Rashad Webster also scored a run on the afternoon.

The Rams and Trojans will have a long day on Sunday, as they will attempt to play three, seven inning games, to finish the regular season. The teams will look to start the first game between 11:30am and 12pm, depending on field conditions from this evening's rain. All games will be played at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, NC.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

QB competition key in UAPB Spring Game

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Ben Anderson didn't miss a significant snap because of injury over the last four years. And other than a rough patch in his first game as starting quarterback as a freshman, Anderson didn't miss any because of ineffectiveness, either.

Over the last four seasons Anderson provided Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach Monte Coleman with something every coach can appreciate: quarterback stability. The Little Rock Parkview graduate started 45 games, set school records for passing and total offense and helped deliver the Golden Lions a SWAC championship in 2012.

Coleman is facing the flip side of that luxury now, trying to find a replacement for a player who has been so dependable from a pool of players who have virtually no substantial experience.

"You've got nothing," Coleman joked Saturday regarding UAPB's quarterback experience. "You've got to start over. But it's a good starter."

In reality, Coleman has plenty.

Four quarterbacks took turns guiding the offense during a 90-play final spring scrimmage Saturday at Golden Lion Stadium. Sophomore Marcus Terrell, who threw three passes last season, and junior Nolan Sorensen took turns leading the Black team offense, which consisted of the No. 1 offense and defense; and sophomore Brandon Duncan and freshman Collin Willis took turns with the Gold team.

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AAMU Bulldogs sweep doubleheader from Alabama State to win Magic City Diamond Classic

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Rickwood Field has seen its share of baseball history in its more than 100 years of existence.

On Saturday, a new chapter was written when the Bulldogs swept a doubleheader from Alabama State, 8-3 and 5-2 to win the inaugural Magic City Diamond Classic.

It was the first series sweep of the Hornets by A&M since 2010 and the wins ended ASU's streak of winning 17 straight series.

The Bulldogs are 16-8 in the SWAC East (24-24 overall), 1 1/2 games behind first-place Alabama State (16-5) and .033 percentage point behind Jackson State (14-6).

In the first game Saturday, Andrew Utterback and Dustin Dhanani each homered as Joshua Freeman picked up his second straight win.

In the nightcap, A&M scored two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth inning en route to the win.

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Bulldogs scored when Ty Russell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Austin Hulsey to tie the score. And, one out later, Dhanani was walked with the bases still loaded and Utterback scored for a 2-1 A&M lead.

In the fifth inning, Ben Lott hit a one-out triple and scored on Hulsey's single. After Utterback singled, Julio Nunez ripped a double, driving in Hulsey and Utterback for a 5-1 lead.

Utterback finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Nunez was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Starter Caleb Bowen went five innings giving up a run on two hits and four walks. Taylor Knight pitched three innings of scoreless relief and Utterback picked up his sixth save of the season pitching in the ninth inning.

Dhanani had three RBIs in the opener and Utterback drove in two more runs.

Dhanani's first RBI came in the second when he singled to score Justen Folger.

Utterback homered in the third inning with Ben Lott on base for a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Dhanani homered to left field to score Jordan Friend for a 5-0 lead.

After the Hornets scored in the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs countered when Justen Folger singled to drive in Hulsey for a 6-1 lead.

The Bulldogs' final two runs came in the seventh inning when Patrick Dodson scored on a wild pitch and Friend's foul ball sacrifice fly scored Utterback from third base.

Hulsey, Utterback, Folger and Dhanani each had two hits while Utterback also had 2 RBIs and a run scored.

Freeman pitched seven innings and struck out seven to pick up the win. Devin Smith and Utterback closed out the win.

BOX SCORE 1

BOX SCORE 2

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Georgia Regents Augusta Jags Advance To DI Golf Championships With Win At MEAC Tourney

SAVANNAH, Georgia – With round three cancelled due to weather, the GRU Augusta men's golf team won the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men's Golf Tournament Championship at the Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga., by 36 strokes to advance to the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships.

LIVE SCORING

A new face to the conference, the Jaguars became an associate member of the MEAC in September. The team ranked No. 49 entering the championship in Golfstat's head to head rankings.

Due to inclement weather in the third and final round, the Jaguars, with a 36-stroke lead following the second day of competition, earned the conference title and automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship. With an unfinished shotgun-start in Saturday's play, all scores returned back to the completed 36 holes of the second round, confirming GRU as the champion.

The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Selection Show will air May 4 at 10 a.m. on the Golf Channel.

The Jaguars combined to shoot a 19-under par 557 through 36 holes of the tournament and had 43 combined birdies through two rounds. Robin Petersson won the event for the Jags, while Maverick took second and Broc Everett third to highlight the Jags.

GRU's Robin Petersson, who led the field with a 5-under par 67 after day two, was named the Most Outstanding Performer. For the tournament, Petersson carded 12 birdies, two bogies and one double bogey to finish 8-under par 136 overall.

GRU's Jake O'Keefe was named Outstanding Coach. "This was fantastic," said Coach O'Keefe. "Our guys played well and to win was our goal. It was a nice feat and to have all of our guys finish in the top 10 was great. I look forward to representing the MEAC in the NCAA Regionals and we will continue to do our best to keep this going."

GRU's Maverick Antcliff finished in second place after shooting a one-under par 71, four strokes from the overall lead in the second round. Antcliff carded three birdies and two bogeys to combine for four-under par thru 36 holes.

Viktor Edin registered an even par in round two and finished seven strokes from the overall lead with a one-under par 143.

GRU's Broc Everett finished in a tie for third with Bethune-Cookman's Ian Clark, at 2-under par 142. Everett fired a 3-over par 75 and Clark finished a 1-over par 73 in the second round.

Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State finished tied for second place at 17-over par 593 to receive the 2015 Co-Runners Up award.

Florida A&M finished fourth at 31-over par 607. North Carolina Central (625), Maryland Eastern Shore (658) and Hampton (663) round out the seven-team field.

For more information on the MEAC Men's Golf Championship or other sponsored sports, visit www.MEACsports.com.

The Division I Men's Golf Selection Show will air Monday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. on the Golf Channel.  For more information on the MEAC Men's Golf Championships or other sponsored sports, visit www.meacsports.com.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow GRU Athletics at www.jaguarsroar.com and receive short updates on Facebook at GRU_Jaguars and on Twitter at @GRU_Jaguars.

COURTESY GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY AUGUSTA MEDIA RELATIONS

Change coming with JCSU's Blount; Rebuilding is certain for 2015 campaign

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith football in April won’t be the same when September rolls around.

The Golden Bulls have a new head coach in Kermit Blount and player turnover is coming through graduation. If Blount’s history is an indicator, he’ll emphasize an attacking style based on personnel.

“You’re going to see a team that’s going to be very aggressive on the field and competitive on the field and doing all the right things off the field,” he said.

The good news for Blount is he gets a chance to remake the program in his own image, especially on offense, where the majority of last year’s skill position players are graduating. The Golden Bulls weren’t very productive in 2014 as JCSU scored an average of 13.2 points per game, worst in the 12-team CIAA. The Golden Bulls were shut out four times and managed just 277.7 yards on offense. Change was in the works, but changing coaches and philosophies accelerate the process.



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Jared Walker’s Big Day Lifts FAMU To Doubleheader Sweep Over NC Central

PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island – Jared Walker’s offensive outburst lifts Florida A&M (16-22, 12-8 MEAC) to a doubleheader sweep over North Carolina Central (19-24, 12-10 MEAC) on Friday at McCoy Stadium. After having to switch venues due to unexpected field conditions at Jim Rice Field in Roxbury, Massachusetts, FAMU swept NCCU 6-3 and 3-1 at McCoy Stadium, 46 miles away in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, at the home of the Pawtucket Red Sox. Walker went 7-for-8 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored on the day. The Rattlers scored three runs in the sixth inning to take game one 6-3 and held the Eagles to just one run in the fourth inning of game two.

Ryan Kennedy and Peter Jackson each added three hits on the day.

The Rattlers scored as many runs in the bottom of the first inning of game one as they did the entire series against NCCU in Durham earlier this season.



Marcus Roberts (1-0) earned his first career win after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and didn’t allow a hit with two strikeouts. Kenny McDonald walked the first batter he faced, but struck out the very next batter for the final out to record his sixth save of the season. Rattler starter Chase Jarrell tied a career-high with six strikeouts while working five innings in the no decision. Jarrell allowed three runs on five hits with one walk.

Brandon Fleming (5-1) took the win in game two as he recorded the final two outs of the fourth inning. Alex Carrasco worked the final two scoreless innings for his first save of the season. Game two starter Ricky Page worked 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

The Eagles scored first in game one with a single run in the top of the first inning. Eric Kimber led off the game with an infield single and stole second before Mitchell McCary’s sac bunt advanced him to third. Carlos Ortiz was hit-by-pitch with one out, Ronald Thompson struck out and Christian Triplett was also hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Conrad Kovalcik then drew a bases loaded walk to score Kimber from third for the first run of the game. Jacobi Harris would then strike out to end the inning and keep the scoring damage at one run.

FAMU answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Walker led off the home half of the first by ripping a single back up the middle and moved to third as Alec Wong followed with a single through the right side. Walker would score from third as Marlon Gibbs reached on a fielder’s choice bunt back to the pitcher, but an errant throw home trying to catch Walker scoring allowed Wong and Gibbs to go to second and third. Wong then scored the second run on Kennedy’s RBI single to left.

NCCU regained the lead, at 3-2, on Triplett’s RBI double with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. McCrary singled up the middle and advanced to third on Thompson’s two-out double down the right line. Triplett followed with a two-run double down the right line to give Central the lead in what proved to be their final runs of the game.

The Rattlers took the lead for good with three runs in the sixth inning for a score of 5-3. Kennedy led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt from AJ Elkins. Brian Davis would then tie the game at 3-3 with an RBI single through the right side. Michael Birdsong followed with a single to right to place runners on first and second with one out and Jeremy Barlow loaded the bases with a walk. After a strikeout to Jackson, Walker put the Rattlers in front with a two-run single to center for his third hit of the day.

Florida A&M added one more run in the eighth for the final score of 6-3.

NCCU Starter Cameron Scalzo (2-1) suffered the game one loss, for his first loss of the season, after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

In game two, the Rattlers scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Walker led off with a walk and moved to second as Gibbs was hit-by-pitch with one out. After Kennedy flew out to left, Elkins plated Walker with an RBI single back up the middle.

N.C. Central had a scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning with two outs and runners on second and third, but Triplett struck out to end the scoring threat.

Central would tie the game at 1-1 with a single run in the top of the fourth inning. James Dey walked with one out, moved to second on a passed ball before Cory Williamson also walked to put runners at first and second. That forced a pitching change as Brandon Fleming came in for relief of starter Page. Fleming walked the first batter he faced in Theissen and Dey scored next to tie the game as McCrary beat out a double play ball at first base on his grounder to short.

FAMU answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning to take back the lead for good at 2-1. After a Barlow walked and Walker singled to left with two outs, a throwing error by Eagle second baseman Williamson allowed Barlow to come around and score the go-ahead run.

The Rattlers tacked on another run in the fifth inning to push their lead to the final of 3-1. Kennedy led off with a rare infield double as his pop fly was brought back across the diamond by the wind. Elkins advanced Kennedy to third with a sac bunt then Kennedy and Birdsong executed the double steal as Kennedy stole home. Kennedy was in a run down trying to score, which allowed Birdsong to advance all the way to third as Kennedy worked his way out of the rundown to score.

Florida A&M and North Carolina Central will close out the three-game series on Saturday at Fenway Park in Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM and will be televised on the New England Sports Network (NESN). Freshman Ryan Anderson will be on the hill for the Rattlers.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

TSU Stout, Fultz Named to OVC All-Newcomer Team

MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama – Jermey Fultz and Andy Stout have been named to the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer team. The duo became the second and third golfers in school history to receive the distinction. Current senior James Stepp in 2012 was the first Tiger to be selected to the squad.

Stout was second in the OVC for newcomers with a 73.6 strokes per round average. On the year, Stout gained a top five finish, a top 10 finish and three top20 placings. The Manchester, Tenn., native carded his best outing of the season on Mar. 17, as he fired a 5-under, 67, during the third round of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate.

Fultz finished just behind his fellow classmate with a 73.9 strokes per round. The Knoxville product placed in the top 20 three times and shot a career best 5-under, 67, during the first round of the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate on Oct. 20.

The Tigers continue play during the second round of the OVC Championships on Saturday at The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Gold Nuggets Add Transfers to Increase Recruiting Class to 3

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Friday the signing of Amani Davis of Cypress, Texas, and Caitlyn Spane of Jackson, Miss., to women's basketball scholarships. Both are 5 feet 11 inches tall; Davis is a forward/center, and Spane is a forward/guard.

Davis averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game the past two seasons for McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. She scored in double figures 13 times and had a pair of double-figure rebounding games. As a freshman in 2013-14, Davis was honorable-mention all-region and helped McLennan's Highlassies qualify for the regional tournament.

Davis graduated from Cypress Springs High School in 2013. She was first-team all-district as a senior and won team awards for MVP and most improved player. Her single-game highs included 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Spane will transfer from the University of North Florida, an NCAA Division I member in Jacksonville. She averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds for UNF in 2014-15 and produced a double-double — 14 points and 10 rebounds — against Edward Waters, one of Xavier's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponents. She scored 10 points and made 2-of-2 3-pointers against NCAA DI Tennessee State, the Ohio Valley Conference tournament champion last season.

Spane averaged 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in two seasons at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss., and helped the Lady Bobcats win the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges state championship her sophomore year. She was a three-year basketball starter and a four-year volleyball starter at Terry (Miss.) High School and had a 32-point game as a senior in which she was 15-of-15 from the floor.

Davis will be a biology/pre-medical major at Xavier, and she hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon. Spane will major in political science. Both were honor-roll students in high school, and Davis made the honor roll multiple times at McLennan.

"Amani and Caitlyn are two nice additions to our program," XU coach Bo Browder said. "Both are versatile players. They will help our inside and outside game next season. We did not have enough of those types of players last season."

The Gold Nuggets have signed three for 2015-16. Guard Mikayla Bates of Baton Rouge, La., signed last week.

Xavier was 18-15 in 2014-15 and finished second in the GCAC regular season and tournament. The Gold Nuggets qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championship 18 of the past 21 seasons.

2015-16 Xavier women's basketball signees
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.* Hometown High School (College)
Mikayla Bates G 5-7 Fr. Baton Rouge, La. University
Amani Davis F/C 5-11 Jr. Cypress, Texas Cypress Springs (McLennan CC)
Caitlyn Spane F/G 5-11 Sr. Jackson, Miss. Terry (Jones County JC/North Florida)
* athletic classification at Xavier in 2015-16

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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