Thomas Avenges Loss, Defeats Edward Waters College 59-51

THOMASVILLE, Georgia – It took overtime to do so, but the Thomas University men's basketball team avenged an early season loss to Edward Waters (3-4) this afternoon to close out the Second Annual TU Classic. The Night Hawks snapped a two game skid with the 59-51 victory.

Brent Crews' squad was once again led by the scoring duo of Adonai Rogers (15 points) and Javoris Cooks (14) as both made clutch threes down the stretch to hand Thomas their fourth win for their 2015-16 campaign.

Thomas outscored the Tigers 32-23 in the opening frame but struggled offensively in the second half (18.75% shooting from the field) allowing Edward Waters to chip into their lead. EWC tied the game at 40-40 with just under six minutes left in the contest and then took their first lead, 42-40, since the 10:50 mark in the first half when Prince Braynen dropped a floater just in front of the charity stripe.

TU battled back to take the 47-46 lead with 96 seconds left in regulation. In the winding minutes of the second half, the Tigers once again evened the game at 47-47 and immediately fouled Thomas' Jamison Williams with 12 ticks left on the clock. Williams sank both shots, but the Tigers once again tied the game, 49-49, with 8.5 seconds left in the game.

The Hunter Green and White held the final possession of regulation and Mike Lyons heaved up a prayer that fail just short of the basket, giving the crowd five more minutes of free basketball.

Down the stretch, the Night Hawk offense found its shooting accuracy again as Cooks and Bonds closed out the game outscoring the Tigers 10-2 for the 59-51 victory. Cooks made three of his last five shots, including two key three pointers, to propel the Night Hawks to the win.

The Night Hawks (4-3) return to action on Monday, Nov. 23 as they travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to face NCAA Division I foe Jacksonville University. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

By the Numbers:
2 – Days until Thomas faces Jacksonville University
2 – Night Hawks in double figures in scoring (Rogers & Cooks)
14 – Individual game high total of rebounds by Andrea Robinson
12 – Turnovers by Thomas
15 – Points scored by scoring leader Adonai Rogers
41 – Total rebounds by the Night Hawks
59 – Points scored by Thomas

For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMBKB.

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Jason Hendrix | Sports Information Director
COURTESY THOMAS UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NC Central ends season as MEAC co-champs, again

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- N.C. Central is a MEAC co-champion for the second year in a row.

The Eagles defeated archrival N.C. A&T in a 21-16 thriller before a near sellout crowd at Aggie Stadium.

The victory was a replay of last season’s matchup, where NCCU (8-3) upset the nationally-ranked Aggies (9-2) in Durham for a share of the title.

The Eagles’ postseason future hinged on the outcome of the Bethune-Cookman-Florida A&M game. A Bethune win creates a three-way tie among the Eagles, Aggies and Wildcats, and would give N.C. A&T the top seed and a trip to the ESPN inaugural Celebration Bowl and end the Eagles season.

A Bethune loss would have given NCCU the top seed and a trip to the Celebration Bowl. But the Wildcats defeated FAMU 35-14.

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First-round win at nationals would be a first for XU

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, firmly established as the elite volleyball program in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, again will take aim at loftier goals when it meets College of Idaho at 2 p.m. MST Saturday (3 p.m. New Orleans time) in the 2015 NAIA National Championship Opening Round at Caldwell, Idaho.

The winner will advance to pool play in the national tournament at Sioux City, Iowa, beginning Dec. 1.

Xavier qualified for nationals for the fifth consecutive year by winning its fifth straight GCAC Tournament title this past weekend, but the Gold Nuggets still are searching for their first victory in the opening round at nationals. Their narrowest miss was in 2013, when Xavier led 15-8, 19-15 and 22-20 in the fourth set at Spring Hill but lost in five sets. The Gold Nuggets lost in three sets in the opening round at Spring Hill in 2011 and at Lindsey Wilson a year ago, and they lost in four sets at Georgetown (Ky.) in 2012.

"We have to be smart and play together," said senior outside hitter Taylor Reuther, Xavier's leader in career kills (1,289), digs (1,334) and aces (176). "We have to take care of the little things."

"We have to be on our A-game," said senior middle blocker Claudia Haywood, the 2015 and 2013 GCAC Tournament MVP.

Xavier is 19-7 and has won 11 straight since a four-set loss Oct. 3 at Spring Hill. College of Idaho, which won the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament, is 21-10, ranked 15th nationally and won 17 of its last 19. This is the sixth consecutive year and the seventh time overall that the Lady Yotes play host to an opening-round match. They're 5-1 in that round.

Leading C of I are Cascade Player of the Year Kylie Porter — who led the league with a .413 hitting percentage in conference matches — and All-America setter Sierra Porter, the only Lady Yote to reach 4,000 assists, 1,000 digs and 200 blocks in a career.

Xavier's other seniors are setter Franziska Pirkl, the program's all-time leader with 3,268 assists, libero/defensive specialist Darian Harris, outside hitter CeCe Williams and middle blocker Jodi Hill. Freshman outside/right-side hitter Ruby Hunt-Thompson (.288), Haywood (.285) and Hill (.256) rank 1-2-4 in the GCAC in hitting percentage.

"I am excited to see how well our team can do in this matchup," third-year XU coach Hannah Lawing said.

"College of Idaho is a different team than we normally face in our region. They're a bigger team, and they run a really fast, aggressive offense. We have seen aggressive offensive styles, but we haven't seen something as quick as this. College of Idaho is always on the offensive, even when they're playing defense."

This will be Xavier's third match this season against a top-25 team. The Gold Nuggets lost in three sets at home to No. 19 Wayland Baptist and at No. 20 Coastal Georgia during the first two weekends. Xavier never has beaten a ranked NAIA volleyball opponent.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XU's Kitto again earns NAIA academic distinction

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Brent Kitto was named Friday a 2015 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete in cross country.

Kitto, a senior from Chalmette, La., and a graduate of Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, is one of 210 men from 111 schools to receive the honor this season. It's the second consecutive year that Kitto received it, and it's the fifth consecutive year that the Gold Rush produced a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Student-athletes are nominated by their institution, must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved junior academic status to qualify for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Kitto is a pharmacy major and a two-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runner. Kitto produced nine top-10 finishes — seven in the top five — in three seasons at Xavier.

The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets concluded their cross country seasons Nov. 6 at the Red River Athletic Conference Championships. They will compete in outdoor track and field beginning in early March.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Kentucky State claims SIAC volleyball championship with win over Albany State

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  –  Kentucky State completed its dominant run through the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament, defeating Albany State 3-1 to claim the conference championship on Friday at the Birmingham Crossplex.

The SIAC championship was the Thorobrettes' fifth overall and fourth in the last six years. With the victory, they will be headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

Aside from dropping the second set 25-21, Kentucky State was in control for most of the match, jumping out to early leads in the other three sets and pulling away to win. The Thorobrettes won the first set 25-15, the third set 25-11, and closed out the match with a 25-16 win in the fourth set. In four SIAC Tournament matches, the Thorobrettes managed to lose just the one set along the way.

As was the case throughout the tournament, Kentucky State got several strong individual performances. Four players tallied double digit kills in the match, led by Kirtrice Ploucha, who had 14 kills with seven blocks. Micah Rogers added 13 kills with 12 digs, while Tahje Ochs and Payton Richardson each had 11 kills with Richardson adding nine blocks. SIAC Setter of the Year Anjelique Kyle had 43 assists with three aces, while Defensive Player of the Year Kiara Rivera had 17 digs.

Kentucky State improves to 25-12 on the season with the win, while Albany State closes out its year at 20-16. The Thorobrettes will find out their NCAA Tournament opponent and destination during the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament Selection Show on Monday at 7:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

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COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JCSU Joyner Captures No. 500 With 104-88 Win Over Apprentice

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  – After only leading by five points at halftime, the Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team had a big second half and cruised past visiting Apprentice School, 104-88 and gave head coach Stephen Joyner, Sr. his 500th win at the helm of the JCSU program in game two of the JCSU/Claude Saunders Tip-Off Classic.

Leading 47-42 after the first half, JCSU steadily built a double-digit lead, leading by as many as 28 points in the second half thanks to a stellar night from senior Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.). Lemon poured in a team-high 20 points on a 10-of-17 shooting effort. Lemon also finished with a team-high nine assists. Fellow senior Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) also had a great night, going for a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Lemon and Pratt combined for numerous high-flying dunks as JCSU built their commanding lead in the second half.



Sharpshooter Josh Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) also found the range, connecting for four three-pointers, finishing with 14 points. Gabon Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) and
Malik Ford (Salisbury, N.C.) also had double-digit efforts, going for 12 and 10 points, respectively. JCSU sophomore guard Robert Davis, III (West Friendship, Md.) also had a productive outing, dishing six assists while scoring nine points. AJCSU had 32 assists in the game.

Collectively, JCSU shot a 50% (40-80) from the field, 35.5% (11-31) from long range and 65% (13-20) from the line. The Golden Bulls defense also forced 23 Builders turnovers that led to 31 points. JCSU also dominated inside, outscoring Apprentice 50-26 in the paint. JCSU also held a 20-2 advantage on fast-break opportunities.

The win gives JCSU head coach Stephen Joyner, Sr. his 500th win as head men's coach. He joins Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (1,021), North Carolina's Roy Williams (752) and Western Carolina's Larry Hunter (664) as the only four active coaches in North Carolina with 500 wins.

Joyner and JCSU will look to get No. 501 on Saturday when they take on Benedict at 4:00 p.m. in Brayboy Gym.

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COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic Battle of the Bands 11/20/15

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

VIDEOGRAPHER: ShowtimeWeb
VIDEOGRAPHER: hhorns2002

Week 12 Preview: Virginia Union at #10 Slippery Rock

 Live Streaming Video (FREE)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pennsylvania -- The 10th ranked Slippery Rock University football team returns home to Mihalik-Thompson Stadium to host Virginia Union University Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Kickoff is set for noon.

Below you will find all pertinent information regarding live streaming coverage options, ticket information, parking, tailgating and complete game notes.

LIVE INTERNET COVERAGE
• Live Stats  |  Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• Live Streaming Video (FREE)  |  Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• Live Audio (Online and Radio)  |  Provided by The Rock Station 97.7 FM (Butler).
• Twitter  |  All scoring information and in-game updates.
• There will be no live television coverage for this game.
 
TICKETS
• All ticket prices mandated for NCAA playoff games. No complimentary tickets are allowed.
• Chair-back Reserved Seat - $12
• Reserved Bench Seat - $12
• Adult General Admission - $10
• High School Students and Children - $3
• SRU Students – $5 with valid student ID
• Virginia Union Students – $5 with valid student ID
• Tickets can be purchased on game day. The stadium gates will open at 10:30 a.m.
• For ticket reservations or questions, call 724.738.2021 or visit the athletic office in Morrow Field House.

STUDENT RUSH FREE TICKETS
• A total of 100 FREE tickets were given out to students by SGA Wednesday morning.
• An additional 60 students are available FREE at the SGA Bookstore for students with valid ID.
• An additional 50 FREE student tickets will be given out Friday by SGA.
• Follow @Rock_Athletics on Twitter for more information on FREE student tickets throughout the week.
 
PARKING
• Parking is available in the lots surrounding the stadium
• Parking spaces are $5 in all tailgating lots (directly below stadium)
• Campus Map  |  Stadium is #53 on Map
 
TAILGATING
• Tailgating is allowed in paid lots three hours before kickoff (lots open at 9 a.m.)
• No Tailgating at halftime
• All Tailgaters must enter game at kickoff
• Tailgating is open for two hours after game ends
• No hard liquor or glass bottles
• Adhere to all campus tailgating rules found HERE.

---

THE GAME
No. 10 Slippery Rock (10-1) is looking to continue its home winning streak that has lasted more than three years when it hosts an NCAA playoff game for the first time since 1999. The Rock earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region One and will host No. 7 seed Virginia Union (8-2) at noon Saturday. Slippery Rock is 3-1 in home playoff games, but has not won an NCAA playoff game since the regional final in 1998.

COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Talladega Lady Tornadoes Knocks Off Arkansas Pine Bluff to Move to 7-1 on Season

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The Arkansas-Pine Bluff women had no answer for Tajanee Wells in falling to NAIA Gulf Coast Athletic Conference foe Talladega College for the second straight year on Friday night.

Wells finished her outstanding night with 31 points on 10 of 20 shooting, including 3 of 6 from three, and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. She also had nine rebounds and five assists in the 83-73 win inside H.O. Clemmons Arena.

Outside of Wells, Tashieba Henry and Thomesha Smith finished with double-digit points for Talladega, 11 and 10, respectively.

After blowout losses at Nebraska and Missouri, UAPB (0-3) had easily its best offensive performance of the season. Four starters scored in double-figures for the Golden Lions. Diamond Richardson led the way with 18 points. Destiny Brewton finished with 13, while Niya Head (13) and Ajia Richardson (11) also reached double-digits. Head added a game-high 13 rebounds.

Depite the improved offensive output, which was to be expected given the drop in level of competition, UAPB was still ...

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Southern women’s basketball team tops South Alabama 50-45, riding defense in second half to rally

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern women held South Alabama without a field goal for the final eight minutes and rallied for a 50-45 victory Friday night in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

South Alabama led by eight points at halftime but scored just 16 second-half points, making six field goals in 19 attempts and missing all five of its 3-pointers.

“Coach (Sandy Pugh) told us at halftime that we had to step it up,” post player Jadea Brundidge said. “We huddled up and said we have to start playing our game.”

Southern started the third quarter with a concerted effort to get the ball inside. After Skyler O’Bear scored on a driving layup, four baskets — two by Miaya Crowder and one each by Cortnei Purnell and Brianna Green — came during an 11-2 run that gave Southern a 32-31 lead.

USA went nearly seven minutes without scoring, but Southern couldn’t extend the lead. Back-to-back layups by Marquita Daniels off of steals gave USA a 35-32 lead.

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TSU Lady Tigers Defeat Alabama State for First Win

CARBONDALE, Illinois -- The Tennessee State women’s basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to push past Alabama State, 74-64, in the opening game of the Preseason WNIT Consolation Round, Friday evening at SIU Arena.

The Lady Tigers (1-1) had four players score in double-digits led by I’mani Davis’ 20 points. Jayda Johnson finished with 19 points and six rebounds while Diamond Beatty came off the bench to score 12. Brianna Lawrence recorded the first double-double of her career with 10 points and 13 rebounds in addition to notching four steals for the second consecutive game.

Alabama State (0-2) was led in scoring by Britney Wright who had 17 points and seven rebounds. Daniele Ewart also tallied double-digits with 12 points.

The Lady Tigers shook off a slow start and after shooting 16.2 percent from the field in the first half, knocked down 51.5 percent of their attempts in the second.



TSU hit the first two shots of the game but quickly went cold as missed shots hampered the next several possessions. Despite the offensive struggles, the Lady Tigers only trailed, 13-8, at the end of the first quarter.

In the second frame, TSU managed to get its offense going and two three-pointers from Diamond Beatty and Brianna Lawrence sparked a 12-2 run that put TSU on top, 20-15, with 4:13 remaining in the half.

Alabama State, however, responded with a rally that cut Tennessee State’s lead down to just, 21-20, at the break.

In the third quarter, the teams traded buckets and played to a 33-33 tie with 5:01 on the clock. Jayda Johnson sank a couple of free-throws to give TSU a slight, 41-37, advantage three minutes later. The Hornets once again closed the gap as the score was knotted at 42-all heading into the final ten minutes.

The game was tied, 45-45, when TSU created a little distance with a 5-0 spurt. ASU stayed within striking distance and pulled within three following a couple of freebies. With just over four minutes left to play, I’mani Davis buried a wide-open three pointer to make the score, 57-49, in favor of TSU.

The Lady Tigers grabbed their largest lead of the game, 62-52, with less than two minutes remaining behind another bucket from Davis. The Hornets threatened down the stretch but the Lady Tigers maintained their composure and kept the opponents at bay.

TSU lost the battle of the boards, 46-44, but scored 28 points off of turnovers.

The Lady Tigers will face Southern Illinois tomorrow at 6 p.m. in SIU Arena.

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COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Darden, Johnson Lead Hampton Pirates Over Appalachian State

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Senior guards Brian Darden and Reginald Johnson made sure the Hampton University men's basketball team had a successful home opener Friday night, as the Pirates upended Appalachian State 82-61 at the HU Convocation Center.
 
The Pirates improved to 2-1 on the season.
 
Darden led the Pirates with a season-high 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting, hitting four of his six 3-pointers. Johnson added 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals – going 8-for-18 from the floor in 37 minutes.
 
Senior forward Jervon Pressley added 11 points while also grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Quinton Chievous also had 10 rebounds.
 
The Pirates shot 45.0 percent (27-for-60) from the floor and made six of their 16 3-pointers (37.5 percent). Hampton went 22-for-36 (61.1 percent) from the free throw line and outscored the Mountaineers 32-26 in the paint.
 
Hampton also held 16-7 in second-chance points.
 
The Pirates dominated the glass for the second straight game, out-rebounding Appalachian State 49-35.
 
The Mountaineers actually held a 23-19 lead with 12:13 left in the first half following a 3-pointer from Frank Eaves, before the Pirates went on a 12-0 run, taking a 31-23 lead at the 5:52 mark following a dunk from Johnson.
 
Lawrence Cooks hit a jumper with 4:38 left in the half to put the Pirates up 34-26, and a free throw from Johnson at the 3:01 mark gave Hampton a 38-30 lead.
 
Hampton led 42-36 at the break.
 
The Mountaineers cut the lead to one in the opening moments of the second half, when a trey from Chris Burgess cut the margin to 42-41, before the Pirates answered by scoring 16 of the next 21 points – taking a 58-46 lead on a Darden trey.
 
Hampton led by double figures for the rest of the game, as Appalachian State could only get within 10 – 63-53 – with 9:56 left in the contest. Hampton responded with a 16-4 run, taking a 79-57 lead with 3:07 remaining after a 3-pointer from Cooks.
 
A layup from Devon Oakley with 19 seconds remaining gave Hampton its largest lead at 82-59.
 
Appalachian State (1-2) shot just 34.4 percent (21-for-61) from the floor and made just four of 17 3-pointers (23.5 percent).
 
The Mountaineers shot just 29.4 percent (10-for-34) from the floor in the second half.
 
Eaves led all scorers with 22 points.
 
The Pirates will kick off a string of nine straight away from the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Nov. 25, when they head to Williamsburg, Va. to take on William & Mary. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

S.C. State defeats Longwood 83-77 in EKU Hoops Classic

RICHMOND, Kentucky — Senior forward Gabriel McCray tossed in a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to lead South Carolina State to an 83-77 opening round victory over Longwood University in the EKU Hoops Classic Friday (Nov. 20) at McBrayer Arena.

Sophomore guard Ed Stephens added 13 on 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range, whileGreg Mortimer chipped in 10. The Bulldogs got a strong showing from its frontcourt with senior forward Darryl Palmer and Luka Radovic both scoring nine points each in the paint. Palmer also finished with four (4) blocks on the night.

The Bulldogs got off to a slow start falling behind 15-9 off a dunk by Lotanna Nwogbo at the 13:49 mark in the first-half.  A tip-in by Radovic sparked a 14-6 run to put SC State ahead 23-21 with 7:21 remaining. 

McCray scored 14 of his points in the first half to help the Bulldogs build a 39-30 lead at intermission

South Carolina State controlled most of the second-half building its largest lead of the night 12, 46-34 off a dunk by Palmer at the 17:22 mark. A three-pointer by Darrion Allen pull The Lancers within two, 58-56 with 10:10 remaining.

McCray's jumper with 0:59 seconds left in regulation push the Bulldogs lead to nine, 77-68. South Carolina State avoided a late rally surge from Longwood to secure an impressive 83-77 victory.

The Bulldogs defense forced 14 turnovers, while getting 21 points from bench play. SC State also shot 72% (18-of-25) from the free-throw line.  Other Bulldogs with solid performances were junior guard Eric Eaves and sophomore forward Tashombe Rileytossing in eight points each.

South Carolina State improves to 2-1 overall and will face host Eastern Kentucky Saturday (Nov. 21) in a 2 p.m. tip-off.

2015 @EKUHoops Classic Schedule

Nov. 20   Ball State 81, EKU 89    
               Longwood 77, SC State 83
Nov. 21   SC State vs EKU -2 p.m.    
               Longwood vs Ball State-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 22    Longwood at EKU-2 p.m.  
               SC State vs. Ball State-4:30 p.m. 
 
Follow all games live: Click link http://www.sidearmstats.com/eku/mbball/

NEXT UP: Following this weekend's tournament, SC State will host Allen University on Wednesday (Nov.26) at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic To Air On ESPN Classic Saturday, 2:30 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The 2015 Florida Blue Florida Classic Football game between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman will be televised live nationally on ESPN Classic starting at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time from the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Viewers can also watch the game on ESPN3.com and on a taped delay basis at 10:30 p.m. Saturday night on ESPNU.

FAMU alumnus Tiffany Greene will provide the play-by-play and former Howard University alum Jay Walker, will provide expert analysis.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic: FAMU eager to upset rival B-CU, thwart Wildcats' playoff hopes

ORLANDO, Florida -- The annual Florida Classic football battle between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M has begun to take on quite a familiar refrain in the recent past.

When it comes to the final regular-season game for the two Historically Black Colleges and Universities football programs, there are givens. You can rest assured that the marching bands will be phenomenal and the game itself will help determine whether B-CU will be making a postseason playoff appearance.

The 36th edition of the Florida Classic, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Citrus Bowl, once again lends more credence to the axiom that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

This year's game marks a first for both head coaches, with new B-CU coach Terry Sims taking on new FAMU coach Alex Wood. The changes, however, did not do much to alter the course for the Wildcats or the Rattlers in 2015.

FAMU is mired near the bottom of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings at 1-9 overall (1-6 MEAC), while the No. 22 Wildcats (8-2, 6-1 MEAC) are hoping a Florida Classic win can earn them a share of the league title and a possible playoff berth.

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Gameday preview: Tuskegee at Catawba

FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY

1. The wait is over: After blowing a 17-point lead, Tuskegee’s loss 26-23 loss to Miles kept it out of the SIAC Championship Game and wondering what its playoff fate would be.

“Last week was a miserable week for me,” coach Willie Slater said. “That was a tough one to get over.”

The Golden Tigers finally got an answer on Sunday, when they were the last team revealed for the Division II playoffs. Tuskegee will travel to Catawba College in North Carolina, seeking its first playoff win in school history.

“Man, probably the longest week ever in my life. For you just to sit out for a week and play the waiting game, it was the longest week,” linebacker Jewell Ratliff said. “But we’re back in business, so it’s time to roll now. When we got our name called, I just felt like the Lord gave us another shot to reach a goal that’s bigger. Things happen, and we have another chance at another ring. So we’re able to take another chance at it.”

2. Common ground: Tuskegee and Catawba have faced a common opponent this season, UNC Pembroke. Pembroke snapped the Golden Tigers’ four-game win streak to start the season with a 29-17 victory. Catawba defeated Pembroke 39-21.

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Wright wins GCAC weekly award for 4th time

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball guard Morris Wright is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 9-15. This is Wright's fourth career award and his first this season.
     
Wright, a 5-foot-10 senior from Zachary, La., and a former Zachary High School and Baton Rouge Community College standout, averaged 21.5 points per game during Xavier's 2-0 week and shot 56 percent from the floor, 60 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the line. Against Loyola, Wright scored 22 points and became the 27th Gold Rush player to reach 1,000 career points. He scored 21 points three days later against Miles of NCAA Division II.
     
Wright enters a Tuesday game at Mobile with 1,022 points. This is his third season at XU.
     
During the last 10 seasons, Wright is one of three from the Gold Rush to win the GCAC's weekly award more than twice in a career. Anthony Simmons (2010-13) also did it four times, and Denzell Erves (2009-13) did it six times.
     
Xavier, ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, will play NCAA D2's LeMoyne-Owen at 1 p.m. Saturday for homecoming at the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XU's Haywood, Pirkl, Harris earn GCAC weekly awards

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball, after winning a fifth consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, won all three of the GCAC's weekly player awards for Nov. 9-15. The conference honored seniors Claudia Haywood(attacker), Franziska Pirkl (setter) and Darian Harris (defender).
     
Haywood, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker from Memphis, Tenn., and a graduate of Cordova High School, had 31 kills and hit .354 withs five blocks in three matches. Haywood had 16 kills and three blocks in a four-set victory against SUNO in the GCAC Tournament final and was chosen MVP of the event for the second time in three years.
     
Pirkl, a 5-9 setter from Munich, Germany, and a graduate of Theodolinden Gymnasium, had 99 assists, 16 digs, seven kills, four aces and three blocks during the week. In the GCAC tourney final, Pirkl produced her sixth double-double of the season — 46 assists and 11 digs — and tacked on five kills, two aces and two blocks. She was All-GCAC Tournament for the second consecutive season.
     
Harris, a 5-4 libero/defensive specialist from Gretna, La., and a graduate of McGehee School, had 46 digs in three matches, 24 in the GCAC tourney final. The SUNO match was Harris' 19th of the season with double-figure digs and and her seventh with 20 or more digs.
     
Haywood won a GCAC weekly award for the first time this season and the second time in her career. Pirkl has five awards this season, and Harris has four. Neither had been honored prior to 2015.
     
Xavier (19-7) will play 15th-ranked College of Idaho (21-10) at 2 p.m. MST Saturday (3 p.m. New Orleans time) at Caldwell, Idaho, in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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AAMU Bulldogs off to first 2-0 start in Division I era; Take down Southeast Missouri State

NORMAL, Alabama -- There was a feeling that there may be something special about this year's Bulldogs men's basketball team.

On Thursday night, Head Coach Willie Hayes' squad put on a display of high-flying dunks, alley-oops, three-point buckets and a basic layup in a 74-56 win over Southeast Missouri State.

The win gets the Bulldogs off to a 2-0 start for the first time in their Division I era.

Ladarius Tabb, who was named the SWAC Player of the Week, led both teams with 26 points - including a three-pointer, a couple highlight reel jams and that basic layup.

Christopher Thomas chipped in with 20 points on 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs shot 54.5 percent in the second half to pull away from a 28-26 lead at the intermission. In the final 20 minutes, they were 5-of-17 from three-point range while the Redhawks are 0-for-4.

The game had seven lead changes - all in the first half as the Bulldogs led for the final 30:07 of the game.

A&M wraps up its home nonconference schedule Saturday when Oakwood University visits Elmore Gym. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern stuns Tulane

BATON ROUGE, Lousiaiana -- Southern got its second milestone victory in four days.

After getting a rare victory against a Southeastern Conference team when they won at Mississippi State on Monday night, the Jaguars defeated Tulane 90-82 on Thursday night in their home opener in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. It was Southern’s first win against Tulane in nine games.

“It was a big win,” guard Christopher Hyder said. “After beating an SEC team, I think early on, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We looked at it as a must-win.”

The Jaguars fell behind by eight points after nine minutes but rallied for a four-point halftime lead and never trailed in the second half.

“We hadn’t been in this situation before,” Southern coach Roman Banks said. “So coming off that (Mississippi State) win, my concern was that no matter how hard you try to pump them up, we’d be a little flat. To see them work through that and come back was big.”

The Jaguars (2-1) host Dillard on Tuesday, and the Green Wave (1-2) host Appalachian State on Sunday.

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Career finale seals bond between SCSU star and family he saved

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- The drunk driver of the white Chrysler 300 in front of Reggie Owens barreled into the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and West Gwinnet Street, T-boning a Nissan Altima. Metal crumbled and windows shattered, as three small bodies were ejected from the Nissan.

Maybe football had prepared the 21-year-old senior South Carolina State University defensive end for the most important moments of his young life. Football is based on split-second decisions that often make or break a team's season. In the early morning hours of April 4, Owens reacted as he had been taught to by the sport he loves. Rush to the point of attack. Make a play.

Owens, 10 minutes from his mother's house, on the tail end of a two-hour trip he had made countless times down I-95 from campus in Orangeburg, South Carolina, sprinted toward the Nissan with a fourth-quarter adrenaline rush. Aside from the initial impact, the scene was eerily quiet. No car alarms, no horns, no mass panic. The only sound he recalls were faint shrieks from the kids, which he credits for helping him maintain focus.

Owens pulled 8-year-old Dontrell Griffin from ...

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NC Central, NC A&T meet again for MEAC title

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- When North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T meet on Saturday at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, it will be the second year in a row that the Aggies-Eagles matchup will decide the MEAC championship.

If the Aggies win, they will be MEAC champions. If the Eagles win, they will share the championship with N.C. A&T. Bethune-Cookman also factors into this scenario. A win by the Wildcats over archrival Florida A&M in the Florida Classic in Orlando on Saturday (coupled with an NCCU win) and the three teams will share the conference title.

Last year, NCCU won 21-14 in Durham, which helped to create an unprecedented five-way championship with the above mentioned teams, plus South Carolina State and Morgan State. The tiebreaker rules enabled Morgan State to represent the MEAC in the FCS Playoffs.

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S.C. State men to compete in EKU Classic this weekend

RICHMOND, Kentucky — The South Carolina State men’s basketball team will compete in the EKU Hoops Classic beginning Friday, Nov. 20-Sunday, Nov. 22 at the McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Ky.

The six-game, three-day event will feature host team Eastern Kentucky, South Carolina State, Ball State and Longwood.

“This weekend’s games present a great challenge and opportunity for our basketball program,” said S.C. State head coach Murray Garvin. “Three games in 3 days will be a test for our program. I believe that this format will serve as great preparation for how things can end up in March during the MEAC Tournament.

“It will demonstrate how we as coaches, players, managers, athletic trainers, etc., will have to prepare for quick turnarounds and bounce back for another game in less than 24 hours. All three teams are well-coached and we plan to take it one possession at a time.”

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Morgan State looks to finish .500 on season with win over NSU

NORFOLK STATE (3-7) @ MORGAN STATE (4-5)

When: Today, 1 p.m.

Site: Hughes Stadium, Baltimore

Audio: WEAA 88.9 FM

Series: Norfolk State leads 18-11

What's at stake: The Bears snapped their first three-game losing streak in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference under coach Lee Hull with Saturday's 21-7 victory over Florida A&M. The team, which is 4-3 in the league, can register back-to-back .500 campaigns for the first time since the program went 6-6 in 2008 and 6-5 in 2009 with a win against the Spartans. Norfolk State (3-4 in the MEAC) has a modest goal of its own — finishing back-to-back seasons of .500 play in the conference for the first time since a three-year stretch between 2009 and 2011. The Spartans have dropped four of their last five contests, but have won the last eight meetings with Morgan State. In fact, Norfolk State has defeated the Bears the last five times in Baltimore and has not lost there since Nov. 22, 2003, when Morgan State scored a 43-34 decision.

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HBCU Sports Nation