Livingstone women roll past ECSU

ELIZABETH CITY. North Carolina — Livingstone shot the basketball very well and rolled past Elizabeth City State, 70-49, here Thursday night in CIAA women’s action.

The Blue Bears, 9-4 overall and 3-0 in the conference, made almost half of their 3-point field goals (7-of-15) for the game. Livingstone enjoyed a 12-point lead at halftime and blew the Vikings out in the third quarter, going up by 24 points at 52-28 at the 2:16-mark.

Guard Zena Lovette scored 12 of her game-high 14 points during the third period, leading the Livingstone rout. Senior guard Amber Curtis also had a strong third period, scoring six of her 12 points.

The Vikings, 4-8 overall and 1-3 in the CIAA, prevailed in the fourth quarter, 15-12, but it was way too little too late.

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St. Louis would be a great site for future Celebration Bowls

ST. LOUIS, Missouri -- The inaugural Celebration Bowl in Atlanta provided a great game between North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State, and it could also breathe new life into faltering HBCU football programs.

A&T prevailed over Alcorn 41-34 in the December 19 game, a historic partnership between the SWAC, MEAC and ESPN. The respective conference champions declined automatic bids into the FCS playoffs to participate in the Celebration Bowl. The reward is a $1 million payout to each conference, which breaks down to $100,000 for each SWAC member and $91,000 for MEAC schools.

To pocket that kind of cash, both teams would have had to advance deep into the FBS playoffs. Should either A&T or Alcorn want to host an FBS playoff game, a $30,000 minimum bid would have to be submitted.
With an 11 a.m., kickoff on the first Saturday of NCAA bowl season, the game was one of the most-watched on television that day – something that had to impress the bottom-line folks at ESPN.

According to ShowBuzz Daily, the thrilling game drew a ...

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TSU Tigers win big over Prairie View A&M at home

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers continued their winning ways as they dominated the visiting Panthers of Prairie View A&M University 64-38 to remain undefeated in conference play (3-0) and remain tied for first place in the SWAC.

TSU's Orlando Coleman led the Tigers in scoring with 12 points and 4 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting.

Texas Southern never trailed and took control of the game from the opening tip, scoring the first 11 points of the game. The run was capped off by a Brian Carey 3-pointer just five minutes into the first half. TSU would continue to keep the visiting Panthers at arm's length in the early going, leading 30-19 at the half.

TSU started the second half much like they started the first. This time, it was a 7-0 run, capped by Chris Thomas' layup just three minutes into the second session, making the score 38-19 Tigers.

That run essentially put the game out of reach as TSU eventually pushed their lead to 28 on a Tyree Bynum jumper with 4:24 to play in the game.

It was a team effort tonight, as TSU received solid performances from Chris Thomas and Derrick Griffin. Thomas had 9 points and 9 rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting, and Griffin had 8 points and 9 rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting.

The Tigers outrebounded the Panthers 46-26, while shooting 44 percent from the field, and 23 percent from beyond the arc.

The Panthers were led in scoring by Jayrn Johnson, who had a game high 16 points. Next up for the Tigers is a first place showdown with the Jackson State Tigers next Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi.

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Hughes names Dwayne Curry as JSU Defensive Line Coach

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State head football coach Tony Hughes has named former Mississippi State standout Dwayne Curry as the program’s defensive line coach. Curry comes to JSU after serving as the defensive line coach at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff for four seasons.

While at UAPB, Curry produced All-SWAC performer Demarcus Berry, who earned all-conference second team honors in 2015 and first team All-SWAC recognition in 2014.

Curry began his coaching career at Southside High School in Atlanta, Ga., where he served as linebacker coach and co-defensive coordinator from 1999-2001. During his tenure there, he coached both inside and outside linebackers and produced an all-conference performer.

In 2005, he was named co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Fla. In addition, he served as the assistant track and field coach. While at PHS, Curry produced a high school All-American and had three of his student-athletes to sign Division I National Letter of Intents.

Curry then moved on to the collegiate ranks, when he was named linebacker and assistant punt return coach at East Texas Baptist University (2006-07) in Marshall, Texas. He produced an all-conference linebacker. After two seasons at East Texas Baptist, Curry accepted the defensive line coach and assistant special teams coordinator position at East Mississippi Community College (2007-08) in Scooba, Miss.

In 2008, Curry left the junior college ranks when he was named the defensive line coach at Birmingham Southern (2008-09) in Birmingham, Ala. In 2009, he was named the defensive line coach at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss. While at Hinds he produced an all-conference performer at defensive end.

Curry accepted the defensive coordinator/linebacker coach at Savannah State (2010-11) in Savannah, Ga. He was also the punt team coordinator. Curry then traveled to Garden City, Kan., where he was named the defensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Garden City Community College (2011-12). While at GCC, Curry helped produce the defensive player of the Year in the J. Hank Conference

After two seasons at GCC, Curry became the defensive line coach at the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Ala. in 2012 the UWA Tigers won the Gulf South Championship and finished the season ranked No. 3 in all of Division II in total defense.

Curry was an outstanding linebacker for Mississippi State University from 1993-1996. During his time at Mississippi State he was a candidate for the Butkus award three times. He was also selected as an All-SEC linebacker three times as well as being selected to the All-SEC freshman team. He was a two-time Consensus All-American and an honorable mention All-American at linebacker one season. He is a 1997 MSU graduate with a degree in physical education and fitness management.

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JSU Hughes names LaMarcus Hicks as Safties Coach

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State head football coach Tony Hughes has selected LaMarcus Hicks to serve as his safeties coach. Hicks comes to Jackson State after a two year stint with the University of North Texas, where he served as the cornerbacks coach.

In his first-season with the Mean Green Hicks led the cornerbacks into record-breaking territory in 2014.

North Texas had seven different defensive backs with an interception in 2014, which was a school record for most DB’s in a single season with at least one pick. Five of those seven were cornerbacks coached by Hicks. Two Mean Green cornerbacks had interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Cornerback James Jones was named to the C-USA second-team in 2014 as he was the second leading tackler and led the team with nine PBUs.

Hicks, a defensive back with Iowa State who played professionally with the Detroit Lions, worked at North Texas after spending a season at Concordia University as the defensive backs coach. Hicks played for McCarney at Iowa State for two seasons and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2005 while leading the conference in interceptions. He earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice that season.

Hicks spent 2011 and 2012 at Truman High School in Michigan as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In his first season at Truman in 2011, he helped the Cougars improve 15 points per game in scoring defense. In 2012, Truman went 9-2 and won their second playoff game in school history while allowing only 11.2 points per game.

Hicks began coaching in 2010 at Rhodes College as wide receivers coach. Three players at the position were selected as All-SCAC.

Prior to coaching, Hicks played professionally for the Detroit Lions at defensive back. He spent two seasons with the Lions.

Hicks, native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, received his Bachelor’s degree from ISU in 2006.

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Livingstone men also have big comeback to defeat Bulldogs

SALISBURY, North Carolina — It was a night of comebacks at New Trent Gym.

Livingstone rallied from 17 points down in the second half to pull out a CIAA men’s basketball thriller on Tuesday night, topping Bowie State, 95-94, in overtime.

Just like in the earlier women’s game, Livingstone came from behind against long odds. When Bowie’s Miles Jackson sank a 3-point shot with 9:07 left in the game, the Bulldogs led, 73-56.

But Coach James Stinson’s Blue Bears outscored Bowie down the stretch, 31-14, forcing the game into overtime. Eric Dubose’s jumper knotted the score at 87-87 with 43 seconds left.

The Blue Bear women were down 16 points in the second half, but rallied to win over Bowie State, 59-51 (see article on page 1B).

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FAMU overcomes slow start, drops Savannah State

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s men’s basketball team is still young, but Byron Samuels’ crew is full of promise.

The Rattlers won their fifth game of the season Tuesday night against Savannah State, overcoming a slow start and dismal 3-point shooting to defeat the Tigers 61-58 in front of a home crowd of 1,398.

Yes, the Rattlers are 5-10 and 1-1 in the MEAC, but they’ve already won nearly three times as many games as they did in the 2015-16 season. Plus, they’ve avoided losing more than three games in a row so far this season.

Not bad for a team that lost 23 in a row last year.

“We’re very, very close,” Samuels said. “But it starts with our decisions, defensively and offensively. We’ve got to continue to come to practice with a hardhat mentality. We’ve got to learn how to win ugly.

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GSU's Walker had doubts if DI win would ever come

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  — A white basketball sits on a shelf in Shawn Walker's office with fresh black, bold signatures and words of wisdom that are only a few days old.

The gift was given to Walker, who is in his second year as Grambling's basketball coach, by his players over the weekend to celebrate his first Division I victory in 36 tries. It's something he can now view daily to put things in perspective.

Grambling beat Alabama A&M this past Saturday to snap a 37-game Division I losing streak (one loss came prior to Walker's arrival in 2014) and won again Monday in overtime against Alabama State to improve to 2-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The two wins weren't just wins, especially Saturday's. They were a reminder, or better yet a symbol, of how hard Walker has worked to get his team to its current state. And they almost never happened, at least in Walker's mind as he's navigated through a complete overhaul and rebuilding process at Grambling.

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JSU's Hughes picks Germany, Hendrick as coordinators

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Tony Hughes has never coached in the SWAC before. He's hired coordinators who have, though.

Jackson State announced the hiring of Chad Germany as offensive coordinator and John Hendrick as defensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Germany, who will also be the Tigers’ quarterbacks coach, has spent the past few years at Southern, where he was co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.

He called plays for the Jaguars, who had seven offensive players earn All-SWAC honors in 2015. Southern’s offense ranked fourth in the SWAC in total and scoring offense this past season.

JSU finished fifth in total offense and seventh in scoring offense.

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Gold Nuggets fall to 14th after dropping 3-of-4

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana fell five places to 14th Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Nuggets, 11-5 after a 73-65 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference home victory Monday against Edward Waters, dropped out of the top 10 after closing December with three consecutive losses. They ended the streak Saturday with a 55-46 home victory against then-No. 22 LSU-Shreveport and knocked the Pilots out of the top 25.

Despite the drop, the Gold Nuggets have their fourth-highest ranking in the first January poll in Bo Browder's 17 seasons as head coach.

GCAC member Talladega joined Xavier in the top 25. The Lady Tornadoes are No. 23 and in the top 25 for the first time since April 2, 2014. Xavier will visit Talladega Jan. 16 and play host to the Lady Tornadoes Jan. 25.

Westmont received 8-of-9 first-place votes to capture its first No. 1 ranking since March 27, 2013. Vanguard, the No. 1 team in the previous poll, dropped to 12th after losing three in a row to top-10 opponents, two at home.

Xavier's next game will start at 5:30 p.m. Monday against GCAC opponent Philander Smith at XU's Convocation Center.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 3)
Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Westmont (8) 12-1 219 2
2 Montana State-Northern 12-1 205 3
3 Campbellsville 14-3 203 4
4 Bethel (Tenn.) 10-3 190 5
5 Carroll (Mont.) 12-1 189 6
6 Our Lady of the Lake 10-2 187 tie-10
7 Benedictine (Kan.) 12-1 181 8
8 Columbia (Mo.) (1) 14-0 173 16
9-tie Shawnee State 14-2 160 12
9-tie MidAmerica Nazarene 9-3 160 tie-10
11 Lyon 11-2 151 14
12 Vanguard 7-3 150 1
13 Freed-Hardeman 9-4 133 7
14 Xavier 10-5 118 9
15 Oklahoma City 5-4 117 13
16 The Master's 10-2 113 19
17 Langston 6-2 112 18
18 Cumberland 10-4 105 15
19 John Brown 9-5 95 17
20 Pikeville 14-0 89 23
21 Baker 10-2 73 RV
22 Rocky Mountain 10-4 62 tie-20
23 Talladega 11-3 51 RV
24 Martin Methodist 11-3 50 tie-20
25 Lindsey Wilson 13-2 46 RV

Dropped from rankings: No. 22 LSU-Shreveport, No. 24 Wayland Baptist, No. 25 Great Falls
Others receiving votes: Lewis-Clark State 40, Wiley 37, Wayland Baptist 37, Great Falls 24, Loyola 22, Central Methodist 19, Culver-Stockton 3, William Woods 3

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush poll streak continues; XU climbs to 14th

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana extended its streak in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll and climbed three places to 14th Tuesday.
     
The Gold Rush, 13-4 after a 71-52 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference home victory Monday against Edward Waters, are in the top 25 for the 53rd consecutive time — the longest active streak in the division — and the 66th time in the last 67 polls. The poll position is the highest for the XU men since they were 13th on Oct. 28, 2014. It's their highest rank in a non-preseason poll since March 12, 2014, when they were 12th.
     
It's the first time since 2010-11 that the Gold Rush climbed in each of the first two regular-season polls. Xavier was 19th in the preseason Oct. 27 and tied for 17th Dec. 8.
     
For the second time this season, Xavier is one of three GCAC teams in the top 25. Talladega climbed from 11th to 10th, and Tougaloo is 25th in its first top-25 appearance since March 7, 2012.
     
Georgetown (Ky.) received all 10 first-place votes to earn its first No. 1 ranking since Oct. 29, 2013, and replace Pikeville at the top spot. Starting with the 2010-11 season, eighteen men's programs have been No. 1.
     
Xavier's next game will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday against GCAC opponent Philander Smith at XU's Convocation Center. Philander Smith is unranked this week but was 20th in the preseason and defeated current No. 4 Columbia (Mo.) 72-69 in December.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 3)
Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Georgetown (Ky.) (10) 14-0 250 2
2 Pikeville 13-1 238 1
3 Freed-Hardeman 12-2 231 3
4 Columbia (Mo.) 14-1 220 5
5 William Penn 12-1 219 6
6 LSU-Alexandria 11-2 203 8
7 Lewis-Clark State 14-1 201 7
8 Dalton State 11-2 195 9
9 Arizona Christian 13-2 194 4
10 Talladega 13-3 182 11
11 Hope International 12-2 175 10
12 Westmont 12-3 144 14
13 Texas Wesleyan 8-3 143 20
14 Xavier 12-4 141 tie-17
15 Lindsey Wilson 11-3 132 19
16 Carroll (Mont.) 9-3 119 16
17 Wayland Baptist 10-3 116 12
18 Southwestern Assemblies of God 11-3 106 15
19 MidAmerica Nazarene 9-4 105 13
20 Biola 15-1 100 RV
21 Langston 8-3 97 23
22 Central Methodist 9-4 82 NR
23 Montana State-Northern 12-2 80 24
24 Vanguard 10-2 54 21
25 Tougaloo 7-4 47 RV

Dropped from rankings: No. 17 (tie) Martin Methodist, No. 22 Wiley, No. 24 Avila
Others receiving votes: Our Lady of the Lake 42, Campbellsville 42, Martin Methodist 31, Benedictine (Kan.) 27, Park 12, Wiley 9, Mid-America Christian 6, Mobile 5, Oklahoma City 4, Montana Western 4, Avila 3

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Florida A&M Announces Changes To Football Staff

Courtesy Florida A&M Sports Information

Dennis Smith, left, and Walter Stewart have left the staff at Florida A&M

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M head football coach Alex Wood confirmed today the departure of two coaches from last season’s staff. Special teams and recruiting coordinator Dennis Smith and defensive line coach Walter Stewart have taken jobs at other institutions and Wood is actively seeking to fulfill the vacant positions. Alex Peffley, graduate assistant, began immediately serving in the role of recruiting coordinator as the Feb. 1 national signing day approaches.

Smith, will return closer to his home as an assistant coach with McNeese State. He will work under head coach Lance Guidry, with whom he and Wood have worked before. McNeese plays in the NCAA FCS Division as a member of the Southland Conference.

“I would like to thank Dennis for his work here as recruiting coordinator and special teams coach. His move is one that makes sense at this point in his career and I think he will do well,” Wood said.

Stewart, who is engaged, will also move closer to where he played at the University of Cincinnati. Stewart, who Wood afforded the opportunity to coach the defensive line last season, will join head coach Mark Elder as he assembles his new staff at Eastern Kentucky University.

“Walter came to us from the University of Tennessee and he took the opportunity to be a position coach here with us, as defensive line coach. We wish him well in his new chapter at EKU,” Wood said.

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Dillard remains unbeaten in conference with crucial 1-point road victory in Little Rock

COACH NORBERT ROME
HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DILLARD UNIVERSITY

Little Rock, Arkansas -- The Dillard University Lady Bleu Devils hit a total of 29 free throws and remain undefeated in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference play after a crucial road victory over Philander Smith College by the score of 80-79 at the Dr. Crawford Mims Gymnasium. The win is the first time Dillard head coach Norbert Rome has defeated the Lady Panthers during his stint as head coach.

The Lady Bleu Devils (7-8, 2-0 GCAC) were led by freshman sharpshooter Shaelynn Moore (FR/Houston, Texas) as she finished with 26 points, hitting 8-of-10 shots from the foul line. Her team trailed by one point at the half after an ill-advised foul at the buzzer on Moore which allowed PSC's Juquecia Chaney to shoot three free throws to end the half.

In the third quarter, both teams put up nearly 30 points apiece after only scoring in the teens in previous quarters. As a result, Dillard finally was able to take a 56-53 lead to end the quarter after a wild series of events that resulted in a technical foul on Philander's coach when his shooting guard Brittany Leonard was called for an offensive foul. A total of 20 fouls were called in the thrilling quarter.

The final quarter proved to be just as exciting as both teams exchanged baskets throughout the quarter. The Lady Panthers cut the deficit down to as low as one point with a basket from Leonard until Dillard's Alena Evans (SR/Las Vegas, Nev.) hit a key basket to take a 3-point lead, then Moore buried a 3-pointer after a PSC miss, giving the Lady Bleu Devils a 6-point lead with less than two minutes to play. With 0.3 seconds left to play in the game, and with a 3-point lead, Dillard's Rashida Ademosu (SR/Nashville, Tenn.) fouled PSC's Tamara Heard at the 3-point line. Heard was only able to connect on 2-of-3 shots from the charity stripe as Dillard escaped with the 1-point victory.

Point guard Shantrell Lumar (JR/Baton Rouge, La.) had a sensational game for Dillard as she finished with a season-high 22 points and hit 11-of-13 free throws in the win.

As a team Dillard nailed 29-of-36 free throws (81 percent) while Philander Smith hit 25-of-38 free throws (66 percent). The Lady Bleu Devils produced 11 steals and forced 17 turnovers in the victory.

With the loss, PSC drops to 9-6 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.

Dillard returns to action on Saturday, January 16 as they travel 3.7 miles to face Southern University at New Orleans in GCAC action. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.

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Balanced Bleu Devils Earn Rare Road Win; Beat Philander Smith 87-80

MIKE NEWELL
HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
DILLARD UNIVERSITY

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Dillard University had six players score in double figures as the Bleu Devils went on the road and defeated Philander Smith 87-80. It was the Bleu Devils' first conference road win since they won at Tougaloo on Feb. 16, 2013, snapping a 16-game conference road losing streak.

To pull out the win Dillard had to overcome a 39-36 halftime deficit. The Bleu Devis shot a blistering 62 percent in the second half as they outscored the Panthers 51-41.

Demetric Austin scored a team-high 15 points for the Bleu Devils. Austin, Dillard's leading scorer at 19.4 points per game, has scored in double figures in 13 of 14 contests this season. Starters Dexter Porchia (14 points, five rebounds) and Dennis Reed (12 points, 8 rebounds) combined to shoot 12-19 from the floors, while Dillard's reserves combined to go 10-for-19. Jesse Ward (11 points), Dennis Hightower (11 points, eight assists), and Patrick Thompson (10 points, five rebounds) led the second unit.

The Bleu Devils took command of the game in the early going, building a 14 point lead with 8:17 to go in the first half. But Philander Smith would close the half on a 23-6 run. Rashad Brackeen was the linchpin of the surge, both with his scoring and his passing. He made consecutive baskets to cut the lead to nine before giving an assist to Daldric Sargent to make the game 23-30. Philander had reeled off 15 straight points to take a 31-30 lead before Ramon Johnson was able to make a free throw that tied the game at 31. But Ronald March would score two of his game-high 25, putting the Panthers back on top. Tyson Oliver (10 points) and Chris Ward (18 points, eight boards) scored on the Panthers' last two possessions of the half, sending them into the locker room with the lead.

Ward would put PSC up five at 43-48 before Dillard would begin to make its second half push. Austin would convert an "and-one" opportunity with 12:11 to play to bring the Bleu Devils within one at 54-53, then Dennis Hightower would score off of a turnover to give Dillard the lead just over a minute later. The game was knotted at 69 all when Dennis Reed scored to give Dillard the lead for good as they outscored the Panthers 16-11 down the stretch.

Dillard converted five out of eight free throw attempts late to ice the game.

The Bleu Devils outshot the Panthers 53 percent to 45 percent from the floor. Philander Smith struggled from long distance, making just seven of 31 attempts from beyond the arc. Dillard also held advantages in total rebounds (33-30), offensive rebounds (11-7), free throws made and attempted and bench points (38-16).

Dillard (9-5, 1-1 GCAC) returns home to host Texas College in a non-conference matchup on Jan. 14 before facing SUNO on The Battlefield at Dent Hall on Jan. 16. Philander Smith (8-9, 1-1) begins a four-game road swing at SUNO on Jan. 9.

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Gold Nuggets again are a GCAC opening success

NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright and Donyeah Mayfield scored 13 points apiece Monday, and Xavier University of Louisiana shot a season-high 46.4 percent from the floor to defeat Edward Waters 73-65 in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball.

The Gold Nuggets (11-5), ranked ninth in NAIA Division I, won their GCAC opener for the seventh consecutive year and the 23rd time in 24 seasons. They're 6-0 at home this season and 13-0 all-time against the Tigers (12-4, 0-2).
     
Mayfield matched career highs with five assists and four blocked shots. Gathright had seven assists and four steals and tied SiMon Franklin for 18th place on Xavier's career point list with 1,136.
     
Freshman Kiera Robinson had 10 points and six rebounds for Xavier.
     
Jermisha Collins scored a career-high 21 points for Edward Waters. Bianca Thornton scored 14 points and made all four of the Lady Tigers' 3-pointers, and Valerie Hill and Kyeshia Dawkins scored 11 points apiece. Hill and Kadajah Allen grabbed 10 rebounds apiece, and Dawkins had eight assists and three steals.
     
Xavier outscored Edward Waters in 3-of-4 quarters, but none by more than four points. Xavier led 29-28 at halftime, and Gathright's 3-point play at 8:08 of the third quarter but the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 36-33.
     
Edward Waters shot 36.2 percent from the floor.
     
Xavier will play host to GCAC opponent Philander Smith at 5:30 p.m. next Monday.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush dig deep for 71-52 victory in GCAC opener

NEW ORLEANS — Morris Wright scored 26 points Monday, and the defense of NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana excelled again in a 71-52 men's basketball victory against Edward Waters.
     
Xavier (13-4) won its Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener and allowed fewer than 60 points for the fourth consecutive game and the eighth time this season. The Gold Rush entered No. 3 nationally in scoring defense.
     
Edward Waters (6-10, 0-2) entered leading NAIA Division I in 3-point field-goal percentage defense, but Wright made his first four attempts from behind the arc — giving him nine consecutive makes over two consecutive games — and finished 5-of-7. It was the eighth time this season that Wright reached 20 points and the 19th time in the last 20 games that he led his team in scoring.
     

Xavier's Gary Smith, with 10 points, reached double figures for a career-best third straight game.Elex Carter and Seth Jackson scored seven points apiece, and Carter and Jarvis Thibodeaux grabbed eight rebounds each.
     
Keith Williams made three 3-pointers and scored 15 points for the Tigers, who have lost eight straight to Xavier since 1996. Charles-Eddie Smith had 13 points and four steals, and Oceann Maddox had nine points and seven rebounds.
     
Xavier led 35-22 at halftime — the third consecutive game the Gold Rush held a double-digit advantage at the break — and took its largest lead, 64-43, on Thibodeaux's two free throws with 2:58 remaining.
     
Xavier outshot the Tigers 51.9 to 34 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 39-26.
     
Xavier, 11-0 at home this season, will play host to GCAC opponent Philander Smith at 7:30 p.m. next Monday.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Dawson Odums “leaning toward” relinquishing Southern defensive coordinator duties

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern coach Dawson Odums said he’s “leaning toward” hiring a defensive coordinator to take those duties off his hands.

Odums has held the dual roles since being promoted to interim head coach two games into the 2012 season, and he’s considering how to revamp his staff in the wake of four departures last month.

The recent firing of defensive line coach Myron Jackson, linebackers coach Lorick Atkinson and cornerbacks coach Chris Scott gives Odums flexibility as he hires replacements. Odums also has to replace co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Chad Germany, who has announced his resignation, effective Jan. 14.

“I’m in no hurry,” Odums said Monday in his first public comments since The Advocate reported the departures Dec. 2. “I haven’t decided (about a defensive coordinator). It’s like riding a horse — some days he agrees with you and some days he doesn’t. I’ve leaned both ways. Right now I’m leaning toward (hiring a defensive coordinator).”

Odums said he doesn’t expect to ,,,

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GSU Lady Tigers roll past defending SWAC champs

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — The recent success of Grambling's women's basketball program, or lack thereof, hasn't exactly been enough to command respect on its home court.

And the Lady Tigers know that. But that doesn't mean they don't take offense to an opposing team hooting and hollering at them over the weekend during practices or walk-thru's at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena.

"When you come into somebody’s house screaming and yelling, that’s very disrespectful. That triggers me," said Grambling freshman Jazmine Boyd. "I knew we had to win this game."

Grambling did.

The Lady Tigers shot an otherworldly 66.7 percent from the field and had three different players score at least 19 points in an 89-69 win Monday night over defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions Alabama State.

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Ron Galimore to be enshrined in USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame

Ron Galimore was the first Black U.S. Olympic gymnast.  His father is Florida A&M University and Chicago Bears legendary half-back, Willie Galimore.  The late Mr. Willie Galimore was inducted into the National Football Foundation, College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. In terms of a total football player, he was the best Florida A&M ever had ... (Quote from Costa Kittles, former Florida A&M assistant football coach).  

Tallahassee, Florida -- Ron Galimore still remembers the moment when he realized he wouldn’t get a chance to compete for an Olympic medal.

In 1980, Galimore, a Rickards High grad, was the first black athlete, male or female, to be named to the U.S. Olympic team. Since he was a child, he had dreamed of representing his country on the global stage.

But the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. At first, the weight of the decision didn’t hit him. It truly dawned on him when the U.S. Olympic Committee flew him out to Washington, D.C., for a celebration in lieu of the games.

“It was at one of the functions where Patti LaBelle was singing,” he said.

“That’s when it hit me that I wasn’t going to be able to go. When you have a goal like that and you work for 11 years, when all of the sudden when you wake up and that’s not in front of you anymore, you feel lost. It took me about five years to brush myself off.”

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RON GALIMORE on Rings (START AT 28:17 through 29:31) 


USA GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME (Press Release)
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Seven individuals representing five different gymnastics disciplines comprise the 2016 class of inductees for the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. The four Olympic athletes and two coaches are: athletes – Ron Galimore of Indianapolis (men’s gymnastics), Paul Hamm of Glen Ellyn, Ill. (men’s gymnastics), Alicia Sacramone of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (women’s gymnastics), and Julie Zetlin of Los Angeles (rhythmic gymnastics); and coaches – Valeri Liukin of Parker, Texas (women’s gymnastics coach), and Jurek Pol of Slidell, La. (acrobatic gymnastics coach). George Hery of Fallbrook, Calif., will receive the Lifetime Achievement award for his efforts in trampoline and tumbling. The induction ceremony is slated for Saturday, July 9, during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials – Women’s Gymnastics and USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show in San Jose, Calif.

“Each of these individuals has had a significant impact on our sport,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, “and contributed in a number of different ways. Congratulations to the inductees.”

Ron Galimore, men's gymnastics
Galimore, one of the country’s top gymnasts, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team, becoming the first African-American to make a U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team. He was the first four-year NCAA national gymnastics champion and earned the first perfect 10 at a NCAA National Championships.

While at Iowa State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in speech, Galimore was a 12-time All American and was named Athlete of the Year in 1981. A member of the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1977-81, he holds the record for most U.S. national vault titles at four and is tied for the record of three national floor exercise titles. After finishing his education at Iowa State and retiring from competition, Galimore participated in two touring gymnastics shows/competitions sponsored by Madison Square Garden; served as the assistant coach for Iowa State; and worked for ABC during the 1984 Olympics Games.

Galimore was the founder and athletic director of the Ron Galimore Athlete Training Center in Tallahassee, Florida, from 1985-94, and a project manager for Marketing and Financial Management, a firm that specialized in sports marketing (1984-85). Currently, Galimore is the chief operating officer of USA Gymnastics, and he resides in Indianapolis with his wife, Loree.

BSU Bulldogs Bite JCSU, 83-75

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Bowie State outscored JCSU 19-11 over the final five minutes en route to a 83-75 win over the Johnson C. Smith men's basketball team on Monday afternoon at Brayboy Gym.

The Golden Bulls (7-5, 2-1 CIAA) got a team-high 19 points and 14 rebounds from senior Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.).  Pratt finished 6-of-11 from the field in the loss.  Also scoring in double figures was senior teammate Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) with 17 points and Alandre Davis (Florence, S.C.) chipped in 14.

In the first half, JCSU held a five point advantage at the 4:45 mark when Joshua Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) converted a layup that made it 22-17.  Bowie State would cut the lead to 31-29 at the break after Andre Jackson hit a jumper with eight seconds left.

In the second half, JCSU surged ahead by nine points at 38-29 when Pratt drained a three pointer at the 18:28 mark.  Bowie State would trim the lead to 52-50 after a Justin Beck layup with 10:06 remaining.  Bowie State would tie the game at 64-64 with 5:06 left after Ahmaad Wilson drained a jumper.

The Bulldogs would then build their lead to as many as

five points at 75-70 after two Wilson free throws with 1:59 remaining.  JCSU would cut the lead to 77-75 after Pratt hit two free throws when 28 seconds left but Bowie State made their free throws down the stretch, with Wilson going 4-of-4 in the final stages.  Andre Jackson provided the final margin after a breakaway dunk made it 83-75. 

Collectively, JCSU shot 41.8% from the field (28-of-67) including a 3-of-12 mark from long range.  Bowie State finished 27-of-67 (40.3%) and an efficient 92% (23-of-25) from the foul line.

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Chad Germany to be Jackson State offensive coordinator

JACKSON, Mississippi -- It appears Tony Hughes has found the coach who will guide Jackson State's offense next fall.

Sources close to the situation have confirmed that former Southern co-offensive coordinator Chad Germany will be the Tigers' offensive coordinator.

Germany, who began coaching at Southern in 2011, was also the Jaguars' quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator. He resigned from his post last month to pursue other opportunities, according to The Advocate in Baton Rouge.

The Jaguars' offense finished fourth in the SWAC in total and scoring offense this past season. Southern averaged 34.6 points per game and scored 50 in a 19-point win against JSU.

The Tigers' offense ranked fifth in the SWAC in total offense and seventh in scoring offense at 22.9 points per game. Germany will be tasked with reviving a rushing offense that averaged just 101.1 yards per game and instituting some balance into JSU's offensive attack.

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Bowie State Upends Johnson C. Smith 52-50 in CIAA Opener for the Lady Bulldogs

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – In a key Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) Monday afternoon matchup, Bowie State University women's basketball handed Johnson C. Smith University a 52-50 setback at JCSU's Brayboy Gymnasium.

The loss is the first conference loss for the Golden Bulls in three outings and sets the Johnson C. Smith overall record at 9-5.

Bowie State improves to 8-3 for the season and 1-0 in CIAA play.

Sophomore Kyah Proctor (Capitol Heights, Md.) led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 21 points (14 in the first half). Sophomore Kiara Colston (Burtonsville, Md.) contributed 13 points and junior Ashley Jennings (Newark, N.J.) chipped in 10 points in the win. Jennings and Proctor led Bowie State on the glass, ripping down 10 and eight rebounds respectively.

MaryAnna Moore (Laurens, S.C.) and A'Diyah Ussery (Shelby, N.C.) led the Golden Bulls with 11 points each. Ashley Porter (Winston-Salem, N.C.) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and Larryqua Hall (Atlanta, Ga.) grabbed 10 in the loss.

The Bowie State Lady Bulldogs led Johnson C. Smith 12-10 after the first quarter and took a 27-19 lead into halftime. As a team, Bowie State shot 29 percent from the field (9-of-31) in the first 2o minutes and made 8-of-10 free throws. On the other side of the stat sheet, the Golden Bulls made 7-of-29 first half field goals (24.1 percent) and 50 percent (5-of-10) of its free throws.

A Hall jumper at the 1:59 mark of the third quarter tied the score at 34-all and the Golden Bulls took their first lead (43-41) since 9-8 of the first quarter, at the 5:45 mark of the final quarter.

A Colston jumper followed by a pair of free throws shifted the advantage back over to Bowie State after a technical foul on JCSU's Quinseha Lynch (Rocky Mount, N.C.) with 4:22 left on the clock.

After JCSU's Lynch was fouled on a put back attempt, she tied it once more by nailing two free throws at the 3:03 mark, but Bowie State responded when Proctor hit a jumper to provide a 47-45 score. After a JCSU miss, BSU's Colston missed two free throws, but the Golden Bulls could not capitalize, turning it over on their next possession.

Following an Ussery miss, Ashley Porter boarded the miss and was fouled. She then hit one free throw to draw JCSU to within 47-46 with 1:20 left.

Bowie State's Jennings found her way to the line after a JCSU foul, knocking down one shot with 1:09 left to give the Bulldogs the 48-46 lead.

Bowie State would then get a steal from Jennings and she converted a jumper to provide the 50-46 lead. JCSU then got a layup from Porter to bring JCSU to within 50-48.

After a travelling call on the Lady Bulldogs with 14.5 remaining, JCSU was able to get another layup from Porter with 7.9 left to knot the game at 50-50.

After a BSU timeout, Colston knifed through the JCSU defense and got a layup to drop in traffic with 4.9 seconds left to make it 52-50.

Offensively, the Lady Bulldogs shot just 31 percent from the floor 18-of-58, hitting just 2-of-10 from three-point range. The Golden Bulls made 18-of-57 from the field (31.6 percent) and 3-of-16 from long range (18.8 percent). Johnson C. Smith outrebounded Bowie State 43-35 but committed 21 turnovers.

The Bowie State Lady Bulldogs will continue its CIAA Southern swing playing again on Tuesday (1/5), making a short hope over to Livingstone College for a 5:30 p.m. tilt against the Lady Blue Bears.

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Holmes Resigns as NCCU Volleyball Head Coach to Join NC State Coaching Staff

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Nicki Holmes has resigned as head women's volleyball coach at North Carolina Central University to accept the role as an assistant women's volleyball coach at North Carolina State University.

NCCU assistant coach Jennifer Charles will serve as interim head coach until the full-time head coaching vacancy is filled.

"I am saddened by the early departure of Coach Holmes; however, he has done a tremendous job in the rebuilding of our volleyball program over the past year-and-a-half," said NCCU Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree. "I am confident in Coach Charles' ability to guide our program until a permanent head coach is named."

The search process for a new head volleyball coach will begin immediately.

Linda Hampton-Keith, NC State Volleyball Head Coach
"Nicki Holmes is a rising star in the coaching profession who I have worked side-by-side for several summers in the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team program. It's immediately clear when you work with Nicki, that he brings a high level of knowledge about the game and can communicate with the athletes in a way that maximizes their potential.  His coaching experiences, creative technical savvy and familiarity of the North Carolina region will allow our staff to seamlessly transition into a highly-functioning program that will allow our athletes to compete at the highest levels immediately." 

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Lincoln Blue Tigers Hold Off Hornets For Fifth-Straight Win

EMPORIA, Kansas --  Anthony Virdure scored 26 points andRichie Lewis had a double-double to lead the Lincoln men's basketball team to a 71-65 win over Emporia State on Saturday (Jan. 2). The Blue Tigers improved to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA in the win, Lincoln's fifth in a row and first in a true road game.

Jaylon Smith made a pair of threes to help Lincoln take an early 12-3 lead, and a pair of Virdure free throws put Lincoln ahead by 11 with 14:18 left in the half. Emporia State (6-6, 3-3 MIAA) stormed back to cut the LU advantage to 23-19 at the 11:18 mark, but the Blue Tigers scored on three-straight possession to go back up by 10 by the second media timeout.

Emporia State shot .520 overall and .600 from long range in the first half, and as a result was able to close the gap down to 39-36 after hitting a buzzer-beating jumper just before halftime. The Hornets then began the second half on a 13-1 run, and led by six with 11:42 remaining.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Aaron Spudich began Lincoln's comeback, and Virdure sank a three to pull LU to within 53-51 with 10 minutes to play. The Blue Tigers then tied the game on a pair of free throws from Lewis before two shots at the line by Virdure and a layup from Tacourrus Mattox gave Lincoln a 57-53 advantage.

Lincoln would not trail again from that point forward, with a trey by Smith giving LU a 65-59 lead with 3:31 remaining. Emporia State scored five unanswered to close the gap down to one, but a jumper by Virdure and two more free throws by Lewis gave Lincoln a two-score advantage in the game's final minute. The Blue Tiger defense proved too tough to score on late, as ESU scored just one point in the contest's final two minutes.

Lewis and Smith each scored 12 points, with Lewis also grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing four assists. Mattox and Smith each tallied six boards, with Mattox additionally scoring six points, dishing a pair of assists and registering three steals. In addition to his game-high point total, Virdure also pulled down five rebounds and dropped two dimes.

O'Shai Clark added six points, a block, two assists and two steals to the LU cause while Spudich finished with five points and a pair of rebounds. Rod Ollison rounded out the scoring with four points and grabbed five rebounds.

As a team, Lincoln shot .479 from the floor and out-rebounded the Hornets, 37-31. LU defensively held ESU to .324 shooting in the second half, with Emporia State hitting just two of its 12 attempts from three-point land. With the win, LU now has nine victories in a season for the first time since 2001-02, which is also the last time the Blue Tigers had a five-game winning streak.

Lincoln will be back in action on Monday (Jan. 4), traveling to Topeka, Kan. to play Washburn at 7:30 p.m. CST

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By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
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Tuskegee Golden Tigers win in final seconds over Benedict

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Freshman forward Joshua Culver scored just five points the entire game, but his final three points of the contest were the biggest as Tuskegee defeated Benedict 68-67 on the road Saturday afternoon in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play at HRC Arena.

Leading 63-60 with 3:28 remaining, Tuskegee (6-4, 2-1 SIAC) fell behind on successive possessions by Benedict (8-4, 3-1 SIAC) as the Tigers took a 65-63 lead with 1:39 to play in the game. Senior Camden Foster tied the game at 65-all when he knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:21 remaining, before Quayshun Hawkins hit a jumper to put Benedict back up 67-65 with 50 seconds to play.

That is where Culver and the Golden Tigers answered.

The sophomore took a pass from fellow freshman, Daniel Roach, with 35 seconds to play and tied the game at 67-all. Following a missed three-pointer from Hawkins, the Golden Tigers Elijah McMillan grabbed the defensive rebound setting up the final possession for Tuskegee.

Foster missed a three-pointer with just four seconds remaining, however, Culver grabbed the rebound and was fouled. The freshman hit the second of two free throws, giving Benedict a chance with just three seconds remaining but their final shot rimmed out for the Tuskegee victory.

Foster led three players in double figures for Tuskegee with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including connecting of 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Austin Cherry added 14 off the bench – connecting on 4-of-7 three-pointers – while Kevin May added 13 points and a season-high eight assists.

The Golden Tigers shot 52.1 (25-of-48) percent from the floor and 40 (12-of-30) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 60 (6-of-10) percent from the free throw line, while winning the rebounding battle 32-25.

Christopher Spencer led Benedict with 15 points, while Hawkins added 14 and Brennan Reynard 13 in the loss.

Tuskegee travels to Orangeburg (S.C.) to face Claflin University Monday night at 7:30 pm (est) in the final game of the two-game South Carolina road trip.

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook.

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