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Rebels and Tigers will tangle in special Thursday matchup on September 1.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- UNLV will open its 2016 football season by hosting Jackson State University as part of a unique partnership between the two schools and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy and LVCVA Chairman Lawrence Weekly announced Monday.
The game will be played Thursday, Sept. 1 at Sam Boyd Stadium. Kickoff time and TV information are still to be determined. Individual tickets to the game will go on sale during the summer. Group and season tickets are available now by calling (702) 739-FANS or visiting unlvtickets.com.
Festivities around the game will include more than just the on-field matchup as Jackson State’s famed marching band, the Sonic Boom of the South, cheerleading squad and popular dance squad, the Prancing J-Settes, will travel to Las Vegas and appear at other events, including a public pep rally, as well as at the stadium.
“We wanted our season-opener to stand out as we celebrate the program that head coach Tony Sanchez is building here and this will be more than just a game, it will be a party,” Kunzer-Murphy said. “UNLV is excited to help the LVCVA promote our community through helping us bring in a historic FCS program.”
Jackson State, a historically black college (HBCU), is a member of the tradition-rich Southwestern Athletic Conference and has produced Pro Football Hall of Famers Walter Payton, Jackie Slater and Lem Barney. UNLV hosted JSU once before, downing the Tigers 39-2 on Oct. 4, 1975. The Rebels are 3-0 all-time in games played against teams in the SWAC as they also downed Alcorn State and Prairie View A&M during the 1974 season.
“Las Vegas is a world-class city with an impressive listing of sporting events to match, including a variety of championship events that attract top professional and collegiate athletes and the most dedicated sports fans,” said Weekly. “We are excited to add the proud history of Jackson State football to our extensive lineup with the upcoming matchup against UNLV this football season and we look forward to welcoming the school’s fans to Las Vegas to experience everything our city has to offer.”
ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and almost 11 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever- increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.lasvegas.com. Rebels will open
their spring practice on March 7.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
The 2016 Edition of the Southern University Human Jukebox. Under the Direction of Mr. Nathan Haymer,Head Director of Bands.Mr.Brian Simmons, Assistant Director of Bands. Mr. Kedric Taylor,Assistant Director of Bands. Mr. Lorenzo Hart,Percussion Instructor.
WARRENSBURG, Missouri - The Lincoln women's track & field team won eight events and posted 18 top-five finishes at the Mule Relays, hosted by the University of Central Missouri on Friday (Feb. 5).
Yanique Ellington was a double winner, taking the crowns in both the 60m (7.63) and the 200m (25.09). In the former event, Adewumi Ademuwagun was the runner-up at 7.76 while Diana Cauldwell placed fourth at 7.84. In the 200m, Ademuwagun (26.35) came in third while Cauldwell (26.92) edged Kimona Shaw (26.93) for seventh.
Cauldwell picked up a win in the triple jump, posting a top distance of 12.02m, while Jonelle Campbell was the runner-up at 11.24m. Ademuwagun, meanwhile, was victorious in the long jump, claiming the title with a top mark of 5.49m. Tina Coombs came in second in the long jump at 5.48m and Cauldwell rounded out the top-three (5.41m).
Kissi-Ann Brown was also a two-time champion on Friday, winning the 400m in 58.23 before teaming with Jhevere Hall, Ebony Rose and Shanice Clarke to take the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:55.41. Shaw took fifth in the 400m, timing in at 1:00.37, and Tajera Lawkin came in seventh (1:03.99).
The Blue Tigers additionally swept the top-two of the 800m, with Monique Thompson taking the crown with a time of 2:15.74. Clarke, meanwhile, placed second in 2:21.57. LU's other win came in the 60m hurdles, where Nadia Harriott was the champ after finishing in 8.97. Lexanna Morgan finished fifth in the hurdles at 9.15.
Lincoln had two other notable finishes on the day, both in the 600-yard run. Ebony Rose took third in that event, clocking in at 1:28.81, while Akeeba Rose placed ninth in 1:38.21.
Up next for the Blue Tigers is the Fred Wilt Invitational, which will be hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 12-13).
NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Senior Brianna Lawrence sank a floater at the buzzer to give the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team a much needed win over Morehead State, 78-76, Saturday night in the Gentry Center.
After Morehead State tied the game with five seconds remaining, Tennessee State had one more chance. The Lady Tigers made good on their opportunity and Brianna Lawrence knocked down the game winner just before the clock expired.
The win snapped a five-game losing skid for TSU and moved the team to 10-14 (5-6 OVC). Lawrence finished with 18 points and four steals while Jayda Johnson scored 17. I’mani Davis notched her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds to go with six assists and three blocks.
Miranda Crockett led Morehead State (9-16, 3-8 OVC) with 20 points while Eriel McKee (17), Brianna McQueen (14) and Natalie Greenwell (12) also reached double-figures.
The Lady Tigers got off to a fast start and made their first seven field goal attempts. A three-pointer by Diamond Beatty followed by a bucket from Jordan Brightwell gave TSU a 17-6 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Despite a 7-0 run from Morehead State, TSU led 21-15 heading into the second frame. The Eagles continued to push in the second quarter and outscored the Lady Tigers 8-3 to pull within one (27-26).
TSU once again built its lead up, 35-26, but MSU answered and sliced the deficit to one, 40-39, late in the period before the Lady Tigers went into halftime leading, 41-39.
Morehead State scored the first points of the second half and from there the teams traded buckets. The teams played to a 46-46 tie when scores from TSU including a reverse lay-up by Franceska Brown gave the Lady Tigers a, 51-46, cushion.
On the ensuing possession, however, MSU used a three-point play to make the score, 51-49. TSU created a little distance when Diamond Beatty knocked down a three-pointer near the two-minute mark. But seven consecutive points from opponent made the score, 61-61 with seconds on the clock. As time winded down, Brianna buried her fourth triple of the game at the buzzer to give TSU a, 64-61, lead heading into the final stanza.
Four unanswered points from Morehead State to start the fourth, gave the Eagles a 65-64 lead. On TSU’s next trip down the floor Asia Sims connected from long range to give the lead back to the Lady Tigers.
The next several minutes were a battle. At the final media timeout of the game, TSU was holding on to a slight, 71-70, lead. Out of the break, Asia Sims knocked down her second three-pointer of the game to make the score, 74-70, in favor of the home team with less than four minutes remaining. The score stayed close the rest of the game.
With 37 seconds remaining and TSU up by two, I’mani Davis came away with an offensive rebound that kept the possession with the Lady Tigers. After seconds ticked off the clock, TSU used a timeout to draw up a play.
TSU’s shot attempt, however, was off the mark and MSU grabbed the rebound. The Eagles burned a timeout to advance the ball with 10.9 seconds left. The Eagles were able to score with five seconds left to even the game at 76-all.
With time winding down, Brianna Lawrence drove the length of the court to drain a floater at the buzzer to give the Lady Tigers the victory.
Tennessee State returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 10 versus Tennessee Tech. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Tahjere McCall (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored 23 points and Armani Chaney (Chicago, Ill.) added a career-high 17 to carry the Tennessee State men’s basketball team to a 77-76 home victory over Morehead State on Saturday night at the Gentry Center.
“I’m really proud of our guys,” second-year TSU Head Coach Dana Ford said. “I thought they did a great job. We played against a really good team and someone I have a lot of respect for in Coach Woods. They’re a really good team, and they’re definitely someone who we had to play a really good game to beat. We’re happy with the win, and we’re moving on to our next game.”
The Tigers (16-7, 7-3 OVC) earned their first home victory over Morehead State (12-11, 6-5 OVC) since Jan. 11, 2012. Marcus Roper (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.) also finished in double figures with 11 points for TSU, which shot 54.5 percent (22-for-44) from the field.
For Morehead State, Xavier Moon posted a team-high 20 points to lead four Eagles in double figures.
Early on in the game, Demontez Loman (South Port, N.C.) picked up steals on back-to-back plays leading to his breakaway dunk followed by a McCall layup as the two sides were tied at 14-14 mid-way through the first half.
Later in the half when the Eagles had taken the lead, Chaney drove the lane and fed Loman for another dunk for a 24-23 lead to jumpstart a 9-0 run. The stretch gave the Tigers a 31-23 edge with just over a minute until halftime. The Tigers were able to take a 33-26 advantage going into the locker rooms.
The Eagles scored the first five points of the second half to cut the TSU edge down to 33-31. The Tigers bounced back later in the half when Roper banked in a three then swished another one next time down the floor for a 51-39 lead with just under 12 minutes left. The 12-point advantage was the largest for either side on the night.
After Morehead State was able to battle back, Chaney’s three from straight away extended TSU’s cushion back up to 63-55 with five minutes left.
In the final minute, Morehead State cut the lead down to two at 75-73 with 4.3 seconds left on Moon’s three-pointer. McCall knocked down two clutch free throws for a 77-73 lead before Miguel Dicent’s desperation three went in to put the final score at 77-76.
The Tigers forced the Eagles into 17 turnovers on the night with the Eagles holding a 33-31 rebounding advantage.
Up next, the Tigers host Tennessee Tech at the Gentry Center on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES: TSU’s record now stands at 31-35 in the all-time series versus Morehead State… TSU improves to 8-2 at the Gentry Center this season… TSU’s last home win over Morehead State came on Jan. 11, 2012… Marcus Roper (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.) scored in double figures for the eighth time this season… The attendance of 6,312 was the highest for a TSU home game this season.
Tennessee State Head Coach Dana Ford
“We knew that we would have to match their intensity and their toughness and their grit. It was a pretty good matchup for us, and we were able to squeak it out. We’re going on the second week in February. It’s not about playing a certain way. It’s about winning, especially when you’re in a conference race.”
On the close win
“Armani Chaney is really good. His situation this year is he has two experience guards in front of him. The kid can play. He can play 20-30 minutes a game right now as a freshman. He’s going to play a lot here. It’s just a credit to him to be ready to play when his number is called. He practices hard every day and he’s got some of the most high character of anyone on our team. We’re not surprised as a coaching staff because we know what he is capable of doing.”
On the play of Armani Chaney
“It was special. We need to make it hard for other teams to win here. We need people to come out and watch the guys because they represent the University in a first-class way, and to me, that’s the most important thing. They deserve to play in front of thousands of fans because of the blood, sweat and tears they put in every day.”
On the environment and fans
Tennessee State Guard Tahjere McCall
“Coming into tonight, the biggest focus was just being a team. Whoever is scoring, whoever is helping the helper, whoever is rebounding, just do everything together.”
On the team effort
Tennessee State Guard Armani Chaney
“Really, I’ve just been trusting the process day-by-day and just trying to get better. I’m trying to be a better player when I don’t play and just be ready when my number is called. Everyone on the team helps me.”
On being ready to play
“It was fun. This is college and this is an HBCU, so it’s even more fun. Everything is just based off how we do. I feel like we’ve brought something to the table this year, and the fans came out and supported us and we love that. We represent the University and they represent us."
JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Edward Waters junior guard Kyeshia Dawkins entered Saturday's home non-conference game against Morris College needing just seven points to join the prestigious 1000 Point Club. Instead, the Columbia, South Carolina native led all scorers with 23 points as the Lady Tigers dominated their former Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Rivals, 83-53. Dawkins became just the fourth Lady Tiger in school history to achieve 1000 career points, joining former Lady Tiger stars Latrika Allen, Ruth Waters, & Ebony Presha.
Edward Waters (16-6, 3-4 GCAC) was dominant in every nearly phase of the as all but one Lady Tiger scored in the contest. EWC held the Lady Hornets (6-8) to just 28% shooting from the floor and forced 25 Morris turnovers. The Lady Tigers shot 42% from the floor and hit 78% of their free throws en route to the 30 point victory. EWC had two others in double figures along with Dawkins as freshman guard Jermisha Collins (Bradenton, Florida) finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Bianca Thornton (Miami, Florida) finished with 16 points in just over thirty minutes of action. Tomeka Harris, Lakil Mason, & Leondra King led the Morris efforts with nine points apiece.
The Lady Tigers continue their home stand this Wednesday night as they will host the Lady Hornets of Concordia College-Alabama in a non-conference matchup at 6pm inside the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Center.
COURTESY: GULF COAST ATHLETICS CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- The Lions lost a close one to Bowie State this evening. The game was decided in the last few moments which seem to be the norm when these two teams get together. The men got off to a great start just as the women did earlier. They led early in the first half by as much as 11. The Bulldogs seemed to be off their mark and not in sync. The Lions capitalized with their speed and kept the lead until the latter part of the half. The Bulldogs worked their way back into the game with some great defense which forced the Lions to press and miss some point blank layups. Second chance points in the first half were non-existent as each team attacked the boards. As was the case in their last encounter, speed was a major factor in who was able to get a shot off and who was going to come down with a rebound. The first half ended with Bowie taking the lead with the score 32-29.
The second half was the same story as the first except in reverse. The Bulldogs took charge early and looked to put the Lions away. They were getting to the boards on both ends and getting second chance points that didn't exist in the first half. The Lions on the other hand couldn't seem to get a flow. Points were scored when individuals were able to get inside and use their speed while taking a hit. This was the case for most of the 19 points scored by Quaman Burton (Richmond, VA/John Marshall HS) and 16 points by Joshua Davis (Saginaw, MI/Louisburg Junior College). Each of them often saw the ball going through the basket as they were falling to the floor. They and their fellow Lions didn't give up in spite of falling behind 8 points late in the game. The Lions comeback was triggered by Quaman Burton (Richmond, VA/John Marshall HS)'s 3 pointer at 7:18 left in the game. Freshmen Malachi Seney (Philadephia, PA/Harford Community College) hit another one on the next play completing the Lions comeback and signaling the start of a new game.
For the next couple of minutes each team made statement shots. Joshua Davis (Saginaw, MI/Louisburg Junior College) twice slammed dunks to quiet the locals and give the visiting Lion's Den reason to shout. His forays into paint were equaled by Andre Jackson who scored 21 for the Bulldogs. He was joined in double figures by Ahmaad Wilson who put up 20 points. As the game drew to its final minute the Bulldogs clung to a 3-point lead. Joshua Davis (Saginaw, MI/Louisburg Junior College) had the chance to tie the score in the final minute with an extra point after he was fouled on one of those plays that allowed him to view his basket from the floor up. His missed free throw led to a Bulldog basket which gave them a three point led with 26 seconds left in the game. The Lions intentionally fouled in an attempt to at least get the game in regulation, however the Bulldogs hit their free throws and the three point shots weren't there for the Lions. The final score was 68-73. The teams split the regular season with a win for each at home. The loss takes the team record to 8-15 on the season and 6-6 in CIAA play. The next game for the Lions is February 10, at Manuel Rivero Hall. Tipoff is 7:30 pm.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For a team that has faced more than its share of adversity all year, what was a little more on Saturday?
The Spartan women's basketball team lost a seven-point lead with three minutes left in regulation and had five players, including a trio of starters, foul out. But none of it was enough to prevent NSU from earning its first victory of the year, a 110-108 marathon win in double overtime over Howard at Burr Gymnasium.
Freshman guard Yazmen Hannah buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 0.5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime at 90-all. The teams played to a stalemate in the first OT before NSU pulled ahead and held on in the second extra session.
Hannah had a chance to seal the game at the line with 11 seconds left in the second OT, but she missed a pair of free throws. But Shaylon Tarver's deep, last-second 3-pointer at the horn missed as NSU (1-19, 1-9 MEAC) won for the first time since last year's MEAC tournament quarterfinals – 21 games ago, and also against these same Bison (3-18, 1-7).
NSU hit a season-high 12 3-pointers, one shy of the school record, and scored its most points ever against a Division I school. Only a 116-point night against Virginia-Lynchburg on Dec. 20, 2013 saw the Spartans score more than Saturday's 110.
NSU got career highs in points from Kiara Phillips (21) and Hannah (20) and a career-high 19 rebounds – to go with 15 points – from Siobhan Beslow. In all, a season-high six Spartans scored in double figures, including Koryn Lawrence with 16, Brehanna Daniels with 11 and Kayla Roberts with 10.
The Spartans hit six of their 12 treys in the first half alone, but Howard forced NSU into 12 turnovers and outscored NSU 10-2 from the free-throw line to take a 44-38 lead into the half. NSU came out firing in the third quarter, however. A 13-0 run included 3-pointers from Hannah, Daniels and Phillips on consecutive possessions as the Spartans took a 55-46 lead four minutes into the period. NSU outscored Howard 29-16 in the third quarter and led 67-60 entering the fourth quarter.
Howard gradually cut into its deficit, eventually tying the game at 77-all on a trey by Essence Brown with 5:13 left. NSU appeared to be in good shape, however, when Phillips hit a 3-pointer to give NSU an 82-77 lead. A short time later, Beslow scored on a put-back to give the Spartans an 86-79 edge with 3:37 remaining in regulation.
But NSU went cold, missing its next six shots from the floor and going nearly three minutes without a point. Bison forward Sydni Johnson scored off an offensive rebound to tie the score at 87-all with 36 seconds left.
The Spartans missed a shot and then turned the ball over at the other end, and Howard hit 3-of-4 free throws on its next possession. Imani Bailey hit 1-of-2 to put Howard into the lead, then rebounded her own missed second free throw. Teammate Te'Shya Heslip connected on two free throws to give the Bison a 90-87 advantage with just three seconds left.
NSU called a timeout to advance the ball to half court. Hannah then took the inbounds pass and drilled a triple to send the game into overtime.
There were four lead-changes in the first OT. Lawrence hit a jumper to give NSU a 100-99 lead with 14 seconds left, but Heslip tied it with a foul shot five seconds later. A Phillips 3-point try at the buzzer went awry, sending the game into another extra session.
NSU took control of the second OT with a 6-0 spurt that included a basket inside by Shayla Tanner and fast-break layups by Lawrence and Daniels, the latter giving NSU a 110-105 edge at the 1:06 mark. A layup by Johnson and one free throw Bailey in the game's final minute closed the gap to 110-108. NSU had a chance to add to its lead, but both Lawrence and Hannah missed a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds.
But Howard couldn't capitalize and Tarver's last-gasp triple missed, ending a game which lasted two hours and 45 minutes.
NSU shot 47.3 percent for the game, tied for its second-best outing of the year. The Spartans were 12-of-24 (50 percent) from 3-point range, helping them offset a 12-of-30 (40 percent) night at the charity stripe. NSU's previous season high in made triples was five, and the 12 3-pointers are tied for the second most in school history behind a 13-trey game against S.C. State on Jan. 8, 2005.
NSU also enjoyed a 59-51 advantage on the boards, thanks in part to 28 offensive rebounds. Beslow had nine offensive boards and 10 defensively while notching her 11th double-double of the season and fifth in a row. Roberts also had a double-double, her fifth of the year, after finishing with 11 rebounds to go with her 10 points.
Hannah was 8-of-13 from the floor and hit a season-best four triples. Phillips and Alexys Long both made three, with Phillips adding five rebounds and five assists. Kieera Basey handed out a team-high six assists.
Bailey scored 37 points and Heslip had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Howard. Johnson scored 16, Erin Blaine 15 and Jasmine Hill 14 for the Bison.
The Spartans continue their road trip at UMES at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ready to get on the court, the Norfolk State men's basketball team instead had to wait its turn on Saturday at Burr Gymnasium after the Spartan women won in double overtime against Howard in the first game of the afternoon. Then the Spartan men decided they wanted to play extra as well.
Senior Jeff Short completed a four-point play with time ticking down in the first overtime, and the Spartans survived to defeat Howard by a 99-92 score in double overtime in one of the wildest days ever for the two NSU basketball teams.
The Spartan men had not played an overtime game yet this season and had gone four years since their last double OT contest. Howard made it so after rallying late in regulation.
Norfolk State held a 10-point lead with four and a half minutes remaining in the second half. The Spartans were still up by seven with two minutes to go before the Bison got clutch scoring from James Daniel, the nation's leading scorer, to force overtime.
But a year after Daniel made a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime in last season's two-point Howard win at Burr, it was Short's turn to play the hero. Down by four after HU's Marcel Boyd made two free throws with 11.8 seconds left in the first extra session, Short made an off-balance trey with 5.6 seconds left from five feet beyond the top of the key.
Short spun toward the basket and put up a Hail Mary while getting pulled down by the back of the jersey. His shot found nothing but net, and Short calmly sank the free throw to tie the score at 86-86. Howard's Keon Hill missed a trey from the left wing as time ran out to force double OT.
It was then basically all NSU in the second overtime. The Bison (10-13, 4-4 MEAC) did not make a basket for the entire five minutes, while Short added eight points in the second extra session to help the Spartans pull away.
Short finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting after tallying just five points by the end of regulation. Senior D'Shon Taylor sank 7-of-13 from the floor for a 22-point night, while sophomore Zaynah Robinson surpassed his career high with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Robinson added five assists and made 4-of-6 from 3-point range, helping the Spartans go 11-of-28 overall from 3-point range (39.3 percent) as well as 35-of-71 overall (49.3 percent).
The victory improved NSU's record to 11-13 overall and 7-2 in the MEAC. After Hampton's loss to UMES on Saturday, the Spartans moved to within a half game of first place in the league behind the Pirates and South Carolina State (both 8-2).
Daniel, meanwhile, shot 8-of-20 from the field, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range, as well as 12-of-12 from the free throw line for a game-high 34 points. He scored 18 straight points for Howard between the end of regulation and the first overtime to single-handily keep the Bison in the game.
Robinson's 3-pointer put the Spartans ahead 69-58 with 5:05 left in the second half. But after Taylor made 1-of-2 from the free throw line with 4:32 left for a 10-point edge, Daniel made a 3-pointer and then got fouled shooting a trey on the next possession. He sank all three free throws to cut the deficit to four, but Robinson sank 1-of-2 from the line, and Taylor's jumper in the lane with 2:10 on the clock pushed the lead back to seven.
After a timeout, Daniel drove right down the court and made an immediate 3-pointer before doing the same and completing a four-point play on the next possession. His free throw shot on the and-1 tied it up at 73-73 with a minute and a half left.
NSU took an ill-advised shot with 25 seconds left, but Howard turned it over by the left sideline to give NSU a chance at the win in regulation. The Spartans' last second shot in traffic down low, though, did not fall as time was about to expire.
Then at the start of overtime, Daniel made yet another fallaway trey, and NSU was forced to play catchup. The Spartans did tie it up at 78-78 with 3:19 in overtime when Robinson drained a trey from the top of the key. Senior Charles Oliver made two from the line to again tie the score a little less than a minute later, but after the two teams traded free throws, Boyd made a layup with 34.3 seconds left and then two free throws at the 11.8-second mark.
That four-point lead did not last, as Short then tallied his own four-point play to force the second overtime.
That bucket by Boyd proved to be the last for Howard, which got outscored 13-6 in the second overtime with all six points coming off free throws.
After head coach Robert Jones purposely lost his suit coat early in the second session in a heated matchup, freshman Alex Long had a fastbreak dunk and Short drained a 3-pointer at the 4:08 mark - near the same spot as his four-point play - for a three-point lead. The Spartans led the rest of the way, as Robinson's fastbreak bucket off a poor inbounds pass by Howard and a layup by sophomore Jordan Butler helped the Spartans push the lead to its eventual seven-point margin at the end.
The Bison had four turnovers and went 0-of-6 from the field in the second overtime.
The Spartans, meanwhile, hit 8-of-8 from the line over the two extra sessions after uncharacteristically struggling in the earlier part of the game. NSU hit 19-of-28 from the foul line for the day but just 11-of-20 in regulation.
Howard made 34-of-38 from the line and held a 50-33 edge on the glass. Boyd played a big part with 17 rebounds to go with 12 points. Damon Collins had 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting with eight rebounds, while Tyler Stone added 18 points and eight boards.
The Spartans got up and down the court in the early part of the game, building an 11-4 lead just three minutes into the contest. The Bison scored seven of the next nine points before NSU extended its lead to seven on a trey from sophomore Devonte Banner at the 11:17 mark.
NSU held Howard scoreless for a three-minute span, and a trey from Taylor and a long two-pointer by Robinson put the Spartans ahead 25-17 with less than seven minutes left in the stanza. The Bison, however, used a 13-5 run that lasted four minutes to tie the score at 30-30. Collins had six points during that time as he finished with 14 at the break.
Taylor sank his third 3-pointer of the half with a little more than a minute remaining, and the Spartans went into the half up 35-32. Taylor had 11 to lead NSU at the intermission.
Daniel scored the first five points of the second half for Howard, but thanks in part to two 3-pointers from Robinson, the Spartans jumped ahead 47-39 before the under-16 media timeout. The lead eventually reached 11 before Daniel sank a 3-pointer from the left corner at 14:38.
The Spartans pushed the lead back into double digits, eventually reaching 60-48 after buckets from Taylor and Long. The Bison answered with a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to five, but a long two from junior Jonathan Wade and a 3-pointer from Robinson put the Spartans ahead by double digits, 69-58, before Daniel took over for the Bison.
Long also reached double figures with 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Wade and Oliver each tallied eight points, while Butler posted nine points and seven boards.
Howard hit just 26-of-68 for the game (38.2 percent) as well as 6-of-17 from long range. Daniel, of course, made all six treys for the Bison, who made 13-of-23 from the floor in the second half but just 13-of-45 in the first half and overtime.
Howard also got just two points from its bench after playing only eight players for the game. Daniel played all but one of the game's 50 total minutes, with Collins finishing with 48 minutes on the floor.
Thanks in part to 25 Bison turnovers, the Spartans outscored them 32-12 in points off turnovers. Howard only outscored the Spartans, meanwhile, 12-7 in second chance points despite doubling up on the offensive glass (22-11).
After a day of much-needed rest, NSU will complete the road trip with a contest at UMES on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
NEW YORK, New York – The Bears racked up a couple of solid performances as the men's track and field team wrapped up competition at the Armory Track Invitational Saturday night in New York City.
Desean White and Fonyi Agendia advanced to the 60-meters semifinals where they both clocked in with a time of 6.88.
In the 400-meter dash, Joel Roberson posted a seventh place time of 48.43, while teammate Evan Johnson finished eighth with a time of 48.49.
Onyx Johnson posted a Top 10 finish in the 800-meter run by placing ninth in a time of 1:53.22. Devon Hairston advanced to the semifinals of the 60-meter hurdles where he posted a time of 8.43.
In the field events, Lloyd Hylton continued to tear it up on the runway for the Bears. Hylton claimed eighth place with a mark with a personal best leap of 7.19m (23'7¼").
Closing out the meet was the 4x400-meter relay team comprised of Donovan St. Louis, Evan Johnson, Onyx Johnson and Joel Roberson. The quartet crossed the tape in a time of 3:11.96 behind Mississippi State (3:09.31). It marked a season best time for the Bears, and the second fastest time in the MEAC this season.
The schedule continues when the Bears compete in the MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will run at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in in Landover, Maryland on Feb. 11-13.
DOVER, Delaware -- The Morgan State women's tennis team opened up the 2016 campaign with a season-opening and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division victory over host Delaware State, 4-1 on Saturday.
The Lady Bears (1-0, 1-0 MEAC) earned the doubles point and then won the first four singles matches for the victory.
Chelsi Russell and Danielle Thompson teamed up to defeat Milan Graves and Sofia Rachi of Delaware State by a score of 6-0 in a No. 1 doubles match. Cierra Plummer and Chloe Kabamba would earn a No. 2 doubles victory by a score of 6-1 over Delaware State's Elvira Gallieva and Aayishi Chouhaw.
In singles play, Kayla Price, Thompson and Russell all recorded straight set victories, respectively, at the No. 1-No. 3 positions to secure the win.
Morgan State will now travel to Richmond, Va. on Super Bowl Sunday to take on the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth in a non-conference match at 3 p.m.
Feb. 6, 2016 Dover, Del. (Delaware State) Morgan State 4, Delaware State 1
JACKSON, Mississippi -- It was just one loss, but Jackson State's slip up against Alcorn State on Saturday night hurt in more ways than one.
Fortunately for the Tigers, they'll have the chance to redeem themselves in a big way when they host Southern at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the Lee E. Williams AAC.
Saturday's loss knocked JSU (12-11, 7-3 SWAC) from a second-place tie in the conference with the Jaguars (16-7, 8-2) and into a tie for third with the Braves (9-12, 7-3).
The Tigers' hopes were for a win against Alcorn State, which would set up a date for sole possession of second place against Southern. That dream has been washed away now, though.
A win would create a tie for second place with JSU and Southern. If the Braves win, it would be a three-way tie. A Tigers' loss could possibly drop them to fourth place.
So even though this upcoming game isn't the exact scenario JSU was imagining, the stakes are still high.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Texas Southern swept the season series against Prairie View A&M as it defeated the Lady Panthers, 50-43, Saturday afternoon at the W.J. Nicks Building.
The Lady Tigers were paced by Keiana Vines who claimed a game-high 19 points with 12 rebounds – her fifth double-double of the season.
Toni Cheadle also managed a double-double in the game, scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds – eight of which were offensive.
Joyce Kennerson joined the scoring game with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
Tori Carter went 6-for-10 in shooting for the Lady Panther as she earned a team-high 15 points with four rebounds and three steals – all off the bench. She was joined in double-figure scoring by Lamaria Cole who managed 14 points and three rebounds.
TSU compiled a shooting percentage of 34.9 and forced 16 turnovers.
COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana honored approximately 70 students Saturday who qualified for its second Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Intercollegiate athletes and members of Xavier's spirit groups qualified for the AD's Honor Roll by passing 12 or more hours with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average during the spring 2015 semester or the fall 2015 semester. Honorees were recognized during the Xavier-Dillard basketball Crosstown Classic at the Convocation Center.
Five teams/groups had eight or more representatives on the AD's Honor Roll, led by women's cross country/track and field with 15 student athletes and women's volleyball with 11.
The following are members of the AD's Honor Roll for their 2015 academic achievements:
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana rallied Saturday for a 69-61 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 21 Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.
The Gold Rush (17-8, 4-4 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) trailed 10-0 after five minutes and 16-4 after eight but shot 63.2 percent from the floor in the final 31 1/2 minutes. Morris Wright, scoreless for the first 12 minutes, finished with a game-high 20 points for Xavier. RJ Daniels had 13 points, a season-high nine rebounds and a career-high-tying two blocks, and Gary Smith scored 10.
Demetric Austin had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Bleu Devils (14-8, 5-2), and Montrey Thomas scored 15.
Dillard led the first 29 minutes, including 32-28 at halftime. Daniels' basket with 9:16 remaining put Xavier ahead to stay, 47-45. Xavier extended its lead in the final four minutes by making its final three 3-point attempts — the first by Smith, the final two by Wright.
Xavier finished the game at 50 percent from the floor and limited the Bleu Devils to 34.3 percent. Dillard grabbed 21 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Gold Rush 41-31. Xavier blocked a season-high seven shots, three by freshman Kevin Murph.
Xavier clinched a 16th consecutive winning season, which extended a school record. It's Xavier 25th consecutive non-losing season.
Attendance was 1,768, the fifth-largest for an XU men's basketball game in the four-year history of the Convocation Center. Both XU basketball teams played at home on the Saturday before Mardi Gras for the first time since 2005. The GCAC's tentative 2017 schedule has Xavier out of town on the Saturday before Mardi Gras.
Xavier will play host to NAIA No. 18 William Carey in a non-conference game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Convocation Center.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team shot 50.8% from the field, including 53.3% from long range and had three players in double figures and routed visiting Fayetteville State 97-78 on Saturday afternoon in Brayboy Gym. The win coupled with a Winston-Salem State loss at St. Augustine's pulls JCSU back into a tie for first place in the CIAA Southern Division.
The Golden Bulls improve to 11-10 overall, 6-6 in CIAA play and 4-2 in the Southern Division while FSU drops to 10-12 overall, 4-8 in league play and 2-4 in divisional play.
Senior Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) finished with 24 points and nine rebounds while Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) had 23 points on an 8-of-14 shooting effort including a perfect 3-of-3 from long range and 4-of-4 from the line. Alandre Davis (Florence, S.C.) continued his solid play, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the year.
Fayetteville State got 19 points behind Michael Tyson and 10 from Isaiah Vinson in the loss.
The first half saw the two division rivals battle through eight lead changes, with Fayetteville State holding their largest lead at the 15:38 mark at 11-7. The lead would go back-and-forth through the first half, with JCSU taking a 47-46 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, JCSU jumped ahead by 10 points after Lemon tipped in his own miss, making it 56-46 with 17:31 remaining. After FSU closed to 56-50, JCSU went on a 14-3 run that gave JCSU the 72-53 lead with 10:30 left.
JCSU never let the lead get below 12 points the rest of the way as the Golden Bulls pulled away for the 97-78 win.
NEW ORLEANS — Fourth-ranked Xavier University of Louisiana recorded its first men's tennis victory of the season against a top-10 NAIA opponent when it defeated seventh-ranked William Carey 8-1 Saturday.
Xavier's women, ranked 11th, lost 6-3 to sixth-ranked William Carey.
The Gold Rush (2-2) have 12 victories in the last five seasons against top-10 NAIA opponents. Carey is the highest-ranked opponent to lose to the Gold Rush since n No. 7 Cumberland two years ago.
In the women's dual, William Carey won the final three singles matches after the Gold Nuggets (1-1) tied the dual at 3.
Charlene Goreau evened the dual for the Gold Nuggets with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory against Sara Valero Marin at the top flight. Mathilde Rinderknech clinched for the Crusaders by beating Tess Guarino 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
Goreau and Brandi Nelson teamed for a doubles victory, and Nelson defeated Alexia Rycroft 7-5, 7-5 in singles.
William Carey's women are 1-3, and its men are 0-2.
"I was very pleased with what I saw from our men," XU coach Alan Green said. "We beat a very good Carey team. On the women's side, I thought we let one slip away. I have to do a better job coaching them on some of the little things that can make matches go either way. But I give credit to the Carey women for closing the match."
Xavier's women will visit LSU-Alexandria at noon next Saturday, and both XU teams will visit Nicholls State at 11 a.m. the following day.
NEW ORLEANS — Shaelynn Moore scored 15 points and sparked a late third-quarter run which lifted Dillard to a 57-52 women's basketball victory against NAIA No. 24 Xavier University of Louisiana in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.
The Lady Bleu Devils (9-11, 4-3 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) defeated the Gold Nuggets (15-9, 4-4) at XU for the first time since Jan. 26, 1991. Xavier lost its second straight at home after winning its first eight home games this season. The Gold Nuggets have lost four of their last six games.
Xavier led 37-31 after Kiera Robinson's basket at 2:56 of the third quarter, but Dillard scored the final nine points of the period and took the lead for good, 40-37, on Moore's 3-pointer at 0:49. Moore scored five points during the run.
Dillard protected its lead by making 11-of-14 free throws in the final five minutes. The Lady Bleu Devils dominated at the line, making 22-of-31 overall to Xavier's 9-of-12.
Keona Favis scored 13 points for Dillard, and Alyssa Washington had 12 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Dillard outshot Xavier 34.7 to 32.8 percent from the floor. The Gold Nuggets had a 39-36 rebound advantage.
Xavier will play host to William Carey in a non-conference game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Convocation Center. It will be the Nuggets' annual Play 4Kay Game for cancer awareness, and fans are encouraged to wear pink.
Hometown:Richmond, Virginia High School:Thomas Dale PHOTO COURTESY: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Hampton, Virginia -- Former Hampton University football standout Darius Swinton II has been named Special Teams Coordinator by the San Francisco 49ers.
"Darius' appointment as special teams coach with the 49ers is a testament to what it means to be a Hampton student athlete: to succeed not only in the athletic arena, but in life in general," University President Dr. William R. Harvey said. "I have no doubt he will continue to represent Hampton University and uphold a standard of excellence in everything he does."
From 2003-06, Swinton donned the Pirate blue and white, and he was part of Hampton's back-to-back-to-back MEAC championship teams from 2004-06. He finished his collegiate career with 103 tackles, 19 pass deflections, and eight interceptions.
As a player, Swinton's NFL debut came in 2007 with the St. Louis Rams.
He has also worked with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Chicago Bears. This past season, Swinton was an assistant special teams coach with the Bears. Chicago was 12th in the NFL in special teams, while San Francisco was 27th.
For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- It was a bit of a surprise -- like putting a mug of hot chocolate in a microwave to warm it up, only to take it back out and have some fresh marshmallows suddenly appear around the top of the mug.
The S.C. State men’s basketball team pulled away late for an 88-83 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win against visiting Coppin State on Saturday evening, only to find out upon reaching the locker room that other MEAC results on the day had boosted the Bulldogs to atop the MEAC standings.
It was great news after a big win inside S.C. State’s Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, warming things up with excitement for players and fans alike as chilly rain fell outside in February temperatures.
“It was a constant battle,” S.C. State head coach Murray Garvin said of Saturday’s game. “In the last five minutes we did a better job defensively, kind of locked down and made them (CSU) earn every basket.
“We had to limit them to one shot, and I felt like we did a good job of that in the first half. We made some turnovers and missed some free throws; but again, it’s a conference game and you expect 20 minutes of tough basketball every half. I’m just grateful that we came out with the victory.”
GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Southern caught Grambling at a good time last month in Baton Rouge to put together a 12-point win over its rival.
Grambling, at the time, was coming off an emotional win over Alabama State with a young team that hadn’t quite grasped the meaning of Grambling-Southern.
On Saturday, the Lady Tigers were well versed in the magnitude oCf the game.
Grambling smothered Southern the entire game to force 26 turnovers en route to a 65-52 win at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena. The Lady Tigers used constant defense pressure to overcome a cold shooting night (34 percent from the field) to avenge an 80-68 loss in January.
“Now they understand what is expected of them they came ready to play,” Grambling women’s coach Nadine Domond said. “We prepared very, very hard this week. If you came to our practice we focused on this and worked on this a lot.”
Rebels and Tigers will tangle in special Thursday matchup on September 1.
