NCAA Decision: Central State University (Ohio) lacked institutional control

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Central State University lacked institutional control when it did not have the proper systems in place to detect and prevent violations, according to a decision issued by the Division II Committee on Infractions. The lack of control resulted in the university’s failure to properly certify 106 student-athletes in 10 sports, ensure the student-athletes met eligibility requirements and maintain accurate countable athletic activity logs.

Download the Central State University Public Infractions Decision

Penalties in this case include three years of probation, a $5,000 fine, a compliance audit and  vacation of games in which ineligible student-athletes competed.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the committee in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff and university must agree to the facts of the case for this process to be utilized instead of having a formal hearing.

The agreed-upon violations occurred because the university did not understand and execute NCAA rules properly when it transitioned to Division II membership. The university incorrectly believed the NCAA Eligibility Center exclusively handled initial eligibility determinations and did not need to be consulted for transfer student-athletes. The school also did not understand that it was required to verify multisport student-athletes’ amateurism status in each sport in which they participated.  These misunderstandings resulted in the university failing to verify the amateurism status resulting in 106 student-athletes competing while ineligible.

The university also permitted three student-athletes to compete and receive impermissible expenses when they did not meet eligibility requirements. It also failed to maintain accurate logs of countable athletic activity in men’s tennis, women’s track and field, men’s basketball, football and women’s volleyball.

Penalties and corrective measures prescribed by the committee include:

• Public reprimand and censure.
• Three years of probation from March 4, 2016, through March 3, 2019.
• A vacation of all wins in which ineligible student-athletes competed from 2010-11 through 2014-15. The public decision contains further details on the vacation.
• A comprehensive audit of the university’s compliance program (self-imposed by the university).
• Attendance at an NCAA Regional Rules Seminar for the athletics director, assistant coordinator for compliance, the faculty athletics representative and representatives from the Registrar and Financial Aid offices.
• A $5,000 fine.

Members of the Committees on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the Division II Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case are Douglas D. Blais, professor of sport management, Southern New Hampshire University; John D. Lackey, attorney; Bridget E. Lyons, senior associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator, Barry University; Julie Rochester, chair and faculty athletics representative and associate professor, Northern Michigan University; Carey Snyder, associate director of athletics, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; and Jane Teixeira, associate commissioner and senior compliance administrator, Pacific West Conference.

COURTESY NCAA PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS

Grambling football aims to finish race in 2016

GRAMBLING — Broderick Fobbs likes to use the word hangry, a mix between hunger and anger, to describe his Grambling football team.

Both words stem from an agonizing defeat in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game just three months ago, a hunger and an anger that will be a theme Wednesday during the Tigers’ first spring practice of 2016.

“Basically, to get all the way there and to not obtain the goal is very, very painful and more painful than actually not having even been there at all,” Fobbs said Tuesday in regards to Grambling’s loss to Alcorn State. “Our guys are very determined and they’re driven to complete the task from beginning to end.”

Fobbs met with Grambling’s returners Monday for a team meeting with the discussion centered around completing the race. The Tigers experienced a breakout year in 2015 by finishing 9-3 including a perfect 9-0 run through the SWAC until Alcorn handed them a blowout loss in Houston.

“You can’t just run 85 percent of the race. You have to complete the other 15 percent,” Fobbs said.

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Jay Joyner Named Men's Basketball Coach At A&T

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  – Jay Joyner will have the interim tag removed from his title and therefore will become the next head men’s basketball coach at North Carolina A&T State University, as announced by Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III on Monday.

Joyner, who was previously the Aggies associate head coach, took over the head coaching role on an interim basis after Cy Alexander resigned on Jan. 29, 2016. The Aggies are 5-4 overall and finished 5-3 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play after Joyner took over. He will lead the sixth-seeded Aggies into the MEAC tournament today as they face 11^th-seed Coppin State at approximately 8 p.m., at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Virginia.

“Coach Joyner’s energy and passion along with his ability to get his players to give their best effort on the floor each night is what we’re looking for in a head coach,” said Hilton. “I did not think it fair to evaluate coach Joyner on wins and losses because when he took the position there were only nine games remaining on the schedule.

I did want to, however, see how the players reacted to his leadership, and how they conducted themselves publicly. I am pleased with the job he is doing, and I thought it was important to remove interim off his title to help him and his staff recruit effectively.”

Joyner, 41, has become a head coach for the first time at a four-year institution. He played basketball for Alexander at S.C. State from 1993-96. Before joining Alexander at N.C. A&T as his associate head coach in 2012, Joyner spent three seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at Columbia State Community College (Tenn.). Joyner led the Chargers to a 61-23 record and two Tennessee Community College Athletic Association regular-season titles.

Joyner holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Middle Tennessee State.  He is a native of Amityville, N.Y.  He and his wife Chartarra have three children.

“Obviously I’m excited because this is a great opportunity,” said Joyner. “North Carolina A&T has a rich history and a great tradition in men’s basketball. It was voted one of the top 100 men’s basketball programs of all time at one point. For Chancellor Harold L. Martin and Mr. Hilton to trust me to lead a program of North Carolina A&T’s caliber is humbling.”

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Mississippi Valley Football Announces 2016 Schedule

ITTA BENA, Mississippi - The Delta Devils are scheduled to open the 2016 season in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with Eastern Michigan University on September 3. The home season opener will take place on September 10 at 4:00 pm, when the Bulldogs of Alabama A & M visit Rice-Totten Stadium.

On September 17, MVSU will travel to Houston, Texas, to face Texas Southern University, prior to returning home to host the Panthers of Prairie View A & M University on September 24. The fans can look forward to an intense contest in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 1, as the Delta Devils square off against the Jackson State Tigers.

For the first time, MVSU will travel to Missoula, Montana, to face the University of Montana on October 8. October 15 finds the Delta Devils on the road to Montgomery, Alabama, to face off against Alabama State at 2:00 pm.

Homecoming at "The Valley," is set for October 22 at 2:00 pm against the Tigers of Grambling State. November begins with the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on November 5.

The final home contest is scheduled for November 12 against Alcorn State; kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Mississippi Valley will finish the regular season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, playing Southern University.

Dates and times are subject to change.

2016 Mississippi Valley State football schedule
09/03 Eastern Michigan University
09/10 Alabama A&M University
09/17 Texas Southern University
09/24 Prairie View A&M University
10/01 Jackson State University
10/08 University of Montana
10/15 Alabama State University
10/22 Grambling State University - Homecoming
11/05 University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
11/12 Alcorn State University
11/19 Southern University
12/03 SWAC Football Championship Houston, TX
12/17 Celebration Bowl Atlanta, GA

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State's Brent not fazed by current contract

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Despite going 2-0 against Prairie View A&M in the regular season, Jackson State coach Wayne Brent still deems the Panthers, who face the Tigers in the SWAC tournament at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, as "dangerous."

"They're in a situation where they have a coach (interim coach Byron Smith), who is trying to keep a job," Brent said. "So you never know how kids are going to react, and they may play over their heads."

The thing is, JSU is in, maybe not as drastic, but a similar situation. Any game of the conference tournament, which will be held in Houston, Texas, could be the last of the Tigers' season, which is the third and final year of Brent's current contract.

Brent's contract, which pays him $100,000 annually, is set to expire on June 30, 2016, according to the agreement which was obtained by The Clarion-Ledger through a public records request last fall.

JSU's coach isn't unfamiliar with the uncertainty, though.

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Gathright leads underdog Xavier Nuggets to GCAC tournament title Over #1 Seed Talladega

Photo Gallery

NEW ORLEANS – Whitney Gathright played a near perfect game in leading the Xavier Gold Nuggets to their 16th Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's tournament championship.  The Nuggets defeated No. 1 seed Talladega 75-68 at the Xavier University Convocation Center.

Gathright scored a game-high 25 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including making both of her three pointers and nine of 10 free throws.  She added six assists, four rebounds, and three steals to further fill out the box score.

"It was a surprise to me", Gathright said of her shooting performance.  "I prayed about it last night, and good things happened."

Good things indeed, as Gathright claimed her second tournament MVP award.  She won the honor after the 2014 tournament when Xavier topped another top-seeded team from Talladega.

The Lady Tornadoes (23-5, 11-1 GCAC) were neutralized for much of the first half.  The Xavier defense limited Talladega to 35 percent shooting as they fell behind by 10 points, trailing 28-38 at the break.

In the second half, the Gold Nuggets were able to hold off the Lady Tornadoes each time they attempted to rally.  Even with Talladega making 45 percent of its shots after halftime, Xavier had put them in a hole too deep to climb out of.

Xavier coach Bo Browder was reflective after the victory.  "We started off the season on pace to be a top five team.  We beat the number one team in the country.  I've never had a team do that in the preseason.  We've been through so much, we lost players to grades, to personal issues but we didn't make any excuses."

"I'm just a country man...my dad woke up every morning and went to work", he continued, "and for me to get to do this...I realized that life is so short, you've got to appreciate these moments."

Trana Hopkins added 12 points for Xavier and Bianca Brown finished with 10.

GCAC Player of the Year Shakeena Benton led the Lady Tornadoes with 18 points.  Tatyana Calhoun added 17, with Sashanique Youngblood (13) and Tajanee Wells (10) also finishing in double figures.

Xavier (22-11, 7-5) receives the conference's automatic bid to the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in Independence, Mo. from March 16-22.   Talladega, which won its second regular season championship in the past three seasons and is currently ranked 15th nationally, will have to wait until March 9 to find out if they will receive an at-large bid to the tournament.

2016 GCAC All-Tournament Team
Jermisha Collins, Fr., G, Edward Waters
Rayvin Miller, Sr., G/F, SUNO
Shakeena Benton, Sr., G, Talladega
Donyeah Mayfield, Sr., F, Xavier
Whitney Gathright, Sr., G, Xavier

Tournament Most Valuable Player
Whitney Gathright, Sr., G, Xavier

Tournament Results
Opening Round
(3) Xavier def. (6) Dillard, 71-57
(5) SUNO def. (4) Philander Smith, 72-52
(2) Edward Waters def. (7) Tougaloo, 64-52

Semifinals
(1) Talladega def. (5) SUNO, 73-65
(3) Xavier def. (2) Edward Waters, 73-55

Final
(3) Xavier def. (1) Talladega, 75-68

Tournament MVP  -- Whitney Gathright, #25

Photo Gallery 
Final Tournament Bracket

COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Dillard resurgence complete after beating Xavier to claim 2016 GCAC Tournament crown

Photo Gallery

NEW ORLEANS – Exactly one year ago today Dillard was eliminated from the 2015 GCAC tournament by their bitter rival Xavier, 52-75.  The 23-point loss capped a 5-25 season, the Bleu Devils' 9th straight losing campaign (Dillard didn't play basketball in 2005-06 due to Hurricane Katrina).

Today, Dillard completed an amazing turnaround by defeating Xavier on its home floor 84-71 to win the 2016 GCAC tournament.  The win was the Bleu Devils' 21st of the season, a 16-game improvement over last year.

The Bleu Devils got 22 points and seven rebounds from tournament Most Valuable Player Demetric Austin, 19 points from Jesse Ward and 18 points from Houston Chatman in the victory.

Dillard clinched a trip to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship and denied Xavier coach Dannton Jackson his first GCAC tournament title.



None of this could have been predicted that night twelve months ago, but the hiring of Mike Newell was the first step in the Bleu Devils' transition from doormat to dominance.

Dillard cruised through the tournament, winning its three games by an average margin of 18.3 points while scoring 86.6 points per contest.

They were no less dominant against the Gold Rush, which entered the game having survived a double-overtime classic against Tougaloo and snapping a seven game losing streak to top-seeded Talladega.

Dillard shot 56 percent from the floor including making 12-of-22 (55 percent) from beyond the three-point line.  The Bleu Devils also converted 22 out of 27 free throw attempts.  They also limited Xavier to 38 percent shooting, by far their worst performance of the tournament.

Gary Smith had a game-high 24 points, but shot just 8-of-19 from the floor.  All-GCAC First Team selection Morris Wright finished with 16 in his last game at the Convocation Center and RJ Daniels and Elex Carter scored 11 points each.

The Gold Rush will now wait until March 9th to find out if they will receive an a-large bid to the men's national tournament. If chosen, it would be the sixth consecutive trip to the postseason.

But today belonged to Dillard.  And, with no seniors on this season's team, a few tomorrow's could belong to the Bleu Devils as well.
 
2016 GCAC All-Tournament Team
Ronald March, Sr., G, Philander Smith
Morris Wright, Sr., G, Xavier
Jesse Ward, So., G, Dillard
Dennis Hightower, Jr., G, Dillard
Demetric Austin, Jr., F, Dillard

Tournament Most Valuable Player
Demetric Austin, Jr., F, Dillard

Tournament Results
Opening Round
(3) Philander Smith def. (6) Edward Waters, 86-66
(4) Xavier def. (5) Tougaloo, 94-92 (2OT)
(2) Dillard def. (7) SUNO, 81-58

Semifinals
(4) Xavier def. (1) Talladega, 75-67
(2) Dillard def. (3) Philander Smith, 95-76

Final
(2) Dillard def. (4) Xavier, 84-71

Photo Gallery

COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Florida A&M Rattlers Complete Sweep of Western Michigan with 12-5 Win On Sunday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M (7-5) won its’ fourth straight game and completed the sweep over Western Michigan (0-9) by a score of 12-5 at Moore-Kittles Field on Sunday afternoon. The Rattler offense pounded out 16 hits, their eighth game this season with double digit hits. Ben Ellzey went 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI double and two runs scored as FAMU had six players record multi-hit performances. Dylan Dillard added four RBI and a triple on the day.

Alec Wong (2-for-4), Dylan Dillard (2-for-5), AJ Elkins (2-for-5) and Peter Jackson (2-for-5) helped pace the Rattler offense. Jackson recorded his first career home run in the second inning.

FAMU starter Chase Jarrell (1-1) worked five innings and allowed four runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk for the win.

The Broncos got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning for an early 1-0 lead. Steve Pastora led off with a single into center field and advanced to second on a ground out by Tanner Allison. Pastora would later come around to score on an RBI single from Mitchell Ho.

FAMU answered right back on Jackson’s two-run home run in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Elkins singled to right and Jackson followed with a solo home run deep over the fence in left field.

In the third inning, Shane Gordon’s two-run double over the head of the left fielder pushed the Rattler lead to 4-1. Wong singled to center to start the inning and moved to second on Ellzey’s groundout back to the pitcher. Brian Davis then drew a walk with two outs before Gordon’s double plated both Wong and Davis.

The Rattlers would score four more runs to increase the lead to 8-1. Jackson and Willis McDaniel led off with back-to-back singles and Marlon Gibbs advanced the runners with a sac bunt. Wong was intentionally walked to load the bases, hoping to set up a double play ball, but Ellzey singled through the left side to score Jackson. With the bases still loaded, Dylan Dillard cleared the bases with a triple down the left line to push the FAMU lead to seven runs.

Western Michigan picked up three runs on four hits in the fifth inning to cut the FAMU lead to 8-4. Nick Vogelmeier led off with a double, Jesse Forestell singled to center and Miller ripped a two-run double down the left line. Miller went to third on the throw home and later scored on Tanner Allison’s RBI single to left with two outs.

WMU picked up another run in the sixth as the score was now 8-5. Vogelmeir singled a ball that ricocheted off pitcher Brandon Fleming with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Forestell then walked before Miller recorded his fourth hit of the day, an RBI single through the right side.

Florida A&M was able to score two more runs in the seventh inning for a score of 10-5. Davis led off with a double down the right line and scored on Elkins deep fly ball to right that was misplayed allowing Elkins to go to second. Elkins tagged up and went to third on Jackson’s fly out to right before scoring on McDaniel’s RBI single to left field.

The Rattlers scored their final two runs in the eighth inning for the final score of 12-5. Wong singled to right and went to third on a double to right from Ellzey with no outs. Dillard then drove in Wong with an RBI single through the left side and Davis was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Ellzey came home for the final run of the day on a one out RBI single from Elkins.

WMU starter Derek Schneider (0-3) took the loss after he allowed eight runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

Florida A&M returns to action on Tuesday at Moore-Kittles Field as they face Toledo at 5:00 PM.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

A New Alcorn

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Montez Robinson inherited quite the situation when he became Alcorn State’s basketball coach.

The Braves hadn’t had a winning season, or made the NCAA Tournament, since the 2001-2002 season. They wouldn’t be able to break the streak this year either due to an APR ban from the NCAA.

Despite all of that and a 3-11 start to the year, Alcorn finished the regular season at 15-14, giving the program the most wins it’s had since 2001-2002. The Braves are the second seed for the upcoming SWAC Tournament.



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Florida A&M Wins 2016 Cheerleading Championship

COURTESY FAMU SPORTS INFORMATION

Photo Album

NORFOLK, Virginia — Florida A&M won the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cheerleading Championship on Sunday night at Echols Hall on the campus of Norfolk State University.

The Lady Rattlers of Florida A&M took first place, while the five-time defending MEAC champion Morgan State Lady Bears placed second and Hampton finished third in overall team performance. In addition to winning the overall performance, Florida A&M also won the Co-Ed division for the second consecutive year.

“It feels awesome to win,” Florida A&M head coach Brandi Tatum said. “We had one injury that happened during our warmup so we went in feeling a little defeated. For them to go out there and push themselves to the max just shows what we’re capable of and what we can do.”

Florida A&M’s Shelinka Cunningham took first place in the All-Star Division while Tiffany Williams of Hampton and Kayla Lane-Illescas of Morgan State finished second and third, respectively.

FAMU coach Brandi Tatum was unable to travel with the team, but assistant coach Felicia Barnes was all smiles as the team struck gold in the co-ed division.

Competitive cheer is much different that what a cheer squad does in the normal course of an athletic game.  The team practiced additional hours to prepare for the cheerleading competition.  Unlike Morgan State, who is a competitive cheer squad, who competes in multiple competitions each year, FAMU prepares and competes in this sole event.

The FAMU cheerleaders will root on the Lady Rattlers in their opening round of the MEAC women’s basketball championship, Monday at 4 p.m. as they face the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman.  All games from the MEAC basketball tournament will be streamed on ESPN3.

For more information on the 2016 MEAC Basketball Tournament, including brackets, ancillary events, tickets and travel information, visit www.MEAChoops.com.


2016 MEAC Cheerleading Championship Results:

All-Star Division
1st Place: Shelinka Cunningham, Florida A&M University

2nd Place: Tiffany Williams, Hampton

3rd Place: Kayla Lane-Illescas, Morgan State University

Co-Ed Division
1st Place: Florida A&M University

All-Girl Division
1st Place: Morgan State University
2nd Place: Hampton University
3rd Place: University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Overall Performance
1st Place: Florida A&M University

2nd Place: Morgan State University

3rd Place: Hampton University

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MEAC Women's Bracket Set for 2016 Basketball Tournament

2016 MEAC Women's BBT Bracket

2016 MEAC Men's BBT Bracket

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its women's pairings for the 2016 MEAC Basketball Tournament, March 7-12, at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.  The Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats will enter the tournament as the top seed after concluding the regular-season with a 12-4 mark in MEAC play.

The Lady Wildcats won the tiebreaker over North Carolina A&T State and both earned a share of the MEAC regular season championship. Bethune-Cookman earned the tournament’s first-round bye and will open up play on Wednesday, March 9 at noon. They will face the winner of the No. 8 Savannah State vs. No. 9 South Carolina State matchup slated for Tuesday, March 10 at noon.

Games will start on Monday, March 7 with No. 4 Coppin State vs. No. 13 Norfolk State at 11 a.m. and No. 5 Morgan State vs. No. 12 North Carolina Central will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. The Lady Eagles won the tiebreaker over Morgan State and Maryland Eastern Shore to secure the No. 4 spot.

North Carolina A&T State finished the season with a 12-4 mark to secure the number two seed, while Hampton earned the third seed with a 11-5 mark in MEAC play. The Aggies will meet the winner of No. 7 Florida A&M vs. No. 10 Delaware State on Wednesday.

The Lady Pirates will face the winner of No. 6 Maryland Eastern Shore/No. 11 Howard on Thursday, March 10 at 12 p.m.

The 2016 regular season champion, regular season runners-up, first-team members and top honorees including Player, Rookie, Defensive and Coach of the Year selections, will be recognized in pre-game presentations prior to the honorees first games in tournament play.


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The 2016 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips-off Monday, March 7, and will conclude on Saturday, March 12 with the men’s and women’s championship games.  The women’s game will begin one hour after the end of the men’s game and will be tape-delayed on ESPNU. It will air the following day, Sunday, March 13, at 11 a.m. The men’s finale will begin at 1 p.m. and will broadcast live on ESPN2.  The preliminary games will also be streamed live on www.ESPN3.com.  Live statistics of all games will be available on the conferences’ official website and the tournament’s official website, www.MEAChoops.com.

For tournament information, log on to www.MEAChoops.com.   For the latest on MEAC sports, visit www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

SWAC releases basketball tournament brackets

2016 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament Bracket

MEN - FULL BRACKET

March 8 (Tuesday)
Game 1: No. 7 Mississippi Valley State vs. No. 10 Grambling State 2:30 p.m. WATCH LIVE
Game 2: No. 8 Alabama A&M vs. No. 9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8:30 p.m. WATCH LIVE

March 9 (Wednesday)
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. No. 2 Alcorn State 2:30 p.m. WATCH LIVE
Game 4: Winner of Game 2 vs. No. 1 Texas Southern 8:30 p.m. WATCH LIVE

March 10 (Thursday)
Game 5: No. 3 Jackson State vs. No. 6 Prairie View A&M
Game 6: No. 4 Southern vs. No. 5 Alabama State

March 11 (Friday)
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 2:30 p.m.
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner 8:30 p.m.

March 12 (Saturday)
Game 9: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner – 5:30 p.m. – LIVE ESPNU

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WOMEN - FULL BRACKET

March 8 (Tuesday)
Game 1: No. 7 Alcorn State vs. No. 10 Mississippi Valley State 12 p.m.
Game 2: No. 8 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. No. 9 Alabama A&M 6 p.m.

March 9 (Wednesday)
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. No. 2 Southern 12 p.m.
Game 4: Winner of Game 2 vs. No. 1 Alabama State 6 p.m.

March 10 (Thursday)
Game 5: No. 3 Texas Southern vs. No. 6 Jackson State 12 p.m
Game 6: No. 4 Grambling State vs. No. 5 Prairie View A&M 6 p.m.

March 11 (Friday)
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 12 p.m.
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner 6 p.m.

March 12 (Saturday)
Game 9: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner – 2:00 p.m. – LIVE ESPN3

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The first two days of the tournament will be carried live on the SWAC Digital Network.  In addition, Monday will feature a Count Down to Tip-off previewing the league's five day event.

Men's Bracket

Women's Bracket

 

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU Softball Plays #1 Gators Tough Sunday

TAYLOR ROSIER

Height: 5’9”:

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

High School: Florida HS

Classification: Freshman

Jersey#: 12

                                             Major: Accounting                                              

Position: Third base

 

GAINESVILLE, Florida – For the second time in as many meetings, the FAMU Women’s Softball team played the top-ranked University of Florida toe-to-toe, taking an early lead Sunday before falling 4-1 at KSP Field in the final game of the UF Aquafina Invitational.

FAMU lost a 6-0 decision to the eventual national champion Gators in last year’s NCAA Regionals, when then-freshman pitcher Veronica Burse kept Florida’s formidable hitters frustrated, leading to the first full game (seven innings) in the history of the series.

Sunday, the Rattlers (5-11) sent Burse to the circle against the unbeaten Gators, and for three and one third innings, she held UF to four hits and one earned run.

Junior Kenya Pereira (3-4) came on in relief in the fourth inning to work the final two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on two hits with a strikeout, taking the loss.

FAMU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, when Tashayla Irvis and Whitney Farris lashed back-to-back singles, before Nachelle Watson singled home Irvis.

Florida (22-0) answered with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. They added a final run in the bottom of the sixth to close the scoring.

The Rattlers had three hits, all in the third inning Sunday, while Florida managed six hits against FAMU pitching.

WHAT’S NEXT: FAMU will host Mercer University Wednesday in their 2016 home opener at the FAMU Softball Complex. The doubleheader begins at 4:00 p.m.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Aggie Pride: N.C.A&T Swimmers Go Out With Their Heads Up

Miranda Jacobs is a senior swimmer for North Carolina A&T out of Baltimore.

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- After 18 seasons, North Carolina A&T State University's women's swimming team swam its final lap in the school's history. The end came Feb. 21 at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association championships in Athens, Georgia. After the fate of the program was announced in 2013, the only women's historically black colleges and universities Division I swim program is officially a thing of the past, leaving Howard University, its MEAC conference competitor -- and an integrated team -- the only surviving HBCU swim program out of more than 100 institutions.

We spoke to five of A&T's 11 members -- Aarica Carrington (21) co-captain and senior; Dominique Crable (21) senior; Kenya Dunn (22) senior; Justice Montgomery (20) sophomore; and Victoria Orr (22) co-captain and senior -- about how it felt to represent their team in the final swimming championship meet.

espnW: How did you prepare for your final meet?

Aarica Carrington: We listen to music. All kinds, but mostly trap music because it gets us excited. Before every meet, we make posters. We have chants that we do. 1-2-3 last of dying breed! That's our main one -- the last of a dying breed.

Justice Montgomery: Our meet chants are also our school chants because they're all so lit. We use our "A-G-G-I-E what? P-R-I-D-E what? Give me that! Give me that! What?" And then me and my best friend, before either of us swim our individual meets or our relays, we give each other our life lessons so that we swim faster. We divide the handshake to trade energy from each other so that we have more energy to swim faster. So that's a big ritual. We used that a lot at championship.

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After he was paralyzed during a football game against Georgia, Southern welcomes Devon Gales back home

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BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern honored the seniors on the men’s and women’s basketball teams after they played their final home games Saturday.

But they shared the spotlight with a football homecoming.

Jaguars wide receiver Devon Gales returned to his hometown and the Southern campus for the first time since being paralyzed in a collision during a game against Georgia 162 days earlier.

Gales and his family were greeted late Saturday morning by a welcoming committee, several student-athletes, the school band and cheerleaders when their flight landed from Atlanta, where he has been rehabbing for more than five months.

The third-year sophomore from Central High was whisked the three miles from Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport to the A.W. Mumford Fieldhouse.

Gales, who has regained strength in his arms and some feeling in his knee and the bottom of his foot, wheeled himself into the team meeting room, where he was met by coach Dawson Odums and his teammates.


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Southern women roll over Prairie View 72-45 to claim a share of the SWAC championship

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern women’s basketball team had a long road to travel to get in position to claim a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship Saturday.

It took them nearly nine weeks to catch Texas Southern after having lost to the Lady Tigers in the conference opener Jan. 2.

So, after finally pulling even two days ago with a win in the rematch, the Jaguars didn’t want to waste any time to take advantage of their hard-earned opportunity.

They scored the game’s first seven points, led by 12 after one quarter, were ahead by 24 at halftime and coasted to a 72-45 victory against Prairie View in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

“When you’re that close to a championship, you’ve got to grab it,” guard Ashley Williams said. “It only comes once. We worked so hard to work our way back up to first place considering we lost four games.”

Southern (17-10) finished 14-4 in the SWAC and shared the title with Texas Southern, which beat Alcorn State on Saturday, and Alabama State, which beat Grambling to knock Grambling out of a four-way tie for first.

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Xavier Gold Rush knock off defending champion Talladega

NEW ORLEANS — RJ Daniels scored 14 of his career-high 19 points in the second half Saturday to lead fourth-seeded Xavier University of Louisiana in a 75-67 men's basketball victory against top-seeded and NAIA No. 4 Talladega in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at XU's Convocation Center.
    
The Gold Rush (21-11) will play at home for the championship at 4:15 p.m. Sunday against second-seeded Dillard, a 95-76 winner against third-seeded Philander Smith in the other semifinal. It will be the first time that Xavier and Dillard, longtime city rivals, meet in a GCAC men's final.
    
Daniels' two free throws with 8:52 remaining put Xavier ahead to stay, 46-44. Daniels passed to Elex Carter for a basket and a 65-55 lead with two minutes remaining.
    
It was the second straight day that an XU player produced a career point high. Lucas Martin-Julien scored 20 in a 94-92 double-overtime first-round victory against Tougaloo.
    
Morris Wright and Gary Smith scored 14 points apiece for the Gold Rush, and Martin-Julien scored 12. Daniels and Carter grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Carter blocked three shots.
    
Generra Varmall scored 14 points, Nigel Jones 12 and Jordan Washington and Donte Adams 10 apiece for Talladega (23-5), which won the GCAC Tournament in 2015 and 2014 and lost to Xavier for the first time in its last seven meetings. Talladega never led in the first half — Xavier held a 27-20 halftime advantage — and the Tornadoes led for less than 2 1/2 minutes in the second half.
    
Xavier outshot Talladega 50 to 40.4 percent from the floor and made 32-of-38 free throws to the Tornadoes' 15-of-18. Martin-Julien made 8-of-8 free throws, and Smith and Daniels made 7-of-8 apiece.
    
Xavier earned its first victory against a top-4 NAIA opponent since a 75-72 overtime victory at third-ranked LSU-Shreveport on Jan. 23, 2008.

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XULA Gold Nuggets reach GCAC Tournament final again

No. 25 Whitney Gathright

NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright scored 19 points Saturday and sparked a first-quarter run that carried Xavier University of Louisiana to a 73-55 women's basketball victory against Edward Waters in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at XU's Convocation Center.
    
The Gold Nuggets (21-11), seeded third, will play top-seeded Talladega for the championship at 2 p.m. Sunday at Xavier. Talladega, ranked 15th in NAIA Division I, beat fifth-seeded SUNO 73-65 in the other semifinal.
    
Gathright scored seven points and had an assist to help Xavier take a 14-2 lead through four minutes. The Gold Nuggets led by double digits thereafter and held their largest lead, 52-25, when Gathright made two free throws at 5:47 of the third quarter.
    
Trana Hopkins scored 15 points for Xavier, and Alesha Smith scored 10.
    
Jermisha Collins scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Edward Waters (21-9), the No. 2 seed, and Valerie Hill scored 10.
    
Xavier outshot Edward Waters 44.6 to 36.7 percent from the floor and made 19-of-21 free throws to the Lady Tigers' 7-of-11.
    
Xavier reached the GCAC's tourney final for the sixth time in seven years and the 12th time in Bo Browder's 17 seasons as head coach. The title-game matchup with Talladega will be their third in five years; the Gold Nuggets defeated the Lady Tornadoes in 2012 and 2014.

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No. 13 Langston Lions Drop No. 1 Louisiana State University-Alexandria, Grab RRAC Championship Title

LONGVIEW, Texas – A season long goal came to fruition Saturday night, March 5 as the No. 13 Langston Lions held off No. 1 LSU-Alexandria to claim the 2016 Red River Conference tournament championship.

Tied at 72-72 with under 30 seconds remaining, the Lions put the ball in guard Curtis Jones (SR/Chicago, Ill.)' hands and hoped he had some magic up his sleeve to bring Langston out on top.

Jones was immediately double-teamed and forced into a tough shot; Terrell Jones (JR/Memphis, Tenn.) answered the call with the quick rebound and toss to the rim that dropped in to give Langston a 74-72 advantage with 2.5 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing inbounds play the Generals attempted to get the ball to DeAngelo Coleman but Mike Harris (JR/East Chicago, Ind.) read the attempt perfectly, picked off the pass and tossed up a three-point attempt as time expired to clinch the 74-72 conference championship for the Lions.

From the opening tip the Lions never relented and were never fazed squaring off against the number one team in the NAIA; Langston opened up a 14-2 lead to start the game and went into halftime tied at 31-31.

The Lions are currently 25-6 on the season and have clinched a berth into the NAIA National Tournament that start on March 16 in Kansas City, Mo. Seeding and pairings will be announced on Wednesday, March 9.

The RRAC tournament title is the first for Langston since the 2007-08 season.

For the game Langston knocked down 41 percent (23-of-55) from the field and were led in scoring by Terrell Jones' 22 points; Curtis Jones added 16 and Marquis Walters (SR/Ardmore, Okla.) pumped in 12.

Before Saturday, LSU Alexandria had not lost since Dec. 3 in overtime against Langston for the Generals' only loss in conference play. Langston repeated the feat on Saturday by toppling the top-ranked Generals, 74-72, in a thrilling Raising Cane's RRAC Men's Basketball Tournament championship game.

Both teams are assured of a trip to the NAIA Divison I Men's Basketball National Championship Game by virtue of LSUA's regular season conference title and Langston's tournament triumph.

LSUA saw its 21-game winning streak come to an end. Now it's on the Kansas City, and both teams will learn their draw and seeding in the NAIA national tournament on Wednesday. Two other RRAC teams, Our Lady of the Lake and LSU Shreveport, will wait until then to learn their fate. Both will be in the running for at-larger berths.

This was the first RRAC tournament title for the 13th-ranked Lions since 2004. Langston is now 25-6 on the season, and LSUA is 29-3.

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Following are the members of the 2016 RRAC All-Tournament Team:

Curtis Jones - MVP	Langston
Terrell Jones	Langston
Mike Harris	Langston
DeAngelo Coleman	LSU Alexandria
Brian Sylvester	LSU Alexandria
Joe Jackson	Our Lady of the Lake
Olajuwon Garner	Our Lady of the Lake
Lyndale James	LSU Shreveport
Tyrell Springer	LSU Shreveport
Kevondric Davis	Wiley

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Benedict Lady Tigers Capture SIAC Championship With 74-52 Victory Over Kentucky State

KaDeeja Vaughn
Courtesy: Benedict College Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The 14^th-ranked Benedict College Lady Tigers used a 17-4 run in the second quarter to pull away from Kentucky State and captured the 2016 SIAC Women's Basketball Championship with a 74-52 victory on Saturday in the Bill Harris Arena.

"We worked hard all year long," said Benedict coach James Rice, who guided the Lady Tigers to their second SIAC championship in three years.  "Defensively, that's where we hang our hats. Our defense got us back in the game. I thought how we took control of the game was defensively."

Benedict held Kentucky State to 34.8 percent shooting for the game, and just 30.43 percent in the first half.

KaDeeja Vaughn led Benedict with a game-high 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Regime McCombs scored 18 points and connected on four 3-pointers. Terri Jacobs, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, added nine points, six rebounds and a blocked shot.

The win improves Benedict to 27-2 on the season. One of their two regular-season losses came on the road at Kentucky State in December in their only meeting this season. The Thorobrettes won on a buzzer-beating shot. Rice said that loss stung and was secretly looking forward to a rematch.

"The first time we played them, it was the fourth game of a tough, long road trip, and it just so happened that we had Kentucky State last," Rice said. "They played well enough to win the game and we lost it at the end at the buzzer. It always stuck in our head that we wanted to see them again so we could get that payback."

The Lady Tigers had a 32-22 lead at the half, and went on another big run in the third quarter to eventually take a 52-31 lead on a layup by Vaughn with 1:19 left in the period. Kentucky State never got closer than 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Benedict secures the automatic bid from the SIAC into the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament. Benedict was second in the last region rankings behind Union University. Union lost in the Gulf South Conference championship game to Delta State on Saturday. The NCAA selection show will air Sunday night at 10 p.m. on www.ncaa.com

Kentucky State will await word on a possible at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Lady Thorobrettes fell to 24-4. Logan Powell led KSU with 12 points, while Taylor Sanders added 11.

Benedict once again used its strong inside game to take charge of the game. The Lady Tigers out-rebounded Kentucky State 44-23 and had a 15-7 advantage in second-chance points. Benedict also outscored Kentucky State 34-20 in the paint.

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Stillman Tigers Captures First SIAC Crown in 10 Years

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- It had been 10 years since Stillman College last won a SIAC championship, and Saturday night it had the chance to win another one. The Tigers used a late second half run to capture a 90-76 victory over LeMoyne-Owen and the SIAC Championship trophy.

"We've been doing this for 156 days. All for this day right now, and that's what it's about," Stillman coach Donte Jackson said. "We've been working for this championship and I am proud of these guys."

On Dec. 1, Stillman lost in overtime to drop to 4-4. Since then, Stillman lost one game, and won 22 games all the way through Saturday, including 17 in a row. Now the Tigers have earned an automatic bid to the Division II NCAA basketball tournament.

"We are going to take the same attitude into the tournament," Jackson said. "We are going to play one possession at a time. We are going to sacrifice for one another, because at the end of the day none of us want this to end."

In the second half, Stillman had a 66-64 lead with just over six minutes remaining. The Tigers went on a 12-0 run sparked by a Maurice Crenshaw 3-pointer and an Antonio Penny dunk. The Tigers didn't let the Magicians within a possession of the lead again.

"I told our guys that (LeMoyne-Owen) would make a run, but we've got to stay together," Jackson said. Before we do anything we have to believe in us, and (we) came out and believed the whole time."

The two players that led the team in scoring all year had another big game. Ronald Singleton scored 22 points and SIAC Player of the Year Rodnerius Lewis scored 18. Penny also had another big night with 17 points and six assists, and was named MVP of the tournament.

"I can't do anything without these (teammates) right here," Penny said. "Coach has confidence in me like I have confidence in the rest of my (teammates)."

Stillman will find out on Sunday what seed it will have in the South Region of the Division II tournament.

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Four Selected to RRAC All-Conference Team From Langston U.

2015-16 RRAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team

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WACO, Texas – The Red River Athletic Conference unveiled the 2015-16 All-Conference selections with four athletes receiving honors.

Curtis Jones (SR/Chicago, Ill.) was a repeat first-team selection after leading the Lions in scoring at 15.1 points per game; joining him on the first-team is center Daniel Mulamba (SR/Democratic Republic of the Con) who averaged 9.1 points per game and 6.8 boards.

Forward Terrell Jones (JR/Memphis, Tenn.) nabbed a spot on the second-team after finishing the regular season averaging 12.1 points per game to go with 6.2 rebounds.

Renard Green (JR/Dallas, Texas) collected the final selection for the Lions; Green averaged 11.4 points per game and was selected to the Honorable Mention team.

The Lions (23-6, 15-3) square off against Our Lady of the Lake on Friday, March 4 in semifinal action of the RRAC tournament. For more information on the conference tournament, click here.

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LSUA defeats Nuggets 5-4 in matchup of ranked teams

NEW ORLEANS — Betsabet Vasquez defeated Jana van der Walt 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to clinch a 5-4 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in a matchup of ranked NAIA women's tennis teams.
    
The Lady Generals (6-3), ranked 18th, won their fifth in a row. It was the second loss in as many days for the No. 13 Gold Nuggets (4-5) against a ranked opponent.
    
Xavier got singles victories from Brandi Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins to tie the dual at 3, but the Generals got victories from Ariadna Cabezas — 6-0, 6-3 against Dasia Harris — and Vasquez to secure their second dual decision against Xavier in as many meetings this season.
    
Nelson defeated Paula Gordilla 6-2, 6-2, and Bruins beat Nicolette Uscocovich 6-3, 6-0 for her fifth singles victory in her last six decisions.
    
The Gold Nuggets scored the final point of the dual when freshman Charlene Goreau defeated Gisela Amor 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7) at the top flight. The victory was Goreau's fifth in a row.
    
LSUA took a 2-0 lead in doubles before Goreau and Nelson beat Amor and Cabezas 8-5.
    
Xavier''s women and men will play William Woods at 10 a.m. Sunday at XU Tennis Center. XU coach Alan Green said the start time was moved up three hours. The women of William Woods are ranked 23rd in the NAIA. Xavier's men are ranked third.
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Sources: Alcorn State loses another coach to USM

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State coach Fred McNair has the departure of another assistant coach he'll have to deal with now.

Braves tight ends coach A.J. Antonescu will join the Southern Miss staff as a graduate assistant with the offensive line, according to sources.

Antonescu is the fourth Braves assistant to join former coach Jay Hopson and the Golden Eagles this offseason.

Defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro, defensive line coach Derek Nicholson and linebackers coach Wes Turnerhave all joined the Southern Miss program.

Alcorn State, which went 9-4 and won its second consecutive SWAC title in 2015, has hired Cedric Thorntonto coach linebackers and Kye Stewartto coach the defensive line, according to sources. The Braves promoted graduate assistant Kenry Tolbertto outside linebackers coach.

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Shaw University Names Adrian Jones Head Football Coach

RALEIGH, North Carolina  – Shaw University has hired Adrian Jones as its new head football coach, Director of Athletics Dr. Alfonza Carter announced Thursday. Jones becomes the 17^th head coach in program history.

 

Jones joins Shaw athletics with impressive credentials in the football coaching ranks. He comes to Shaw from North Carolina Central University where he was the assistant coach and running backs coach for the Eagles.

 

During his two stints at NC Central, Jones worked with defensive backs and outside linebackers. Under his leadership the Eagles garnered two CIAA championships in 2005 and 2006. His players were also a part of the 2006 black college national championship squad.

 

Prior to NCCU, Jones led his high school alma mater, Southern High School in Durham, N.C., to the 2013 NCHSAA 3-AA state championship title.

In his seventh season as the head coach at Southern High, Jones led the Spartans to the state title following the team's seventh straight playoff appearance under his supervision. With a Big 8 Conference championship also part of the team's historic run, Jones was selected as the 2013 Big 8 Conference Coach of the Year. He was also the PAC-6 Coach of the Year three times after charging the Spartans to three consecutive PAC-6 championships from 2007 to 2009.

As a student-athlete at NC Central, Jones earned First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Region honors twice and remains among the school's career leaders in passes defended (41) and interceptions (10).

In 1996, Jones earned First-Team All-CIAA and Second Team All-South Region honors as a junior when he collected eight interceptions, placing him second on NCCU's single-season records list. He was voted as the NCAA Division II Player of the Week after tying a school record with three interceptions in a game against Elizabeth City State University.  That year, the Eagles boasted the No. 1 pass defense in the nation.

Jones was again selected First-Team All-CIAA and Second Team All-South Region in 1997 after leading the conference with an 11.0-yard punt return average and a 29.5-yard kickoff return average. Jones broke a 52-year-old school record when he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown against Fayetteville State University, the longest punt return in school history at the time. He graduated from NC Central with a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy in 2001.

Jones went on to play arena football with the Carolina Cobras in 2001 and 2003, the Augusta Stallions in 2002, and the Greensboro Prowlers in 2000.  He also served as defensive coordinator with the South Georgia Wildcats of the AFL2, leading his squad to the No. 1-ranked red-zone defense in the league.

Jones is married to Dr. Kamala Uzzell Jones. He has a daughter, Jayla.

 

The Shaw Bears will begin their 2016 season with a home opener against Limestone College on Sept. 3 at Durham County Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.

 

For the most up-to-date information on Shaw football and its 11 varsity sport teams, visit www.shawbears.com.

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