HOUSTON. Texas — March Madness is officially under way at the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
Fourth-seeded Southern roared to a 24-point first-half lead, watched top-seeded Texas Southern storm back to grab the lead early in the second half, then regrouped for an 81-73 victory in the semifinals Friday night in the Toyota Center.
The Jaguars, 21-12 and 13-7 in the SWAC, will meet third-seeded Jackson State, which defeated No. 7 Mississippi Valley State 74-68, in the championship game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU, WXOK-AM, 1460). The winner will advance to the NCAA tournament.
Last season, Southern advanced to the title game, where it lost to Texas Southern, but that team was ineligible for the NCAA tournament.
“It’s not over yet,” senior guard Christopher Hyder said. “Last year, we got to the final and we lost. We’ve got to continue to do what we did today and play as hard as we can again tomorrow.”
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Saturday, March 12, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
A&T women battle their way into MEAC title game
NORFOLK, Virginia — Failure in the semifinal round of the MEAC basketball tournament has hung over the N.C. A&T women like an albatross. Three consecutive seasons have ended in futility and frustration.Scratch one albatross.
The Aggies got 25 points from Aprill McRae and 20 from Dana Brown in a 63-54 win Friday that sent them into today’s final against Coppin State. The Eagles beat South Carolina State 81-62 in Friday’s other semifinal for their ninth straight win.
A&T beat Hampton for the first time in their last seven meetings by making free throws when it counted, pulling away from a 52-50 edge with 2:23 to play by hitting 11 of their last 12.
The Aggies struggled at the start, closed to within 27-26 at halftime, then faltered again in a third quarter in which they were 1-of-9 from the field.
“I thought Hampton was the better team for three quarters,” A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said. “I thought we found a way in the fourth.”
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Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Xavier qualifies both basketball teams for national tournaments
NEW ORLEANS -- For the fifth time in six years, both basketball teams at Xavier University of Louisiana qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championships.
The Gold Nuggets, who earned an automatic bid by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, will play Campbellsville at 8:30 a.m. March 16 in the first game of the women's tournament at Independence, Mo. The Gold Rush received an at-large bid to the men's tourney and will play Lewis-Clark State at 8 p.m. March 17 at Kansas City, Mo.
The NAIA announced both 32-team brackets Wednesday.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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The Gold Nuggets, who earned an automatic bid by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, will play Campbellsville at 8:30 a.m. March 16 in the first game of the women's tournament at Independence, Mo. The Gold Rush received an at-large bid to the men's tourney and will play Lewis-Clark State at 8 p.m. March 17 at Kansas City, Mo.
The NAIA announced both 32-team brackets Wednesday.
Xavier's women qualified for the 19th time in the last 22 seasons. The XU men qualified for the sixth consecutive year and the 10th time in the last 13 seasons.
The Gold Nuggets (22-11) climbed to 25th in this week's coaches poll, and the Gold Rush (21-12) were 29th in the men's rankings.
The Gold Nuggets (22-11) climbed to 25th in this week's coaches poll, and the Gold Rush (21-12) were 29th in the men's rankings.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Virginia State faces Fairmont State in Atlantic Region Tournament
The No. 6 seed Trojans (23-5) will take on the No. 3 seed Falcons (25-4) of Fairmont State a member of the Mountain East Conference on Saturday, March 12. The NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament host will be the No. 1 seed, the Cardinals of Wheeling Jesuit University.
The Trojans topped Livingstone College, 89-79, in the CIAA Championship game and earned the leagues automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament. Twenty-four NCAA Division II conferences automatically qualify their champions a place on the post season bracket. The Atlantic Region is made up of three conferences, the CIAA, Penns
ylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and the Mountain East Conference (MEC).
The Trojans have reached the NCAA Tournament (Big Dance) 3-times in modern era (1982, 1988, 2016). Reaching the tournament is a triumph for the Virginia State University Trojans. Since arriving at Virginia State in 2013, third-year head coach Lonnie Blow, Jr. along with his staff have built a profound program for the history books.
For more information on VSU Trojans men's basketball, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @vsusports, or call 804-524-6831.
COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Fellan Ferguson Named Atlantic Region Indoor Track Women's Track Athlete of the Year
NEW ORLEANS – Johnson C. Smith University indoor track athlete Fellan Ferguson was named Atlantic Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) it was announced on Tuesday morning.
Hailing from Trelawny, Jamaica, Ferguson set five new school records during the indoor season in the 800m, the mile run, 3000m, the 4x400 relay and the distance medley relay.
Entering the NCAA Indoor Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas on March 11-12, Ferguson is the top seed in the country in the 800m with a 2:07.46 and is the anchor of the JCSU 4x400 relay team that is also the top seed.
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Virginia Union Lady Panthers to Host NCAA Basketball Regional
RICHMOND, Virginia -- History was made on Sunday, March 6, when the NCAA announced that the Virginia Union University women's basketball team would host the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Panthers, as the top seed in the Atlantic Region of the NCAA, will host the first three rounds on March 11, 12 and 14, in the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond, Va.
VUU will face eighth-seeded Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Frriday, March 11, in the Ashe Center.
NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament Central
#2 seeded California (Pa.) will face #7 seed Chowan University while #3 seed West Liberty will face #7 Shaw University.
Fourth-seeded Wheeling Jesuit will face #5 West Chester.
All the first-round games will be played on March 11 in the Ashe Center.
Twenty-four conferences have been awarded automatic qualification. The remaining 40 teams were selected at large by the committee.
Seven of the regional tournaments, consisting of eight teams each, will be conducted March 11, 12 and 14 at regional sites. The South Central regional will be conducted March 10, 11 and 13. The eight regional champions will advance to the quarterfinals in conjunction with the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The finals will be part of a larger 35th anniversary NCAA women's basketball championship celebration taking place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis the first week in April. Championship week will culminate with five championship basketball games and three national titles decided within a 48-hour period at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It will be the first time in the history of NCAA women's basketball that all three divisional championships will be decided in the same city and venue. The Division I national semifinals will be played Sunday, April 3 at 6 and 8:30 p.m. EST. The Division II and III national championship games will be played on Monday, April 4 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, while the Division I national championship game will be played on Tuesday, April 5 at 8:30 p.m.
COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
The Lady Panthers, as the top seed in the Atlantic Region of the NCAA, will host the first three rounds on March 11, 12 and 14, in the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond, Va.
VUU will face eighth-seeded Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Frriday, March 11, in the Ashe Center.
NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament Central
#2 seeded California (Pa.) will face #7 seed Chowan University while #3 seed West Liberty will face #7 Shaw University.
Fourth-seeded Wheeling Jesuit will face #5 West Chester.
All the first-round games will be played on March 11 in the Ashe Center.
Twenty-four conferences have been awarded automatic qualification. The remaining 40 teams were selected at large by the committee.
Seven of the regional tournaments, consisting of eight teams each, will be conducted March 11, 12 and 14 at regional sites. The South Central regional will be conducted March 10, 11 and 13. The eight regional champions will advance to the quarterfinals in conjunction with the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The finals will be part of a larger 35th anniversary NCAA women's basketball championship celebration taking place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis the first week in April. Championship week will culminate with five championship basketball games and three national titles decided within a 48-hour period at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It will be the first time in the history of NCAA women's basketball that all three divisional championships will be decided in the same city and venue. The Division I national semifinals will be played Sunday, April 3 at 6 and 8:30 p.m. EST. The Division II and III national championship games will be played on Monday, April 4 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, while the Division I national championship game will be played on Tuesday, April 5 at 8:30 p.m.
COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
JCSU Announces 2016 Football Schedule
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Johnson C. Smith football team will host four home games, one against the defending CIAA Champions, and will play an away game against an NCAA Division I FCS opponent, as the university announces its 2016 football schedule.The Golden Bulls, coming off a 4-6 season in 2015 under first year head coach Kermit Blount, will open with three straight road games in 2016, travelling to local rival Wingate on Sept. 3.
Following a nonconference game at Bowie State on Sept. 10, the Golden Bulls will travel to Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C. to take on Division I FCS member Wofford College. The Terriers finished the 2015 season at 5-6 overall and 3-4 in Southern Conference play.
Following the tilt with the Terriers, JCSU will open their home schedule by hosting CIAA Northern Division foe Elizabeth City State on Sept. 24. After an Oct. 1 game at Chowan, the defending CIAA champion Winston-Salem State Rams will pay a visit to JCSU on Oct. 8. After tangling with the Rams, two consecutive road games at Fayetteville State (Oct. 15) and at Shaw (Oct. 22) await the Golden Bulls.
The season will close with two consecutive home games, as St. Augustine's visits for the annual Homecoming game on Oct. 29. The regular season will come to a close on Nov. 5 when archrival Livingstone travels to the Irwin Belk Complex for the Eighth Annual Commemorative Classic.
The winners of the CIAA Northern and Southern Divisions will then meet on Nov. 12 in the CIAA Championship game with a time and location to be determined by the league office.
Kickoff times that are not listed below, as well as ticket information and a promotional schedule will be announced at a later date.
2016 JCSU Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Series | Last Meeting |
| Sept. 3 | at Wingate | 1:30 p.m. | Wingate leads 3-0 | 2015, Wingate, 14-0 |
| Sept. 10 | at Bowie St. | 4:00 p.m. | Tied 11-11 | 2015, BSU, 34-21 |
| Sept. 17 | at Wofford | TBD | Wofford leads 1-0 | 2004, Wofford, 56-0 |
| Sept. 24 | Elizabeth City St.* | TBD | JCSU leads 10-7 | 2010, ECSU, 45-27 |
| Oct. 1 | at Chowan* | 6:00 p.m. | Tied 1-1 | 2009, Chowan, 33-22 |
| Oct. 8 | Winston-Salem St.* | TBD | WSSU leads 42-23-1 | 2015, WSSU, 37-22 |
| Oct. 15 | at Fayetteville St.* | 1:00 p.m. | JCSU leads 35-24-3 | 2015, JCSU, 37-20 |
| Oct. 22 | at Shaw* | 1:00 p.m. | Shaw leads 21-13-2 | 2015, JCSU, 17-10 |
| Oct. 29 | St. Augustine's* (Homecoming) | 1:00 p.m. | JCSU leads 18-16-1 | 2015, JCSU, 22-3 |
| Nov. 5 | Livingstone* (Commemorative Classic) | TBD | JCSU leads 41-22-2 | 2015, Livingstone, 35-12 |
Home games in bold
* denotes CIAA games
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
House approves beer-at-Bragg Stadium bill
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida House approved Monday a measure allowing beer to be sold at Florida A&M University sporting events. The proposal by Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, extends a downtown district where temporary alcohol licenses are available to Wannish Way, where Bragg Memorial Stadium and the Lawson Center are.The bill would allow caterers and vendors working with not-for-profit groups like boosters and the Urban League to offer beer and liquor at events. The move could be worth as much as $50,000 to Rattlers' football boosters, according to a House analysis from last year.
The boosters, two years ago, began offering a game day experience in the North End Zone Club. Season ticket holders can pay extra for a buffet and watch the game on a flatscreen television in a climate-controlled tent. They would be able to serve alcohol if the Senate and Gov. Rick Scott signed off on the proposal.
Williams said the bill revises a 2008 law that permits three-day alcohol licenses for a designated part of the downtown district. That district currently starts at Park Avenue and stretches south to Orange Avenue but bypasses Bragg Stadium and the Lawson Center, home of the FAMU basketball team.
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MEAC spring football primer
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference began sending its champion to the Celebration Bowl this past December.In fact, North Carolina A&T won the inaugural bowl against Alcorn State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference to claim the mythical national championship of historically black colleges.
Leading up to the selection of the FCS playoff field, MEAC commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas made it a point to remind the selection committee that the other MEAC programs not playing in the Celebration Bowl were eligible for at-large bids to the field.
It didn't happen, although Bethune-Cookman (9-2) and North Carolina Central (8-3) probably were in the mix after they ended the regular season sharing the MEAC title with North Carolina A&T (10-2).
But it figures to happen in the future. MEAC schools tend to have tough nonconference schedules - some might say too tough - to potentially draw national attention. With some upsets, the MEAC's stature will keep growing.
Three of last year's top four finishers are playing...
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Hawks fail to put Bears away, exit from MEAC tournament
NORFOLK, Virginia -- The men’s basketball team at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore had not won a game in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference tournament in five years.With the Hawks facing the Morgan St. University Bears – a team they had beaten twice in the regular season – on Tuesday, March 8, many expected this streak of bad luck in March to end.
It didn’t.
“We knew it was going to be tough to beat them three times,” said UMES head coach Bobby Collins.
After a back and forth battle for much of the second half, the Bears pulled away in the final minute and topped the Hawks 65-58 at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
For the Hawks, their season is over. The Bears will advance to the next round and face third-seeded Hampton Pirates on Wednesday – a team the Hawks beat in their only regular season meeting.
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2016 All-SWAC Men's Basketball team announced
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Southwestern Athletic Conference unveiled its men's basketball postseason awards Tuesday morning to cap off the 2015-16 season. All honors including first and second team selections were voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members. Texas Southern center Derrick Griffin was recognized as Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year, while his head coach Mike Davis earned SWAC Coach of the Year honors for the third time in four seasons. Nigel Ribeiro of Grambling State was named Freshman of the Year.
Griffin broke the SWAC single season record for consecutive double-doubles (12) and most in a season (17). The redshirt freshman was the only player in the league to average a double-double throughout conference play with 13.5 points-per-game and 11.3 rebounds-per-game, while also leading the SWAC in blocked shots with 2.3 per contest for a total of 55. Additionally, he is the first player since TSU’s Aaric Murray to be recognized for multiple specialty awards. Murray earned Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013-14. Griffin accomplished all of this following a stellar football season in which he led the SWAC in touchdown catches (11) landing him a spot on the 2015 All-SWAC Football Team.
Ribeirio finished the season as Grambling State’s second leading scorer averaging 11 points-per-game while leading the team in assists at 2.1 per outing. He scored a career high 28 points earlier in the season against Louisiana Tech.
For the third time in four seasons, TSU head coach Mike Davis earned Coach of the Year honors. Davis led the Tigers to a 17-13 record overall and a 16-2 mark in league play, capturing back to back conference regular season crowns. Davis was voted on as Coach of the Year in 2012 and in 2014.
Joining Griffin on the All-SWAC Men’s Basketball First Team include guards Chris Thomas (Texas Southern) and Jamel Waters (Alabama State) along with forwards Ladarius Tabb (Alabama A&M) and Adrian Rodgers (Southern).
The second team is highlighted by Nick West (Alabama A&M) and Malcolm Riley (Texas Southern) who finished 6th and 7th in scoring overall in the conference at 14.2 and 13.7 points per game respectively.
A complete list of the 2016 SWAC Men's Basketball postseason awards follows:
FIRST TEAM
Guard – Chris Thomas – Texas Southern
Guard – Jamel Waters – Alabama State
Forward – Ladarius Tabb -Alabama A&M
Forward – Adrian Rodgers – Southern
Center – Derrick Griffin – Texas Southern
SECOND Team
Guard - Tamarcio Wilson – Alcorn State
Guard - Paris Collins – Jackson State
Forward – Malcolm Riley – Texas Southern
Forward – Raeford Worsham – Jackson State
Center – Nick West – Alabama A&M
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Derrick Griffin – Texas Southern
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Derrick Griffin – Texas Southern
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Derrick Griffin – Texas Southern
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Nigel Ribeiro – Grambling State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Davis
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
2016 All-SWAC Women's Basketball team announced
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Norianna Haynes of Alcorn State has been named Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year as announced by the Conference Tuesday, March 8.
Also selected by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors were Keiana Vines of Texas Southern as Defensive Player of the Year, Niya Head of Arkansas-Pine Bluff as Newcomer of the Year and Jazmin Boyd and Nadine Domond of Grambling State as Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectfully.
Haynes finished the regular season leading the SWAC in scoring with 568 points – 20.3 per game. She also topped the Conference in double-doubles (12), as well as defensive rebounds (6.6 per game). Haynes paced the Lady Braves in 21 games this season, recording 16 appearances of 20-plus points. Her highest scoring contest came in the non-conference game against Louisiana-Lafayette where Haynes netted 39 points. She is the only student-athlete in the league to hit 35-plus points this season.
Vines was crowned the Defensive Player of the Year after finishing the season first in the league in blocked shots, averaging 3.3 per game. She is one of four SWAC student-athletes currently ranked nationally by the NCAA, standing ninth in blocked shots per game, 10th in blocked shots (89) and 12th in field-goal percentage (57.3).
As Newcomer of the Year, Head paced the Lady Lions with a team-high 376 points, an average of 13 per game. She also tops UAPB in rebounds 201. Head’s best performance was during the 69-60 victory over Alabama A&M where she tallied a season-high 22 points.
Grambling State claimed two individual awards courtesy of Boyd and Domond who were named Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectfully.
Boyd stands second in the Conference in free throw percentage at .776 and sixth in three-point percentage (.320). Her best performance was in the 89-69 win over Alabama State where she scored a career-high 27 points. Boyd’s efforts helped the Lady Tigers become the only team this season to defeat each of the top three teams (Alabama State, Texas Southern and Southern) in the league. During her first collegiate season, Boyd earned 270 points (10.8 per game).
In her second year as a Division I head coach and a member of the SWAC, Domond earned her award after leading GRAM to its best win/loss record in six-plus years. Domond was also credited with getting the Lady Tigers through five consecutive victories – the team’s longest run since the 2010-11 season.
The entire list of awards and first and second teams are below:
FIRST TEAM
Guard - Brianna Sidney - Texas Southern
Guard - Britney Washington - Southern
Forward - Norianna Haynes - Alcorn State
Forward - Britney Wright - Alabama State
Center - Keiana Vines - Texas Southern
SECOND TEAM
Guard - Shakyla Hill - Grambling State
Guard - Lamaria Cole - Prairie View A&M
Forward - Larissa Scott - Prairie View A&M
Forward - Toni Cheadle - Texas Southern
Center - Jasmine Peeples - Alabama State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Norianna Haynes - Alcorn State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keiana Vines - Texas Southern
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Niya Head - Arkansas-Pine Bluff
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jazmin Boyd - Grambling State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Nadine Domond - Grambling State
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
XULA Gold Rush win, Gold Nuggets lose to William Woods
NEW ORLEANS — Karan Salwan, Thomas Setodji and Charlene Goreau extended singles winning streaks Sunday as Xavier University of Louisiana split dual matches with William Woods at XU Tennis Center. The XU men won 6-0, and the women lost 5-2.
Salwan won his eighth in a row, 6-1, 6-1 against David Barbieri. Setodji improved to 5-0 for the spring semester after beating Marcos Constantino 6-1, 6-2. Goreau won her sixth in a row, 6-0, 6-1 against Paige Smith.
The XU men (7-3), ranked third in the NAIA, won for the sixth time in their last seven dual matches and are 9-0 at home over the last two seasons. The Gold Nuggets (4-6), who are No. 14, lost to a ranked opponent for the third consecutive day. The William Woods women are 2-1 and ranked 23rd.
William Woods' men are 0-2.
The Gold Rush swept the doubles matches. Setodji and Kevin Chaouat beat Barbieri and Adam Deen Qurban 8-0, and Salwan and Kyle Montrel defeated Christian Barbieri and Jelmer Van Vliet by the same score. Tushar Mandlekar and Manav Chakma defeated Stefan Simic and Johnnie Carmichael 8-6.
Montrel beat Christian Berbieri 7-5, 6-0.
The Gold Nuggets' only other victory occurred at No. 3 doubles, where Dasia Harris and Sha'Nel Bruins beat Felicia Cesar and Smith 9-7. Bruins was 1-1 in the third set of singles with Alba Salinas when the dual was halted by the coaches' mutual agreement.
Next for the Rush and Nuggets will be a trip t
o Jackson, Miss., Saturday to play Tougaloo at 10 a.m. and Jackson State at 2 p.m. All matches will be played on Jackson State's campus.
Results: Men • Women
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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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.
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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Monday, March 7, 2016
Jay Joyner Named Men's Basketball Coach At A&T
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 11th-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
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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.
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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
Final Tournament Bracket
Dillard resurgence complete after beating Xavier to claim 2016 GCAC Tournament crown
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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
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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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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
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COURTESY FAMU SPORTS INFORMATION |
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
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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.
ALWAYS WATCH IN 720P HD, WIDE SCREEN
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
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
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
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.
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