Southern looks ahead while other SWAC teams reflect on spring practice

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Nine of the 10 Southwestern Athletic Conference football coaches on a teleconference with the media Monday morning summarized their recently completed spring practices.

The league’s three new coaches — former LSU assistant Michael Haywood (Texas Southern), Fred McNair (Alcorn State) and Tony Hughes (Jackson State) — talked about their impressions of the talent they inherited and the transition to a new coaching staff.

Generally, the veteran coaches — ranging from Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Monte Coleman, the dean of SWAC coaches as he prepares for his ninth season, to second-year coaches Willie Simmons of Prairie View and Brian Jenkins of Alabama State — talked about the latest steps in their building or rebuilding projects.

But Southern coach Dawson Odums was left to talk about being unable to conduct spring practice for a second consecutive year. The Jaguars have been forbidden from conducting the normal 15 spring practices in order to complete previous NCAA sanctions.

On top of that, Southern learned last week that the latest round of insufficient Academic Progress Rates will cost it spring practice in 2017, and it will be ineligible for the 2016 Celebration Bowl, which matches the champions of the SWAC and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

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Coaching change brings intrigue to SWAC football

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Spring practices have wrapped up across the Southwestern Athletic Conference with teams full of the usual optimism.

And intrigue about what to expect from each other.

Who's coming and who's going - especially among coaching staffs - have become a part of the SWAC. Eight of the 10 teams have installed new coaches since the 2013 season ended, and this year there are three new ones, including Jackson State for the second time in three years.

It creates plenty of unknowns and unpredictability within the conference. Last year, that aspect reached the point to which teams struggled to win at home, going a combined 16-26 in conference matchups.

This year, many of the rosters have a high number of returning starters, APR academic penalties have been limited once again, and new coaches at Alcorn State (Fred McNair), Jackson State (Tony Hughes) and Texas Southern (Michael Haywood) have teams adjusting for the season ahead.

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LINCOLN SPRING GAME 2016: PHOTOS AND HIGHLIGHTS

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- The Lincoln football team wrapped up its 2016 spring season with its annual spring game on Saturday (April 23). The Blue Tigers got some work in at all three facets of the game, and there were plenty of highlights to go around. There were crazy touchdown catches, unbelievable interceptions, hard hits, great kicks and one fantastic escape from a sure tackle that you'll just have to see to believe. Check out the highlights from Saturday's spring game above. Also, check out the below photo gallery featuring 33 images from the action at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

Photo Gallery: 2016 Lincoln Spring Game

Photos by Dan Carr, Video by Steven Benton
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Lincoln Wins Seven Events at Kansas Relays

LAWRENCE, Kansas -- Facing fields full of NCAA Division I athletes, Lincoln's women's and men's track & field teams combined to win seven events at the Kansas Relays, hosted by the University of Kansas from Thursday through Saturday (April 21-23).

The Lincoln women swept the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, with the foursome of Chrisdale McCarthy, Venicha Baker, Kimberly Bailey and Diana Cauldwell taking the former event in 45.96. In the latter event, the team of Baker, Jhevere Hall, Ebony Roseand Kissi-Ann Brown taking the race with a time of 3:41.68.

Baker was the victor in the 200m, clocking in at 23.75, and Bailey finished fifth in that event with a time of 24.38. Bailey, meanwhile, was the runner-up in the 100m at 11.56, and Cauldwell came in fourth at 11.90. Cauldwell was also the champion of the triple jump, turning in the event's top distance of 12.82m.

The Lincoln women had two other victories, including in the 800m, where Hall was the champ after timing in at 2:11.78. Meanwhile, in the 100m hurdles, McCarthy was the winner with a time of 13.43.

On the men's side, the foursome of Roberto Smith, Miguel Barton, Roger Blake and Stephen Rose won the 4x100m relay in 40.75. In the seeded race of the 800m, Jeromia Riley was the runner-up after clocking in at 1:52.26. Meanwhile, in the unseeded 800m, Kevon Robinson came in eighth at 1:55.15. Smith placed fifth in the 200m (21.53) and Barton placed sixth in the 400m (48.32).

Next week, both Lincoln teams will again test themselves against some of the best athletes in the country as the Blue Tigers compete in the Drake Relays, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa from Thursday through Saturday (April 28-30).

Complete Results
 

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

CIAA Champions: JCSU Women Claim Fourth CIAA TItle in Thrilling Fashion

Charlotte, North Carolina – Leading by only seven points entering the final event of the afternoon, the Johnson C. Smith University women's 4x400m relay team returned a 3:39.45, the fastest time recorded this season in all of Division II, to distance itself from perennial power St. Augustine's and win the 2016 CIAA Track and Field Championships on their home track at the Irwin Belk Complex on Saturday.

The title is JCSU's fourth crown in the past nine seasons. All told, JCSU won five events on the day.

In the 400m, Kendra Clarke (Edmonton, Alberta) claimed the title while running a 52.74 while teammate Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica) finished in second. Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica) also helped score team points by finishing in fifth with a 56.25.

Fellan Ferguson (Trelawny, Jamaica) claimed two CIAA titles, winning the 800m and the 1500m events. In the 800, she posted a 2:07.47 while teammate Domenique Julius-Willaims (Oshawa, Ontario) claimed second place. Jenkins also finished fourth in the 800m.

In the 1500m, Ferguson won with a 4:38.60 while Julius-Williams claimed third place with a 4:45.33. Ferguson also finished third in the 3000m.

In the 4x100 relay, the team of Shamaz Quince (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Mayah Edwards (Kingston, Jamaica), Campbell, and Trudy-Ann Richards (St. Thomas, Jamaica) ran to a second place finish or 45.80.

Rounding out the CIAA winners was senior LaTondra Morrow (Charlotte, N.C.) in the high jump, as the claimed the title with a jump of 1.71m.

For final results, visit TheCIAA.com

Women's Team Standings, Final
1. JCSU 165
2. St. Augustine's 156
3. Winston-Salem St. 138.50
4. Virginia St. 72.50
5. Livingstone 28
6. Lincoln 22
7. Shaw 21
8. Bowie St. 15
9. Virginia Union 5

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

SAU Falcons Win 19th Straight CIAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Title; Lady Falcons Finish Second

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Saint Augustine's University men breezed to its 19th straight title and the women took second in the CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Irwin Belk Complex on Saturday, April 23, 2016.

The Falcons cruised to victory in the men's division with 203 points. Virginia Union was second with 139.83 points and Virginia State finished third with 107.33 points.

The Lady Falcons scored 156 points to capture second place. Johnson C. Smith won the women's crown with 165 points and Winston-Salem State placed third with 138.50 points.

Both teams, ranked No. 1 nationally in the men's and women's divisions, performed magnificently in the two-day championship meet as they produced eight national top 10 Division II times and marks. Tia-Adana Belle (Jr./St. George, Barbados) solidified her top-ranking in the women's 400 hurdles with a time of 55.82 which is the fifth-best in the world this year. It is also an Olympic qualifying time.

Team-wise, the Falcons were too much for the rest of the men's teams in the meet. Sparked by CIAA Track MVP Immanuel Hutchinson (Sr./San Jacinto, CA) and CIAA Field MVP Jumonne Exeter (So./St. Vincent), the Falcons won with their usual formula - depth in the sprints, jumps and long distance events. The Falcons started the day in second place with 41 points, but scored 162 points to surge past Virginia Union, who led after the first day with 61.83 points.

"The men did well," Legendary Falcons' Head Coach George Williams said. "I am really happy with 203 points. I hope we can compete at this same level in the NCAA Championships next month."

Hutchinson was victorious in the 800 and 1,500 runs, placed second in Friday's 5,000 run and was part of the 4x400 relay squad which finished second. Exeter captured the triple jump, placed second in Friday's long jump and was fifth in the high jump.

Both Hutchinson and Exeter were among several Falcons who provided highlights Saturday. Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Sr./Raleigh, NC) was a dual winner, taking both the 100 and 200 dashes. His Division II automatic qualifying time of 20.36 in the 200 placed him No. 1 in Division II. Daniel Jamieson (Sr./Windsor, CT) was second in the 200 dash with an automatic qualifying time of 20.66. He currently ranks second nationally in Division II behind Ellis.

Ellis led a Falcons' sweep in the 100 dash. Jamieson was second and Kendall Kee (Sr./Shelby, NC) placed third while Brent Arceneaux (Sr./Snellville, GA) was sixth. Ellis, Jamieson, Kee and Arceneaux were members of the winning 4x100 relay squad, which ran automatic qualifying time of 39.44 to maintain their top ranking in the event.

The sweep was the second for the Falcons. Exeter placed first, Taylor Eubanks (Jr./Everett, WA) was second and David Shaw (Sr./St. Pauls, NC) was third in the triple jump.

Shawn Rowe (Jr./West Palm Beach, FL) crossed the finish line first in the 400 hurdles and La'Kai Whatley (Fr./Rome, GA) was the winner in the javelin throw. Rowe also was third in the 110 hurdles and Shaw was seventh. Khari Herbert, Jr. (Jr./Coral Springs, FL) was second in the 400 dash. Kee was seventh in the 200 dash and the men's 4x400 squad of Ellis, Jamieson, Hutchinson and Herbert was second.

Shaquille Dill (Fr./Pembroke, Bermuda) finished second behind Hutchinson in the 800 and 1,500 runs. DeQuante McCoy (So./Charlotte, NC) was eighth in the javelin throw.

The women's championship wasn't decided until late in the meet as Saint Augustine's battled Johnson C. Smith down the stretch. Led by the running of Belle and Ornella Livingston (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica), the Lady Falcons led 148-145 heading into the final two events. The lack of depth caught up with the Lady Falcons as the Golden Bulls surged ahead in the end.

"We didn't have any distance runners," Williams said. "Maybe next year we can get a few distance runners to help us complete the task. Johnson C. Smith competed real well. I am proud of them. I am proud of all the schools in the CIAA. They all competed real well."

Both Belle and Livingston were double-winners – Belle taking the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles and Livingston sweeping the 100 and 200 dashes. Livingston's time of 23.51 in the 200 ranks her second nationally in Division II. Livingston also teamed up with Shamia Lassiter (Sr./Chesapeake, VA), Leah Barker (So./St. Michael, Barbados) and Shakinah Brooks (Jr./Raleigh, NC) to win the women's 4x100 relay, while Belle placed third in the high jump.

Amenze Uhunmwangho (Sr./Ebo, Nigeria) was victorious in the triple jump. Shamia Lassiter (Sr./Chesapeake, VA) was second behind Belle in the 100 hurdles and Shakera Hall (Jr./Bridgetown, Barbados) placed sixth in the event.

Hunter was third and Barker was sixth in the 400 dash. Brooks placed fourth and Jena Alston (So./Blythewood, SC) was seventh in the 100 dash.

Mylene Cannon (Jr./Dallas, TX) was fourth and Hall fifth in the 400 hurdles. Brooks was fourth and Hunter eighth in the 200 dash. The Lady F
alcons' quartet of Hunter, Livingston, Barker and Belle finished second.

The Falcons and Lady Falcons will compete again next weekend in the prestigious Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The dates are Thursday, April 28, through Saturday, April 30.

Final Results

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alcorn State defense scores 3 TDs in spring win

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State ended spring practices feeling good that a McNair is in charge.

Fred McNair succeeding the highly successful Jay Hopson as head coach has kept continuity in the program. He is an Alcorn alum elevated from assistant head coach and his late brother Steve will forever be royalty in the program.

The two-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference program wrapped up spring practices Saturday with the defense scoring more touchdowns than the offense in a 24-13 win at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

Damien Wilson fell on a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, while Zavier Johnson and Deion Roberson both scored off interceptions.

The Braves return 11 starters from last year's championship club, which finished 9-4 after it lost to MEAC champ North Carolina A&T in the inaugural Celebration Bowl. Hopson, the first white head football coach in the historically black SWAC, resigned in the offseason to take over at Southern Miss.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2016 SPRING FOOTBALL PHOTO GALLERY

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Fobbs gives Grambling a B+ grade for spring practice

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — It may have been hard to tell with a fourth-string quarterback at the helm during Grambling's spring game, but the Tigers have no plans to regress from an offense that averaged 41 points per game in 2015.

In fact, Grambling should be just fine despite losing quarterback Johnathan Williams to graduation and a few additional pieces on offense that helped the program earn a Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title last year.

Ole Miss transfer DeVante Kincade, the heir apparent to Williams, didn't do much this spring while recovering from a broken foot, and the Tigers were without several offensive linemen who are expected to report in the fall. However, Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs still viewed the 14 practices as productive and gave his team a B+ grade.

"I'm always focused on the guts of our guys, what they're thinking, what their heart is doing, how they are pumping," Fobbs told The News-Star last week. "I thought the way we attacked each day is something it takes in order to be successful."

Ever since Grambling sputtered in last December's SWAC title game against Alcorn State, Fobbs has focused on finishing the race next time around.

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Gautier's Alexis Holloway signs with Alcorn State

GAUTIER, Mississippi -- Gautier High senior Alexis Holloway signed a basketball scholarship with Alcorn State University on Friday.

The 5-foot-10 point guard was averaging almost 21 points a game until tearing the ACL in her right knee last December, ending her season.

Despite the injury, Alcorn continued to recruit Holloway, who averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, 3 assists and 3 steals as a junior.

"The Alcorn State people always still talked to me and showed an interest in me playing there," Holloway said. "I love the campus up there. There's not much of a teacher/student ratio, but I like that. The coaches communicate well, the teammates are nice and everybody helps you out."

Gautier coach Fred Williams gave most of the credit to Holloway's parents.

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Jenkins: ASU showing improvement

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State ended its spring practice with what head coach Brian Jenkins called “a good showing” at Saturday’s Black and Gold spring game at ASU Stadium.

Jenkins, who is beginning his second season with the Hornets, said he was excited with what he saw from his team and that the coaching staff prepared the team well all spring.

“I think everyone saw the direction this program is going,” Jenkins said. “Our coaching staff did a wonderful job getting the kids ready in a short period of time. These guys now have a better understanding of our expectations.”

There were four touchdown drives between both offenses, two of them led by junior college transfer Jujuan Young-Battle.

Battle finished off the first drive, traveling 75 yards, with the first of his two touchdown passes to wide receiver Joe Williams IV.

Battle completed 7 of 10 passes for 114 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Jenkins said all of his quarterbacks played well.

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ASU Wideout Williams returns in a big way

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State redshirt freshman wide receiver Joe Williams IV said his coaches wanted to make sure he was completely healthy before he returned to the field this spring.

Williams, who was hampered by a hamstring injury last season, looked pretty healthy on Saturday.

Williams caught three touchdown passes for 74 yards during Alabama State’s Black and Gold spring game at ASU Stadium.

“The coaches stayed on me about going to rehab and it paid off,” Williams said. “I feel very good now and it was very fun out there today.”

Williams caught touchdown passes of 17 and 27 yards from junior college transfer Jujuan Young-Battle in the first half.

“Joe’s a very good player,” Young-Battle said. “He’s been in the system and he’s a great asset to me. He knows where he needs to be and he knows where I’m looking for him to be.”

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Gold Nuggets win 4 events at GCAC Championships

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Chatters and Terri Cunningham repeated as champions, andDionysia Love won a pair of titles to lead Xavier University of Louisiana's women Saturday in the seventh annual Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
     
The Gold Nuggets, winner of the past three GCAC team titles and five of the previous six, finished third with 131 points. Dillard won the women's title with 176 points, and Edward Waters was second with 159.
     
In men's team scoring, Xavier placed fifth with 30 points. Edward Waters repeated as team champion with 200 points.
     
Chatters won the javelin on her final throw, 32.81 meters (107 feet, 8 inches). Cunningham won the high jump in 1.51 meters (4-11 1/2), a half-inch better than her 2015 mark. Love, one of six freshmen to score for the Gold Nuggets, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the morning in 12 minutes, 44.70 seconds, then won the 5,000 late in the afternoon in 22:28.57.
     
Two XU freshmen finished second — Maliya Vaughan in the 1,500 (5:18.03) andBrianna Pace in the 5,000 (22.32.34).
     
The Gold Nuggets placed second in two relays (400 and 3,200) and third in the other (1,600). At 400 meters, Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Alexis Milton and Martina Wrightproduced a school-record 47.04 seconds that met the A-qualifying standard for next month's NAIA National Championships. At 3,200 meters, an all-freshman quartet of Love,Chinyere Jones, Pace and Vaughan finished in 10:24.59. In the 1,600, Kailey Williams, Clarke Allen, Jones and Kayla Quincy produced a season-best 3:58.07.
     
Nuggets newcomers accounted for 80 points, nearly two-thirds of their team total. XU freshmen scored 70 1/2 points. Love (23 points), Vaughan (20) and Cunningham (15) were the Nuggets' leading scorers.
     
The Xavier men did not win any events but got a runner-up finish from freshmanKeairez Coleman in the triple jump (13.68 meters/44-10 3/4) and thirds from Christopher Kennie in the long jump (6.83/22-5) and Christopher August in the 1,500 (4:19.03). Coleman's mark is the best by a Gold Rush jumper in the last four seasons. Kennie's long jump was his best since 2013.
     
Coleman, the leading Gold Rush scorer with 10 points, placed sixth in the long jump (6.31/20-8 1/2) and shot put (10.20/33-5 3/4).
     
Xavier and SUNO were co-hosts of the GCAC Championships. Next competition for Xavier will be the HBCU National Classic May 13-14 at Huntsville, Ala.

SCSU Men's Tennis Claims 2016 MEAC Title

NORFOLK, Virginia --  The South Carolina State Bulldogs made it a clean sweep on Saturday as the men's tennis team captured the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men's Championship with a 4-0 victory over Florida A&M University at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.

Earlier in the day South Carolina State's women's team won the championship also with a 4-0 sweep of Florida A&M.

"We've battled so many injuries this year," South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge said. "Everybody stepped up all year long. We played FAMU and it was a tough match in Tallahasse earlier in the year. We worked on a lot of things we needed to work on and I think that was the difference."

In doubles, the Bulldogs took victories at the top two lines to take the team point.   At number one, Jakub Vitek and Martin Figura defeated C. Agustin Waitman and Walner Espinoza 7-6 (7-5).  The number two line saw Vladyslav Yanchenko and Salih Gilmutdinovtook a 6-3 win over Courage Okungbowa and Illya Skoromnyy.  

South Carolina State scored wins at numbers one, two and five singles to finish off the sweep.  Yanchenko defeated Karlyn Small 6-3, 6-0 at number two and Aleksander Stuparknocked off Jalen Evans 6-4, 6-2 at number five.  Figura scored a 6-2, 6-1 win over Okungbowa at the top line for the clinching point.

The championship for the Bulldogs was the eighth in a row, 11^th in the last 12 completed tournaments and 14^thoverall.

With the win, South Carolina State (12-8) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships.  The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.

For more information about men's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.


Men's All-Tournament
Outstanding Performer: Jakub Vitek, South Carolina State
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge, South Carolina State

Doubles

#3	Alvaro Barrera/Pablo Lopez	Bethune-Cookman
#2	Salih Gilmutdinov/Vladyslav Yanchenko	South Carolina State
#1	Martin Figura/Jakub Vitek	South Carolina State

Singles

#6	Illya Skoromnyy	Florida A&M
#5	Alexander Stupar	South Carolina State
#4	Evan Ward	Morgan State
#3	Jakub Vitek	South Carolina State
#2	Vladyslav Yanchenko	South Carolina State
#1	Courage Okungbowa	Florida A&M

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

SC State Captures 2016 MEAC Women's Tennis Title

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs clinched the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship on Saturday morning with a 4-0 win over Florida A&M  at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.

South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge, the tournament's outstanding coach, was extremely proud of the championship effort put on by his squad.

"We knew we had to play hard," Judge said. "The last time we played them, it was a tough match, a 4-3 contest so we knew we had to jump on top them early. This championship was very special. I didn't coach the team last year and this year we started out 1-9. I kept telling the girls that I believe in you. They responded this weekend."

In doubles, South Carolina State won at number one and number three slots to earn the team point.  Intissar Rassif and Dakota Brown defeated Shantel Blackwood and Arrice Robinson 6-2 at the number one slot, while Andjela Vasic and Marketa Marcanikova won at number three over Elizabeth Clayton and Alexis Dean 6-4 for the team point.

The singles matches were highlighted by Rassif, who was named the Outstanding Performer of the tournament, winning at number one over Alexis Dean 6-0, 6-2.  Vasic defeated Olivia Rolle 6-3, 6-1 at number three singles to get the Lady Bulldogs to within a point of the championship.   Carla Petreanu won the tournament-clinching match defeating Clayton at number six singles 6-0, 6-4.

The tournament title was the first for South Carolina State since 2014 and they have now won 11 of the last 12 MEAC Championships and 12^th overall.

With the win, South Carolina State (8-10) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships.  The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.

For more information about women's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.

Women's All-Tournament Team
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge                      South Carolina State
Outstanding Performer: Intissar Rassif                   South Carolina State

Doubles

#3	Marketa Marcanikova/Andjela Vasic	South Carolina State
#2	Dominique Henry/Olivia Rolle	Florida A&M
#1	Dakota Brown/Intissar Rassif	South Carolina State

Singles

#6	Elizabeth Clayton	Florida A&M
#5	Dakota Brown	South Carolina State
#4	Dominique Henry	Florida A&M
#3	Andjela Vasic	South Carolina State
#2	Matea Roki	Bethune-Cookman
#1	Intissar Rassif	South Carolina State

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State clinches East Division

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – The Alabama State Hornets captured the program’s third-straight SWAC East title on Saturday, with a 10-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State at Magnolia Field.

The Hornets improve to 17-0 in SWAC East action and 25-14 on the year while the Delta Devils fall to 6-29 for the season and 4-16 in conference play.

Hornet starter Tyler Howe (7-3) threw a complete game one hitter and only allowed two other Delta Devils to reach base, (one walk and hit batter), while matching a season-high 10 strike outs in the win.

The Alabama State offense exploded for 14 hits, as Yamil Pagan and Carlos Ocasio both collected three hits, including a double each. Pagan also added a triple as Ocasio batted in three runs. Dillon Cooper chipped in two hits and two RBI as well.

MVSU’s Drew Wheeler collected his base hit in the first inning, while Arrington Smith was hit by a pitch in the fourth. Marcus Jones drew a walk in the fifth inning for the Delta Devils.

On the hill, Smith (3-8) gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits, striking out two, walking one and hitting three batters to take the loss.

The final game of the weekend series is Sunday at Magnolia Field, with first pitch set for 1 PM.
SWAC Baseball.

Box Score

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

UAPB Releases 2016 Football Schedule

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Athletics has announced its 2016 football schedule, an 11-game schedule with five games in the state of Arkansas, including four in Pine Bluff and one game potentially in Little Rock.
 
The month of September will feature two home contests and two road contests for the Golden Lions.
 
UAPB will open its 2016 campaign against Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the annual Big John Merritt Classic in Nashville, Tenn. at Nissan Stadium, the home the NFL's Tennessee Titans.  The last time the Golden Lions and Tigers squared off against each other was in 2012, UAPB's championship season.
 
The following week, on Saturday, Sept. 10, UAPB will welcome Oklahoma Panhandle State to Golden Lion Stadium in a 6 p.m. kickoff for its home opener.  This will be the first-ever meeting between the Golden Lions and the Aggies on the gridiron.    
 
In its second road trip in the month of September, UAPB will travel to Alcorn State, Miss. to take on Alcorn State at Jack Spinks/Marino Casem Stadium on Sept. 15 in a Thursday night special contest.
 
The Golden Lions will close out the month of September against Jackson State, tentatively at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. on Saturday, Sept. 24. 
 
For the month of October, UAPB will make trips to Alabama and Louisiana and host its annual homecoming game during the month as well.
 
The Golden Lions will kick off the month with a trip to Montgomery, Ala. for a Saturday, October 1 matchup against Alabama State at New Hornet Stadium.  This is the first time in two seasons that UAPB will not face ASU on a Thursday night.
 
Two weeks later, the Golden Lions will take on Alabama A&M on Saturday, Oct. 15 in its annual homecoming game at Golden Lion Stadium with a 2:30 p.m. start.   
 
UAPB will make back-to-back trips to Louisiana with the Golden Lions facing Southern on Oct. 22 at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge and Grambling State on Oct. 29 at Eddie Robinson Stadium in Grambling.
 
The Golden Lions will close out the 2016 regular-season with three games in the month of November.  UAPB will face Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 5 at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m. before traveling to Houston to take on Texas Southern on Nov. 12 at BBVA Compass Stadium at 2 p.m.  The regular-season ends against Prairie View A&M in the Golden Lions' annual Senior and Church Day game in Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m.
 

Date	Opponent	Stadium	Location	Time
Sept. 3	at Tennessee State	Nissan	Nashville, Tenn.	6 p.m.
Sept. 10	Oklahoma Panhandle State	Golden Lion	Pine Bluff, Ark.	6 p.m.
Sept. 15	at Alcorn State*	Jack Spinks/Marino Casem	Alcorn State, Miss.	TBA
Sept. 24	vs. Jackson State*	War Memorial+	Little Rock, Ark.+	4 p.m.
Oct. 1	at Alabama State*	New Hornet	Montgomery, Ala.	2 p.m.
Oct. 15	Alabama A&M* (Homecoming)	Golden Lion	Pine Bluff, Ark.	2:30 p.m.
Oct. 22	at Southern*	A.W. Mumford	Baton Rouge, La.	4 p.m.
Oct. 29	at Grambling State*	Eddie Robinson	Grambling, La.	TBA
Nov. 5	Miss. Valley State*	Golden Lion	Pine Bluff, Ark.	2:30 p.m.
Nov. 12	at Texas Southern*	BBVA Compass	Houston, Texas	2 p.m.
Nov. 19	Prairie View A&M*	Golden Lion	Pine Bluff, Ark.	2:30 p.m.

 
 *Denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games
+Tentative Site for this game
All home games at Golden Lion Stadium are in bold 
All times and dates are subject to change
HC-Homecoming


COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS 
 

Augusta Wins MEAC Championship, Robin Petersson Wins Back-to-Back Title

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  The No. 30 Augusta Jaguars claimed the top five spots individually to win their second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship with a commanding 30-under par performance on Saturday at Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga. With the win, Augusta earns an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament and awaits the regional selection show.

On the par-72, 6,748-yard course, the Jaguars slowly built their lead across each round and finished 30-under par to claim the title. Bethune-Cookman took second (+3), Florida A&M third (+42), Savannah State fourth (+60), North Carolina Central fifth (+63), Maryland Eastern Shore sixth (+95), and Hampton seventh (+137).

The Jaguars combined for 29 birdies in round three and improved by 10 shots from one round two to round three with a 270 (-18). For the second straight year, Jags senior Robin Petersson was named the Most Outstanding Player for winning the MEAC Championship in back-to-back years.

Petersson shot his second 69 (-3) of the event to finish 11-under par.

Sophomore Broc Everett tied the low round school record for Augusta University since 1993-94 with a 64 (-8) in round three. Everett had nine birdies in round two and took second overall seven below par.

Junior Jake Marriott finished sixth under to take third in the 32-man field with a round-three 71 (-1) and senior Maverick Antcliff came on strong in the final round and dropped six strokes for a 66 (-6) to card fourth.

Rounding out the Jags and taking a tie for fifth was junior Emmanuel Kountakis who posted a 71 for his low round across the event to end up even par for 54 holes.

MEAC (Final Scores – JAGUARS)

• RESULTS & SCORING 
• DAY ONE RECAP
• DAY TWO RECAP

COURTESY AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

With MEAC football needing to improve its APR numbers, HU is the perfect role model

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia -- The latest Academic Progress Rate study by the NCAA contained alarming news for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football. Although its overall numbers continue to rise, four of the conference's 11 programs were declared ineligible for the postseason.

Dennis Thomas, the MEAC's commissioner, called that "an aberration" in that the league had never been hit that hard in one sport. But it will be the sixth consecutive year that at least one football team has been banned from the playoffs.

"We're disappointed, but we're not discouraged," Thomas said Friday. "I have no question it will get better because I've seen it get better. I'm not just saying it just because I want it to get better."

Thomas has seen it. And his former employer is the model.

In the summer of 2012, Hampton University's football team was barred from postseason play because of an APR of 881 — 49 points below the NCAA-set minimum for eligibility. University President William Harvey didn't complain about the process. He simply vowed the numbers would improve.

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