UMES Hawks Reach Historic Heights, Stun Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — Today’s performance by the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team may have been the most impressive comeback and could also be described as the biggest win in program history. That’s because the Hawks—facing a 6-2 deficit—rallied for seven runs in the eighth to stun the Pittsburgh Panthers by a final of 9-6 at Charles L. Cost Field.

The victory marks the second ever win for the program against a school competing out of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the first since 1995 when the Hawks beat the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland Eastern Shore is also the first program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) to defeat an ACC school in 2016.

Also, today was the ninth non-conference victory for the Hawks, another new all-time high for the program. The 1994 squad won eight games outside the MEAC, but no one had ever won nine. The Hawks improved to 15-30 on the season and are one win away from tying last year’s total of 16 wins.

“Today was a great win for this team and for the UMES Baseball program.” Hawks coach John O’Neil said after the game. “The team just did their job and competed. Our guys showed a lot of character, especially after all the issues yesterday.”

The issues yesterday--a late arrival in Pittsburgh that pushed last night’s start time to 9:15p.m.—may have caused Maryland Eastern Shore to begin the day a little sluggish, falling behind as far as 6-2.

But that all changed in the eighth. Pitt’s starter had been relieved after a superb performance of seven innings and the Hawks quickly found their stride against the Panthers’ bullpen. After sophomores Jessey Valdez (Dorchester, Massachusetts) and Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia) reached base, freshman Tom Summers (West Decatur, Pennsylvania) doubled home Valdez and put two Hawks in scoring position. Two walks—one to load the bases and another to force home a run—cut the deficit to two.

Then sophomore Isaiah Chambers (Bowie, Maryland) stepped up with a chance to do some damage. Early in the count Chambers ripped a ball down the left field line, allowing all of his teammates to score, giving his team the lead. A pair of runs would come in afterwards as the Hawks scored seven runs and sent 11 men to the plate.

From there, sophomore Jordan Turner (Baltimore, Maryland) silenced the Panthers to close out the game. Turner earned his first collegiate win for his effort.

Overall, senior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Maryland) went 4-of-5 at the plate and knocked three Hawks while scoring once himself. His career hit total stands at 215, which puts him 10 behind the all-time leader Tre-von Johnson. Chambers’ double was part of a 2-for-2 day at the plate with a sacrifice bunt and a hit by pitch, and junior Justin Somerville (New Windsor, Maryland) scored three runs thanks to two walks.

Along with Turner, sophomores Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland) and Scott Bean (Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania) combined to deliver one and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief.

The Hawks are hoping this win could act as a springboard to a crucial MEAC weekend with Delaware State. Maryland Eastern Shore must win three out of four over the next two weeks (there is a makeup date scheduled at home in two weeks) in order to keep the conference tournament dreams alive.

“This win should give us the confidence we need to go out and be successful this upcoming weekend.” O’Neil said.

The first game between the Hawks and Hornets is this Saturday at 3:00p.m. in Dover.

Box Score

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That time FAMU nearly made it in college football's top level, but the timing was all wrong

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- You don't really know what the high point was until after the fact. You don't really know where the peak was until you've begun to come down.

With 16 years of hindsight, we can pinpoint Florida A&M's modern peak. On December 11, 1999, the Rattlers led Jim Tressel's Youngstown State by 11 points with eight minutes to go in the Division I-AA (now FCS) semifinals. They had the ball at the Penguins' 4. In that moment, the future was green and orange.

Under Jake Gaither from the end of World War II until 1969, the Rattlers were one of the two anchors of Black college football alongside Eddie Robinson's Grambling. Nine years after Gaither's retirement, under former Woody Hayes assistant Rudy Hubbard, they won the inaugural Division I-AA national title in 1978. They were storied and celebrated.

As with most of the HBCU universe, FAMU saw its talent level slide in the post-segregation era. After going 23-1 in 1977-78, they wouldn't win more than seven games in a season for nearly two decades.

Then Billy Joe showed up.

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2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to Open Bowl Season on ABC

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will once again be televised live on ABC and open the bowl season. The postseason college football bowl game will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, which showcases the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), pits the conference champion from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). In 2015, MEAC champion North Carolina A&T State University defeated SWAC champion Alcorn State University 41-34 in front of over 35,000 fans.

“We are pleased to once again open the bowl season with the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on ABC,” said John Grant, Celebration Bowl Executive Director. “By presenting the champions of the MEAC and SWAC conferences in this bowl game we expose millions of fans to the excitement of championship football.”

“We are elated about today’s announcement that the 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will be televised on ABC,” said Dennis Thomas, Commissioner, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. “By all objective measures, the inaugural 2015 bowl was a huge success and I am confident that the 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will be even better. I am even more excited about the bowl experience that the institutions, student-athletes and coaches will have on a national platform. We would like to commend ESPN for their commitment to the MEAC and SWAC Champions for this postseason bowl game.”

“The SWAC is thrilled to continue its relationship with the Air Force Reserved Celebration Bowl and ABC,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “Two of the best teams in country, the MEAC champion versus the SWAC champion, in early December is a great way to kick off the bowl season. Playing on ABC, the pageantry of the game and the opportunity to play in a venue like the Georgia Dome and a city such as Atlanta, makes for a fantastic bowl experience for our student-athletes and football fans everywhere.”

Tickets for the game, a full ancillary event schedule and discounted rates at downtown Atlanta hotels will be available this summer. To stay up to date on Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl announcements, sign up for updates on www.TheCelebrationBowl.com, and follow the event on Twitter and Facebook.

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, also manages the season-opening MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Labor Day Weekend, another game that showcases these two conferences and highlights the traditions of HBCUs. The 2016 Challenge features defending SWAC champion Alcorn State against defending MEAC co-champion Bethune-Cookman, and will be played Sunday, Sept. 4 at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, live on ESPN.

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Chris Hubert of Fayetteville State Signs With the Arizona Cardinals

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Fayetteville State University former wide receiver Chris Hubert (Apex, NC) is one of 10 undrafted free agents signed by the Arizona Cardinals for the 2016 season. Hubert reportedly reached an agreement with Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) on Saturday, April 30th following the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Hubert served as the Broncos’ standout receiver this season and started all 10 games. He finished the 2015 season with 71 catches for 862 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hubert set the single-season record for receptions and receiving touchdowns. He eclipsed the 2003 record of 70 catches and the 2008 record of 12 receiving TDs.

He earned All-CIAA Second Team honors. Hubert had the best season of his collegiate career and one of the best seasons in Fayetteville State history as a wide receiver.

Hubert capped his outstanding career ranked first all-time in receiving touchdowns (19), second all-time in receptions (129), and third all-time in receiving yards (1,784). Hubert played in 32 games in his four year career to include playing in all 20 games the last two seasons.

He also developed a reputation as a dangerous return specialist. During the 2015 season, Hubert returned five punts for 115 yards and one touchdown; he also had 11 kick returns for 192 yards.

In addition to Hubert, here is a short list of undrafted free agent signings by the Cardinals: Elie Bouka – DB, University of Calgary Matthias Farley – DB, Notre Dame Amir Carlisle – WR, Notre Dame Clay Debord – OT, Eastern Washington Chris King – WR, Duquesne Danny Dillon – LS, Campbell Garrett Swanson P, Fresno State Hakeeem Valles – TE, Monmouth Jake Coker – QB, Alabama Trevon Hartfield – DB, Southwestern Oklahoma State.

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McWilliams Named head Coach of Lincoln University Women's Basketball

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – Ayana McWilliams has been named as the next head women's basketball coach at Lincoln University. A press conference was held on Monday (May 2) to announce the hiring.

"We were looking for an individual that could recruit a mixture of talent; would have a terrific work ethic, discipline and high character; as well as display passion for the opportunity to build a successful program here at Lincoln University," said John Moseley, Lincoln University Director of Athletics.

"We found all of that, and more, in Ayana McWilliams. After speaking with coaches that she had worked with in the past, it was clear that her experiences in Division I and Division II had prepared her to become a head coach. Her recruiting resume is impressive at both the D1 and D2 levels, and the success of the teams that she worked with has been tremendous."



McWilliams spent the past five years as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate, an NCAA Division I program. This past season, McWilliams helped lead the Spartans to a program-record 22 victories as well as a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational tournament, USC Upstate's second postseason trip in the past three years. The Spartans won their first postseason game as a Division I team this spring and advanced all the way to the WBI semifinals.

As a member of USC Upstate's coaching staff, McWilliams helped the Spartans lead the Atlantic Sun Conference in eight statistics, including scoring, rebounding and field goals made. USC Upstate also finished second in the league in steals and third in both blocks and assists.

"I appreciate all the support that I've had to get to this point," McWilliams said. "I'd like to thank (Lincoln University president) Dr. Rome for this opportunity, and for trusting me to help carry on the vision of this college. I'm extremely excited about being a part of the Lincoln University family and even more excited about its future."

Before joining the Spartans, McWilliams spent two years as an assistant coach at Elizabeth City, where she helped turn a team picked last in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's preseason poll finish second and advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament. McWilliams helped the Vikings win the CIAA Northern Division title in 2010-11.

McWilliams, who has also coached at Livingstone and Winston-Salem State, has developed 10 players into all-conference honorees. That includes Tee'Ara Copney, USC Upstate's all-time leading scorer (1,635 points), and Brittany Starling, the first player in USC Upstate history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

McWilliams played two seasons at East Carolina before transferring to Brevard College, where she is the program's all-time leader in assists (296) and steals (288). McWilliams averaged 16.5 points, the second-most in school history, and was a two-time all-league honoree. McWilliams graduated from Brevard in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and received a master's degree in sports management and sports coaching from the United States Sports Academy in 2011.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
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WSSU stays within family to hire women’s coach

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State has stayed inside the family after hiring L’Tona Lamonte as its women’s basketball coach.

Lamonte, a former two-sport athlete at WSSU who is also a Winston-Salem native, was assistant coach last season at N.C. Central. Before that, she spent two seasons as an assistant at Belmont University and will bring nearly 14 years of experience into her first season as a head coach.

“She’s the perfect fit for what we wanted,” said WSSU athletics director Tonia Walker. “It came down to her belief in Winston-Salem State, her knowledge of the game and her overall personality stood out for us.”

Lamonte, who went by L’Tona Samuels when she was a student at WSSU, is a Reynolds High School graduate. She went to WSSU and played basketball and softball, where in her junior season in 1998 she led Division II in stolen bases. Because of injuries in basketball she went full-time with softball for her final two years at WSSU.



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Shouppe issues challenge to Rattlers after team swept by Miami

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M baseball coach Jamey Shouppe didn’t sleep much Sunday night.

Shouppe said he was perplexed by his team after the Rattlers were swept by No. 3 Miami in Coral Gables. FAMU had its chances to steal a game from one of top teams in the nation, but the Rattlers were repeatedly undone by their own mistakes.

The Rattlers (24-17, 14-4 MEAC) are still in the driver’s seat in the MEAC’s Southern Division, but Shoupe said he was disappointed in his group after a lackluster showing against an ACC title contender.



FAMU’s magic number to ensure the top spot in the Southern Division is four, meaning any combination of four Florida A&M wins and Bethune-Cookman losses (within the MEAC) will guarantee the Rattlers a No. 1 seed in the upcoming MEAC tournament.

“I was just disappointed,” Shouppe said about the team’s series against Miami.

“I think we’re better than that. I had planed on going down there and winning at least one if not more. Miami is a good team, and it’s always difficult to play on the road. I wasn’t pleased at the way we got after it and approached the game.”

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Howard University Bison and Under Armour Join Forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University today announces partnership with Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the global leader in performance footwear, apparel and equipment. As part of the partnership, Under Armour will exclusively design and supply apparel and accessories for training and game-day uniforms for all 19 of the University's men's and women's varsity athletics teams.

"I am absolutely thrilled about our new partnership with Under Armour," Howard University Director of Athletics Kery Davis said. "Under Armour is a brand that fits perfectly with the Bison athletics story and culture. Our primary focus at Howard is, of course, our student-athletes, and Under Armour's passion and commitment to high quality and innovation will benefit our student-athletes for years to come. Our entire department is looking forward to a long and mutually productive relationship with the Under Armour team."

"Howard University is an institution built on the highest values of academic excellence, and we are extremely proud to be teaming up with one of the most vibrant, distinctive and historic programs in the country to help elevate the performance of all Bison student-athletes with innovative apparel," said Ryan Kuehl, Vice President, Sports Marketing, Under Armour.

This new affiliation further expands Under Armour's leadership in providing proven performance benefits to college athletes on all playing fields. Howard University is the brand's first HBCU partnership.

About Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand's innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. The Under Armour Connected Fitness™ platform powers the world's largest digital health and fitness community through a suite of applications: UA Record, MapMyFitness, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.uabiz.com.

About Howard
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, 30 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other University in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call (202) 238-2330, or visit the University's Web site at www.howard.edu.

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TSU Men’s Basketball Adds Delano Spencer to Recruiting Class

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State men’s basketball Head Coach Dana Ford added to this year’s recruiting class with the signing of Delano Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.) to a financial aid agreement. Spencer will have two years of eligibility at TSU beginning in the 2016-17 season.

"We got better today," Ford said. "I think Delano will be an immediate impact guy for us. His ability to score and handle the ball gives us the opportunity to play different lineups.

"He has spent the last two years playing for coach Jay Herkelman at Coffeyville Community College, so we know he's coming to us well versed in relation to playing winning basketball."

Spencer played his first two collegiate seasons at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. The 6’3 guard was one of the top scorers in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades. As a sophomore, the Atlanta, Ga. native led Coffeyville and ranked fifth in the conference with 17.8 points per game. He shot 43.0 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

During his freshman season, Spencer averaged 10.2 points to go with 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Throughout his junior college career, he put up double-digit points on 37 occasions, including 27 as a sophomore. His best offensive performance came on a 33-point scoring effort in a win over Redlands Community College during his sophomore season.

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Tuskegee faces North Alabama in opening round of region play

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- The Tuskegee University softball team will be making their third consecutive regional appearance this week, facing a familiar opponent in the University of North Alabama in the opening round of the tournament.

Tuskegee (24-29), the eighth seed in the South Region, faces top-seeded North Alabama (49-5) in the opening round game. The two met earlier this season, in the opening tournament, with North Alabama winning that contest.

The three-time defending SIAC champion Lady Golden Tigers head in to the tournament winning their last six contests, and 14 of their last 16 games. Freshman Kaylin Finch, the SIAC Player of the Year, leads Tuskegee at the plate and on the mound. She is hitting .392 this season with nine homeruns and 40 runs batted in on the season, while also posting an 11-11 mark on the mound with a 3.42 earned run average.

Sharde Thomas, the SIAC Utility Player of the Year, continues to be one of the top hitters in the country posting a .507 batting average this season. She has 17 extra base hits on the season and leads the team with 14 stolen bases. Seniors Kenyah Smith and Chante Warner – a Second Team All-SIAC selection - are near the top of the team in hitting this season, hitting .320 and .316 respectively.

SIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Karisa Foye, is hitting .307 following the tournament and is 6-5 on the mound with a 3.07 earned run average – winning her last five outings.

North Alabama leads the country in homeruns and are slugging over .600 as a team; while also averaging 7.5 runs per game. They have nine players hitting over .300, and four players with double-digit homeruns on the year.

Brooklyn Clark, the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, leads the team in hitting at .486 with 15 homeruns and 74 runs batted in. On the mound, North Alabama is led by Hillary Carpenter (23-3, 1.79 ERA) and Raven Cole (24-1, 2.01 ERA) this season.

The two teams will play the final game of the first session at 4:30 pm on Thursday in Florence (Ala.).

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram (@MyTUAthletics) and like us on Facebook.

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Auburn lands MEAC star LaRon Smith via transfer

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn has landed another transfer -- Bethune Cookman big man LaRon Smith. He told ESPN he just committed to the Tigers. Shot-blocker.

At first glance, this is a pretty big get for the Tigers and head coach Bruce Pearl. Smith is 6-foot-8, 215 pounds and hails from Palm Bay, Fla. He’s played three years of college basketball, last season playing for Bethune-Cookman.

He averaged 7.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and an incredible three blocks a game for the Wildcats, an output that won him MEAC defensive player of the year honors in 2015-16.

“I look forward to getting a guard’s shot, thinking he’s going to get to the lane easy and have an easy bucket, and then I swipe it,” Smith said via Chris Boyle of The Daytona Beach News Journal. “That’s better to me than dunking the ball.”

Auburn basketball is looking to make some noise under Pearl, and it’s a pickup like this that could go a long way. Pearl is undoubtedly one of the more recognizable coaches in college hoops, but even the big names need to have success on the recruiting trail in order to find success on the court.

For what it’s worth, this is Pearl’s second transfer commit in two days and third in just over a week, so the Tigers are on the right track. Yesterday, the Auburn landed Presbyterian transfer DeSean Murray. Purdue grad transfer Ronnie Johnson also recently committed to Auburn, according to Ryan Black of 247Sports.

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Claflin Baseball Captures SIAC Title

OZARK, Alabama — With two runners on base and two outs, Reginald Rogers singled through the left side to score Jeturi Brown in the bottom of 10^th inning as the Claflin University baseball team defeated Stillman College, 8-7, to capture the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Title.  The Panthers won four straight games in the tournament in route to capturing the school's first-ever SIAC baseball title.
 
With the championship, Claflin (23-28) receives the SIAC automatic berth into the 2016 NCAA Division II Baseball Regionals scheduled for May 19-23.  Pairings for the tournament will be announced via the NCAA.com website on Sunday, May 15 at 10 p.m.
 

Jeturi Brown, Dillion Parker and Lyndale Morley were all named to the All-Tournament Team.  Morley earned Most Outstanding Player honors while head coach James Randall was named the Outstanding Coach.

 
"The guys really played inspiring baseball all weekend," head coach James Randall said.  "We played every game like champions.  We hit the ball well and caught all the balls that we needed too."
 
The championship is the first in an 11 year career for Randall, who spent three years as head coach at Grambling prior to coming to Claflin eight years ago. 
 
"It's a relief to finally get the first championship of my career," said Randall.
 
Jabari Brown scored four runs while Jeturi Brown had three hits and the game winning run in the contest.  Rogers, Bivens, Hilton and Thompson all scored two runs apiece in the win.
 
Dillion Thompson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, was credited to with the win.
 
Stillman was led by Hank Parker who had two runs with two hits and four RBI's in the game.  John Hutto was credited with the loss.
 
Claflin jumped out to 2-0 lead at the end of two.  Parker hit a grand slam for Stillman in the top of the third to give the Tigers the 4-2 advantage.
 
The Panthers added one run in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to one, 4-3.
 
After neither team crossed the plate in the fourth, the Tigers offense picked up once again.  Stillman scored three runs off three hits to push its lead to four, 7-3, but Claflin remained poised.
 
Jabari Brown led off the fifth inning with a walk followed Rogers single that advanced Brown to third.  With no outs,Rashad Bivens hit into a double play that scored Brown for the Panthers fourth run.
 
The Panthers continued to chip away at the Tigers lead.  Elliott Melton reached base on an error by the Tigers shortstop to start the seventh inning.  Brown singled through the right side to advance Melton to third and consequently advanced to second with Melton scoring on a failed pickoff attempt by the Tigers pitcher.  With no outs, Rashad Hilton singled to left field and Jalen Thompson had a RBI single through the left side to score Brown to cut the lead to one, 7-6.  With bases load and one out, Johnny Stevenson singled up the middle to bring home Hilton to tie the game at 7-7.
 
Neither team scored over the final two innings of regulations, sending the game in to extra innings.
 
The Panthers defense was solid in the top of the 10^th, forcing Stillman into a three up-three down inning en route to the championship.

BOX SCORE

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Morgan State Bears Spring Game Recap: Khalil Trotman tosses 3 TDs, Defense posts win

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Quarterback Khalil Trotman tossed three touchdown passes, including a pair of deep bombs to wide receiver Thomas Martin to highlight the Morgan State football team's 95-play Blue-Orange Spring Game on Saturday (April 30) before a spring-game crowd in Hughes Stadium. Despite brilliant flashes by the offense, it was the defense who pulled away with a 67-50 win.

Trotman hit 11-of-24 passes for 269 yards and 3 scores, including 76-yard TD on the game's third play to wide receiver Thomas Martin,  while Chris Clack Jr. was 9-of-22 for 73 yards. Trotman's other scoring tosses were 66 and a 1-yarder to Jerrod Reed.

In addition to touchdowns and PATs, points were also awarded on offense for explosive plays, while the defenders gained points for sacks, tackles for loss, three and outs, and turnovers.

Interim head coach Fred Farrier was pleased about the overall performance of his team.

"For the most part I thought we were competitive and did some really good things," said Farrier. "You get a chance to see guys compete on offense and defense. I think Thomas Martin had a good day. I thought Khalil Trotman had a good day throwing the ball, especially early. And in these games you're going to try and avoid injury, so we're going to keep our fingers crossed for Orlando Johnson who tweaked his knee there late in the practice. Outside of that I thought guys ran around and were competing and it was really good day." 

Martin led the receivers with 234 yards on five catches, while Maurice Lewis (23 yards), Ladarious Spearman (14 yards) and Reed (5 yards) each had a pair of receptions overall.

"I felt good," said Martin, who returns after missing last season. "My goal was to come out and just focus. We're a young offense and we've come a long way this spring."

Martin also noted the play of the quarterbacks.

"I felt like our quarterbacks did great job and they've come a long way. They came in and a lot of people were doubting them, but those boys worked hard and after awhile we rallied around them. They played great."

Tailback Orlando Johnson rushed for 47 yards on 13 carries, including a long of 23 yards before leaving the field early in the third quarter with an injury. Marcolm Banks ran for 26 yards on eight tries.

Safety Carl Garnes seemed to be everywhere and led the defense with 6 tackles and also intercepted a pass by Trotman and raced down the sideline to score points for the defense. Linebackers Brandon Griffen and Damare Whitaker each added 6 stops, while D-linemen Isaiah Mclin (2 sacks) and DeMarkus Bullock (2 TFL) combined for five of the defense's 12 tackles for loss. 

"I felt that the team did very well today," said Garnes. "We tackled, we ran to the ball and we all got 11 heads on the ball on every play. We did what we had to do most of the time, I just feel like we can get better too."

The game, which concluded MSU's 15 days of spring practice, included portions of a regular practice in addition to situational scrimmage plays.  Placekicker Chris Moller was a perfect 3-for-3 in point after attempts.

"Overall we just have to play faster and play tougher and play smart," added Farrier. "Football is a game about blocking and tackling. It is really a physical sport and I want to play a more physical brand of football, but we have to also play smart and understand football situations. I think if we can just get better at understanding what's coming in certain situations and scenarios, that'll give us a chance to be successful." 

Morgan State opens its 2016 season with a home-opener against Holy Cross on Sept. 3 before traveling to take on Marshall on Sept. 10. The Bears  2016 schedule features five home games in Hughes Stadium, including a meeting with Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) co-champion Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 5 in Baltimore.

Fans can keep up-to-date with all MSU Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/MorganStBears. You can also become a fan of the Bears on Facebook at Facebook.com/MorganStateBears.

2016 FOOTBALL TICKETS CAN BE YOURS! 
Contact the Sports Marketing Department for season tickets, premium seating, group rates and general admission ticket information:  443.885.3344.

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Golfer Erin Kopinak Signs With Alcorn State

ERIN KOPINAK

TILBURY ONTARIO, Canada
– As Erin Kopinak's scores plummeted last summer, her ambitions soared.

She sensed after shooting 89 for an early-season tournament win that golf could take her places.

"It kind of opened my eyes and I thought maybe I do have the potential to do something with it and make it far," said the 18-year-old from Wheatley.

Kopinak will be going all the way to Lorman, Miss., after signing with Alcorn State University.

The Tilbury District High School student never expected an NCAA Division I scholarship after joining a recruiting service last year. Division III maybe, but not Division I.

"Even last year, if you'd asked me if I thought I'd get a scholarship, full-ride to Mississippi, I'd have said you were crazy. You have the wrong girl," she said after a signing ceremony Tuesday. "It's all happened so quick."

Kopinak captured the Southland Insurance Junior Tour's overall championship last year. It was her third year on the tour and by far her best.

She won six of nine tour stops, lowering her best score at several courses by double-digits. Her scoring average was 89.44.

"A couple years ago I was shooting 120 and I was hitting the ball for fun," she said. "Now I'm shooting 88 and having as much fun. Probably more fun because I'm not taking eight strokes on a hole."

Alcorn State Braves head coach Andrew MacBean heard about Kopinak from her swing coach, Don Harrison. She spoke with other colleges but felt at home during her visit to Lorman.

"After my evaluation, I would classify Erin as the total package," MacBean wrote in an e-mail. "She is bright, hungry, coachable and has the playing background we look for here at ASU.

"She also comes from a great family. After having Erin and her parents, Karri and John, visit campus, it's easy to see why Erin is a quality person."

Kopinak plays out of Tilbury Golf Club and Talbot Trail Golf Club.

She began when she was eight, but she only got competitive three years ago. That's also when she began working with Harrison.

She knew how to hit, but not much else, when they met. She had to learn how to prepare for a round and study a course.

"My coach, Don, he really decided to push me," she said about last year. "I didn't think I was gaining as much knowledge as I was. Then I got out on the course and put a tee down. I didn't think it would work as much as he said it would. But everything was clicking. I didn't expect to be playing that well."

There's still plenty of room for improvement, Harrison said, and Mississippi is a great venue for that to happen.

"She has all the learning potential to be an even better player this summer," he said. "Then she'll be in a position where she can golf 11, 12 months a year. … You automatically can become better because you're hitting balls all the time."

Harrison wants to add four or five shots to her bag before she leaves for school, where she'll major in biology. She'll also try to defend her Southland tour championship this summer.

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JSU's Porter reaches UDFA agreement with Chicago Bears

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Robert Porter, a former Jackson State defensive back, became the second Tigers player in the span of 24 hours to reach an undrafted free agent agreement with an NFL team.

Porter, who was second-team All-SWAC last season, tweeted out that he’s headed to the Chicago Bears. Porter played corner at JSU the past two seasons and was the Tigers’ most consistent defensive back in 2015.

He finished with one interception, but defended 12 passes and recorded 38 tackles. Porter is a Detroit, Michigan native and joined the Tigers from Northland Community and Technical College in Minnesota.

Porter did well at Jackson State's pro day, which was highlighted by his 22 reps on the bench press.

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NSU's King signs with Dallas Cowboys

NORFOLK, Virginia – Norfolk State University All-American linebacker Deon King signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys following this weekend's NFL Draft.

The Cowboys were one of several NFL teams to host King on pre-draft visits. The three-time All-MEAC linebacker had the opportunity to visit team headquarters and meet with Dallas front office personnel and coaches last month. King will report to the team for rookie training camp later this month.

"I'm excited to get a chance to play for the Cowboys," King said. "But I'm still hungry to prove myself and make the 53-man roster."

King is the third Spartan player in the last two years to sign as a free agent with an NFL team. Last spring, safety Keenan Lambert (Seahawks) and linebacker Lynden Trail (Texans) inked deals with teams immediately following the draft. After being cut by Seattle, Lambert went on to play in five games with the Oakland Raiders last season before being released. Trail finished the 2015 NFL season on the Washington Redskins' practice squad and remains under contract with the team.

As a senior in 2015, King led all of Division I (FCS and FBS) with 163 total tackles after moving from outside to inside linebacker. King also tallied 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

A slew of accolades came King's way following his senior season. He became NSU's first-ever winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top FCS defensive player in the country. He also became the Spartans' first-ever consensus FCS first-team All-American, earning honors from STATS, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press (AP) and the Walter Camp Foundation. King was also selected as the 2015-16 Norfolk State Male Athlete of the Year.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
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B-CU hit seven home runs in Sunday rout of North Carolina A&T

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Bethune-Cookman hit seven home runs on Sunday afternoon, powering themselves to a series sweep of North Carolina A&T by a 23-2 decision in the series finale in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball action at War Memorial Stadium. For the Wildcats, the win moves their streak to a season-best seven in a row.

Bethune-Cookman (23-22, 15-6 MEAC) produced a variety of season-high performances on Sunday. It was a season-high for runs (23), hits (21) and home runs (7).

The Wildcats began the game with four runs in the opening inning and never looked back.

Freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez drove in the game’s opening run, plating sophomore third baseman Jameel Edney with a sacrifice fly to right field. Moments later, senior right fielder Nathan Bond tallied his third home run of the year, lifting a three-run scoring shot to right field that also scored Clay Middleton and Demetrius Sims.

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WSSU's Michael Bloomfield signs with Oakland Raiders

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Defensive end Michael Bloomfield of Winston-Salem State was not drafted by an NFL team but he’ll get his chance with the Oakland Raiders.

Bloomfield said he’s been signed to a contract with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent and he’ll fly to California this week for a three-day minicamp.

If Bloomfield, who is 6-2 and 250 pounds, does enough at the minicamp he could stick around and compete at another rookie camp later this summer.

Bloomfield, a fifth-year senior, had his best season for the Rams and made several Division II All-America lists.

He helped the Rams to a 6-5 record which included the CIAA championship game, a 17-14 win over Bowie State. Bloomfield had his best game of his career with four sacks and a forced fumble. He was also in on six tackles.

Bloomfield is the lone player on the Rams who was part of all three of their CIAA titles over the last five seasons.

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Tuskegee wins third consecutive conference championship

HAMPTON, Georgia --  After missing out on the opportunity to drench their coaching staff during the 2015 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship, the Tuskegee University Lady Golden Tigers wasted little time in getting to head coach Edward Colvin on Saturday afternoon.

Following the final out of a 10-8 victory in the championship game, the 2016 version of the Lady Golden Tigers made the most of the opportunity on Saturday afternoon after winning their third consecutive conference championship – defeating Miles at Lovejoy Regional Park.

Colvin turned to senior Karisa Foye (6-5) in the circle on Saturday and she did not disappoint. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player struck out five out of the first six batters she faced and recorded the win after the Lady Golden Tigers took the lead in the fourth inning. The senior allowed five runs – just one earned – all in the fourth inning.

After Miles took a 5-2 lead and looked poised to push the tournament to an “if” game, Tuskegee turned to their bats that came into the tournament hitting over .300. The Lady Golden Tigers answered the five-spot from Miles with a six-spot of their own to take an 8-5 lead heading down the stretch.

Sharde Thomas drove home Cari Driver in the bottom of the fourth inning to trim the deficit to a pair, and later scored on a throwing error from Miles to trim the deficit to 5-4. From there, the rally was on for the Lady Golden Tigers.

Tuskegee tied the game on a single by Kenyah Smith to right scoring Chante Warner, and took the lead when Foye reached on an infield single that scored Kaylin Finch. Tuskegee scored their last two runs of the inning when Roneshia Rudolph doubled to the left field corner to put the Lady Golden Tigers ahead 8-5.

Colvin turned to Toni Beth Garner in the fifth inning, picking up a three-inning save; the first of her career. The junior, who defeated Miles Friday, allowed three runs off of four hits, while striking out three and keeping the bats of Miles at bay.

After Miles scored a run in the fifth to make it a two-run game, Tuskegee scored a pair of runs in the sixth for insurance – building a 10-6 lead.

The celebration began in the dugout in the bottom of the sixth inning, but had t
o wait as Miles scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning. However, with a runner at second and two strikes on the batter, a high fly ball was squeezed by senior first baseman Haley Plato in foul territory sending off the jubilation from the Lady Golden Tigers and their fans.

Dating back to 2004, Tuskegee is the first team to win three consecutive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships. The Lady Golden Tigers had four players on the All-Tournament team, which included Foye, Thomas, Garner and Finch.

Tuskegee will find out their opponent and site for the upcoming NCAA Division II Regional next week on Monday morning. The NCAA Selection Show is at 10 am (est) on NCAA.com.

For more information on Tuskegee athletics, follow us on Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram (@MyTUAthletics) and like us on Facebook.

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Buddy Ball Puts Two S.C. State Bulldogs In the NFL Draf

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- A major weekend for South Carolina State at the NFL Draft continued on Saturday.

All-America tight end Temarrick Hemingway was selected by the Los Angeles Rams, formerly of St. Louis, in the sixth round of the 2016 National Football League Draft.

The Rams selected Hemingway with the 177th pick overall. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Loris, S.C. native was the second player from South Carolina State University and third player drafted from an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in this year's draft.

On Friday, two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Javon Hargrave was chosen with the 89th selection of the NFL Draft.

Head coach Buddy Pough says this weekend will be a major boost for his program going forward as he sells Buddy Ball to high school prospects.

"Well, anytime you can go out and tell kids you've had guys drafted that high, it's a star in your crown of sorts," Pough said.

The coach added with Hargrave being a third-round selection, that is something his program can use not only in recruiting but marketing as well.

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JSU's Fosselman signs undrafted free agent deal

SEATTLE, Washington -- Jackson State receiver Devin Fosselman agreed to an undrafted free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.

osselman ranked second in the SWAC with 872 receiving yards. He led JSU with 58 receptions. The senior did most of his damage in the middle of the field, working out of the slot.

Seattle has had success undrafted receivers in the past few years. Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse were the Seahawks' top two receivers in terms of yardage in 2014 and 2015 and both were undrafted.

Fosselman started his career at Mississippi State. He was a three-star prospect and ranked as the No.11 prospect in the state of Mississippi coming out of high school.

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Montgomery talent eluding Jenkins, ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Tarvaris Jackson has a problem with this.

Alabama State University head football coach Brian Jenkins hasn’t signed a high school player from Montgomery in his first two recruiting classes on national signing day.

That’s a no-no to Jackson, a Montgomery native who starred at quarterback at ASU, became a second-round pick in 2006, won a Super Bowl and has played 10 NFL seasons.

“You’ve got to get the Montgomery kids,” Jackson said.

ASU has inked 32 players on NSD under Jenkins — and none have been from here. When asked how many scholarships he offered local kids, Jenkins said “20 or more” — but he’s come up empty-handed.

“Some of the things that have come into play has been grades,” Jenkins said. “We lost some guys late. We had several kids that we really liked that we lost to some bigger schools.”



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Southern's Roman Banks honored as LABC's Coach of the Year

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana --  Southern University head coach Roman Banks became the eleventh head coach to win the Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Award for Louisiana's top collegiate head coach at the major level in the awards 42-year history.

Banks received the award during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches Awards Banquet held at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Banks joins a distinguished group of coaches which included former Southern head coach Ben Jobe, who won the award in 1988 and 1993. Dale Brown and John Brady of LSU, Andy Russo of Louisiana Tech, Mike Vining of UL-Monroe, Rickey Broussard of Nicholls State, George "Tic" Price of New Orleans, Mike McConathy of Northwestern State, Billy Kennedy of Southeastern Louisiana and Dave Simmons of McNeese State serve as the only state coaches who have earned the award on multiple occasions.

Banks, who also served as an assistant on Kennedy's staff at Southeastern during the 2004 and 2005 season, led the Jaguars to the program's second Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship under Banks and to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in three years with a 22-13 record.

After leaving Southeastern in 2011 to become the head coach at Southern, Banks quickly transformed the Jaguars to an immediate winner and by the 2012-13 season, he had guided the Jaguars to a 23-10 record and produced Southern's first SWAC tournament title and NCAA Tournament bid since 2006.

Inducted into the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame was Nicholls State’s Rickey Broussard.

The other major honoree was former LSU radio announcer Jim Hawthorne, who received the LABC’s Mr. Louisiana Basketball award. This award is given annually to someone who has made a significant, long-term contribution to the game of basketball at any level in the State of Louisiana.

Also honored at the banquet were Louisiana’s major college, small college, junior college and high school basketball players and coaches of the year, along with the top pro player from the state.

Broussard coached at Nicholls State from 1990 to 2002, where he won 150 games and finished his career as the second winningest coach in school history. He was a three-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year, two-time Louisiana Coach of the Year and once an NABC District Coach of the Year.

Broussard led the Colonels to two SLC regular season and tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances, including seasons of 24-6, 19-9 and 19-10.

Hawthorne retired this year as the radio announcer for LSU basketball after a distinguished 36-year career as one of the top play-by-play men in all of collegiate athletics. He called some of the greatest moments in the history of Tigers basketball, including LSU’s Final Four appearances in 1981, 1986 and 2006 along with six SEC championships.

Hawthorne also introduced basketball fans to some of the best players to ever wear the LSU uniform in Shaquille O'Neal, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (then Chris Jackson), Rudy Macklin, Stromile Swift, Glen Davis and Brandon Bass. This summer he will receive the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.

The LABC also presented the Pete Maravich Memorial Award, honoring Louisiana’s Major College Player of the Year, to freshman forward Ben Simmons of LSU. This season Simmons was a first team NABC and USBWA All-American and the consensus National Freshman of the Year. He averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds (1st in SEC and 7th in nation) and 4.79 assists and had 23 double-double games (1st in SEC and 5th in nation). He scored in double figures in 32 of 33 games, including eighteen 20-point games, and had single game highs of 43 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 7 steals.

The Bob Pettit Award, which is given to Louisiana's Professional Player of the Year, was presented to forward Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks. In his tenth year in the NBA, the former Louisiana Tech star averaged 17.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Millsap had 32 double-double games and single game highs of 31 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 blocks. He was also selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game for the third straight season.

Senior point guard DeAngelo Coleman of LSU-Alexandria received the Louisiana Small College Player of the Year award after being named a first team NAIA All-American and the Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year, while averaging 14.0 points and 3.90 assists and shooting 44.9% behind the three-point line.

Second year coach Larry Cordaro of LSU-Alexandria, who was named the Louisiana Small College Coach of the Year, guided the Generals to a No. 2 ranking in the final regular season national poll, to the Red River Athletic Conference regular season championship and to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament with a 29-4 record in the school’s second season of competition. Cordaro was the HoopDirt NAIA National Coach of the Year and the RRAC Coach of the Year.

D’Angelo McClinton and Coach David Francis of Southern-Shreveport were honored as the Louisiana Junior College Player and Coach of the Year, respectively. McClinton, a sophomore guard, averaged 18 points, 6 assists and 4 steals and was an NJCAA Region 23 All-Tournament selection. Francis led the Port City Jags to the Miss-Lou Conference championship and to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament with a 19-9 record. This was Francis’ 12th conference championship in 16 seasons.


2016 LABC Honorees:

Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: Rickey Broussard, Nicholls St.

Mr. Louisiana Basketball: Jim Hawthorne, LSU

Bob Pettit Award for the Louisiana Professional Player of the Year: Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks

Pete Maravich Memorial Award for the Louisiana Major College Player of the Year: Ben Simmons, LSU

Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Award for the Louisiana Major College Coach of the Year: Roman Banks, Southern

Louisiana Small College Player of the Year: DeAngelo Coleman, LSU-Alexandria

Louisiana Small College Coach of the Year: Larry Cordaro, LSU-Alexandria

Louisiana Junior College Player of the Year: D’Angelo McClinton, Southern-Shreveport

Louisiana Junior College Coach of the Year: David Francis, Southern-Shreveport

Louisiana High School Players of the Year:
Class AAAAA: Ja’Vonte Smart, Scotlandville
Class AAAA: De’Jon Jarreau, McDonogh 35
Class AAA: Jalen Johnson, University
Class AA: Robert Williams, North Caddo
Class A: Kalob LeDoux, Lafayette Christian
Class B: Will Reese, Anacoco
Class C: Paul Corbin, Summerfield

Louisiana High School Coaches of the Year:
Class AAAAA: Barry Whittington, East Ascension
Class AAAA: Albert Hartwell, Washington-Marion
Class AAA: Casey Jones, Wossman
Class AA: Damon West, Rayville
Class A: Marcus Jackson, Arcadia
Class B: Martin Ramirez, Grace Christian
Class C: Randy Carlisle, Summerfield

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Xavier's Salwan ties teammates' GCAC awards record

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Karan Salwan tied a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's tennis season record when he was named GCAC Player of the Week for April 18-24.
     
It's the fourth GCAC award for Salwan, a junior from New Delhi, India, and a graduate of Modern School. He shares the conference award record with teammates Kyle Montrel, who did it in 2013, and Thomas Setodji, who also has four awards this year.
     
Salwan improved to 21-3 in singles and 20-4 in doubles (including fall tournaments) after winning both his matches at the University of New Orleans. He defeated Giacomo Adoncecchi 6-2, 6-0 in singles and teamed with Kevin Chaouat to beat Luis Albuquerque and Jeffrey Hsu 6-4 in doubles. Salwan this semester has five singles victories and seven doubles victories against NCAA Division I opponents.
     
The Gold Rush, 13-6 and ranked third in the NAIA, will compete next Friday (May 6) in an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament at Lawrenceville, Ga.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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FAMU's Blount signs as free agent, gives Miami 2 Washington County players

MIAMI, Florida -- Canon-McMillan High School graduate Mike Hull is going to have some added competition with the Miami Dolphins. And it will come from another Washington County native.

Florida A&M linebacker Akil Blount, who attended The Linsly School but lives in Taylorstown, signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the draft. He also had offers from San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Denver.

“Time to go to work. #DolphinsNation #2GodBeTheGlory,” Blount Tweeted Saturday night.

“As soon as the draft was over, they called me to see if I was interested,” said Blount. “They talked to my agent and worked things out and then called me back to welcome me to the team.”

Blount (6-3, 240) led Florida A&M in tackles in each of the past two seasons and added three interceptions and 14 1/2 tackles for loss.

He is the son of former Steelers Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount.

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