Claflin University Men’s Basketball 2016-17 Preview

Panthers Opens Season Friday at UNC-Wilmington

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- When Ricky Jackson took over the Claflin University men's basketball program three years ago, it provided the veteran coach an opportunity to restore a winning tradition.

Jackson elected to implement a plan centered on building a solid foundation through a yearly process. Each season, the strategy would show signs of improvement, especially in the win column.

"That was our goal," Jackson said. "We wanted to establish a foundation for the future so the program would be competitive year after year."

"We could've taken a different approach and won right away. But the question was, how long would it last? We felt the program needed some type of stability for the future in order to be successful down the road. The goal is to win 20 or more games each season and work toward a championship."

The program is heading in that direction after three years under Jackson's guidance.

After winning just 10-of-29 games the first season the Panthers' win-total increased the following year to 16-13.

Claflin made even more progress last season, finishing with another 16-13 record, but was in the mix for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division. The Panthers finished tied for second place in the division along with Morehouse at 10-8, a game behind champion Benedict.

It was in the conference tournament where the Panthers gained some attention. Jackson's team came within a basket of playing for the SIAC Championship. Claflin took LeMoyne-Owen to the limit in the semifinals before falling 71-70 overtime.

If last season's championship run wasn't enough indication that the program is turning the corner, it received a vote of confidence in SIAC preseason polls. The league head coaches and sports information directors selected Claflin to challenge Benedict for the East Division title. The Panthers received 78 points, two behind preseason favorite Benedict, which collected 80. Claflin also garnered four first-place votes to six for Benedict.

The preseason accolades did not stop there asTop of Form redshirt-sophomore Austin Lawton was named the SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He joined senior Ryan McNeill-Moses on the All-Conference team.

"The preseason honors are a testament of how much the program has grown," Jackson said. "A lot can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our players from the last three seasons.

"This is the first time since I've been here, we've been selected that high (preseason poll) along with two players on the preseason All-Conference team. We welcome the challenge for the upcoming season."

Lawton, the 2015-16 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 7.0 rebounds a game last season, which ranked sixth in the conference. The 6-9 center from Eutawville, S.C. also averaged 7.9 points and posted five double-doubles. He led the conference in blocks (2.9 per game), good enough for eighth in the NCAA Division II rankings.

McNeill-Moses, a 6-4 senior forward from Washington, D.C. averaged 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and three assists per outing.

In the conference, McNeill-Moses finished the season tied for second in defensive rebounds and fifth in field goal percentages.

Beside Lawton and McNeill-Moses, the Panthers return the catalyst of the team in sophomore point guard Triston Thompson. The 5-9 Washington, D.C. native averaged 5.8 points and dished out 3.6 assists per game.

Also back is senior Trevor Dantzler of Mullins, S.C. The 5-11 shooting guard is top returning three-pointer with 34 three-point field goals.

Leading a group of outstanding newcomers will be three junior transfers: 5-8 guard Tyler Thompson (twin brother of Triston Thompson) and 6-7 forward Awwal Reid from West Virginia State; and Albert Miller, a 5-8 guard, that played at USC-Aiken.

"The upcoming season will be interesting," Jackson said. "We have some productive pieces returning along with a good group of newcomers who should contribute right away.

"We will be bigger this season with some good perimeter shooters and added depth. The key for us will be developing team chemistry during the non-conference portion of our schedule. That will be very important, especially heading into conference play."

Claflin schedule will consist of a visit to NCAA Division I foe UNC-Wilmington of the Colonial Athletic Conference. The contest will be the Panthers' season-opener on Friday, Nov. 11th.

The Panthers will make their home debut Tuesday, Nov. 15, against Francis Marion. Claflin will be at home for six of its next eight games, including homecoming versus Fayetteville State University (Saturday, Nov. 19).

"We've put together a competitive and tough non-conference schedule," Jackson said. "That portion of our schedule will enable us to be mentally challenged by playing in hostile environments on the road and preparing for SIAC play."

Other non-league opponents for the Panthers include Augusta State, St. Augustine's, Limestone and Livingstone and Shaw in the Shaw University Tournament Dec. 28-29 in Raleigh, N.C.

The Panthers opens SIAC competition with three straight home games Central State (Nov. 29), Kentucky State (Dec. 1) and Lane College (Dec. 3).

CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Coppin State Men’s Hoops Battles Hofstra in Season Opener

HEMPSTEAD, New York  –  Coppin State men's basketball heads to Hofstra (Hempstead, N.Y.) on Friday, Nov. 11 for their 2016-17 season opener in the David S. Mack Complex. Game time is 7:00 p.m. (ET).

GAME NOTES VS. HOFSTRA
 
COPPIN STATE AT A GLANCE
Coppin State returns seven players who competed last season, including three of the team's five starters – senior Terry Harris Jr., senior Keith Shivers and junior Blake Simpson. Other prominent contributors back from last season's team are seniors Joshua Treadwell, Izais Hicks and Mufaro Murinda as well as sophomore Lucian Brownlee. Coppin State has added a pair of veteran seniors - Chas Brown and Joseph Gripper – that will bring experience and a winning culture to the Eagles. In all, the roster includes seven seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen.
 
SENIOR LEADERS
Terry Harris Jr. and Keith Shivers, a pair of seniors, will look to make Coppin State contenders in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Harris Jr. averaged 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 30 games played last season. He began the 2015-16 season racking up five double-double in five of the Eagles first six contests. In addition he ended last season ranked fifth in rebounding and 21^st in points amongst the conference leaders. Shivers started in 27 games played last season averaging 9.1 points reaching double figure scoring in 12 games. He also ranked second on the team in steals per game (1.1).
 
CRUNCHING NUMBERS
Picked to finish tenth in the MEAC preseason poll, Coppin State returns 54 percent of its total scoring and 59 percent of its rebounding production from 2015-16. The Eagles bring back 42 percent of its assist production from last year. Coppin State's returning players accounted for 57 percent of the team's minutes in 2015-16. Two returning players from last season averaged at least 10.0 points per game a year ago – Harris Jr. (12.4 ppg) and Treadwell (10.1 ppg). Those two players accounted for 58 percent of Coppin State's scoring from last season.
 
WELCOME TO THE EAGLE NEST
The Eagles add six newcomers to mesh with his returners. The Eagles back court will feature a well-seasoned transfer at the lead guard to go along with a pair of first year players. Senior Joseph Gripperbrings leadership and discipline at the point guard position. Joining Gripper is red-shirt freshman Rasool Hinson and freshman Dejuan Clayton. On the wings, junior Tre' Thomas and Juwan Davenport are added while in the paint Chas Brown looks to make an impact.
 
HOMETOWN COOKIN
Coppin State features five players from the state of Maryland on this year's roster. Two are from Baltimore (Chas Brown and Terry Harris Jr.), two are from Bowie (Dejuan Clayton and Tre' Thomas) and one from Upper Marlboro (Keith Shivers). Three of the five transferred from Baltimore City Community College (Chas Brown, Terry Harris Jr., and Tre' Thomas) where they played for head coach Terry Macsko. The trio all played during the 2014-15 season and all averaged above 10.0 points per game.
 
FRESHMAN SHINES ON WASHINGTON CATHOLIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TITLE TEAM
Freshman guard Dejuan Clayton played high school basketball at St. John's College High School in Washington, DC. As a senior he started on a team playing in the backcourt with Maryland freshman guard Anthony Cowan leading their team to a 71-57, win over DeMatha in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. He was also named an honorable mention on the 2016 WCAC All-Conference Boys Team.
 
SEASON OPENERS
Coppin State head coach Michael Grant dropped both of his season openers since his arrival in 2014-15. The Eagles traveled to Oregon in 2014 and suffered a 107-65 loss and then fell 107-80 at Eastern Kentucky in 2015. The last time Coppin State won a season opener was back in the 2011-12 season against Cheyney (80-65) at home. Coach Grant will face Hofstra for the second time on Friday evening in Coppin State's season opener.
 
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS
Coppin State was selected tenth in the preseason MEAC poll, announced on Oct. 27^th by the men's basketball coaches and sports information directors. Howard was picked to finish first, collecting 14 of 25 first-place votes, while South Carolina State was selected second (and secured nine first-place votes). Coppin State was picked to finish tenth in the conference race. The Eagles last won the MEAC regular-season title in 2003-04 along with South  Carolina State.
 
RETURNERS FROM LAST SEASON'S STARTING LINEUP
Terry Harris Jr. – 6-8, 205 – senior, forward – Baltimore, Md. (Baltimore City CC)

• Led the Eagles with 7.2 rebounds, 25 blocks, and eight double-double performances
• Ranked second on the team scoring 12.4 points per contest
• Ranked fifth in MEAC rebounding, sixth in defensive rebounding (5.0), 11th in offensive rebounding (2.2) and 13th in blocked shots (0.8)
• Racked up five double doubles in five of the Eagles first six contests
• Tied the team season high with 27 points against San Francisco

Blake Simpson – 6-7, 230 – junior, forward – Cincinnati, Ohio (LaSalle HS)

• Played in 29 games and started in 25 averaging 2.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.7 blocks per game
• Ranked second on the Eagles in blocked shots with 21 totaled...
• Grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds at Florida A&M, scored a career-high eight points twice (at Bethune-Cookman and vs. South Carolina State) and blocked a career-best four shots vs. South Carolina State.

Keith Shivers – 6-4, 195 – senior, guard – Upper Marlboro, Md. (Paris JC)

• Played in 27 games averaging 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds while shooting over 40% from the field
• Finished second on the team with 31 steals and third on the team with 11.5 points in MEAC play
• Scored in double figures in five straight games during MEAC action averaging 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds
• Scored a career best 19 points in the Eagles opening round victory in the 2016 MEAC Tournament over North Carolina A&T.

RETURNING CONTRIBUTORS FROM LAST SEASON
Joshua Treadwell – 6-5, 213 – senior, guard/forward – Newark, N.J. (Essex County CC)

• Played in 31 games averaging 10.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists while shooting over 44% from the field
• Led the Eagles from the field at .441 percent and was second on the squad in both rebounds (4.6) and three-point field goals made (39)
• In the MEAC ranked eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.379), 12th in free throw percentage (.775) and 15th in field goal percentage (.441)
• Scored in double figures 14 times and reached 20+ points in a pair of games
• Top performance was 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists versus Howard.

Izais Hicks – 6-8, 200 – senior, forward – Staten Island, N.Y. (Northwest Tech CC)

• Played in 18 games and started in one game averaging 1.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists while shooting over 43% from the field
• Scored in nine games including a season-high seven points vs. Morgan State
• Grabbed a season-high five rebounds twice vs. Kansas State and Norfolk State

Lucian Brownlee – 6-2, 165 – sophomore, guard – Lawnside, N.J. (Haddon Heights HS)

• Played in 31 games averaging 4.2 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists while shooting over 35% from the field and 76% from the free-throw line
• Scored in double figures twice including a season-high 13 points at Iowa State and then led the Eagles in scoring with 11 points at Fordham

Mufaro Murinda – 6-7, 195 – senior, forward – Pomona, Calif. (Chaffey College)

• Played in 19 games averaging 2.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.3 assists while shooting over 82% from the free-throw line
• Exploded for 17 points in a nationally televised game at Norfolk State playing 18 minutes and knocking down 4-of-7 three-pointers.

ABOUT THE PRIDE
Hofstra enters the 2016-17 season under the direction of fourth-year head coach Joe Mihalich. Mihalich has led Hofstra to 44 wins over the past two seasons and the Pride has averaged 18 wins a season over the last three since taking over a program coming off a seven-win campaign. Last year, Hofstra compiled a 24-10 record. Hofstra returns eight players (including two transfers) from last season's 24-win squad, led by returning starters Brian Bernardi and junior Rokas Gustys.
 
YEAR THREE
Michael Grant enters his third season as Coppin State's head coach in 2016-17, his 18^th year as a collegiate head coach. Grant arrived at Coppin State in March 2014 and has led the Eagles to 17 wins in his first two seasons. He has winning records against MEAC foes, Bethune-Cookman (2-1), Delaware State (2-1), Florida A&M (2-0) and North Carolina A&T (2-0). Through two years as the Eagles' head coach, Grant has a 17-45 overall record.
 
ON DECK FOR COPPIN STATE
The Eagles are scheduled to play six games in a 10-day span, beginning with the season opener against Hofstra on Friday, Nov. 11. Following Friday's game against the Pride, Coppin State travels to Valparaiso on Monday, Nov. 14 (7 pm ET). This will be the first ever meeting between the Crusaders and Eagles. Valparaiso enters the 2016-17 season underneath first year head coach Matt Lottich.

COASTAL CAROLINA (Nov. 16): Coppin State's third regular-season showdown comes against the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Game time in the HTC Center is 7 pm (ET). This will be the first ever meeting between the Eagles and Chanticleers.
                
BRIGHAM YOUNG (Nov. 17): The Eagles will face Brigham Young on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 9 pm (ET).



COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

No. 5 Generals march past No. 25 Gold Rush, 87-70

NEW ORLEANS — Brian Sylvester,, Brandon Ellis and Jordin Williams scored 13 points apiece Wednesday to lead LSU-Alexandria to an 87-70 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I men's basketball teams.
     
The Generals (3-0), ranked fifth, led by double digits for the final 26 minutes.
     
LSUA had five double-figure scorers. Brandon Moss scored 12 points, and Hayward Register had 11. Sylvester blocked five shots, and Moss and Gilbert Talbot grabbed eight rebounds apiece.
     
Jalen David scored 22 points and Mike Williams 15, both career highs, for the 25th-ranked Gold Rush (1-2).
     
LSUA, which never trailed, did not allow a point the first 5:45 and led 49-22 at halftime. A Moss basket with 9:25 remaining gave the Generals their biggest lead, 71-36.
     
XULA, with David notching 12 points and Innocent Kukulu eight, outscored LSUA 48-38 in the second half — 34-16 in the final 8 1/2 minutes.
     
The Generals outshot XULA 47.3 to 41 percent from the floor and made 25-of-28 free throws to XULA's 15-of-20. LSUA had 22 assists on 26 baskets.
     
It was the first meeting between the schools. LSUA is a third-year program which was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA for five consecutive weeks last season. The teams will meet again Nov. 29 at LSUA.
     
XULA will visit Jackson State of NCAA Division I at 12:15 p.m. Friday — it will be an exhibition for the Gold Rush and the regular-season opener for the Tigers — then visit NAIA No. 10 William Carey at 6 p.m. Saturday. The next Gold Rush home game will start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against city rival Loyola.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

UMES names Mardela grad women's assistant hoops coach

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- Former UMES Hawk basketball standout Casey Morton has been named as one of the school's latest women's assistant basketball coach.

Morton joins Associate Head Coach Revonda Whitley, Assistant Coach Cedric Jenkins, and Graduate Assistant Vontreece Hayes on Head Coach Fred Batchelor’s staff.

“I’m excited to join the staff,” Morton said in a news release. “I was blessed to have the opportunity to play my collegiate career here and I’m back where it all started. I’m looking forward to the season while learning from a great and seasoned coaching staff.”

Morton ended her collegiate career with 1,230 points, which is fourth all-time in the program’s Division I history. The Eastern Shore native also ranks fourth in total assists (296) and total steals (188).

“It is great to have Casey Morton join our staff,” said Batchelor. “She has continued to support Lady Hawk Nation since she graduated in 2011. I have always appreciated her involvement with the current players as a local graduate.”

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Slumping Morgan State faces FAMU on Saturday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M and Morgan State’s football seasons – so far – have been two opposite tales.

FAMU has played some of its best football over its last five games after an 0-4 start. The Rattlers are 3-2 in their last five with a homecoming victory over Hampton – the No. 3 team in the conference. Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Stanley cemented his place as the team’s starter during that span, too.

On the other side, Morgan State has slumped.



The Bears have lost four in a row and were blasted 41-10 by Bethune Cookman in their final home game of the season. Morgan State hasn’t scored more than 17 points in a game since Oct. 1 and almost every team the Bears have faced – the lone exception is 0-9 Del. State – has scored at least 21 points.

The Rattlers look like they’re finally on the right course, while Morgan State is trying to right the ship. The two teams meet Saturday in Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Fred Farrier, who in February took over as Morgan State’s interim head coach after the departure of then-head coach Lee Hull, said most of Morgan State’s issues are mental.

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JSU Tigers working through offensive woes

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Tony Hughes is old school.

He said as much following Saturday’s 14-7 loss to Alabama State, a game in which the Jackson State offense failed to score on two trips inside the red zone.

And when an old-school coach like Hughes is faced with adversity, he only knows one thing to do.

“We’ll go back to work, try to correct some mistakes and trust the process,” he said.

And Hughes’ team, which still has much to play for, has adopted that mantra.

Jackson State (3-6, 3-4 SWAC) is still tied for first and in control of its own destiny in the East Division. Wins in their final two games would put the Tigers into the SWAC championship game against the West champion with a chance to represent the league in the Celebration Bowl on the line.

To do it, they’ll have to beat Alabama A&M (3-6, 3-5) this Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium and then defeat Alcorn State (3-5, 3-4) next weekend in Lorman.



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FBS schools should have Grambling's Broderick Fobbs on head coaching radar

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Alabama State coach Brian Jenkins saw this coming.

In less than three full seasons under Broderick Fobbs, Grambling has gone from having its worst record in school history and mired in off-field turmoil the year before he took over to becoming nationally ranked and restoring its winning tradition.

“I knew the day that they hired Broderick Fobbs that Grambling was going to go through a total transformation for the good cause he’s waited his time,” said Jenkins on Monday as his Hornets (3-6, 3-5 SWAC) face the No. 16-ranked Tigers (7-1, 6-0) play Saturday. “He’s put together everything he needed to put together in the years he was an assistant coach to be ready for this moment, and he’s doing his thing.”

Fobbs, 42, shouldn’t have to wait too much longer for a FBS school to come calling. Grambling is an FCS school, one level below the FBS.

“Broderick is one of the top coaches in college football, period,” Jenkins said.

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Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State tangle Saturday

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Valley State could spoil Alcorn State’s hopes of winning a third straight SWAC football championship.

The rivals meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena. It’s the 60th meeting.

Alcorn (3-5, 3-4 SWAC) holds a commanding 42-16-1 series lead and has won four straight from Valley. The Delta Devils’ last victory came in 2012, winning 33-9. Alcorn, tied with Jackson State atop the East Division this season, won 55-14 last year.

“We have to come out with the mindset of being ready to play,” Braves coach Fred McNair said in a SWAC teleconference. “Valley’s coming off a big win.”

Valley (1-8, 1-6) recorded its first win of the season, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 41-7. The Golden Lions beat Alcorn State 45-43 in triple overtime on Sept. 15 for their only victory of 2016.

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Hampton Pirates to Open 2016-17 Campaign Against Rider

HAMPTON, Virginia – The Hampton University men's basketball team will kick off the 2016-17 at home on Friday evening, welcoming Rider to the HU Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

 
Live Video: Pirates Sports Network.
Radio: WHOV 88.1 FM.
Live Stats: Click here.
 
The Series: The Pirates are 0-1 against Rider, falling 75-64 on a neutral court during the 1998-99 season.
 
Pirates Against the MAAC: Hampton is 4-13 against schools currently in the MAAC; the Pirates last played a MAAC school in the NCAA Tournament First Four in 2015, defeating Manhattan 74-64. The Pirates are 0-4 against Ioan; 1-2 against Manhattan; 0-1 against Marist; 1-2 against Monmouth; 0-1 against Niagara; 1-1 against Quinnipiac; 0-1 against Rider; and 1-1 against Saint Peter's. Hampton has never faced Canisius, Fairfield, or Siena.
 
Pirates at Home: In head coach Edward Joyner Jr.'s first seven seasons at the helm, the Pirates are 51-32 at home – including a 9-2 mark in the HU Convocation Center last season. That was the team's best home record under Joyner, though the Pirates did go 9-3 at home in 2013-14 and 8-3 in the Convocation Center in 2010-11 – a season in which Hampton won 24 games and made it to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Starting Off With Home Cooking: Friday's opener against Rider will mark the first time since the 2013-14 season – and the third time under head coach Edward Joyner Jr. – that the Pirates will open the season at home. Hampton kicked off the 2013-14 campaign with a 77-69 win over William & Mary, and the Pirates also opened the 2011-12 season with a home game against the Tribe – winning that one 73-58. This will mark the first season during Joyner's tenure that the Pirates have opened with back-to-back home games.
 
Scouting the Broncs: Rider is entering its fifth season under head coach Kevin Baggett, coming off a 2015-16 campaign that saw the Broncs go 13-20 overall and just 8-12 in the MAAC. The Broncs, who finished eighth in the MAAC last season, return one starter and five letterwinners for 2016-17. Kahlil Thomas led the MAAC in field goal percentage and was third in rebounding last season, earning Third Team All-MAAC honors, and Jimmie Taylor III is a former MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree who has over 1,000 career points.
 
Pirates Picked to Finish Third: Despite winning back-to-back MEAC titles, the Pirates were picked to finish third in the conference this season in a poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Hampton, which returns just one starter from last season, picked up two first-place votes and racked up 250 points in the poll. Howard was tabbed the preseason favorite, while South Carolina State – which fell to the Pirates in last season's MEAC Tournament championship game – was picked to finish second.
 
Cooks the Only One: Lawrence Cooks is the lone returning starter for the Pirates, and he comes into 2016-17 as the team's top returner in scoring (7.8 ppg), rebounding (3.7 rpg), assists (47), and steals (19). He is also the only player on this year's team that isn't a freshman, sophomore, or junior – though he does have two MEAC championship rings and NCAA Tournament appearances to his credit. Cooks dropped a career-high 22 points at Winthrop last season, a campaign in which he scored in double figures 11 times.
 
Wilson-Fisher Looking for a Bigger Role: Charles Wilson-Fisher was a key role player in the Pirates' run through the MEAC Tournament in 2015, and he was a key reserve down low for the Pirates last season. 2016-17 could figure to be a breakout season for the Los Angeles native with the graduation of Jervon Pressley, and Wilson-Fisher will be looking to improve on his scoring and rebounding averages (2.7 and 2.5, respectively) this season. He tied his career high in points with 10 last season against Northern Arizona, and his career high of 10 boards came in the 2015 MEAC Tournament against Maryland Eastern Shore.
  
For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Breaking down Prairie View vs. Southern

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Panther Stadium, Prairie View

Radio: 91.3 FM

Series history: Southern leads 52-27-3.

Key players: PV - QB Jalen Morton, RB Caleb Broach, DT James Harper; SU - QB Austin Howard, RB Lenard Tillery, DB Andrea Augustine.

Who has the edge:

Offense - Southern. The Jaguars are scoring 38.6 points per game, with 26 TDs in 38 red-zone trips, behind Howard (1,994 yards, 18 TDs passing) and Tillery (1,085 yards, 11 TDs rushing). The Panthers have 18 TDs in 25 red-zone trips.

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Alabama State Lady Hornet hoopsters open season on four game road swing

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina – The Alabama State women’s basketball team will open their 2016-17 season with a challenging four-game road swing when it starts at North Carolina on Friday at 4 p.m. at Carmichael Arena.

This marks the first meeting between the schools in women’s basketball.

North Carolina went 14-18 overall and was 4-12 in ACC play during the 2015-16 season.

The road trip continues on Sunday at Georgia Tech at 1 p.m., on Tuesday at Savannah State at 7 p.m. and on Thursday at Southern Mississippi at 6 p.m.

“It’s a brutal schedule,” said ASU head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.

“But we will persevere through it. I wouldn’t dare schedule one like this with a young team. It would kill the team’s morale. But since we are coming off back-to-back SWAC championships, I think they’ll be OK. It won’t kill our confidence before going into the SWAC. We will be up for the test and look for the upset.”

In ASU’s lone exhibition win on Monday, senior Britney Wright led the Lady Hornets with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and grabbed 13 rebounds as Alabama State outscored Faulkner a combined total of 40-21 in the third and fourth quarters.

Daniele Ewert provided an all-around game with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks while Danielle Clark added 14 points.

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling takes show on road to 'second home'

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — The Grambling football program is known for its traveling act that spans the globe, from the United States to Japan.

Whether 50 years ago under legendary coach Eddie Robinson or in the present day when the Tigers travel coast-to-coast to play nonconference games, Grambling relishes playing on the road.

This weekend is no different when Grambling plays its final "home game" on the road in Shreveport at Independence Stadium against Alabama State.

"We call Shreveport our second home. Grambling is our first home and Shreveport is our second home," Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said. "There's a lot of great alumni that is looking forward for us coming over there, and we're looking forward to coming over there and giving them a show."

Grambling is putting on a show regardless of venue this year. The Tigers are 6-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and need three wins to clinch a spot in the league title game for the second straight year.

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Hampton Lady Pirates Tipoff Season at Northwestern Friday

HAMPTON, Virginia – The Hampton University women's basketball team will open their 2016-17 season with the first of eight straight road games as they take on the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday afternoon at 4:30 pm EST.

Live Video: Click here (Pay-per-view)

THE OPPONENT
The Lady Pirates are 0-2 against Northwestern.  The Wildcats won the last meeting 62-36 on Nov. 16, 2014 in Evanston, Illinois.
 
LADY PIRATES VS. BIG TEN
Hampton is 1-6 all-time vs, current members of the Big Ten conference.  They are 1-1 against Maryland, 0-1 against Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin and 0-2 against Northwestern.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern is a senior-laden team with five seniors on its roster under seventh-year head coach Joe McKeown.  The Wildcats are headed by preseason All-Big 10 selection Nia Coffey who averaged 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
 
LADY PIRATES PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
Hampton was picked to finish third in the MEAC this season in a preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Lady Pirates wound up third in the conference standings after going 11-5 in MEAC play last season.
 
MALIA MOVING UP ON TWO LISTS
Heading into her final season with 1,939 career points, senior Malia Tate DeFreitas is moving up on a pair of career scoring lists.

At Hampton she is currently third behind LaShondra Dixon-Gordon (1,967 points) and Jackie Dolberry (2,727).  Passing Dixon-Gordon will make Tate-DeFreitas the school's all-time Division I scoring leader as Dolberry played from 1985-89.

In the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, she is currently in eighth and ironically trailing Dixon-Gordon for seventh on that list.  The all-time MEAC scoring leader is Alisha Hill from Howard with 2,179 points from 1994-98.
 
For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5906 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
 
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY PIRATES SPORTS INFORMATION

WSU Shockers Open Season Against SC State

Opening Tips // Wichita State opens its 111th season Friday night against South Carolina State, forming the back-end of a special volleyball-basketball doubleheader. The Shocker volleyball team faces Illinois State at 5 p.m., with hoops to follow at 8:30 p.m. Both games will air statewide on Cox Channel Kansas (Cox HD 2022). The arena will be cleared in between games, but fans may use their men’s basketball tickets to receive free admission to the volleyball match.

TV & Radio // The 8:30 p.m. CT tip will air statewide on Cox Channel Kansas (Cox HD 2022) and in the Kansas City area on Time Warner SportsChannel2, with Shane Dennis(pbp) and Bob Hull (analyst) on the call. Fans outside of the two viewing areas can catch the game via ESPN3… Mike Kennedy, now in his 37th season as the Voice of the Shockers, will call his 1,173rd consecutive game on radio, and Dave Dahl returns for his 36th year as home analyst. Tune in on 103.7 FM KEYN or GoShockers.com/Listen.

REGULAR SEASON OPENER   South Carolina State (19-15, 12-4 MEAC) rv/rv Wichita State (26-9, 16-2 MVC)       Friday, Nov. 11       8:30 P.M. CT        Wichita, Kan.       Charles Koch Arena      Tickets      Game Notes: WSU | SC State  COVERAGE        Cox Channel Kansas (Cox HD 2022) TW SportsChannel 2 (KC Area)     ESPN3       KEYN 103.7 FM        GoShockers.com        GoShockers.com  SOCIAL        @GoShockersLIVE | #watchus        @goshockers | #watchus        Go Shockers

A Banner Day // For the seventh-consecutive year, the Shocker home opener will be preceded by a banner drop. Between Friday night’s national anthem and starting lineups, WSU will unveil its 2016 MVC Championship and NCAA Tournament signs.

Long Streak vs. Strangers // WSU 54-1 in home non-conference regular season games since November of 2008… That includes a school-record 37-game non-conference home winning streak that currently ranks second nationally behind Duke (125)… The Shockers’ last home loss to a non-conference foe came to Final Four-bound VCU in a 2011 Bracket Busters Matchup.
Crowded in Here // Charles Koch Arena has played host to 181-consecutive regular season crowds of 10,000 , dating back to December of 2004… The Shockers have sold out 41-consecutive campus home games since Senior Day, 2013…. The moral support has gone a long way. WSU is 101-9 (.918) over its last seven seasons at Koch Arena and 107-9 (.922) overall in Wichita.

WSU in Season Openers // The Shockers open at home for the 13th-consecutive year. They’ve won 14 openers in-a-row and 22-of-23 since 1992, with the lone blemish coming in November, 2001 against Delaware at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska… Marshall is 9-0 in openers as Shocker head coach.

WSU in Home Openers // The Shockers have won 20-consecutive regular season home openers. Their last setback came Dec. 4, 1995 to Northern Illinois (77-52)… WSU is 94-18 all-time in such games. That includes a 53-7 mark at the Roundhouse, which opened its doors in 1955. The team has won all 13 home openers since the building’s renovation and rededication as Charles Koch Arena in 2003.

LinkedIn // WSU and South Carolina State share a mutual friend. In 1979, WSU hired Willie Jeffries away from SCSU to be its head football coach. In the process, Jeffries became the first African American head coach of an NCAA Division I-A football program at a predominantly white college. He spent five seasons on the Shocker sideline before accepting a similar position at Howard University, then returned to SCSU from 1989-2001. Jeffries was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Series with SCSU // This is the first meeting between the two programs… The Shockers are 10-2 overall against current members of the MEAC… Over the next 10 days they’ll face both SCSU and Maryland Eastern-Shore.

Marshall vs. SCSU // Marshall has also never coached against SCSU, which is something of a rarity. He has faced each of South Carolina’s 12 Division I programs at least once, save for SCSU, Winthrop (his former school) and Wofford… Marshall is 5-0 against South Carolina schools since arriving at WSU and 44-14 overall. Throw in six wins over Division II programs and that record climbs to 50-14.

Scouting SCSU // The Bulldogs are picked second out of 13 teams in the MEAC … They are coming off of a 19-win season, and last year’s second-place finish in the MEAC standings was its best since 2005… SC State fell to Hampton in the MEAC Tournament final but still earned its first postseason bid since 2003 with a trip to the CIT… Advanced metrics varied in their appreciation for the Bulldogs in 2015-16. They ranked 205th in the RPI but were 268th in Ken Pomeroy’s calculations.
Dodge City (Kan.) Community College product, Eric Eaves is a preseason first team all-conference pick after making the second team as a junior… Eaves, a 6-3 guard, was the team’s leading scorer last season at 17.3 points… Junior guard Edward Stephens is a preseason Second Team All-MEAC pick… Murray Garvin – entering his third full year at SC State — is reigning MEAC Coach of the Year.

Starting Fresh // Should Landry Shamet crack Friday night’s starting lineup, he would become just the sixth Shocker freshman to start an opener in the last 20 years, joining Ron Baker (2012), Demetric Williams (2009), PJ Couisnard (2004) and the duo of Jamar Howard and Rob Kampman (2001). Howard, Kampman and Williams are the only true freshman on that list.

Ballot Ball // WSU rolled out an exhibition starting lineup that averaged 6-foot-7 across the board, with the 1-5 combo of Landry Shamet (6-4), Zach Brown (6-6), Markis McDuffie (6-8), Rashard Kelly (6-7) and Rauno Nurger (6-10). Marshall polled his coaching staff prior to the game, asking each to list five “everyday guys.” That’s a commonly term in Marshall lexicon, used to describe players who consistently do things the right way in practice.” Shamet, Brown, McDuffie, Kelly and Nurger were a unanimous choice.

Line Changes // Marshall expects to do some tinkering with his 2016-17 starting lineup until the right mix emerges. A year ago, injuries forced him to run with four-different lineups in six November games. His fifth lineup (VanVleet, Baker, Wessel, Kelly, Morris) made its debut on Dec. 5 and stuck for the final 29 contests.

Beat-the-Odds Couple // Former Shockers Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet have made a habit of exceeding expectations, and that trend continues at the next level. Baker (New York Knicks) and VanVleet (Toronto Raptors) were two of only a dozen undrafted rookie free agents from last year’s NCAA ranks to make a 2016 Opening Night roster. A total of five Shockers have now made their NBA debut in the last four seasons.

Quick Turn // The Shockers open with two games in less than 48 hours. Friday night’s 8:30 p.m. tip is followed by a 7 p.m. Sunday matchup against Long Beach State. The latter was a late schedule add and is considered a fourth, non-bracketed game in the upcoming Battle 4 Atlantis. Exempt tournaments allow teams to play up to four games, provided that they fall within a two-week window. LBSU’s packed road schedule made finding an ideal date challenging, but the experience could ultimately benefit the Shockers when they prep for three games in three days later this month in the Bahamas.

FROM WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE

Football: Kentucky State faces improved Fort Valley in SIAC title game

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Kentucky State’s football team has already beaten Fort Valley State, its opponent Saturday in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship game, once this season.

But KSU coach John L. Smith said his squad won’t be seeing the same team when they square off at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. (EST).

“They’re a different football team than what they were earlier in the year,” Smith said about the Wildcats, who captured the SIAC East Division last week with a 21-17 win over Albany State.

KSU, winner of the West Division, and Fort Valley State are both 4-6 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

“They’ve changed their offense to where the player who was their Wildcat quarterback is
the guy doing it all now,” Smith said. “It’s made them a different offensive team.

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Former Grambling State University linebacker signs to the Porvoon Butchers in Europe

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- On Tuesday morning, a former linebacker for Grambling State University signed a contract to play for the Porvoon Butchers in Finland with the European Football League beginning this summer.

When Troy Roach received the phone call during Grambling’s homecoming game, he felt a huge sense of relief.

“I had been anticipating this offer since early June,” Roach said.” It felt good knowing that the time I put in didn’t go in vain.”

Playing professional ball has been a dream of Roach’s since he first began playing football at just 9-years-old.

“It’s great to be able to call myself a professional football player, even after the 2016 NFL/CFL draft concluded during the spring and not being selected following my senior season. I didn’t give up on the dream.”

It will all sink in for Roach when his flight to Finland departs a few days after graduation to join the team in May for pre-season camp.

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