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The Marquette University men’s basketball team (1-0 BIG EAST) hosts Howard (0-1, 0-0 MEAC) Monday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. CT in the home lidlifter at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. FS1 will feature Marquette’s first national television broadcast, with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Nick Bahe (analyst) calling the action. Following Monday’s game, the Golden Eagles will travel to New York City Tuesday afternoon in advance of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden (Nov. 17-18). Marquette Opens Play In 2K Classic
Marquette is hoping to continue a trend of recent success in regular-season tournaments when the team opens play in the 2016 2K Classic.
MU has claimed five titles since 2004-05 and advanced to the final game in four other events. Two of the wins have come in overtime and at one point the Golden Eagles had claimed 12-straight victories in the annual tournaments.
The Golden Eagles are 31-9 overall since 2004-05 in multi-team events, including championships at the BCA Classic (2005), Great Alaska Shootout (2006), CBE Classic (2007), U.S. Virgin Island Paradise Jam (2011) and Legends Classic (2015).
MU appeared in the championship contest of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational (2007), Chicago Invitational (2009), Old Spice Classic (2010) and DIRECTV Wooden Legacy (2013). Marquette To Face Howard For First Time
While Marquette is celebrating its 100th year of basketball in 2016-17, it has taken until Monday night for the Golden Eagles to face Howard on the court.
The Golden Eagles have posted an overall record of 28-0 against the 13 current members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), having not faced Howard or South Carolina State on at least one occasion.
The most recent matchup against a MEAC school came on Dec. 28, 2014 versus Morgan State (six all-time meetings, most with any MEAC program) at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. MU posted an 81-53 victory in that game.
Other first-time opponents this season for Marquette include SIU-Edwardsville and a potential matchup with SMU in the 2K Classic. CONTINUE READING
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Courtney Randle scored 10 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter Saturday to rally LSU-Shreveport to a 73-61 women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the final game of the LSUS Classic. The Pilots (1-2) outscored the Gold Nuggets (3-1) 24-7 in the final period after trailing 54-49 through three quarters. Randle scored six points during a decisive 10-0 run, and her 3-pointer with 6:23 remaining put LSUS ahead to stay, 60-57. LSUS outscored Xavier 8-0 in the final 2:38. Kourtney Pennywell scored 12 points, Bria Freeland and Chaterra Cage had 11 apiece, and Quiana Tucker scored 10 for LSUS. Ireyon Keith scored 13 points for XULA, and freshman Gina Smith had career highs of 10 points and seven rebounds. Jalyn Hodge and Mikayla Bates made 2-of-2 3-pointers apiece for the Gold Nuggets, but those were their only points. LSUS outshot XULA 41.5 to 39.7 from the floor and made 24-of-33 free throws to the Gold Nuggets' 7-of-13. XULA outrebounded LSUS 43-32 but was minus-13 in turnovers after committing 27 and gaining 14. XULA and LSUS both finished 1-1 in the four-team, two-day event. NAIA No. 9 Lyon defeated No. 3 Our Lady of the Lake 73-58 in the first game Saturday. On Friday, XULA beat OLLU 71-67, and Lyon defeated LSUS 49-46. The Gold Nuggets will play NAIA No. 24 Loyola at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at XULA's Convocation Center in the opener of a doubleheader between the city rivals. BOX SCORE
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Tiffany Phillips and Juliana Tomasoni are recipients of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball awards for Oct. 31-Nov. 6. Phillips was named Setter of the Week for the sixth time this season, and Tomasoni was chosen Attacker of the Week for the second time. Phillips — from Gardena, Calif., and a graduate of Bishop Montgomery High School — set a XULA record for the most GCAC volleyball weekly awards in a season and tied Nour Abbes (women's tennis, 2014) for most weekly awards by a XULA freshman. Phillips averaged 9.13 assists per set during the GCAC Tournament, which the Gold Nuggets won for the sixth consecutive season. In a five-set championship victory Nov. 5 against Talladega, Phillips had 39 assists and six kills. Tomasoni — a junior outside hitter/defensive specialist from Nova Trento, Brazil, and a graduate of Francisco Mazzola in her home country and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M — hit .414 during the GCAC Tournament and had 23 kills, five in the fifth set, against Talladega. Tomasoni ended the third and fifth sets of the GCAC final with kills. The GCAC Tournament championship automatically qualified XULA (16-16) for the NAIA National Championship for the sixth consecutive year. The NAIA will announce its 44-team bracket at 10 a.m. Monday. The Gold Nuggets will play Saturday in one of 12 opening-round matches on campus sites.
EL PASO, Texas – The Texas Southern Lady Tigers stunned UTEP by defeating the host Miners by a score of 89-68 Sunday.
At UTEP's Don Haskins Center, Kaitlyn Palmer drained eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 24 points in her first game in a TSU uniform to lead the Lady Tigers to their first victory in a season-opening contest since 2013.
In all, the Lady Tigers (1-0) saw four players score in double figures, three of whom are newcomers at Texas Southern.
The Lady Tigers got 14 points apiece from UT–Arlington transfer Artavia Ford, and true freshman Chynna Ewing. Sophomore Joyce Kennerson scored 13 points for TSU, and was 9-of-10 from the 3-point line.
UTEP, the defending Conference USA champion, was led by Sparkle Taylor, who posted double-double totals of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Axelle Bernard scored 11 points for the Miners.
The win was Texas Southern's first over UTEP since defeating the Miners 77-65 in Houston on January 23, 1981. The triumph was also the Lady Tigers' first-ever win over the Miners on their home court.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lady Tigers gave the Miners and their announced crowd of 1,289 an early indication of things to come when they scored 10 unanswered points late in the first period to take a 17-9 lead. Ford knocked down two jumpers during that span between the 5:40 and 1:38 marks of the opening quarter.
UTEP trimmed a deficit of seven points early in the second quarter to three points, but TSU answered with a 7-0 run to stretch its lead to 34-24 with 6:22 left to play before halftime.
The Lady Tigers outshot their opponents in each of the four quarters as they slowly added to their lead. After seeing UTEP cut their lead to single digits only once in the second half, the Lady Tigers delivered the knockout punch with an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that stretched the advantage to 80-59. Palmer drained two of her 3-pointers during the run.
KEY POINTS:
Texas Southern shot better than 42 percent in three out of the four quarters, and shot better than 50 percent in the second quarter (10 of 18, 55.6 percent) and fourth quarter (7 of 11, 63.6 percent).
On the other end of the floor, the Lady Tigers held UTEP to under 40 percent shooting in each of the game's first three quarters.
Palmer's eight 3-pointers were the most by a TSU player in a single game this decade.
While TSU shot 37.5 percent from 3-point range (9 of 24, 1 of 8 from players other Palmer), the Lady Tigers held UTEP to 25 percent shooting from behind the arc (5 of 20).
TSU held Taylor, last season's C-USA's Sixth Player of the Year, to 4-of-19 shooting from the floor. She scored 28 points in the UTEP opener against Northern Arizona.
UTEP lost to a SWAC opponent for the first time since Dec. 18, 1998, when the Miners lost 68-47 to Alcorn State in Mobile, Ala. That game was the second of two contests against SWAC opponents at the Coca-Cola Classic, as UTEP defeated Southern 89-70 the day before.
TSU starts the season 1-0 for the first time since 2013, when they opened with an 88-80 win at Tulsa in Coach Johnetta Hayes-Perry's first game leading the Lady Tigers. NEXT UP:
The Lady Tigers visit Texas A&M–Corpus Christi on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. BOX SCORE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
ITTA BENA, Mississippi – The Alcorn State University football team got off to a quick start and then poured it on Mississippi Valley State, 61-7 Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium.
With the win and Jackson State's 27-20 loss to Alabama A&M, the Braves (4-5, 4-4 SWAC) clinched the SWAC East Division crown for the third year in a row. Alcorn will play either Grambling State or Southern in the SWAC Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Dec. 3.
Freshman quarterback Noah Johnson had a historic outing, accounting for eight touchdowns which is an all-time Alcorn record and one shy of matching the all-time FCS record. He threw for seven touchdowns and 285 yards, and rushed for a touchdown and 65 yards.
Junior Norlando Veals turned in a monster performance with 183 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. Two of his touchdown receptions were of 52 and 51 yards, respectively.
Noah Johnson also threw touchdown passes to freshman Tavares Johnson, senior Collins Moore, senior LaDarrien Davis and freshman Demetrius Lewis.
On the ground, the Braves racked up 253 rushing yards. Junior De'Lance Turner led the way with 96 yards, while juniors Silas Spearman and Quadre Butler pitched in with 60 and 52 yards, respectively.
Alcorn accumulated 538 yards of total offense and held MVSU (1-9, 1-7 SWAC) to 162.
Defensively, Alcorn registered three interceptions including a 64-yard pick-six by freshman Javen Morrison. Also grabbing interceptions were sophomores LaShaun Ealey and Deago Sama.
PLAY-BY-PLAY SUMMARY
Ealey got the Braves started early in the game with an interception on the one-yard line after the Delta Devils were threatening. A big gain of 20 by Turner followed by a rush of 15 got Alcorn out of its own end zone and all the way out to its own 43-yard line. After a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, the Braves faced a 3rd-and-17 when they connected on a deep ball to Veals for 41 yards to move to the MVSU nine-yard line. Alcorn scored on a nine-yard pass to Tavares in the corner at the 7:20 mark as he was able to leap up, make the catch and keep a foot in-bounds.
After a three-and-out defensively, the Braves got the ball back and moved to the MVSU 23-yard line after a 20-yard rush by Turner. On the very next play, Noah kept it himself on a quarterback-read option and scored on a 23-yard spurt to make it 14-0 with 3:40 left in the first quarter.
The Braves stuck again right before the end of the first quarter. After a first down rush by Noah moved Alcorn into MVSU territory, Noah connected with Veals on a deep 38-yard pass to make it 21-0.
Early in the second quarter, Sama pulled down an interception at the Delta Devils 48 after MVSU tried to test him one-on-one deep along the sideline. On the next play, Alcorn ran a reverse to Tavares for a gain of 20 at the MVSU 28-yard line. The Braves scored on a 23-yard jump ball pass to Moore as he outleaped the covering cornerback.
The Braves added on late in the second quarter on a 16-yard pass to Davis. The drive was set up by a 19-yard run by Spearman after the Braves began the possession on MVSU's half of the field.
Right before the half, Alcorn increased its advantage to 41-0 after Morrison scored on a pick-six. Morrison intercepted the pass and ran about 65 yards down the right sideline nearly untouched.
On Alcorn's first possession of the second half, it quickly found the end zone on a 51-yard pass to Veals. On the Braves ensuing possession, it was like dejavu as Noah found Veals again for a 52-yard touchdown pass to make it a 54-0 game with 10:00 left in the third quarter.
Alcorn's final score came at the end of the third quarter on a five-yard pass to Lewis. It capped off a nine-play, 73-yard drive that featured eight running plays from Spearman and Butler combined. NOTES
- The 54-point win was Alcorn's most lopsided victory since Oct. 5, 2013 when it beat Warner 57-0. It was Alcorn's largest win over a Division I opponent since Oct. 11, 2003 when it topped Prairie View A&M 66-0.
- The Braves remained unbeaten against the SWAC East Division this season after already defeating Alabama State 21-18 and Alabama A&M 42-19.
- Alcorn has now won seven consecutive games against SWAC East Division opponents dating back to last season.
- The Braves posted their fourth consecutive win over MVSU. Alcorn won 55-14 last year, 52-9 in 2014 and 35-28 in 2013.
- The Braves have rushed for at least 155 yards in eight of their nine games this season, including at No. 20 Arkansas. Alcorn has rushed for at least 250 yards in back-to-back games after running for 256 at Prairie View A&M. The Braves entered the game averaging 199.5 rushing yards per contest.
- Alcorn entered the game ranked 18th in FCS in sacks allowed, and will improve upon its standing as it did not allow a sack in the contest.
- Veals' 182 receiving yards marked a career-high, breaking his previous best of 106 set earlier this season against Texas Southern.
- Turner's 96 rushing yards marked a career-high, breaking his previous best of 90 set earlier this season against Southern.
- Alcorn's captains were seniors Deonte Brooks, Stacey Garner and Moore. MVSU won the coin toss and chose to receive.
Quoting Alcorn head coach Fred McNair
On getting off to a hot start
"That's one of the things we talked about all week. We wanted to start fast and then stay on them, and that's what we did. We prepared ourselves at practice every day to play this way. The guys had a great week of practice."
On the team clicking on both sides of the ball
"This is what we've been trying to put together the whole season. We've had a lot of injuries and all that stuff, but this is how we want to play on both sides of the ball. In the past, we had spurts of playing good offense and playing good defense, but it seems like it's all coming together as a team now. That's what I told the team, everything is coming together and we didn't get injured today. We just have to get back to the practice field now and start preparing for Jackson State next week."
On getting momentum heading into next week
"It's big. To win a game in this fashion makes practice a whole lot easier next week. Our team knows the magnitude of the game next week and we have to make sure we're doing all the right things at practice as both players and coaches."
UP NEXT
The Braves will wrap-up the 2016 regular season against Jackson State at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium next Saturday. The 2 p.m. contest will also be Senior Day as Alcorn recognizes 14 student-athletes.
The Braves will be looking for their eighth consecutive victory over a SWAC East Division opponent dating back to last season. BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- -- Ohio State basketball plays its home opener on Monday night against North Carolina Central. Here's everything you need to know before tip-off.
GAME INFORMATION
Who: North Carolina Central (0-1) at Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
When: Monday, 9 p.m.
Where: Value City Arena (19,049) TV: ESPNU
Twitter: Follow cleveland.com's Bill Landis for updates from the game.
Latest line: Ohio State -23.5
Series record: This will be the first meeting ever between Ohio State and North Carolina Central.
PROJECTED STARTERS
North Carolina Central: G Dajuan Graf (6-0, Sr., 19 ppg); G Rashaun Madison (6-0, Sr., 6 ppg); G Patrick Cole (6-5, Sr., 18 ppg); F Will Ransom (6-8, Sr., 0 ppg); F Kyle Benton (6-7, Jr., 0 ppg).
Ohio State: G JaQuan Lyle (6-5, Soph., 3 ppg); F Keita Bates-Diop (6-7, Jr., 14 ppg); F Marc Loving (6-7, Jr., 13 ppg); F Jae'Sean Tate (6-4, Jr., 10 ppg); C Micah Potter (6-9, Fr., 0 ppg).
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- This win, Southern’s seventh straight, took on a little extra meaning for Southern coach Dawson Odums.
As the Human Jukebox thundered on behind him, Odums got emotional thinking about what his Southern team has overcome to put itself in its current position.
After Saturday's 44-34 victory over Prairie View, the Jaguars remained in control of their own destiny in the race for a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
“Nobody has had to go through what we’ve had to go through, and we’re doing it the right way,” Odums said. “We’ve got some special guys. We’ve been through a lot together, and I love them for it, because they stayed the course and they’re reaping the rewards from it.”
As has been the case throughout much of the Jaguars’ win streak, those special guys stepped up Saturday.
Despite getting off to a slow start as the Panthers keyed on his every move, Lenard Tillery ran for a career-high 245 yards — 106 of which came on runs of 52 and 54 yards that set up scoring opportunities.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern women's basketball team defeated Spring Hill 68-53 to claim its season opener in commanding fashion Saturday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
For most teams, starting a season with a 15-point victory would be cause for celebration, but the Jaguars' reaction after the game was anything but.
Southern coach Sandy Pugh said she was unimpressed with her team’s performance against its Division-II opponent, knowing it won’t be enough to get the Jaguars through the next month of a schedule that includes trips to some of the nation’s top programs.
She liked that Southern went after the Badgers with 66 field goal attempts, but she didn’t like that 14 of them were from 3-point range. She was pleased with the effort Southern showed late, but less so that it took a strong talking-to during the first half to bring it out.
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- Although some might claim the fame, there aren’t many bands in the land that can match the Grambling State University marching band.
Best band in the land? Hard to argue with them when it comes to entertainment value. While most bands simply perform at halftime, the Tiger band celebrates with their fans, bringing them to their feet with pom-poms waving.
But the thing is, the Grambling football team, built into household name under the late great Eddie Robinson, is showing it can continue to hold its own as a SWAC power under coach Broderick Fobbs and continues to expand fame of its own.
After dispatching Alabama State 21-0 Saturday afternoon at Independence Stadium in somewhat subdued fashion, the Tigers (7-1, 7-0 SWAC) now boast a 16-game SWAC win streak that dates back a couple of years when these same Hornets (3-7, 3-6) won 45-32 in Robinson Stadium.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Stanley fired two touchdown passes in a three-minute span late in the fourth quarter to help lift Florida A&M past Morgan State, 22-21 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Bragg Stadium Saturday evening.
Stanley, the Pembroke Pines, Florida product who has led FAMU (4-6, 4-3 MEAC) to four wins in his six collegiate starts, got off to a slow start, as did the rest of the Rattler squad coming off a bye week, Nov. 5, but heated up in the final stanza when it counted, going 5-for-6 passing for 54 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 49 yards on five carries in the final period.
The redshirt freshman finished the game with 264 passing yards on 25 of 42 passes, with three touchdowns against one interception. He also rushed 15 times for 59 yards, giving him 323 total yards Saturday.
The sluggish Rattlers seemed out of sync until their backs were against the wall in the fourth, trailing a struggling Morgan State (2-7, 2-5 MEAC) squad, 21-9 headed into the fourth period.
FAMU made its’ move, aided by the Rattler Defense, which forced a turnover deep in Morgan territory, when Auburn transfer end Raashad Kennion shook the ball loose from Bear quarterback Chris Andrews on the MSU 23.
Four plays later, Stanley tossed an 11-yard strike to halfback Devin Bowers to cut the deficit to 21-16 with 8:55 left.
The Rattler Defense would force Morgan to punt after a stirring stand aided by a raucous Bragg Stadium crowd, whose noise levels caused a false start, and seemed to unnerve the Bears.
FAMU would take the lead with 5:40 left on Stanley’s third scoring toss, a two-yard aerial to Brandon Norwood, putting the Rattlers ahead for the first time in the game. Stanley was the key player on that five play, 57-yard drive, dashing 30 yards on a quarterback keeper down to the two-yard line, a daring move which nearly brought the house down.
The visiting Bears were forced to punt after their next possession, and the Rattlers ran out the clock to preserve the win, although the end of the game was marred by a brawl which took place with 39 seconds left.
Four players were ejected, including FAMU’s T.J. Jones, the starting left tackle, and reserve running back Kevin Newman, along with Morgan State linebacker Malachi Washington and defensive back William King.
Morgan used their special teams and defense to garner great field position and take the early lead, as William King returned th game’s opening kickoff 87 yards to the FAMU two yard line, from where Eric Harrell took the ball into the end zone for a two-yard score and a 7-0 lead with 14:45 left in the first period.
Stanley drove the Rattlers 80 yards in six plays capping things off with a 29-yard swing pass to speedy Devin Bowers, who raced through the Morgan defense for the touchdown. Colby Blanton’s PAT try failed, leaving the Rattlers down one.
With seconds remaining in the first, linebacker Jai Franklin sacked Stanley, forcing a fumble which Franklin took into the end zone for a 14-6 lead.
Blanton would nail a 19-yard field goal with 13:04 left in the second quarter to draw the Rattlers closer at 14-9, but Morgan QB Chris Andrews capped a five-play, 70-yard Bears drive with 1:58 left in the third to stake his club to a 21-9 advantage, setting the stage for FAMU’s fourth quarter awakening.
POST GAME NOTES: The Rattler Nation faithful turned out 16,879 strong to send off the 12 seniors and the Rattler Football team as a whole toward their final regular season game next Saturday in Orlando against archrival Bethune-Cookman… The two turnovers by Ryan Stanley (fumble, interception) were his first as a starter, as he came into Saturday with five straight starts without a turnover…. FAMU outgained the Bears offensively, 419 to 212, and had a huge edge in first downs, 24-11….
Devin Bowers led FAMU on the ground with 88 yards on 18 carries, while he caught three passes for 47 yards, and two TDs… Montavious Williams led the Rattlers with eight catches for 51 yards…. QB Chris Andrews led the Bears in rushing with 71 yards on 13 tries and a TD, while throwing for 58 yards on 7-of-16 passes…
Morgan’s kickoff return trio William King (1 for 87), Deadrick Jones (2 for 95, long of 76 yards), and Dushon David (2 for 18, long of 13), kept the Bears ahead of the game with great field position…. Jones led the Bears defensively with seven tackles (six solos), while linebacker Jakaris Wilson topped the Rattler tackle charts with seven tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss…. Both teams finished with four sacks, with FAMU’s Calvin Darville scoring a pair of quarterback takedowns.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The four FAMU wins is the most for the Rattlers since their 4-7 finish in 2012, and a win Saturday against Bethune-Cookman would push them to five victories, the most for the Rattlers since 2011 (7-4)…. It was FAMU’s fourth win in six games after an 0-4 start., and Saturday's win vaulted the Rattlers into fourth place in the MEAC at 4-3, behind North Carolina A&T and NCCU (both 7-0), and Hampton (5-2).
WHAT’S NEXT: The Rattlers close the 2016 regular season seeking to end a five-game losing slide in the Florida Blue Florida Classic to archrival Bethune-Cookman. The game will be televised by ESPN Classic and ESPN3.com, starting at 2:30 p.m. from Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Victories by NCCU and Rival NC A&T Delivers Showdown in Durham on Nov. 19 for MEAC Championship
DURHAM, North Carolina – Senior quarterback Malcolm Bell amassed 345 yards of total offense and accounted for three touchdowns to lead No. 25 North Carolina Central University to a 30-21 victory over Howard University on Saturday inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
NCCU (8-2, 7-0 MEAC) remains unbeaten in the MEAC with its 14th straight conference victory. Wins by the Eagles and North Carolina A&T (9-1, 7-0 MEAC) on Saturday, sets up a showdown between the rivals on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium with the winner claiming the league's first outright conference championship title since 2012.
Bell's 223 yards and a touchdown through the air against Howard moves the three-year starter into second on NCCU's career passing list with 5,916 yards. The Richmond, Virginia native is also second among the school's career leaders with 7,258 yards of total offense.
With an average of 11.1 yards per carry and two touchdown runs against the Bison, Bell's 122 rushing yards on Saturday are the most by an NCCU quarterback since September 1999.
NCCU sophomore running back Ramone Simpson rushed for 81 yards and a score, while redshirt freshman Torri Cotton contributed 45 yards rushing, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
Jalen Wilkes caught five passes for 64 yards to top the Eagles, followed by LaVontis Smith with four receptions for 58 yards. David Miller had three grabs for 36 yards, including a diving catch in the end zone, and freshman tight end Maleek Henderson also tallied three receptions for 36 yards.
Senior linebacker LeGrande Harley recorded a team-high nine tackles, including a huge stop for a loss on third down and short yardage to spark NCCU. Safety Alden McClellon collected eight takedowns, while Mike Jones, Jeremy Miles and Reggie Hunter chipped in six tackles each. Hunter closed out the game with his team-best fourth interception of the season, all coming in the last three outings. Antonio Brown had four tackles with two solo sacks to bring his season total to 7.0 sacks, tops on the squad.
NCCU finished the contest with 477 yards of total offense (254 rushing, 223 passing), while Howard posted 422 total yards.
Howard (1-9, 1-6 MEAC) was topped by running back Anthony Philyaw with 139 yards and a touchdown rushing and 45 yards receiving for 184 all-purpose yards. Quarterback Kalen Johnson completed 22-of-34 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bison defense was charged by linebacker Jalen Day with a game-high 11 tackles. BOX SCORE
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
SALEM, Virginia – The Winston-Salem State University football team captured the 2016 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championship with a 43-33 victory over Bowie State University on Saturday, November 12th at the Salem Football Stadium. WSSU improves to 9-2 overall after winning their second consecutive title and fourth championship since 2011. The Bulldogs move to 7-4 in the standings after suffering their second straight loss in the championship game.
Bowie State opened up the contest with the first offensive possession. Sophomore quarterback and CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Amir Hall drove the Bulldogs into WSSU territory. Hall had a pass intended for Nyme Manns intercepted in the end zone with one hand by freshman defensive back Tyrell Flemming. Following the turnover, the Rams wasted no time scoring.
Redshirt quarterback Rod Tinsley threw a 50-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Will Walton for a touchdown. Walton scored with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter. Bowie State stalled on offense their next two possessions. WSSU tacked on another TD in the opening quarter. Senior running back Justus Picket found a wide open running hole for a 42-yard TD with 3:17 left in the first.
Before the end of the opening quarter, Hall connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Geordan Clark for a 39 yard touchdown reception. Bowie State trailed 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs tied the game 14-14 off a three yard score from sophomore running back Robert Chesson.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior wide receiver Canard Brown returned the kick 87 yards for the score. Later in the second, the Rams added to their advantage with a 39 yard TD reception from Tinsley to Walton again. Winston-Salem led 28-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams scored with a touchdown throw. Hall completed a 27-yard pass to redshirt senior tight end Jordan Garrison with 3:10 on the clock in the third. Tinsley answered with a 36 yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Reggie Wilkins on the following drive. WSSU recorded a safety earlier in the quarter due to a BSU holding penalty on the goal line. Bowie State trailed 37-21 at the end of the third.
In the fourth, BSU capped a 16 play drive that last over five minutes with a three yard pass from Hall to Chesson. The Bulldogs only faced a 37-27 deficit with 11:08 left to play. However, WSSU produced a back-breaking 68-yard TD run by redshirt sophomore running back Kerrion Moore.
Moore rushed for 177 yards off 22 carries with one TD. He set a new CIAA Championship game rushing record and was named Championship Game MVP.
Bowie State scored another touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. The Rams ran out the clock on the next possession and claimed their 12th CIAA title in school history.
Tinsley completed 11-of-25 passes for 194 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions for WSSU. Walton had two catches for 89 yards and two TDs. Defensively, Flemming finished with three interceptions and two tackles. Xavier Gregory had a team-high 11 tackles (8 solo).
Hall ended the evening with 348 yards off 27-46 passing with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Chesson had 107 yards and one TD. Manns caught 10 passes for 176 yards, followed by Garrison with six catches for 111 yards and one score. Senior defensive lineman Rahsaan Moore had four solo tackles, including two sacks.
The Rams will await the NCAA Division II Regional Rankings to see if their season continues. Rankings will be announced on Sunday, November 13th at 5:00 p.m. EST.
TORRANCE, Califorinia – Students, alumni and fans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) rocked the vote for an epic lineup of bands to perform in the 15th Anniversary Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase on January 28, 2017 at the Georgia Dome.
The 2017 lineup features bands that have historically performed at the annual showcase, plus newcomers who are gearing up for their debut at the marching band event of the year. The following eight bands will perform at the 2017 HBOB Invitational Showcase celebration:
Winston-Salem State University, Red Sea of Sound (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) – 6th appearance
These bands were selected through a process that included online fan voting, as well as feedback from band directors, HBCU school presidents and Honda representatives. Each of the final eight bands will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Invitational Showcase, and their universities will receive a $20,000 grant from Honda to support their music education programs. And as a thank-you to all the bands who participated in this year’s voting process, Honda will donate $1,000 to their respective schools’ music programs.
“Honda is excited to have the final eight bands take the field at our fifteenth annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase,” said Alexandra Warnier, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility for Honda. “We hope fans will join us for this milestone celebration that promises to deliver some fantastic performances.”
Tickets to the HBOB Invitational Showcase are available for purchase on the official website, starting at $10. In addition to performances by the final eight bands, Honda will honor one special nominee with the third annual HBCU Power of Dreams Award at the Invitational Showcase. Students, alumni and fans are invited to nominate exceptional individuals who have gone above and beyond to help their HBCU community. Nominations can be submitted online at hondabattleofthebands.com/power-of-dreams through November 14.
Fans can follow each band’s journey to the Georgia Dome via official HBOB social media channels and join the conversation using #HBOB.
For more information on the 2017 Honda Battle of the Bands and the HBCU Power of Dreams Award, visit HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
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ATHENS, West Virginia -- WSSU's Robert Colon, hit a game winning three pointer with .4 seconds left, as the Rams came away with a 93-90 ocertime win over Concord University on Saturday night in the MEC-CIAA challenge in Athens, WV.
With the win, WSSU moves to 1-1 on the season, while Concord falls to 1-1.
The WSSU Rams battled back from a 44-42 half time deficit to outscore the Mountain Lions, by two points in the second half to tie the game at the end of regulation and force an extra period, where they outscored Concord 16-13 in the overtime period, and got a big time shot from Robert Colon with .4 seconds left to give WSSU a 93-90 win on the road.
WSSU was led by freshman, Robert Colon, who finished with 26 points, while TJ Wilson added 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Carlos Rankins added 18 points and seven rebounds. williams Crandell scored nine points and pulled down four rebounds, and Jamel McAllister added seven points and six rebounds.
WSSU will return to action on Tuesday evening in the Gaines Center, as the Rams will opne their home campaign, at 7:00pm when they host Lees McRae.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Fort Valley State University Wildcats football team is the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Football Champions for the thirteenth time since 1999 with a 33-30 double overtime victory over Kentucky State University Saturday night at the Cramton Bowl. Junior running back Chauncey Jackson was named Most Valuable Player and Kevin Porter the Outstanding Coach of the Game Award.
FVSU collected 20 first downs in the game to KSU's 15, KSU out gained the Wildcats 265 yards to 106 on the ground, FVSU added 254 yards in the air to 119 yards for KSU. The Wildcats had 360 yards of Total Offense on 76 plays to 384 yards on 67 plays for the Thorobreds. In penalties, the team had nine for 75 yards and KSU were rewarded with 10 for 101 yards, while time of possession went to FVSU with 46.32 to KSU's 28.18.
Senior quarterback Otis Brown led the Wildcats in rushing with 52 yards, followed by Jackson's 43 yards, one touchdown and freshman running back Jamari Clark 19 yards. Brown completed 17-of-32 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. Sophomore wide receiver Christopher Weems grabbed four catches for 65 yards to lead the team, while Clark finished with three catches, 46 yards, junior wide receiver Bodarius Johnson 43 yards, three catches, Jackson three catches, 43 yards, one touchdown, junior kicker/punter Juan Serna punted four times for 161 yards and a long of 60 yards, while making a 37 and 43 yard field goal. Senior defensive end Brian Walker returned three punts for 20 yards, three kickoffs for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior linebacker Ryan Bowman had nine tackles (seven solos), one tackle-for-losses (one yard), one interception (four yards) and three quarterback hurries, while freshman defensive back Camron Young grabbed nine tackles (six solos), a half tackle –for-losses (one yard), one pass break up and junior linebacker Cannon Thomas with six tackles (five solos),a half tackle-for-losses and one forced fumble.
In the first quarter, KSU put up two quick scores, Reginal Harris 40 yard touchdown pass from Julian St. Ge and with 6:41 left Lavelle Cloyd rushed 58 yards for the second (KSU 14 – FVSU 0).
Brown completed a pass to Weems for 32 yards, placing the ball on the two yard line. Then with 3:17 on the clock, Jackson went up the middle for the two yard touchdown to complete an 8 play, 72 yard drive, junior kicker/punter Juan Serna kick attempt good (FVSU 7 – KSU 14).
At the 6:51 mark KSU's Darmontre Warr rushed around the right side for five yard and a touchdown, Bill Rose kick attempt good (KSU 21 – FVSU 7).
Rose kicked off to the FVSU's 10 yard line, senior defensive end/punt and kick returner Brian Walker returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown, Serna kick attempt good (FVSU 14 – KSU 21).
With 7:05 left in the third quarter, Brown tied the game with a 16 yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Bolden Davis, completing a 5 play, 55 yard drive, Serna kick attempt good (FVSU 21 – KSU 21).
KSU's Rose completed a 7 play, 34 yard drive with a 45 yard field good as time run out in the quarter (KSU 24 – FVSU 21).
Serna's 24 yard field goal attempt went wide to the left with 10:10 on the clock which would have tied the game, but he was given a second shot from 37 yards out with 8:32 remaining (FVSU 24 – KSU 24).
First overtime, the Wildcats received first and after seven plays, Serna kicked a 43 yard field goal (FVSU 27 – KSU 24). KSU answered with Rose 32 yard field goal (KSU 27 – FVSU 27).
Second overtime KSU's ball and the Wildcats defense held forcing KSU's Rose to kick a 32 yard field goal (KSU 30 – FVSU 27).
Next drive for the Wildcats, Brown completed a seven yard pass to Weems moving the ball to the three yard line, Brown rush failed to gain and losing eight yards to the 11 yard line. After two time outs, Brown threw an 11 yard touchdown pass to Jackson for the championship win (FVSU33 – KSU 30). FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- The VSU Trojan Football team rounded out their extended season with a 45-35 victory over the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University on November 12.
Senior Tarian Ayres completed 13 passes for 150 yards and a single touch down, while teammate sophomore Josh Harris led the team with 1 reception touchdown. The dynamic duo of All-CIAA first team pick junior running back Trenton Cannon and senior Kavon Bellamy, remained unstoppable in the matchup. Cannon collected 2 touchdowns on 99 net rushing yards while Bellamy was not too far behind with 82 net rushing yards.
Leading the defense was All-CIAA first team pick linebacker Geo Feggins with 12 total tackles. CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Bryant Frazier tallied in 8 tackles and a single sack.
Despite a pass interception by Tuskegee in the first quarter, the Trojans regained possession with a forced fumble with 7:32 left in the quarter. The Trojans path to the end zone was denied resulting a good field goal kick to give VSU the 3-0 lead.
Tuskegee was able to push pass the VSU at the beginning of the second quarter with a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Golden Tigers would connect for a 16 yard pass to take the 7-3 lead over VSU.
The Trojans started their drive with 5:12 left until halftime, in hopes of securing a touchdown. After a 4 yard rush by Bellamy followed by and 11 yard rush by Ayers to secure the 1st and 10, Ayres found junior wide receiver Willie Stubblefield for a 62 yard connection. A pass completion to Josh Harris gave the Trojans a 10-7 lead. As the clocked ticked away with under 3 minutes left until half time, Tuskegee was not successful on the offensive side of the ball. A 35 yard punt at the Trojans 21 yard line gave sophomore wide receiver Marcus VanHook the chance to secure a 79 yard punt return to extend the Trojans lead to 17-7 to round out the first half.
The Trojans started the second half off with no hesitations as Trenton Cannon advance to the end zone off of a 75 yard kickoff return. A good kick by Hillquist moved VSU to a 24-7 lead. Tuskegee would score on their next drive to close the gap 24-14, but the Trojans would quickly answer back with Ayres running in for a 17 yard touchdown. The games call and response continued as the Golden Tiger grasp 7 additional points on their next drive. As the clocked ticked away with under 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Trojan has a 31-21 lead. VSU put a halt to Tuskegee with a blocked field goal by senior Daishun Jackson and recovered by junior Tyquante Simms. At the Golden Tigers 25 yard line, Cannon rushed for a touchdown giving VSU a solid 38-21 lead. Tuskegee made a quick play to advance to the end zone and make the final touchdown of the quarter.
Enter the 4th quarter, the Trojans held a 38-28 lead. VSU pressed their way down the field on the quarters opening drive. Despite VSU picking up a 5 yard delay of game penalty, pushing them back to Tuskegee 12 yard line, Cannon changed the tone tacking on an additional touchdown for the Trojans. The home team would make the final touchdown of the game to bring the score to 45-35.
Originally adding VSU to the schedule for their 10th game in hopes of improving their record as they are in the midst of competing for a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive year in NCAA Division II, Tuskegee fell to a 8-2 overall season record.
After an unexpected 11th game addition to the schedule, VSU rounds out the 2016 season with a 9-2 overall record under the leadership of Reggie Barlow.
For more information on VSU football, visit govsutrojans.com, c
all 804-524-5030, or follow Trojan Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports.
DOVER, Delaware -- Tarik Cohen crossed the final victim off his list Saturday afternoon.
Cohen rushed for a pair of touchdowns and 221 yards on just 13 carries as N.C. A&T downed Delaware State 45-14 in a MEAC contest. The Aggies remained unbeaten in the MEAC at 7-0 and improved to 9-1 overall.
Cohen now has scored a touchdown against every team in the MEAC in his career.
“It goes to show the hard work I put in has paid off,” Cohen said. “When I first got here, I wasn’t expected to be the premier running back here or in the MEAC. That motivated me to become the running back I am today.”
The Aggies set themselves up for a winner-take-all matchup next Saturday at 2 p.m. at N.C. Central (7-0, 8-2) for the MEAC title.
“Delaware State gave us a really hard game,” Cohen said. “That will prepare us for how Central is going to play. We can’t make any mistakes. It’s all or nothing.”
Delaware State (0-7, 0-10) scored on its first drive before the Aggies responded with 28 unanswered points.
ETTRICK, Virginia - The Virginia State Men's Basketball team and defending CIAA Champions opened their season with a bang, out-scoring the University of California (PA) 40-24 in the first half on the way to winning 78-53.
The Trojans' season opener marked the first of two games of the Trojan Tip-Off Classic that were held this weekend at Virginia State University in Ettrick, with the second game on Saturday against Mansfield finishing after an early press deadline.
Brice Rowe and Richard Granberry led the way for VSU with 11 points apiece. Teammate Walter Williams (10) joined them in the double-digits. Trey Brown led the team defensively with eight rebounds, followed by Rowe with six and Elijah Moore with five.
Kevin Williams and Cyonte Melvin each made two steals.
HAMPTON, Virginia — The Hampton Pirates escaped a spirited comeback charge from an improving Savannah State team, and held on for a 28-24 win Saturday at Armstrong Stadium.
In the end, it took a defensive stand by Hampton to hold off the Tigers, who entered the game with a 3-4 record.
With fourth-and-20 at the HU 37 and 2:01 remaining in the game, freshman quarterback J.J. Bell dropped back to pass. However, sophomore linebacker Devon Johnson broke through the line and dropped Bell at midfield, sealing the game for the Pirates (5-4, 5-2 MEAC).
For coach Cornell Maynor, the ferocity of the Tigers' comeback was not a surprise.
"Our hats are off to Savannah State. They are a much improved team," said Maynor, who is now one win away from completing a second straight winning season with Hampton. "They gave us a four quarter battle, and we knew they would. But we never quit in the second half, and mounted a drive after they took the lead (24-21 in fourth). And we made a defensive stand at the end, so I'm proud of our team for overcoming adversity." CONTINUE READING
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Fans of a certain generation undoubtedly enjoyed hearing the World Famed Grambling State University Marching Band go old-school during the Oct. 29 homecoming morning parade — Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire — and again at halftime of that afternoon’s 70-0 stomping of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with I’ll Be There by the Jackson 5.
The band should have gone back further, to the theme song for Franklin Roosevelt’s initial presidential campaign in 1932: Happy Days Are Here Again.
The Tigers are 6-1 overall, unbeaten and barely tested in six Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games, and appear headed for a return trip to the conference championship game — assuming they can fend off a challenge from archrival Southern in the Bayou Classic. A win in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl that matches the champions of the SWAC and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and a 15th black college football title – the first since 2008 – certainly aren’t out of the question. CONTINUE READING
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Ireyon Keith's first career double-double, 17 points and 13 rebounds, rallied Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-67 women's basketball upset of NAIA No. 3 Our Lady of the Lake in the opening game of the LSUS Classic Friday. Keith's free throw with 4:12 remaining put the Gold Nuggets (3-0) ahead to stay, 63-62. The redshirt sophomore from Tickfaw, La., closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining. "Our defense was outstanding, and we were able to make some big shots down the stretch," XULA coach Bo Browder said. "We've been preaching work hard, work together, stay together and be positive at all times. It was a great win for our program." Keith, who also had four assists and three steals, was XULA's only double-figure scorer. Freshman guard Rosie Davis scored nine points — she made 3-of-6 second-half 3-pointers and made back-to-back 3s to tie the score at 62 — and Bianca Brown scored eight. Another freshman guard, Maya Trench, had six assists, eight rebounds and — for the third consecutive game — five steals. Keith, who did not start, entered the game with career averages of 3.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. She scored five times in double figures in 2014-15, then sat out last season because of an injury. "I just felt like I had to go out there and bring the energy," Keith said. "As long as we win, I'm good." Nakia Page scored a career-high 21 points, 17 in the first half, for OLLU (1-1). Three teammates scored nine points apiece. An 8-1 run in the final 3:11 gave the Gold Nuggets a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Saints opened the next period with a 16-2 run and led 38-30 at halftime. OLLU outshot XULA 38.7 to 31.7 percent from the floor. XULA outrebounded the Saints 64-49, and the Gold Nuggets grabbed their most rebounds in a game since January 2013. Browder, in his 18th season, earned his first victory against an opponent ranked among the top three nationally. It was the second straight year that the Gold Nuggets came from behind to defeat a top-10 OLLU team in this event. The Gold Nuggets will play LSU-Shreveport at 5 p.m. Saturday on the second and final day of this event. LSUS lost 49-46 to NAIA No. 9 Lyon after leading by 11 points through three quarters. BOX SCORE
JACKSON, Mississippi — Edric Denis scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half Friday to lead Jackson State to a 66-54 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana. It was the regular-season opener of the Tigers, who compete in NCAA Division I. XULA (1-2) designated the game as an exhibition in its records and statistics. Denis scored a basket and assisted on two others during a 14-0 first-half run that put the Tigers ahead to stay. The surge included back-to-back Yettra Specks 3-pointers during the 11th minute. After surrendering the first seven points, XULA rallied to take its only lead, 9-8, on a pair of Seth Jackson free throws at 12:15. Freshman guard Mike Williams led the Gold Rush with 18 points, including 3-of-5 3-pointers. Jackson scored 12 points and had five rebounds and two assists. Hakeem Simon led XULA with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Jalen David, who entered the game with a Gold Rush-leading 18.3 scoring average, was 1-of-5 from the floor and scored five points in 26 minutes. Denis also grabbed nine rebounds and led the Tigers with four assists and three steals. Chace Franklin scored 13 points, Specks had 10, and Janarius Middleton grabbed 10 rebounds. XULA trailed 33-20 at halftime and got no closer than eight points in the second half. The final eight-point deficit was at 62-54 on a pair of David free throws with 2:41 remaining. Jackson State outshot XULA 34.3 to 32.5 percent from the floor and had a 42-39 rebound advantage. The Tigers were plus-18 in turnovers, committing seven and gaining 25. XULA excelled at the line, making 23-of-27 free throws to Jackson State's 13-of-22. Gold Rush freshman Donovan Armstrong made all six of his free throws. XULA shot 19 percent from the floor in the first half but improved to 47.4 percent in the second half. Williams and Leland Alexander combined to make 6-of-7 shots after halftime. XULA will return to Mississippi Saturday to play NAIA No. 10 William Carey at 6 p.m. in Hattiesburg. The next Gold Rush home game will start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against city rival Loyola. Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold
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