Monday, November 21, 2016
Hughes: JSU Tigers were more competitive in 2016
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State’s season is over, and while there will be plenty of time to dissect the season, head coach Tony Hughes was already taking a comprehensive look back following his team’s 35-16 loss to Alcorn State Saturday.
Hughes addressed his team following the game and reflected on the season they had just completed.
“We just talked about how we’d been fighting all season, regardless of the circumstances or what the score has been,” Hughes said. “We stuck together as a team. I think we built common bond and camaraderie, and it’s the kind of thing we need to build on headed into next year.”
The Tigers (3-8, 3-6 in SWAC) didn’t improve on their 2015 record, but they didn’t fall off, either. They beat the same three teams – Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State – they beat the season before.
Taking a closer look at the numbers shows the Tigers were more competitive in some areas, and not so much in others.
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Coach Mike Davis Is Playing It Forward at TSU
What is the man who replaced Bobby Knight doing in Houston? Winning.
HOUSTON, Texas -- Mike Davis walks into Texas Southern University's Health and Physical Education Arena looking like a freshman on his way to an anthropology lecture. There’s a gray backpack slung over his right shoulder, headphones jammed into both ears. He’s wearing exceptionally baggy track pants and a billowy Nike T-shirt.
Aside from the gray stubble and middle-age spare tire, the 56-year-old looks exactly as he did 15 years ago, when he led the Indiana Hoosiers to the National Championship game just 18 months after replacing Bobby Knight, maybe the most iconic men’s basketball coach in NCAA history. His face is long and regal, his brow pronounced, his cheeks modestly freckled. He seems like a man who has learned a thing or two about this world.
It would be valid to question what in the hell Davis is doing at TSU, waiting for the women’s volleyball team to vacate the practice floor so his Tigers, in their off-brand black-and-gray jerseys, can loosen up. This dinged-up Third Ward gym is a long way from Bloomington’s Assembly Hall.
Davis, though, couldn’t be happier. He loves Houston, loves his bosses. His contract runs through 2020. He wants desperately to return to the Final Four, and to do so from this overlooked HBCU (historically black college or university), celebrating its 90th anniversary next year.
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HOUSTON, Texas -- Mike Davis walks into Texas Southern University's Health and Physical Education Arena looking like a freshman on his way to an anthropology lecture. There’s a gray backpack slung over his right shoulder, headphones jammed into both ears. He’s wearing exceptionally baggy track pants and a billowy Nike T-shirt.
Aside from the gray stubble and middle-age spare tire, the 56-year-old looks exactly as he did 15 years ago, when he led the Indiana Hoosiers to the National Championship game just 18 months after replacing Bobby Knight, maybe the most iconic men’s basketball coach in NCAA history. His face is long and regal, his brow pronounced, his cheeks modestly freckled. He seems like a man who has learned a thing or two about this world.
It would be valid to question what in the hell Davis is doing at TSU, waiting for the women’s volleyball team to vacate the practice floor so his Tigers, in their off-brand black-and-gray jerseys, can loosen up. This dinged-up Third Ward gym is a long way from Bloomington’s Assembly Hall.
Davis, though, couldn’t be happier. He loves Houston, loves his bosses. His contract runs through 2020. He wants desperately to return to the Final Four, and to do so from this overlooked HBCU (historically black college or university), celebrating its 90th anniversary next year.
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Grambling showed character in comeback win over TSU
GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Grambling's pristine 8-0 conference record hasn't come without challenges, but the Tigers met their stiffest one of the season over the weekend.And Grambling's coach didn't say a word.
Down 28-7 in the first half, Grambling (8-1, 8-0) pulled out a gutsy win over Texas Southern with 40 unanswered points while holding Texas Southern scoreless to extend the Tigers' Southwestern Athletic Conference win streak to 17 games.
"I get excited when I see their character and their passion, whether it's practice or whether it's a game," Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said Monday. "I didn't say anything. Our coaching staff addressed us being down 28-7. I didn't say anything. I just watched them."
Fobbs stood there silent. His players did all the work.
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NCAA FCS Playoffs: Richmond Spiders lost star quarterback, don't want to lose impact of star receivers
1st Round: North Carolina A&T at Richmond, 2 PM ET, Saturday, November 26, 2016, ESPN3RICHMOND, Virginia -- Richmond lost its star quarterback. The Spiders are now trying to come up with ways to avoid losing the impact of quality receivers who no longer will benefit from the passing of Kyle Lauletta or an experienced back-up.
Lauletta, UR's junior quarterback, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s 34-13 loss at William & Mary. Richmond (8-3) plays MEAC runner-up North Carolina A&T (9-2) Saturday at Robins Stadium in the first round of the FCS playoffs and identifying a starting quarterback is coach Danny Rocco’s first order of business.
He said Monday that the Spiders continue to work through that. A few weeks ago, an injury to Lauletta would have been followed by the insertion of fifth-year senior David Broadus, a back-up with experience and a part-time tailback. Broadus did not dress for UR’s last two games and Rocco twice explained Broadus’ absence by saying “coach’s decision,” without elaboration.
Monday, Rocco said it was “highly unlikely” Broadus would play Saturday. The coach again declined to say why Broadus is unavailable.
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Lincoln Blue Tigers Win The Battle of the LU's, 78-65
KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- Anthony Virdure scored a game-high 25 points, Jaylon Smith recorded his second double-double of the season and Richie Lewis added 17 points as the Lincoln men's basketball team beat Langston, 78-65, to win the Battle of the LU's on Saturday (Nov. 19).
Smith scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished four assists and tallied three steals for the Blue Tigers. Virdure pulled down five rebounds, dropped two dimes and had a steal while Lewis recorded three assists and a pair of steals.
Lincoln (3-1) shot .500 from the floor and .538 from three-point range in the first half en route to a 46-24 halftime lead. Langston (4-2) opened the second half with a 13-3 run to pull within 12 of the Blue Tigers, but that ended up being as close to a comeback as the Lions would muster. Tacourrus Mattox ended the run with a jumper, O'Shai Clark followed with a layup and Virdure later drained a three to put Lincoln back up by 24.
The Blue Tigers out-rebounded the Lions, 39-32, and finished with a slight 16-17 advantage in turnovers. Lincoln grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, which it converted into 21 second-chance points, and finished with a 38-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Clark was second on the squad with six rebounds to go with two points, a pair of assists, a block and three steals. Maurice Mason blocked two shots and had a steal while scoring five points and grabbing three boards. Mattox added five points to the Lincoln cause and had an assist.
Darrius Spencer closed out the scoring with four points and two boards. Alexander Nailes grabbed three rebounds, Rod Ollison pulled down five boards and Deionte Wilson finished with one rebound. Kevin Bolen and Chase Morfeld also represented the Blue Tigers on the court.
Up next for Lincoln is a road game at McKendree on Tuesday (Nov. 22). Tip-off for that game in Lebanon, Ill. is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.
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Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Smith scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished four assists and tallied three steals for the Blue Tigers. Virdure pulled down five rebounds, dropped two dimes and had a steal while Lewis recorded three assists and a pair of steals.
Lincoln (3-1) shot .500 from the floor and .538 from three-point range in the first half en route to a 46-24 halftime lead. Langston (4-2) opened the second half with a 13-3 run to pull within 12 of the Blue Tigers, but that ended up being as close to a comeback as the Lions would muster. Tacourrus Mattox ended the run with a jumper, O'Shai Clark followed with a layup and Virdure later drained a three to put Lincoln back up by 24.
The Blue Tigers out-rebounded the Lions, 39-32, and finished with a slight 16-17 advantage in turnovers. Lincoln grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, which it converted into 21 second-chance points, and finished with a 38-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Clark was second on the squad with six rebounds to go with two points, a pair of assists, a block and three steals. Maurice Mason blocked two shots and had a steal while scoring five points and grabbing three boards. Mattox added five points to the Lincoln cause and had an assist.
Darrius Spencer closed out the scoring with four points and two boards. Alexander Nailes grabbed three rebounds, Rod Ollison pulled down five boards and Deionte Wilson finished with one rebound. Kevin Bolen and Chase Morfeld also represented the Blue Tigers on the court.
Up next for Lincoln is a road game at McKendree on Tuesday (Nov. 22). Tip-off for that game in Lebanon, Ill. is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.
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Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Turkey Day Classic: Game still matters
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The promo commercial pops.
Just one of many signs of entertainer Steve Harvey's imprint on this year's Turkey Day Classic. The festivities are endless. I might have to check out the Hip-Hop concert.
Much love and respect to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, but I grew up on rap music. Like DJ Kid Capri says, "It ain't nothing like Hip-Hop music."
Still, there is something for everyone, but let's not forget what all these events are leading up to – the actual game.
Harvey is the headliner, no question. He's rejuvenated the Turkey Day Classic and created a week-long celebration, but alumni, family and friends are coming from miles around to watch Alabama State beat NCAA Division II school Miles College on Thanksgiving.
So ASU (3-7) better bring its 'A' game. Miles (5-4) has some talent, took Tuskegee down to wire before losing, 13-10, and will have had nearly three weeks to prepare for the Turkey Day Classic. ASU handled Miles pretty easily last season, will be favored to win again Thursday, but it won't be a cakewalk.
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McNair, Alcorn Braves overcame a lot to repeat as East champs
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Fred McNair’s first season as Alcorn State coach hasn’t gone as smoothly as he’d hoped, but he can’t complain about the results.The Braves (5-5, 5-4 in SWAC) clinched their third-straight SWAC East title Saturday with a 35-16 win over Jackson State in their regular-season finale in Lorman.
Alcorn State struggled to a .500 record a year after finishing 9-4 following a loss to North Carolina A&T under Jay Hopson, who left Alcorn for southern Miss following the season.
But quarterback Lenorris Footman, who accounted for 2,100 yards and 25 touchdowns last fall, played in just six games this season, as did tailback Arron Baker, who led the team in yards per carry.
Those are just two of the guys who have dealt with nagging injuries throughout the season.
“We’ve had a lot of starters out,” McNair said. “It’s been a struggle trying to get everyone healthy at the same time, and even going back to preseason camp, we had so much rain we couldn’t even get outside and practice. That put us behind from the start.”
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Ram Ramblings: WSSU left it all on the field on Saturday
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Will Johnson, a four-year starter for Winston-Salem State, stood on the field at Long Island Post flanked by his family who came from High Point to see what turned out to be his final college game.Johnson, an All-CIAA kicker and one of the best in school history, was in no hurry to get back on the team bus for the long 11-hour bus ride back to Winston-Salem.
For the roughly 300 WSSU fans who came to Saturday’s 48-41 loss to Long Island Post it didn’t seem like it was worth the trip late in the third quarter. The Rams trailed 48-24 and the Pioneers had started celebrating.
But what happened next was one of the more memorable moments for this year’s team, even if they couldn’t comeback all the way. The Ram scored 17 unanswered points to put a scare in the Long Island Post fans.
One of the fans who travelled from his home in White Plains, New York was Danny Woodward, who was in a wheelchair but wasn’t going to miss the game. Woodward, who is a 1953 graduate of WSSU, played football for the Rams in the 1950s.
Before the game many of the coaches and players shook his hand outside the locker room.
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Shaw Lady Bears Claims 2016 CIAA Volleyball Championship
PETERSBURG, Virginia – The Shaw University women's volleyball team claimed the 2016 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Championship after sweeping Southern Division foe Fayetteville State University, 3-0 on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Virginia State University Multipurpose Center.
Truly a Cinderella story, under the leadership of head volleyball coach DiShondra Goree, the Lady Bears whom was 1-19 overall in her first season. Goree guided the Lady Bears to a 21-11 overall record in her second season in addition to a runner-up finish in the 2015 CIAA Volleyball Championships. The Lady Bears claimed the title for the first time in 21 years and will automatically earn a berth in the NCAA Volleyball playoffs.
Sophomore and the tournament's Most Valuable Player - Kelly Murphy (Mukwonago, WI) registered a match-high and double-double 13 kills and 14 digs while freshman Amari Fletcher (Phoneix, AZ) tallied a career-high 12 kills. Sophomore and all-tournament player Michelle Olmeda-Gonzalez (San Juan, PR) recorded a match-high 26 assists while junior Tiffany Brooks (Efland, NC) collected 14 digs.
Sophomore Keveesha Wattley (St. Croix, VI) was also named to the 2016 CIAA Volleyball All-Tournament Team.
In the first set, Shaw established a 7-3 lead but the Lady Broncos capitalized on the Lady Bears miscues to tie the contest at 9-9. A hit to the Lady Bears back line gave FSU its first lead of the set. The contest would tie four more times before Shaw went a 9-3 run to lead 23-17. A kill by sophomore Morghan Robinson (Anaheim, CA) and a service ace for Murphy gave the Lady Bears the 25-18 set win.
Shaw trailed 6-1 early in the second set caused by the Lady Broncos hot hitting in conjunction with the Lady Bears errors. Shaw would rally from behind to tie the match at nine before both teams exchanged points in segments as the match would tie four more times. The Lady Bears used a 5-1 run to secure the 25-22 set win over FSU.
With a 2-0 match lead, the Lady Bears established a 5-2 stretch in the third frame. Focused and hungrier than ever, Shaw would lead by as many as nine points (18-9) before the Lady Broncos made a run to close gap to get within two points on a kill by Bojo Jada. A bad set from Shaw would give the Lady Bears a one-point lead (20-19) but a kill from freshman Tapanga Moten (New Orleans, LA) ignited a 4-0 run as the Lady Bears sealed the deal with a 25-19 set win and the 2016 CIAA Volleyball Championship.
Shaw will now await the 2016 NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Shaw University women's volleyball and its 11 varsity sport teams, please visit shawbears.com.
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SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION
Truly a Cinderella story, under the leadership of head volleyball coach DiShondra Goree, the Lady Bears whom was 1-19 overall in her first season. Goree guided the Lady Bears to a 21-11 overall record in her second season in addition to a runner-up finish in the 2015 CIAA Volleyball Championships. The Lady Bears claimed the title for the first time in 21 years and will automatically earn a berth in the NCAA Volleyball playoffs.
Sophomore and the tournament's Most Valuable Player - Kelly Murphy (Mukwonago, WI) registered a match-high and double-double 13 kills and 14 digs while freshman Amari Fletcher (Phoneix, AZ) tallied a career-high 12 kills. Sophomore and all-tournament player Michelle Olmeda-Gonzalez (San Juan, PR) recorded a match-high 26 assists while junior Tiffany Brooks (Efland, NC) collected 14 digs.
Sophomore Keveesha Wattley (St. Croix, VI) was also named to the 2016 CIAA Volleyball All-Tournament Team.
In the first set, Shaw established a 7-3 lead but the Lady Broncos capitalized on the Lady Bears miscues to tie the contest at 9-9. A hit to the Lady Bears back line gave FSU its first lead of the set. The contest would tie four more times before Shaw went a 9-3 run to lead 23-17. A kill by sophomore Morghan Robinson (Anaheim, CA) and a service ace for Murphy gave the Lady Bears the 25-18 set win.
Shaw trailed 6-1 early in the second set caused by the Lady Broncos hot hitting in conjunction with the Lady Bears errors. Shaw would rally from behind to tie the match at nine before both teams exchanged points in segments as the match would tie four more times. The Lady Bears used a 5-1 run to secure the 25-22 set win over FSU.
With a 2-0 match lead, the Lady Bears established a 5-2 stretch in the third frame. Focused and hungrier than ever, Shaw would lead by as many as nine points (18-9) before the Lady Broncos made a run to close gap to get within two points on a kill by Bojo Jada. A bad set from Shaw would give the Lady Bears a one-point lead (20-19) but a kill from freshman Tapanga Moten (New Orleans, LA) ignited a 4-0 run as the Lady Bears sealed the deal with a 25-19 set win and the 2016 CIAA Volleyball Championship.
Shaw will now await the 2016 NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Shaw University women's volleyball and its 11 varsity sport teams, please visit shawbears.com.
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SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION
Claflin Lady Panthers Cruise Pass Queen University of Charlotte for Homecoming
Orangeburg, South Carolina -- Joclyn Ramos scored a game-high 21 points as the Claflin University Lady Panthers defeated Queen University of Charlotte 79-51 for Homecoming in a women's basketball game Saturday at the Tullis Arena.
The victory improved the Lady Panthers early season record to 3-1.
The offensive production was Claflin largest this season. The Lady Panthers previously won by 14 points (52-38) over Elizabeth City University Nov. 16th.
Ramos, who scored 12 of her points in the second half, was nine-of 16 from the field with a three-pointer.
Claflin finished the game with 11 players reaching the scoring column. Carnique Marks, Dominique Williams and Deja Dickens added eight points each.
Junior Dionna Marcus led the Lady Panthers on the boards with nine rebounds.
Queens University, winless on the season at 0-4, was led by Oliverio McKell with 16 points.
The Lady Panthers came out of the gate on fire, scoring 10 of the game's first 12 points to lead 10-2 after three minutes of play. Claflin hit four-of-five shots to start the game. Dickens and Ramos highlighted the fast start with three-point baskets.
After Queens cut the lead to 12-6 at the 5:28 mark, Claflin reposed with five unanswered points for a 17-6 lead over the next three minutes. The Lady Panthers ended the first quarter of play with a 20-15 advantages.
The second quarter saw Claflin maintain a double-digit lead. It was Dominque Williams' three-pointer as time expired that provided the home team with a 42-26 halftime lead.
Defense also played an important role as the Lady Panthers forced 12 turnovers.
In the third quarter, Claflin held a 20 point-plus lead with the largest being 60-35 at 2:47 mark.
Claflin led 61-39 after three quarters of play.
The Lady Panthers outscored Queens 18-12 in the final quarter. Claflin produced its biggest lead of the game at 76-43 on a layup by junior Dionna Marcus with 5:12 left in the game.
Claflin will take to the road for two games, Livingstone College on Tuesday (Nov. 22) and Newberry Saturday (Nov. 26). The Lady Panthers return home to start Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play against Central State University (Nov. 29).
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CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Union, Lane to meet in basketball
JACKSON, Tennessee -- Lane College and Union University have diverse student bodies, but athletics is bringing the two educational institutions together Tuesday night as the Bulldogs will host the Dragons for basketball games.
The women will tip off at 6 p.m. The men are scheduled to tip two hours later.The presidents of the nearby universities — Union’s Dub Oliver and Lane’s Logan Hampton — have appeared together on a number of occasions discussing racial reconciliation and the role each of their universities can and do play in the culture of Jackson and West Tennessee.
That partnership will continue when the teams meet for a rare scheduled game between the programs. The men’s teams met last year during a Gulf South Conference-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showcase.
“We haven’t played much if at all in recent years,” said Union athletic director Tommy Sadler. “We’d play a home-and-home series every year in the 1970s, and Dr. Hampton opened the conversation between he and (Oliver) about the possibility of it happening again soon after they both came to Jackson.”
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Alabama State Back on top of the SWAC
JACKSON, Mississippi – The Alabama State women's volleyball team returned to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) by rallying back to defeat No. 2 seeded Texas Southern 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-14) at the Williams Assembly Center on the campus of Jackson State University to claim the SWAC championship for the third time in the past four seasons under head coach Penny Lucas-White.
The Lady Hornets (24-8 overall) have won 23 of their last 24 matches now including 12 consecutive matches and will now await the NCAA Selection Show next Sunday at 8 p.m. CT to discover who, when and where they'll be playing in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament that begins next Thursday, December 1.
SWAC Freshman of the Year Bayle Bennett played like a seasoned veteran, cool under pressure as she whacked a team-best 19 kills and junior Briana Dorsey added nine kills as ASU responded well after dropping the opening set.
Bennett was named SWAC Tournament MVP for her efforts.
Alabama State had to battle back from an uncharacteristic poor first set in which the team committed more errors (10) than kills (nine) for a negative .030 hitting percentage.
Dropping just their fourth total set in 21 matches against conference opponents, the Lady Hornets stormed back to take the next three sets with renewed vigor.
"They feed off my energy," said coach Lucas-White.
"Texas Southern jumped out a whole lot stronger than we had expected. We completely switched the lineup, flipped Ni'yesha [Brown] and Krysta [Medearis] with different sides and it worked. We put Asha [Daniels} back in and we settled down. It put Bayle [Bennett] up to swing and they had to contend with Bri [Dorsey] and Candace [Martin]."
Bennett was unmatched as she proved to be a problem for the Texas Southern (22-11) defense all season.
The freshman notched 12 kills in a four-set victory back on Oct. 3 against the Lady Tigers, followed that up with a 15-kill performance in a sweep at home on Nov. 5 and then saved her best for the most important match of the season by smacking a career-high 19 kills in Sunday's championship against them.
"There's only one player who plays the whole match," Lucas-White said.
"That alone speaks volume about her [Bennett's] experience because she's done that all year around. She passes excellent. It does not matter. She can pass anything. But when you talk about our stability, she's a big reason for it. The team is so fun and loose that they don't have a clue the history that they made here today."
Of course, Bennett had plenty of help.
Dorsey and Ni'yesha Brown had nine kills apiece and Krysta Medearis added another seven kills to the fold for the ASU attack.
Jamie Coleman, the lone player who has been a part of all four Alabama State teams that have reached the championship, recorded a game-high 26 digs.
It was her second highest total of the season.
"They wanted to do this for Jamie," Lucas-White said.
"The girls decided in the locker room that they wanted to send Jamie out on an excellent note. Jamie has nurtured and cultured and taught them. She has done everything for this team."
And, setters Justus Tuiolosega and Kori Kutsch each had 19 assists to get the offense in the right direction.
All three of the Lady Tigers' losses against conference opponents came against Alabama State.
The Lady Hornets are now one win shy of tying the all-time school record for most wins in single season.
The 2013 team won 25 games.
Coach Lucas-White's teams have now won 25, 20, 21 and 24 games in each of the past four seasons.
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FCS football: 24-team championship bracket selected: North Carolina A&T Aggies vs. Richmond Spiders
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — The field of 24 teams competing for the 2016 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced Sunday by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. The top eight national seeds will host winners from the first-round matchups.FCS Championship: Interactive bracket | Printable bracket
Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State (10-1) tops the bracket as the No. 1 seed after tying for the Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship. The Bison are making their seventh straight and overall appearance in the championship.
Eastern Washington (10-1) is the No. 2 seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Big Sky Conference. The Eagles, the 2010 champion, are making their 12th appearance in the championship.
Jacksonville State (10-1) is the No. 3 seed after capturing the Ohio Valley Conference automatic berth. The Gamecocks, 2016 national finalist, are making their fourth straight and seventh overall appearance in the championship.
James Madison (10-1) is the fourth seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes, the 2004 champion, are making their third straight and 13th overall appearance in the championship.
Winner of the Southland Conference automatic qualifying berth, Sam Houston State (11-0), the 2011 and 2012 national finalist will be the fifth seed. The Bearkats are making their sixth straight and 10th overall appearance in the championship.
The No. 6 seed is The Citadel (10-1). The Bulldogs earned the automatic qualifying berth from the Southern Conference and are making their second straight and fifth overall appearance in the championship.
North Dakota (9-2) earned an at-large berth in championship after finishing as co-champion of the Big Sky Conference. The Fighting Hawks are making their inaugural appearance in the championship and will be the seventh seed.
The eighth and final seeded team will be South Dakota State (8-3). The Jackrabbits will be making their fifth straight appearance and sixth overall after capturing the Missouri Valley Football Conference automatic berth, tying with North Dakota State.
The 2016 championship field consists of 10 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large qualifiers.
Automatic Qualifiers (10)
Conference School
Big Sky Eastern Washington (10-1)
Big South Charleston Southern (7-3)
Colonial Athletic Assocation James Madison (10-1)
Missouri Valley South Dakota State (8-3)
Northeast Saint Francis (Pa.) (7-4)
Ohio Valley Jacksonville State (10-1)
Patriot League Lehigh (9-2)
Pioneer San Diego (9-1)
Southern The Citadel (10-1)
Southland Sam Houston State (11-0)
At-Large (14)
Conference School
Big Sky Cal Poly (7-4)
Big Sky North Dakota (9-2)
Big Sky Weber State (7-4)
Colonial Athletic Association New Hampshire (7-4)
Colonial Athletic Association Richmond (8-3)
Colonial Athletic Association Villanova (8-3)
Mid-Eastern Athletic North Carolina A&T (9-2)
Missouri Valley Illinois State (6-5)
Missouri Valley North Dakota State (10-1)
Missouri Valley Youngstown State (8-3)
Southern Chattanooga (8-3)
Southern Samford (7-4)
Southern Wofford (8-3)
Southland Central Arkansas (9-2)
FIRST-ROUND GAMES
November 26 at San Luis Obispo, California, 7 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
San Diego (9-1) at Cal Poly (7-4)
November 26 at Villanova, Pennsylvania, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Sant Francis (Pa.) (7-4) at Villanova (8-3)
November 26 at Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Weber St. (7-4) at Chattanooga (8-3)
November 26 at Durham, New Hampshire, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Lehigh (9-2) at New Hampshire (7-4)
November 26 at Youngstown, Ohio, 5 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Samford (7-4) at Youngstown St. (8-3)
November 26 at Spartanburg, South Carolina, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Charleston So. (7-3) at Wofford (8-3)
November 26 at Richmond, Virginia, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
N.C. A&T (9-2) at Richmond (8-3)
November 26 at Conway, Arkansas, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Illinois St. (6-5) at Central Ark. (9-2)
SECOND-ROUND GAMES
December 3 at Fargo, North Dakota, 3:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
San Diego/Cal Poly winner at #1 North Dakota St. (10-1)
December 3 at Brookings, South Dakota, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Sant Francis (PA)/Villanova winner at #8 South Dakota St. (8-3)
December 3 at Huntsville, Texas, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Weber St./Chattanooga winner at #5 Sam Houston St. (11-0)
December 3 at Harrisonburg, Virginia, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Lehigh/New Hampshire winner at #4 James Madison (10-1)
December 3 at Jacksonville, Alabama, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Samford/Youngstown St. winner at #3 Jacksonville St. (10-1)
December 3 at Charleston, South Carolina, 6 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Charleston So./Wofford winner at #6 The Citadel (10-1)
December 3 at Grand Forks, North Dakota, 6 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
N.C. A&T/Richmond winner at #7 North Dakota (9-2)
December 3 at Cheney, Washington 4 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Illinois St./Central Ark. winner at #2 Eastern Wash. (10-1)
Television schedules and games times for all rounds of the 2016 championship will be updated at www.ncaa.com/fcs
NCAA MEDIA RELATIONS
St. Francis rallies each set to gain sweep of Nuggets
NEW ORLEANS — Sr. Francis (Ill.) rallied in all three sets Saturday to eliminate Xavier University of Louisiana 25-15, 25-21, 25-22 in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round.
The Saints (31-11) rallied from deficits of 14-11 in the first set, 17-12 in the second set and 18-16 in the third. The victory advanced them to the NAIA National Championship Final Site Nov. 29-Dec. 3 at Sioux City, Iowa.
JoAnna Nowicki had 10 kills and nine digs for St. Francis, and Jade Livesay-Groark and Brenne Perinar had eight kills apiece. Brooke Hartnell had 18 digs, Leah Alles had 16 digs, and Amber Casey had 24 assists.
Juliana Tomasoni led XULA (16-17) with her 14th double-double of the season, 10 kills and 14 digs. Terri Drake had nine kills, and Taylor Ducros had a career-high 17 digs. Two seniors played their final XULA match. Kayla Jones had six digs, and Ralitsa Slanchev had 12 assists and three digs.
St. Francis outhit the Gold Nuggets .233 to .111 and had advantages of 45-35 in kills, 4-2 in aces and 67-64 in digs.
XULA was eliminated in the opening round for the sixth consecutive season. It was the Gold Nuggets' sixth overall appearance at nationals. The Saturday match was the first time a XULA team in any sport hosted an NAIA tourney match on its campus.
St. Francis and 11 other Saturday winners will join 20 teams with byes in Sioux City.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Texas Southern Lady Tigers power past Texas State 66-53
SAN MARCOS. Texas – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern returned to their winning ways Sunday as the put away Texas State by a score of 66-53.
Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead the Lady Tigers, who are 2-1 to start the season for the first time since 2013.
Kaitlyn Palmer scored 15 points to TSU, followed by Breasia McElrath and Chynna Ewing, who scored nine points apiece. Ewing also handed out six assists for the Lady Tigers.
Toshua Leavitt scored 11 points to lead Texas State; the Bobcats fell to 2-2 with the loss.
The Lady Tigers pulled away from their hosts for good by scoring eight unanswered points between the 6:25 and 2:19 marks of the third quarter. After Leavitt knocked down a 3-pointer to cut TSU's lead to 39-38, Kennerson answered with a layup with time winding down on the shot clock to spark the run.
With a 51-42 advantage to start the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers continued to pull away from Texas State. A layup by Nycolle Smith gave TSU its largest lead of the game at 60-44 with 5:28 left to play in the fourth period, and Texas State was unable to get closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead the Lady Tigers, who are 2-1 to start the season for the first time since 2013.
Kaitlyn Palmer scored 15 points to TSU, followed by Breasia McElrath and Chynna Ewing, who scored nine points apiece. Ewing also handed out six assists for the Lady Tigers.
Toshua Leavitt scored 11 points to lead Texas State; the Bobcats fell to 2-2 with the loss.
The Lady Tigers pulled away from their hosts for good by scoring eight unanswered points between the 6:25 and 2:19 marks of the third quarter. After Leavitt knocked down a 3-pointer to cut TSU's lead to 39-38, Kennerson answered with a layup with time winding down on the shot clock to spark the run.
With a 51-42 advantage to start the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers continued to pull away from Texas State. A layup by Nycolle Smith gave TSU its largest lead of the game at 60-44 with 5:28 left to play in the fourth period, and Texas State was unable to get closer than nine points the rest of the way.
KEY POINTS:
- The Lady Tigers have won multiple games over schools with FBS-level football teams for the second year in a row. They accomplished the feat last year with wins at Rice and UTSA on either side of the Christmas break.
- Texas Southern improved to 7-6 all-time over Texas State. The Lady Tigers last win in the series came in Houston in 2009.
- The win at Texas State came 37 years and one day after TSU's last true road win at San Marcos; the Lady Tigers defeated what was then known as Southwest Texas State 103-74 on Nov. 19, 1979.
- The Lady Tigers shot better than 50 percent from the floor for the first time this season, making 27 out of their 53 field goal attempts (51 percent).
- TSU shot 50 percent from the 3-point circle in the game, going 5-of-10. Palmer was 3-of-5 from long range, while Kennerson was 2-of-5.
- Ewing made four out of her five field goal attempts, while McElrath was 4-for-6.
- TSU held Texas State to 36 percent shooting (22 of 61) from the floor.
NEXT GAME:
The Lady Tigers will play their next two games in the Caribbean as they take part in the Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan. They will face Puerto Rico–Bayamón on Wednesday, and then will face Presbyterian College (S.C.) on Friday. UPRB is affiliated with the NCAA's Division II, while Presbyterian is a Division I program that competes in the Big South Conference.
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Pollard leads Delaware State past Wagner Seahawks for first road win of the season
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| #22 NaJai Pollard Forward Height:5'11" Year:Sophomore Hometown:Richmond, Va. High School:Highland Springs H.S. |
Pollard led all players with 27 points and 13 rebounds to propel the Lady Hornets to their first win of the season, 61-49, over Wagner at the Spiro Sports Center this afternoon.
The reigning MEAC Rookie-of-the-Year and Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection was 13-for-17 from the field and three-of-five at the free throw line today. She also had a personal-best five blocks.
Pollard scored a career-high 38 points vs. Lehigh in DSU’s previous outing on Nov. 16.
In the last two games, Pollard has scored 65 points on 26-for-33 shooting from the floor (78.8%), and pulled down 25 rebounds.
She opened the season with a 29-point performance vs. Detroit Mercy on Nov. 11.
Today’s numbers raised Pollard’s season averages to 24.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She is shooting a blistering 61.9% from the field (39-for-63) this season.
Pollard has reached double-figures in points and rebounds in three of the Lady Hornets’ four games this season, and has 11 “double-doubles” in 33 collegiate games. She led the MEAC in scoring entering Sunday’s contest.
DSU trailed 14-11 after the first quarter of today’s contest, but outscored Wagner 18-11 in the second to hold a 29-25 lead at the break. Pollard had 17 points in the opening half.
The Lady Hornets scored the first eight points of the second half and opened up a 37-25 lead on a lay-up by Pollard with 7:58 left in the third quarter.
Aaliyah Davis hit a jumper in the closing minute of the third quarter to give Delaware State 51-41 lead entering the final stanza.
The Lady Hornets used a solid defensive effort to keep Wagner at bay in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks hit just three-of-13 fourth quarter shots (23.1%) , including misses on each of four three-point attempts.
Davis and Ivana Negro added eight points each for DSU.
Freshman Gennell Addison came off the bench to score six points and grab 11 rebounds, each a season-high, for the Lady Hornets.
DSU outrebounded Wagner 51-38 in the contest.
Tanasia Russell was high scorer for the Seahawks with 16 points, while teammate Julia McClure added 10. Wagner fell to 1-3 this season.
The Lady Hornets (1-3) remain in New York for their next contest on Tuesday at Hofstra. Game time is 7 p.m.
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DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Johnson: Long wait for what everyone knew was coming is finally over. Get ready for a great Bayou Classic
NEW ORLEANS -- Finally, we can get to the real show.
Watching Southern smother poor Mississippi Valley State might’ve been fun for some of y’all, but the week everyone has had circled on their calendar — or highlighted on their cell phone, or whatever everybody is doing these days — is finally here.
Undefeated Southern, undefeated Grambling, New Orleans, Bayou Classic.
Let’s do this.
We’ve all figured for some time now that Grambling and Southern would be undefeated in the Southwestern Athletic Conference by the time this week rolled around, setting up a Bayou Classic for the ages in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
It seemed to be a forgone conclusion that the Jaguars would not lose a game in SWAC play after they won their first two league games by a combined score of 123-37. They just needed to get past Alcorn, their own personal boogeyman, for that path to really look clear. Southern passed that road test with flying colors.
People knew Grambling was for real after its first game of the season. The Tigers went on the road and led Arizona 21-0 before losing their quarterback and, eventually, the game. Since then, Grambling has won eight straight games, each by no less than 19 points.
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Gold Rush snap streak, beat Magicians for homecoming
NEW ORLEANS — Senior guard Seth Jackson's career-high four 3-pointers and season-high 23 points led NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 77-74 men's basketball homecoming victory against LeMoyne-Owen Saturday.
The Gold Rush (2-4) ended a four-game losing streak.
Jalen David had his first XULA double-double, 18 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. Leland Alexander had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Mike Williams and Donovan Armstrong had nine points apiece. Armstrong's total was a career high.
Justin Street scored 18 points, Rashawn Brown 15, Daaron Maston 14 and Desmond Black 13 for LeMoyne-Owen (0-5), a member of NCAA Division II. Brown grabbed 12 rebounds.
XULA rallied from a 10-point deficit in the 11th minute to take a 40-35 halftime lead. The Magicians took three 1-point leads in the second half before Innocent Kukulu's basket put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 47-46, with 12:49 remaining.
David's two free throws with nine seconds remaining closed the scoring, then Brown missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
XULA outshot the Magicians 44.8 to 42 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-34. Both teams made eight 3-pointers.
XULA will travel to NCAA Division I Southeastern Louisiana for a 7 p.m. Monday game that the Gold Rush will count as an exhibition.
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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Nuggets lose to No. 25 Carroll (Mont.) in overtime
After the teams were tied at 46 at the end of regulation, Hashley opened overtime with a basket at 4:06. Her next basket, at 2:20, gave the Saints a 54-46 lead and capped an 8-0 surge.
Hashley was one of two Saints to produce double-doubles and reach 20 rebounds. Hashley had 19 points and 22 rebounds, and Hannah Dean had 11 points and 20 rebounds. Hashley's rebounds are the most by a XULA individual opponent since Realia Davis of Nicholls State grabbed the same amount in 1984.
Terriel Ross had a career-high 14 points and was the only double-figure scorer for the Gold Nuggets (3-4), who dropped their fourth in a row and their second in this event. Aliyah Bell scored nine points, all on first-half 3-pointers, and Essence Wells scored a career-best eight points. Kelsee Singleton grabbed a season-high nine rebounds.
XULA led 25-20 at halftime. Both teams led in the final five minutes of regulation, and Mikaela Olson's 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining sent the game into overtime.
Both teams shot less than 30 percent from the floor. Carroll (5-0) outrebounded the Nuggets 63-43 and made 24-of-31 free throws to the Nuggets' 2-of-10.
XULA, which lost Friday to NAIA No. 7 Lewis-Clark State, will play its third and final game of this event at 1:30 p.m. PST Sunday against unranked Rocky Mountain.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Howard University's Senior Named 2017 Rhodes Scholar
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| CAMERON D. CLARKE 2017 Rhodes Scholar Howard University |
Cameron D. Clarke has been selected as one of 32 students nationwide to receive the prestigious 2017 Rhodes Scholarship. Clarke is a double biology and community health major from Jersey City, New Jersey, living in Richmond, Virginia.
When he first enrolled at Howard University in the fall of 2013, Clarke arrived on campus as a high achiever with 42 advanced placement credits. Clarke’s mother played an instrumental role in encouraging him to attend the University.
“I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want to look like I was following my older brother to college, who is a 2016 graduate of Howard,” said Clarke. “My mom was the one who persuaded me to even visit. It wasn’t until I arrived on campus for the Weekend at Mecca that I realized how much black intelligence was on this campus. Some of the smartest, most dynamic people I had ever met were here in the same place.”
It was that moment that reassured Clarke that he was at the right place to take advantage of the numerous scholastic and research opportunities the University offered.
As a researcher at Howard University’s W. Montague Cobb Research Laboratory that maintains a national repository for African-American skeletal remains, Clarke has assisted in developing a database to combine information for the Cobb collection and the New York City African Burial Ground.
“Howard’s secret is that it has as many, if not more opportunities than a lot of Ivy League schools,” said Clarke. “You have a lot of professors within your departments who will allow you to conduct independent research and gain publication experience as an undergraduate, which is amazing for both graduate school applications and your own intellectual development.”
With multiple research experiences already to his credit, Clarke has participated in faculty-led research at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia through a Howard-National Science Foundation grant, in addition to studying at Columbia University’s School of Public Health. This summer, Clarke conducted research at the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Cancer Research, as an Amgen Scholar. Currently he works as an intern in the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, conducting science policy research for members and staff.
“This is definitely a great opportunity,” said Clarke. “I’m ecstatic to receive this honor, and to have the chance to study primary health care and public health.”
After graduating from Howard next summer, Clarke will undergo a two-year program at the University of Oxford in England. Ultimately, Clarke plans on going to medical school, working in public health policy and doing clinical research.
“We are extremely proud of Mr. Clarke's accomplishment,” said President Frederick. “Mr. Clarke's academic pursuits will lead to solutions in the broader society that are needed ever more so today. Cameron is the epitome of Howard University's gift of solutions to the world.”
The Rhodes Scholarship program is designed to provide special educational opportunities for future world leaders over a two-year period at Oxford University in England. Only 32 scholars (two from each of the 16 U.S. districts) are selected annually, based on scholastic achievement, leadership ability, strength of character and physical vigor among other qualifications. Once admitted to Oxford University, Rhodes Scholars have the opportunity to read for the Oxford B.A. in any of a number of subjects or may be admitted to read for a higher degree. In some cases, study is extended to a third year.
“We are excited to add Mr. Clarke to our Rhodes Scholarship-caliber of students. He will be our fourth Rhodes Scholar that now includes scholars such as Mark Alleyne (1986),
Carla Peterman (1999), and Marianna Ofosu (2003),” said President Frederick.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Big N.C. Central win puts Eagles in Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl
42-21 victory against N.C. A&T also gives them outright MEAC football title
DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central was a football team looking for some respect.
It got exactly that as the Eagles dominated North Carolina A&T, the top-ranked team among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), 42-21 for its first outright Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football title and a berth in the 2nd Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 in Atlanta.
NCCU will face the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion at the Georgia Dome for the HBCU national championship.
A jubilant overflow crowd of 15,715 at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium and a national TV audience on ESPN3 watched senior quarterback Malcolm Bell steer the Eagles to victory. Bell ran for a career-high 131 yards, including scoring runs of 15 and 41 yards and passing for 184 yards (10 of 18) and another score in the proudest moments of his record-setting career.
“We wanted an opportunity to have an outright championship and we finally worked hard enough to get one at the end of the year,” said NCCU head coach Jerry Mack, who has now beaten A&T (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) and claimed titles in his first three years, leading the Eagles (9-2, 8-0 MEAC). NCCU, who was ranked 20th in the FCS Coaches Poll, has won 15 straight MEAC games and boasts a 21-3 conference record during Mack’s tenure.
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View from the Hilltop: Episode 1, “Is this Howard's year to join the Big Dance?“
After two decades of futility, the basketball team has its best chance to return to the NCAA tournament
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Milan Brown walked through Howard University’s campus recently, the former Bison basketball star began experiencing a series of flashbacks.
Flashback No. 1: He remembered escorting his girlfriend, Tina, down the long steps beside Founders Library and into the space known on campus as The Valley. Leading her to the center of the yard, Brown, a 1993 Howard graduate, knelt and proposed to the then-doctoral student who’s now his wife.
Flashback No. 2: Brown, a current assistant coach at the College of Charleston, relived the struggles of a basketball team that never won more than nine games in each of his first two years. But the low point came in his junior year when the team started 1-16: Despite leading the team in assists and being the second-leading scorer, Brown was replaced in the starting lineup by a freshman.
Brown’s final flashback? It’s the feeling that comes over him as he walks onto the floor in Burr Gymnasium, the home of the Bison basketball team for the last 53 years, and looks up toward the north end of the gym.
In one corner, Brown sees his name and uniform number (25) hanging from the rafters. He was an All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) point guard as a senior, and still ranks second on the school’s all-time career list for assists. In the other corner is the blue banner that celebrates the team’s berth in the 1992 NCAA tournament after winning the conference championship.
CONTINUE READING
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Milan Brown walked through Howard University’s campus recently, the former Bison basketball star began experiencing a series of flashbacks.
Flashback No. 1: He remembered escorting his girlfriend, Tina, down the long steps beside Founders Library and into the space known on campus as The Valley. Leading her to the center of the yard, Brown, a 1993 Howard graduate, knelt and proposed to the then-doctoral student who’s now his wife.
Flashback No. 2: Brown, a current assistant coach at the College of Charleston, relived the struggles of a basketball team that never won more than nine games in each of his first two years. But the low point came in his junior year when the team started 1-16: Despite leading the team in assists and being the second-leading scorer, Brown was replaced in the starting lineup by a freshman.
Brown’s final flashback? It’s the feeling that comes over him as he walks onto the floor in Burr Gymnasium, the home of the Bison basketball team for the last 53 years, and looks up toward the north end of the gym.
In one corner, Brown sees his name and uniform number (25) hanging from the rafters. He was an All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) point guard as a senior, and still ranks second on the school’s all-time career list for assists. In the other corner is the blue banner that celebrates the team’s berth in the 1992 NCAA tournament after winning the conference championship.
CONTINUE READING
Tuskegee shocks Newberry in opening round of DII Playoffs
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| TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
However, shortly after the game kicked off, all of the lower seeds started to pull away in their games in Super Region 2 and the wind did not pick up until late in the second half. Throw that in with a pair of career days on offense and a pair of defensive highlights, and the Golden Tigers left Seltzer Field with a 35-33 victory over Newberry.
With the victory, the Golden Tigers will travel again next week, this time to sixth-seeded North Greenville - a team that upset third-seeded Florida Tech on the road Saturday.
For just the second time this season, Tuskegee (9-2) had a player rush for 100-plus yards in a contest when Kenny Gant put up 139 yards on just 18 carries. His total helped the Golden Tigers narrowly miss 200 for the day, as they finished with 195 yards on the day as a team. His biggest run of the day from scrimmage came in the third quarter after Newberry had pulled to within a single point at 21-20. Gant took the hand off, got past the first wave of defenders at the line of scrimmage, and outran everyone else to the end zone to give the Golden Tigers a 28-20 lead with 7:16 remaining in third quarter.
Sophomore receiver Javarrius Cheatham also had a career day on the receiving end of passes from Kevin Lacey and Jamarcus Ezell. The sophomore finished the day with four catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns, equaling his season total in just one game. His first touchdown came courtesy of a 27-yard slant from Ezell in which he outran his defenders to the end zone with 9:32 remaining in the half. His second touchdown came on an 18-yard pass from Lacey that gave Tuskegee the lead for good at 14-10 in the first half, and his final touchdown came in the fourth quarter when he made a diving catch on third down from seven yards out.
Let's not forget a pair of defensive highlights that led to scores or sealed the victory for Tuskegee.
Freshman defensive lineman Kali James picked off his first pass in his career in which he read the screen perfectly and returned it to the two-yard line which led to a Jerome Lewis touchdown. Junior safety Jonah McCutcheon made a pair of big plays for the Golden Tigers as he intercepted a pass with just 76 seconds remaining. But it was the play in the back of the end zone where he jumped over the taller Newberry receiver to knock the two-point conversion and allowed Tuskegee to hold a 28-26 lead in the fourth quarter.
Not to be lost was the play of Lacey who finished with 188 yards passing with no interceptions and just four incomplete passes, and the play of Desmond Reece who finished with eight catches for 99 yards. Defensively, Osband Thompson and Quavon Taylor combined for 21 stops on the day.
For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram @MyTUAthletics, and like us on Facebook.
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TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Nuggets lose to NAIA's No. 7 team in Vegas opener
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Natahnee Spencer scored 20 points and made five 3-pointers to lead NAIA No. 7 Lewis-Clark State to a 68-49 women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the last of three Friday games at the Las Vegas Shootout.The Warriors (7-0) outscored the Gold Nuggets (3-3) in every quarter but dominated most in the second period. LCSC won that quarter 24-11 and outscored XULA 13-0 in the final four minutes to take a 39-24 halftime lead.
Brittany Tackett had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, Megan Risinger grabbed 11 rebounds, and Caelyn Orlandi — an NAIA second-team All-American last season — had eight assists and three steals.
Freshman Maya Trench scored a career-high 11 points for XULA. The 5-foot-2 point guard also grabbed a team-best six rebounds — twice as many as the Gold Nuggets' post players combined — and had six assists and three steals. Mikayla Bates scored a career-high-tying 10 points, and Terriel Ross scored nine.
XULA dropped its third in a row. The Gold Nuggets' points and .268 field-goal percentage were season lows, and their minus-22 rebound margin was their worst of the last 11 seasons. LCSC won the boards 59-37. There was a positive statistic for the Nuggets — their 14 turnovers were a season low.
LCSC shot 36.8 percent from the floor and made 18-of-33 free throws to XULA's 6-of-9.
All three Frontier Conference teams won Friday. Rocky Mountain defeated Northwest Christian 70-52, and 25th-ranked Carroll (Mont.) beat Arizona Christian 70-63. XULA will play Carroll at 5 p.m. PST Saturday.
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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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