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SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Erik Raeburn barely had time to process the consequences. Cantrell Frazier scored an overtime, game-winning touchdown against Bethune-Cookman and the Savannah State Tigers began celebrating.
And suddenly, the Tigers baffled first-year coach was wearing the contents of a Gatorade bucket.
“I’m thinking I must be the only coach in America with a 1-2 record getting Gatorade dumped on him,” said Raeburn about the first of three SSU victories this football season.
It doesn’t sound like much, particularly to a former player and assistant coach who began his career at Division III powerhouse Mount Union, but a three-win season represented the number of victories the Tigers had in the previous four seasons combined.
For Savannah State fans, 3-7 wasn’t just Gatorade-bath worthy, it signaled a possible renaissance of a football program for years wallowed in an undercurrent of defeat.
And Raeburn, who had been a part of four national championships and a 54-game winning streak at Mount Union, learned a little something too.
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Since its inception The 100 Black Men of Atlanta has graduated 100% of its students from high school through Project Success; 85% of them go on to earn a four year college degree. Project Success mentors teenagers primarily in the African-American community. The 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl and 100 Uplift Gospel Concert is the primary fundraiser for Project Success.
The 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is on Saturday, December 17 at Noon at The Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta. The Celebration Bowl is preceded by The 100 Uplift Atlanta Gospel Concert on Friday, December 16 at 7PM at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, 400 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30312. Ebenezer is the church that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pastored and is the location of his tomb and museum. The 100 Uplift Atlanta Gospel Concert will showcase eight choirs from metro Atlanta and honor eight Pastors for work in ministry. The concert will be taped for TV and air in Atlanta in 1ST quarter 2017. The concert tickets are $40 and include a ticket to the football game on Saturday. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s Project Success.
Other events to occur as a part of The 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl include The 100 Scholars Robotics Alliance Showcase and Invitational sponsored by Georgia Power on Friday December 16th at 7 AM at Atlanta Metropolitan College. They will celebrate the new FIRST LEGO League teams, Student Accomplishments of 100 Scholars Robotics Alliance and Inspirational Community Leaders who have made a tremendous difference in under-served communities. The Leadership Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, December 17 will be held at 8AM at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center.
The 2016 Air Force Celebration Bowl serves as the black college football championship game. The North Carolina Central University Eagles from Durham, North Carolina will represent the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will be the competing team. That winner will be determined on Saturday, December 3, 2016.
The 100 Uplift Atlanta Gospel Concert ticket is $40 and includes a ticket to the football game on Saturday. Concert only tickets can be purchased for $25. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s Project Success. Tickets can be purchased online at http://100blackmen-atlanta.org.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern University Men’s Basketball team will look to secure its second win of the season Twhen the Jaguars face Paul Quinn College Tuesday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Tuesday's game is dubbed Selfie Night with free admission for all kids. At the conclusion of the game, kids will have an opportunity to take a selfie photo with members of the men's basketball team.
The Jaguars are led by senior forward Shawn Prudhomme, who is averaging 18.5 ppg and led the team with 17 points in a 96-63 victory over the Tigers last year. The senior forward currently ranks second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring and three point baskets made after four games in the 2016-2017 season.
“Shawn has come a long ways, as he proved last year he is a very capable scorer, who brings us a lot of energy," Banks said. "He has grown in his time here at Southern and does whatever we ask of him.”
Banks referred him as his go to guy off the bench to give his team a spark offensively and defensively. Prudhomme known as the guy to come in the game to to either guard a big guard or a big man defensively and to knock down big shots on the offensive side of the court.
Prudhomme joins the Jaguars starting rotation along with senior guard Tre’Lun Banks - who is second on the team in scoring 14.0 ppg contest - junior guard Rashad Andrews, junior forward Jared Sam, and redshirt Junior forward Patrick Smith, who is in his first season after transfer from Southern University at Shreveport.
The defending SWAC tournament champions, who only lost one home game last season, look to defend home court Tuesday night before heading to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M Saturday, Dec. 3rd for a 3 p.m. matinee.
Fans are urged to keep current with the Men's Basketball program by following the Jaguars on Twitter at @JaguarHoops.
For more information on Southern University Athletics log on to Gojagsports.com for the latest news, scores, and updates. Fans can also access the latest information on SU Athletics through social media by following @SoutherUsports on Twitter and Instagram or liking the Facebook page at Facebook.com/Southern Jaguars.
Courtesy: Willie Scott SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – UNC Greensboro hit the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team with an onslaught of full-court pressure, 3-point shooting and fast break layups over the first 12 minutes of Tuesday night’s battle of Greensboro at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Aggies eventually steadied themselves but the damage was done in an 86-66 loss to the Spartans. UNCG was able to snap a four-game losing streak to their Division I crosstown rivals with the win. Junior forward Davaris McGowens secured his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 9-for-13 shooting to lead N.C. A&T (1-5). Freshman and Greensboro native Raymon Pratt added 15 points.
“They set up a 1-2-2 full-court press in the first half that really bothered us,” said N.C. A&T coach Jay Joyner. “We had 13 turnovers in that first half, and we only had four in the second. Go into the game one of the keys was taking care of the basketball, and we didn’t do that.”
There was a combination of the things that didn’t go well for the Aggies early. N.C. A&T had seven turnovers in the first eight minutes of the game. In the meantime, the Spartans (5-2) hit eight out of their first 11 shots including four 3-pointers to take a 24-6 lead. The Spartans lead grew to 50-18 at halftime.
“We had six or seven point-blank shots at the rim in that first half and didn’t finish. It was just a tough night for us,” said Joyner. “The guys are bothered by the way we played tonight and rightfully so. But we need to stay positive, weather the storm and continue to get better.”
From the moment the Aggies fell down by 18 early, they played the Spartans evenly. They shot 56.7 percent in the second half after shooting 25.8 percent in the first half. After going just 2-for-11 from the line in the first half, the Aggies were 12-for-14 in the second. “I commend the guys for coming out in the second half and despite being down that many, continuing to fight,” said Joyner.
Francis Alonso finished with 21 points on 5-for-8 shooting from 3-point range, while Diante Baldwin finished with 20 points and 3-for-5 shooting from three. The Spartans knocked down 13 threes on the night. N.C. A&T will hope to use a more productive second half into their next game against a good North Dakota State team that is 5-3 on the season. The Aggies face the Bison 7 p.m., Thursday at Corbett Sports Center. BOX SCORE NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
GREENVILLE, North Carolina – The offensive struggles continued for the Hampton University men's basketball team Tuesday night in the Minges Coliseum, as the Pirates fell 68-48 to East Carolina.
Hampton fell to 1-6 on the season.
Jermaine Marrow had 12 points and five assists to lead the Pirates, despite going 5-for-23 from the floor, while Trevond Barnes added a career-high 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting in the loss. AJ Astroth grabbed a team- and season-high 12 rebounds.
Hampton shot just 28.1 percent (18-for-64) from the floor and went 3-for-22 from 3-point range. The Pirates also struggled at the free throw line, going 9-for-20.
East Carolina scored the game's first seven points, but Hampton responded with a 10-2 run to take a 10-9 lead after Charles Wilson-Fisher sank a layup with 11:19 left in the first half. A Barnes trey at the 9:22 mark expanded the run to 15-5 and gave Hampton a 15-12 lead.
But ECU answered with a 10-4 run, taking a 22-19 lead at the 5:37 mark on a Jeremy Sheppard jumper. Hampton tied the score three times from there, including 26-26 with 3:39 left in the half after Marrow hit a jumper.
ECU ended the half on a 10-2 run to take a 36-28 lead into the half.
Hampton used a 7-2 run to open the second half to cut the lead to 38-35 following a Barnes jumper, before the homestanding Pirates used a 14-6 run to take a 52-41 lead on an Andre Washington dunk. ECU maintained control from there, steadily increasing its lead as the game wound down.
Clarence Williams gave ECU a 64-45 lead with a trey with 2:21 remaining.
Hampton shot just 18.8 percent from the floor in the second half.
ECU (6-2) shot 51.0 percent (25-for-49) from the floor – including a 58.3 percent clip in the second half – while hitting three of 12 3-pointers and 15 of 22 free throws. The Pirates also outrebounded Hampton 44-36.
Tyson led ECU with 17 points.
The Pirates will return to the HU Convocation Center on Saturday to take on William & Mary at 4 p.m. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State men’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling by an 83-59 final score on the road at Vanderbilt on Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium. Ken’Darrius Hamilton (Montgomery, Ala.) led TSU’s offense with a career-high 19 points on the night.
TSU (6-1) dug itself an early deficit as Vanderbilt (4-3) built a 21-point halftime edge. For the Tigers, which received votes in the Associated Press Top 25, Darreon Reddick (Belleville, Ill.) also turned in a double-digit scoring effort with 12 points.
Hamilton led the TSU offense with seven points in the first seven minutes as the Commodores jumped out to a 17-11 advantage. The Tigers found themselves down by 10, trailing 24-14 with eight minutes to play before halftime.
The Tigers cut the Vanderbilt lead down to seven on a Reddick jumper at 29-22 with just under five minutes to play before halftime.
The Commodores ended the half on a 14-0 run to take a 43-22 halftime lead. Vanderbilt shot 61 percent (14-for-23) from the field in the first half.
The scoring went back and forth in the second half as the Commodores maintained a 20-point lead for most of the final 20 minutes.
TSU forced 19 turnovers in the game, leading to 23 points off turnovers. The Tigers finished 20-for-49 (40.8 percent) from the field, while Vanderbilt finished with 25-for-46 (54.3 percent) shooting.
Vanderbilt was led by 22 points form Matthew Fisher-Davis and 13 from Jeff Roberson.
Next on the schedule, TSU plays at Lipscomb on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. in an ESPN3 broadcast.
GAME NOTES: Tennessee State falls to 0-9 in the all-time series versus Vanderbilt… The Tigers are now 1-36 against teams that currently make up the SEC… Tennessee State received two votes in the most recent Associated Press Top 25… TSU is 5-1 away from home this season.
TSU Head Coach Dana Ford
“Obviously we have to play a lot better. A couple of disappointments tonight, obviously our play on the glass; I thought we would be a little more competitive on the glass. We just have to shake this one off and move on to the next one.”
- On Performance versus Vanderbilt
“The reason we were in foul trouble, was because they were the aggressor. At times the play got a little big for us and sometimes when that happens you can become a little passive and I think that led to some fouls.”
- On Teams Early Foul Trouble
“This is a high level game for us, to come over and play a power-five team who is bigger, stronger, faster and very well coached. This is a really good test for us and tells us who we really are, we are a very good Ohio Valley team and this is a good teaching moment for us.”
- On the Advantages to Playing Vanderbilt
“We needed to pay more attention to detail, which we did a very poor job of tonight. But we have to keep it in perspective. Our biggest fear coming into tonight was their size. And that was the deciding factor. We have never been outrebounded by 19, like it happened tonight. Some of that was size, but some was also the lack of attention to detail. And those are the things we will try to fix, starting tomorrow.”
- On Keys to Team’s Needs
QUEENS, New York -- Despite traveling nearly 5,700 miles for four games in nine days, the Delaware State men’s basketball team found the energy to stun St. John’s 79-72 in a nationally-televised contest (Fox Sports 2) at Carnesecca Arena this evening. The win marked the Hornets’ first –ever against a Big East team and second vs. a major conference opponent in three seasons, rivaling their 72-65 victory over Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Nov. 26, 2014.
Delaware State (2-5) led for nearly 35 minutes in the contest. The Hornets held a 38-34 lead at the half and outscored the Red Storm 41-38 in the final 20 minutes.
DSU took its biggest lead, 63-48, when Devin Morgan hit a three-pointer with 9:56 left to play.
Morgan led all players with a season-high 26 points on nine-of-13 shooting from the field, including three-of-six on three-point shots.
DeVaughn Mallory added a career-high 16 points for the Hornets. Mallory was eight-for-13 from the floor, and tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
Kavon Waller continued his torrid shooting this season, hitting six-of-nine shots from the field and three-of-six on three-point attempts to contribute 15 points to the win.
Waller raised his overall shooting percentage to .564 (31-55) and a MEAC-best .606 on three-point shots (20-33) to rank in the top 10 among all Division I players. He has reached double figures in scoring in six of the Hornets’ seven games this season.
The Hornets shot 64% in the first half (16-25) and 53.3% in the second (16-30) to post a season-high 58.2% shooting percentage for the game.
Ahmed Bashir led four St. John’s players in double-figures with 19 points.
The Red Storm dropped its fifth straight game to fall to 2-5 this season. Chris Mullen, an All-America at St. John’s and a former NBA star, is in his second season as head coach of the Red Storm.
The Hornets return to action on Friday at state rival Delaware. The First State Rivalry contest begins at 7 p.m. at UD’s Carpenter Center.
Delaware State has won its last two road games against the Hens (2012, 2014).
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Bengals have finally filled the vacant spot on their practice squad, which has been open for weeks following the Patriots signing tight end Matt Lengel to their 53-man roster.
The spot now belongs to rookie cornerback Tony McRae who spent the summer with the Bengals before making the practice squad when it was first constructed. But, McRae didn’t last long on the Bengals’ initial practice squad roster as he was released on September 16, just days after the practice squad was originally formed. His release from the practice squad made room for Trey Hopkins, who remains with the team in that capacity. Hopkins originally made the 53-man roster when the Bengals were dealing with injuries to second year tackles Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi.
McRae was originally signed by the Bengals as a rookie free agent in August (about 10 days after the start of training camp). The former North Carolina A&T product went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft.
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University is a school steeped in history, with its Louisiana roots stretching as far back as the late 1800s. It was founded by a group of African-American farmers who wanted to operate a school in the northern part of the state to educate other African-Americans.
Known for a rich musical and cultural history, highlighted by its World Famed Tiger Marching Band and Grammy-winning alumna Eryka Badu, the university also sports a strong history in athletics. It’s a history highlighted by Eddie Robinson, who retired as the winningest coach in NCAA football history, and Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams.
However in recent years, the Grambling State basketball program has fallen on hard times, with only one season above .500 since 2005 and only one 20-win season in program history, dating back to 1979-80. But much like the farmers who founded Grambling, the school’s current administration has planted the seeds that they hope will help the basketball program finally blossom.
The first step was to hire current head coach Shawn Walker, who had the arduous task of rebuilding the Grambling program in the summer of 2014 amid APR sanctions.
Out of 351 teams in Division I, Walker says, the Tigers may have been the worst. CONTINUE READING
ETTRICK, Virginia -- The Virginia State University Women's Basketball Team defeated the Fire Birds of University of the District of Columbia on November 28, with a 55-51 victory. The win improved the Trojans to a 5-1 overall record on the season.
"We had to pick up our energy and support each other as a team," shared junior guard Endia McKinney (Norfolk, VA). "It was about making better choices and communicating, that's what we relied on."
McKinney pioneered the Trojans offensively and led the charge defensively with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Taylor Daniels (Hampton, VA) followed up with 11 points and senior guard Nandi Taylor (Mt. Morris, Michigan) rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points.
The Fire Birds were led offensively by Shantrel Oliver who recorded 17 points. NyAsia Anderson followed up with 13 points and led UDC defensively with 13 rebounds.
UDC made a push in the second quarter to erase a 7 point deficit outscoring the Trojans, 15-7, to take a 1 point 24-23 lead into halftime.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter UDC secured their largest lead of the night with VSU trailing by 12.
VSU charged a timeout down 32-23. Shortly after, McKinney put an end to the Trojans scoring drought with her third basket of the night from 3 point range.
Two possessions later, senior guard Joy Hickman (Wilmington, DE) knocked down a shot from behind the arc to cut the UDC lead to 6. Moments later, Daniels went up to score a quick basket, gets the call, and completes the 3 point play to make it a 1 point game.
The Trojans defensive adjustments allowed them to produce offensively, scoring 14 points off of the Fire Birds 16 turnovers. UDC ended the night with only 4 points off of the Trojans 7 turnovers.
VSU worked hard until the final seconds to secure the 55-51 win.
The Trojans shot 28.1 percent (16-57) from the field, 19.4 percent (6-31) from behind the arc, and 70.8 percent (17-24) at the line, while the Fire Birds shot 34 percent (17-50) from the field, 24 percent (6-25) from behind the arc, and 73.3 percent (11-15) at the line.
Traveling to Salem, WV on December 9-10, the Trojans will be taking the court for the Joe Manchin Classic.
VSU is working hard to prepare for the 2017 CIAA Basketball Tournament on February 20-25 in Charlotte. NC.
For more information on VSU Trojans women's basketball, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030. BOX SCORE
RICHMOND, Virginia -- Virginia Union University's Brittany Jackson poured in 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Lady Walker scored 15 points and had 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double, and the Panthers rolled in the third quarter for a 90-68 win over Shepherd on Monday in Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.
The Panthers, ranked No. 9 in the WBCA poll, are 4-0 at home and have scored 90 or more points in all but one game this season.
"We don't have Kiana Johnson, but as a team, I think we're a better team this year," said Union coach AnnMarie Gilbert. "A lot more scoring pieces, a lot more people to rebound and slash, and on any given night, it could be a different kid (to lead in scoring)."
The Rams (2-4) shot 52.9 percent from the field and led Virginia Union 19-18 after the first quarter. Union held Shepherd to 4-of-15 shooting and scored 20 themselves in the second quarter for a 38-35 lead at halftime.
The Panthers (5-0) pulled away in the third quarter. They outscored Shepherd 27-10, holding the Rams to 4-of-17 shooting, as they made 11 of their 17 field goal attempts. They took a 20-point lead into the fourth.
"The kids really have pride," Gilbert said. "They were like, 'Coach, we're going to get this thing turned around. It's a little too close,' at halftime."
Gilbert said the team still is trying to find an identity defensively. She would be happy if they can put together four quarters like Monday's third.
"Offensively, 80 to 100 points, that's always within reach, but really getting stops, consecutive stops, we haven't been able to do that, and that was really our focus," Gilbert said.
"Pound the glass, every rebound, get it, outlet it quickly, and let's go the other way. Lady Panther basketball, and I saw it in that third quarter."
Virginia Union outrebounded Shepherd 58-35 in the game. They scored 54 points in the paint and 24 second-chance points.
Their defense and ability to control the boards led to 37 fast-break points, many coming from Jackson.
The 5-9 junior guard plays on the block in Union's 2-3 zone, but is explosive running the floor and can finish through contact. She also knocked down midrange jump shots and hit three 3-pointers.
She was 3 for 3 from the free throw line and grabbed eight rebounds and recorded three assists.
It's her first year at Virginia Union after having played previously for Georgia Tech and ASA College.
"She's been finding her way, but I think this kid is, if not the best guard in the CIAA, she's one of the best," Gilbert said.
Union had the best guard in the CIAA last year in Johnson, who wore No. 3.
This year, if only by coincidence, Jackson is No. 3.
"Three was the only small number available," Gilbert said, "but I think she's going to represent it very well."
HEAD COACH JAY BUTLER VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
RICHMOND, Virginia -- Virginia Union University's Ray Anderson scored 25 points as VUU defeated Clayton State University 71-62 on Monday, November 28, in Morrow, Ga.
The win was Head Coach Jay Butler's 200th career win at the college level. Butler had won 177 games as head coach of the women's basketball team at the University of the District of Columbia from 2003-15.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Off to its first 6-0 start since moving to Division I prior to the 1977-78 season, the Tennessee State men’s basketball team heads across town to battle Southeastern Conference opponent Vanderbilt on Tuesday night. TSU is looking for its first-ever win over Vanderbilt and the program’s second victory over an SEC opponent.
NATIONAL HEADLINES: TSU is receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, released on Monday, Nov. 28. The Tigers also received a vote in the Nov. 21 AP Top 25.
RV/NR - TENNESSEE STATE (6-0) at VANDERBILT (3-3)Tuesday, Nov. 29 | 7 p.m. CT Memorial Gymnasium | Nashville, Tenn.
LAST TIME OUT: Six players scored in double figures led by 18 points for Delano Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.) in a 96-64 win over Reinhardt in TSU’s home opener on Nov. 26. Tahjere McCall (Philadelphia, Pa.) registered his second career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, while Jordan Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.) went over 1,000 career points at the Division I level. ABOUT VANDERBILT: The Commodores are 3-3 in the first year of the Bryce Drew era with early season victories over Belmont, Norfolk State and Santa Clara. Selected sixth in the SEC Preseason Media Poll, Vanderbilt is led by Preseason All-SEC selection Luke Kornet and his 14.3 points per game to go with Matthew Fisher-Davis’ 14.2 points per game. Vanderbilt earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament a year ago. ALL-TIME SERIES: Tennessee State has gone 0-8 versus Vanderbilt in the all-time series, which began on Dec. 8, 1973. The Commodores earned a 78-46 victory over TSU in the last meeting on Nov. 23, 2014 in Head Coach Dana Ford’s first season. Darreon Reddick (Belleville, Ill.), who scored seven points in 37 minutes of action in the 2014 meeting, is the only player on TSU’s current roster who appeared in the game. VERSUS THE SEC: TSU’s all-time record versus teams currently in the SEC is 1-35. The record includes a loss to South Carolina when the Gamecocks played in the Metro Conference and a loss to Missouri as a member of the Big 12. TSU’s lone win over an SEC opponent was on Nov. 20, 2011 in a 64-63 victory at South Carolina.
UP NEXT: TSU stays in Nashville for another road game at Lipscomb on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m.
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The UNCG men’s basketball team continues its six-game home stretch Tuesday night as the Spartans host crosstown rival North Carolina A&T for the Battle of the Boro at the Greensboro Coliseum. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3 and the ESPN App with Scott Pryzwansky and Darryl Kosciak on the call. Additionally, Parker Southern will produce and audio broadcast on TuneIn and online at www.uncgspartans.com/radio.
The first 1,000 UNCG students will receive a FREE Greensboro t-shirt and local group Citizen Shade will perform at halftime.
UNCG enters Tuesday’s game with a 4-2 overall record and has won three straight games for the first time in non-conference play since 2014-15. The Spartans’ 4-2 record through the first six games of the season is their best start since the 2004-05 campaign when that team opened with a 4-2 record on its way to a 7-2 record through the first nine games. The 2004-05 team finished the year with an 18-12 record, the fifth most wins in program history at the NCAA Division I level. The Spartans’ best finish as an NCAA Division I program came in the 1994-95 season when they opened with a 12-2 record on their way to a program-best 23-6 mark.
UNCG is averaging 66.0 points per game while holding opponents to a league-low 58.0 points per game. The Spartans are shooting 42.8 percent (152-of-355) from the field and 35 percent (55-of-157) from distance through six games. UNCG is also out-rebounding opponents by a 34.5-27.7 margin, including 14.3 offensive rebounds per game.
Six different Spartans are averaging at least 7.0 points per game this season with three Spartans in double figures. Senior guard Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) leads the team and ranks 15th in the Southern Conference in scoring at 12.3 points per game. Baldwin ranks fourth on the team on the glass at 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the team with 23 assists and 15 steals. In fact, his 15 steals leads the entire SoCon at 2.5 thefts per game. Sophomore guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) is second on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game. Alonso has hit 38.5 percent (15-of-39) from 3-point land this year and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the free throw line.
Junior forward Marvin Smith (Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) rounds out the Spartans in double figures at 10.5 points per game. Smith leads the team on the glass at 5.8 rebounds per game, including a team-high 17 offensive rebounds. He is also shooting 32.4 percent (12-of-37) from distance. Senior center R.J. White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) is fourth on the team in scoring at 7.5 points per game while adding 5.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Demetrius Troy (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) adds 7.4 points per game while junior forward Jordy Kuiper (Groningen, Netherlands/Canaries Basketball Academy) chips in 7.3 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Tuesday’s game marks the 18th meeting all-time between UNCG and N.C. A&T. Additionally, it is the 15th time the two teams have played at the Greensboro Coliseum, but just the third time since it became the home court of the Spartans. UNCG trails the all-time series by an 11-6 margin to the Aggies. N.C. A&T opened the series by winning the first five meetings from 1990-94 before UNCG posted wins in six out eight meetings from 1995-2002. N.C. A&T has won the last four meetings from 2010-15, including a 77-68 victory at the Corbett Center last year. The Aggies jumped out to a 20-point first half lead (44-24) and held off the Spartans’ second half charge. UNCG connected on just 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field while N.C. A&T connected on 55.3 percent (21-of-38) from the field. The Aggies also went to the free throw line 38 times in that victory. Alonso scored a game-high 25 points in the loss, courtesy of seven 3-pointers while White added 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field. Bruce Beckford led the Aggies with 21 points while Sam Hunt chipped in 20 points on the strength of 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point land.
North Carolina A&T enters Tuesday’s game with a 1-4 overall record and has dropped its last four games. The Aggies opened the season with a 67-50 win over Greensboro College before dropping games to East Carolina, Grambling, Western Kentucky and Jacksonville. N.C. A&T is averaging 55.6 points per game while allowing 62.6 points per game ... The Aggies are shooting 42.3 percent (101-of-239) from the field and 27.7 percent (23-of-83) from distance.
Sam Hunt leads the Aggies in scoring at 13.0 points per game. Hunt has hit a team-high nine 3-pointers this year, shooting at a 26.5 percent clip. Davaris McGowens is second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game. McGowens leads the team on the glass with 7.2 rebounds per game. He has gone to the free throw line a team-high 28 times, hitting at 67.9 percent.
Eliel Gonzalez is third on the team in scoring at 8.3 points per game .Gonzalez leads the team with 14 turnovers. James Whitaker chips in 7.5 points per game while Donte Watson adds 7.0 points per game.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
GREENVILLE, North Carolina – The Hampton University men's basketball team will end a string of five straight games away from home on Tuesday, taking on the Pirates of East Carolina at 7 p.m. in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The Series: The Pirates are 0-1 against East Carolina, with the only meeting between the two teams coming in the 2003-04 season. East Carolina won that game 77-53 in Greenville, N.C.
Pirates Against the AAC: The Pirates are 3-4 against schools currently in the American Athletic Conference, going 2-0 against Central Florida, 0-1 against Connecticut, 0-1 against East Carolina, 0-1 against South Florida, 0-1 against SMU, and 1-0 against Tulsa. Hampton has never faced Cincinnati, Houston. Memphis, Temple, or Tulane.
Pirates on the Road: In head coach Edward Joyner Jr.'s first seven-plus seasons at the helm, the Pirates are 43-62 on the road, including an 8-7 mark last season. Hampton has won at least eight road games in three of its first seven seasons under Joyner – and in all three of those seasons, the Pirates made the postseason (2011 and 2016 NCAA, 2015 CBI). Hampton's best road mark came in 2010-11, when the Pirates were 8-5 in true road games.
Scouting the Pirates: East Carolina (5-2), in its seventh season under head coach Jeff Lebo, is coming off a 2015-16 season in which it went 12-20 and finished tied for ninth in the American Athletic Conference with a mark of 4-14. The Pirates return two starters and six letterwinners this season, and senior guard Caleb White leads three Pirates in double figures with 16.0 points per game. Sophomore swing man Kentrell Barkley leads the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg), and his 13.1 points per game are third on the team. Pirates Picked to Finish Third: Despite winning back-to-back MEAC titles, the Pirates were picked to finish third in the conference this season in a poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Hampton, which returns just one starter from last season, picked up two first-place votes and racked up 250 points in the poll. Howard was tabbed the preseason favorite, while South Carolina State – which fell to the Pirates in last season's MEAC Tournament championship game – was picked to finish second. Cooks the Only One: Lawrence Cooks is the lone returning starter for the Pirates, and he comes into 2016-17 as the team's top returner in scoring (7.8 ppg), rebounding (3.7 rpg), assists (47), and steals (19). He is also the only player on this year's team that isn't a freshman, sophomore, or junior – though he does have two MEAC championship rings and NCAA Tournament appearances to his credit. Cooks dropped a career-high 22 points at Winthrop last season, a campaign in which he scored in double figures 11 times. Cooks had 10 points in Hampton's season opener against Rider. Wilson-Fisher Looking for a Bigger Role: Charles Wilson-Fisher was a key role player in the Pirates' run through the MEAC Tournament in 2015, and he was a key reserve down low for the Pirates last season. 2016-17 could figure to be a breakout season for the Los Angeles native with the graduation of Jervon Pressley, and Wilson-Fisher will be looking to improve on his scoring and rebounding averages (2.7 and 2.5, respectively) this season. He tied his career high in points with 10 last season against Northern Arizona, and this past Friday against Rider, he set new career highs in rebounds (15) and blocks (two). Strong Start for Marrow: Six games into his collegiate career, freshman Jermaine Marrow leads the Pirates in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. He opened his career with 13 points against Rider, before dropping 11 points on Nov. 17 in an overtime win over Chowan and then scoring 15 points at Kansas State and dropping 16 at Richmond. He dropped a season-high 25 points this past Saturday against Stony Brook, and Marrow has scored in double figures in five of his first six games. The Heritage High graduate from nearby Newport News, Va. was 4A East State Player of the Year last season, proving to be one of Virginia's best scorers – averaging over 25 points a game in 2015-16.
Astroth Making an Impact: AJ Astroth was key in Hampton's win over Chowan on Nov. 17 – not just because he poured in a season-high 18 points and nine rebounds in just his second game with the program, but because it was his layup in the closing moments that gave the Pirates the lead. Astroth is second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.3 points per game.
For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Tre’lun Banks always knew Rashad Andrews had it in him to be a starter.
Long before Andrews got his chance to start for the Southern men’s basketball team for a few games in the middle of last season, Banks, the Jaguars starting point guard, could tell he had what it takes to join the starting ranks.
So when Southern went on an eight game winning streak beginning the first game Andrews cracked the starting lineup, Banks knew the exact reason.
“We called it before it happened,” Banks said. “We weren’t surprised. Rashad hasn’t started every game or played a lot of starting minutes, but he’s been here just as long as a starter and he knows just as much as a starter. … When we put him in the starting lineup, we don’t lose anything. We add to it.”
Andrews started in 14 games last season before being put back on the bench toward the end of conference play. The Jaguars went 11-3 during that stretch.
Even this year, Andrews came off the bench for the first three games of the season — all Southern losses.
QUEENS, New York -- Home cooking against an opponent that should be beatable will feel good for a St. John’s team that has lost four straight games between the Gavitt Games matchup and the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Red Storm need to take the lessons from the Bahamas tournament and refine their attack, gain some confidence, and put a W on the board after returning with a 2-4 record. But for the developing team, it’s still early; the freshmen will learn, the sophomores will adjust and the team’s ceiling is still there.
Game Details Who: St. John’s Red Storm (2-4) vs Delaware State Hornets (1-5) Where: Carnesecca Arena When: Tuesday, November 29, 6:30 PM How to follow: On TV: FS2 (Announcers will be Rich Ackerman and Ron Thompson) and online on FoxSports Go. On radio, 970 AM WNYM (Announcers are John Minko and Brandon Tierney). Twitter: Follow @rumbleSBN and @StJohnsBBall for updates. Scouting Delaware State
The Delaware State Hornets play in the MEAC like season-opening opponent Bethune-Cookman. The Hornets have also gotten blown out by Rice, Maryland-Baltimore County and Montana State in their 1-5 season, despite returning a number of starters from last year. (The one win was against non-Division I Clark’s Summit.)
Their interior defense is poor, despite some size on the inside in sophomore starters Demola Onifade and DeVaughn Mallory. The defense seems to play a bit of zone, which can be an equalizer. In a related note, the Hornets lost to Louisiana-Lafayette on the road by one point and competed with Texas Southern - and both of those teams lean on inside scoring. The teams that blew Delaware State out shot from the perimeter to do so.
The NCCU Eagles defense clamped down on Missouri, holding Tigers to 25 percent shooting for the game. COLUMBIA, Missouri — North Carolina Central University came to Columbia "to win a basketball game," said head coach LeVelle Moton. And it did. In fact, the Eagles never trailed in the 62-52 win, which brought Missouri's brief winning streak to a screeching halt. The Tigers (3-3) were aiming for their third consecutive win, a feat accomplished just once in Kim Anderson's tenure as head coach. Instead came an uninspired effort from a team with a sour history against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition. Missouri fans might remember the team's shocking loss to 15th-seeded Norfolk State in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. "There's really no celebrating," Moton said. NCCU (4-2) players and coaches were emotional after the school's chancellor, Dr. Debra Saunders-White, died from cancer just two days ago. "She was the best chancellor on the planet and the best person on the planet," Moton said. "She was probably our biggest cheerleader." CONTINUE READING
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – Despite putting together a stellar second half performance, the Lafayette women’s basketball team was unable to hold onto a late lead and ultimately fell 58-55 in the closing seconds of a Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge game to Hampton on Sunday afternoon at the MassMutual Center.
The Leopards (1-6) dominated the glass, outrebounding the Lady Pirates 42-31. Olivia Gumbs made her mark, corralling a game-high 10 boards to go along with 10 points for her first collegiate career double-double. The Maroon and White shot the ball at a 38 percent clip, compared to Hamptons’ 31 percent mark. Maia Hood led the Leopards in scoring with 12.
In the opening minutes of the game, Hood knocked down a three from the right corner to knot the game up at five apiece. The Lady Pirates (3-4) took a timeout and responded with an 8-2 run to close out the opening quarter with a 13-7 advantage.
That run would continue into the second quarter, as Hampton came back onto the court and put up four unanswered points before Lafayette scored on a free throw by Gumbs. The Lady Pirates did most of their damage inside the paint early and utilized their speed to get to the rim and score in transition.
Midway through the second quarter, Hampton had a 21-10 lead, with 14 of those points coming from down low. Hampton’s leading scorer, Malia Tate-Defreitas, found success from all areas of the floor, connecting on four of her first seven shots for 11 first half points. The senior closed out her day with a game-high 22 points.
The Leopards struggled to get into many offensive sets due to a bevy of turnovers and the Lady Pirates took advantage of that by scoring 25 of their 58 points off of turnovers.
At the half, the Lady Pirates held the edge in scoring, 28-20.
Lafayette began to gain some momentum though in the latter half of the third quarter. Hood poured in four and following a Ptasinski midrange jumper, the deficit was trimmed to five. The Maroon and White continued to get quality looks at the basket and cut the Hampton lead to one after Stipa made a pair of foul shots in the final minute of the quarter.
To open up the fourth, a Hood jumper recaptured the lead for the Leopards, 36-35. Lafayette then put in back-to-back baskets to cap off an 18-5 run. From that point forward, it turned into a grind-it-out game as both the Leopards and the Lady Pirates went back and forth. It was the most successful quarter of the night for the Leopards, who shot 53 percent in the fourth.
Hampton deployed a full-court pressure and forced three turnovers, which resulted in six points to trim the Leopards’ lead to one. Lafayette eventually figured out how to break the press though and made two easy layups on two consecutive possessions. The Leopards held a three-point advantage before Tate-Defreitas lined up a three from far beyond the arc and buried it to even the score up at 50-50 with just over two minutes to play.
Hampton grabbed the lead on the ensuing possession, but it did not hold for long as Alexis Santarelli brought down an offensive board for the Leopards and put it back in while getting fouled. The freshman made the foul shot, but the Lady Pirates retook the lead on a Jephany Brown layup with less than 30 seconds left to play.
It came down to the final seconds and Hampton led by just one. However, the Leopards failed to get a shot off and were forced to send Tate-Freitas to the foul line, where she sank two to put her team up by three.
Lafayette inbounded the ball with six seconds on the clock and got a look at the basket, but the shot was blocked and Hampton survived late to capture the win.
The Leopards’ four-game road stretch has come to a close and the Maroon and White will return to College Hill for the just the second time this season to square off against Penn on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.
NORFOLK, Virginia – North Carolina Central University was rewarded for winning the league's first outright championship since 2012 by having a conference-high 17 selections to the All-MEAC Football Team, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Monday. Representing NCCU on the All-MEAC First Team are redshirt senior quarterback Malcolm Bell, senior wide receiver LaVontis Smith, redshirt senior center Carl Jones, senior offensive lineman Tarrance Wells, defensive lineman Frederick Henry-Ajudua and redshirt junior Mike Jones, who is recognized as both a defensive back and a return specialist.
Complete 2016 All-MEAC Football Team All-MEAC Second Team honors go to redshirt sophomore running back Ramone Simpson, redshirt senior offensive lineman Jamaal Symmonett, redshirt junior defensive lineman Antonio Brown, redshirt junior linebacker Reggie Hunter, redshirt senior linebacker LeGrande Harley, sophomore defensive back Alden McClellon and redshirt senior placekicker Brandon McLaren. Earning All-MEAC Third Team recognition are freshman tight end Maleek Henderson, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Nick Leverett and redshirt junior Ja'Quan Smith. NCCU head coach Jerry Mack, who engineered the Eagles to a third consecutive conference title and the program's first NCAA Division I-FCS national ranking, was selected as the 2016 MEAC Football Coach of the Year. The All-MEAC Football Team is voted on by the conference's head football coaches and sports information directors. NCCU has topped the league in all-conference honorees in each of the last three seasons, with 13 in 2015 and 12 in 2014. Bell (Richmond, Va.) topped the MEAC with an average of 248.6 yards of total offense per game. He threw for 2,191 yards and 16 touchdowns on 161-of-267 passing (60.3 percent), and was the league's eighth-leading rusher with 544 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. LaVontis Smith (Maben, Miss.) ranked second in the league with 58.7 receiving yards per game, accounting for a team-high 40 receptions for 646 yards and five touchdowns. Carl Jones (Nashville, Tenn.) was chosen as the top center in the MEAC for the second straight year after leading NCCU linemen with an average grade of 91 percent on blocking assignments, while amassing a team-best 65 pancake blocks and allowing only one sack in 707 snaps during his senior campaign. Wells (Oxon Hill, Md.) graded out at 84 percent on blocking assignments from his guard position and ranked second on the team with 43 pancake blocks. Henry-Ajudua (Durham, N.C.) finished second in the conference with a team-best 7.5 sacks, along with 11.5 hits for a loss and 33 total tackles. Mike Jones (Baltimore, Md.) makes a return to the all-conference first team after missing most of the 2015 campaign due to an injury. As a return specialist, he tops the MEAC with an average of 22.0 yards per punt return and is one of only four returners in the FCS with two punt return touchdowns. As a cornerback, he has tallied 30 tackles and five passes defended with two interceptions and three pass break-ups. Simpson (Wilmington, N.C.) averaged 5.1 yards per carry with a team-high 630 rushing yards and five trips to the end zone, while also catching 19 passes for 231 yards. Symmonett (Nassau, Bahamas) posted the team's second-highest grade of 89 percent on blocking assignments with 27 pancake blocks. Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) ranked fourth in the conference with 7.0 sacks and sixth with a team-high 13.0 tackles for a loss, while also contributing 48 total tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Hunter (Henderson, N.C.) totaled a team-high 73 total tackles, including 11.0 hits for a loss with 2.0 sacks, and tied for third in the league with a team-best four interceptions. Harley (Durham, N.C.) placed third on the Eagles with 67 tackles, including 6.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. McClellon (Lake Butler, Fla.) finished second on the team with 71 tackles, including 7.0 hits for a loss with 2.0 sacks, along with three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. McLaren (Miami, Fla.) ranked second in the MEAC in field goals made with nine, field goal percentage at 75.0 percent and scoring among kickers with 65 points (5.9 avg.). Henderson (Danville, Va.) collected nine receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.1 yards per catch. Leverett (Concord, N.C.) achieved a grade of 84 percent on blocking assignments from his tackle position, while adding 35 pancake blocks in his first year of college football. Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.) accumulated 54 tackles from his interior lineman position to place fourth on the squad, as well as 7.5 stops for a loss with 3.5 sacks. After defeating nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T 42-21 on Nov. 19 to capture the MEAC championship, No. 18 NCCU (9-2, 8-0 MEAC) will play the winner of the SWAC championship in the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 inside the Georgia Dome. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – North Carolina A&T head coach Rod Broadway’s point that the Aggies football team had a good season despite coming short of winning their third straight MEAC title will be furthered by the fact 14 of his players were named to one of the three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s all-conference teams on Monday.
Two Aggies earned top superlatives with another one potentially on the way. Left tackle Brandon Parker (6-foot-7, 299, R-JR, Kannapolis, N.C.) was named offensive lineman of the year for the second straight season, while wide receiver Elijah Bell (6-2, 210, FR, Wheeling Park, WVa.) was named rookie of the year. The offensive and defensive players of the year will be announced on Dec. 6 at the National Football Foundation awards press conference at the Empire Room at the Waldorf Astoria. The NFF and College Hall of Fame announced a partnership with the MEAC to reveal the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year as part of the festivities surrounding the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City.
Running back Tarik Cohen (5-6, 179, SR, Bunn, N.C.) has a chance to make conference history at the Waldorf. If he wins offensive player of the year, he will be the first player in MEAC history to win the honor three consecutive years. Bell is the third Aggie to be named the conference’s top rookie in eight years joining Mike Mayhew (2009) and Cohen (2013).
Seven of the Aggies 14 all-conference players are first teamers. The Aggies first-team all-conference selections were Cohen, right tackle Wes Cole (6-6, 335, SR, Stanley, N.C.), tight end Leroy Hill (6-3, 239, R-SO, Smithfield, N.C.), defensive end Angelo Keyes (6-1, 270, R-SR, Kinston, N.C.), Parker, defensive tackle Marquis Ragland (6-3, 271, R-SR, Fayetteville, N.C.) and linebacker Jeremy Taylor (5-11, 181, R-JR, Kinston, N.C.).
Bell, return specialist Khris Gardin (5-7, 164, JR, Morganton, N.C.), wide receiver Denzel Keyes (6-4, 215, SR, Kinston, N.C.), center Darriel Mack (6-2, 291, R-JR, Clio, S.C.), quarterback and Lamar Raynard (6-4, 176, R-SO, High Point, N.C.) were second teamers, while right guard Daquan Blake (6-3, 315, JR, Leavenworth, Kan.) and placekicker Cody Jones (5-11, 141, SR, Gastonia, N.C.) made the third team.
In his rookie season, Bell caught a freshman school-record eight touchdown passes. His eight TD receptions ranks second in the conference and 33rd in the nation. Bell caught 35 passes for 631 yards and averaged 18.0 yards per reception. He joins Dexter Feaster, Larry Orie and Wallace Miles as the only four players to lead the Aggies in receiving as freshmen. Bell leads the conference in yards per reception and ranks third receiving yards.
Parker had another solid season at the left tackle position where he did not yield a sack this season, and he had just two penalties called against him this season. Parker won offensive lineman of the week five times this season from the MEAC after consistently grading out with 90’s during the season. The Aggies ranked first this season in total offense, rushing offense and third in passing offense.
Cohen ended his career on Saturday against Richmond with 5,619 rushing yards, the most in MEAC history. Only Winston-Salem State’s Richard Huntley (6,286) had more rushing yards as a player from an historically black college or university football program. Cohen has led the MEAC in rushing four straight years and rushed for 1,588 yards this season, breaking his own single-season rushing record (1,543) from last season. He is one of only 10 players in NCAA FCS history to rush for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons.
He is second in the nation in rushing yards per carry and third in rushing TD’s (18), rushing yards and seventh in all-purpose yards (160.58). He broke the Aggies single-season record for total touchdowns with 19 this season.
Wes Cole earned his first all-conference honor. He is a four-year starter for the Aggies who has mostly played right tackle but has also started at right guard. He earned one offensive lineman of the week honor on Oct. 24 after the Aggies defeated Howard 34-7. Hill had an excellent season in his first year as a starter. Hill led all MEAC tight ends in receiving with 174 yards and two touchdowns on 17 receptions.
Angelo Keyes earned his second straight first team honor. He proved to be an excellent pass rusher this season for the Aggies. He made 38 tackles with eight tackles for loss. His six sacks ranked fifth in the MEAC. His athleticism allowed him to finish his career with 16 pass break ups. Ragland is also a two-time first-team selection. Ragland is regarded as the Aggies best defensive player with teams needing to double team him to stop him from being disruptive. He made 50 tackles from his interior defensive line position with 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Taylor had a career year for the Aggies. It started with his breakout game at Kent State when he posted 15 tackles, four tackles loss, two sacks, two pass break ups and one interception. The performance earned him STATS FCS National Player of the Week honors. He led the Aggies in tackles (79), passes defended (12), interceptions (4) and tied for the team lead in break ups (8). He was 13th in the league in tackles and tackles for loss and he was fourth in passes defended.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TUCSON, Arizona -- Mike Davis coached Indiana to the NCAA title game in 2002, and he’s dead set on getting back there again.
With Texas Southern, that is a school in the low-major Southwestern Athletic Conference that’s based in a saturated Houston sports market where attention can be scarce.
He’s trying to get there by playing all-road nonconference schedules that appear more suicidal than any in Division I — including a game Wednesday against Arizona at McKale Center — then trying to parlay those results into a better NCAA tournament seed, better NCAA tournament results and, eventually, better recruiting leverage that can build increasingly better teams.
It’s crazy, right? Davis has been called that.
At least, he says, by people who don’t listen.
“I just want to win a national championship,” Davis said Monday by telephone from Houston. “People are saying there’s no way you can do that at Texas Southern. It’s like when Phil Knight started Nike, when there were Converse and Adidas. People said ‘Why would you do that?’ But look at what Nike does now.”
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State defensive stars Kourtney Berry and Roderick “Ghost” Henderson aren’t on the current list of accepted invites for next month’s Senior Bowl.
Miles College coach Reginald Ruffin thinks they should wind up playing in the Jan. 28 all-star game in Mobile.
“They are two of the best guys and I wish they’ll have the opportunity to play in the Senior Bowl and get an opportunity because they will be difference makers in the next level,” said Ruffin the day before Alabama State beat Miles College, 53-20, in last week’s Turkey Day Classic.
“It shows that whatever we’re doing, it shows on film,” said the 6-foot, 210-pound Berry, the 2015 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year who made 66 tackles in 10 games this season. “Coaches see it. It’s not just our coaches, but other coaches, they acknowledge it and it just goes to show that our hard work is actually paying off.”
Berry, a linebacker, and Henderson, a 6-foot, 1-inch, 352-pound defensive tackle, combined for 10 tackles in their final game at ASU. Berry made six stops with one being for a loss against the team coached by the man who sees him as someone worthy of playing with FBS talent in the Senior Bowl. CONTINUE READING
NEW ORLEANS -- Grambling State University students Robert Bailey Jr., Shelby Prout and Que Robinson weren’t on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome football field for a single play Saturday, but each had an impact on the Bayou Classic matchup between Grambling State University and Southern University.
Grambling State clawed its way to a 52-30 victory, winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference West championship with an undefeated regular season conference record and guaranteeing a trip to Houston to play Alcorn State University at NRG Stadium for the SWAC championship on Dec. 3. The win broke a Bayou Classic tie, putting GSU up over SU 22-21in the series.
It was a great GSU and Bayou Classic day, including an attendance of 67,845.
Bailey, a graduate student and football tight ends coach, captured a lot of campus and alumni attention with his “I’m So GramFam” branding, and much of the GSU student section to the left of the Tigers bench wore red 'I’m So GramFam' T-shirts created by Bailey. Other fans waved red Grambling placards with the iconic Grambling G, supporting a “Red Out” Bayou Classic.
Bailey was busy with game prep and business prep going into the Bayou Classic, supporting head football coach Broderick Fobbs’ game plan for the team and providing shirts as he also studied for his sports administration graduate degree. CONTINUE READING
SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Erik Raeburn barely had time to process the consequences. Cantrell Frazier scored an overtime, game-winning touchdown against Bethune-Cookman and the Savannah State Tigers began celebrating.
