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NEW ORLEANS — Melvin Brown made 5-of-6 3-pointers and scored 19 points, both season bests, to lead Stillman to a 72-54 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana Wednesday.
Brown made all four of his 3-pointers in the first half to lead the Tigers (20-4) to a 40-34 advantage at the break. The final score was their largest lead of the game.
Rafeal Adams scored 12 points, Ronald Singleton had 10 points and five steals, and Antonio Penny had eight assists for Stillman, in its first NAIA season after many years in NCAA Division II. The Tigers shot 50 percent from the floor, had 21 assists on 22 field goals and produced 15 steals to extend its win streak to eight games.
Jalen David, with 15 points, was the lone double-figure scorer for the Gold Rush (9-17). Elex Carter, Jerry Gibson and Mike Williams scored eight points apiece.
XULA shot 30 percent from the floor, 19.4 percent in the second half.
XULA will visit city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard for a 4:30 p.m. Saturday game. Dillard has clinched a tie for the GCAC regular-season championship and is ranked seventh in the NAIA. WNOL will televise the game live. XULA fans who attend the doubleheader are asked to wear gold. BOX SCORE
NEW ORLEANS — Mikayla Bates scored 12 points Wednesday, and Maya Trench and Kelsey Joseph produced career highs for Xavier University of Louisiana in a 74-64 women's basketball victory against Stillman.
The Gold Nuggets (16-10) won their third in a row and snapped the 14-game win streak of the Lady Tigers (15-4), who had not lost since Nov. 17. XULA assured itself of a 16th consecutive winning season, which extends a school record.
Bates also had seven rebounds and a game-high four steals. Trench had a career-best 11 assists, and Joseph scored a career-high 10 points. Bates, Joseph and Jalyn Hodge made two 3-pointers apiece, Jayla Nichols grabbed nine rebounds, and XULA matched a season high with eight made 3s.
Victoria Douglas scored 15 points for Stillman, Michaia Fluellen had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalicya Lowery scored 12.
XULA trailed 37-31 at halftime, then outscored Stillman 43-27 in the second half. Joseph led the Gold Nuggets with eight second-half points.
For the game XULA outshot Stillman 39.7 to 33.3 percent — 44.4 to 28 percent in the second half. Stillman outrebounded XULA 46-39, but the Gold Nuggets were plus-11 in turnovers, committing 18 and gaining 29. XULA had 21 steals, with eight Gold Nuggets collecting at least two.
XULA will travel to city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard for a 2 p.m. Saturday game.
MOBILE, Alabama -- College baseball has been played in Mobile since at least 1889, when the students at Spring Hill College first stepped onto the diamond at Stan Galle Field. Now, more than a century later, the sport remains just as popular.
Along with the Badgers, the Jaguars at the University of South Alabama and the Rams at the University of Mobile are looking for successful campaigns. Here is a glance at their rosters:
Spring Hill College — Head coach Frank Sims, who first took the helm at SHC in 1985 and has since led the Badgers to 822 wins, had a busy off-season. During the summer, the veteran mentor was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Sims has also been overseeing the team’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Since joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Badgers have a 34-3 league record. Now in the final campaign before being able to compete for postseason berths, Sims is excited about his latest team.
“I can’t say we have that one player this year who stands above the rest,” Sims said, “but this year we have more consistent players who all play at a high level, and that will make us a better team in the long run.” CONTINUE READING
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The 2017 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships will emanate from the Birmingham Crossplex Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17. All 10 member institutions of the conference will be featured. Alabama State's women and Texas Southern's men look to defend their respective championships. ASU is vying for an unprecedented ninth straight conference crown, while TSU will try for a three-peat. SWAC.org will be your primary source for heat information as well as up-to-the-minute results and standings.
LANDOVER, Maryland -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the 2017 Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, Feb. 16-18, at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md.
For the first time in the event’s history, ESPN3 will stream Saturday’s action live from 1-4 p.m. EST.
"Having the finals on ESPN3 allows the conference to showcase its rich track & field history to a global audience,” said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas. “Our MEAC institutions have produced a plethora of talented student-athletes and coaches in the world of track & field over the years. Working with ESPN3 provides our student-athletes and coaches the chance to display their talents and share their stories on an expanded national platform.”
Competition will begin on Thursday at 3 p.m. with the men's heptathlon, followed by the women's 5,000m and women's long jump at 3:15 p.m. The day continues with the men's 5,000m race and semifinals of the men's and women's 200m races.
Day one concludes with the men's long jump final.
The championships continue Friday, Feb. 17, with the men's heptathlon at 9 a.m. Other field events on Friday's slate include the women's pentathlon, men's and women's high jump, and men's and women's weight throw. The student-athletes return to the track for the semifinals in the men's and women's 60m hurdles, 60m dash and 400m dash. The day closes out with the men's and women's distance medleys.
The competition concludes on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the women's shot put, men's and women's pole vault, and the men's and women's triple jump. Running events begin at 1 p.m. with the women's mile run. Rounding out the afternoon's events will be the men's and women's 4x400m relay race at 3:25 p.m.
A complete schedule of events and live statistics for the 2017 MEAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships can be found at www.MEACsports.com.
Admission for the Indoor Track and Field Championships is $5 daily, and tickets are available at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on the event dates. The second annual Soleful Gestures shoe drive will also take place on Friday and Saturday; all fans are encouraged to donate either a gently-used pair of shoes or gently-used clothing, in a 13-gallon kitchen-sized bag, in exchange for a $3 ticket.
All donations will go to the Value Village Community Donations Center in Landover Hills, Md.
The MEAC has a storied track & field history in its 47 years of existence with 30-plus former student-athletes and coaches representing their respective countries in various Olympic Games. This past summer, nine former MEAC student-athletes participated in the Rio Olympics.
For the latest on the 2017 MEAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, log on to www.MEACsports.com.
Man, it feels good to say that. I can’t wait for Friday afternoon. We – the Florida A&M Rattlers – welcome Wofford, a member of the Southern Conference, to town for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is 4 p.m. at Moore-Kittles Field on the campus of FAMU. Like always, admission to the game is free so come on out and support the Rattlers.
We got hit with a little bit of bad news leading up to our season opener.
Jacky Miles Jr, our starting catcher and pre-season All MEAC selection, will miss the season due to an injury. That was a tough pill to swallow when we were told the news. Jacky is a pretty big piece to the puzzle for us. He was a three hole hitter and hit .328 last year with four home-runs. We are looking forward to having him back next season, healthy and ready to go.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The inaugural Jake Gaither Classic could have quite the spotlight this season, but Florida A&M and Texas Southern still need to take steps for it to occur Aug. 26.
Both schools recently announced the meeting in the early season opener at Fort Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The date is the Saturday prior to the traditional start of the season, which is the Thursday preceding Labor Day.
To play an early opener, Florida A&M and Texas Southern, two of the nation's historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, want to use the "FCS First Contest Exception" in the NCAA Bylaws. It allows for two non-conference programs to face each other as long as they are playing in a nationally televised contest (broadcast or cable, not Internet-only).
NCAA spokesman J.D. Hamilton said neither Florida A&M, from the MEAC, nor Texas Southern, from the SWAC, has contacted the governing body for the necessary waiver to play on Aug. 26. Also, a broadcast network has yet to be announced, said Elliott Charles, Florida A&M's deputy director of athletics.
LYNCHBURG, Virginia – Saint Augustine’s University captured its 20th straight men’s crown while Johnson C. Smith University won its first-ever title in the CIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Liberty University Indoor Track Facility on Monday, February 13.
The Falcons scored 187 points to pull away from Virginia State University (122 points) and Virginia Union University (109 points) in the men’s division. Johnson C. Smith scored 45.5 points, Bowie State University had 36 points and Livingstone College scored 32 points while Lincoln (Pa.) University finished with 25.5 points.
The Golden Bulls tallied 155 points to win the title over two-time defending champion Winston-Salem State (142 points) and Saint Augustine’s (131.5 points). Lincoln (Pa.) totaled 22 points, Bowie State had 18 points, and Livingstone scored 17 points while Virginia Union marked 10 points.
Immanuel Hutchinson of Saint Augustine’s was named Men’s Track MVP and Dajawn Williams of Virginia State was selected Men’s Field MVP. Hutchinson won the mile run, the 5,000 run and anchored the winning distance medley relay team in addition to placing second in the 800 run. Williams placed first in the pole vault and the high jump and was second in the Heptathlon.
Fellan Ferguson of Johnson C. Smith was the Women’s Track MVP and Shakera Hall of Saint Augustine’s was the Women’s Field MVP. Ferguson was victorious in three individual events – the 800 run, the 3,000 run and the one-mile run - and was a member of the winning distance medley relay team and the 4x400 relay squad. Hall won the Pentathlon and was third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump.
Williams and Hutchinson were among several winners in the men’s division. Men's gold medalists include Jumonne Exeter of Saint Augustine’s (long jump, triple jump), Micah Todd of Virginia State (Heptathlon), Khari Herbert, Jr. of Saint Augustine’s (400 dash), Justin Hunter of Virginia Union (60 dash), Shaquille Dill of Saint Augustine’s (800 run), Shawn Rowe of Saint Augustine’s (60 hurdles), Omar Johnson of Saint Augustine’s (200 dash) and Kelvin Johnson of Livingstone (shot put). Johnson C. Smith won the 4x400 relay race.
Ferguson and Hall were among several winners in the women’s division including Shakinah Brooks of Saint Augustine’s (long jump), Tovia Jenkins of Johnson C. Smith (400 dash), Ornella Livingston of Saint Augustine’s (60 dash), Tia-Adana Belle of Saint Augustine’s (60 hurdles), Ty-Leah Hampton of Winston-Salem State (200 dash), Mikel Franklin of Winston-Salem State (high jump), Shamaz Quince of Johnson C. Smith (triple jump) and Phontavia Sawyer of Virginia State (shot put).
The 2017 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament is the next conference championship to be held February 21-25 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The basketball championship will be held in two great venues and will include 22 action packed games, celebrity performances, giveaways, and more! Purchase your tickets today by visiting ciaatournament.org. Final Results
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have added the Grambling State Tigers to their 2018 football schedule, the school announced on Monday.
UL Lafayette will host Grambling State at Cajun Field to open the 2018 season on Sept. 1. The game will be the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the two Louisiana schools.
Grambling State is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Association (SWAC) in the FCS. The Tigers had a stellar season in 2016, finishing 11-1 overall, 9-0 in SWAC play, and winning the SWAC Championship Game over Alcorn State and the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl over NC Central.
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- A move from a nine-game league schedule to a seven-game slate will allow Grambling's football program to play in another HBCU Classic-type of game in 2017.
Grambling, which finalized its full 11-game schedule over the weekend, will play Clark Atlanta, a Division II HBCU program from Georgia, either in Atlanta or Chicago at Soldier Field, according to a copy of the schedule obtained by The News-Star. The matchup adds another big-city stop for the Tigers, who play annual games in Dallas and New Orleans and have recently played a home game in Shreveport.
Grambling and Clark Atlanta are scheduled to meet Sept. 30. Grambling's three other neutral site games include an Oct. 7 date with Prairie View A&M at the State Fair Classic in Dallas, an Oct. 28 meeting with Texas Southern as part of the Red River Classic in Shreveport and, of course, the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans against Southern on Nov. 25.
MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana trailed for just 31 seconds Saturday — never after the second minute — and rolled to a streak-ending 61-52 women's basketball victory against the University of Mobile.
The Gold Nuggets (14-10), led by 19 points in the fourth quarter, stopped their 3-game losing streak and snapped the 6-game winning streak of the Lady Rams (14-9).
Freshman Jalyn Hodge was XULA's lone double-figure scorer. Hodge had 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and led the Gold Nuggets in scoring for the second time this season.
Maya Trench, Jayla Nichols and Rosie Davis scored nine points apiece for XULA. Trench had four assists, Nichols grabbed seven rebounds, and Davis made a game-high three 3-pointers. Kelsee Singleton and Gina Smith grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Jordan Coleman had three steals.
"This was one of our best efforts of the season," said coach Bo Browder, who is 426-164 in his 18th season at XULA. "We came out focused and stayed focused for 40 minutes. Our defense and rebounding were strong. It was not one of our best shooting days, but we made eight 3s, and that was a blessing."
Starla Daggan scored 12 points and had five steals for Mobile, and Sydney Westry and Kali Koenig scored 10 apiece. Daggan entered the game averaging 20.3 points for the season, and Koenig was averaging 15.4. They were a combined 4-of-24 from the floor — 2-of-12 on 3-pointers — against XULA.
XULA outshot the Lady Rams 37.7 to 28.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 49-32. XULA limited Mobile to its second-fewest points in a game this season.
XULA led 27-24 at halftime. Trench scored seven points during a 14-2 run that gave the Gold Nuggets a 55-36 lead with 6:06 remaining.
The Gold Nuggets will play three times next week: 5:30 p.m. Monday at SUNO, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at home against Stillman, and 2 p.m. Saturday at Dillard.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics — student-athletes from multiple sports, along with coaches, managers and family members — assisted with cleanup Saturday following a tornado in New Orleans East four days earlier.
XULA Director of Tennis Alan Green said the group volunteered for approximately three hours.
"I really wanted to do this today because the tornado hit the exact location of where I grew up," Green said. "The tornado hit my elementary school and displaced the students for the rest of the school year. I took the crew I was with to my childhood home. The people living there now have no power, but everyone is OK.
"I only wish we could have stayed longer. The people were so nice and grateful. The first chance I get, I'm going back to help someone, anyone."
The National Weather Service said New Orleans East was hit Tuesday by an EF-3 tornado with minimum wind speeds of 136 miles per hour. The tornado is the most powerful to hit Orleans Parish since record-keeping started in 1950.
It's the second time this school year that XULA Athletics assisted after a natural disaster. Department representatives, including student-athletes, traveled to Baton Rouge, La., in August to help with cleanup following record flooding.
XULA teams compete in the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.
DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University shot over 50 percent from the floor for the second consecutive game, as the Eagles nailed 52.6 percent of their shots to beat South Carolina State, 85-62 at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11.
NCCU (18-6, 9-1 MEAC) got it going early for its ninth-straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win, as the maroon and gray hit exactly half of their shots in the first 20 minutes. The Eagles went on two separate double-digit unanswered point runs in the first half, one of 10 points and the second was 11 points to put NCCU ahead of SCSU (7-17, 4-7 MEAC) 40-25 at the midway point.
Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) had a strong first half as he exploded for 15 points on his way to scoring 27 points for a second consecutive game, a game-high. Cole also collected six rebounds and eight assists with one of the beneficiaries being Del'vin Dickerson (Houston, Texas) who scored 20 points for the second time this year, along with eight rebounds.
NCCU shot a blistering 55.2 percent from the floor in the second period, and over the course of the game the Eagles shot 90 percent from the free throw line by going 18-for-20. 90 percent from the charity stripe is tied for the fifth-highest performance in the Division I era.
Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) finished with 12 points and Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) was the fourth Eagle to score in double-digits with 11 points with four assists.
SCSU had three players in double-figures, Tashombe Riley (Orangeburg, S.C.) with 15 points, Edward Stephens (Columbia, S.C.) with 15 as well, and Eric Eaves (Columbia, S.C.) put up 13 points.
NCCU looks for its 10th consecutive win against Florida A&M on Monday, Feb. 13 at McDougald-McLendon Arena. BOX SCORE
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NORFOLK, Virginia -- It’s not unusual for accomplished MEAC basketball players to continue their careers overseas. Only a precious few advance to the NBA, so the rest of the players disperse to places like Italy, Israel, Greece, Lithuania and Spain. They make a decent living while seeing the world and trying to get the attention of an NBA team.
But D’Shon Taylor, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 13.3 points per game last season as a senior at Norfolk State, took a different path. As he played on the Bahamas National Team last summer, he discovered that a teammate had played two seasons in, of all places, Iraq. The teammate convinced Taylor to give it a try, and he averaged 23 points per game in one tournament and 19 in another before being released by Al-Mina, which played its home games in Basra, on Jan. 11.
As he played well over a four-month period, Taylor rejected offers from other overseas teams. He’s now staying in Norfolk as he works out and awaits his next opportunity.
As he sat for a Q&A after practicing with some of his former teammates recently at Echols Hall, Taylor discussed in his slight Bahamian accent his experience, two brushes with terrorism and what he learned about the world.
LYNCHBURG, Virginia – With only seven athletes competing this weekend, the North Carolina A&T men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams still managed to walk away from the Liberty Elite Invitational with five wins and two new facility records.
Raking in most of the accolades for the teams were senior Chris Belcher and junior India Brown. Both Belcher and Brown championed their respective 60-meter and 200-meter races and each athlete also set a new facility record on the day.
Belcher won the men’s 200m with a sprint of 21.43. He also qualified first in the men’s 60m prelims with a time of 6.73 before finishing first in the finals in 6.72. Belcher’s time of 6.72 in the 60m finals became the new facility record as it debunked a time of 6.76 from Daniel Estrada— a non-collegiate athlete with the Platinum Sports Academy Club.
Brown secured her win in the women’s 60m after qualifying second in the prelims in 7.58 and then sprinting 7.57 in the finals. But it was Brown’s first-place 24.15 sprint in the women’s 200m that set a facility record. Before Brown, Ty-Leah Hampton of Winston-Salem State held the record at 24.77.
In addition to Belcher and Brown, junior TeQuille Jackson similarly found himself victorious. Jackson championed the men’s 60 hurdles in 8.11. The Aggies also used the Liberty Elite Invitational to secure some qualifying times before the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships, Feb. 16-18 in Landover, Md. Sophomores Yakira Love and Justin Hamilton had yet to debut in their respective individual events – the 200m and 400m – prior to running in Lynchburg, Va. However, both athletes are now top-10 on the MEAC indoor performance list.
Love’s debut of 24.48 in the women’s 200m garnered her a second-place and positioned her No. 4 in the MEAC. Hamilton, on the other hand, used a debut run of 48.68 in the men’s 400m to take fourth and rank No. 7 in the MEAC. “We came here because I didn’t want to go too far before conference,” said the director of track and field programs Duane Ross. “We were supposed to go to the Tyson Invite in Arkansas, but I think this meet served its purpose. We got a couple races in to stay sharp and now we’re back on track.” Liberty Elite Invitational - Feb. 10-11, 2017 (Liberty Indoor Track Complex) Complete Results
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State has tweaked its football schedule and it will now include Bowie State, the CIAA Northern Division champion the last two seasons.
The Rams were scheduled to play Catawba at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sept. 9, but Catawba is scheduled to play at VMI, a Football Championship Subdivision school. WSSU released its football schedule two weeks ago and had a game against Catawba during the second week of the season.
Tonia Walker, the athletics director at WSSU, said it was an oversight on her part when the contract was signed in 2015.
“We signed for a home and home, but it was actually for 2016 and then for 2018,” Walker said.
Walker said finding another opponent wasn’t easy but getting Bowie State at such a late date will make for an exciting home game.
The game won’t count in the CIAA standings just like the Virginia Union game, which will be played the following week in Richmond, Va., and is a nonconference game. CONTINUE READING
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T released their 2017 football schedule Friday with five home games and three in-state non-conference contests that represent three different NCAA competition levels.
Over the past three seasons the Aggies have gone 20-4 in the MEAC. Their two consecutive postseason appearances included a Celebration Bowl victory in 2015 and an NCAA FCS Playoff appearance in 2016, their first in 13 years. In addition, the Aggies were named the 2015 Black College Football National Champions. The Aggies are looking to have another outstanding season in 2017, so don’t miss out on the fun.
Priority purchasing begins Monday, April 17 and runs through, Friday, June 2. General public tickets go on sale Monday, June 5.
The Aggies open the year in Boiling Springs, N.C., to face fellow in-state Division I-FCS foe Gardner-Webb on Sept. 2. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams. A week later the Aggies will come to Aggie Stadium for their home opener, a 6 p.m., contest against Mars Hill, a Division II school out of the South Atlantic Conference. For the third straight season the Aggies will play a team from the Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision as N.C. A&T travels 90 miles down the road to face Charlotte University on Sept. 16. The Aggies earned their first-ever win over an FBS program when they defeated Kent State 39-36 in quadruple overtime.
The 49ers will begin a span of three straight road games for the Aggies as they usher in conference play on Sept. 23 in Baltimore against the Morgan State Bears. It will be the first meeting between the Aggies and the Bears in two years. A week later the Aggies will play at S.C. State where they will try to defeat the Bulldogs for the third straight season.
N.C. A&T’s return home will be for The Greatest Homecoming On Earth on Oct. 7. Delaware State will be the opponent as the Aggies go after their seventh straight homecoming win. The MEAC’s two Florida schools are next on the schedule as the Aggies go to Florida A&M on Oct. 14 before hosting Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 21. After a week off from competition, the Aggies head to Norfolk, Va., to face the Norfolk State Spartans on Nov. 4.
Two home games close out the regular season as Savannah State returns to Aggie Stadium for the first time in four years on Nov. 11. Arch-rival North Carolina Central is once again the regular-season finale as Nov. 18 will mark the 88th meeting between the longtime rivals.
Follow North Carolina A&T Athletics on Facebook (@ncatathletics), Instagram (@ncatathletics) and Twitter (@ncataggies) and follow Aggies football on Twitter (@football_ncat).
2017 NC A&T FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET)
Sat, Sep 02 Gardner-Webb at Boiling Springs, N.C. TBA Sat, Sep 09 Mars Hill Aggie Stadium 6:00 PM
Sat, Sep 16 Charlotte at Charlotte, N.C. TBA
Sat, Sep 23 Morgan State * at Baltimore, Md. TBA
Sat, Sep 30 S.C. State * at Orangeburg, S.C. TBA Sat, Oct 07 Delaware State (Homecoming) * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM
Sat, Oct 14 Florida A&M * at Tallahassee, Fla. TBA Sat, Oct 21 Bethune-Cookman * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM
Sat, Oct 28 OPEN
Sat, Nov 04 Norfolk State * at Norfolk, Va. TBA Sat, Nov 11 Savannah State * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM Sat, Nov 18 N.C. Central * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM * Conference Games
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
HATTIESBURG, Mississippi — Xavier University of Louisiana dropped 8-of-9 matches Wednesday in a 7-0 women's tennis loss at Southern Miss.
The only match the Golden Eagles (2-2) did not win was at No. 3 doubles, where XULA's Sha'Nel Bruins and Dasia Harris led Elene Roca and Tjasa Jerse 5-4. That match was halted because Southern Miss clinched the doubles point at No. 2; Tzu-Hui Chen and Rikeetha Pereira defeated Charlene Goreau and Brandi Nelson 6-4.
Nelson, the reigning Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, and Lacee Ancar won the most singles games for XULA. Nelson lost 6-3, 6-1 to Roca at No. 3, and Ancar lost 6-1, 6-3 to Claudia Castelle at No. 5.
Carolin Drescher clinched the dual with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Goreau at No. 1.
Ancar was one of two freshmen in the XULA singles lineup. Yi Chen Pao lost 6-1, 6-1 to Chen at No. 6 in Pao's first collegiate match. Pao enrolled at XULA in January.
It was the second of three consecutive duals against NCAA Division I opponents for the Gold Nuggets (1-2), who are ranked 19th in the NAIA. Next for the XULA women and men will be Nicholls State at 2 p.m. Tuesday at XULA Tennis Center. The XULA men are ranked second nationally.
NEW ORLEANS — Starting times have been moved up for Xavier University of Louisiana's Feb. 18 basketball doubleheader at city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard.
The women's game will start at 2 p.m., and the men's game will start at 4:30 p.m. WNOL-TV will broadcast live the men's game.
The doubleheader is called the Bleu Devil Classic, and Allstate Sugar Bowl is a sponsor.
Before those games, however, the Gold Nuggets will play three times, and the Gold Rush will play twice. The XULA women will visit Mobile at 4 p.m. Saturday. XULA will play doubleheaders at SUNO Monday and at home against Stillman Wednesday. Tip-off times for those doubleheaders will be 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- The Tuskegee University athletic department released the 2017 football schedule that features a trio of home games and Classics, the renewal of a pair of rivalries and the first-ever meeting with another NCAA Division II program.
Tuskegee, who finished 9-3 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2016, will open the season against long-time rival Alabama State University in Montgomery at ASU Stadium on Labor Day Weekend. The game will take place on September 2 and kick off the 2017 season, in a series that Tuskegee leads 61-34-4.
The Golden Tigers will remain on the road the following week, playing the fourth annual Whitewater Classic against Albany State University at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City (Ala.), a game in which the Golden Tigers will be the visiting team. Tuskegee has won all three of the Whitewater Classics played against Albany State in Phenix City, and leads the series 24-19-1, which includes five consecutive series wins. Following the Albany State contest, the Golden Tigers will face Clark Atlanta University (September 16) in their home opener. The Golden Tigers lead the series with Clark Atlanta 60-16-2, including winning the last eight contests.
Tuskegee will hit the road in weeks four and five, facing the University of Findlay (Ohio) for the first time on September 23 and then traveling to Jackson (Tenn.) to face Lane College in their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) West Division opener September 30. The Golden Tigers and Lane have met 22 times, with Tuskegee winning each meeting including last season (38-7) in Tuskegee.
The Golden Tigers will play back-to-back Classic games in weeks six and seven, traveling to Columbus (Ga.) to face Morehouse College in the 82nd annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic held at A.J. McClung Stadium. Tuskegee will be the home team in the contest against Morehouse, and leads the series 71-28-7 after last season's defensive battle in which the Golden Tigers won 28-19. Following the contest against Morehouse, the Golden Tigers will travel to Mobile to face Jackson State University in the 5th Quarter Classic held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The two teams have not met since 1993 when Jackson State - who leads the series 2-1 - won 24-12. The Golden Tigers will be the visitors against Jackson State, and will be seated on the non-pressbox side of the stadium.
The final three games of the season remain the same as they have in years past with the Golden Tigers traveling to Frankfort (Ky.) to face Kentucky State University October 21, before finishing the regular season off at home against Central State (October 28) and ending with Miles for Homecoming (November 4) in the regular season finale. The final three games on the schedule are all SIAC West Division games.
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Tuskegee University 2017 Football Schedule Scheduled Games
SEP 2 (SAT) TBA AT ALABAMA STATE MONTGOMERY, AL WHITEWATER CLASSIC
SEP 9 (SAT) 5:00 PM (EST) SIAC VS ALBANY STATE PHENIX CITY, AL SEP 16 (SAT) 1:00 PM SIAC VS CLARK ATLANTA TUSKEGEE, AL
SEP 23 (SAT) TBA AT FINDLAY FINDLAY, OH
SEP 30 (SAT) 2:00 PM SIAC AT LANE JACKSON, TN 82ND ANNUAL TUSKEGEE-MOREHOUSE CLASSIC
OCT 7 (SAT) 7:00 PM (EST) SIAC VS MOREHOUSE COLUMBUS, GA 5TH QUARTER CLASSIC
OCT 14 (SAT) 6:00 PM VS JACKSON STATE MOBILE, AL
OCT 21 (SAT) TBA SIAC AT KENTUCKY STATE FRANKFORT, KY OCT 28 (SAT) 1:00 PM SIAC VS CENTRAL STATE TUSKEGEE, AL 93RD ANNUAL HOMECOMING NOV 4 (SAT) 1:00 PM SIAC VS MILES TUSKEGEE, AL TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
ASSISTANT COACH JA'JUAN SEIDER RUNNING BACK COACH FLORIDA GATORS
GAINESVILLE, Florida --Florida head coach Jim McElwain assigns new roles for two of his returning assistants and announces position assignments for three assistants hired last week. Ja'Juan Seider also returns to his home state. Seider, a native of Belle Glade, played at West Virginia before transferring to FAMU his senior season. He returned to West Virginia to begin his coaching career in 2008-10 as a graduate assistant. He moved on to Marshall, where he served from 2010-12 as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator before returning to West Virginia as the running backs coach in 2013. As a quarterback, Seider earned All-America honors and won the Doug Williams Award for National Offensive Player of the Year and the Jake Gaither Award (considered the Heisman Trophy of Historically Black Colleges) following a spectacular senior year at Florida A&M where he passed for 2,512 yards and 27 touchdowns, under legendary Hall of Fame Coach Billy Joe. He was also named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and went on to be selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. COACHING EXPERIENCE 2017-Present Florida Assistant 2013-16 West Virginia Running Backs 2010-12 Marshall Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator 2008-10 West Virginia Graduate Assistant 2006-08 Lake Worth Quarterbacks 2003-05 Palm Beach Lakes Offensive Coordinator 2001-02 Glades Central Running Backs COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In his second stint at WVU, Seider tutored Wendell Smallwood, who was the Big 12 rushing champion in 2015 with 1,519 yards. Smallwood was an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection and a fifth-round NFL Draft selection of the Philadelphia Eagles a year ago.
In 2014, he coached a WVU offense that ranked No. 9 nationally in passing offense, No. 11 in first down offense, No. 12 in total offense and No. 34 in scoring offense.
One year prior in 2013, Seider recruited current Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims, who transferred to WVU for his final collegiate season after he spent four years at Houston. During that season, Sims rushed for 1,095 yards on 208 carries (5.3 avg) and 11 touchdowns, while catching 45 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns. He was named first team All-Big 12 while adding the honor of Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Sims was WVU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2009
Two of his top recruits at Marshall were quarterback Rakeem Cato, who was named the 2012 C-USA Player of the Year, and running back Kevin Grooms, who Seider recruited and coached
Three of his freshman backs at Marshall averaged more than five yards a carry in 2012 and the offense finished No. 6 nationally in total offense
In 2011, Marshall freshman running back Travon Van earned All-Conference USA honors, and Seider helped lead the Herd to the championship of the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl.
During his first tenure at WVU, Seider assisted in the development of three of the Mountaineer’s top quarterbacks, Pat White, Jarrett Brown and Geno Smith
In addition, he was part of the staff that posted an 18-8 record and played in the Meineke Car Care and Gator Bowls
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED WEST VIRGINIA
RB WENDELL SMALLWOOD – WVU’s 2015 Offensive Player of the Year, 2015 All-Big 12 Second Team. Became the fourth player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards. Drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
RB CHARLES SIMS – 2013 First Team All-Big 12, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Drafted in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
QB PAT WHITE – 2005 ESPN.com All-Big East, Freshman All-American; 2006 First Team All-Big East, Big East Offensive Player of the Year, WVU MVP, Gator Bowl MVP, Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist; 2007 First Team All-Big East, Big East Offensive Player of the Year, WVU MVP, Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist, Walter Camp Award Semifinalist, Heisman Trophy Sixth Place, Hardman Award winner, ESPN All-Bowl Team, Archie Griffin Award, Fiesta Bowl MVP; 2008 Hardman Award winner, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist, WVU MVP, First Team All-Big East, Heisman Trophy Seventh Place, Meineke Car Care Bowl MVP, Senior Bowl MVP. Drafted in the second round by the Miami Dolphins.
QB GENO SMITH – 2010 Second Team All-Big; 2011 2011 First Team All-Big East, Orange Bowl MVP. Drafted in the second round by the New York Jets.
MARSHALL
QB RAKEEM CATO – 2012 Conference USA Player of the Year. Signed a two-year deal with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.
NFL PLAYERS (ROUND DRAFTED) RB Wendell Smallwood (153rd) – West Virginia ’16 – Philadelphia Eagles RB Charles Sims (69th) – West Virginia ’14 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Pat White (44th) – West Virginia ’09 – Miami Dolphins RB Steve Slaton (89th) – West Virginia ’08 – Houston Texas FB Owen Schmitt (163rd) – West Virginia ‘08 – Seattle Seahawks Bowl Games as a Coach
2016
Russell Athletic
2015
Cactus
2014
Liberty
2011
Beef O’Brady’s
2010
Gator
2008
Meineke
PERSONAL INFORMATION Birth date: April 16 Hometown: Belle Glade, Fla. Education: 2000 – Bachelor’s Degree from West Virginia 2010 – Master’s Degree from West Virginia Family: He and his wife, Brandi, have two daughters, Ava and Brenley, and one son, Jade
NEW ORLEANS — Tavin Cummings made a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining Thursday to lift Concordia (Ala.) to a 69-66 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
The Hornets (14-9), ranked sixth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, beat the Gold Rush (8-16) for the first time in five meetings. XULA won by 10 on a neutral floor last season.
Concordia trailed by 11 points in the seventh minute but trimmed the XULA lead to 33-31 by halftime. The Hornets led most of the second half.
DeAngelo Anthony scored 19 points, Cummings 17 and Dennis Miles 14 for Concordia, which is 7-5 this season against NAIA opponents. Christian Bryant had seven points, eight assists and eight steals, a Convocation Center men's record.
Mike Williams made 3-of-5 3-pointers and scored 16 points for XULA. Jalen David scored 14 points, and Donovan Armstrong had 11.
David's basket with 7:58 remaining gave XULA its final lead, 57-56. The Gold Rush tied the score at 66 on a Williams basket with 42 seconds remaining.
XULA shot 51 percent from the floor but made 7-of-16 free throws for a season-low 43.8 percent.
The loss was the fifth in six games for the Gold Rush and the third in a row at home. It was XULA's fourth loss this season by three or fewer points. Next for the Gold Rush will be a Monday game against city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival SUNO at 7:30 p.m. at The Castle.
NEW ORLEANS — The Los Angeles Dodgers have hired Xavier University of Louisiana's Allison Wood as head athletic trainer of the Dodgers' two teams in the Dominican Summer League.
Wood began Jan. 15 her duties in the Dominican Republic with the Dodgers' international winter specialized programs.
"Working in pro baseball has been my dream for 12 years," Wood said. "Baseball is very technical and individual. I love the nuances. I miss my staff and athletes at Xavier, but I'm grateful for this opportunity with the Los Angeles Dodgers."
Wood arrived at XULA in April 2014 as athletic trainer, and her primary coverage was with teams in women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's and women's tennis, plus the spirit groups.
XULA will announce soon a replacement for Wood. Mark Armour, who joined XULA as an athletic trainer in July 2015, remains on staff. XULA athletic trainer positions are part of the partnership between XULA Athletics and Ochsner Health System's sports medicine division.
NEW ORLEANS — Melvin Brown made 5-of-6 3-pointers and scored 19 points, both season bests, to lead Stillman to a 72-54 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana Wednesday.
