Rattlers Schoolfield among trailblazers in FSU football

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Kent Schoolfield returned to Tallahassee for a few days in early 1976.

On a whim, he stopped at Florida State and introduced himself to Seminoles’ new football coach Bobby Bowden.

“Coach didn’t know me from paint on the wall,” Schoolfield said.

Schoolfield, a former standout receiver at Florida A&M in the late 1960s, was coaching at Miami Central following his college and NFL careers.

Wanting to coach at the collegiate level, Schoolfield had mailed 100 resumes to programs nationally.

In Tallahassee to drop off his girlfriend/future wife at FAMU, where she was a student, Schoolfield made a last-minute detour to FSU with his resume.

“Coach Bowden had about 10 million resumes on his desk,” Schoolfield said.

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Tennessee State Falls to Tennessee Tech in Overtime, 87-81

BOX SCORE  |  RADIO CALLS

Final Score: Tennessee State 81 - Tennessee Tech 87 (OVERTIME)
Records: TSU (6-9, 1-3 OVC) – Tennessee Tech (11-6, 3-1 OVC)
Venue: Gentry Center
Location: Nashville, Tenn. 
Attendance: 1,127

NASHVILLE --- In a back-and-forth game, the Tennessee State men’s basketball team suffered an 87-81 overtime loss to Tennessee Tech on Saturday at the Gentry Center in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Christian Mekowulu and Delano Spencer scored 20 points apiece for the Tigers (6-9, 1-3 OVC) with Darreon Reddick adding 17.

TSU trailed by 13 points in the second half before storming all the way back and had the lead with 15 seconds to play in regulation. A corner three from TTU’s Shaq Calhoun with 12.1 seconds left forced overtime with the scored tied at 73-73.

The Golden Eagles (11-6, 3-1 OVC) outscored TSU, 14-8, in overtime.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU LEADERS
  • Points – Christian Mekowulu, Delano Spencer - 20
  • Rebounds – Ken’Darrius Hamilton, Delano Spencer, Darreon Reddick - 7
  • Assists – Armani Chaney- 5
  • Blocks – Christian Mekowulu- 5
• TSU was 0-for-2 from the free throw line in the first half, finished 17-of-23 in regulation, shooting 81 percent in the second half.
• There were nine ties and nine lead changes in the game.
• Delano Spencer scored in double digits for the 13th time this season, 24th time in his career.
• Christian Mekowulu reached double digit points for the 22nd time, eighth this season.
• Darreon Reddick scored in double figures for the fifth time this year and 35th of his career.
• Mekowulu recorded a career high five blocked shots.
• TSU outscored TTU in the paint by a 28-22 margin.

 HOW IT HAPPENED

• TSU scored the first nine points of the game with Ken’Darrius Hamilton picking up a three and a dunk in the first four minutes.
• Throughout the first half, Tennessee Tech cut the TSU lead down to one on three occasions, but the Tigers were able to maintain the lead.
• TSU took its largest lead of the first half on a three from Jalen Duke with 3:35 showing on the first half clock to put the score at 31-22 in favor of the home side. The Golden Eagles were able to cut TSU’s lead to 33-30 at halftime.
• Tennessee Tech took its first lead of the game on a three from Curtis Phillips Jr. 1:30 into the second half for a 38-35 edge.
• The Golden Eagles’ advantage grew to 13 points at 68-43 with 12:04 remaining.
• TSU clawed its way back into the game and leveled the score with nine points in a row including a three and layup from Delano Spencer. The Tigers regained the lead on a Mekowulu layup with 7:30 to play for a 61-59 edge.
• At the final media timeout with 2:50 showing on the clock, TSU held a 66-65 advantage.
• Down one, Reddick made two free throws with 1:07 left for a 71-70 lead.
• Reddick made two more free throws with 31.5 seconds left in regulation for a 73-70 lead.
• TTU’s tied the score on a corner three pointer from Calhoun with 12.6 seconds left tied the score at 73-73. The Golden Eagles came up with a stop on TSU’s final possession in regulation to force overtime.

GAME NOTES

• TSU is now 32-33 in the all-time series versus Tennessee Tech.
• The Tigers held the Golden Eagles without a field goal for 8:02 in the first half.
• TSU played its fourth overtime game of the season.

QUOTES

HEAD COACH DANA FORD

“We have to do a better job of closing out these games. Countless games that have either come down to overtime or the last shot, and for whatever reason, we’re coming up on the wrong side of them. A lot of the credit goes to Tennessee Tech. I thought they came in the first thirty minutes of the game and really took it to us from a mentally standpoint. I guess you could say that I didn’t have the guys ready enough from a mentality standpoint, even though we haven’t changed anything that we’ve done. Man, we’ve just got to play a complete 40 minutes and pay attention to details coming down the stretch.”
- Overview of the game

“We became the aggressor. It’s pretty simple. We played harder. We wanted it more, and for guys that have stretches throughout the game when that’s the case, we have to say we want it more. We’ve got to grow up. We’ve got to grow up from that and do a better job. I’ve got to coach them and do a better job. We’ve got to be more consistent with our execution, our mentality and our attention to detail.”
- On the second-half comeback

They’re all big games, and they’re all going to be close games. We’ve got to pay more attention to detail, and we’re going to have to continue to practice it like we have ever since the middle of October. How to close out games, and close games and have an understanding of what league play is all about. Hopefully, we will start to see the fruit of our labor more consistently.”
-On upcoming road games

UP NEXT

• TSU heads to Charleston, Ill. to take on Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m.
• The game is scheduled to air on national TV on CBS Sports Network and on the radio on 102.1 The Ville.

North Dakota State Wins Sixth FCS Championship 17-13 Over James Madison

FRISCO, Texas -- No. 2 seed North Dakota State won its sixth FCS national championship in seven years with a 17-13 victory over top-seeded defending champion James Madison on Saturday, Jan. 6, before a sellout crowd of 19,090 at Toyota Stadium.

It was North Dakota State's 14th football national championship since 1965 and tied the FCS record of six national titles held by Georgia Southern. The Bison finished their season 14-1 overall.

Junior quarterback Easton Stick, named the game's Most Outstanding Player, completed 13 of 22 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in his first championship game start after leading the Bison through the semifinals with eight straight wins as a freshman in 2015.

NDSU running back Bruce Anderson rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Lance Dunn rushed 13 times for 50 yards in his return to the Bison lineup after missing seven games with a hip injury.


Final Statistics (PDF)
NDSU Postgame Quotes
JMU Postgame Quotes

North Dakota State's defense forced three turnovers and held James Madison (14-1) to a season-low 241 yards. Defensive tackle Nate Tanguay had an interception, cornerback Marquise Bridges made his third interception of the playoffs near to stop a JMU drive inside the 5, and cornerback Josh Hayes forced a fumble recovered by linebacker Jabril Cox.

Sophomore defensive end Derrek Tuszka had two sacks and six total tackles for NDSU, and safety Robbie Grimsley added six stops to lead the Bison.

NDSU forced a three-and-out on the game's opening possession and the Bison marched 66 yards in 11 plays on their first offensive series capped by Anderson's 3-yard touchdown run.

Wide receiver Darrius Shepherd caught his first only touchdown pass of the season in the second quarter on a 50-yard strike from Stick that gave NDSU a 14-3. Cam Pedersen added a 32-yard field goal to make it 17-3 late in the second quarter.

Ethan Ratke's second of two field goals pulled JMU within 17-6 at halftime, and the Dukes scored the game's final points on a 1-yard Marcus Marshall touchdown run with 9:26 left in the third quarter.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Texas Southern claim third straight win with 100-94 victory over PVAMU

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers claimed their third consecutive victory at home in front of an energetic crowd as they defeated rival Prairie View A&M by a score of 100-94 at the HPE Arena.

Five Tigers scored in double figures with the backcourt of Demontrae Jefferson (23 points) and Derrick Bruce (22 points) combining for 45 points.

Jefferson picked up more than half his points from the free throw line by making 12-of-18 from the charity stripe while Bruce was hot from 3-point range, making 6-of-12 from downtown.

Marquis Salmon registered a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds and added three blocks while Donte Clark scored 14 and Lamont Walker added 12 for Texas Southern.

Texas Southern's win snapped the Panthers three-game winning streak as Prairie View A&M was led by Gary Blackston's 24 points and six reboun
ds while Zachary Hamilton added 18 points.

TSU will get set to continue league play as they travel to face Jackson State this upcoming weekend (Jan. 20).

BOX SCORE

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION

TSU Track and Field Set to Host Ed Temple Classic on Sunday

ED TEMPLE CLASSIC
Sunday, Jan. 7
9 a.m. Field Events  |  11 a.m. Track Events
Gentry Center  |  Nashville, Tennessee

LIVE RESULTS  |  MEET INFORMATION

STARTING LINE: In the lone home meet of the season, the Tennessee State men’s and women’s track and field teams will host the Ed Temple Classic on Sunday, Jan. 7 at Wilma Rudolph Indoor Track inside the Gentry Center. The meet is named after the late Ed Temple, who guided the Tigerbelles for four decades. Temple, who passed away in September of 2016, served as the Head Coach of the U.S. women’s track and field team at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics. 

THE FIELD: TSU, Middle Tennessee, Austin Peay, Jackson State, Alabama A&M

LAST TIME OUT: Tennessee State opened the 2017-18 indoor season with a number of strong performances at the Vanderbilt Opener on Dec. 2. R’Lazon Brumfield won the triple jump and took third in the long jump in his first collegiate meet. On the track, Jemarruse Amos secured second in the 60m hurdles with Isaiah Olige (60m hurdles) and James Faison (60m) taking third in their respective events for the Flying Tigers.

The Tigerbelles shined in the field events at the Vanderbilt Opener. Senior Cyra Beard won the high jump and secured second in the triple jump. Freshman Mikayla Thompson posted the top distance in the shot put, reaching 14.68m (48’2”).

IN THE NATION: TSU freshman R’Lazon Brumfield currently ranks fourth in the nation in the triple jump with his distance of 15.31m (50’2.75”) at the Vanderbilt Opener. Senior James Faison’s 400m time of 48.07 from the Vanderbilt Opener is the sixth-best in the country, while freshman Thomas Mosley is 17th in the 800m after clocking in at 1:54.80 in the opening meet. For the Tigerbelles, senior Cyra Beard is in the top 20 nationally in the triple jump (12th) and high jump (18th) from her performance at the Vanderbilt Opener.

LOCAL EVENTS: The Ed Temple Classic is the second of six meets for TSU in the state of Tennessee this season. The schedule includes three indoor meets and three outdoor meets in the state.

UP NEXT: TSU heads to Birmingham, Ala. to compete in the Blazer Invitational (Jan. 12) and the Vulcan Invitational (Jan. 13). Both events will take place at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

First Coast Battle of the Bands & MLK Celebration in Jacksonville, Florida -- Jan.13, 2018

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- First Coast Battle of the Bands welcomes six of the nations top college marching bands to Jacksonville to include Florida A&M University Marching 100, Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcats, South Carolina State University Marching 101, Talladega College Marching Tornadoes, Tuskegee University Crimson Pipers and Edward Waters College Triple Threat. Also participating in this event are local high school marching bands from Raines H.S., Ribault H.S., Lee H.S. and many more; plus national entertainment.

This is a all age family event and kids 5 and under are FREE.

Where: Hodges Stadium University of North Florida
Time: Gates Open at 12:00 Noon; ShowTime Starts at 1:00 PM Sharp!
MORE Information: www.JaxBattleofTheBands.com

Discount Tickets available until 1/1/18  --GET TICKETS

Eight Superior HBCU Bands “March On” to the 16th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Jan. 27, 2018

ATLANTA, Georgia– A record number of votes helped select a dynamic lineup of blue-chip marching bands from our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to perform at the 16th Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase on January 27, 2018. The annual event is the culmination of the HBOB program, and provides a national platform to highlight a key element in the HBCU community and campus life – the marching band.

The invitational showcase will feature extraordinary musicianship, sport and choreography from eight superior ranked HBCU marching bands and dance squads who are ready to electrify the city of Atlanta in the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

On a return visit to Atlanta to put on another extraordinary original show is the 2017 Celebration Bowl/HBCU National Football Champions' band -- the North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine and Golden Delight, the gold standard for all marching bands. 

With a mix of six HBOB veteran bands and two newcomers, the eight bands slated to perform at the 2018 HBOB Invitational Showcase include:

• Alabama A&M University, Marching Maroon & White Band (Southwestern Athletic Conference) – fifth appearance
• Alabama State University, Mighty Marching Hornets (Southwestern Athletic Conference) – sixth appearance
• Bethune-Cookman University, Marching Wildcats (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – 13th appearance
• Hampton University, The Marching Force (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – first appearance
• Miles College, Purple Marching Machine (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) – first appearance
• North Carolina A&T State University, Blue & Gold Marching Machine (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – sixth appearance
• Prairie View A&M University, Marching Storm (Southwestern Athletic Conference) – eighth appearance
• Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands (Ohio Valley Athletic Conference) – eighth appearance

Honda invited all HBCU marching bands to participate in this year’s program. Of the 39 bands that elected to participate, the “final eight” bands were selected through a voting process that incorporates input from online fans, band directors, HBCU school presidents and representatives from American Honda. In addition to a $20,000 grant from Honda to support their music education program, each of the final eight bands will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Invitational Showcase.

“The Honda Battle of the Bands exists to celebrate, support and recognize the excellence of HBCU marching bands by shedding a public light on a hallmark of HBCU culture,” said Steve Morikawa, Vice President, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility for American Honda. “The Invitational Showcase is a chance for thousands of talented young musicians to show off their teamwork and dedication with highly anticipated performances in front of a captive community of supporters. Honda is proud to continue to support the HBCU community.”



In addition to performances by the final eight bands, Honda will honor one special nominee with the fourth annual HBCU Power of Dreams Award. Students, alumni and fans are invited to nominate extraordinary individuals taking action and moving their HBCU communities forward. Nominations can be submitted online at hondabattleofthebands.com/power-of-dreams through October 31.

Group and individual tickets to the HBOB Invitational Showcase start at just $10 and are available for purchase now on the official website. Fans can follow the final eight bands’ road to the Invitational Showcase on official HBOB social media channels and join the conversation using #HBOB:

Facebook – Facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands
Twitter – @The_Honda / Twitter.com/The_Honda
Instagram – @The_Honda / Instagram.com/the_honda

About Honda
Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future for society. Honda is also committed to making positive contributions to the communities where we do business, to socially responsible business practice and to the promotion of diversity in our workforce. From our involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to our support of pediatric brain tumor research, and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where we live and work.

VSU Women’s Basketball Stave Off Rams, 89-66

ETTRICK, Virginia – Senior Alexis Smith recorded 27 points to lead Virginia State to a 89-66 victory over the Rams of Winston-Salem State University (5-8, 0-4 CIAA) this evening at the VSU Multipurpose Center. The win snapped a one-game win streak for the Rams.

Senior Keyana Brown chipped in a game-high 18 points and two blocks, while junior Chrisanna Green recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds on the night for VSU as they remain undefeated. Mia Fitts finished the contest with 14 points respectively.

Tiana Edwards paced Winston-Salem State in scoring with 17 points, while Kandace Tate each added 16.

After a fast start for the Rams, the Trojans (13-0, 3-0 CIAA) ended the game with an 89-66 victory in their 2018 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association home opener. With the victory, VSU improves to 13-0 for the first time in school history.

Both teams traded baskets over the first quarter, with the Rams collecting its first ten points from in the opening minutes. The Trojans tied the game at 7:45 with a 3-pointer by Alexis Smith. The game was tied 12-all with 7:33 left in the quarter. The Trojans then secured the lead for the remainder of the quarter. After holding the Rams to 6-for-6 shooting from the floor, VSU used the remaining minutes to end of the quarter to take an 33-12 lead.

Virginia State's full-court press proved to have an effect in the early stages of the second quarter, as Winston-Salem State committed 11 turnovers in the quarter. Despite an attempt by the Rams to cut the lead (52-29), WSSU added 17 points in the second. Tate finished the half with six points to lead the Rams, and Brown recorded 14 points and one steal for the Trojans as VSU secured a 52-29 lead at the intermission.

The teams continued to fight down the stretch, as the Trojans continued to add points on the board to close out the quarter, taking a 75-49 lead over the Rams. After going into the fourth quarter leading, the Trojans added 14 points to collect a 89-66 victory. Despite a rally by the Rams they ended the quarter with 17 points.

Keyana Brown and Dajour Strothers added four points each in the quarter for VSU. With 1:32 remaining, Strothers converted on a layup to put the Trojans ahead by 27 points.

While Virginia State held the overall edge in rebounding (37), Winston-Salem State was able to come away with a 23-22 advantage on the defensive glass, and scored 32 of their points in the paint. The Trojans did hold the Rams to 44 percent shooting for the game, with Brown recorded two blocks to help anchor the defense.

BOX SCORE

Up Next: Virginia State University will host Livingstone College at 2pm at the VSU Multipurpose Center tomorrow.

For the most up-to-date information on VSU women's basketball, please visit www.govsutrojans.com and follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports.

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TROJANS SPORTS INFORMATION

Virginia State Trojans Top Rams of Winston-Salem State

ETTRICK, Virginia  – Trey Brown led the way for VSU men's basketball in their win over the Rams of Winston-Salem State University; dropping 22 points on 9-of-16 shots to go along with four boards and two blocks in 34 minutes of action. Cyonte Melvin pitched in an additional 14 points and six rebounds. Andrew Corum and Philip Owens also scored in double figures for the Trojans, tallying 11 and 10, respectively.

Robert Colon led the way for the Rams, totaling a game-high 21 points and five assists.

Winston-Salem State never stopped fighting despite a five point deficit at intermission, but Virginia State's 17-of-32 performance from the floor in the first half kept the Trojans in the lead.

Brown scored 10 of his 22 points in the second half to fuel VSU's offense, which shot 51 percent (15-29) from the field in the contest. VSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the opening minutes of the contest, but the Rams continued to fight bringing, the score 30-20 in favor of VSU with 5:35 left in the half.

Virginia State continued to add points on the board as they added 10 addition points in the remaining minutes to give them a 40-35 lead going into halftime. Brown and Melvin paced the Trojans with 12 and 10 points each in the half.

The second half kept the crowd on their toes as both teams battled for the lead. Respectivly, each team finishing with 38 points each in the second period, but the final score ruled in favor of VSU, 78-73.

Virginia State finished the contest shooting 52 percent (32-of-61) from the field, 34 percent (8-of-23) from the arc and 40 percent (6-of-15) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT: Virginia State University will host the Blue Bears of Livingstone College at the VSU Multipurpose Center Saturday, Jan. 6. Tip-off is slated for 4 pm.

For the most up-to-date information on VSU men's basketball, please visit www.govsutrojans.com and follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports.

BOX SCORE

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TROJANS SPORTS INFORMATION

Former FAMU Football Coach Steven Jerry will not return

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Former Florida A&M University (FAMU) wide-receivers coach Steven Jerry announced on Twitter late last night that he will no longer return to the Rattler’s sideline to coach.

Jerry was informed of his release through a text message but says he is thankful for the relationships he has developed in his time at FAMU.

“My time at FAMU has come to an end,” Jerry said. “I appreciate every relationship developed over that time with the players, families, staff, administration. Now it’s time to move into the next phase. Whatever that may bring. I am thankful.”

The former coach has had the previous stint at FAMU, serving as the quarterbacks and receivers coach from 2008-2013. He was brought back to be the running backs and receivers coach in his second stint with Alex Wood after leaving North Florida Christian High where he was a volunteer coach for two years. During his time with FAMU, he was a big help in the recruiting process serving in the role as recruiting coordinator while still managing his duties as an offensive assistant coach.

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North Carolina A&T Indoor Track & Field Opens New Year at Clemson

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The North Carolina A&T indoor track and field teams open the new year in Clemson, S.C. for the 2018 Orange & Purple Invitational at the Clemson University Indoor Complex, on Saturday, Jan. 6. The one-day meet starts at 10 a.m. with four field events. The track events begin at noon.

The Aggies are up against Bethune-Cookman, Campbell, Charleston, Clemson, Southern, FIU, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Johnson C. Smith, and Tennessee Tech. “I am in a good spot as a head coach since we have so much depth,” said N.C. A&T director of track and field programs, Duane Ross. “We have a lot of bright spots all over the place. We are deep and there are a lot of athletes competing at an exceptional level.”

A&T last competed four weeks ago opening the indoor season at the JDL College Kick-off Classic winning the women’s 60-meter hurdles and the men’s 60 meter and 200m events. N.C. A&T totaled 31 top-10 performances with 17 coming from the women and 14 from the men. Eight different Aggies set new personal records in their respective events. The men will travel with a bulk of their squad to Clemson for their first indoor season test.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD BREAKDOWN

The Aggie field events will get things started in the men’s triple jump featuring junior Lasheon Strozier and freshman Semaj Anderson. Senior Aaron Deane will join both Strozier and Anderson in the men’s long jump at 1p.m., while junior Derrick Wheeler competes in the weight throw. Wheeler returns for the shot put competition along with freshman Aaron Wilkerson and Deane. Wheeler is the top weight thrower in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) at 55-feet, 2 ¾ inches and is eighth in shot put at 42-feet, 2 ¾ inches. Wilkerson ranks third in the shot put (49-feet, 4 ¼ inches) MEAC rankings. Senior Nehemiah Lipford and Anderson are slated for the high jump.

The 60mh start at 1:15 p.m. Junior Michael Dickson, senior Todd Townsend, sophomore Robert Miller and Deane are entered.

The Aggies have the top two 60m times in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Sophomore Jaylen Mitchell clocked in the nation’s fastest time at the JDL College Kick-off Classic in December with a time of 6.65. Senior Joel Thomas is second in the conference at 6.78. Mitchell goes into the weekend with the top time in the country.

“This year Jaylen has bought in, and he is focused,” said Ross. “That time surprised me. I knew from what he had been doing in practice, but as a coach you love to see that. Some athletes are good in practice and some athletes show up when it’s time. Right now, he is showing that he is that athlete that shows up when it is time.”

Freshman Trevor Stewart ran a top-10 MEAC time of 21.85 in the 200m at the season opener. Joining Stewart in the 200m at the Orange and Purple Invite will be junior Michael Dickson, Mitchell, sophomore Robert Miller and senior Joel Thomas. Not listed is junior Justin Hamilton, who has the fifth-fastest time in the nation.

Senior distance runners Steve Stowe and Corey Aiken are in the mile run while sophomores Marquise McGee and Daquan Maddox are in the 3000m event. In the 5000m, junior Hakeem Mustafaa and sophomore Joel Freeman will compete.

The men’s 4x400m relay is seventh in the nation and first in the MEAC after clocking in a time of 3:11.91. Hamilton, Jones, Stewart and Hardiing will run on the “A” relay team and Townsend, Mitchell, Rowe and Thomas are on the Aggies “B” relay team this weekend.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD BREAKDOWN

Sophomore Madeleine Akobundu was named MEAC Track Athlete of the Week following the nation’s second-fastest time of 8.35 in the 60mh at the JDL College Kick-off Classic.

“Madeleine is a great athlete, and I saw a lot of potential in her while I was recruiting her,” commented Ross. “I have been talking to her about how unimportant the No. 2 ranking is. I think she can run so much faster, so I cannot let her be content with that. She has definitely gotten the attention of the rest of the country”.

Akobundu is entered in the 60mh at the Orange & Purple Invitational along with senior Morgan Knight and freshman TeJyrica Robinson. Robinson sits ninth in the conference with a time of 8.84 in her collegiate debut. Following the 60mh is the 60m at 2:30 p.m. Senior India Brown, junior Kayla White and sophomore Taliyah Townsend will test the field. Townsend ran the fifth-fastest conference time in the 60m at 7.71.

The first distance event scheduled is the mile run with sophomore G’Jasmyne Butler, senior Miranda Green and sophomore Camille Martin. Martin is ranked third in the conference at 5:23.31 while Green is fifth at 5:32.09. Both Martin (10:48.99) and Green (11:26.98) are also competing in the 3000m where they are ranked sixth and eighth, respectively. Sophomore Khadijah Reid is the lone Aggie in the 800m and is ranked seventh in the MEAC with a time of 2:20.67. Senior Imani Coleman is entered in the 1000m run.

A trio of Aggies all ranked in the MEAC long jump top-10 hope to improve their marks. Akobundu has the second-best mark of 18-feet, 9-inches, freshman Royce Johnson (17-feet, 10 ¼ inches) ranks sixth and junior Anisa Toppin (17-feet, 6-inches) is tied for eighth in the long jump. Both Toppin and Johnson are also entered in the triple jump.

Senior Morgan Knight will represent the Aggies in the pole vault and freshman Nazah Reddick is in the high jump where she is tied for second in the conference at 5-feet, 1-inch. The weight throw follows the high jump at noon where senior Imani Abraham will perform after ranking seventh in the MEAC with a throw of 48-feet, 8 ¾ inches in the opener. Freshman Loren Jackson will debut in the shot put at 5 p.m. rounding out the field events.

The afternoon session is highlighted by the Aggie 300m and 200m events. Brown, sophomore Tori Ray, freshman Payton Russell, Townsend and junior Kennedy Thorne are all in the 300m while White, Townsend, Toppin and Reddick are in the 200m. The women’s 4x400m relay is 11th in the nation and tops in the MEAC after clocking in a time of 3:46.66. Ray, Russell, Lundy and Townsend will run on the “A” relay team and Brown, Barnes, Coleman and White are on the Aggies “B” relay team this weekend.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tennessee State Tigers Topple Jacksonville State, 67-60, for First OVC Victory

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY - By Sam Jordan | RADIO CALLS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --  Delano Spencer scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to lead the Tennessee State men’s basketball team to a 67-60 win over defending Ohio Valley Conference Champion Jacksonville State on Thursday night at the Gentry Center.

TSU (6-8, 1-2 OVC), playing its first home game since Dec. 2, forced 16 turnovers and shot 47.9 percent (23-of-48) from the floor on the night.

The score was tied at 25-25 at the half before the Tigers outscored the Gamecocks (11-5, 2-1 OVC) by a 42-35 margin in the second half.

TSU also picked up double-digit scoring efforts from Christian Mekowulu  and Armani Chaney with 14 points apiece.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU LEADERS
• Points – Delano Spencer - 20
• Rebounds – Christian Mekowulu - 9
• Assists – Armani Chaney- 6
• Steals – Armani Chaney- 5
• TSU was a perfect 15-for-15 from the free throw line.
• There were nine ties and 13 lead changes in the game.
• Delano Spencer scored in double digits for the 12th time this season, 23rd time in his career.
• Armani Chaney scored in double figures for the third time this year and 10th through his first three seasons.
• Christian Mekowulu reached double digit points for the 21st time, eighth this season.
• TSU outscored JSU in the paint by a 28-20 margin.
• The Tigers forced the Gamecocks into 16 turnovers and scored 19 points off the JSU miscues.
• Armani Chaney 5'10 recorded his first blocked shot of the season, blocking 7'0 Norbertas Giga under the basket.  
• 
  

 HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tigers built up an early 11-4 advantage powered by a jumper and three-pointer from Armani Chaney.
• After JSU took a 15-13 edge midway through the first half, TSU’s defense clamped down – holding the Gamecocks without a point for more than six minutes.
• The back-and-forth first half ended with both teams with 25 points. Chaney led all scorers with 12 points in the opening half. The Tigers shot 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from the floor in the first half.
• A three from Ken’Darrius Hamilton gave the Tigers a 41-36 lead with 13:37 to play.
• Spencer’s three-point play up the Tigers back up 50-47 at the under-eight minute media time.
• A Mekowulu dunk and a three-point play from Reddick gave the Tigers a 59-54 lead.
• The Gamecocks pulled to within three points on three occasions in the final 1:02 of the game, but TSU had the answer down the stretch with a Mekowulu tip-in and four free throws from Delano Spencer in the last 34 seconds.

GAME NOTES

• TSU is now 18-13 in the all-time series versus Jacksonville State.
• The contest was the first in the Gentry Center since Dec. 2 and is the first of six games at home in the month of January.
• TSU held JSU scoreless for a span of 6:08 during the first half; the Gamecocks were held to their second lowest first half point total (25) of the season.

QUOTES

Head Coach Dana Ford “I just thought this was the first time we played a complete game from start to finish in quite some time. Credit to the players. We’ve really challenged them lately to play with that ‘dog mentality.’ It’s like anything. It’s on them. They’ve got to go out there and figure it out. I thought tonight that for 40 minutes everyone was accountable for what they were supposed to do and they were a great teammate. Fortunately for us, that led us to being able to win against a great team.”
-Overview of the game

“Well I hope it solidifies what this group already knows. That they if they play well as a team, they can beat anybody that’s left on our schedule. But you’ve got to be a dog. You go out there and play the game like you’re in the third grade. When it’s your turn, it’s your turn. I thought tonight they took advantage of your turn. Now we have to turn around and do the same thing in practice, and then the same thing on Saturday.”
-On the defense

“They were accountable. They did what they were supposed to do. Those guys have been here over 15 years if you combine all their years. If I’ve got to tell them what to do every practice and every game in order to get the dog out of them, then that’s uncalled for. Tonight, I didn’t have to do that, and they played well. Mekowulu was great for the second half, and Armani was good for 40 minutes. Reddick played with the mentality that he always played with. We didn’t let anything that happened on the offense affect our defense. We always guarded here, and that’s how we’re going to win, and we’re fine with that.” 
-On the offense

Christian Mekowulu “It’s a big win. People are looking for a win for a couple weeks now. We have to be mentally tough, because we’ve been on a losing streak. I feel like guys wanted us to win. I think it’s a big win moving forward.”

-On the first OVC win

“I like it. Coach Ford kept telling me I had to be aggressive. I like when coaches challenge me. So I came out here today. I like when coaches challenge me and play against other bigs like me.” 
-On playing against other great posts

“It’s a good experience. Laying in your own bed and waking up at your own time. I felt like that helped us. It’s a big win at home.”
-On playing at home after a month on the road

Armani Chaney“I was being aggressive. I was listening to my teammates. They told me to shoot the open shots, don’t hesitate and step in and make shots. That is what I tried to do for my team. I was aggressive early and the shots fell.”

-On what worked offensively

“Of course it’s a big win because they are the defending champs of the OVC. We really are trying to worry about ourselves. It’s a big win for the team because it’s a win on the schedule. We’re just trying to keep building and keep winning games.”
-On defeating the reigning OVC Champs

UP NEXT

• TSU hosts Tennessee Tech at the Gentry Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNCATIONS

Morehouse Maroon Tigers Crack Top 25 in National Poll

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Maroon Tigers have started the New Year on a superb note – improving their overall record to 11-0 and earning a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches top 25 national poll.

At #25, this is the first time since 1995 that the Maroon Tigers have played their way onto the national polls. The 1994-95 team reached #15 in the polls, went 20-8 and played in the NCAA South Regional Tournament.

With a 6-0 conference record, Morehouse sits in second place in the SIAC East Division. The Maroon Tigers have thus far surpassed all expectations of conference prognosticators who projected Morehouse to finish fourth in the division.

Morehouse is listed at #5 on the D2SIDA South Region poll, conducted by a committee of sports information directors.

The 11-0 start to the season also surpasses the previous best start, set by the 1988-89 Morehouse team that began the season at 7-0.

Morehouse is #1 in the SIAC in Scoring (87.2 ppg), Scoring Margin ( 13.8), Field Goal Percentage (.489), Rebounding Margin ( 5.9), Assists (14.9), Steals (9.9) and Turnover Margin ( 5.45).

In the SIAC, Tyrius Walker is #2 in scoring (22.5), #3 in Steals (2.1), #5 in Assists (3.8) and #7 in three-point percentage (.448).

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION

Morehouse Tigers Roll to Twelfth Win In Row

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Four Maroon Tigers posted double figures and Morehouse rolled to 12-0, with a 96-78 win over the Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen College.

Morehouse took an early lead and never trailed, on the way to the third win in five games by 20 points or more. The Maroon Tigers led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but a lapse in focus allowed the Magicians to close to within one at halftime.

Despite losing the rebounding battle 39-40, the Maroon Tigers threw a blanket on the Magicians' offense, forcing 26 turnovers and collecting 16 steals.

Scoring leader and captain Tyrius Walker came within a hair of a triple double, posting 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Walker led all players with five steals.

Duby Maduegbunam had his best scoring game since mid-November, putting up 15 points, on 5 of 7 shooting from the field.

Co-captain Martravious Little had another all-around solid game, with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Omar Alston, the leading percentage shooter in the SIAC, continued that accuracy, hitting 4 of 4 shots from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. He finished with 13 points and a season-high seven assists.

Newcomers Keith Heard and James Walker had nearly identical stats lines, with six points and three rebounds each. Walker added an assist and a steal. Jordan Wallace chipped in three points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Three Magicians put up double figures, led by the Ellis Reshun, with 18 points. Reshun the SIAC's leading scorer failed to reach his 23.8 scoring average.

Demba Konate recorded 14 points and nine rebounds and Aston Morton chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds for the Magicians who fell to 4-9; 1-7.

Morehouse returns to action, Saturday, at 3 p.m., when the Dragons of Lane College come to Forbes Arena.

MOREHOUSE MAROON TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Lauren Turner’s Double-Double Leads Lady Panthers to a 63-55 Win Over Lane

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Lauren Turner had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers to their fourth straight win, a 63-55 victory over Lane College Thursday at L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers are now 7-0 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 9-5 overall. Lane, which was in first place in the SIAC West Division, falls to 3-12, 3-5 in conference play.

On a cold night in Atlanta, CAU only allowed Lane to hit 19-of-72 shots (26.4 percent) from the floor, including just six points in the second quarter.

Reyana Miller's 3-pointer with 8:24 left in the third quarter gave the Lady Panthers their biggest lead at 38-26. But the Lady Dragons fought back, closing the gap to two – 44-42 – on Antice McCoy's basket with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

But that's as close as they would get as Turner's nine-fourth quarter points helped CAU to hold off Lane for the win.

Turner's double-double is her fifth consecutive double-digit scoring and rebounding game. She also had three assists. Naomi Holloway finished with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Marissa Mandeldove had six points, eight assists, three rebounds and a steal, while Miller and Jonae Lee both added six points.

Lane was led by Rickera Martin and her 13 points.

"I'm happy that we won, but I'm not happy with the way we won," said CAU head coach Yolanda Moore. "We again did not do a good job of blocking out and rebounding. We didn't follow the game plan in terms of what we wanted to do on defense. Offensively, we kind of shut down and got away from what we wanted to do there as well. We kind of got discombulated a little bit. I'm just concerned moving forward. As we get deeper into the conference, those kinds of mistakes we just can't afford to make."

The Lady Panthers are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 when they host Lemoyne-Owen College at 2 p.m. in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

BOX SCORE

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Donaldson Leads Five in Double Figures As CAU Defeats Lane for Eighth Straight Win

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- Austin Donaldson's 17 points led by five players in double figures as the Clark Atlanta University Panthers won their eighth straight game, 81-54 over Lane College Thursday night in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Panthers are now 13-1 this season, 7-0 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Lane falls to 3-5 in conference play, 4-8 overall.

In a game the Panthers mostly led by double-figures, Donaldson scored 14 of his points in the second half in which the Panthers opened up a 35-23 halftime lead that grew to as much as 30 points late in the game.

The Panthers only allowed Lane to hit 29 percent of their shots and out-rebounded the Dragons and forced 24 turnovers that resulted in 25 points.

Donaldson led the CAU starting five with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot, while Jamal Pollydore had ten points. But the CAU bench, which accounted for 39 points, had three in double figures: Shelvick Henry (16 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal), Jalen Mitchell (12 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal), and Michael Vigilance (11 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal).

"I thought Austin was great," said CAU head coach Darrell Walker. "He made a lot of shots that needed to be made. I thought Shel was great off the bench, even though he was hurt. Our bench really won the game for us. Jalen and Shel, those guys could easily be starters for me, but I prefer them to come off the bench for us and give us that lift. That's a lot of points off the bench.

"It's a win," he said. "But I didn't particularly like the way that we played. I thought we could have executed a lot better offensively. I thought that we could have played with a little bit more passion. I'm little disappointed in that, but overall, we got a win."

The Panthers are back on action Saturday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. when they host Lemoyne-Owen College in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.


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CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fields and Stokes Lead Claflin Lady Panthers over Miles

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Ashley Fields and Jhanice Stokes scored 12 points each as Claflin University defeated Miles 52-45 in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women's basketball game Thursday at the Tullis Arena.

With the hard-fought win, Claflin is now 9-7 overall and 6-2 in the SIAC.

Stokes, who posted her fourth double-double of the season, also led the Lady Panthers on the boards with 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Joy Okeke contributed seven points and nine rebounds for Claflin, while Zakera Chadmon had five assists and five steals.

Miles, 3-7 and 1-2, was led by Amoni Walker and Najla Shasid-Deen with eight points apiece.

In the contest, Claflin used a strong third quarter to erase a five-point halftime deficit (25-20) outscoring Miles 17-10 for a 37-35 lead.

Fields, who had seven points in the quarter, tied the contest at 31-31 with a free throw at the 4:36 mark. The Lady Bears tied the game at 34-34 with 1:08 left in the quarter, but Chadmon connected on a three-pointer 20 seconds later, giving the Lady Panthers a 37-34.

Claflin led 37-35 heading into the fourth quarter. In that quarter, the Lady Panthers preserved the win by outscoring the Lady Bears 15-10.

In the first quarter, Miles opened the game with six straight points, only to see Claflin returned the favor by scoring the next six for a 6-6 tie at the 4:06 mark. A layup by Katrice Jackson broke the tie, providing Miles the lead at 8-6.

The Lady Bears led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Miles produced its biggest lead of the first half at 20-14 with the aid of a 10-4 run over the first five minutes. The Lady Panthers pulled to within 25-20 at the intermission by scoring eight of the last 13 points in the quarter. Stokes scored four of the eight points for Claflin.

Claflin will continue its SIAC home stand Saturday (Jan. 6), taking on Tuskegee University at 1:30 p.m. The contest will be Community/Youth Day.

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CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS SPORTS INFORMATON

Lawton Leads 15-1 Claflin Past Miles in SIAC contest

AUSTIN LAWTON

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Austin Lawton scored season-high 22 points and 14 rebounds as Claflin University ran it win streak to 14 games, outscoring Miles College 97-91 in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) basketball game Thursday at Tullis Arena.

Claflin is 15-1 overall, third best start since the 2007-08 season where the Panthers won 18 of their first 19 games followed a 17-1 mark during the 2008-09 campaign. The 14-game consecutive win streak is three shy of a program best 17 straight during the 2007-08 season.

The Panthers also pushed their unbeaten streak against SIAC opponents this season to 8-0. The Panthers are 5-1 at home.

Lawson, who posted his third double-double of the season for Claflin, surpassed a season-best of 17 points and 12 rebounds against Kentucky State University. He also blocked four shots for the third time this season for a total of 30.

Three other Panthers hit the double-figure; Benjamin "Tre" Williams tallied 19 points and Tondric Johnson contributed 18 points off the bench, 15 coming in the second half. He also had six rebounds and three steals.

Jaleel Charles scored 10 points along with seven rebounds for Claflin, while Triston Thompson dished out game-high seven assists.

The 14 three-point baskets and 97 points scored are season-highs for the Panthers.

Sheldon Wright led Miles, now 2-10 and 1-4, with a game-high 27 points. Jeffrey Dockett added 20 points for the Bears.

In the second half, Claflin produced its biggest lead of the period at 76-63 with 10:04 left off a jumper by Tyler Thompson. The basket by Tyler Thompson saw the Panthers outscore the Bears 29-24 over that span.

Miles stayed close in the final 10 minutes, pulling within four points at 95-91 with six seconds left, but a pair of free throws by "Tre" Williams with five seconds remaining sealed the win for Claflin.

In the first half, Claflin jumped out to a 5-0 advantage and never relinquish the lead. It took the Panthers 4:30 minutes to build a double-digit lead at 16-4.

The Panthers held a double-figure lead on and off until the midway point where Miles pulled to within 28-19 on a tip-in from Carl Garcia. Over the next eight minutes, the Bears would continue to move closer to the Panthers, closing the gap to four, 40-36 with 1:48 left in the half. The Panthers gained some breathing room in the final 1:24 of the half with a 7-3 run for the 47-39 lead at the intermission.

Claflin will continue its three-game home stand Saturday (Jan. 6) against Tuskegee University at 3:30 p.m. The contest will be a part of Community/Youth Day.

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CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Hall of Fame Induction set for 1967 Winston-Salem State team

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has recently announced that the Winston-Salem State basketball team, which won the 1967 NCAA championship will be inducted into the John B. McLendon, Jr. Hall of Fame.

This team was coached by the late Clarence “Big House” Gaines and led by Hall of Famer Earl Monroe from John Bartram High School. Monroe guided the Rams to a 30-1 record that season defeating Southwestern Missouri State for the national title. WSSU became the first Black college to claim an NCAA championship.

Monroe averaged 41.5 points per game and was named NCAA Division II Player of the Year that season. He played for the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks during his professional basketball career.

The ceremony will be held at the 2018 John B. McLendon, Jr. Hall of Fame Breakfast on March 2 at 9 a.m at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. This ceremony will also take place during the CIAA basketball tournament.

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