Firebirds’ 4x400M Relay Team Shatters Season-Best to Highlight UDC’s Performance at Terrapin Invitational

LANDOVER, Maryland -- The University of the District of Columbia women's indoor track & field team competed in the Terrapin Invitational hosted by the University of Maryland on Saturday, January 20th at the Prince George's County Sports Complex.

The highlight of the meet for the Firebirds came in the 4x400M Relay event where the four-some of Niasia Harding, Shannell Hibbert, Dajour Jones and Aisha Dozier blazed a new season-best time of 4:11.16 to place 10th of 17 teams. This time beat UDC's previous season best by nearly six seconds.

Individually, junior transfer Shaneika Bowra impressed in both the 60M and 300M events. She finished the 60M in 8.07s to place 16th of 49 competitors, and she ran the 300M in 44.54s to place 21st of 40. Senior Stacy-Ann Rowe ran a season-best time of 8.18s in the 60M to place 23rd, and sophomore Niasia Harding finished a remarkable, 8th out of 40 competitors in the 300M with a time of 42.71s in her first ever collegiate running of the event.

Results

Meanwhile, freshman Dajour Jones was 2nd in Section 5 and 16th of 28 competitors overall as she ran the 600M in 1:47.18, and sophomore Shannell Hibbert ran the 60M Hurdles in 9.64s to finish 8th of 38 competitors.

The Firebirds have next weekend off before they compete Saturday, February 3rd at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Invitational in Princess Anne, MD.

UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

UAPB’s Ivory sees this team as championship caliber

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Getting off to a hot start in Southwestern Athletic Conference play might be an understatement for what the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions have done. A historic start under UAPB Head Coach George Ivory in his 10th season at the helm of the men’s basketball program is more like it.

Since 2008, the Golden Lions haven’t ever started off 7-0 in SWAC play. In 2010, the Golden Lions won the SWAC tournament as a two seed, after finishing the regular season with a 14-4 conference record.

Ivory spoke on the understanding that the guys have with each other, and how they know where they are and where they’re trying to go.



“This is the best start that we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Ivory said. “I think the guys have a very humble approach and a great understanding of what we’re trying to do. Anybody can beat you on any night, and we’re staring to be consistent from night to night.”

The Golden Lions solidified their legitimacy in their past two games out in Texas against Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern. PVA&M and Texas Southern aren’t right there in the middle of the pack behind UAPB and Jackson State, but anytime teams go out there it’s hard to win.

For example, before UAPB took down Texas Southern 74-72 their last home loss was in February of 2015, and their home winning streak was at 27. For the past few years, Texas Southern has been a perennial power in the SWAC, winning the conference tournament three out the past four years.

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N.C. Central, Prairie View to meet in MEAC-SWAC Challenge

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The 2018 MEAC-SWAC Challenge will be a matchup of “firsts” when North Carolina Central and Prairie View A&M square off Sept. 2 at Georgia State Stadium in Atlanta.

The HBCU programs will be playing each other for the first time. MEAC member North Carolina Central will appear in the season-opening Challenge for the first time and SWAC member Prairie View will be seeking its first win in the 14-year-old series. Both programs also will have first-year coaches, N.C. Central’s Granville Eastman on an interim basis and Prairie View’s Eric Dooley.

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Reese's Senior Bowl: Players from Southern, N.C. A&T and S.C. State measure themselves against players from bigger, better-known schools

MOBILE, Alabama — Coming out of high school, Danny Johnson (Southern), Brandon Parker (North Carolina A&T), and Darius Leonard (South Carolina State) were snubbed by big schools. They were either too short (Johnson), too slow (Parker), or not smart enough (Leonard). The stereotypers of football had their chance. Now, it’s too late s now.

Johnson, a 4.0 GPA student who finished with a criminal justice degree in 3½ years, speaks for all three alums of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) here at the Reese’s Senior Bowl when he says with a smile, “I know my rights.”

And, those are? “I have a right to be here.”



It’s a play off the Colin Kaepernick Foundation program and it has to do with self-empowerment. Johnson, Parker, and Leonard were jets of enthusiasm this week at the Senior Bowl, the college football all-star game that attracts entire scouting staffs from NFL teams. You show out here and you enhance your draft status.

Johnson, Parker and Leonard spent four seasons proving they belonged in college football. This week, they are proving they belong in the NFL.

Here is a snapshot of each player’s week:



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Lincoln Announces its 2018 Football Schedule

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- Lincoln University, a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has announced its 2018 football schedule.

The Lions, who finished 0-10 overall and 0-7 in CIAA games, will have four home games in 2018 along with six road contests. The 2018 season will be the Lions 11th since reviving the program back in 2008. Football began at Lincoln 124 years ago in 1894 when the Lions played Howard University in the first collegiate football contest between two black colleges in the north.

"We are excited about the upcoming season as we pay homage to over 10 years of football's return to Lincoln University, " said Lincoln Athletic Director Harry Stinson III. "Adding new out of conference opponents and playing a Division I institution gives us more opportunities to showcase our university in the state of Pennsylvania, in our region and in our recruiting areas."

Season tickets for the 2018 season will soon be available for purchase at a special price of $54.00 for the four home games. This special price will be available until June 1. "Our season ticket package of $54 is a great way for you to engage in Lincoln's tradition of football at a nominal cost, "adds Stinson. "We want to sell-out all of our games. The 2018 season proclaimed as the "Year of the Lion" is going to be exciting and one you do not want to miss."

Lincoln will open the season at home with a non-conference contest against the Broncos of Fayetteville State University on Saturday, September 1st. In their last matchup, Fayetteville State defeated the Lions 49-17 in 2015 and is 3-0 lifetime against the Lions.

The following weekend (Sept. 8), the Lions will travel to New Britain, Connecticut to take on Division I FCS institution Central Connecticut State University. The game will be the first matchup between the Blue Devils and the Lions.

On September 15th, Lincoln will close out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a road contest against Clarion University, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). This will also be Lincoln's first ever contest against Clarion.

The Lions 2018 conference campaign will begin on September 22nd with a road contest against Livingstone College. The Lions will return home for their first CIAA home game of 2018 the following weekend (Sept. 29) when they return to Lions Stadium to host Johnson C. Smith University in the two team's final cross-divisional game.

The CIAA Northern Division slate will start on October 6th at Virginia Union University. The game will be 45th meeting between the two squads dating back to 1916. The Lincoln-Virginia Union series is Lincoln's oldest amongst the current CIAA schools.

Lincoln will return to Lions Stadium for their homecoming game against Elizabeth City State University on Oct. 13 before a road trip to Ettrick, Virginia to face the 2017 CIAA Champions, Virginia State University.

The Lions final home game of the season will be on October 27 when Lincoln hosts Bowie State University. The Lincoln-Bowie State game will be the Lion's Senior Day game.

The regular season will come to an end on November 3rd when the Lions visit Murfreesboro, North Carolina to face Chowan University.

All game times and further info on purchasing tickets will be announced at a later date.

The 2018 Lincoln University Football Schedule
Sept. 1 Fayetteville State
Sept. 8 @ Central Connecticut State
Sept. 15 @ Clarion (PA)
Sept. 22 @ Livingstone
Sept. 29 Johnson C. Smith
Oct. 6 @ Virginia Union
Oct. 13 Elizabeth City State
(Homecoming game)
Oct. 20 @ Virginia State
Oct. 27 Bowie State
(Senior Day)
Nov. 3 @ Chowan

THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY LIONS ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

East Coast Conference to Add Lincoln University as Associate Member for Baseball and Women's Soccer

WEST BABYLON, New York -- The East Coast Conference announced the addition of Lincoln University as an associate member in the sports of baseball and women’s soccer on Thursday afternoon. The Lions will start conference play in the two sports beginning in the 2018-19 season.

Lincoln, located in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (southeast Pa.), is the first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the United States. The Lions, Division II members since 2010, are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). However, the CIAA does not sponsor championships in the sports of baseball and women’s soccer, allowing the Lions to join the ECC in those select sports.

“We are pleased to bring on Lincoln University as an associate member for 2018-19,” said ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff. “The opportunity to help provide to this historic institution and its baseball and women's soccer student-athletes a conference affiliation was important for our ECC institutions and we look forward to working alongside President Brenda A. Allen and Director of Athletics Harry Stinson to offer a great experience for all involved.”

Lincoln’s Athletic Director, Harry Stinson III, added, “We are excited to join the ECC and join a great conference with institutions who excel academically and athletically. Our goal is to always provide great opportunities for our athletic teams to compete for conference championships and joining the ECC strategically positions our women's soccer and baseball teams with a great opportunity. We look forward to working with Dr. Dranoff, his staff, and the fellow institutions of the ECC.”

The addition of Lincoln will increase the number of schools participating in the ECC to eight in baseball and 10 in women’s soccer. With both sports previously having an odd number of teams competing, the Lions will fit seamlessly into scheduled byes on e
ach team's conference schedule.

Lincoln also becomes the 10th associate member in the ECC. The Lions join Adelphi University, Chestnut Hill College, Felician University, Franklin Pierce University, Kutztown University, Lincoln Memorial University, and Wilmington University, all of whom compete in women’s bowling, as well as indoor track & field participants, Holy Family University and Georgian Court University.

EAST COAST CONFERENCE ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Robert Brazile reflects on JSU career & being a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Patients have to wait a while to see a doctor. In the case of Dr. Doom, it's even longer. Robert Brazile found out five months ago that he would be a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I visited Brazile at his home near Mobile, Alabama to reflect on his storied career with Jackson State and the Houston Oilers.

"You see, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, " Brazile said. "But Christmas Eve is every night, I can't get any sleep! You work on bits and pieces here, bits and pieces of your enshrinement speech."

Seven straight Pro Bowls and five 1st-team All-Pro selections are some of the reasons the Oiler is on the Canton radar. How he ended up on Jackson State's radar in 1971 is a story worthy of a bronze bust.



"Everybody thought I was going to one of the big schools, Alabama or Auburn," Brazile said. "But my senior year I broke my arm, and everybody got off of me. I had a best friend, his name is Rickey Young, and we wanted to go to college together. Troy State came and invited us up for a weekend. So we signed a letter of intent. My mom and dad wanted to come visit, to see where we were going to school at, they had never heard of Troy State. So we get in my dad's car. When we got to Troy State everybody was suntanning, wasn't nobody in class. My mama said turn this car around, and you two find another school. I had a cousin that played at Jackson State, his name was Anthony Gibbs. Said could you call Bob Hill, see if we could meet him? Went over to Bob's house, we knocked on the door, we woke him up. Bob came out, he never looked at me. He looked down at Rickey's legs and said yeah I'll take you. But you gotta make my team. That's the reason I ended up with 80. I was a tight end. I just wanted a position."

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'I play big': Danny Johnson, first Southern player at Senior Bowl in 23 years, showcasing skills against the big boys

MOBILE, Alabama -- On this particular day, A.W. Mumford Stadium was an easy find for Phil Savage.

“Because the lights were on,” Savage laughed. “(Everything else) was pitch black.”

The Southern football team begins practice at 5:30 a.m., the reason it was dark when Savage visited campus last fall to evaluate one of the Football Championship Subdivision’s best players. Savage, a former NFL general manager and current executive director of the Senior Bowl, left that practice with all the information he needed.

Danny Johnson was going to the Senior Bowl.



Months later, Johnson was here on a sun-splashed day Thursday, donning his Southern helmet, orange Senior Bowl jersey and white pants and chasing down NFL-caliber wideouts like LSU’s DJ Chark and Missouri’s J’Mon Moore. He’s again showcasing his skills, this time in front of hundreds of NFL executives and pro scouts, and he’ll do it again Saturday in the Senior Bowl, televised on NFL Network from Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

It is the grandest of stages for a small-school cornerback like Johnson, an East Feliciana graduate who must face questions from scouts about his college competition.

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All-First Coast FCS team: Tracking the best area products in 2017-18

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The First Coast was not only represented well at the highest level of college football in 2017-18, but made quite an impact on the Football Championship Subdivision circuit, too.

The Times-Union’s fifth annual All-First Coast FCS team featured 137 players with ties to the area, the third most representation of local players since we began this series in 2013. Only the 2013-14 (147) and ‘14-15 teams (145) have featured more players with ties to the First Coast than this one. Fleming Island leads the way with 10 players at the FCS level, followed by Fletcher (nine) and Raines and First Coast (eight apiece).

Sports writer Clayton Freeman charts the 2017 Times-Union All-FCS squad.

Pos., Player, Class (*redshirt), Local tie, College, Update
OL Sam Baptiste, Sr., Ware County, Alabama State, Started at right tackle and earned first-team All-SWAC honors.

ATH Jamari Smith, GS., Fletcher, North Carolina A&T, Rushed 69 times for 389 yards, 2 TD; also caught 25 passes for 277 yards and 2 TD.

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Nuggets earn highest preseason ranking in three years

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was 10th Tuesday when the NAIA announced its 2018 women's tennis coaches preseason team rankings.

It's the first time since 2015 and the third time overall that the Gold Nuggets are in the preseason top 10. XULA was 19th in the 2017 preseason poll before finishing at 10th in the postseason.

XULA is in the top 25 for the 49th consecutive time. That streak began May 1, 2012. Dating to Feb. 25, 2004, the Gold Nuggets appeared in 94 of the last 104 polls. (The 2005-06 season, when XULA did not compete intercollegiately, is not included.)

The top 16 teams from the 2017 postseason all were in the top 16 Tuesday, though with minor shuffling. Keiser made the biggest climb in that group, moving from fifth to third. Nine of the top 16 teams, including XULA, have the same ranking as they did eight months ago.

Two-time defending NAIA national champion Georgia Gwinnett received all 14 first-place votes. The Grizzlies are No. 1 for the 13th consecutive poll dating to April 26, 2016.

The Gold Nuggets' schedule includes 10 dual matches against teams in the preseason top 25 — two each against No. 6 William Carey and No. 9 LSU-Alexandria, one each against Georgia Gwinnett,

No. 8 San Diego Christian, No. 13 Mobile, No. 14 Cumberlands, No. 15 Arizona Christian and No. 16 SCAD Atlanta. Also scheduled is Westmont, among "others receiving votes" and 30th overall.

XULA is one of the NAIA's top programs. The Gold Nuggets will try to qualify for the national tournament for the seventh consecutive year, the 10th time in 11 years and the 12th time overall.
There will be eight more polls this season, with the next on Feb. 13. From that date rankings will be updated every two weeks through May 7.'

XULA is one of six NAIA schools with women's and men's teams earning top-10 preseason rankings. The others are Georgia Gwinnett, Keiser, Lindsey Wilson, William Carey and William Woods. XULA's men, the Gold Rush, are ranked second.

The Gold Nuggets opened their 2018 season Saturday with a 7-0 loss at NCAA Division I South Alabama. They'll play their home opener at noon Sunday against city rival Loyola at XULA Tennis Center.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records from previous season)
RANK PREVIOUS SCHOOL RECORD POINTS
1 1 Georgia Gwinnett [14] 26-0 374
2 2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 22-5 357
3 5 Keiser (Fla.) 16-8 343
4 3 William Woods (Mo.) 14-10 339
5 4 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 13-3 336
6 6 William Carey (Miss.) 21-4 306
7 7 Indiana Wesleyan 37-9 302
8 8 San Diego Christian (Calif.) 15-4 299
9 9 LSU-Alexandria (La.) 19-4 277
10 10 Xavier (La.) 7-14 262
11 12 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 16-6 246
12 11 Northwestern Ohio 19-7 240
13 13 Mobile (Ala.) 24-5 232
14 14 Cumberlands (Ky.) 16-9 213
15 16 Arizona Christian 17-9 208
16 15 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 13-7 204
17 20 Middle Georgia 13-8 167
18 21 Campbellsville (Ky.) 12-12 159
19 19 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 10-12 148
20 22 Georgetown (Ky.) 16-8 138
21 RV Brenau (Ga.) 8-15 133
22 RV Coastal Georgia 11-10 110
23 RV Southwestern (Kan.) 17-5 104
24 24 Tennessee Wesleyan 12-7 79
25 25 St. Thomas (Fla.) 4-10 66
Other Receiving Votes: Cumberland (Tenn.) 59, Huntington (Ind.) 54, Missouri Valley 52, McPherson (Kan.) 49, Westmont (Calif.) 46, Reinhardt (Ga.) 36, Hastings (Neb.) 13, Asbury (Ky.) 11, Marian (Ind.) 10, Southeastern (Fla.) 5, Baker (Kan.) 3

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Fort Valley State Wildcats will open 2018 season with Florida Tech

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Director of Athletics, Dr. Darryl Pope, has announced the Wildcats 2018 Football Schedule. The Wildcats 10 game schedule includes four home games, five away games and the Fountain City Classic.

The 2018 season marks Head Coach Kevin Porter's third season at the helm of the Wildcats Football Program. In Porter's short tenure, he has compiled a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship, Back-to-Back Eastern Division Titles and made history for FVSU and the SIAC by being the first institute in the conference to host a SIAC Football Championship Game on their campus. The Fort Valley State University Wildcats and The Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University played for the 2017 SIAC Championship at Wildcat Stadium, with Tuskegee taking the win, 13-6.

FVSU opened the 2017 season with a road loss to The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA. The Valdosta State game in Waycross, Ga., was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. Miles College invaded Wildcat Stadium in week three and handed the Wildcats their second loss of the season. FVSU's first win came in week four over Benedict College at Wildcat Stadium, then took a loss in game five to Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. After the loss in Louisiana, the Wildcats rolled off four straight wins, starting with a win over Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga., and Lane College in The Valley. Then, FVSU beat Central State University on the road and defeated Morehouse College at Wildcat Stadium to clinch the Eastern Division Title. The Wildcats went to Columbus, Ga., with nothing to lose as they loss to Albany State University in the 28th Fountain City Classic and ended the regular season 5-4.

The Wildcats will open the 2018 season at home with Florida Tech University on Saturday, September 1 at 6 p.m. In week two, the Wildcats will travel to Waycross, Ga., to play Valdosta State University in the Okefenokee Classic on Saturday, September 8 at 7 p.m. The next three weekends, FVSU will travel to Fairfield, AL., for a non-conference matchup with Miles College on Saturday, September 15 at 3 p.m. The Wildcats will play their first conference game in Columbia, SC on Saturday, September 22 against Benedict College at 6 p.m. and Lane College the next week in a non-conference game in Jackson, TN., at 2 p.m. The Wildcats open at home with three games, starting with Clark Atlanta University on October 6 at 6 p.m., Tuskegee University on Saturday, October 13 at 6 p.m. and end with Lenoir-Rhyne University out of Hickory, NC coming to The Valley for Homecoming on October 20 at 2 p.m. The two teams met once in 2012 in the NCAA playoffs. Lenoir-Rhyne won that contest 21-6. On Saturday, October 27, FVSU will play Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA., at 2 p.m. The Wildcats end the regular season in Columbus, GA., against Albany State University in the 29th Annual Fountain City Classic at 2 p.m.

The 2018 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship game will be played on the Western Division Titles home field.

Date Opponents CG Location Time
Sept. 1 Florida Tech University Wildcat Stadium 6:00 PM
Sept.8 Valdosta State University (N) Waycross, GA 7:00 PM
Okefenokee Classic
Sept. 15 Miles College Fairfield, AL 3:00 PM
Sept. 22 Benedict College (SIAC) Columbia, SC 6:00 PM
Sept. 29 Lane College Jackson, TN 2:00 PM
Oct. 6 Clark Atlanta Univ. (SIAC) Wildcat Stadium 6:00 PM
Oct. 13 Tuskegee University (SIAC) Wildcat Stadium 6:00 PM
Oct. 20 LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY Wildcat Stadium 2:00 PM
"Homecoming"
Oct. 27 Morehouse College (SIAC) Atlanta, GA 2:00 PM
Nov. 3 Albany State Univ. (SIAC) Columbus, GA 2:00 PM
29th Annual Fountain City Classic A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium
Nov.10 SIAC Championship Western Division TBA

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MEAC basketball tournament will stay in Norfolk at least three more years, sources say

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will announce later this month that it has signed a three-year extension to keep its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments at Scope, according to two sources at league schools who asked not to be identified.

The tournaments moved to Norfolk in 2013 from Winston-Salem, N.C., and have seen a steady growth in ticket sales, from 52,293 in 2013 to 74,281 in 2016.

One of Norfolk’s biggest strengths is its central location, MEAC officials have said, with seven of the league’s 13 schools within a 4½-hour drive. With the contract ready to expire after this year’s event, the MEAC had put the tournament up for bid. The league had offers from several cities, officials said late last year.

The MEAC is headquartered in Norfolk, and has two local schools in Norfolk State and Hampton University. However, Hampton is leaving for the Big South next season, leading to speculation the tournament might go elsewhere.

MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas would not confirm or deny Thursday that an extension has been agreed to, but profusely praised Norfolk officials, including Mayor Kenny Alexander and city manager Doug Smith.

CONTINUE READING

At Valley, Vincent Dancy tackles college football's hardest job

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – It’s a slow Tuesday afternoon, and Mississippi Valley State quarterback Chris Fowler is looking for a football to throw around with some teammates.

He’s come to the Archie “Gunslinger” Cooley Devil’s Den, which houses the football program’s locker, equipment and fitness rooms, as well as the coaches’ offices.

The secretary behind the counter wants to give him one, but first she needs to get in touch with the program’s equipment manager. It’s hard to get ahold of him because, for now, he’s also head of operations and recruiting.

Eventually, newly minted head coach Vincent Dancy gets back to her — of course Fowler can borrow a ball, but not one of the new ones. They’ll need those for spring camp.

What many would consider as overly frugal, Dancy sees as fiscally responsible. It’s the kind of attitude he has to adopt to be successful in arguably the hardest coaching position in the country.

Whether MVSU’s 13th head coach can rise to that challenge remains to be seen.

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TSU Tigers Football releases 2018 schedule

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers football team released their 2018 schedule highlighted by a total of five home games at BBVA Compass Stadium, five road games, and one neutral site contest as the Tigers are scheduled to play a total of seven Southwestern Athletic Conference games.

Nine of the Tigers eleven slated games will be played within a four hour radius of the TSU campus with seven of those contests set to be played in the city of Houston or surrounding areas.

TSU will open the season at home versus UT-Permian Basin at BBVA Compass Stadium. This will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Texas Southern will subsequently embark on a three-game road trip over the course of the next few weeks with non-conference games at Texas State (Sept. 8), Alcorn State (Sept. 15) and Houston (Sept. 29).

The Tigers match-up versus UH will be only the second meeting between the two programs and first since 2007 when the two teams met at Robertson Stadium.

Texas Southern will return home to the friendly confines of BBVA Compass Stadium for a two-game home stand as they host Alabama A&M (Oct. 6) and Grambling State (Oct. 13).

TSU will participate in the Inaugural State Fair Showdown which will feature the Texas Southern Tigers versus the Southern Jaguars at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas (Oct. 20).

Homecoming 2018 is slated for October 27, when the Tigers host SWAC East foe Mississippi Valley State at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Two of the Tigers last three games of the 2018 campaign will take place on the road with Texas Southern traveling to face Alabama State (Nov. 3), prior to having their final bye week of the season. After the bye TSU will return to host its home finale and Senior Day versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 17).

The Tigers final conference and regular season game will be played Thanksgiving weekend at Prairie View A&M (Nov. 24).

2018 Tigers Football Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
9/1/2018 UT-Permian Basin Houston, Texas TBA 
9/8/2018 Texas State San Marcos, Texas TBA
9/15/2018 Alcorn State Lorman, Miss. TBA
9/29/2018 Houston Houston, Texas TBA
10/6/2018 Alabama A&M Houston, Texas TBA 
10/13/2018 Grambling State Houston, Texas TBA
10/20/2018 Southern Dallas, Texas TBA
10/27/2018 Mississippi Valley State (Homecoming) Houston, Texas TBA
11/3/2018 Alabama State Montgomery, Ala. TBA
11/17/2018 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Houston, Texas TBA
11/24/2018 Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Texas TBAB

BOLD: Home Game




TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

XULA Gold Rush No. 2 nationally for 11th straight time

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, the NAIA men's tennis national runner-up in 2016 and 2017, held the No. 2 position again Tuesday when the 2018 preseason coaches poll was announced.

It's the 11th consecutive appearance at No. 2 for the Gold Rush. The XULA men first ascended to that level in the 2016 postseason rankings. In preseason polls, this is the seventh consecutive year that the Gold Rush are in the top 10 and the third consecutive year in the top four.

XULA's top-25 appearance is its 87th in a row dating to April 4, 2007. It is the longest active streak in NAIA men's tennis. No. 13 Westmont is second on the list with 73 consecutive appearances.

Four-time defending national champion Georgia Gwinnett is a unanimous No. 1 for the 29th consecutive time. The Grizzlies — unbeaten each of the past two seasons and a 5-0 winner against XULA in the 2017 NAIA championship round — begin 2018 with a 57-dual win streak.

XULA played its first dual match of 2018 on Saturday and lost 6-1 at NCAA Division I South Alabama. Next for the Gold Rush will be dual matches this weekend — Saturday at NCAA DI Louisiana-Lafayette at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., then noon Sunday against city rival Loyola at XULA Tennis Center.

The Gold Rush active poll streaks:
• 87 consecutive appearances in the top 25 . . . streak began April 4, 2007.
• 78 consecutive appearances in the top 20 . . . streak began April 30, 2008.
• 63 consecutive appearances in the top 15 . . . streak began Feb. 1, 2011.
• 57 consecutive appearances in the top 10 . . . streak began May 3, 2011.
• 19 consecutive appearances in the top 5 . . . streak began Jan. 26, 2016.
• 17 consecutive appearances in the top 3 . . . streak began March 1, 2016.
• 11 consecutive appearances in the top 2 . . . streak began May 25, 2016.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records from previous season)
RANK PREVIOUS SCHOOL RECORD POINTS
1 1 Georgia Gwinnett [12] 24-0 312
2 2 Xavier (La.) 14-6 301
3 3 Keiser (Fla.) 19-4 293
4 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) 25-6 281
5 5 Northwestern Ohio 22-2 272
6 6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 17-7 262
7 7 William Carey (Miss.) 18-6 247
8 8 William Woods (Mo.) 15-5 245
9 9 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 19-6 230
10 10 Arizona Christian 15-13 223
11 11 Mobile (Ala.) 23-4 212
12 13 San Diego Christian (Calif.) 7-11 200
13 12 Westmont (Calif.) 14-8 186
13 14 Middle Georgia State 10-9 186
15 18 Coastal Georgia 14-8 164
16 16 Reinhardt (Ga.) 13-5 161
17 17 Asbury (Ky.) 18-2 156
18 15 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 9-9 138
19 19 Tennessee Wesleyan 12-5 129
20 20 McPherson (Kan.) 11-4 114
21 21 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 20-7 111
22 24 Cumberland (Tenn.) 7-6 106
23 22 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 12-7 87
24 23 Aquinas (Mich.) 17-7 72

25 25 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 11-4 68
Others receiving votes: Indiana Wesleyan 52, Cumberlands (Ky.) 35, Missouri Valley 32, St. Thomas (Fla.) 32, Point (Ga.) 19, Marian (Ind.) 19, Warner (Fla.) 16, Ottawa (Kan.) 12, Loyola (La.) 8, Cornerstone (Mich.) 4, Hastings (Neb.) 3

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Cane's to be presenting sponsor of Crosstown Classic

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics announced Wednesday that Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers will be the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Crosstown Classic Feb. 17 at the Convocation Center.

The Crosstown Classic is XULA's annual home basketball doubleheader against longtime HBCU, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival Dillard. The women's game will tip off at 3 p.m., followed by the men's game at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at xulatix.com and xulagold.com.

The partnership includes the Raising Cane's Shootout Series at halftime of five upcoming XULA home basketball games: Wednesday vs. Loyola (men), next Monday (Jan. 29) vs. SUNO (men and women) and the Crosstown Classic. Participants will win free food from Cane's for one year by making four shots — a layup, a free throw, a 3-pointer and a halfcourt shot — within 25 seconds.

There are 20 Raising Cane's restaurants in metro New Orleans, one close to XULA at 3235 South Carrollton Ave. The Baton Rouge, La.-based company has more than 360 restaurants in 23 states. Business Insider named Raising Cane's its top restaurant chain of 2017.

"We are excited to have Raising Cane's to join the Xavier family as our newest athletic corporate partner," said XULA Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn. "I remember attending the grand opening of the Carrollton location and the excitement from the Xavier community to have them in the neighborhood. This will prove to be a great partnership this year and beyond."

Raising Cane's also will sponsor the reception for the Sister Grace Mary Flickinger Honor Roll recipients the same day as the Crosstown Classic.

The Crosstown Classic will be the second XULA-Dillard doubleheader of the season. Dillard won both games Saturday — women 63-53, men 70-69 — at DU's Dent Hall.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush complete season sweep of city rival Loyola

NEW ORLEANS, New York — Jalen David tied his season high of 21 points, and Elex Carter blocked a career-best six shots Wednesday to lift Xavier University of Louisiana to an 82-72 men's basketball victory against city rival Loyola.

The Gold Rush (15-6) snapped a two-game losing streak and swept the season series from the Wolf Pack (10-8) for the first time since 2010-11. XULA leads the series 35-12.

David, a senior guard/forward, was 8-of-13 from the floor and led his team with seven rebounds and three steals. Carter became the XULA player to reach six blocks s ince Denzell Erves at Tougaloo on Feb. 18, 2013. Carter blocked four shots in the first four minutes of the second half.

Freshman Rayshawn Mart scored a career-best 19 points for the Gold Rush, and Jeff Dixon had 14 points and nine assists.

Terry Smith scored 20 points, Nick Parker 19 and Chris Eckholdt 14 for Loyola. Parker scored 15 in the second half.

XULA closed the first half with a 12-2 run to take its first lead, 32-31, at halftime, but had to rally again in the second half after Eckholdt's basket gave Loyola a 59-44 lead with 10:14 remaining. The Gold Rush outscored the Wolf Pack 14-3 in the final five minutes and took the lead for good on David's basket with 4:22 remaining.

XULA shot 59.3 percent from the floor in the second half and for the game outshot Loyola 51.8 to 44.4 percent. XULA outrebounded Loyola 30-28. The Wolf Pack made 26-of-33 free throws to the Gold Rush's 18-of-24.

XULA will travel to Hawkins, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas, for its final regular-season non-conference game — 7:30 p.m. Friday against Jarvis Christian. The next home game will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival SUNO, and one fan will have an opportunity to win free Raising Cane's food for one year.

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Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Florida A&M Athletics Announces 2018 MEAC Football Slate

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Department of Athletics announced their conference schedule for the 2018 football season today. The slate includes eight MEAC games.

The Rattlers open conference play on Sept.22 against the Tigers of Savannah State University. The conference home opener will be played in Bragg Memorial Stadium. The Rattlers will then travel to Durham, NC on Sept. 29 to take on the Eagles of North Carolina Central University.

October will open with the Norfolk State Spartans coming to Bragg Memorial Stadium for an Oct. 6 game. FAMU travels to Greensboro, NC to take on the national champion Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University Oct. 13.

The Hampton Pirates are slated to make a visit to Bragg Memorial Stadium on Oct. 20. This game is in limbo as Hampton is pushing for an immediate exit to the Big South Conference, ditching games scheduled within the MEAC. Further information on this situation will be forthcoming.

Oct. 27, the Bears of Morgan State University will trek to Bragg Memorial Stadium in the final game of October.

The Rattlers will travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Bison of Howard University on Nov.3. The Rattlers will enjoy a Nov. 10 open date before wrapping up the regular season in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 17 in Camping World Stadium in the Florida Blue Florida Classic against the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University.

The FAMU Investing In Champions campaign is full speed ahead. The campaign has a record start of nearly $100,000 thus far. Make sure not to be left out as we are soon to release the full football schedule for 2018. Renew today and keep your seats and parking spaces for the start of the Willie Simmons era.

To get set for the 2018 season, visit FAMUBuildingChampions.com or call the FAMU Ticket Office at (850)599-3141.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Prairie View A&M Men's Tennis' Xavier Lawrence Selected to Participate In Davis Cup

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Xavier Lawrence of the Prairie View A&M men's tennis team recently won a tournament in his home country of Barbodos and has been selected to represent his country in the Davis Cup.

"This is a huge opportunity for Xavier," said PVAMU's head tennis coach Duane Williams. "As a tennis player pretty much everyone has the dream of playing professionally tennis. The Davis Cup as well as being an international competition it also includes many professional players. So through hard work and dedication Xavier has earned to opportunity to not only play for his country but to do so at the highest possible level."

The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. It is described by the organizers as the "World Cup of Tennis", and the winners are referred to as the World Champion team. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Great Britain and the United States. By 2016, 135 nations entered teams into the competition.

The St. James native Lawrence made a strong case by capping the unofficial Davis Cup trials with a 6-4, 6-4 straight-sets victory over the more seasoned veteran Seanon Williams. Yet Lawrence's selection was even more straightforward, as the 19-year-old sophomore all but earned his spot by toppling both Adam Hornby (7-5, 4-6, 6-1) previously and Williams in successive matches en route to the Top 8 title.

Lawrence will be joining four others that make up the five-man squad. He will join world no.173 Darian King, seasoned veteran Haydn Lewis, Kaipo Marshall and Hampton University's Matthew Foster-Estwickat the opening-round Group I encounter.

This means the 15-year-old Marshall is set to become the youngest Bajan player to make a senior Davis Cup roster since now Prairie View A&M's head coach Duane Williams, which also did so as a 15-year-old back in 1995.

As such, Barbados will field one of its youngest teams to date, as the 20-year-old Foster-Estwick, Lawrence and Marshall are all under the age of 21.

"This achievement by Xavier is a testament to PVAMU's continued goal of developing student athletes," Williams said. "This shows that the entire athletics program including strength & conditioning and sports medicine are definitely developing high caliber athletes."

Barbados will begin play against Colombia at the National Tennis Centre on February 2 with both opening singles before concluding the tie the following day with doubles and the reverse singles.

"I am confident that Xavier will represent his country of Barbados and Prairie View A&M University to the best of his ability," said Williams.

PRAIRE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Hampton University Pirates Matthew Foster-Estwick Represents Barbados in Davis Cup

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University men's tennis sophomore Matthew Foster-Estwick was selected to be a member of the Barbados Davis Cup team that saw action this past weekend against Paraguay in Americas Group II Davis Cup action.

He didn't see action in the weekend that saw Barbados defeat Paraguay 3-2 to advance and face Guatemala on the weekend of April 7-9.

Foster-Estwick and his Hampton University teammates will open their spring schedule on February 19 at Delaware in a 4pm start.

For more information on Hampton University men's tennis, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-77-5906 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Alcorn Braves Releases 2018 Football Schedule

LORMAN, Mississippi -- With five home games at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium, the Alcorn State University football program released its 2018 schedule Wednesday.

The Braves will play seven SWAC games and four non-conference games for the second straight year.

Alcorn will kick-off the season on Saturday, Sept. 1 when it heads to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech from the ACC. It will be just the second-ever meeting between the two schools and a rematch of the 2015 season opener.

"I'm looking forward to the upcoming season. We start out against a very tough Georgia Tech team. We've played them before, and we'll be able to see where we're at early on," McNair said.

The Braves will play their home opener the following weekend on Sept. 8 when they host Louisiana College. In the only prior meeting, Alcorn came out on top 52-10 in 2014.

For the second straight season, the Braves will play Texas Southern in a non-conference game. Alcorn won last year's contest on the road 24-17 and will host the Tigers this year on Sept. 15. The Braves are 34-18-4 all-time against TSU and have won six years in a row.

Alcorn's first conference game will be played on Sept. 22 when it travels to Itta Bena to play Mississippi Valley State. The Braves shutout the Delta Devils 59-0 last season at home and have won five years in a row.

Alcorn will also play SWAC road games at Southern, Alabama A&M and Prairie View A&M. The Braves will host Alabama State, Grambling State and Jackson State.

"The seven game conference schedule is similar to last season, except with there not being a conference championship game this year it makes each regular season game that much more important," McNair said. "We can't take any weeks off and have to play every game like it's the championship."

Prior to the season finale vs. JSU, Alcorn will travel to New Mexico State for a non-conference game on Nov. 3. It will be just the second-ever meeting between the two programs and the first since 2008 when NMSU took a 45-10 decision.

Homecoming and game day themes for 2018 will be announced at a later date.

Fans can get their first peek of the team on Saturday, April 14 when the Braves host their annual Spring Game at 2 p.m.

Braves 2018 Schedule
Sept. 01 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 08 Louisiana College
Sept. 15 Texas Southern
Sept. 22 at Mississippi Valley State*
Sept. 29 at Southern*
Oct. 06 Alabama State*
Oct. 13 at Alabama A&M*
Oct. 20 Grambling State*
Oct. 27 at Prairie View A&M*
Nov. 03 at New Mexico State
Nov. 10 Bye Week
Nov. 17 Jackson State*

*SWAC Conference Game
BOLD: Home Game

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Gold Rush stymied on road for 2nd time in 3 days

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Jamahl Jackson and JaCarre Crockett led a second-half surge Monday that lifted Philander Smith to an 84-67 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Panthers (8-9, 3-2) closed with a 33-10 run (16-of-19 free throws) over the final 9:07, getting nine points from Jackson and eight from Crockett. They took the lead for good, 60-59, when Tyson Oliver made a pair of free throws with 6:31 remaining.

Jalen Davis scored a season-high-tying 21 points, Virgil Davison 13 and Jeff Dixon 10 for the Gold Rush (14-6, 3-2). The XULA men dropped their second decision in three days after winning eight in a row.

Philander Smith trailed 31-17 in the 17th minute and 33-28 at halftime. But the Panthers roared back with the help of 6-of-8 3-pointers and 22-of-27 free throws in the second half.

Dejalin Austin scored 22 points — he made 5-of-8 3-pointers — and Chris Journet 12 for Philander Smith, which is 7-1 at home this season. Jackson and Ernest Maize scored 11 points apiece, and Justin Small had 10. Maize grabbed 10 rebounds to record his second straight double-double, and Marquis Browder had five steals.

XULA outshot Philander Smith 46.9 to 35.9 percent from the floor but committed 30 fouls, three technical fouls and a season-worst 28 turnovers. The Gold Rush committed 17 turnovers in the first half.

The Panthers' victory denied XULA a share of first place in the GCAC with Talladega, which was idle. Talladega leads the conference at 4-1, followed by Tougaloo at 3-1 and XULA and Philander Smith in a third-place tie, half a game ahead of fifth-place Dillard at 2-2.

The Gold Rush will play non-conference city rival Loyola (10-7) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at XULA's Convocation Center. It will be XULA's first home game since Dec. 18. The Gold Rush won 75-70 at Loyola Dec. 16.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Nuggets lose luster in second half at Philander Smith

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Xavier University of Louisiana couldn't capitalize on a six-point halftime lead Monday and fell to its fifth consecutive loss in women's basketball, 69-55 to Philander Smith.

The Gold Nuggets (7-10, 0-5 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) got 17 points, a career high, and nine rebounds from DeDe Martinez. Gina Smith recorded her second straight double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Maya Trench had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.\

Terralynn Dominick and Princess Cole scored 18 points apiece for the Lady Panthers (11-7, 4-1), who took sole possession of first place in the GCAC, and Honchea Thornton had 12.

XULA led 34-28 at halftime after shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, then shot 17.9 percent in the second half and was outscored 41-21 in that period.

XULA matched its longest losing streak of the last 15 seasons. The Gold Nuggets also lost five in a row in November 2002 and November 2016.

The Gold Nuggets will play city and GCAC rival SUNO at 5:30 p.m. next Monday at XULA's Convocation Center. It will be the Nuggets' first home game since Dec. 18.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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UAPB keeps SWAC hot streak going with close win at Houston

HOUSTON, Texas — University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff head men’s basketball coach George Ivory knew it was just a matter of time before junior guard Martaveous McKnight would come up big for the Golden Lions.

“We knew he would come through for us,” Ivory said after the Golden Lions’ dramatic 74-72 victory Monday night at the HP&E Arena in Houston. “He’s played so hard for two weeks.”

With the Golden Lions trailing by three points with 2.8 seconds remaining, McKnight hit a 3-pointer, got fouled and fell to the floor.

Before McKnight could step to the free throw line, Texas Southern head coach Mike Davis argued the foul call, drawing a technical foul.

Ivory said his heart dropped “a little bit” after McKnight missed the first free throw, but he was still confident in the 6-foot-3 guard, who calmly converted the next two for a 74-72 lead.

As soon as Texas Southern senior Lamont Walker’s desperation shot bounced off the rim, the first place Golden Lions (7-14, 7-0) extended their winning streak to seven games. They snapped three-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Texas Southern’s 26-game home conference winning streak.

UAPB also won at TSU (4-17, 5-3) for the first time this decade, after losing four games at TSU by six points or less since 2011.

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UAPB 2018 spring baseball season kicks off on Feb. 16 in NOLA

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions baseball team will begin its 2018 spring season on February 16 as it faces Alcorn State University in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark at the University of New Orleans. UAPB will also face Grambling State University (Feb. 17) and Alabama State University (Feb. 18) at the same location.

On February 20, the Golden Lions will travel to Kansas to face the University of Kansas at Hoglund Ball Park before the highly anticipated home opener and three-game series against the University of Tennessee at Martin on February 23, 24 and 25 at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex. UAPB will then head to Knoxville, Tennessee, to face the University of Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on February 28 before returning home to open up Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Southern University in a three-game series which will begin on March 2.

Another SWAC three-game series at home, this time against Grambling, will start on March 9. UAPB will then play host to Valparaiso University on the following weekend for another three-game series at Tori Hunter Baseball Complex.

On March 20, the Golden Lions will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to face Texas Christian University at Charlie and Marie Lupton Baseball Stadium before heading to Texas Southern University for a three-game series at Macgregor Park in SWAC play. On March 28, UAPB will head to Conway, Arkansas, to face in-state opponent University of Central Arkansas at Bear Stadium before hosting UCA at home on April 10.

The Golden Lions will head back to Texas on April 17 to face Stephen F. Austin at Jaycees Field before heading to Waco, Texas, to face Baylor University at Baylor Ballpark on April 18.

On April 24, UAPB will host the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in a much anticipated in-state game before returning the favor in Little Rock on May 8 at Gary Hogan Field.

On May 16, the 2018 SWAC Baseball Tournament will begin at Pontchartrain Park in New Orleans.

Click here for a complete list of UAPB's spring baseball schedule.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION