MEAC Announces Women's Basketball All-Conference Honors

NORFOLK, Virginia — Bethune-Cookman junior Angel Golden was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, the conference office announced today. Maryland Eastern Shore’s Bairesha Gill-Miles was named Rookie of the Year, while Bethune-Cookman junior Ashanti Hunt earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Bethune-Cookman head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis was named Coach of the Year.
 
All awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Golden ranked fourth in the MEAC in scoring this season, averaging 15.5 points per game, and her 40.1 percent clip from behind the arc (77-for-192) ranked second in the conference. She averaged 2.8 made threes per contest (37th in the nation), and Golden eclipsed the 20-point mark 10 times – including seven of her last 12 games. A four-time MEAC Player of the Week this season, Golden was the offensive leader on a Bethune-Cookman squad that went 15-1 in league play this season to earn a share of the MEAC regular-season title. In MEAC play, Golden averaged 17.1 points per game.
 
Gill-Miles ranked eighth in the MEAC with 7.9 rebounds per contest, while also averaging 10.6 points per game. She was named MEAC Rookie of the Week six times, and Gill-Miles recorded six double-doubles this season – including a stretch of four in a row from Jan. 22 through Feb. 5. She scored a season-high 20 points against North Carolina Central, and the 15 rebounds she grabbed against Coppin State and Florida A&M were also a season best.
 
Hunt ranked 10th in the MEAC with 7.3 rebounds per game, and she was fifth in the league in defensive rebounding, grabbing just over five boards per contest on that end of the floor. She blocked a season-high four shots twice: against Jacksonville and against Coppin State. Hunt also pulled down double-digit rebounds four times this season, including a season- and career-high 17 in a non-conference win over Texas State. Often tasked with defending other teams’ best scorers, Hunt held all but two of them below their season averages this season.
 
Blair-Lewis led Bethune-Cookman to a 15-1 mark in league play, sharing the regular-season title with North Carolina A&T State – marking the third straight season in which the Wildcats either held or shared the MEAC’s top spot at the end of the regular season. Bethune-Cookman won 23 games in the regular season – the first time the program recorded a 20-win regular season since the 1984-85 season.
 
Joining Golden and Hunt on the 2018 All-MEAC First Team are Coppin State’s Genesis Lucas, Delaware State’s NaJai Pollard and Norfolk State’s Kayla Roberts.
 
The 2017-18 regular-season champion, All-MEAC First Team members and honorees – such as Player, Rookie, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year – will be recognized in pre-game presentations prior to their first games of the 2018 MEAC Basketball Tournament (March 5-10 in Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.).

2017-18 Women’s Basketball All-MEAC Honors

As voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors

Player of the Year: Angel Golden, Bethune-Cookman

Rookie of the Year: Bairesha Gill-Miles, Maryland Eastern Shore

Defensive Player of the Year: Ashanti Hunt, Bethune-Cookman

Coach of the Year: Vanessa Blair-Lewis, Bethune-Cookman

FIRST TEAM

Name	Ht.	Class	Pos.	School	Hometown
NaJai Pollard	5-11	Jr.	F	Delaware State	Richmond, Va.
Kayla Roberts	6-1	Sr.	G/F	Norfolk State	Miami, Fla.
Angel Golden	5-8	Jr.	G	Bethune-Cookman	Tampa, Fla.
Genesis Lucas	5-7	r-Sr.	G	Coppin State	Brandywine, Md.
Ashanti Hunt	5-11	Jr.	G	Bethune-Cookman	Washington, D.C.

SECOND TEAM

Name	Ht.	Class	Pos.	School	Hometown
Monnazjea Finney-Smith	6-1	Sr.	G/F	Hampton	Portsmouth, Va.
Chance Graham	5-11	So.	F	Coppin State	Upper Marlboro, Md.
Kaylee Allen	5-11	Jr.	G	Savannah State	Cincinnati, Ohio
C'Coriea Foy	6-0	So.	G	N.C. A&T State	Fayetteville, N.C.
Bryeasha Blair	5-5	Gr.	G	S.C. State	Chicago, Ill.

THIRD TEAM

Name	Ht.	Class	Pos.	School	Hometown
Florence Ouattara	6-0	Sr.	G/F	Florida A&M	Tiassale, Ivory Coast
Lexus Spears	6-2	Sr.	F	Morgan State	Jacksonville, Fla.
Alexus Lessears	6-3	So.	C	N.C. A&T State	Cleveland, Ohio
Rodneysha Martin	5-5	Jr.	G	N.C. Central	Olive Branch, Miss.
Jephany Brown	6-0	Sr.	F/G	Hampton	Washington, D.C.

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Name	Ht.	Class	Pos.	School	Hometown
Kieche White	5-4	Fr.	G	N.C. Central	Washington, D.C.
Bairesha Gill-Miles	6-0	Fr.	F	Maryland E. Shore	Lexington, Ky.
Brianna Battle	5-3	Fr.	G	Bethune-Cookman	Pompano Beach, Fla.
Armani Franklin	5-5	Fr.	G	Norfolk State	Hampton, Va.
Ryan Jones	5-5	Fr.	G	Delaware State	Columbia, Md.

MEAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC tournament bracket and predictions: Top-seed Hampton makes for an interesting storyline

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Returning the conference’s leading scorer and Defensive Player of the Year from a season ago, many picked Morgan State as the favorite to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. On Thursday, the Bears ended their regular season with a loss to the struggling four-win Delaware State Hornets and have now lost three of their last four games.

When the dust settled on the MEAC’s regular season Thursday night, there was a three-way tie at the top of the conference, with three teams sporting 12-4 league records. By way of a tiebreaker, Hampton grabbed the top seed for the MEAC’s post-season tournament, a first-round bye and the MEAC’s NIT berth by having the best head-to-head record and a better winning percentage than Savannah State and Bethune Cookman.

For the first time since 2013, all 13 MEAC teams will play in its post-season tournament.

Hampton enters the tournament as the conference’s hottest team, having won seven straight games. The Pirates are led by Jermaine Marrow, who is averaging 19.8 points per-game. The 6-foot sophomore is also averaging about five assists and five rebounds per-game. In 15 games this season, he’s scored at least 20 points.

According to KenPom, Hampton is the highest ranked MEAC team at No. 240.

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Grambling State adds new corners coach

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State head football coach Broderick Fobbs strengthened his program’s ties to the biggest recruiting bed in Louisiana with the newest addition to his staff.

Del Lee-Collins, most recently a head high school football coach in New Orleans, has joined GSU’s assistant coaching staff as cornerbacks coach, Fobbs confirmed to The News-Star Thursday. This is the first coaching hire Fobbs has made this offseason.



Lee-Collins spent the last two years coaching at John Ehret High School, last season as interim head coach, and has coached a combined 10 years in the greater New Orleans area at St. Augustine, Sophie B. Walker and Landry-Walker. John Ehret went 9-4 and advanced to the LHSAA Class 5A playoffs in 2017 under Lee-Collins’ guidance, where it lost, 38-0, in the second round to eventual state champion Zachary.

At St. Augustine from 2007 to 2009, he coached current Arizona Cardinal Tyrann Mathieu.

A 1998 McNeese State graduate, Lee-Collins played cornerback for four years for the Cowboys before going on to play professionally for five total years with the New York Jets and the Arena League’s Toronto Phantoms. He jumpstarted his coaching career at his alma mater in 2004.

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Texas Southern bounces Southern out of title contention; two players ejected for fight

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern's shot at a regular-season championship has ended.

In a 90-88 loss to Texas Southern on Thursday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center, Southern (14-16, 10-7) failed to stay in contention for the Southwestern Athletic Conference title with a seventh loss.

Southern, Texas Southern and Prairie View, which the Jaguars will host to end the regular season on Saturday, sat in a three-way tie for third place at 10-6 before Thursday. Southern's loss is expected to drop Southern to fourth or fifth in the conference.



First-place Grambling State (16-14, 12-5), which defeated Alabama A&M on Thursday, must win Saturday at Alabama State to clinch the regular-season championship. Because of an NCAA Academic Progress Report sanction, Grambling is ineligible to compete in the postseason, which includes next week's SWAC tournament.

The Jaguars (14-16, 10-7 SWAC) fell in four of their first five conference games before winning eight of the next 10 games through the heart of their conference schedule, good enough to move into second place before Saturday's loss at Alcorn State.

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Christian Mekowulu Earns OVC Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-OVC

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee --- Tennessee State men’s basketball forward Christian Mekowulu (Lagos, Nigeria) earned Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a place on the All-OVC Second Team, it was announced by the conference office today.

The redshirt junior ranks in the top 25 in the OVC in eight different statistical categories including 19th in scoring (12.6 ppg), sixth in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and second in blocked shots (1.6 bpg). This marks the third-consecutive season a TSU player has won OVC Defensive Player of the Year after Tahjere McCall took home the award each of the last two seasons.

Mekowulu has scored in double figures 18 times this season including a career-high 27 points in TSU’s 50-47 victory over Eastern Illinois on Jan. 27.

His six double-doubles this season, including two in OVC play, are the most on the team and are good for a tie for the sixth most in the conference.

Mekowulu’s 45 blocks are the most for a TSU player since the 2011-12 season when current Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington finished with 45 blocks for TSU. Mekowulu has 13 games with two or more blocks this year.

The 6’9 forward has been TSU’s most-consistent rebounder this season, leading the team on the glass in 22 games - posting seven games with double-figure rebounds.

Mekowulu is a key defensive mainstay for the Tigers, who force turnovers on 23.5 percent of their opponents’ possessions – the fourth-highest rate in the nation this season.

Throughout the season, Mekowulu earned adidas OVC Player of the Week on Dec. 4 and Jan. 29.

For Mekowulu, it is his first time making the All-OVC team and his first major award from the league office.

Mekowulu’s selection to the All-OVC team marks the 33rd all-conference selection for TSU since joining the OVC prior to the 1987-88 season.

Under fourth-year Head Coach Dana Ford, TSU has now had three First Team All-OVC selections and two Second Team All-OVC selections.

2017-18 ALL-OVC AWARDS
OVC Player of the Year: Jonathan Stark, Murray State
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Christian Mekowulu, Tennessee State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
OVC Coach of the Year: Matt Figger, Austin Peay

ALL-OVC FIRST TEAM
Jonathan Stark, Murray State G - Sr.
Dylan Windler, Belmont - G/F - Jr.
Averyl Ugba, Austin Peay – F - Sr.
Denzel Mahoney, Southeast Missouri - G - So.
Terry Taylor, Austin Peay - F - Fr.
Amanze Egekeze, Belmont - F - Sr.
Nick Mayo, Eastern Kentucky - F - Jr.
Terrell Miller, Murray State - F - Sr.
Austin Luke, Belmont - G - Sr.
Ja Morant, Murray State - G - Fr.

ALL-OVC SECOND TEAM
Christian Mekowulu, Tennessee State - F – R-Jr.
Curtis Phillips, Jr., Tennessee Tech - F - Sr.
Jalen Henry, SIUE - F - Sr.
Malcolm Drumwright, Jacksonville State - G - Sr.
Montell Goodwin, Eastern Illinois - G - Sr.

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Averyl Ugba, Austin Peay - F - Sr.
Terry Taylor, Austin Peay - F - Fr.
Ja Morant, Murray State - G - Fr.
Ledarrius Brewer, Southeast Missouri - G -Fr.
Jason Burnell, Jacksonville State - F - Jr.
Mack Smith, Eastern Illinois - G - Fr.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

TSU Drops 73-71 Decision to EIU in OVC Tournament First Round

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

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT – FIRST ROUND
Final Score: (#6 Seed) Tennessee State 73 - (#7 Seed) Eastern Illinois 71 
Records: TSU (15-15) – EIU (12-18)
Venue: Ford Center
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Attendance: 654

EVANSVILLE, Indiana --- The Tennessee State men’s basketball team fell by a 73-71 final score to seventh-seeded Eastern Illinois on Wednesday night at the Ford Center in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Senior Delano Spencer scored a team-high 17 points to lead the sixth-seeded Tigers.

Redshirt junior forward Christian Mekowulu posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Armani Chaney finished with 15 points and six assists on the night.

TSU (15-15) nearly overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half, closing the gap to two points in the final minute. The Panthers (12-18), who shot 31 free throws, shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the floor and held on down the stretch.

Spencer scored the game’s final five points, but the comeback fell two points short.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU LEADERS
  • POINTS – Delano Spencer - 17
  • REBOUNDS – Christian Mekowulu - 12
  • ASSISTS – Armani Chaney - 6
• Christian Mekowulu scored in double figures for the 19th time this season.
• Mekowulu recorded his ninth career double-double.
• Armani Chaney reached double-digit points for the ninth time on the year.
• Delano Spencer scored 10 or more points in a game for the 26th time this season.
• 
  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Panthers took an early 11-5 lead, Christian Mekowulu scored the game’s next six points to level the scoring at 11-11 with 11:16 left before halftime.
• EIU went on a mini run of its own, scoring the next seven points to take a 20-13 lead.
• The Tigers worked their way back into the game by going down low to Mekowulu, who had 13 points and five rebounds at halftime. TSU, which held the Panthers without a field goal for the final five minutes of the half, trailed EIU by a 24-22 margin through 20 minutes.
• A pair of Armani Chaney free throws just over four minutes into the half gave the Tigers a 29-28 edge.
• The Panthers were able to stretch their advantage up to 11 on a jumper from Montell Goodwin with 5:09 left for a 61-50 edge.
• A corner three from Stokley Chaffee Jr. put the Tigers down just three at 65-62 with 1:37 to play, but on the next possession, Mack Smith banked in a three to put the score at 68-62.
• After EIU’s Ray Crossland made two free throws with 15 seconds left for a 73-66 lead, Delano Spencer hit a three and a layup to close the gap, but EIU was able to survive on TSU’s final possession.

QUOTES

HEAD COACH DANA FORD

“I think we cut it down to one possession then I think they banked one in. I think prior to that maybe they got fouled and it was an and-one. You’ve got to give them credit. They were able to answer all of our challenges, but I was proud of our guys for consistently challenging them down the stretch.”
- On EIU having an answer to TSU’s runs

“We needed to make some shots. I guess they were doing a good job down on (Christian) Mekowulu, especially in the second half. He couldn’t really break loose, and in order to free him up, you have to have a couple guys step up and make a few shots and I thought our guys did that. Again, I thought our guys competed and tried to make the plays to win.”
- On players stepping up to hit shots

“Honestly, I have to watch the tape to give you the true answer. I don’t know if EIU did a lot to stop Mekowulu. I don’t know. I’ve got to go back and watch the tape.”
- On what EIU did to stop Christian Mekowulu in the second half

“We don’t want it in anyone else’s hands there. He’s made big shots for us. He’s our best shooter. I’m glad you asked about him. I think he’s an all-league guard. I don’t know why I wouldn’t want the ball in an all-league guard’s hands with the game on the line down two. He shoots 42 percent from three, averages 16 points a game. That’s who I want to take it.”
- On Delano Spencer taking the last shot

“Crossland. I tip my hat to that kid tonight. He guarded Delano Spencer like I’ve seen players in our jerseys guard other people. He did a fantastic job. He did it legally. He showed his hands. He was there on every catch. That’s how you win. That’s how they won, they did a good job. Obviously, Delano has the respect of their coaching staff for them to guard him that way.”
- On the defense of EIU’s Ray Crossland

ARMANI CHANEY

“Of course. We are a never-quit group. We’ve always been a never-quit group. Coach always tells us, ‘keep grinding. Pound the rock. It’s going to break on day.’ So, of course, we always feel like we’ve got a chance to win a game, regardless of what the score is.”
- On if the team always thought they could win

GAME NOTES

• TSU is now 12-26 all time in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
• Tennessee State was making its 28th appearance in the OVC Tournament.
• The Tigers are 29-24 in the all-time series versus Eastern Illinois.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC/SWAC Challenge stage set for Atlanta, ESPN

ATLANTA, Georgia – The matchup of the 14th MEAC-SWAC Challenge was officially announced on Wednesday as the Prairie View A&M Panthers will take on the North Carolina Central Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Georgia State Stadium.

Game time is TBA, and the game will be televised live on ESPN2.

The Wednesday press conference was moderated by ESPN's Jay Harris.



“It’s huge for our program because it creates excitement for our players and gives them exposure,” said PVAMU Head Football Coach Eric Dooley said. “More than that, it again gives Prairie View A&M University exposure on a national platform. It’s a great venue for the game, I’m excited for this opportunity, and looking forward to coming back in September.”

Dooley along with PVAMU Vice President / Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson were in attendance along with North Carolina Central head coach Granville Eastman, SWAC Interim Commissioner Edgar Gantt and MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas.

It’s the second appearance for the Panthers in the game, who first played in the Challenge in 2011.



“We’re really excited to be here for the official announcement of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge and to be able to open the HBCU College Football season in Atlanta,” said John Grant, Executive Director of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl.

“We could not think of a better place to make this happen. Now that we are opening the season with this game and closing it with the Celebration Bowl here in Atlanta, we are truly excited to bring this to the citizens of this city.”

The Panthers will open the 2018 season at Rice on August 25 in Houston.

Prairie View A&M Sports Information

2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament: Opening Rounds (Day 2) Recaps

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) kicked off their second day of opening rounds for the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament.
 
Game 5 (Men): No. 2 Lane 80, No. 7 Paine 60
Box Score | Lane Recap |  Paine Recap
 
Jalen Lewis led the Dragons with 21 points to fire through Paine Lions, 80-60. Defensive Player of the Year, Kendarius Ash led closely behind as he posted 18 points to add to his 22 rebounds. Despite starting with a technical foul, the Lane Dragons led the entire game as most of their post came from off the bench which accounted for 35 of their points. Paine struggled shooting from the field as they only managed to post 39 percent of their shots which caused their fall to 6-21 on the season. Lane Dragons will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face the Claflin Panthers on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. CST. 
 
Game 6 (Women): No. 3 Claflin 68, No. 6 Lane 51
Box Score | Claflin Recap |  Lane Recap
 
Dominique Williams led the Lady Panthers to their first win in the opening rounds of the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament as they defeated the Lane Dragons, 68-51. Williams (19), Fields (18), and Stokes (14) all led the Lady Panthers in double-digit scoring. Twenty-three of Claflin’s points came from Lane’s turnovers which gave them an advantage over the Lady Dragons. Destiny Irvin led in scoring with 18 points for the Lady Dragons while Antrice McCoy and Mariah Hopkins both added 10 a piece. The Lady Panthers will advance to the quarterfinals as they face No. 2 LeMoyne-Owen College on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CST. 
 
Game 7 (Men): No. 3 Claflin 73, No. 6 Tuskegee 62
Box Score | Claflin Recap |  Tuskegee Recap
 
Claflin’s Triston Thompson and Benjamin Williams were the leading scorers for the Panthers as they posted 15 points each in their 73-62 win over the Tuskegee Golden Tigers. The Panthers managed to shoot 50 percent from the floor which attributed for 40 of their points. Tuskegee’s James Eads led the Golden Tigers as he shot 53 percent from the floor, 71.4 percent from the 3-point line, and 75 percent from the free-throw while adding 24 total points and a rebound which allowed them to lead for most of the game. A change came late in the second half when Claflin took the lead and ran slashing the Golden Tigers. Claflin advances to the quarterfinals as they face No. 2 Lane on Thursday, March 1 at 3:15 p.m. 
 
Game 8 (Women): No. 3 Kentucky State 81, No. 6 Paine 58
Box Score | Kentucky State Recap |  Paine Recap
 
Jordan Campbell led the Thorobreds with 21 points which included shooting 60 percent from the floor and perfect shooting from behind the arc and the charity line. The Thorobreds led for most of the game until the Paine Lady Lions gained on them coming within one point in the third quarter. Keondra Archie, who earned a spot on the all-conference team, led the Lady Lions by posting a game-high 14 points and 10 rebounds. In spite of everything, the Lady Thorobreds held the Lady Lions to a 27.9 percent shooting from the field as they took advantage and managed to finish shooting 42.9 percent. The Kentucky State Lady Thorobreds advance to the quarterfinals as they face No. 2 Albany State on Thursday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Game 9 (Men): No. 3 Kentucky State 79, No. 6 Albany State 92
Box Score | Kentucky State Recap |  Albany State Recap
Randy McClure had an all-around excellent performance for the Golden Rams as he led shooting 69.2 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the free throw line which attributed to his 27 points. In the first half, Kentucky State was in one point of the Golden Rams as Ray Croon was hot shooting leading with 13 points most of which were made in the paint. As the second half opened up, Albany State improved their shooting and made a run of 15 points lifting them over the Kentucky State Thorobreds. Kentucky State finished with a 9-18 record overall on the season. Albany State Golden Rams will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face No. 2 Lane on Thursday, March 1 at 7:45 p.m. 

For more information on the tournament, CLICK HERE!



SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament: Opening Round Recaps

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (February 26, 2018) – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) kicked off their opening rounds for the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament.

Game 1 (Men): No. 5 Fort Valley State 88, No. 4 Miles 82
Box Score | FVSU Recap | Miles Recap

Jamaal Garror led the Wildcats in scoring as he led them to their first win over Miles Golden Bears, 88-82, to kick off the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament at Bill Harris Arena. Tyler Edwards (24) and Jaylon McMillan (16) trailed closely behind, both scoring in double-digits. Walter Foster, who made the SIAC All-Conference Team, led the Wildcats in rebounds as he posted 13 during the opening game. Garror posted his first double-double in the tournament as he finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats are scheduled to face No. 1 Morehouse Maroon Tigers on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 3:15 p.m. CST as they advance to the quarterfinals. The Golden Bears finished their season with a 7-20 overall record.


Game 2 (Women): No. 4 Miles 66, No. 5 Fort Valley State 45
Box Score | FVSU Recap | Miles Recap

Ashley McCrear and Amoni Walker led the Lady Bears to their first win in the opening round of the tournament as they both posted a game-high 14 points. Miles (9-20) shot 50.0 percent from behind the arc and 57.1 percent from the free-throw line in their 66-45 win over Fort Valley State. McCrear posted her first double-double of the tournament as she posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Golden Bears. Fort Valley’s Alicia Franklin scored 17 of the Lady Wildcats points while Nola Carter followed closely with 11 points. Fort Valley was held to shooting 21.8 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from the 3-point line. Fort Valley Lady Wildcats finish their season 4-23. Miles Lady Golden Bears will advance to face Clark Atlanta Lady Panthers on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. CST.


Game 3 (Men): No. 4 Benedict 72, No. 5 LeMoyne-Owen 69
Box Score | Benedict Recap | LeMoyne-Owen Recap

Three players finished in double digits in scoring as Benedict Tigers defeated the LeMoyne-Owen Magicians, 72-69. Cairo Brown led his team in scoring with 22 points as Brandon Morris (19) and Jelani Watson-Gayle (12) followed closely behind. The Tigers averaged 41.0 percent from the field while shooting 62.3 percent from the free-throw line. Morris managed a double-double in the opening game as he posted 19 points and 13 rebounds. As the game continued, LeMoyne-Owen improved their field shooting from 34.6 percent in the first half to 55.6 percent in the second half allowing them to gain on the Tigers. Four players managed double-digit scoring for the Magicians, but came up short against the Tigers. Benedict Tigers advances to the quarterfinals as they face No. 1 Central State on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7:45 p.m. CST.

Game 4 (Women): No. 4 Benedict 80, No. 5 Tuskegee 69
Box Score | Benedict Recap | Tuskegee Recap

Ay’Anna Bey finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds lifting the Benedict Tigers over Tuskegee’s Golden Tigers, 80-69, in the opening round. Despite the many turnovers, Benedict recovered by shooting 78.7 percent from the free-throw line. As Bey led the team in scoring, MiKeisha Moore (18), Jabree Jones (11), and Shirvel Luke (10) all contributed critical points throughout the game. Benedict led throughout most of the game until Tuskegee made a run in the third quarter as they scored 31 points of Benedict’s 39 turnovers. Benedict responded in the fourth quarter by shooing 81.5 percent from the free-throw line lifting them over No. 5 Tuskegee. The Lady Golden Tigers finished their season 6-20. The Lady Tigers will advance to face No. 1 Central State University on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. CST. 

For more information on the tournament, CLICK HERE!



SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Joseph Williams voted into NABC-NAIA Slam Dunk Contest

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Joseph Williams was a landslide winner in online fan voting for next month's 2018 NABC-NAIA Shoot & Slam presented by U.S. Bank.
     
Williams — a 6-foot-6 senior forward from Memphis, Tenn., a graduate of Lausanne Collegiate School and a transfer from Freed-Hardeman University — received 79.8 percent of the nearly 3,000 votes cast in a three-person race. Williams received 2,341 votes, followed by Tyler Bell of Jarvis Christian (Hawkins, Texas) with 398 votes/13.6 percent and Marcus White of Dickinson State (Dickinson, N.D.) with 195 votes/6.6 percent.     



Voting concluded Monday, and the NAIA announced Williams's victory Tuesday. Williams will be the first from XULA to compete in this event, scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday, March 17 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
     
Also in the dunk contest will be Arsenio Arrington of Aquinas (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Titus Rice of Ottawa (Ottawa, Kan.) and DeShun Patterson of Tabor (Hillsboro, Kan.) Those three were selected by a committee of NAIA Division I and II coaches.
     
The NABC-NAIA Shoot & Slam will be sandwiched between four quarterfinal games of the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. Williams and his XULA teammates, 21-7 this season, will try to qualify automatically for the tournament by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend or by an at-large bid. Tournament dates are March 14-20.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Nuggets close with 7th straight GCAC victory

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore point guard Maya Trench had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists Wednesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-52 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball against Talladega.
     
The Gold Nuggets (14-11, 7-5) closed the regular season with seven straight GCAC victories and six straight overall.
     
XULA won every quarter and shot 56 percent from the floor in the second half.
    
Essence Wells scored 10 points for XULA. The Nuggets' two seniors, Ireyon Keith and Angelle Simon, combined for 14 points — eight by Keith and six by Simon. They were honored in a ceremony after the game.
     
Deshanna Cook scored 12 points and Courtnee Williams eight for the Lady Tornadoes (17-13, 7-5).
     
XULA won the tiebreaker with Talladega for the No. 3 seed in the GCAC Tournament. The Nuggets will play No. 6 seed Tougaloo at 2 p.m. Friday at SUNO's The Castle. All women's and men's semifinals will be this weekend at XULA's Convocation Center.

BOX SCORE

GCAC Tournament

WOMEN
Friday first round at SUNO
Noon — 4-Talladega vs. 5-Philander Smith
2 p.m. — 3-XULA vs. 6-Tougaloo
5 p.m. — 2-Edward Waters vs. 7-SUNO
1-Dillard has bye

Saturday semifinals at XULA
Noon — 1-Dillard vs. Talladega-Philander Smith winner
5 p.m. — XULA-Tougaloo winner vs. Edward Waters-SUNO winner

Sunday championship at XULA
2 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Rush earn share of GCAC regular-season championship

NEW ORLEANS — Virgil Davison scored a career-high 26 points, 18 in the second half, to help NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana rally Wednesday for a 74-62 men's basketball victory against Talladega and grab a share of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship.
     
XULA (22-7, 9-3) shared the title with Dillard, which will have a first-round bye in the GCAC Tournament. The Gold Rush will be the No. 2 seed and play seventh-seeded Edward Waters Friday at Dillard's Dent Hall. The GCAC will announce the bracket and times Thursday.
     
The Gold Rush trailed 14-2 after seven minutes and 30-25 at halftime. But XULA shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the second half and outscored the Tornadoes (19-10, 8-4) 49-32 in that period.
     
Davison's fourth 3-pointer put XULA ahead to stay at 59-56 with 3:10 remaining.
    
 Galen Smith scored 10 points for XULA, which was 10-20 last season.
     
Devonte Dixon scored 18 points, Arcuas McGhee and and Khaliel Spearman had 13 apiece, and Carl Taylor scored 10 for Talladega. McGhee grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots.
     
Seniors Jalen David, Elex Carter, Joseph Williams and Rondell Best were honored in a pregame ceremony. All four started the game. It was the first-ever XULA appearance for Best, who has battled injuries since transferring from NCAA Division III Daniel Webster. Best played the first minute and 42 seconds and grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot.   

XULA has won 20 championships at the confBOXerence or district level. This is the first Gold Rush title since the 2013-14 GCAC regular season. 



BOX SCORE

GCAC Tournament


MEN
Friday first round at Dillard
Noon — 4-Philander Smith vs. 5-Tougaloo
2 p.m. — 3-Talladega vs. 6-SUNO
5 p.m. — 2-XULA vs. 7-Edward Waters
1-Dillard has bye

Saturday semifinals at XULA
2 p.m. — 1-Dillard vs. Philander Smith-Tougaloo winner
7 p.m. — XULA-Edward Waters winner vs. Talladega-SUNO winner

Sunday championship at XULA
4 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

FAMU splits road series, beats FIU, 8-4

MIAMI, Florida -- Florida A&M entered Wednesday’s game looking to redeem itself after dropping game one of its two-game series here with FIU.

The Rattlers accomplished their goal.

FAMU (4-5) scored in the first five innings to defeat FIU, 8-4, Wednesday afternoon at the FIU ballpark.



The Rattlers out-hit FIU 9-7, with four players - Jordan Curtis, John Capra, Kaycee Reese andd Brett Maxwell - finishing with two hits each. Capra and Jacky Miles Jr. each knocked in two runs.

Starter Josh Wilson earned his first victory, allowing three earned runs in 5.2 innings.

Jeremiah McCollum closed out the sixth inning and recorded two outs in the seventh without giving up a run. Jamie Grant recorded the last out of the seventh and went on to throw a scoreless eighth before giving way to Dylan Carlson in the ninth.

The Rattlers drew first blood in this one, putting up two runs in the first inning.

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