Friday, November 29, 2013

Nuggets lose to Oklahoma Baptist in Capital City Classic

Paige Gauthier
OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a halftime tie, Oklahoma Baptist pulled away for a 75-46 women's basketball victory Thursday against Xavier University of Louisiana in the opening game of the Capital City Classic.

The Lady Bison (6-1), ranked 23rd in NAIA Division I, won their fifth in a row.

Paige Gauthier scored nine points and Vinnie Briggs eight for the Gold Nuggets (4-3), ranked 15th in the NAIA.

Jalissa Council scored a career-high 24 points, 15 in the second half, for Oklahoma Baptist. Elisabeth Daniels scored 17 points, and Charity Fowler had 11.

Xavier trailed 20-15 after Zbeyda Aremi's layup for OBU at 5:54 of the first half, but the Nuggets got five points from Briggs to rally for a halftime tie at 28. Xavier took its final lead, 27-26, on Chelsea Broussard's layup with 36 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma Baptist scored the first seven points of the second half and led 46-32 after Council's 3-point play with 13:43 remaining.

The Lady Bison outshot the Gold Nuggets 50 to 32.1 percent from the floor -- 65.4 to 25.9 percent in the second half -- and outrebounded them 47-29.

Xavier will play NAIA No. 2 Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. Friday in the final game of this event.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS

Alabama State's Crowell limited in last start; Will enter NFL draft

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- It isn’t the kind of ending Isaiah Crowell wanted in his Hornet career, participating in just 10 plays and gaining 32 yards on seven carries.

“Obviously, he’s had an ankle injury, and we want to protect him,” Barlow said. “We’re going to get an MRI on it Monday just to make sure there’s no real ligament damage. The plan was not to play him the entire game, but we would have liked to have had him a little longer, given the closeness of the game.”

Crowell finished with 1,121 yards on 170 carries this season, ranking eighth on the single-season rushing charts for the school. He had 1,963 career yards, ranking sixth.

After the game, Barlow confirmed that Crowell planned to bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft in April.



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Montgomery Advertiser Commentary: ASU's Crowell didn't go out the right way

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Teddy Keaton thought Isaiah Crowell was going to play more in his final game at Alabama State.

That’s not all the Stillman coach figured Crowell would do.

“The research we’ve done, he’s been known to check himself out of ballgames and do what he basically wants to do,” Keaton said. “We had our plan to stop whoever they put back there.”

While his teammates were scrapping and clawing to beat a pesky Stillman team, 41-28, in the Turkey Day Classic at Hornets Stadium, Crowell was watching the final three quarters from the sidelines Thursday night

He was chatting with his teammates, laughing and having a good time.

This was not how Crowell should have gone out. If he wasn’t going to play, Crowell should have just changed into his street clothes at halftime and returned the sidelines as a spectator because that’s basically what he was after the first quarter.

PHOTO GALLERIES: Turkey Day Classic Parade
  • ASU 1st half action with Stillman
  • 2nd half ASU wins 41 - 28 over Stillman

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    Dennis "Dirt" Winston hoping Saturday's Bayou Classic isn't the end of his coaching tenure at Grambling State

    NEW ORLEANS  -- Dennis "Dirt" Winston knows what it's like to fight for a goal.

    In 1973, he and 12 other black football players at Arkansas comprised the largest signing class of African Americans in Razorbacks history at the time. Now in 2013, the former New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker has guided and witnessed a Grambling State football team fighting for change of its own.

    Winston was appointed interim coach of the Tigers on Oct. 17, moved from his post as defensive coordinator in this season of chaos at Grambling. The turmoil was highlighted by the team's boycott of two practices and its Oct. 19 Jackson State game, stemming from the firing of coach Doug Williams, the appointing of George Ragsdale as a first interim coach, and their desire for better facilities and travel.

    Winston, who started his coaching career in 1992 as Grambling's defensive coordinator under ...

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    Turkey Day Classic - Coleman's redemption: ASU tailback takes advantage of second chance with a career day

    MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- It wasn’t supposed to be Jahaad Coleman standing at midfield hoisting the offensive MVP trophy following the conclusion of Thursday’s Turkey Day Classic.

    He’s just a fifth-string running back for crying out loud. However, there was Coleman sprinting down the left sideline late in the fourth quarter for the game-clinching touchdown that sealed Alabama State’s 41-28 victory over Stillman.

    “It’s mindblowing, I never expected it,” said Coleman, who ran for a career-high 150 yards and two TDs in front of a homecoming crowd of 14,396. “Coach (Reggie Barlow) told me to have patience because you never know what can happen.

    “This is really amazing, there’s so much going through my head right now. I didn’t see this coming at all.”



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    Grambling trying to stay focused for Bayou Classic

    GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Grambling’s showdown with Southern in the 40th annual Bayou Classic on national TV pales in comparison to the soap opera drama the Tigers dealt with earlier this season.

    Grambling was in the spotlight more than a month ago when the team staged a boycott and walked out on the university, leaving many to wonder if the school would even play another game in 2013.

    It was not only the news of the day, but the news of the week. National reporters and TV crews hovered around Grambling’s campus for days, bringing to life the hardships and tough times at the university.

    Somehow, the players remained even-keeled and instead of the season sinking to the bottom, the Tigers rallied by playing some of their best football to close out the year.

    So when Grambling steps on to the Superdome turf Saturday, for what interim coach Dennis Winston is dubbing the “Super Bowl,” the bright lights won’t faze the Tigers.

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    Turkey Day Classic - Alabama State 41, Stillman 28 - Hornets get ample backup: Reserve tailbacks lead Alabama State



    MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- It was a day for giving thanks across America on Thursday.

    Alabama State fans were thankful as well for a deep roster of running backs and a defensive line that may be the best in black college football.

    Hornet tailbacks Jahaad Coleman and Khalid Thomas posted career highs, and the Alabama State defense turned back Stillman College with a crucial goal-line stand in the second quarter to win the 90th Turkey Day Classic 41-28 in front of 14,396 fans at ASU Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

    “It’s a challenge when you lose your key guys and obviously (quarterback Daniel) Duhart wasn’t himself,” Barlow said. “I commend him for staying in there and fighting through it. Our homecoming is so unorthodox because it’s on a Thursday, and a lot of kids have gone. Their (ASU players’) minds may have been there, too, but we found a way to get it done.”

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    Thursday, November 28, 2013

    Week 14: HBCU Football Schedule & Scorecard


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    Thursday, November 28, 2013

    90th Turkey Day Classic
    Alabama State 41, Stillman 28  Highlights  » 
    (8-4, 7-2 SWAC), (6-4, 4-3 SIAC) 

    Saturday, November 30, 2013

    NCAA Division II Championship Playoffs, 2nd Round

    Winston-Salem State (10-1, 7-0 CIAA) at Shepherd (10-0, 9-0 MEC), 12PM

    NCAA Division I FCS Championship Playoffs,  1st. Round

    Bethune-Cookman  (10-2, 7-1 MEAC) at Coastal Carolina (10-2, 4-1 Big South), 1PM,
    TV: ESPN3

    Furman (7-5, 6-2 Southern) at South Carolina State (9-3, 7-1 MEAC), 1PM,
    TV: ESPN3

    Tennessee State (9-3, 6-2 OVC) at Butler (9-3, 7-1 Pioneer), 1PM,
    TV: ESPN3

    The 40th Annual Bayou Classic, New Orleans
    Grambling State (1-10, 1-7 SWAC) vs. Southern (7-4, 6-2 SWAC), 2:30PM,
    TV: NBC

    ALL GAME TIMES ARE STATED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE


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    Southern University football coach Dawson Odums proves to be the right choice

    NEW ORLEANS  -- When Southern University athletic director William Broussard hired Dawson Odums as the Jaguars football coach in December of 2012, he got a tepid response from Southern fans, he said. Odums, who guided the Jaguars through the majority of the 2012 season as interim coach, didn’t move the meter much with one of the most engaged fan bases in FCS.

    He had some things working against him, according to Southern faithful, primarily he wasn’t from Louisiana, was not a Jaguar and had never been a head coach at this level.

    “I didn’t get a lot of attaboys, didn’t get a lot of high fives to be blunt about it,’’ Broussard said. “I’d say a solid majority of people had questions about the hire. I thought that response was unfair. I thought there were a lot of things both tangible and intangible about Dawson Odums. I thought he cut the profile of a young aspirant head coach who we’re catching at the front end of the success instead of the tail end.’’

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    Grambling's stormy season comes to end Saturday

    NEW ORLEANS  -- A season like no other at Grambling State University comes to a merciful end Saturday when the Tigers face their biggest rival in the annual Bayou Classic at the Louisiana Superdome.

    Three head coaches in less than two months. Players refusing to take the field over allegations of neglected facilities and shoddy treatment. A nasty dispute between the administration and many of the alumni who helped make the school famous.

    Good thing Eddie Robinson isn't around to see what has become of his beloved school.

    BOYCOTT: Players provide shocking details

    Certainly, nothing has come easy to Grambling in this year of discontent, casting an ominous light on the historically black school that holds a special place in college football history. Robinson won 408 games at the rural outpost in northern Louisiana, building a nationally known powerhouse during the days of Jim Crow.

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    Palmetto State has 3 FCS teams in the playoffs

    GREENVILLE, S.C.  — The Palmetto State has its share of top-notch football teams at the FCS level.

    While the attention of most college football fans in the state will be centered on Saturday's matchup between No. 6 Clemson and No. 10 South Carolina, three state schools — Coastal Carolina, Furman and South Carolina State — will be playing in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

    The South Carolina trio are the most of any state in the country.

    "I think it's pretty remarkable for a state our size to have that representation," Furman coach Bruce Fowler said.

    And at least one South Carolina entry will be moving into the round of 16: Fowler's Southern Conference co-champion Paladins (7-5) play at South Carolina State (9-3), which tied the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference crown this season.

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    Alabama State football: Crowell's last stand? Junior back still weighing his options on entering NFL draft

    MONTGOMERY, Alabama --  For 16 Alabama State seniors, today will mark the final game of their college careers when they take the field against Stillman College in the annual Turkey Day Classic.

    The Hornets’ most prominent junior may be playing his last game as well, although Isaiah Crowell insists he has not made a final decision on whether to return for his senior season in 2014.

    “I don’t know yet,” he said. “I’ll make that decision sometime in December, after the season. First, I have to sit down and talk to my family about it. I really don’t know right now.”

    He may not be sure, but ASU head coach Reggie Barlow sounds as if he knows Crowell will pass on his final year to enter the 2014 NFL draft.



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    Division II Notes: WSSU Rams aren’t home for the holiday

    WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Coach Connell Maynor of WSSU doesn’t sweet-talk recruits about the holidays.

    "I tell them you won’t be going home for Thanksgiving because we are in the playoffs, and we’ll be busy,” he said.

    The Rams are in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, making this week like any other during the season.

    Maynor said the Rams will have a short practice today, then meet as a team in the school cafeteria for a Thanksgiving dinner.

    "We invite their parents if they want to come and eat with us,” Maynor said.

    CONTINUE READING 

    Pough, staff busy focusing on how to beat Furman in playoffs

    ORANGEBURG, North Carolina  -- The vibrant mood Monday morning at Rowe Hall around the South Carolina State coaches’ offices was in stark contrast to 12 months ago.

    Coming off the program’s first losing season in 12 years, there was a quiet, somber atmosphere as head coach Buddy Pough looked to put the 2012 campaign to rest. The pending promised staff changes also made for an uncomfortable environment among the coaches.

    “Last year at this time, I was in here meeting with coaches and trying to figure out how we got to where we were and what we need to do to fix some of our problems, that kind of stuff,” said Pough during Monday’s weekly press conference.



    A year later, the only evaluations Pough was conducting were film study on the Co-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bulldogs’ first-round opponent in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. With Southern Conference co-champion Furman (7-5) visiting Willie Jeffries Field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium this Saturday at 1 p.m., it was football business-as-usual for 25th-ranked S.C. State.

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    WSSU Rams savor short-term switch to artificial turf

    WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- There was a definite bounce in the steps of the Winston-Salem State Rams on Wednesday afternoon, and all it took was a change in venue.

    Instead of practicing on the soggy, natural-grass practice field near Bowman Gray Stadium, the Rams had a spirited practice on the artificial FieldTurf of Wake Forest’s BB&T Field. That’s the same surface WSSU will play on Saturday at Shepherd (W.Va.) in the second round of the Division II playoffs.

    "Getting to practice over here is huge for our preparation,” Coach Connell Maynor of WSSU said. “I talked with (Jim Grobe, Wake Forest’s football coach) earlier this season, and he said if we ever needed anything to give him a call. I called him last night, and it took about five minutes for him to make it happen. So we’re grateful, and we appreciate what Wake Forest has done for us.”

    Quarterback Rudy Johnson and wide receiver Rashan Williams were ...

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    East: Giving thanks in the Louisiana sports world

    BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- It’s Thanksgiving, and people in the local sports world have much for which to give thanks.

    First and foremost, fans should be thankful to the players and coaches who go to work on the holiday to play or prepare to play for our entertainment this weekend.

    Southern will be practicing Thursday morning for its annual Bayou Classic game against Grambling on Saturday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, a staple of Thanksgiving weekend.

    And the Jaguars players, coaches and staff are grateful for the generous folks in A Nation of Dominance support group, who provide them with a traditional Thanksgiving meal after practice.  Fans should also be thankful that across town LSU will be working on the holiday to prepare for its annual Black Friday game against Arkansas, a much-needed break from — or alternative to — frenetic mall hopping on the most stressful shopping day of the year.

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    B-CU Brian Jenkins Weekly Conference

    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Bethune-Cookman University football head coach Brian Jenkins met with members of the media on Weds., Nov. 27, discussing his teams upcoming trip to Coastal Carolina opening the 2013 NCAA FCS Playoffs in Conway, S.C.

    The Wildcats and Chanticleers each sport similar 10-2 records and earned automatic bids to the playoffs via winning the MEAC and Big South titles, respectively. The game will be played at Brooks Stadium on the campus of Coastal Carolina, while kickoff is set for Sat., Nov. 30 at 1 p.m.

    The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app on any and all mobile devices. Tickets for the FCS Playoff first round game between Bethune-Cookman and Coastal Carolina may be purchased through the CCU ticket office for $20 (upper section) and $15 (lower section).



    CONTINUE READING

    Wednesday, November 27, 2013

    Alabama State football: What's a Turkey Day without Tuskegee?

    MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  There’ll still be a parade through the streets of downtown Montgomery and a football game to celebrate homecoming, but what is a Turkey Day Classic without Tuskegee?

    The Golden Tigers opted out of the nation’s oldest HBCU classic this season to focus on the NCAA Division II playoffs, leaving the Hornets scrambling to find Stillman College as a replacement opponent. But while it may still be the Turkey Day Classic, it’s a safe bet that attendance and buzz around the game won’t compete with the former annual clash with Tuskegee.



    “It’s a great game, a family tradition,” Jones said. “My mother was a cheerleader, my dad was a player. My family was season ticketholders and have been for years. I’ve been to probably about 15 (Turkey Day) games over my time span. The Magic City Classic is big, but nothing’s better than Turkey Day.

    “It’s tough (without Tuskegee) ... but we’re still going to accept the challenge. In a way, it’s kind of a different aspect because we know Tuskegee always brings a big crowd and that atmosphere we love to see. We understand we’re not just playing for a team, we’re playing for our fans that come to watch us every year.”

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    Southern-Grambling series neck-and-neck



    BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern-Grambling rivalry is often considered one of the best in college football. It’s also among the most closely contested.

    The overall series is tied at 30, though Grambling holds a 20-19 advantage over the Jaguars in Bayou Classic games.

    Additionally, Grambling has emerged victorious in four of the past five meetings.

    Yet Southern coach Dawson Odums sees the matchup becoming even, and more clear after Saturday, which marks the 40th anniversary of the Bayou Classic.

    “We understand we’re playing Grambling,” Odums said. “And it is 20-19 Grambling right now, but my vision is 20-20.”

    Doss eyeing milestone
    Southern senior receiver Lee Doss needs 70 receiving yards this season to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

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    North Carolina A&T Blue & Gold Marching Machine Ends Football Season on a High Note






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    FAMU's Shouppe picks up early signees

    COACH JAMEY SHOUPPE
    COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS
    TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Jamey Shouppe, who built a reputation as a top college baseball recruiter, isn’t waiting to put his fingerprint on FAMU’s program.

    His early approach features a local touch, too.

    Former local stars and current junior-college players Tay Jerger of Rickards and Sawyer Betts of Godby will join the Rattlers in 2014-2015.

    Right-handed pitcher/outfielder Ronnie Williams, of Miami American Senior High, also signed with the Rattlers during last week’s early signing period.

    It’s believed to be the first time that FAMU has signed baseball players in the fall, according to Shouppe, the former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State.

    “You are talking about, not just players who signed early to play with us, but good players that had opportunities to play elsewhere, so I think it’s a great statement for where we are,” said Shouppe, who is working to turn around FAMU’s baseball program after being hired last summer.

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    Like Pough, Furman's Fowler engineers turnaround

    GREENVILLE, South Carolina – Head coaches Bruce Fowler of Furman and Buddy Pough of South Carolina State share much in common from a football career standpoint.

    Both men either played in Pough’s case at Orangeburg High School or was an assistant coach as Fowler was at North Carolina State under Dick Sheridan. Each also made the most of their opportunity at a Southeastern Conference school, Fowler as a defensive coordinator for Vanderbilt, Pough coaching running backs at the University of South Carolina.

    Now coaching at their respective alma maters, Fowler and Pough have orchestrated one-year turnarounds from losing seasons to face each other Saturday on Willie Jeffries Field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

    Like the Bulldogs, who started 0-2 before winning nine of their last 10 games, the Paladins (7-5) labored from a 2-4 start. Once starting quarterback Reese Hannon returned from injury and the younger players began to mature, Furman won five of its last six games to earn a share of the Southern Conference title with Samford and Chattanooga.

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    Hawkins, Harmon Leads DSU Past Jaspers in 80-69 for First Road Win

    RIVERDALE, New York  – Looking to avoid losing back-to-back games for the second time this season, the Delaware State women’s basketball (2-3) defeated the Manhattan Jaspers (1-4) on the road, 80-69, behind a career-high 34 points (14-of-22) by the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, Tierra Hawkins.

    With this output, it was the second time in the last three games Hawkins has scored at least 30 points.

    In the first half, with the score tied at six, the Lady Hornets went on a 12-0 run, spearheaded by four fast break points and two steals.  During that span, Hawkins tallied six points.

    As the period progressed, the Lady Hornets built their lead to 20-8 at the 10:38 mark, until Manhattan’s offense managed to make it a 24-19 ball game after four consecutive free throws.

    Later, Manhattan cut the deficit down to three by way of a 9-2 run, headlined by back-to-back threes by guard Nicole Isaacs and forward Ashley Stec, cutting DSU’s lead to 30-28 with 2:51 left before intermission.

    However, DSU closed the period on a furious 12-4 run to go into the locker room up, 42-32, matching its highest point total in a first half this season.

    Leading all scorers at the midway point was Hawkins with 16 points on 8-of-9 (.888) shooting, while guard Raven Bankston added 10 points (4-of-8), five rebounds and two steals.

    As a team, the Lady Hornets shot 58 percent (19-of-33) and owned the rebounding margin, 23-13.
    In the case of Manhattan, Stec tallied a team-high 13 points (6-of-8), while Isaacs had 10 points (4-of-7) off the bench.

    To begin the second stanza, the Jaspers came out firing, opening on a 7-0 run, which forced head coach Tamika Louis to call a 30-second timeout.

    With the score now 46-43 in favor of DSU, guard Allison Skrec drained a three to tie the game, followed by a bucket from Hawkins to put the Lady Hornets up two.  Nevertheless, on its next trip down, Manhattan took its first lead of the game when Isaacs drained a three.

    Later in the half, after Manhattan’s Kayla Grimme hit two free throws to put her squad up 56-55 at the 10:28 mark, Hawkins connected in the paint for a bucket and was fouled in the process.  After Hawkins completed the three-point play, DSU scored seven straight points to go up nine, which forced the Jaspers to call a 30-second timeout with 6:15 left in regulation.

    The rest of the way, the Lady Hornets outscored 14-11 to seal the double-digit victory, snapping an eight-game road losing streak dating all the way back to last season.

    When the final buzzer sounded, not only did Hawkins finish with a career-high 34 points in 40 minutes of action, but connected on a career-high 14 field goals.  Additionally, she added seven rebounds, two steals and a block to her stat line.

    Forward Deanna Harmon, meanwhile, turned in her best performance of the season with 18 points while going 6-of-7 (.857) from the floor and charity stripe.  The Owings Mills, Md. native, also dished out a game-high six assists, to go along with a team-high eight rebounds and two steals.

    Also, scoring in double figures for DSU was Bankston with 14 points (5-of-12), as she added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

    For the game, Delaware State shot a season-high 48 percent (31-of-64), including 54 points in the paint and 23 points off turnovers. On the glass, the Lady Hornets pulled down 41 rebounds, compared to Manhattan’s 34.

    Four Manhattan players finished the game in double figures, led by Stec pouring in 17 points (8-of-12), whereas Grimme turned in a double-double performance with 10 points (3-of-10) and 10 rebounds.  Skrec, on the other hand, chipped in with 13 points (5-of-13) and Isaacs scored 16 (6-of-14).

    Coming up, after the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Red & Columbia Blue will tip off a two-game home stand, beginning with George Mason on Dec. 4 (5:30 p.m.).   

      Box Score

     
    COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

    SWAC Football Weekly Notes

    WEEK 14 SWAC SCHEDULE

    Thursday - November 28

    Alabama State vs. Stillman
    Montgomery, Ala.
    TV: ESPNU
    3:00 PM

    Saturday - November 30
    Grambling State vs. Southern
    New Orleans, La.
    TV: NBC
    1:30 PM


    WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

    • To close out the 2013 season, the final three SWAC games will be televised on national television. Alabama State will host Stillman for the Turkey Day Classic on ESPNU. Grambling State and Southern will match-up for the 40th Bayou Classic live on NBC. To close the television schedule, Jackson State and Southern will face-off on ESPNU in the 2013 Toyota SWAC Football Championship on Dec. 7.


    • For the season, Johnta’ Hebert (Prairie View A&M - 250) became the fourth running back in the league to rush for 200 or more yards on the year. He joins Malcolm Cyrus (Alabama State - 246), Courtney Brown (Prairie View A&M - 224) and Tommy Gooden (Jackson State - 214) recording the leagues’ top rushing performances on the season.

    • Jackson State and Southern will meet for the second time in the SWAC Football Championship game on Dec. 7 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Both teams played in the first ever SWAC Football Championship game on Dec. 11, 1999. SU defeated JSU 31-30 in Birmingham, Ala. at Legion Field. To date, it has drawn the largest crowd with 47, 621 attending.

    • The Sports Network announced on Nov. 19 its finalists for the coveted Eddie Robinson Award with Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson making the list of 21 coaches of all 13 FCS conferences. In his second season, he led a five-win improvement from 2012 giving ALC its first winning season since 2006 and nine-win campaign since 1984. The Braves handed Jackson State its only conference loss and also defeated Southern on the road.

    • The Sports Network will announce the winners of the Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Buck Buchannan, and Eddie Robinson FCS Awards on Dec. 16 in Philadelphia, Pa. To date the following SWAC players and Coach are among the finalists for their respective awards:

    • Arnold Walker (ALCN), Isaiah Crowell (ALST), Barrington Scott (AAMU) and Courtney Brown (PVAM) have rushed for more than 1,000 yards on the season. Walker currently leads the conference with 1,191 yards (99.2 avg) and Crowell has 1,089 (99.0 avg) with one game remaining. Scott posts 1,058 and Courtney Brown cracked the mark in the final game to hold 1,039. This is the first time since 2011, the league had more than one back finish with 1,000 yards. The last time two running backs finished the SWAC season with more than 1, 000 yards rushing was in 2011. Dawrence Roberts (GRAM - 1,102) and Kaderius Lacey (AAMU - 1,143) led the conference.


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     COURTESY SWAC.ORG 

    Xavier loses at Wiley; Rush, Wildcats split season series

    MARSHALL, Texas -- Sydney Coleman recorded his third consecutive double-double Tuesday for Xavier University of Louisiana, but the Gold Rush lost 66-57 at Wiley in men's basketball.

    Coleman had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Gold Rush (5-2), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I. Morris Wright had 17 points and three steals, and RJ Daniels had 10 points and a career-high-tying six rebounds.

    Xavier and Wiley (4-1) split their season series. The Gold Rush won by 13 in New Orleans 12 days earlier.

    Phillip Miller scored 21 points, including 10-of-11 free throws, for the Wildcats. Marquis Green and Corey Blake scored 11 points apiece.

    Xavier led for nearly 16 consecutive minutes before Wiley rallied for a halftime tie at 31. The Wildcats took their first lead, 44-43, when Ladarrin Williams made the second of two free throws with 7:44 remaining.

    Coleman's basket with 4:39 remaining gave Xavier its final lead, 50-49. Wiley scored 15 of the next 18 points, with Miller collecting the last seven in a row to give the Wildcats their largest lead, 64-53, with 44 seconds remaining.

    Coleman has scored in double figures in every game this season. Wright reached double figures for the fourth consecutive game and the sixth time in seven games.

    Xavier will return home for Thanksgiving, then go on the road again to play LeMoyne-Owen of NCAA Division II at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memphis, Tenn. The next Gold Rush home game will start at 7 p.m. next Tuesday against NAIA No. 10 William Carey at the Convocation Center.

    Box score

    BY ED CASSIERE, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
    XULAATHLETICS
    XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA