Howard Bison Snag Four Wins in MSU Invite

PERRY HALL, MD.--The Howard bowling team competed in the eighth annual Morgan State Invitational Bowling Tournament over the weekend. The Bison (27-73, 5-15 MEAC) snagged four wins and dropped seven matches in their final meet before the MEAC tournament.

The Bison went 1-4 in the head-to-head games on Friday, losing to Monmouth (819-888), Sacred Heart (817-944), Florida A&M (837-858) and N.C. Central (726-785). Howard’s lone win came over Elmhurst as the Bison took down 814 pins compared to Elmhurst’s 756, marking their 10th win in head-to-head competition on the season.

In the quad baker games Howard split four matches, winning two over Long Island (669-655), MEAC rivals Norfolk (778-694) and dropped a pair of matches to Bethune-Cookman (636-669, 684-773).

Nebraska dominated the MSU Invitational and would earn their second consecutive championship by the close of the weekend, marking their sixth title in eight years. Maryland Eastern Shore took second, and Vanderbilt, the 2009 champions of the invitational, placed third.

Alexzandria Johnson averaged 168 pins over the weekend, dropping a total 840 pins in five games while teammate Jordane Frazier amassed 824 pins in five games, bringing her weekend average to 164.8 pins.

The Howard bowling team will have their eyes set on a successful trip to round out their season in Millsboro, Del. on Mar. 5 for conference play. Visit Howard-Bison.com for updates on Bison Bowling.

By Tiffany White
Sports Information Assistant
Howard University

Delaware State Falls to Coppin State "Red Hot" Eagles

Coppin State Eagles Coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell

Baltimore, Md. -- Coppin State shot 60% from the field en route to an 89-72 men's basketball win over Delaware State at the CSU Physical Education Complex this evening. The Hornets dropped their third straight, seventh in the last eight games, to fall to 9-17 overall and 5-8 in the MEAC. The Eagles improved to 14-12 and 9-4.

Coppin State was 33—for-55 from the field, including 8 of 16 from three-point territory. Michael Harper led the Eagles with 25 points, highlighted by 6 of 9 shooting from three-point territory. Michael Murray added 16 points (7-10 FGs) for Coppin State.

DSU women win on late 3-pointer

BALTIMORE -- Kianna Conner hit a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left to give Delaware State a 51-49 women's basketball win over Coppin State on Monday night.

Coppin State had the last shot, but Shawntae Payne's 3-point try hit the back of the rim as time expired.

The Hornets (9-17, 5-9) won their second straight game. The Eagles fell to 10-15 overall, 7-6 in the MEAC.

Jaleah Holsey hit two free throws with 59 seconds left to put Coppin State ahead.

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Hampton women crush FAMU, claim 1st MEAC title in 7 seasons

HAMPTON — Laura Lewis and Quanneisha Perry wrapped their arms around each others' shoulders and showed no sign of wanting to let go. Hampton University's two seniors combined for 25 points and 17 rebounds in an 88-49 victory against Florida A&M on Monday night that clinched HU's first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title in seven seasons.

"We are so excited," Lewis repeated, clinging to her fellow forward in a post-game interview.

"Every year, we were picked to finish fifth or fourth," said Perry, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds on Monday and now has 1,139 points and 897 rebounds in her four-year HU career. "(This year), hard work paid off."



Hampton falls short against FAMU 58-55

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team lost its third straight game on Monday night, dropping its home finale 58-55 to Florida A&M at the HU Convocation Center.

Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his deep 3-pointer bounced off the right side of the rim.

Pellum led the Pirates (19-7, 9-5 MEAC) with 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting, while junior guard Kwame Morgan (Largo, Md.) added 13 points despite shooting 4-for-13 from the floor. Junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, and junior center Milade Lola-Charles (Laurel, Md.) blocked a career-high four shots.

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Perfect at Burr, HU Defeats B-CU Wildcats 54-39

Howard University Lady Bison Coach Niki Reid Geckeler

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Howard Bison women’s basketball team successfully took down the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 54-39, leaving the Bison at running on a perfect eight-game MEAC winning streak at Burr Gymnasium, and on a three-game winning streak overall.

“We play well at home,” sophomore Tamoria Holmes said. “We are all just comfortable and we want to play good for our friends and family.”

Howard (13-15, 9-5 MEAC) dominated the game’s momentum during the opening half and went on to lead 27-20. Keeping the Bison at the forefront were sophomores Saadia Doyle, Cheyenne Curley-Payne and Holmes.

“Saadia is a premiere player in this conference,” head coach Niki Geckeler said. “Anytime Saadia is in the game it opens it up for our other players such as Tamoria, Cheyenne and Adele. We are able to get confidence from our guards.”

Doyle, who was recognized by the MEAC as one of the conference’s top performers this week and for the third time of the season, finished the game with a double-double after leading the Bison in points (22) and rebounds (10). Doyle was also perfect behind the free throw line (6-6).

Doyle is now seven points away from reaching the landmark 1,000-points milestone, leaving her on pace to become one of Howard’s all-time leading scorers.

Alongside Doyle was Holmes, who went 2-for-4 behind the arc en-route to 12 points on the night. Curley-Payne went 3-of-9 from the field and chimed in with two three-pointers while also leading the team in assists (7) and steals (3). Curley-Payne tied for second on the team alongside Portia Deterville with rebounds (5).

Turnovers would cost the Wildcats (12-13, 5-8 MEAC) the game as they surrendered 21 compared to Howard’s 13. The Bison would take advantage of Bethune-Cookman’s turnovers, converting them into 24 points over the course of the game.

“We focused on taking away the high posts and guard penetrations,” Geckeler said. “We wanted to box out more and not let BCU have any offensive rebounds.”

Both Howard and Bethune-Cookman were nearly even in rebounding, (HU-33, BC-32), however the Bison were fought harder near the rim to produce 16 points on second chances. Compared to Howard, the Wildcats only notched eight points on second chances.

Overall Howard shot 41.2 percent from the field (21-of-51) while BC was held to 31.1 percent (14-of-45).

“Right now is crunch time,” Geckeler said. “FAMU and BCU were both big for us Now, we are calling our games coming up ‘championship week’.”

The Bison will look to maintain perfection at home as they host Hampton on Thursday, Mar. 3 for their final game of the regular season. Before meeting their MEAC rival, Howard will travel to take on Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. where Doyle is expected to burst through the 1,000 point mark.

By Tiffany White
Sports Information Assistant
Howard University

Elliott's Tip In Helps Bethune-Cookman Nip Howard

Washington, DC—Stanley Elliott scored on a tip-in after a missed shot with 1.0 seconds left to help Bethune-Cookman escape with a 66-64 win over Howard University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's game at Burr Gymnasium.

After the Bison (6-21 overall, 4-10 in the MEAC) tied the game at 64 on a pair of free throws by Mike Phillips with 10 seconds remaining, the Wildcats (17-11 overall, 11-3 in the MEAC) pushed the ball up the floor and got a long three point attempt by Kevin Dukes that came off the right side of the rim and into the hands of Elliott, who used his left hand to tip the ball in the basket.

B-CU wins another close road game

WASHINGTON -- Stanley Elliott's tip-in with 1.1 seconds remaining gave Bethune-Cookman yet another fantastic finish on the road and a 66-64 victory over Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night.

B-CU (17-11, 11-3) concludes its MEAC road schedule with an 8-0 record -- seven of those decided by three points or less. It also clinched the third straight winning season for B-CU, which won its fourth straight.

"We were lucky to come out of here with a victory, but that's what we've done all year -- find a way to win," B-CU coach Cliff Reed said. "It's a testament to everyone's hard work this season. The guys gutted and played hard after an emotional double win Saturday at Hampton."

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SU Jaguars hold off A&M rally

When the final horn sounded and the Southern women’s basketball team walked off the floor with its 12th consecutive victory Monday night, players smiled, high-fived each other and hugged a few die-hard fans.

Their sense of joy was noticeable. But it was matched by a sense of relief. “This one got to me,” said coach Sandy Pugh, who watched her team hold off Alabama A&M for a 65-57 win. “I’m happy with the win, but not happy with our defensive performance in the second half.”

One look at the final statistics showed why.

Alabama A&M-SU women: By the numbers

Southern’s losing streak continues

Yet again, in a desperate attempt to keep up with an opponent, the Southern men’s basketball team tried almost everything Monday night against Alabama A&M.

The Jaguars took timeouts. They substituted liberally. They changed defensive schemes and tried an array of offensive sets. In the end, it was the same song, eighth verse.

The visiting Bulldogs spent the entire second half building on their lead, and pulling away for an easy 64-45 victory in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

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Jackson State fires assistant baseball coach

FORMER JSU Coach Kevin Whiteside

JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State University Interim Athletics Director Robert Walker announced that the university has terminated second-year JSU Assistant Baseball Coach Kevin Whiteside. The termination follows an on-field altercation on Saturday, Feb. 19 which involved a student athlete from an opposing team.

Suspensions and Fines for PV / JSU Baseball Altercation

Birmingham, Ala. (Feb. 21, 2011) - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced today that four student-athletes and one assistant coach have been suspended for their participation in an on-field altercation Saturday, February 19 between the Jackson State and Prairie View A&M baseball teams. Each of the five individuals were ejected from Saturday’s game and per NCAA rules on fighting ejections, will serve a mandatory suspension without appeal.

Jackson State assistant coach Kevin Whiteside has been suspended by the league for six games and fined $2,000.00 for his involvement in the altercation.

Two Jackson State players, Kendall Logan and Marshum Hall, have been suspended for three games, and the university fined $1,000.00 for their involvement in the altercation.

Two Prairie View A&M players, Evan Richard and Andre Oliver, have been suspended for three games, and the university fined $1,000.00 for their involvement in the altercation.

The actions taken by each individual were in direct violation of the league’s policy prohibiting coaches and student-athletes from displaying unsportsmanlike behavior, which is subject to the league’s Schedule of Penalties approved by the SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors.

“The Southwestern Athletic Conference holds its coaches and student-athletes to a high standard, and we expect sportsmanship between our member institutions to be a high priority,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “Two of our baseball teams, while representing their respective universities, displayed completely unacceptable behavior. The integrity and reputation of the Southwestern Athletic Conference is too important to condone these actions.”

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READ RELATED BLOG: Stemming from fight: JSU fires assistant coach; SWAC suspends players (UPDATED)