Alabama State, Texas Southern primed for SWAC semifinal showdown

GARLAND, TX – Alabama State primed itself for a showdown with No. 1 seed Texas Southern by handling Alabama A&M, 81-61, in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament.

Alabama State opened up a 20-point lead midway through the second half and had four players score in double figures, led by Tramaine Butler with 21. Alabama State shot 60.9 percent in the second half and finished with a 40-24 rebounding edge.

Fourth-seeded Alabama State (15-17) will meet Texas Southern in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday at the Special Events Center. Alabama State handed Texas Southern (19-11) one of its two losses in SWAC play, 60-48, on Feb. 28 in Montgomery.

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Texas Southern/Houston Oiler legend Kenny Burrough recovering from heart attack

HOUSTON, TX -- Former Houston Oilers standout Kenny Burrough is hospitalized in Houston after suffering a heart attack. Burrough underwent triple bypass surgery at Saint Luke’s hospital after the Friday attack, according to his spokesperson. He is resting comfortably and has been moved to a private room.

Burrough, 62, was a first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 1970. He then spent 11 NFL seasons with the Oilers in Saints from 1971 to 1981. Burrough was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1975 and 1977.

The TSU graduate led all NFL wide receivers with 1,063 yards in 1975. The Jacksonville, Florida native is a member of the SWAC and TSU Halls of Fame.

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Video: Kenny Burrough talks about 00Wear.com, his clothing line.

Morgan State tops N.C. A&T

Two-time defending champion Morgan State isn't ready to give up its title just yet.

The Bears, behind junior center Kevin Thompson, were never threatened by cold-shooting N.C. A&T as they rolled 77-59 in a quarterfinal game of the MEAC tournament Thursday night at Joel Coliseum.
Thompson, a big part of the Bears' first two tournament titles in Winston-Salem, scored 24 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots in 26 minutes.

Not that they needed more motivation, but the Bears, the fourth seed, have been under the radar after losing their final three regular-season games, including one to the Aggies (15-17) in Greensboro. Thompson, the projected player of the year in the conference, was selected to the all-conference second team.

Thompson Dominant In Win Over North Carolina A&T, 77-59

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Kevin Thompson put in a dominating performance, coming off the bench to pour in a gamer-high 24 points, grab 12 rebounds and block three shots to help Morgan State defeat North Carolina A&T, 77-59 in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament at the Joel Coliseum.

The Bears (16-13), the Number 4 seed, advance to the semifinal round where they will play Bethune Cookman, the Number 1 seed at 6 pm.

Thompson set the tone early in the first half when he entered the game and proceeded to score 18 points, connecting on all six of his shots from the floor. Morgan State led, 43-33 at intermission.

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NCAA Division II South Regional set to begin in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Are you ready for some basketball?

Eight of the best NCAA Division II college basketball teams are in town for the South Regional, which begins Saturday at Spragins Hall on the University of Alabama-Huntsville campus. The winner will have a chance to play for the national championship in Springfield, Mass., March 23-26.

"Being in the tournament is one thing and being able to host it is like a dream," UAH guard Tyler Hanback said. "It's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait."

Saturday: Harding (25-4) vs. Stillman (21-7) at 2:30 p.m.
UAH (26-4) vs. Clark Atlanta (22-8), SIAC Champions at 5:30 p.m.
Arkansas Tech (24-5) and Benedict (21-7) at 7:30 p.m.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Inside The Game: Clark-Atlanta vs. Stillman (SIAC Championship)

Hunt for national glory: CIAA champion Shaw, Johnson C. Smith aim for women’s title

Winning the CIAA women’s basketball championship is old hat for Shaw’s Bears.

Winning the national title, now that’s a prize that’s worth chasing.

“Shaw’s won the CIAA championship,” said Bears coach Jacques Curtis, who has earned six since 2003. “What we’re trying to do is a little bit different.”

Shaw (21-11) and fellow CIAA member Johnson C. Smith (24-4) are in the Division II tournament, which starts March 11 with the Atlantic Regional in Edinboro, Pa. Shaw will face top-seeded and region host Edinboro (26-3) while the No. 2 Golden Bulls Bulls will play No. 7 Glenville State (23-8).


Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Inside The Game: Johnson C. Smith vs. Shaw- Women's CIAA Championship

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Livingstone celebrates success in tourney

The atmosphere was electric in Varick Auditorium Wednesday as Salisbury Mayor Susan W. Kluttz was on hand for a celebration honoring Livingstone College’s men’s basketball team for its historic performance at last week’s CIAA Tournament.

The Blue Bears made it to the championship game of the CIAA Tournament for the first time in school history after pulling off three consecutive victories against St. Paul’s College, Virginia Union University and Fayetteville State University. Livingstone was defeated by Shaw University 72-69 in the final game, but on Wednesday that hardly mattered to administrators, faculty, students and staff.

The pep band played, the cheerleaders cheered and numerous times throughout the 90-minute assembly the audience was on its feet showering the men’s basketball team and its coaches with much-deserved applause.

But the men’s basketball team wasn’t all Livingstone officials celebrated on Wednesday, as the Blue Bears women’s team and a few individual students were also recognized for their accomplishments.


Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Inside The Game: Livingstone vs. Shaw - CIAA Men's Championship

City of Salisbury Proclaims March 9, 2011 as Livingstone College Men's Basketball Day

SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone women’s and men’s basketball teams were honored Wednesday at a special assembly hosted on campus.

Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., Livingstone President and Salisbury Mayor, Ms. Susan W. Klutz recognized both teams for their achievements throughout the season.

The women’s basketball team was recognized for its numerous individual honors, its NCAA regional ranking for three consecutive weeks and for being awarded the 2011 John B. Mclendon award for sportsmanship at the CIAA Tournament.

The men’s basketball team who reached the CIAA Championship for the first time in the school’s history was also recognized for their many achievements. Mayor Klutz gave a special presentation, presenting a proclamation that proclaimed March 9, 2011 as Livingstone College Men’s Basketball Day in the City of Salisbury.

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D-I Radford Rumbles Past Xavier Gold Rush, 8-1

NEW ORLEANS -- Radford, winner of the last five Big South Conference regular-season men's championships in NCAA Division I, defeated NAIA No. 8 Xavier University of Louisiana 8-1 Thursday at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center.

Xavier (8-4) scored its point in the final completed match when freshman Jonathan Aubrey defeated Alex Metzner 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7) at No. 6 singles.

Radford (7-3) ended a couple of Xavier streaks. Ivan Salec and Thomas Dehaen won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles to end the five-match win streak of Zach Taylor and Hassan Abbas. Dehaen won 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 at No. 2 singles to end Abbas' four-match streak.

Salec, ranked 67th in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, played doubles only. Freshmen Stijn Meulemans and Paul Boslet won in singles and doubles for the Highlanders, with Meulemans beating Taylor 6-0, 6-2 at the top flight. Radford freshmen Joe Mills and Randall Carter also won in singles.

Radford has won three straight duals and six of its last seven. Xavier has dropped two straight. Three of the Gold Rush's four losses this season are to D-I teams.

It was Xavier's first home match since Feb. 8. The dual, scored by NAIA rules, was postponed Wednesday because of morning thunderstorms and moved from City Park.

Both Xavier teams will play NAIA opponents Friday in the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala. XU's women, ranked 24th, will play No. 13 Lindsey Wilson at 9:30 a.m., and the XU men will play Georgetown (Ky.) at 10 a.m.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics