Gold Rush Andrew, Simmons are third-team HBCU All-Americans

Anthony Simmons

Devin Andrew

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Devin Andrew and Anthony Simmons are third-team selections on the Boxtorow.com Division II/NAIA HBCU All-America team announced Tuesday.

Andrew — a 6-foot-4 senior guard from Harvey, La., a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a former student at Karr High School in New Orleans — led the Gold Rush this season with 10.9 points per game, 1.2 steals per game and 111 free throws in 147 attempts. He won two January home games with points in the final two seconds. Andrew played in 32 games and started 17.

Simmons, a 6-8 sophomore forward from Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, averaged nine points and 5.5 rebounds in 32 games with 19 starts. He was Xavier's No. 2 scorer and rebounder and led the team with a .598 field-goal percentage.

Xavier recorded its first 13-0 start since 1940-41 and winningest season (27-6) since 1983-84. Xavier earned an at-large berth to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and ranked 17th in the final coaches poll.

The team was selected by media members from around the country who cover NCAA Division II and NAIA basketball.



2010-11 Boxtorow.com Division II/NAIA HBCU All-America Team
First Team
Sharif Bray, Cheyney
Paul Davis, Winston-Salem State
Marcus Goode, Benedict
Najee Lane, Clark Atlanta
Raheem Smith, Shaw

Second Team
David Burton, Cheyney
Braxton Byerson, Virginia Union
Mario Luckett, Tougaloo
Trevin Parks, Johnson C. Smith
Eric Vann, Bowie State

Third Team
Devin Andrew, Xavier
Darius Cox, Livingstone
Josh Miller, West Virginia State
Lajay Sears, Stillman
Anthony Simmons, Xavier

Player of the Year: Raheem Smith, Shaw
Coach of the Year: Cleo Hill, Shaw

Honorable Mention: Shelton Carter, Winston-Salem State; Andre Davis, SUNO; Sidney Evans, Fayetteville State; Kerry Harvis, Talladega; Tony Johnson, Kentucky State; Myron McGowan, Dillard; Denzel Mooney, Lincoln (Pa.); Ibn-Saed Rasoull, Saint Paul's; Maurice Reevy, Saint Paul's; Eric Salley, Claflin; Rondy Tucker, Elizabeth City State

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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List 'impressive' for FAMU job

Tallahassee, FL - While several high-profile names are circulating as applicants for the vacant men's basketball coaching job at Florida A&M, athletic director Derek Horne hedged on confirming what sources are calling an impressive list.

"Right now because it's still ongoing we just want to make sure that we do our due diligence to make sure that we bring the right person in," Horne said.

FAMU has been without a men's basketball coach for almost a month since Eugene Harris was fired in March. At that time, Horne said he would like to fill the position this month, but Tuesday he said he hopes to have the process completed before schools break for the summer.

Horne didn't say when the final interview process will begin.


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Howard Lady Bison Rallies 6-5 Win Over CSU in Eight Innings

BALTIMORE, MD. – The Lady Bison softball team secured the game-winning runs at the top of the eighth inning and blocked Coppin State from scoring the tying run at the plate, landing them the thrilling 6-5 win on Monday at the Coppin State field.

Rebecca Kirshner was placed on second utilizing international tie-breaker rules and advanced to third courtesy of Carly Martin’s sac fly to right field. Trina Kindred and Samantha Gatson went on to bring in the final two runs of the game, giving Howard (12-21, 3-3 MEAC) the 6-4 lead.

Melanie Buck gave Coppin State (8-11, 2-4 MEAC) one run with an RBI single to shallow centerfield. Howard prevented Tiffani Whaley from scoring from first base and caught her at the plate for the final out on the relay throw from Kindred.

The win gave Howard the series as the Lady Bison took the 2-3 advantage over the Lady Eagles. Both teams went even at the plate with 11 hits each.

Martin pitched the complete game and walked one in addition to striking out seven batters, marking a season-high.

Lorae Robinson led the Bison with three hits and scored two runs while Marisa Coats, Emily Johnson, and Kirshner added two hits each. Coats chimed in with two RBI.

The Lady Bison softball team will take on Morgan State on April 30 followed by Maryland Eastern Shore on May 7 before heading to Daytona, Fla. for the MEAC Tournament on May 12.

Visit www.howard-bison.com for more information on Howard softball.



By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
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Athlete Honor Society Welcomes Seven From XU's New Chapter

NEW ORLEANS — Seven from Xavier University of Louisiana — Iva Bobkova, Brianna Dekine, Patrice Hightower, Danielle Jones, Marchelle Jones, Jamaan Kenner and Ashley Taylor — became XU's first members of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society on Tuesday.

The organization recognizes outstanding academic achievement by intercollegiate varsity letterwinners.  Members must have junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative 3.4 grade-point average.

Xavier's first Chi Alpha Sigma members: 
From left, Iva Bobkova, Brianna Dekine, Danielle Jones,
Marchelle Jones, Ashley Taylor, Patrice Hightower and Jamaan Kenner.

Bobkova (women's volleyball) is from Brno, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Ludvika Danka and New Mexico Military Institute. Dekine (women's cross country) is from Culver City, Calif., and a graduate of Culver City High School. Hightower (women's volleyball) is from New Orleans and a graduate of McGehee School. Danielle Jones (volleyball in 2010, women's basketball from 2007-10) and her sister Marchelle (women's basketball) are from Baton Rouge, La., and graduates of Episcopal High School. Kenner (men's basketball) is from LaPlace, La., and a graduate of East St. John High School. Taylor (women's cross country) is from LaPlace and a graduate of New Orleans' Cabrini High School.



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Join The Bison Nation: Howard Athletics add Five New Coaches in 2010-2011

Howard University Athletics has added five new head coaches to their staff in 2010 and 2011 along with a new athletics director, Louis "Skip" Perkins, a native of Fort Washington, Maryland.


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Southern Jaguars, Southeastern Louisiana get rematch

You might recall that two weeks ago, on a strange night at Lee-Hines Field, Southern and Southeastern Louisiana met in a midweek college baseball game that had a little bit of everything.
Except a happy ending.

SLU’s Trey Martin stole home in the third inning. SU pitcher Belfred “T.J.” Pryer had what might have been his best outing of the season, holding the Lions to one run in seven innings. The Jaguars had a one-run lead in the eighth-inning, and SLU had a rally in the works. Then lightning delayed the game. Actually, as it turned out, lightning finished the game.

When umpires Anthony DeRousselle and Ryan Broussard told both teams to return, SU coach Roger Cador chose instead to forfeit, citing his players’ safety.

Lions To Host In-State Rival Southern In Midweek Contest

HAMMOND, LA – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team returns to action on Tuesday when it plays host to in-state rival Southern University at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern (22-11) has won seven of its last nine games that began with a 9-0 win by forfeit over Southern (19-11) on March 29. The Lions took two of three games in Southland Conference play last weekend at UT Arlington and will face league leader Texas State in a three-game series beginning Friday in San Marcos, Texas.

Junior Justin Boudreaux leads Southeastern at the plate with a .373 average with six home runs and 30 RBI. Brock Hebert (.367-1-20), Jonathan Pace (.357-1-22) and Jeff Harkensee (.331-7-39) are next in hitting for the Lions, who are averaging .293 at the plate with 19 home runs and 212 runs scored.

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Keys: Southern University Pugh takes on a tough assignment

Southern Interim Athletic Director Sandy Pugh

Baton Rouge, LA - Monday afternoon, less than a week into her new role as the interim athletic director at Southern University, Sandy Pugh was all smiles. Above her head, sunlight poked through a field of fast-moving clouds. All around her, trees swayed in a strong breeze. What a day it was.

“I want people to believe some fantastic things are getting ready to happen,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day here at Southern.”

Lately, fewer and fewer people are able to share Pugh’s sunny disposition. Who could blame them? After all, this has been the wildest, most disturbing year in the history of Southern athletics. The football team posted its worst record ever, going 2-9. The men’s basketball team posted its worst record ever for the third straight year, going 4-26, and coach Rob Spivery was fired.

Southern University seeks to fill the athletic director position quickly

Baton Rouge, LA — To borrow a phrase from the sports teams it presides over, Southern’s athletic department has lost some big names, and the work of replacing them must now begin.

Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was let go from his post last week after being arrested for allegedly soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was in Houston scouting potential hires for the men’s basketball team after the firing of former coach Rob Spivery following a 4-26 season.

“Given the circumstances, I think it would be difficult for the university to move forward with Mr. LaFleur as the head of the athletic program,” Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said in a release last week.

The decision leaves Southern with two big positions to fill.

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