Alabama State Hornets Sweep Alabama A&M, Win East Title

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The Alabama State baseball team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title with a doubleheader sweep of Alabama A&M Saturday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

The Hornets won game one 11-1 in seven innings, and game two 6-2 to win the division title for the first time since 1994. Alabama State will be the number one divisional seed in the SWAC Tournament beginning May 14 in Fort Worth, Texas.

"It is important to win the division and get a number one seed, whether you have the bye or not," said head coach Mervyl Melendez, whose team has now posted back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in school history. "You are setting the tone and meeting the expectations you have as a team and the goals you have set.  We still have a lot of work to do. Winning the division is part of what we wanted to do, but we still have a game tomorrow that we really need to concentrate on."

Game three of the Hornets-Bulldogs series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Game 1 - Hornets 11, Alabama A&M 1: The Bulldogs had two runners on with one out in the top of the first, but T.J. Renda pitched out of the jam without allowing a run.

In the bottom of the inning, the first eight Hornets reached base en route to a seven-run inning that set the tone for the day.

Cesar Rivera and Richard Gonzalez walked to start the inning. Waldyvan Estrada doubled down the left field line to score Rivera. Emmanuel Marrero then doubled to right center to score Gonzalez for a 2-0 Hornet lead. Branden Castro then hit an infield single, scoring Estrada. Dexter Price followed with a single through the right side, scoring  Marrero to extend to a 4-0 lead. Marcus Swint singled to shortstop to load the bases, and Raul Perez' fielder's choice grounder scored Castro. Einar Muniz' sacrifice fly scored Price, and Rivera's sacrifice fly scored Swint for a 7-0 Alabama State lead.

"We did a magnificent job in setting the tone," Melendez said. "The guys were eager to get back on the field to rectify what happened in during the mid-week games. The key was really T.J. getting out of the first inning jam. He pitched very well, got the strikeout to end the inning, and that was very important."

Leading 8-1, the Hornets ended the game with a three-run seventh. Muniz, Rivera, Gonzalez and Estrada walked to lead off the inning, scoring Muniz. Marrero then singled to shortstop, scoring Rivera. Castro's single to left field scored Gonzalez for the final margin.

Renda (5-3) threw his fourth complete game of the season, allowing only five singles and one run, with two walks and four strikeouts, throwing 62 of his 94 pitches for strikes. Every Hornet starter had a hit, RBI or run scored, led by Swint's career-high three-hit game. Marrero, Castro, and Price each had two hits, scored one run, and combined to drive in five runs.

Game 2 – Hornets 6, Alabama A&M 2: Camacho improved to 8-1 on the season, winning his sixth straight decision, and Estrada and Marrero each drove in two runs as the Hornets improved to 10-0 in the second game of doubleheaders this season.

Camacho went eight innings, allowed seven hits, two runs, walked four and struck out five. He induced three double plays in the game.

The Hornets took advantage of first-inning walks to score in the first inning. Rivera and Gonzalez walked, and Estrada singled to center field to load the bases. Marrero's sacrifice fly to right, scored Rivera. With two outs, Swint walked to force home Gonzalez for a 2-0 Alabama State lead.

Leading 2-1 in the fourth, the Hornets scored four times on a two-out rally. Perez singled down the left field line, Muniz was hit by a pitch, and Rivera walked to load the bases. Gonzalez walked to force home Perez. Estrada then singled through the left side, scoring Muniz and Rivera, advancing Gonzalez to second. Marrero then singled to right field, scoring Gonzalez for a 6-1 Alabama State lead.

"Both were magnificent today," said Melendez of his starting pitchers. "T.J. is getting stronger as the season as gone on. He had been steady the first two years but now he is getting better, and I'm glad to see him bounce back and be himself again after the slow start. Joe has done a great job the entire year. He didn't have his best stuff today, but he battled and gave us great innings."

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's Covington Named NBADL Rookie of the Year

 Robert Covington
HOUSTON ROCKETS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Houston Rockets rookie Robert Covington, who has played on assignment with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, was today named the 2014 NBA Development League Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the league’s 17 head coaches. 

The award recognizes the first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the course of the season.

Covington  played in 42 of the Vipers 50 regular season games on assignment from the Rockets, 41 as a starter. He averaged a team-high 23.2 points, good for second-best in the NBA D-League, while shooting 44 percent from the field. He rounded out his stat line averaging a Vipers-best 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals, second-highest in the league.

During the regular season, Covington led the team in scoring 21 times and was the Vipers leading rebounder in 13 contests. He scored in double figures in 41 of his 42 games in Rio Grande Valley, recording two 40-plus point games and four additional 30-plus point outings.

A 2014 NBA D-League All-Star, Covington scored an NBA D-League All-Star record 33 points, 22 of which came in the game’s final six minutes, en route to earning MVP honors in the game. He connected on 12 of his 23 shots, including four-of-eight three-pointers at NBA All-Star festivities in New Orleans.

“Robert has had an excellent rookie season on assignment with the Vipers,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “He embraced the opportunity to develop all aspects of his game in the NBA D-League and proved that he is able to perform at a professional level. I congratulate him on such a successful start to his career and look forward to watching his progress with the Houston Rockets.”

Covington helped the Vipers secure the fifth seed in the 2014 NBA D-League Playoffs, averaging 18.3 points in Rio Grande Valley’s first-round match-up against the Iowa Energy, a series the Vipers won in three games. He will re-join the Vipers tonight in Texas for the team’s game second-round playoff game against the Santa Cruz Warriors. Rio Grande Valley currently trails the Warriors 1-0 in the best-of-three series.

Undrafted in 2013, Covington has appeared in seven games with the Rockets this season.

All-Time NBA D-League Rookie of the Year winners:
2012-13: Tony Mitchell, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2011-12: Edwin Ubiles, Dakota Wizards
2010-11: DeShawn Sims, Maine Red Claws
2009-10: Alonzo Gee,* Austin Toros
2008-09: Othyus Jeffers,* Iowa Energy
2007-08: Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards
2006-07: Louis Amundson,* Colorado 14ers
2005-06: Will Bynum,* Roanoke Dazzle
2004-05: James Thomas, Roanoke Dazzle
2003-04: Desmond Penigar, Asheville Altitude
2002-03: Devin Brown, Fayetteville Patriots
2001-02: Fred House, Charleston Lowgators

Courtesy NBA
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
 

Rain halts play at 2014 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships

CAYCE, South Carolina — Inclement weather halted Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships at the Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center.

The women’s final between Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 20. Bethune-Cookman reached the championship with 4-0 wins over Hampton and Morgan State. South Carolina State, the defending MEAC Tournament Champions, reached the finals with 4-0 and 4-1 victories over Delaware State and Howard, respectively.

The men’s final between South Carolina State and Norfolk State will begin at Noon. South Carolina State, the defending MEAC Tournament Champions, got to the finals with 4-0 and 4-1 wins over Howard and Florida A&M. Norfolk State advanced to championship with back-to-back 4-0 victories against Coppin State and Bethune-Cookman.

For the latest on the 2014 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships, long on to www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY MEACSPORTS.COM

Howard University Gospel Choir: "All In His Hands"

WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University sings "All In His Hands" in Detroit, Michigan.  Happy Easter 2014!



COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR

Bussie Named PVAMU Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

ASST. COACH LANDON BUSSIE
Photo Courtesy: Xavier University
of Louisiana Athletics



 

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Prairie View A&M head women's basketball coach Dawn Brown announced today that Landon Bussie will join the staff as an assistant coach.  Bussie will be involved with the day-to-day operations of the program, with a special emphasis on recruiting and guard development.

Prior to his time at Prairie View A&M, Bussie spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team, and completed two years as a graduate assistant.  At Xavier, Bussie helped guide the squad to three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Regular-Season Conference Championships (2012, 2013, and 2014), with four consecutive appearances at the NAIA National Championship Tournament. In addition, six Gold Rush players added all-conference honors to their resumes' during Bussie's tenure.

 

Bussie was a two-year letterman as a forward for the men's basketball team at Xavier University of Louisiana, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2010. He later earned a master's degree in educational leadership in 2014.

 

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Bussie is a graduate of Woodlawn High School and went on to play two seasons for Livingstone College of the CIAA (NCAA Division II) before transferring to Xavier.

 

Bussie is the son of Loretta Bussie and the late Gerald Bussie and has two siblings, brother, Gerald, and sister Asya. Asya was an All-American standout at West Virginia University before being drafted by the Minnesota Lynx as the 15th-overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

 

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic Consortium Begins Prep for 2014 Game

(L) FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow, Sr., FAMU president Dr. Elmira
Mangum; (R) B-CU president Dr. Edison O Jackson, B-CU Director of Athletics
Lynn W. Thompson, and Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. 
Photo Courtesy: B-CU Athletics
 

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Florida Classic Consortium met Wednesday, April 16, kicking off plans for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University. This year’s game will take place November 22 at the reconstructed Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The consortium, consisting of several members from both institutions including the presidents and athletics directors, met with members from Florida Citrus Sports on a number of topics to begin planning for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend.

Plans for the renovated Citrus Bowl indicate construction is on schedule and is expected to be fully functional by game day.

Fans can get a live look-in on stadium development by visiting the Turner Construction page dedicated to the stadium (http://turnerwzc.workzonecam.com).

We’re so excited to open Orlando’s brand-new stadium with a game that has a deep history in this region,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. “The Florida Blue Florida Classic has resulted in some of the best games – and biggest crowds – that the old Citrus Bowl hosted. There’s no better event to commemorate the opening of the new building.”

During the meeting, Hogan presented each institution with a check for the proceeds from last year’s event. Bethune-Cookman won the 2013 Florida Blue Florida Classic, 29-10.

Afterward, Hogan, B-CU president Dr. Edison O Jackson, FAMU president Dr. Elmira Mangum, B-CU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson and FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow, Sr. paused for a photo officially kicking off the 2014 campaign.

For more information on the Florida Blue Florida Classic, please log on FloridaClassic.org.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU's Johnson: No Regrets

CLEMON JOHNSON
Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Clemon Johnson said he didn’t see his firing Friday as the head men’s basketball coach at FAMU coming, but he had no regrets about taking the job at his alma mater three years ago.

An hour before FAMU released a terse press release concerning Johnson’s firing, he told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was placed on administrative leave with pay until July 29, his effective termination date.

Johnson, 57, said he was informed of the decision in a letter hand-delivered by former interim athletic director Michael Smith.

“It was definitely a joy and a thrill to give back to the university that that I love and grew up with, and helped raise me,” Johnson said.

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