College basketball: Why Texas Southern is playing 13 road games in four time zones

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Out here on the road with the traveling Tigers of Texas Southern, it can get a little hard keeping the schedule straight.

It’s Thursday, right? If it’s Thursday, this must be Ohio State.

Here come the Tigers for morning shoot-around, but before we stop coach Mike Davis for a word, consider Texas Southern’s non-conference schedule.

Thirteen games in 44 days – every last one of them on the road. Ten states, four time zones, from Gonzaga and Washington State and Oregon in the west to Syracuse and Clemson in the east and south, with the likes of Kansas and Ohio State in between. The sea to shining sea tour.



So, um, why?

“It’s a planned thing that I do because in life there’s going to be challenges,” Davis begins. “Your passion and your mindset and your efforts have to be greater than any challenge you’re going to face in life. So I have an opportunity with my basketball team to put them in challenges for 13 games.”

And he’s not kidding. Besides the heavyweight teams on the schedule, one after another after another, there are quirks in the itinerary to help the travel budget. The 4 a.m. bus to the airport for the Gonzaga game. Flying into Cincinnati, two hours away, for this Ohio State visit.



All part of the plan. Davis again:

“I feel like that builds character, and that develops great habits of being able to recover mentally. The worst thing that’s going to happen is you’re going to lose a basketball game. Once you walk out of these doors, there’s going to be sickness, there’s going to be death, there’s going to be losing your job, divorce, all kind of situations you’re going to be challenged with.

“I’m giving my team the opportunity to face those challenges to prepare them for life, and also face these challenges so it prepares us for our conference. We’re never going to face teams in the SWAC that are as good as these teams. The only way you can get better is through struggle. You have to embrace the struggle, understand it, and always look to the solution.”



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Gold Rush rally, then hold on to defeat Rams 73-70

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana erased a 16-point first-half deficit, then held on Monday for a 73-70 men's basketball victory against Mobile.

The Gold Rush (6-2) won for the second time in three days. The XULA men are 3-0 at home this season.

Jeff Dixon, one of four XULA players to score in double figures, had career highs of 19 points and eight assists. Mike Williams scored 12 points, and Rayshawn Mart and Jalen David had 11 apiece.
Tony-Toni Wright scored 16 points for the Rams (2-4). Andre Elam scored 14 points, and JaBarie Escoffery had 10.



XULA trailed 23-7 through 10 minutes, then rallied to grab a 33-27 halftime lead. A Joseph Williams basket gave the Gold Rush a 61-46 lead with 7:06 remaining. Mobile got as close as 71-70 and missed two 3-pointers on the final possession.

Dixon, a junior from New Orleans and in his first season of eligibility at XULA, became the first Gold Rush player to reach 19 points and eight assists in the same game since Wanto Joseph had 21 points and eight assists in an 84-79 home victory against Philander Smith on Jan. 19, 2013.

"Jeffrey has been coming along steadily," XULA coach Alfred Williams said. "He carried the scoring load, and we really needed it."

A primary reason for that need was the absence of another junior guard, Virgil Davison. He entered the game with a team-leading 15.3 scoring average, but he left this game for good with no points at 11:31 of the first half — shortly after his second turnover.

Soon after Davison's departure, XULA struck gold. It hit 8 of its last 12 shots from the floor of the half, then shot 60 percent in the second half to finish at a season-best 56.1.

Another player who did not reach recent levels was Escoffery, a junior guard who entered averaging 17.2 points and making 61 percent of his treys. But Escoffery shot a season-low seven times from the floor, made 2-of-5 treys and missed all five of his free throws, four in the final 9 1/2 minutes.

Mobile shot 47.2 percent from the floor, 50 percent in the second half, but was 14-of-28 at the line, 11-of-22 in the second half.

XULA scored the final points on Elex Carter's two free throws with eight seconds remaining, but the Gold Rush could not exhale until D.J. Hill and Xavier Howard missed treys in the final three seconds. A make by Hill or Howard would have produced the Rams' fourth overtime game of the season.

Instead the result was their fourth consecutive loss and the 16th in their last 18 meetings with XULA.
Mobile is 0-5 all-time against XULA at the Convocation Center, which opened in 2012, but all those games have been thrillers. XULA's average winning margin in those matchups is 3.2 points.

"Mobile's just a tough team," Williams said.

But once again the Gold Rush found ways to be a little bit tougher.

XULA will travel to Houston to play the University of St. Thomas at 7 p.m. Wednesday, then break for Thanksgiving. The next home game will tip off at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 against NAIA No. 2 LSU-Alexandria.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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North Carolina A&T's Broadway Becomes Finalist For National Coach of the Year

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T head football coach Rod Broadway has been selected as a finalist for the 31st STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award which honors the FCS Coach of the Year.

“This is never about me,” said Broadway. “I haven’t made a tackle since 1977. I think we have a great coaching staff and of course we have some great players. One thing about coaching you learn quickly, it’s about having great players and surrounding yourself with great people.”

Three other Aggies were also FCS STATs finalists. Junior quarterback Lamar Raynard (6-4, 200, High Point, NC) moved beyond the watch list to become a finalist the Walter Payton Award for offensive player of the year. Teammate and senior left tackle Brandon Parker (6-7, 309, Kannapolis, NC) is up for the same award. Freshman cornerback Mac McCain is now a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award for the best FCS rookie.

Broadway has the Aggies (11-0) as one of only two undefeated teams in FCS play along with No. 1 team in the nation, James Madison. The Aggies are also the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions for the third time in four years. For the first time in 14 years, the Aggies are the outright conference champions.

Under Broadway, N.C. A&T will play in its second Celebration Bowl in three years when the Aggies face the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion noon, Saturday, Dec. 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This season Broadway became the school’s second all-time winningest coach. In seven seasons, he is 58-22 (.725) at N.C. A&T. He reached 50 wins faster than any other coach in school history, getting his 50th win at N.C. A&T in 72 games coached. Before becoming the headman for the Aggies, Broadway spent four seasons at North Carolina Central before coaching another four years at Grambling State. He has an overall career record of 126-45 (.737).

Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State, past winners of the Robinson Award include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore and two-time winners Mickey Matthews, Sean McDonnell and Craig Bohl. This year's list includes at least one coach from all 13 FCS conferences. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the recipient.



The other 17 finalists include:

Mike Ayers, Wofford - 2003 Eddie Robinson Award winner has led the Terriers to the Southern Conference title for the fifth time and the FCS playoffs for the eighth time in his 30th season. His team has been ranked in the Top 10 most of the season. Record: 10-1.

Al Bagnoli, Columbia - In Bagnoli's third season, the Lions finished with winning overall and Ivy League records for the first time since 1996. In tying for second place, they won five more games than they did in 2016. Record: 8-2.

Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State - Has led the Owls to the Big South championship and the FCS playoffs in just the program's third season. The Owls finished the regular season on a 10-game winning streak. Record: 10-1.

Kevin Callahan, Monmouth - In his 25th season, the Hawks have posted their best record since 2006 and qualified for the FCS playoffs for the first time. Picked fourth in the Big South preseason poll, they've improved by five wins and finished as the conference runner-up. Record: 9-2.

Dave Cecchini, Valparaiso - After the Crusaders won three total games against the same opponent in the four seasons prior to Cecchini's arrival, his third team ended with its best overall and Pioneer Football League records since 2003. Record: 6-5.

Curt Cignetti, Elon - The Phoenix have posted a six-win turnaround in Cignetti's first season after finishing 2-9 a year ago. Picked to finish 11th in the CAA Football preseason poll, they've defeated four Top 25 teams on the way to their first FCS playoff bid since 2009. Record: 8-3.

Charlie Fisher, Western Illinois - The Leathernecks have posted a school-record six road wins, including a rout of FBS member Coastal Carolina, in qualifying for the FCS playoffs. Their eight overall wins are the most since 2003. Record: 8-3.

John Grass, Jacksonville State - The Gamecocks have not lost a regular-season game to a non-FBS opponent in Grass' four seasons, sweeping their way to the Ohio Valley Conference title and the FCS playoffs. His .860 (43-7) winning percentage is tops among active Division I coaches. Record: 10-1.

Will Healy, Austin Peay - The Governors overcame a 29-game losing streak and a 1-47 overall stretch by winning eight of their final 10 games, with three of this year's four losses against FBS opponents. They also halted long Ohio Valley Conference (21 games) and road (45) losing streaks. Record: 8-4.

Mike Houston, James Madison - The defending national champions are one of two unbeaten teams in the FCS, sweeping to the CAA Football title as the No. 1-ranked team all season. They Dukes take a 23-game winning season - the longest in Division I - into the FCS playoffs. Record: 11-0.

Dan Hunt, Colgate - The Raiders earned a share of the Patriot League title for the second time in three years and are the only team in the league with a winning record. They allowed only 32 points during a season-closing five-game winning streak. Record: 7-4.

Chris Klieman, North Dakota State - The Bison won the Missouri Valley Football Conference title for the seventh consecutive season, and take a national-high six Top 25 wins into the FCS playoffs. Klieman has 50 wins in his four seasons guiding NDSU. Record: 10-1.

Mike London, Howard - London's first season at Howard began with the program's first FBS win as the Bison beat UNLV as 45-point underdogs. While tying for second place, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference squad posted its first winning record since 2012 and the second in the last 16 years. Record: 7-4.

Fred McNair, Alcorn State - The second-year coach is taking the Braves to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game for the fourth straight season - a first in conference history - after they finished atop the East Division standings. Record: 7-4.

Tim Rebowe, Nicholls - The Colonels have turned around their program since ending a 23-game losing streak during Rebowe's first season in 2015. This year, they've qualified for the FCS playoffs with their first winning season since 2005. Record: 8-3.

Pete Rossomando, Central Connecticut State - The Blue Devils are headed to the FCS playoffs for the first time after they won an outright Northeast Conference title. They are on an eight-game winning streak, which is the longest in the program's FCS history. Record: 8-3.

Demario Warren, Southern Utah - In his second season, the Thunderbirds have earned a share of the Big Sky title and the conference's automatic bid to the playoffs after being picked seventh in the league's preseason poll. Record: 9-2.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Nuggets' Wednesday game at Florida Memorial canceled

NEW ORLEANS — The women's basketball programs of Xavier University of Louisiana and Florida Memorial have mutually agreed to cancel their Wednesday basketball game at FMU.

The scratch will leave the Gold Nuggets (2-2) with a two-week gap between competitions. Their most recent game was a 62-43 victory at William Carey a week ago; their next game will tip off at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 against LSU-Alexandria at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets' usual Thanksgiving home event, the Xavier Classic, was moved during the offseason to Dec. 17-18 and will include men's games.

The XULA women have played just once at home this season — Oct. 29 against Southeastern (Fla.) — but they'll have three home games next week. Following LSUA will be a 6 p.m. Dec. 1 game with Georgetown (Ky.) and a 5 p.m. Dec. 2 matchup with NAIA No. 13 Our Lady of the Lake.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Homecoming was a banner day for Sister Grace Mary

Women's basketball coach Bo Browder, left, and Director of Tennis Alan Green present Sister Grace Mary Flickinger with an honorary varsity letter.

NEW ORLEANS — When Sister Grace Mary Flickinger returned to Xavier University of Louisiana last weekend for homecoming, a big surprise awaited her.

A 4-feet-by-8-feet banner with her name and image was unveiled Saturday afternoon at halftime of the Gold Rush basketball game against Huston-Tillotson. That banner soon will be permanently displayed in the rafters of the Convocation Center. XULA coaches also presented Flickinger an honorary varsity letter, and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll will be renamed in her honor.

Flickinger spent nearly 50 years on XULA's biology faculty and nearly 40 years as the university's faculty athletics representative. Her work for athletics included two terms as president of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, service on the GCAC's eligibility and executive committees and chair of the NAIA's Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives.

The NAIA honored Flickinger with two of its most prestigious awards: membership in its Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Wally Schwartz Award in 2007 for her work as an FAR.

"She has been a favorite of students, a trusted and nurturing adviser and a positive influence in the lives and careers of many Xavierites," read part of the opening paragraph during Flickinger's banner ceremony.

Flickinger retired from XULA after the 2016-17 academic year. She resides in Pennsylvania near the motherhouse of her religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

"Sister Grace Mary has given a lot of herself to Xavier," said Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn, "and we wanted to show our appreciation for all that she has given and done — not just for student-athletes, but for thousands of students and staff throughout her time in New Orleans."

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Foy Exceeds Expectations, North Carolina A&T Aggies Beat Appalachian State

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  – Expectations were high for sophomore C’Coriea Foy after she transferred from Power Five school Alabama to historic North Carolina A&T State University. Those expectations were hard to meet at first because she sat out a season as a Division I transfer, therefore, there was a little rust she had to shake off first. But nights like Tuesday show how Foy is progressing toward doing what she was brought to N.C. A&T to do.

Foy finished with 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting from the floor and 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range to lead the N.C. A&T women’s basketball team to a convincing 81-56 win over in-state rival Appalachian State. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Aggies (2-2) and it makes up for losing their last home game to Elon.

“We did not play the way are capable of playing the last time we were in front of our home fans, so we wanted to come out and play a lot better today at home,” said N.C. A&T coach Tarrell Robinson. “Right now, we’re only playing with nine young ladies, but I trust all of them.”

Senior Kala Green scored nine of her season-high 17 points in the first quarter to lead the Aggies to an 81-56 win over Appalachian State Tuesday night at Corbett Sports Center. Photo by Kevin L. Dorsey

Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information

Robinson called one of those young ladies into his office this past week to discuss living up to expectations. Robinson made it clear she was brought to N.C. A&T to make an immediate impact. In some ways, she has. She had a big second half against Georgia Southern on Nov. 10 to lead the Aggies to an 11-point victory. But in losses to Elon and Auburn, she was a combined 9-for-31 from the field.

“Yes, I did feel the weight of those expectations on me,” said Foy. “I know every game if a couple of us don't put up certain numbers then we're not going to have the kind of outcome we want. I didn't feel like I performed the way I should have in the Auburn game which hindered us from winning the game. “

There was no such hindrance against App State. Foy didn’t get off to a fast start, but senior Kala Green did. Green scored nine first-quarter points to help the Aggies secure a 15-11 lead after the opening quarter. Foy then stepped in and did what she is expected to do, cause havoc defensively and score in bunches offensively. Forty-seven seconds into the second quarter she received a pass out of the post from sophomore Alexus Lessears and netted a 3-pointer. Ninety seconds later it was sophomore Le’on Hill who found Foy open on the perimeter for another three and a 21-11 Aggies lead.

After Kaila Craven hit a 3-pointer for the Mountaineers, Foy scored on a mid-range jump shot before sophomore Cinia McCray took a cross-court pass from Green and hit a corner three to give the Aggies a 26-14 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. Another McCray 3-pointer grew the Aggies lead to 29-15. McCray finished with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range.

“They sat in their 2-3 zone and in order to get people out of the zone, you've got to make shots,” said Robinson. “It was great to see us go 10-for-20 shooting and shoot 50 percent from three. I hope to get that for the rest of the season.”

App State did cut the lead to nine with 1:09 remaining in the half, but Quenswayla Story hit a jump shot just inside the free throw line to put the Aggies ahead 38-27 at the half.

Foy’s third quarter made sure the Mountaineers (0-5) could not mount a credible threat. Foy scored 13 third-quarter points aided by a 3-for-4 showing from beyond the arc. Foy hit two three-pointers in the opening 90 seconds of the quarter to give the Aggies a 44-29 lead. App State did get the lead to eight, 50-42, on a Craven three. But McCray quickly answered from the elbow with a 3-pointer, which was followed by two McCray free throws, a Foy 3-pointer and an easy layup from Hill. Lessears ended the Aggies 11-0 run with a free throw to give N.C. A&T a 60-42 lead with 1:13 remaining in the third.

The run was just what the Aggies needed as their lead ballooned to as many as 28 in the fourth quarter. Green finished with a season-high 17 points to along with five assists. Craven ended her night with 14 points for the Mountaineers.

“Tonight, lets us know we're better than what we think we are,” said Foy. “Sometimes we have certain doubts about whether we should do certain things in the game, but for the most part if we just stick to the game plan, listen to and do what coach Rob tells us and don’t second guess ourselves, everything will be okay.”

Those are excellent tools to have for meeting expectations. The Aggies will do what they traditionally do and play in a Thanksgiving tournament. They will play in the Cavalier Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by the University of Virginia. They will open with Duquesne on Saturday, Nov. 25 (4 p.m.) before playing Harvard on Sunday, Nov. 26 (1 p.m.).

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HBCUs capping historic football season; Hampton makes major move to Big South Conference

SAINT LOUIS, Missouri -- North Carolina A&T’s historic season continued this week when the Aggies won the outright MEAC Conference title with an 8-0 league record and moved to 11-0.

A victory in the Celebration Bowl, which will be televised at noon Saturday, Dec. 16 on ABC (Channel 30) from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, would complete A&T’s first perfect season in 18 years. It would be the first-ever undefeated season by a MEAC team since the league started in 1971.

The Aggies topped North Carolina Central 24-10 on Nov. 18 to stay perfect and gain a bit of revenge against the team that had defeated them three consecutive seasons. Those respective losses cost A&T the outright conference title each year, a playoff berth in 2014 and a Celebration Bowl appearance and undefeated season last year.

NCA&T AGGIES PHOTO GALLERY

A&T coach Rod Broadway, who should be on somebody’s Power 5 assistant-coach-to-hire list, called the 2017 season “special.”

“To end the regular-season season 11-0 I think says a lot about our coaching staff and the job they have done,” Broadway told HBCUsports.com.

“I think we have a great coaching staff and of course we have some great players. One thing about coaching is you don’t have time to enjoy it as its happening.”

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