St. Aug stays perfect in CIAA with win over Virginia Union

Raleigh, North Carolina — Redshirt sophomore Chris Johnson (Hampton, Va.) scored 12 points to lead a balanced attack as Saint Augustine's College tripped Virginia Union 68-58 Thursday (Jan. 12) in CIAA men's basketball action at Emery Gymnasium.

The win was the fourth straight for the Falcons (8-5, 3-0 CIAA), who finish a four-game homestand Saturday against 12th-ranked Bowie State at 4 p.m. The Falcons are 6-0 inside Emery Gymnasium this season.

Ten players scored for the Falcons, who used their depth to take command of the game. The Falcons, playing without leading scorer Joel Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) for the second straight game, outscored the Panthers 34-11 in bench points.

Several players came off the bench to provide key minutes for the Falcons. Freshman forward Jordan Jones (Ahoskie, N.C.) scored eight points and senior guard Jeremy Banks (Elizabeth City, N.C.) added seven points.

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WSSU Rams Slip Past Chowan, 71-66

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina  –  Kyree Bethel had another stellar night from the floor, but the Chowan Hawks fell to the visiting Rams of Winston-Salem State University, 71-66 in front of a packed Helms Center on Thursday.  Chowan falls to 6-9 overall (0-3 CIAA), while the Rams improve to 11-2 overall (4-0 CIAA).

Bethel drained four three-pointers en route to scoring a game-high 24 points.  He shot 9-16 from the floor and also added three steals.  Fellow freshman Mark Anthony Buright scored 12 points, including going 4-4 from the free throw line.



Neither team got much going offensively to begin the contest, as the Rams held just a 12-6 lead after eight minutes, 50 seconds of play.  A Kenneth Mears layup at the 10:30 mark brought the Hawks within two at 12-10.

In a game of runs, WSSU had the first, going up 21-10 following a 9-0 spurt.  Led by Bethel, though, Chowan answered.  The freshman scored 10 of Chowan's next 13 points, bringing them back within one point at 24-23.  Greg Alston also drained a three pointer during the stretch.

Winston-Salem State recovered and took a 35-25 lead with just under a minute to play in the first half.  A Rickey Lamb and-one sent the Hawks into halftime trailing 35-28.

Box Score

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SAPAKOFF COLUMN: The 'punch' that really wasn't

COACH TODD BOZEMAN HAS BEEN TREATED WORST THAN AN EX-CON
 BY THE SUITS IN THE MSU ADMINISTRATION.  HAS THE FAMU SITUATION GOTTEN EVERYONE JITTERY TO THE POINT THAT NOTHING CAN BE
 RESOLVED WITHOUT LITIGATION?

CHARLESTON, South Carolina  -  One minute, Morgan State is finishing off a routine Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference basketball victory at S.C. State. A disputed second later, the friendly town of Orangeburg is ground zero for one of the most controversial stories of the college basketball season.

Too bad the administrators evidently got this one wrong, smudging both schools and forcing apparently falsely accused Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman to explain himself.

Over and over.

Again, too many suits in the athletic department kitchen.

"The way this thing has blown up has really surprised me," said Thomas Grant Jr. of the Orangeburg Times and Democrat, the only reporter on the scene Saturday at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. "I didn't even think that much of it at the time."

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Tennessee State Track & Field Teams Travel East for UNC Tar Heels Dick Taylor Invitational

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Tennessee State University Flying Tigers and Tigerbelles compete in their third indoor track & field meet this weekend, Jan. 13-14, at the UNC Dick Taylor Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.  The meet, located at the Eddie Smith Field House at UNC, is free and open to the public.

TSU had nine podium finishes at the 13th Annual Ed Temple Classic last Saturday, Jan. 7. This weekend, the Tigers will take their challenges to Chapel Hill and compete against 20 other collegiate programs. Among those participating include host North Carolina and other Division I programs such as Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Duke, Norfolk State, Richmond, Furman, UNC-Ashville and Western Carolina.  Other HBCU participating schools are: Virginia Union, Winston Salem State, Livingstone, Johnson C. Smith University, and Voorhees College

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA EDDIE SMITH FIELD HOUSE

The women's weight throw will start off competition on Friday, Jan. 13 at 3:30 p.m. The field events will conclude with the men's pole vault at 6 p.m. The women's 60-meter hurdle preliminaries will start the running events at 4 p.m. on Friday and finish with the men's distance medley relay at 6:55 p.m.

On Saturday, the women's high jump and triple jump start at 9 a.m. The running events begin with the women's 400-meter dash at 11 a.m.

TSU has several student-athletes with top marks in the OVC. Gabrielle Todd's time of 57.88 is first in the 400-meter dash and 44th nationally.

Arthur Combest' high jump of 6-8 (2.03m) is tops among the OVC men and tied for 34th in the NCAA.

Earlier this week, senior Daniecce Ward was named the OVC's Female Field Athlete of the Week. The Milwaukee, Wisc., product set career marks and the standard in the OVC in the long jump (5.72m/18-9 ¼) and the triple jump (11.80m/38-8 ¾). Her converted time of 8.68 in the 60-meter hurdles is tied for 26th in the country.

In the shot put, sophomore Brittani Logan threw a distance of 42-2 ¾ (12.87m) at the Ed Temple Classic for second in the league. Freshman Jamill Jackson's run of 1:58.37 in the 800-meter run ranks second in conference marks.

Results and a recap for this weekend's meet will be posted online at TSUTigers.com.

2012 REVISED Dick Taylor Invitational Meet Schedule (AS of 1/12/12)
Dick Taylor Heat Sheets

VISIT: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
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Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information and Tarheelblue.com

TSU's Covington Scores 30 in Victory over Morehead State

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Robert Covington set a career-high 30 points to help Tennessee State snap a three-game losing skid with a 77-72 victory over Morehead State on Wednesday evening at the Gentry Center.

The Tigers (9-9, 2-3 Ohio Valley) and Eagles (8-10, 2-3 OVC) played back-and-forth in the first half. But TSU scored 13 points down the stretch to improve their OVC win streak at the Gentry Center to five games.

The Tigers shot 49 percent (23-of-47) for the game, out-rebounding the Eagles 30-to-27. TSU dished out 18 assists and tied a season-high with 13 triples.

Nashville native Wil Peters blocked a shot and proceeded to hit a trey at 6:18 to give the Tigers some momentum. Covington added a triple and Kenny Moore tallied two free throws to put the Tigers ahead of Morehead State in the final two minutes.

Covington finished with 30 points and eight rebounds. He added a block, a steal and an assist in 35 minutes of action. From the field, the junior finished 9-of-12. He set a career-high with seven made triples, surpassing his previous total of five against Siena on Nov. 13, 2009.

The 30 points by Covington was the most for a Tiger since Parker Smith managed 30 on Jan. 17, 2009.

Freshman guard Jay Harris had a breakout performance, tallying 12 points, an assist and a steal in 21 minutes. The Philadelphia product was 3-of-4 from the field.

Peters managed several milestones after draining three triples and scoring 12 points in the win. The senior's 115 made triples is two shy of reaching TSU's top-10 list for career made 3-pointers.

Peters played a game-high 37 minutes and eclipsed over 3,000 minutes played in his four-year career. In the assists column, Peters dished out a game-best six balls. He also recorded a career-best two blocks.

Patrick Miller and Jordan Cyphers each had seven points against the Eagles. Miller set a career-high with eight rebounds and dished out five assists.

At the half, the Tigers took their first lead in the locker room since the UT Martin game. TSU's 34-32 lead was helped by a 46 field goal percentage (13-of-28). TSU forced 10 Morehead State turnovers.

FINAL STATS



Covington led the Tigers with 14 points and Miller had four boards and four points in the first half.

The game went back-and-forth with the Tigers and Eagles within two during the first 12 minutes. TSU expanded its' lead to five after Covington drained a triple to put up TSU 30-25 with 5:09 left.

Milton Chavis added a layup for Morehead State to narrow the Eagles' deficit to 32-29 with 1:33 left. In the final seconds, Marsell Holden drained a triple to make it a 34-32 game at the half.

In the second half, the game again started out back-and-forth with the two squads trading jabs. Holden's triple tied the game at 41-41 with 15:12.

The lead changed on 16 occasions during the game and did so quite frequently in the second half. The Tigers' felt momentum swing their way when Peters blocked a shot and then drove down the court to drain a triple, making it a 64-60 game.

Morehead State would tie the contest again, but TSU used 13 points down the stretch to snap a current-three game losing skid and improve to 17-3 at the Gentry Center during the past two seasons.

TSU remains at home this Saturday when the Tigers host SIUE at 7:30 p.m. Saturday is Kid's Day at the Gentry Center and all kids K-12 will receive free admission to the game.

VISIT: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

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Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

WSSU's Monger has torn ACL

LAMAR MONGER
6-0/185 GUARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: AHOSKIE, N.C.
HERTFORD COUNTY H.S.

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - If Winston-Salem State hopes to compete for the CIAA title, it will have to do it without its leading scorer and emotional leader.

Lamar Monger, who is averaging a team-best 16.4 points a game, has a torn right-knee ligament and will likely be lost for the rest of the season. Monger had an MRI on his knee on Monday afternoon. It was discovered that he has a torn ACL, which will require surgery later this month.

"Everything happens for a reason," coach Bobby Collins of the Rams said. "A lot of people have stepped up in the absence of Lamar and now they'll have to continue to do that."

Monger hurt his knee in Saturday's win over Virginia State, when he was fouled hard going to the basket early in the game and landed heavily on his right knee.

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Attorney: Victim of fatal FAMU band hazing attack was gay

ORLANDO, Florida - Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion was gay, which may have been one reason why he was beaten so severely during a hazing attack in Orlando last semester, the Champion family’s attorney said Tuesday.

Attorney Christopher Chestnut, speaking at a news conference with Champion’s parents in Orlando, said the parents came forward to discuss their son’s sexuality because rumors had been swirling that the 26-year-old student was hazed specifically because of his "alternative lifestyle."



Though Champion’s sexual orientation may have been a factor, Chestnut said, his own investigation indicates that it was probably one of several that caused students to beat him so violently that he died.

He insisted, however, that the overriding motivation that likely led to such a brutal attack was Champion’s outspoken resistance to hazing within FAMU’s famed marching band.

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FAMU Drum Major Targeted Because He Opposed Hazing, Lawyer Claims 

ORLANDO, Florida - The parents of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion, who police believe died after a violent hazing, said today that their son may have been hazed more severely than other students because of his opposition to the practice.

"Robert Champion was the poster child of anti-hazing. He threatened the very institution of hazing in this band," said attorney Christopher Chestnut, a lawyer for Champion's family.

During their investigation into what happened to their son, Champion's family discovered that he was gay, but also concluded that was not a reason for his alleged hazing.



"This is not a hate crime," Chestnut said during a news conference today. "This is a hazing crime. That is what we are here to say today."

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Witnesses: FAMU drum major was targeted due to sexuality

ATLANTA -- Was sexual orientation a factor in the hazing death of a Florida A&M University drum major? It depends on who you ask. Nearly two months after his death, the parents of FAMU drum major Robert Champion said Tuesday morning that although their son was gay, that's not why he was targeted.

The Decatur native died November 19 after collapsing on a bus following a band performance. Officials have ruled his death a homicide caused by hazing.



During Tuesday's news conference, attorney Christopher Chestnut said after speaking with more than 15 witnesses, many reported that Champion was subjected to more severe hazing than other students.

Some witnesses said they believed Champion was hazed harder because he was gay.

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Questions Swirl Over What Led to Florida Drum Major’s Death

ATLANTA — Almost two months after the beating death of a Florida A&M University drum major, new questions have arisen over why he might have been singled out for violence.

On Tuesday, the parents of the student, Robert Champion, revealed that their son had been gay. But they said they believed that did not play a big role in the beating the authorities say he sustained at the hands of bandmates on a bus after a football game on Nov. 19.

“Robert’s being gay may have been a reason for his hazing, but it wasn’t the main reason,” said Christopher M. Chestnut, the family’s lawyer, who said he had conducted a private investigation. “This was a hazing crime, not a hate crime.”

That Mr. Champion was gay was “a private thing, not something he advertised publicly,” his mother, Pam Champion, said in an interview.

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Xavier Gold Nuggets delay King's quest for his 200th victory

KELDRA HALL
6-0 CENTER, SENIOR
DALLAS, TEXAS
Molina H.S. (Angelina JC)

NEW ORLEANS — Keldra Hall scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half Tuesday to lead NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 56-47 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against SUNO at The Barn.

The Gold Nuggets (12-5 overall, 2-0 GCAC) have won 31 in a row against GCAC opponents — 26 in the regular season. They denied Elston King his 200th victory at SUNO (3-7, 1-2).

King is 199-147 in 13 seasons.

Hall grabbed seven rebounds, but her streak of consecutive double-doubles ended at three. Jasmine Grant scored eight points, all in the second half, for Xavier, and Brandi Young and Jazmoné Kelly scored seven apiece. Young had a career-high nine assists and zero turnovers in 36 minutes.

Kelly Stewart scored nine points for SUNO. No teammate had more than six points.

Stewart's basket with 13:48 remaining gave SUNO its only lead, 30-28. Then Xavier took control with a 14-2 run during the next five minutes. Grant scored all her points during that time, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Hall's layup on a pass from Paige Gauthier capped the burst and gave the Nuggets a 42-32 lead with 9:07 remaining. The Lady Knights never came closer than six points thereafter.

Young passed to Gauthier for a basket which gave Xavier a 21-12 lead at 3:48 of the first half, but SUNO scored the next eight points — including 3-pointers by Blake Holliwell and Stewart — to cut the margin to 21-20 by halftime.

Xavier outshot SUNO 36.8 to 28 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Knights 45-32. It was the second straight game that the Nuggets limited an opponent to less than 30 percent, and it was the fourth time in five games that their rebound margin was 10 or more.

It was Xavier's first home game since Dec. 3, its season-high fifth consecutive victory and its 12th straight victory in a GCAC home opener. The Nuggets are 59-8 all-time against SUNO and have won six straight and 10 of the past 11 in the series.

SUNO has dropped six of seven games after winning two of its first three.

The Gold Nuggets will continue their five-game home stand at 5:30 p.m. Friday against GCAC opponent Edward Waters.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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VISIT: GCACSPORTS

SUNO is White-hot in overtime victory at Xavier

NEW ORLEANS — SUNO's Devin White scored 25 points Tuesday and made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining in overtime in a 67-64 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana at The Barn.

White, in his second game with the Knights (6-7, 2-1) after playing two seasons at NCAA Division I Northwestern State, also had 12 rebounds and blocked eight shots, one less than the record for a GCAC game. His 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 56.

White scored 20 points, made 3-of-3 3-pointers and blocked six shots after halftime to help the Knights win two in a row for the first time this season. He had 28 points, nine rebounds and five blocks Saturday at Dillard.

SUNO never trailed in overtime and gave Xavier (10-5, 1-1) its third loss in its past 28 home games. SUNO is responsible for two of those losses, including a 55-54 decision this past season. The Knights also knocked Xavier out of first place in the GCAC; through 10 league games none of the eight teams is unbeaten.

Kevin Dukes and Clyde Moore scored 12 points apiece for SUNO. Dukes made his first three field-goal attempts in overtime, and Moore scored the game's final two points with 14 seconds remaining. From that point Xavier missed two shots and grabbed two rebounds but was unable to get a third shot on a frontcourt inbounds play with two-tenths of a second remaining.

Anthony Simmons scored 15 points for Xavier. Denzell Erves had 10 points and 11 rebounds — his first double-double since opening night — and Jamaan Kenner scored 10 points and made a season-best three 3-pointers in four attempts.

The Gold Rush led for approximately 36 minutes and held a 28-17 advantage after Kenner's 3-pointer at 4:41 of the first half. But Merlin Walker's 3-pointer and Moore's 3-point play helped SUNO close the gap to 31-28 by halftime.

Xavier shot better than 50 percent than from the floor in its previous two games but made 34.8 percent against SUNO, including 1-of-8 in overtime. Kenner's 3-pointer from the left corner tied the score at 62 at 2:29 of overtime, but the XU men missed two ensuing shots which would have given them the lead.

SUNO shot 41.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded Xavier 40-35. The Gold Rush committed a season-low eight turnovers and gained 15.

It was the third time in six games that Xavier played overtime.

The Gold Rush will continue a five-game home stand at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Edward Waters.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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VISIT: GCACSPORTS

Howard University Men's and Women's Tennis Teams Picked First in MEAC Northern Division

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Howard University men's and women's tennis teams have been picked first in the MEAC Northern Division. All honors were voted on by the conference's head tennis coaches and sports information directors.

On the men's side, the Howard Bison were picked to win the northern divisional crown for the fourth straight year. The Bison posted an undefeated conference record (4-0) and were 5-10 overall a year ago.

On the women's side, Howard, winners of last year's women’s northern divisional crown, was picked to repeat in 2012. The Lady Bison posted a 5-0 mark in MEAC play and a 14-8 overall record last season.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Northern Division

1. Howard (21)....................... 297 pts.

2. Hampton (3)....................... 227 pts.

3. Delaware State (2)............. 218 pts.

4. Morgan State..................... 177 pts.

5. Maryland E. Shore............. 150 pts.

6. Coppin State...................... 146 pts.

Southern Division

1. South Carolina State (25).. 309 pts.

2. Florida A&M (1)....... 235 pts.

3. Bethune-Cookman............ 213 pts.

4. North Carolina Central....... 171 pts.

5. Norfolk State..................... 163 pts.

6. North Carolina A&T....138 pts.

7. Savannah State................... 123 pts.

MEN'S TENNIS

Northern Division (Points)


1. Howard (13)....................... 217 pts.

2. Hampton (4)....................... 184 pts.

3. Morgan State (3)................ 175 pts.

4. Maryland E. Shore............. 136 pts.

5. Coppin State..................... 128 pts.

Southern Division (Points)


1. South Carolina State (13).. 219 pts.

2. Florida A&M (7)....... 201 pts.

3. Bethune-Cookman............ 149 pts.

4. Norfolk State.................... 137 pts.

5. North Carolina Central ......134 pts.

VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
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Courtesy: Howard University Sports Information

Paul Quinn Part of MLK Basketball Classic featuring Grambling & Prairie View

DALLAS, Texas - The Prairie View A&M Panthers will take on the Tigers of Grambling State University in an all around competition featuring both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams in the Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic – 4 The Love of Basketball sponsored by Farmers Insurance Group, McDonald’s, United States Marines, Williams Chicken and ALWE.com. The classic will also feature a game between the Paul Quinn College Tigers Men’s basketball team taking on the University of St. Thomas Celts.

Monday, January 16, 2012 - Doors open at 1 p.m.
Paul Quinn College vs. University of St. Thomas – 2 p.m.
Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State University – Women 4:30 p.m. and Men 7 p.m.

“We are thankful to the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Red River Athletic Conference for bringing great HBCU basketball to Dallas,” said Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins. “The games provide wholesome family entertainment for our community on a day when we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout our city. The Classic is one of many ways we are working to showcase our city and provide economic development in Southern Dallas.”

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TSU, PV coaches 'go way, way back'

HOUSTON, Texas - Newly hired Texas Southern football coach Darrell Asberry ran into a good friend — and new rival — while walking toward the podium before Tuesday's introductory news conference at TSU's H&PE Arena.  Asberry had a warning for his colleague: "Heish, you're on the clock now."

Prairie View A&M coach Heishma Northern smiled back at him. Asberry and Northern will have plenty of time to match wits while battling for recruits in the coming weeks and preparing to face each other in the season-opening Labor Day Classic, but the two put competition aside on Tuesday as Northern congratulated a comrade on landing his first Division I head coaching job.

"Heish is one of my best friends," Asberry, 39, said. "We go way, way back."

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Tray Rabon switches to Grambling State

DALLAS, Texas - Per a team official, three-star wide receiver Tray Rabon (Dallas, Texas/Skyline) has switched his commitment from Kansas State to Grambling State.

Jason R. Garrett, the recruiting coordinator at Skyline, said Rabon and Kansas State parted ways shortly after the Texas Class 5A Division I state semifinal in mid-December. Rabon, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver, will get a chance to show off his skills for a Grambling team that won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship last season.

“Tray hadn’t heard from [Kansas State], and he basically was preparing for the worst,” Garrett said. “They said they were going a different direction, but Grambling saw some film on him. [Head coach Doug] Williams called and talked to me, Tray and [Skyline] Coach [Reginald] Samples. Now, it’s official.”

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Spots Still Available for TSU Softball Camp

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Head Coach Jeff Dabney and Tennessee State softball are hosting two clinics for players eight years old and up. The All Skills Winter Exposure will be held on Saturday, January 14, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Tiger Softball Complex. The Hitting and Slapping Clinic will be from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 15.

The All Skills Exposure will feature instruction on all phases of the game. They will participate in defensive and offensive training. Coach Dabney and his staff will break it down into infield, outfield, pitchers and catchers in the defensive areas. They will also have base running instruction along with hitting and short game instruction.

The Hitting and Slapping clinic is a one day session where campers will focus on all the main points of hitting and slapping. They will be exposed to drills and live hitting that can be used in everyday practice and help in becoming a better all around hitter. There will be plenty of hitting going on so batting gloves are recommended.

For more information contact assistant coach Samantha Buckner at 615-963-1883 or sbuckner@tnstate.edu.

TSU Softball Winter Camps Registration Form
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Photo and Article Courtesy Tennessee State University Sports Information

HBCUFanNation releases “Memorable Moments of 2011”

From former Southern University Athletic Director Greg Lafluer’s arrest for soliciting prostitution from an undercover police officer to Maryland-Eastern Shore's two national bowling championships, HBCU sports
provided a variety of memorable moments last year.

The HBCUFanNation staff has prepared a list of the most remembered news stories in 2011 and is encouraging fans to rank their top 10 choices.

Recaps of the top stories are available on HBCUFanNation.com and rankings are conducted through HBCUPollNation.com

The poll will close on January 15, 2012.

Scores That Matters!

GAME DAY: January 9, 2012

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MEAC
North Carolina A&T 85, Florida A&M 82 OT
Savannah State 57, Morgan State 55
N.C. Central 69, Bethune-Cookman 64
Coppin State 82, S.C. State 64
James Madison 74, Hampton 67
Norfolk State 68, Howard 48

GCAC
Edward Waters 63, Talladega 59
Tougaloo 88, Fisk 59
Philander Smith 97,   Lyons 71

SWAC
Alabama State 62, UAPB 56
Southern 68, Jackson State 37
Grambling State 72, Alcorn State 71
MVSU 81, AAMU 69

SIAC
Stillman 77, Tuskegee 74
Paine 80, Lane 77
FVSU 64, Claflin 58
Benedict 75, Kentucky State 70
Miles 71, Clark Atlanta 70
Morehouse 56, LeMoyne-Owen 51

CIAA
Shaw 63, Virginia Union 60
Fayetteville State 79, ECSU 78
JCSU 80, Lincoln (Pa.) 63
St. Augustine's 68, Virginia State 54
WSSU 70, Bowie State 69

WOMEN BASKETBALL

SIAC
Claflin 56, FVSU 52
Benedict 71, Kentucky State 63
Miles 50, Clark Atlanta 49
Paine 80, Lane 77
Stillman 64, Tuskegee 57

CIAA
WSSU 59, Bowie State 52
Shaw 86, Virginia Union 61
St. Augustine's 75, Virginia State 57
Elizabeth City 63, Fayetteville State 50
JCSU 64, Lincoln (Pa.) 54

GCAC
Tougaloo 83, Fisk 34
Talladega 76, Edward Waters 49
Lyon 99, Philander Smith 57

OVC
Tennessee Tech 80, Tennessee State 71

SWAC
Alabama State 66, UAPB 58
MVSU 69, AAMU 67
Grambling State 55, Alcorn State 44
Jackson State 49, Southern 42

MEAC
Howard 73, Norfolk State 50
FAMU 70, North Carolina A&T 68
Savannah State 69, Morgan State 60
Bethune Cookman 64, NCCU 54
Coppin State 57, S.C. State 39

Xavier's Simmons chosen GCAC Player of the Week

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Anthony Simmons, whose resurgence helped the Gold Rush win two road games, is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball for Jan. 2-8.

Simmons, a 6-foot-8 junior forward from Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, averaged 16.5 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and shot 75 percent from the floor during the Gold Rush's 2-0 week. He scored 17 points in a 79-70 victory at New Orleans to help the XU men earn their first victory against the Privateers since 1974. Then he produced his first double-double of the season — 16 points, a career-high-tying 13 rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots — in a 76-70 victory against Philander Smith. Simmons had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against the Panthers.

Simmons is averaging 9.9 points and 5.3 rebounds and shooting 67.6 percent from the floor this season. He has played in 12 games and started seven. He scored in double figures in the past three games after averaging 4.6 points in the previous five games.

Simmons is the fourth XU player this season to be named GCAC Player of the Week and the second in a row. Simmons also won the award as a sophomore.

Xavier, 10-4 and tied for 18th in the NAIA Division I coaches poll, will play GCAC and city rival SUNO at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Barn.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

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Fayetteville State's John Herrington hits halfcourt shot to beat Elizabeth City State 79-78

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -  John Herrington had never taken a 3-point shot for Fayetteville State before Monday evening. As a 6-foot-7 frontcourt player for the Broncos, Herrington doesn't even take practice shots from beyond the arc.

Recently, however, Herrington has been dreaming about sinking a game-winning 3-point basket. But not even his wildest dreams turned out as dramatic as the real thing Monday when Herrington sank a desperation shot from near midcourt that lifted the Broncos to a heart-pounding 79-78 victory against Elizabeth City State at Capel Arena.

"When the shot went in, I really didn't know how to act," Herrington said. "My heart stopped. I couldn't believe. That was my first 3 ever. I couldn't believe the shot went in. That was the biggest shot of my career."



It was a pretty big one for the Broncos, too, who battled through some tough stretches against the Vikings with sheer hustle and success at the foul line to wipe out an eight-point deficit over the final 6:54.

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HERRINGTON'S 55-FOOTER BEATS BUZZER - AND VIKINGS

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- John Herrington  had never taken a 3-pointer at Fayetteville State.  On Monday night, he had to. And it couldn't have come at a better time.

Herrington's 55-foot heave from behind halfcourt as time expired rattled off the backboard, in and out of the basket, and then fell in to lift Fayetteville State to a thrilling 79-78 victory over Elizabeth City State in a raucous Felton J. Capel Arena.

"I never shoot 3s - not even in practice," said Herrington, the CIAA's leader in field goal percentage at 64.7 percent. "It's just not me. Not at all."

Standing 6-foot-8 and a chiseled 230 pounds, Herrington (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) did not attempt a 3-point shot in his first season as a junior college transfer last season. Through nine games this season, Herrington still hadn't lofted a shot from behind the arc.  He doesn't even shoot them in practice.

And his first one didn't come easy. Fayetteville State (4-6, 2-1) had to inbound the ball from the opposing baseline after calling a timeout following Blake Price's miss on the front of a 1-and-1. With 2.0 seconds left, the ball was supposed to find Tim Plummer. Instead, it fell to Herrington, who turned and dribbled to the middle of the floor. Just before the horn sounded, Herrington lofted the shot into the air.

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XU Nuggets down a notch to 17th; Rush climb to tie for 18th

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's women are 17th, and the men are tied for 18th in the NAIA Division I coaches polls announced Monday afternoon.

The polls are the fourth of the 2011-12 season and the first since Dec. 12. Weekly polls will continue through March 7.

Xavier's women, 4-2 since the previous poll and 11-5 overall, fell one spot in the rankings. The XU men, 4-2 since the previous poll and 10-4 overall, climbed three places and are tied for their position with Freed-Hardeman.

All the XU games since the previous poll were on the road. But Tuesday the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will begin five-game home stands with a doubleheader against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival SUNO. The women's game will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the men's game will start at 7:30.

Xavier will play more GCAC doubleheaders against Edward Waters on Friday, Fisk on Saturday and Philander Smith next Monday. Both XU teams won at Philander Smith on Saturday in their GCAC openers.

The Gold Nuggets are in the top 25 for the 22nd consecutive time. The Gold Rush appear in the top 25 for the 15th time in 16 polls.

Xavier is the only Gulf Coast Athletic Conference school in either top 25. Tougaloo's men once again are 26th and missed the top 25 by three points.

Oklahoma City's women are a unanimous No. 1 for the third straight poll. In the men's poll unbeaten Oklahoma Baptist replaced Concordia (Calif.) at No. 1. Concordia dropped to fourth.

Xavier is one of 11 schools, one fewer than the previous poll, with women's and men's teams in the top 25. The other schools are Azusa Pacific, Campbellsville, Freed-Hardeman, Georgetown (Ky.), Lee (Tenn.), Lindsey Wilson, Saint Xavier, Shorter, Southern Nazarene and Robert Morris (Chicago).

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Jan. 8)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Oklahoma City (12) 14-0 312 1
2 Union (Tenn.) 15-1 302 2
3 Freed-Hardeman 14-2 292 3
4 Westmont 14-1 278 5
5 Langston 13-0 267 7
6 Lewis-Clark State 15-2 264 4
7 Lee (Tenn.) 14-1 257 9
8 Cumberlands 14-1 242 14
9 Shawnee State 13-3 222 6
10-tie Saint Xavier 12-4 217 10
10-tie Vanguard 9-3 217 8
12 Lubbock Christian 10-3 211 17
13 Azusa Pacific 9-5 184 11
14 Olivet Nazarene 13-3 182 13
15 Georgetown (Ky.) 12-4 168 20
16 Southern Nazarene 11-4 165 15
17 Xavier 11-5 159 16
18 Campbellsville 12-6 138 12
19 Belhaven 12-5 121 RV
20 Lindsey Wilson 12-4 120 22
21 Shorter 11-3 105 18
22 William Woods 10-4 80 RV
23 Robert Morris (Chicago) 11-3 79 21
24 Westminster (Utah) 9-6 71 RV
25 Lyon 12-3 68 RV

Others receiving votes: Biola 63, Loyola 60, MidAmerica Nazarene 55, St. Gregory's 23, Park 20;, LSU-Shreveport 14, Bethel (Tenn.) 13, Avila 5, Montana State Northern 3, Rio Grande 1, Oklahoma Baptist 1, Columbia (Mo.) 1, Montana Western 1, Martin Methodist 1, St. Catharine 1.


NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Jan. 8)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Oklahoma Baptist (11) 14-0 312 3
2 Shorter (1) 15-0 298 4
3 Robert Morris (Chicago) 15-1 295 2
4 Concordia (Calif.) 13-2 283 1
5 Georgetown (Ky.) 14-2 265 6
6 Texas Wesleyan 10-2 256 7
7 Azusa Pacific 13-2 248 9
8 Rogers State 13-2 241 5
9 Martin Methodist 11-3 239 8
10 Southern Poly 12-2 221 13
11 Mountain State 11-5 206 11
12 Southern Nazarene 12-3 191 16
13 Montana State Northern 15-2 187 19
14 Lindsey Wilson 11-4 183 18
15 Evangel 13-4 174 14

16 The Master's 12-3 149 —

17 Our Lady of the Lake 10-3 133 23

18-tie Xavier 10-4 119 21
18-tie Freed-Hardeman 11-5 119 17
20 Biola 12-4 114 15

21 Lee (Tenn.) 9-3 95 RV

22 Campbellsville 11-5 94 25

23 Montana Western 14-4 93 RV

24 Cal State San Marcos 11-6 84 —

25 Saint Xavier 12-4 70 22

Others receiving votes: Tougaloo 53, Columbia (Mo.) 49, Oklahoma City 46, Westmont 43, Pikeville 27, Westminster (Utah) 23, Cumberland 19, Southwestern Assemblies of God 9, MidAmerica Nazarene 6, St. Catharine 3, John Brown 1, Fresno Pacific 1, Baker 1, Oklahoma Christian 1, Wiley 1, Science & Arts 1, Voorhees 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

JCSU Golden Bulls put on a clinic in victory over Lincoln Lions

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA - Johnson C. Smith opened its CIAA men's basketball game Monday by scoring the first seven point, and the Golden Bulls never looked back in beating Lincoln (Pa.) 80-63 at Manuel Rivero Hall.

Johnson C. Smith (7-6, 2-1) connected at a torrid pace from the field, hitting 17 of 24 (70.8 percent) first-half field-goal attempts and a season-high 60.4 percent for the game. Trevin Parks finished with 20 points, six assists, and three rebounds for the Golden Bulls. Phillip Wood had 20 points, five rebounds and a block.

The Lions had three scorers with double-digit point totals. Kenny Sharpe led the way with 16 points. Justin Jackson and Jai Kellman each scored 11.

Johnson C. Smith outscored Lincoln 34-24 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 35-24.

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