Conference Preview: MEAC prepares for life after Norfolk State

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Kyle O’Quinn and the Norfolk State Spartans took the country by storm last season, ruining brackets everywhere with their stunning upset of No.2-seed Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. With O’Quinn now in the NBA, programs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference are back to where they usually are: A college basketball afterthought serving as non-conference filler for programs looking to pad their records.

Delaware State and Savannah State are the two teams most likely to contend for the MEAC championship in 2012-2013. Delaware State returns two of the conference’s top players, sophomore guard Tahj Tate and sophomore center Kendall Gray. Tate was the team’s leading scorer last season despite missing five games, averaging 16.1ppg. He is unquestionably the most dynamic player in the conference, and can single handedly take over the game. Gray is one of the nation’s premier shot-blocker, but was limited to just 17 games last season because of a knee injury. No other team in the MEAC boasts a inside-outside combination like Delaware State, and these two players will ultimately be the reason why the Hornets finish atop the standings.

But the Savannah State should not be left out of the discussion. The Tigers had ...

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Maynor: WSSU Rams need to stay focused

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State has done a good job all season of not peeking ahead. It will need to keep doing that this week as it prepares for its final regular-season game at Fayetteville State on Saturday.

"It's a different week in that we have clinched," Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams said in referring to winning the CIAA's Southern Division. "But it's not different in that we have another football game that we have to win. The guys know this is our biggest game of the season because it's our next game."

The Rams (9-0), ranked No.2 in NCAA Division II, will play for the conference championship on Nov. 10 at Durham County Stadium against Elizabeth City State. But to keep their ranking and their momentum (15 straight CIAA wins) they will have to make sure to take care of business against the Broncos.

"We have to play this as if it's our last game...

VIDEO

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Duke Hosts Winston-Salem State Thursday

DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke men's basketball team hosts Winston-Salem State in Cameron Indoor Stadium this Thursday, Nov. 1, in the second exhibition game of the preseason. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will air live on the Blue Devil Network and IMG Sports Radio.

Duke is coming off of a 105-87 win over Western Washington on Saturday in which three Blue Devils - seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly and freshman Rasheed Sulaimon - topped 20 points. Sophomore point guard Quinn Cook and freshman forward Amile Jefferson also scored in double figures with 13 points apiece as the Blue Devils showcased an explosive offense equipped with multiple scorers.

The Blue Devils shot 57.6 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three-point range against the defending Division II National Champions, thanks in part to the 6-11 forward Kelly who hit 6-of-9 shots, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. He was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, dished out four assists and grabbed six rebounds.

Winston-Salem State is coming off of a successful 2011-12 season at the Division II level in which they won the CIAA Championship and finished with a 21-9 record. The Rams return all five starters from last season, including leading scorers Justin Glover (15.8 points per game), LaMar Monger (13.4 ppg) and WyKevin Bazemore (13.4 ppg). The Rams possess a dynamic backcourt led by senior Marcus Wells, who averaged 3.0 steals and 6.3 points per game as a junior. Wells is one of Winston-Salem State's most experienced players, having played the point for four years, and enters his senior season among the school's top five all-time in assists.

Expect Duke to use a balanced rotation of players again on Thursday, as eight Blue Devils logged at least 15 minutes against Western Washington on Saturday. Only the senior forward Plumlee and sophomore point guard Cook played over 30 minutes, as head coach Mike Krzyzewski took advantage of a deep bench and a wealth of versatility in Duke's lineup.

The matchup against Winston-Salem State will be the last exhibition contest of the preseason for Duke. Coming to Durham for Duke's home opener on Friday, Nov. 9, will be Georgia State for a 7 p.m. contest in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke will then take on defending national champion Kentucky in Atlanta, Ga. on Nov. 13.

COURTESY DUKE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION


2012-13 Winston-Salem State Men's Basketball

Date		Opponent	Location		Time
November
Thu	1	at Duke	Exhibition		7:00 PM
Mon	12	at UNC Greensboro	Greensboro Coliseum		7:00 PM
Thu	15	Barber Scotia	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Mon	19	at USC Aiken			7:00 PM
Fri	23	vs. Northern Mich.	Fresh Coast Classic		2:00 PM
Sat	24	vs. Fresh Coast Classic	Fresh Coast Classic		TBA
Wed	28	USC Aiken			7:00 PM
December
Sat	1	Wingate	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Mon	3	Allen	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	15	Anderson (S.C.)	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Tue	18	at Virginia Union *	Richmond, VA		6:00 PM
January
Sat	5	at Lincoln (Pa.) *	Lincoln, PA		4:00 PM
Mon	7	at Bowie St. *	Bowie, MD		7:30 PM
Thu	10	Virginia St. *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	12	Chowan *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Mon	14	Elizabeth City St. *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	19	at St. Augustine's *	Raleigh, NC		4:00 PM
Wed	23	Shaw *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	26	at Fayetteville St. *	Fayetteville, NC		7:30 PM
Wed	30	at Johnson C. Smith *	Charlotte, NC		7:30 PM
February
Sat	2	Livingstone *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:00 PM
Sat	9	St. Augustine's *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Wed	13	at Shaw *	Raleigh, NC		8:00 PM
Sat	16	Fayetteville St. *			7:00 PM
Wed	20	Johnson C. Smith *	Winston-Salem, NC		7:30 PM
Sat	23	at Livingstone *	Salisbury, NC		TBA
Home games in bold. * Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Game

Stopping the run key for Southern University defense this week

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  This week’s matchup against Alabama A&M (5-3, 5-2 in SWAC) looks pretty daunting for Southern University. The Bulldogs are tied for first place in the SWAC Eastern division and are solid on offense and defense.

Added to the mix is that the game is at Alabama A&M on Saturday at 1 p.m. and that Southern will be facing a team in a bad mood after losing to rival Alabama State last week. But Southern defeated the Bulldogs last year, 21-6. The Jaguars held running back Kaderius Lacey, who leads the SWAC in rushing, to only 21 yards on 11 carries in 2011.

Southern interim head coach Dawson Odums said he expects to see a lot of Lacey (6-foot-0, 218 pounds), who has rushed for 736 yards, seven touchdowns and averages 5.7 yards per carry this season.

“They have a big running back,’’ Odums said. “They’ll try to run the football. I think they would try and run the football on us considering how many yards we’ve given up in that department. Probably try to get the quarterback (Deaunte Mason) on the edge since that’s been a struggle for us. For the most part, they’ve been a good running football team with a big offensive line.’’

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SSU NOTEBOOK: QB Bostick stepping up play for Tigers

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  Savannah State has been more competitive in recent weeks, thanks in a big way to the improved play of quarterback Antonio Bostick.

The junior followed up a 319-yard, four-touchdown performance against Edward Waters with 251 passing yards in a 21-13 loss to Hampton last Saturday.

Bostick has 708 yards of total offense in the last two game and ranks fourth overall in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in combined passing and rushing yardage.

“I’m pleased what I’ve produced this season. Hopefully, I’ll continue it this Saturday,” Bostick said.
The 55 points in the last two games are four more than the Tigers had in their first six games.

“(Bostick) is getting the feel for what we’re asking him to do,” SSU coach Steve Davenport said. “He’s been a good leader for us for quite some time now. But now he’s picking up the offense. He and Simon (Heyward), he and (Kris) Drummond, he and Isom (Roosevelt) have a good rapport.”
Heyward caught three touchdown passes from Bostick in the win over Edward Waters.


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N.C. A&T picks up commitment from Virginia cornerback

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  --  Cornerback Treavonne Brandon, a 2013 prospect from Virginia Beach, Va., committed to N.C. A&T on Oct. 19.

"Finally Committed," Brandon tweeted a day before the Aggies' 24-0 loss to Delaware State. "I Will be playing football for the Next 4 years at The University of North Carolina A&T."

Brandon, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound corner at Ocean Lakes High, chose the Aggies over interest from Delaware, Norfolk State, Old Dominion and Richmond, according to Scout.com.

"I picked them because they have been there from the beginning, before I got interest from other colleges,” Brandon told Scout.com. “They offered me early and the coaches always stayed in contact with me. I’ve been to a couple of games and I think I fit well in their defense. I also think I will have a chance to play there.”

A&T offered Brandon shortly after seeing him in a camp over the summer, according to Virginia recruiting website Recruit757.com, but he didn't even know he had the offer until recently.

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Miles College and Tuskegee to play for spot in SIAC championship game Saturday

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  It's here now.

It's the matchup prognosticators predicted before either team played a down this season.  Miles College and Tuskegee University will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. at Albert J. Sloan Alumni Stadium and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Both teams' only loss came in one-point games to start the season. Both are undefeated in the conference and spot in next week's Southern Intercollegiate Conference championship game in Atlanta will be on the line.

"We want to make sure we're understanding the importance of this game," Miles coach Reginald Ruffin said. "It's going to be a big game, an exciting game. Emotions are going to be high. It came down to (No.) 1 versus (No.) 2. We've just got to continue focusing and working hard.

The matchup will pit Miles coach Reginald Ruffin against one of his mentors in Tuskegee coach Willie Slater.

Ruffin, in his second season at the Golden Bears' helm after guiding them to a conference title in his first year as a head coach, worked under Slater for five years as the Golden Tigers' defensive coordinator/linebackers coach before coming to Miles.

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