Defense shines in WSSU’s playoff win

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State made a serious statement Saturday afternoon in blowing out Shippensburg 37-14 in the second round of the Division II football playoffs.

The main talking point was about the defense.

The Rams were without injured starting quarterback Kam Smith, and although Anthony Carrothers more than held his own, the key was an aggressive defense that had the Red Raiders figured out.

Defensive coordinator Kienus Boulware didn’t do much that was different from the regular season, despite an opponent that had the most potent Division II offense in the country.

A four-man rush and occasional blitzes kept the pressure on quarterback Zach Zulli. The Rams sacked him just twice, but they funneled their coverage to force Zulli outside, and that’s where he had trouble.

“We just got pressure on him,” Coach Connell Maynor of WSSU said. “We said if we could rush four and get pressure on him, it would be a long day. That’s what we did, and we forced him to throw out routes instead of in the middle of the field.”



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B-CU vs. CCU Notebook: Wildcats' Jenkins says 'it has been a really good ride'

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  An odd scene played out late in Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins' press conference Saturday night.

Responding to a question about his team's national relevance, Jenkins stated the reasons he felt his Wildcats were a “national level” team.

 

He ended by noting that building the program has been a “collective effort,” before saying, “It's been a really good ride. I've enjoyed it, and we will see what is next.”

 

When a reporter asked if that meant that Jenkins might be on the move, the coach insisted that is not what he said. Then he went on to not exactly close the door on the idea.

 

“My main thing is celebrating with my family and moving forward,” Jenkins said. “We all know opportunities present themselves. We all know that, and I'm not going to sit here and pretend like opportunities don't present themselves.

 

“All I can tell you is it is very hard for me to leave a university that loves me, and I love it. It's hard for me to love a team that I really, really love. I love my players. They love me. It's very, very hard.”

 

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Southern hangs on to beat Grambling in Bayou Classic

NEW ORLEANS — After a coaching change, a winning streak and a losing streak, at the end of the season that began with so much turmoil and ended Saturday with Southern’s best chance to win a Bayou Classic for the first time since 2007, linebacker Franchot West found himself in the middle of the field inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, scrambling with his teammates, barking above the noise, trying to stop Grambling one last time.

West and the Jaguars had taken a big lead, then nearly given all of it away. The archrival Tigers were driving for a potential game-winning score with less than a minute left.

From both sidelines, coaches and players screamed. The crowd of 45,980, though small, scattered and late-arriving, was certainly into it.

Moments before his fumble recovery preserved a thrilling 38-33 win in this matchup of two teams with disappointing records, West learned his responsibility: Spy on Grambling quarterback Frank Rivers, then make a play if the action comes your way.

West watched as defensive lineman Donald Phillips ...



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It’s business first for Massey and the WSSU Rams

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  College football is part business and part entertainment on any weekend, even Thanksgiving.

Winston-Salem State, burned in the NCAA semifinals last season, has re-calibrated the formula during a second run at the Division II title — more business, less entertainment.

The approach worked marvelously Saturday. WSSU, playing without injured quarterback Kameron Smith, overcame three first-half turnovers and pounded Shippensburg 37-14 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Rams backup Anthony Carrothers, making his first start in two seasons, passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Jameze (pronounced J-Mez) Massey caught eight passes and hauled in two of those touchdowns, covering 69 and 33 yards with his elusive speed.

The plays came straight out of the replay vault from the CIAA title game. After Smith hurt his shoulder that afternoon, Carrothers rallied the offense, and Massey won the MVP award for his three touchdowns. Massey, a 5-8 senior from Monroe, figured Carrothers could do it again because he played for a 9-2 team before transferring from Grambling State.

“We just had to get him some confidence because he hasn’t been playing that much this year, and this was a big game,” Massey said. “He had a couple of mistakes — threw an interception for six (points) and fumbled down there — but when I looked in his eyes after that, he told me he was good. I took it from there. Because of the look in his eyes, I believed him.”




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Xavier's stellar shooting beats Wiley in Memphis HBCU Classic

MEMPHIS, Tennessee --  Denzell Erves scored a season-high 21 points Saturday to lead hot-shooting Xavier University of Louisiana to a 76-61 men's basketball victory against Wiley on the second and final day of the Memphis HBCU Classic at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

The Gold Rush (8-1) shot 71.1 percent from the floor, XU's best in nearly 200 games. Erves was 8-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the line. The accuracy was Xavier's best since a school-record 75.9 percent in a victory against Tougaloo at The Barn on Feb. 5, 2007.

Wanto Joseph had 16 points, six assists and three steals for Xavier, and Anthony Simmons had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double and third in four games. Reserve forward Olivier Siewe had season highs of seven points and seven rebounds. Freshman guard Gary Smith, starting for the second consecutive game, scored a season-high seven points and was 3-of-3 from the floor. Nick Haywood had a career-high-tying six assists.

Xavier led 16-6 after hitting 8-of-9 from the floor in the first seven minutes. The Gold Rush led 37-19 at halftime -- Xavier's largest halftime lead on the road since January 2008 -- and took a 43-21 lead on Simmons' two free throws with 17:57 remaining.

Wiley (5-2), losing to Xavier for the second time in eight days, never came closer than 11 points in the second half. Xavier protected its lead by going 4-of-4 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the line in the final four minutes.

The five XU starters -- Erves, Simmons, Joseph, Smith and Xavier Rogers -- shot a combined 77.4 percent (24-of-31) from the floor. The Gold Rush made 20-of-25 free throws and reached 80 percent for the third time this season.

Erves and Joseph have scored in double figures in every game this season.

Tayler Jacobs had 18 points, five assists and four steals for Wiley, and Dominic Jones scored 13 points. Wiley shot 38.6 percent from the floor and was outrebounded 36-18 -- the seventh time this season Xavier had a double-digit rebound advantage.

Turnovers were the only downer for the Gold Rush. Xavier committed 30, its most since the start of 2003-04. More extensive records before that season are not available.

Xavier, which defeated Concordia (Ala.) 75-61 in this event Friday, earned back-to-back victories at a neutral site for the first time since the Loyola Classic in November 2004 and for the first time at a neutral site outside of New Orleans since the Mobile Classic in December 2002.

Xavier is 8-1 or better though its first nine games for the seventh time in Dannton Jackson's 10 seasons as head coach.

Xavier will play Mobile (4-1) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at XU's Convocation Center.

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

TSU puts it all together at Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -  The Tennessee State women's basketball team played its most complete game of the season as they took down Samford 57-40 at the Samford Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday. It's the largest road win since at least 2001.

Kesi Hess led all scorers with 15 points, while Simone Hopes tied a career-high with 12 rebounds. The senior from Houston had a dozen boards vs. Eastern Kentucky in December 2010.

The 40 points allowed are the fewest by TSU since giving up 35 to Southeast Missouri State on Feb. 24, 2011, a span of 36 games.
 

Even though neither team had more than a five point lead in the first half, TSU (2-3) controlled most of the first 20 minutes by forcing 10 Samford turnovers, including seven steals.

TSU held a 25-23 advantage at the half and limited the Bulldogs (2-2) to only eight made field goals.

A 14-2 TSU run over the last 6:17 turned a five point Lady Tigers lead into the final 17 point margin. Samford's last field goal came with five minutes remaining. The Tiger defense was even better in the second half holding the Bulldogs to 17 points, 26 percent shooting, as well as outrebounding Samford by 14.

Tanesha Stenson joined Hess in double-digits as the Nashville native added 11 points, one off her career-high that she set on Tuesday vs. Kansas State, along with seven rebounds.

Destiney Gaston had back-to-back solid games off the bench with nine points after having eight points and five rebounds vs. UAB on Friday.

The Lady Tigers held the Bulldogs to a season low in points and it was only the second win for TSU in 11 all-time meetings.

Samford won the Southern Conference Tournament and had a 10-2 record at home last season.

TSU heads out west next week to play Idaho on Friday and Montana on Saturday in Missoula, Mont.Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers, Twitter @TSU_Tigers and YouTube


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern coach Odums waits to see what future holds

NEW ORLEANS — With one final chance to make his case for a more permanent job, Southern interim football coach Dawson Odums got what he absolutely had to have Saturday: A win in the Bayou Classic.

Now, his fate rests in the hands of Athletic Director William Broussard.

Odums and the Jaguars took a commanding lead in the second half against Grambling, then held on for a 38-33 win over archrival Grambling in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

If that was enough for Odums to take over full-time, Broussard wasn’t saying.

He did offer this much: Odums won’t be the only candidate to replace Stump Mitchell, who was reassigned after two-plus seasons and a 6-18 record at SU.

“We’ll proceed to a national search next week,” Broussard said Saturday. “That will give me an opportunity to sit and talk with coach Odums and kind of do a formal review of the season and his performance as the head coach.”

Odums went 4-5 during his nine-game tenure. He took control of the team after its 6-0 home loss to Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 13, then led the Jaguars to three wins over their next four games.



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THE SHOW: 2012 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands

Southern University takes Bayou Classic 38-33 over Grambling

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana  --  Southern University’s football team took interim head coach Dawson Odums on a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a game in Saturday’s 39th Bayou Classic. He’d like to do it all again next year.

Led by junior quarterback Dray Joseph, from West St. John High, and two St. Augustine graduates, receivers Charles Hawkins and Lee Doss, Southern salvaged a bit of their disappointing season with a 38-33 season-finale victory against Grambling in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before an announced crowd of 45,980.

The Jaguars got down 14-0, rallied with a 38-6 run engineered by Joseph then had to hold their breath at the end when Grambling had a chance to drive for the winning score.

“I just feel that I want to be the head coach at Southern University and these young men showed why they like my leadership (on Saturday),’’ said Odums, who was named interim coach in September when head coach Stump Mitchell was reassigned after an 0-2 start. “They play hard and for 60 minutes. But I know it’s not my call. Whatever happens we’ll be estatic about it either way because we know put our best foot forward to make these young men better.’’

 

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WSSU coasts in playoff opener

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Second-ranked Winston-Salem State had little trouble in its second-round game of the Division II football playoffs, defeating No. 15 Shippensburg 37-14 in front of just more than 3,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The Rams (12-0) will play Indiana (Pa.) at noon next Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Backup quarterback Anthony Carrothers, playing for injured Kam Smith, completed 19 of 37 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

The Rams racked up 525 yards, the second most allowed this season by the Red Raiders (11-2).

Running back Maurice Lewis (158 yards, two touchdowns) and wide receivers Jameze Massey (167 yards, two touchdown catches) and Jahuann Butler (123 yards receiving) had big games for the Rams.

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NCAA Div. II playoffs: Winston-Salem State beats Shippensburg 37-14

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- It was a disappointing end to a record-breaking season for the Shippensburg Red Raiders.

The Winston-Salem State Rams beat Shippensburg 37-14 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Ship junior quarterback Zach Zulli tied the D-II single season record with his 54th touchdown pass of the season, to Trevor Harman (Cumberland Valley) for the Raiders' only offensive score of the game, but he did not have good day. Zulli was picked off three times, part of five turnovers by Ship.

Ship finishes the season with an 11-2 mark. Unbeaten and Super Region 1 top-seed WSSU (12-0) will meet IUP -- the Crimson Hawks (12-1) were 17-14 winners over New Haven (Conn.) -- in the national quarterfinals.

 

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Bethune-Cookman starts slow, falls to Coastal Carolina 24-14

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Coastal Carolina scored on three conescutive possessions in the second quarter and then added a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to defeat Bethune-Cookman 24-14 in the first round of the FCS playoffs Saturday at Municipal Stadium.

The loss ends the Wildcats' season at 9-3. It was their fourth playoff loss since 2002 and their second in three seasons. Coastal Carolina (8-4) advances to the second round next week against No. 4 overall seed Old Dominion.

Down 24-0, B-CU scored on Quentin Williams' 74-yard pass to David Blackwell with 6:44 left in the game. Williams, who added a 2-point conversion pass, had just returned after leaving the game in the third quarter following a blindside sack. The Wildcats scored again with 1:22 left on Isidore Jackson's 10-yard run. Williams' 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Backup quarterback Brodrick Waters led the Wildcats on a long drive following Nick Addison's interception with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Waters' 46-yard option run brought the ball to the Coastal 11. With fourth down at the 5, B-CU lined up for a field goal, but the Wildcats were flagged for a false start before the kick.

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Erves, Simmons lead Gold Rush to victory in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana got double-doubles from Denzell Erves and Anthony Simmons in a 75-61 men's basketball victory Friday against Concordia (Ala.) in the Memphis HBCU Classic at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Erves had 17 points and 10 rebounds -- his sixth double-double of the season and his third in a row -- and Simmons produced his second double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Wanto Joseph had 14 points and five assists for the Gold Rush (7-1), and Xavier Rogers scored 13.

Zannie Pickens had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Concordia, and Travis Rasco scored 10.

Erves had 11 points and seven rebounds and assisted on Joseph's 3-pointer which gave Xavier a 33-22 halftime lead. Xavier led by double digits for the final 15:09 and four times held a 19-point lead in the final 10 minutes.

Xavier outshot the Hornets 55.4 to 39.7 percent from the floor -- 51.9 to 27.3 percent in the first half -- and outrebounded them 39-27. It was the third time this season the XU men shot 50 percent or higher and the sixth time they had a double-figure rebound advantage. It was the fewest points Xavier allowed this season.

It's the seventh time in Dannton Jackson's 10 seasons that the Gold Rush started the season 7-1 or better. Friday was Jackson's 300th game as XU head coach; his record is 209-91.

Xavier will play Wiley in this same event at 2 p.m. Saturday. A week ago the Gold Rush defeated Wiley 82-77 in overtime during XU's homecoming doubleheader. The next XU home game will be Tuesday.

Box score


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

DWIGHT FLOYD WEEKLY COMMENTARY: FCS Playoffs: What to Expect

BCU in a close one against Coastal
2:00 P.M. EST/ESPN3
Were there to be a prediction it would be a close win by the BCU Wildcats, but it all depends. Considered among the weaker teams in the playoffs the winner will have the opportunity to play Old Dominion and possibly Georgia Southern in-route to the semi-finals.


DWIGHT FLOYD
WEEKLY COMMENTARY
SportsEdit.Org

Coastal Carolina is used to getting off to a very fast start, outscoring opponents 115 to 61 in the first quarter. Bethune has a habit of starting slow and then catching up. BCU opponents outscored them in the first quarter and the rest of the quarters are dominated by the Wildcats. Coastal Carolina has shown that they have enough offense to match up in the final three quarters and maintain the lead. If both teams stay true to form then BCU would lose a close one in an offensive shootout. Should BCU figure out their defensive plan before game starts then it will be BCU’s to win.

Facts
Coastal Carolina defeated North Carolina A&T, the only common opponent of both teams, 28-13 early in the season. The BCU Wildcats defeated the A&T Aggies by a similar score 28-12.

Both teams have a loss this season to an OVC opponent; Coastal Carolina to Eastern Kentucky and BCU to the Tennessee State Tigers. Tennessee State defeated Eastern Kentucky in conference play.

Opponents of both teams have a cumulative losing record, 47-56 for BCU opponents and 49-53 for Coastal Carolina opponents. Given that opponents of FAMU, a team BCU defeated last week, hold a cumulative record of 50-50, this stat may not make a difference.

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THE SHOW: 2012 Alabama State University Turkey Day Classic

Wells lifts WSSU in tournament opener

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin -- Milwaukee Point guard Marcus Wells made a key layup with 1:03 left, and Winston-Salem State hung on to defeated Northern Michigan 78-69 at the Fresh Coast Classic on Friday afternoon.

Wells led the Rams (2-2) with 17 points, Justin Glover added 16, and reserve guard Tyre Desmore scored 12 as the Rams shot 55 percent from the field.

The Rams shot just 63 percent from the foul line (19 of 31) but made enough free throws in the final minute to hold off the Wildcats (1-1).

The score was tied 36-36 at halftime, and the biggest lead in the first half was seven, by the Rams after two Wells’ free throws made it 27-20 with 6:34 remaining.

But Northern followed with an 11-0 run that included three 3-pointers and went up 31-27 when Kendall Jackson hit the third 3, with 4:38 left. Wakefield Ellison ended the run with a layup, and WSSU tied on Kimani Hunt’s layup with 3:25 to play.

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Tuskegee rallies in second half for Xavier Classic victory

NEW ORLEANS — Amelia Dorton, one of four Tuskegee double-digit scorers, had 16 points Friday to help the Tigerettes rally for a 76-62 women's basketball victory against Langston in the Xavier Classic.

Tuskegee (2-3) trailed by 11 points in the 11th minute and 34-33 at halftime but took the lead for good by outscoring Langston 12-2 in the first four minutes of the second half. An 11-3 run extended Tuskegee's lead to 56-45 with 11:23 remaining.

Alannah Vincent scored 13 points, Natasha Williams 11 and Kajuanna Rivers 10 for Tuskegee, an NCAA Division II member. Williams scored all her points in the final 12 minutes. Rayven Sellers had eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Amber Coleman had 18 points and eight rebounds for Langston (0-5), ranked 14th in NAIA Division I. Victoria Felix had 11 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and Tayla Vaughn had 11 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks and three assists.

Langston led for all but 67 seconds of the first half and took its biggest lead, 23-12, on Coleman's 3-point play at 9:46.

Tuskegee outshot Langston 45.3 to 40.7 from the floor — 50 to 31.3 percent in the second half — committed 14 turnovers and gained 27. Langston had a 41-29 rebound advantage.

Tuskegee led by double digits for the final 8:19 and twice led by 16.

Langston, making its eighth consecutive Xavier Classic appearance, lost both its games in the event for the first time since 2004. Xavier defeated the Lionesses 46-38 Thursday. Tuskegee finished 1-1 after losing 88-62 to Wiley. Both Tuskegee and Langston were 2-0 in the 2011 Xavier Classic.

Box score

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

Gold Nuggets rout Texas College for 3rd straight victory

NEW ORLEANS -- Andraquay Quinnine, Whitney Gaston-Loyd and Chelsea Broussard scored 10 points apiece Friday to lead NAIA No. 11 Xavier University of Louisiana in an 84-39 women's basketball victory against Texas College in the Xavier Classic at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (5-1) won both their games in this event and extended their win streak to three games.

Quinnine and Broussard scored six points apiece to lead Xavier to a 33-20 halftime advantage. The Nuggets scored the first 13 points of the second half, five by SiMon Franklin. The final margin was the largest of the game.

Gaston-Loyd, who played nine minutes, made all five of her field-goal attempts.

Xavier outshot the Lady Steers (1-4, 1-1 Xavier Classic) 39.5 to 27.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 55-30. Reserve guard Talon Hixon grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and was one of three XU players with three steals.

Carmen Holcombe had eight points and five rebounds for Xavier, and Danielle Tucker had seven points, six rebounds and a season-best five assists.

Shirley McGowen scored 12 points, including 8-of-11 free throws, for Texas College. Jasmine Becks scored eight.

It was the third time this season and the second consecutive game that Xavier allowed fewer than 40 points.

Xavier will play Mobile at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Convocation Center.


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

B-CU hopes to make deep FCS playoff run

DAYTONA BEACH — Bethune-Cookman hopes today marks the start of a deep run through the Football Championship Subdivsion playoffs.

B-CU (9-2) is hosting Coastal Carolina (7-4) in the FCS playoffs at Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN 3.com.

"It's a good feeling to be in this position that but there is more football to be played," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said.

The Wildcats are making their fourth playoff appearance and second in three years. They have never won a playoff. An injury to then-quarterback Matt Johnson hurt the team, contributing to a loss to New Hampshire in the 2010 playoffs.

"We are healthy heading into this one," Jenkins said. "This year we have had very limited injuries. The work in the weight room is paying off too."

A B-CU win would be the first playoff win for a MEAC or HBCU team since 1999 when Florida A&M made the semifinals and North Carolina A&T the quarterfinals. In 1978, FAMU was the only HBCU to win an FCS championship.

"I don't put that weight on my team," Jenkins said. "We do have the support of our conference as calls have come in wishing us well."




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Turkey Day Classic commentary: Ultimate success of stadium is left up to ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Way back in 2001, I wrote a column in which I encouraged Alabama State to build an on-campus stadium.

At the time, a powerful board of trustees member had come up with a plan for the stadium, along with a move up to the NCAA’s top football level.

It was a bold move that was supported by a majority of people on the ASU campus. But it was getting resistance from a couple of board members — one in particular — and eventually that plan fell through.

I assumed it was a dead idea. With the renovations of Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl and the steady deterioration of the SWAC — the conference in which ASU competes — I figured the idea of an on-campus stadium had been pushed to the back burner, maybe even completely off the stove.

I figured wrong.

ASU officially opened the doors to its shiny, new stadium, as it welcomed a packed house to an on-campus Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee, which the Hornets lost 27-25.

PHOTO ALBUMS:
ASU's 89th Turkey Day Classic Parade

Turkey Day Classic Parade

ASU Hornet Walk

Tuskegee defeats ASU

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Prairie View A&M Tops Navy at the Buzzer, 42-40

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- Prairie View A&M's Carl Blair made a driving layup with no time left to hand the Navy men's basketball a 42-40 setback in the opening round of the South Padre Island Invitational on Friday afternoon.

The loss sends Navy into Saturday's consolation game against Delaware State, starting at 11:45 AM (ET) / 10:45 AM (CT). Navy falls to 2-4 overall, while the Panthers, who are picked to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title, improve to 3-4 overall.

Navy has now lost two straight games by two points and three of its four losses have come by five points or less.

"We had the exact same scenario as we had the other night against TCU. You have to make one more play," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis. "You can't go 3-of-8 from the free throw line and miss front ends of two one-and-ones. Every time we had a chance to stop the bleeding, we would miss a free throw. You can't let a guy dribble 90 feet for a lay-up to win the game. Those are winning plays you have to make. It's very disappointing, but you have to make basketball plays. Every play matters."

Navy surged out to a 24-12 lead right before halftime, before the Panthers connected on their only three-pointer of the first half to cut the lead to 24-15 at the break.

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