Live Action Highlights Opening of B-CU's 2013 Baseball Practices

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  –  Bethune-Cookman baseball opened spring practice last weekend with three consecutive days of scrimmages at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The pace was high and you could see the hustle as players demonstrated their focus in preparing to make a run at an unprecendented eighth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title.

“Any time you’re doing individual workouts and you get out here as a team, you kind of get that little extra push and little extra energy,” Head Coach Jason Beverlin noted after the first day. “The start of the season is right around the corner and everybody’s real excited about it, no question.”

With each player showing they had taken to heart their personal accountability for remaining focused after nearly a month off campus during the holiday break, the coaching staff was pleased to find the team ready to get started during individual workouts, and ready to hit the field with live action.

“The guys came back from break in really great shape, and right now it’s just a matter of getting as many repetitions in as possible,” Beverlin said.

That is exactly what the Wildcats have done, opening team practices on Friday, Jan. 25, and simulating game situations in both drills and scrimmages right away, following up with the same efforts on Saturday and Sunday.

“With as little time as we have, it’s something we really have to do in order to get the starting pitchers’ counts up to where they need to be by the first game,” Beverlin said.

Joined by seven newcomers, the 2013 pitching staff has not disappointed, drawing aily praise from the coaching staff after each outing.

“I think our pitchers did a really good job attacking the strike zone, being aggressive, and really pitching off their fastballs,” Beverlin said.

The pitchers aren’t making it easy on the hitters, who are looking to get up to speed in live action, with opening day (Feb. 15) on the horizon in the series at Arizona State.

“The hitters’ timing is a little off right now, but I fully expect them to get in the swing of things as we move on,” Beverlin said. “Defensively, we’re a little rusty, but at the same time, we saw some really nice plays from the guys as well.” 

The Wildcats the 2012 season 34-27, concluding the season in the NCAA [Gainesville] Regional. The Wildcats will have a busy early season with eight games in the first 10 days of the 2013 schedule,  opening with a three-game series at ASU (Feb. 15-17), followed by a pair at home versus North Florida (Feb. 19) and FIU (Feb. 20), then a three-game stint at Mercer (Feb. 22-24).

“What I saw was definitely encouraging, but we still have a lot of work to do before February 15th,” Beverlin concluded.

For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feed, @BCUathletics, or "Like Us" on Facebook at Bethune-Cookman Athletics.

2013 B-CU Baseball Schedule

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

New Orleans linebacker feels at home on Jackson State's campus

Jackson, Mississippi --  Bobbie Temple, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound linebacker out of New Orleans, isn’t 100 percent sure where he’s going to sign next Wednesday, but it sounds like he’s got a good idea.

Temple has reported offers from Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech and several smaller colleges, but said he is leaning toward signing with Jackson State following a recent visit to the campus.

“I’m leaning that way,” Temple said. “It’s like I fit in more. Jackson just felt like a second home.”

Temple finished with 83 tackles and six tackles for a loss last season at O. Perry Walker High School.

He would be the latest commitment to a 2013 signing class already heavy on defensive players.

Jackson State commitments 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/School
Austin Benton	DB	5-11	175	Tucker, Ga.
Devin Fosselman	WR	5-10	182	Woodville/Pearl River CC
Cornelius Henderson	DL/OL	6-3	293	Ducanville, Texas/Duncanville
Trae McKenzie	TE/ATH	6-2	225	Woodville/Wilkinson Co.
Jarius Moore	QB/ATH	5-10	195	Terry
Stacy Noble	LB	5-11	235	Fort Pierce, Fla./Fort Pierce Central
Jose Patterson	CB	6-2	175	Durant/Southwest Mississippi CC
Hector Stanback	DB	6-0	200	Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King

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WSSU to open baseball season today

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  The Winston-Salem State baseball team will open the season today at Armstrong Atlantic State in a matchup of regional powers.

The Rams are two-time defending CIAA champions and were picked to finish first in the conference this season by D2BaseballNews.com. The Pirates are defending champions of the Peach Belt Conference.
 
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Savannah, Ga. The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

WSSU will play its home opener on Friday, Feb. 8, against Millersville at BB&T Ballpark.

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Covington Leads TSU in 84-65 Win Over Tennessee Tech

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -  The Tennessee State men's basketball team snapped its three-game losing streak with an 84-65 win over Tennessee Tech on Thursday night.

The win improved the Tigers' home record to 9-0- their best start since going 10-0 during the 1992-93 season.

Five players scored in double-figures for TSU (13-10, 7-3 OVC) for the second time this season including Patrick Miller (17), Robert Covington (17), Kellen Thornton (17), M.J. Rhett (13) and Jordan Cyphers (10).

Thornton also recorded his seventh double-double of the season with a team-high 10 boards.

TSU forced a season-high 24 turnovers, which led to 32 points off of TTU (8-13, 2-7 OVC) miscues- the most by the Tigers this year.

The Tigers came out white hot to start the game, draining five of their first six shots including a jam by Rhett.

Rhett finished the contest with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, six rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals.

Final Box

At the 16:15 mark of the first half, Covington entered the game for the first time since injuring his right knee on Dec. 18. He immediately made his first shot on TSU's very next possession to make the score 10-7 in favor of the home team.

Covington's jumper ignited a 16-0 Tiger run that eventually put TSU up 24-7 with 9:45 left in the first half. Strong defense fueled the stretch as TSU forced five turnovers, recorded two blocks and held the Golden Eagles to 0-of-8 shooting.

TTU was able to trim TSU's advantage to 16 before Covington ended the half with an emphatic two-handed throw down with just seconds remaining. His flush made the score 41-23 at the half.

Covington ended the game with 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, three rebounds and three steals.

TSU led by as many as 21 in the first period thanks to 14 TTU turnovers and by shooting 26.1 percent better from the field (48.3 to 22.2).

TTU cut the lead down to 13 during the first five minutes of the second period, but a three pointer by Covington made the score 51-35. The basket by Covington gave him his 1,579^th career point, moving him past Bruce Price for tenth place on the school's all-time scoring list.

Back-to-back slam dunks by Rhett put the Tigers up by 17 with ten minutes to go in the game. The first was assisted by Deshawn Dockery while the second was set up by Miller

Miller ended up with 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, three boards and a team-high four assists.

The teams traded blows for the better part of the half, but TSU would stifle any Tennessee Tech run with hoop of its own or a key steal. TSU finished the game with 12 swipes.

The Tigers finished the game on a 9-3 run that ended with a free throw by Thornton. The freebie made the score 84-65 where it remained until the end of the contest.

TSU had a season-high 24 fouls, but TTU also had 24. The slow-pace of play contributed to 64 combined free throw attempts.

Tennessee State will have a week off before traveling to Austin Peay on Feb. 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the matchup can be seen on the OVC Digital Network.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Xavier Gold Nuggets defeat William Carey for 5th straight victory

NEW ORLEANS -- SiMon Franklin and Paige Gauthier scored 12 points apiece Thursday to lead NAIA No. 14 Xavier University of Louisiana in a 75-51 women's basketball victory against William Carey.

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Gold Nuggets (17-4), all double-digit decisions. The Lady Crusaders (7-13) have an eight-game losing streak.

Franklin was 6-of-9 from the floor -- her best shooting percentage of the season -- and led Xavier with four steals. Gauthier scored in double figures for the first time in eight games and led Xavier with seven rebounds.

Whitney Gaston-Loyd was Xavier's other double-figure scorer. She produced all 10 of her points in the first half.

Erica Moore had 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals for William Carey. Crystal Tucker had 12 points and five rebounds, and Vechatita Bonner had 10 points and six rebounds.

A Lauren Douglas 3-pointer gave William Carey an 11-4 lead at 15:56 of the first half. Then Xavier responded with an 11-0 run and never trailed again.

Franklin passed to Gaston-Loyd for a basket which tied the score at 11 at 12:07, then Gaston-Loyd scored 21 seconds later -- after a turnover -- for a 13-11 Xavier advantage, Gauthier's basket at 3:19 gave Xavier a 29-20 lead, but Bonner made consecutive 3-pointers to help the Lady Crusaders cut the Nuggets' advantage to 33-30 at halftime.

Moore made two free throws at 18:24 of the second half to reduce the margin to 36-34, then Franklin scored six points during a 9-0 run which gave Xavier a double-digit lead for the final 15:50.

Xavier did not make any of its eight 3-point attempts but attempted 36 free throws -- its most in a game in nearly two years -- and made 25. The Gold Nuggets were 20-of-27 from the line in the second half.

William Carey excelled at the line, too, making 25-of-30, but shot 31.4 percent from the floor and committed 33 turnovers. Xavier shot 37.3 percent from the floor, outrebounded the Lady Crusaders 43-33 and had a season-high-tying plus-16 turnover margin.

Xavier completed a two-game season sweep of William Carey and defeated the Lady Crusaders at Xavier for the 20th consecutive time. The Nuggets have won 52 of their last 56 home games.

Xavier's next game will start at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center against Talladega, which shares first place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with SUNO. Xavier is in third place in the GCAC and one game behind the leaders.


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

Phoebus linebacker de-commit from Norfolk State for ODU offer

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Atavius Matthews, a linebacker from Hampton's Phoebus High, has de-committed from Norfolk State to accept a football scholarship at Old Dominion.

Matthews said ODU had earlier offered to "grayshirt" him, meaning he would pay for a semester before going on scholarship. When ODU upgraded to an immediate full ride, he said he jumped.

"It's been my dream to play football at Old Dominion," said Matthews, adding that he attended six games at ODU last fall. "That's where I wanted to go all along."

Matthews, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, said he called coaches at Norfolk State, Hampton and other MEAC that were recruiting him this week. He said he had committed to Norfolk State weeks ago.

"I told them I appreciated everything they've done but that Old Dominion is where I want to go," he said.

Former Phoebus coach Bill Dee is ODU's defensive coordinator, and five former Phantoms are on the roster.

Matthews, expected to play linebacker at ODU, has a 3.2 grade-point average and an 850 on the SAT, according to an online highlights video.

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WSSU picks up key CIAA win at J.C. Smith

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  There were a few leaks in the roof at Brayboy Gym, but even those didn’t slow 16th-ranked Winston-Salem State.

WSSU did everything right Wednesday night in a hard-fought 92-82 CIAA victory against Johnson C. Smith. Showing poise and a defensive game plan that worked to near perfection, the Rams grabbed the lead for good midway through the first half.

“Last year, we lost here, and it was kind of hard on us, so we just thought about that, and we didn’t want to lose, so that was motivation enough,” said guard Justin Glover, who scored 29 points and had two rim-rattling dunks that even J.C. Smith fan appreciated.

With a strong rain storm going on outside, the roof at Brayboy had three noticeable leaks. Play was stopped in the first half as ball boys constantly cleaned the three spots, each just off the court.

When Glover wasn’t scoring, other Rams were. Wakefield Ellison had a career-high 21 points, Joe Thompson added 10, and WyKevin Bazemore had nine points and eight rebounds.

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TSU Track Teams to Hold Invitational on Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State University men's and women's track & field programs resume the 2012-13 Indoor season by hosting the TSU Invite on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Gentry Center. Field events are scheduled to start at 8 a.m. with running events beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The Flying Tigers and Tigerbelles compete in their fourth meet this season and the squad's second, and last at home. The teams' most recent event was the Gadstein Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. on Jan. 18.

At the Gladstein Invitational, the Tigerbelles were led by sophomore Ashontae Jackson who won the long jump at 19 feet, 7.5 inches. In the triple jump, a distance of 39 feet, 1/4 inches gave Ja'Lyn Burr third place, while Quanisha Sales' also claimed third with a time of 25.22 seconds in the 200 meters.

Jackson is 29th in the country in the Long Jump with a best distance of 20 feet, 0.5 inches.

The highlights for the men came in the high jump and long jump. Daryl Rice cleared 6 feet, 8.75 inches to finish first in the high jump, two inches higher than second place. In the high jump, junior Royce Dates came in third with a distance of 23 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

Dates is 22nd the country in the Long Jump with a best distance of 24 feet, 10.5 inches.

A total of ten NCAA Division I universities will compete in the TSU Invite, including in-state programs Austin Peay (women only), Belmont (women only), Fisk, Lipscomb, Tennessee Wesleyan, Trevecca, and Victory University. The only out of state opponents participating in Saturday's event are Alabama A&M and Chattahoochee Tech.

The field events start with the high jump at 8 a.m. and conclude with the weight throw. The mile run is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. The 55-meter Hurdle preliminaries will start the remaining running events approximately at 10:30 a.m. and the meet will conclude with the thrilling 4x400-meter relay.

Admission to Saturday's meet is free and open to the public. Results from Saturday's meet will be posted online at TSUTigers.com.

 

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Colonels, XU Rush postponed; Loyola rescheduled for Feb. 6

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis dual match at Nicholls State this weekend has been postponed and will be rescheduled, XU coach Alan Green announced Wednesday.

Green said that Nicholls coach Meenakshi Sundaram requested the postponement. However, the XU-Nicholls women's dual will be played as scheduled — 4 p.m. Saturday at Renaissance Family and Fitness Club, 106 Southdown West Blvd. in Houma, La.

Green said the XU men's postponed dual against city rival Loyola was rescheduled for 2 p.m. next Wednesday (Feb. 6) at the new XU Tennis Center. That dual had been scheduled for Jan. 25.

The Gold Rush are 0-1 and ranked eighth in the NAIA.


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

NCCU Releases 2013 Football Schedule

2013 NCCU EAGLES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE  OPPONENT                LOCATION         TIME
08/31 @DUKE (Bull City Gridiron Classic) Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC
09/07     **SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC 2 pm
09/14 @CHARLOTTE, Charlotte, NC TBA 
09/21     TOWSON,  Durham, NC  2 pm  
10/05 @*HOWARD U., Washington, D.C.  TBA
10/12     *SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, Durham, NC 2 pm
10/19     *MORGAN STATE (Homecoming), Durham, NC  2 pm
10/26 @*SAVANNAH STATE, Savannah, GA  TBA
11/02     *BETHUNE-COOKMAN, Durham, NC, 2pm
11/09 @*HAMPTON U., Hampton, VA  TBA
11/16     *NORFOLK STATE, (Senior Day), Durham, NC 2 pm
11/23  @*NORTH CAROLINA A&T, Greensboro, NC  TBA 

**Game added to schedule 2/7/2013
* MEAC Game
Bold: Home Games

Complete 2013 NCCU Football Schedule        Printable PDF Schedule



DURHAM, North Carolina -- Coming off its first winning season since 2007, the North Carolina Central University football program will face “a very challenging and competitive schedule” in 2013, according to NCCU head coach Henry Frazier III.

NCCU will reunite with crosstown foe Duke to open the season with the “Bull City Gridiron Classic,” then play two non-conference opponents for the first time (Charlotte and Towson), and will meet two fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams for the first time since 1995 (Howard and Norfolk State) as part of the Eagles’ eight-game conference slate.

“We open up with an FBS opponent (Duke), a future FBS program (Charlotte) and the co-champions of the Colonial Athletic Association (Towson),” said Frazier, entering his third season on the Eagles’ sideline. “Those games will be an awesome gauge to see how far we’ve come as a program.”

Last season, NCCU posted a 6-5 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in the MEAC. Two of the three league setbacks included a one-point road loss at Florida A&M and an overtime defeat against North Carolina A&T in the final two games of the 2012 campaign.

“We have to condition extremely hard because we have to play eight straight conference games,” said Frazier. “Fortunately, the longest trip this season is Savannah State. Last year we had to travel by bus to Florida twice in three weeks. That took a lot out of us down the stretch.”



Long distance road trips should not be a factor in 2013. NCCU’s total driving distance for six road games this season is 2,026 miles, which is less than just the two Florida trips alone last year (2,432 miles).

NCCU opens the 2013 campaign with its shortest road trip, a 5.1-mile jaunt to Duke on Aug. 31. The third all-time meeting between the two Durham gridiron programs is billed as the “Bull City Gridiron Classic.” The Blue Devils won the prior two meetings, including a 54-17 victory last season inside Wallace Wade Stadium. Duke is coming off a 6-win season and its first bowl game appearance since 1995.

On Sept. 14, the Eagles travel to the Queen City to face the Charlotte 49ers as part of their first season of football. Charlotte will be competing as an NCAA Division I-FCS independent during the 2013 and 2014 seasons before joining Conference USA in the FBS ranks in 2015.

On Sept. 21, NCCU welcomes Towson to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium for the first of five home games, all starting at 2:00 p.m. The Tigers were co-champions of the highly-competitive Colonial Athletic Association a year ago with a 6-2 conference record and a 7-4 mark. In 2011, Towson won the CAA title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs, finishing with a 9-3 overall record. This will be the first gridiron meeting between the Eagles and the Tigers.

NCCU kicks off its stretch of eight consecutive MEAC contests on Oct. 5 at Howard in Washington, D.C. The last time these two teams played was on Sept. 16, 1995, when the Eagles beat the Bison 37-32 in the nation’s capital. NCCU leads the series with Howard, 10-6-1. Last season, the Bison finished with records of 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the league.

The Eagles return to their nest on Oct. 12 versus South Carolina State. NCCU beat the Bulldogs 40-10 in the 2012 “Circle City Classic” in Indianapolis to snap a seven-game losing skid against SCSU, which still holds a slim 11-9 edge in the series.

On Oct. 19, NCCU hosts Morgan State as part of the university’s homecoming festivities. The Eagles spoiled MSU’s homecoming last season with a game-winning, fourth-down touchdown in the closing seconds. The Bears lead the series 22-13-2.

NCCU’s longest journey of the season (714 miles round trip) is a return to Savannah, Ga., to face the Tigers of Savannah State on Oct. 26. The Eagles won last year’s contest in Savannah by a score of 45-33 to take a 5-2-1 series lead.

A highly-anticipated match-up between the Eagles and Bethune-Cookman, the reigning MEAC champions, will take place on Nov. 2 in Durham, N.C. The Wildcats were unbeaten in conference play in 2012, ending the season in the NCAA playoffs with a 9-3 overall record. B-CU’s 42-17 win over the Eagles last year in Daytona Beach gave the Wildcats a 3-1 advantage in the series.

The Eagles hit the road again to square off against the Hampton Pirates on Nov. 9. NCCU defeated Hampton 37-20 last season in front of a Thursday night ESPNU national television audience. Hampton leads the series 17-6.

NCCU’s final home game on the slate features Norfolk State on Nov. 16, as the Spartans make their first visit to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium since 1993. Norfolk State, the 2011 MEAC champions, won the last meeting with the Eagles 27-6 in 1995 to even the series at 5-5.

The Eagles close out the regular season on the road with the 85th meeting against rival North Carolina A&T on Nov. 23. Last year’s match-up in front of a sellout crowd at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, ended in overtime for the fourth time in the past 16 contests between the in-state rivals, with the Aggies improving their series lead to 48-31-5.

NCCU will hold its spring football game on Friday, April 12 at 6 p.m. inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Details about NCCU football season tickets will be announced next week.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB Golden Lions honored at state Capitol

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS -PINE BLUFF FOOTBALL TEAM
(Courtesy UAPB Athletics)

 LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team and coaches were honored here at the State Capitol on Wednesday, January 30, by the Honorable Governor Mike Beebe, by the House of Representatives and by the Senate for capturing the 2012 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

The Golden Lions captured their first outright football championship in school history last fall, going 10-2 on the season after defeating Jackson State University in the SWAC championship game in Birmingham, Ala.  It also marked the first time in school history that a football team at the school garnered 10 victories in one season.

“Today was a very monumental day for us, receiving citations from the Senate and the House of Representatives,” said UAPB head coach Monte Coleman.  “It was a great day for the coaching staff and players and a very marketable day for the university. This was very big day for us.”

During their visit to the State Capitol, the Golden Lions were first saluted by the House of Representatives when Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV and other representatives from Jefferson County paid homage to the team.  Then, after a standing ovation at the House, the football team was escorted to the front steps of the Capitol for a photo shoot with Governor Beebe, in front of the famed bronzed doors.

After the photo shoot with Governor Beebe, head coach Monte Coleman, Interim Chancellor Dr. Calvin Johnson and Director of Athletics Lonza Hardy Jr., along with team representatives, were escorted on the Senate floor to be recognized by Senator and Pine Bluff native Stephanie Flowers and other members of the Senate.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF MEDIA RELATIONS

Where are they now? Former Grambling and 49ers wide receiver Nate Singleton

LULING, Louisiana  --  The San Francisco 49ers are a perfect five-for-five playing for the Super Bowl title. A native New Orleanian, Nate Singleton, was a part of the last Super Bowl win by the Niners in Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami on January 29, 1995.

There was quite a bit of talent on the west bank of New Orleans in 1987. Quarterback Leonard Valentine as well as Mike Riley were at John Ehret. West Jeff was blessed with Glenn Montgomery, Simmie Carter and Elfred Payton.




But wide receiver Nate Singleton, quarterback Shawn Buras and cornerback Leo Addison more than held their own while plying their trade at L.W. Higgins. Nate was recognized for his abilities with the Hurricanes earning All-District, All-State, All-Metro and even prep All-American in some circles .

Singleton performed so expertly that his jersey number (#82) was retired by Higgins following his high school graduation. Offers rolled in from an assortment of colleges .

"LSU, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Illinois offered," Nate said. "At LSU, the timing was perfect. Wendell Davis was leaving and (freshmen) Todd Kinchen was arriving," Nate Singleton remembered, but his decision surprised some. "It was past signing day. I had an uncle that had gone to Grambling. I loved my experience at Grambling, but if I had to do it again, I would have gone to LSU."

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Hoke County (N.C.) will induct six into Hall of Fame during ceremony Friday

GEORGE SMALL
Assistant Head Football Coach
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
(Photo Courtesy: FAMU Athletics)
 

RAEFORD, North Carolina  -  Hoke County High School will induct six people into its athletic Hall of Fame for the class of 2013.

The ceremony will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Gibson Cafeteria. Tickets are $25. For ticket information, call (910) 286-2346 or (910) 964-0990.

The inductees are:

George Small - Played football, wrestling, baseball and track. Earned football scholarship to N.C. A&T. Made All-MEAC. Played five years in the NFL. Coached at N.C. A&T and now serves as associate head coach at Florida A&M.

Micheaux Hollingsworth - All-State running back who rolled up 1,678 yards in a season. Named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. Earned scholarship with N.C. A&T.

John Roper - Helped lead the Hoke baseball team to the 1990 state 4-A title. Played briefly in the majors with Cincinnati and San Francisco. Was 11-1 in 1993 with the Reds.

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Gold XU Rush preseason rank is 12th straight in NAIA top 10

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was in a familiar spot in the 2013 NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Poll announced Tuesday.
    
The Gold Rush, 18-8 this past season, are No. 8 in the first of nine team polls this year. It's the 12th consecutive top-10 appearance for the XU men dating to May 2011 and their 42nd consecutive top-25 ranking dating to April 2007.
    
It's also Xavier's highest preseason ranking in this sport. Xavier was ninth in the 2012 preseason and finished the year No. 7 after becoming the first from Xavier in any sport to reach the national quarterfinals since men's basketball in 1973.
    
Xavier opened its spring season this past weekend with a 6-1 loss to Tulane. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will travel to Houma, La., to play Nicholls State at 4 p.m. Saturday. The next Gold Rush home match will start at 2 p.m. on Feb. 8 against NAIA No. 6 William Carey at the new XU Tennis Center.
    
The next two top 25s will be announced Feb. 19 and March 5.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records are from 2012 season) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (8) 20-4 279 3 2 Auburn Montgomery (2) 17-8 271 5 3 Vanguard (1) 15-11 265 6 4 Lindsey Wilson 19-6 245 10 5 Concordia (Calif.) 9-13 243 12 6 William Carey 17-5 235 9 7 Westmont 12-10 230 8 8 Xavier 18-8 223 7 9 Aquinas 26-3 212 13 10 Bethany (Kan.) 22-4 205 14 11 Cumberland 18-3 179 16 12 Belhaven 16-4 174 15 13 Olivet Nazarene 15-5 168 20 14 Campbellsville 19-7 166 17 15 Warner 13-5 160 18 16 Graceland 9-7 143 RV 17 McPherson 15-4 137 RV 18 Pikeville 12-6 126 RV 19 Northwestern Ohio 18-7 119 21 20 Webber International 15-7 116 23 21 Spring Arbor 10-2 100 24 22 Georgetown (Ky.) 12-11 90 RV 23 Coastal Georgia 6-7 89 NR 24 Biola 5-14 73 RV 25 Lee (Tenn.) 9-8 67 RV Others receiving votes: Indiana Wesleyan 55; Davenport 49, Missouri Valley 41, SCAD Savannah 23, St. Francis (Ill.) 14, Martin Methodist 13, Tennessee Wesleyan 6, Asbury 4, Hastings 3.

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