WICHITA, Kansas -- North Carolina Central prepared for Wichita State using picks set by pickup trucks with yellow lines and curbs as their boundary markers. Their assistant coaches got a lesson in the importance of carry-on luggage.
No, it wasn’t the ideal way to get ready for the 11th-ranked Shockers.
North Carolina Central didn’t want use its travel issues as an excuse, and it didn’t. It took WSU until the final two minutes to get comfortable in a 77-66 victory Sunday night at Koch Arena. North Carolina Central hadn’t been comfortable since it left Durham, N.C. on Saturday, enduring a day full of flight cancellations and airports before the team broke into three groups and arrived throughout Sunday.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, but to our credit, we don’t even talk about it,” Eagles coach LeVelle Moton said. “In 10 more minutes, I may fall asleep up here.”
In its final game before Christmas break, WSU (12-0) extended its school-record unbeaten streak to start a season. The 12-game win streak is the third-longest in program history. The Shockers led by 17 in the first half, but couldn’t complete the blowout, largely because North Carolina Central’s Jeremy Ingram scored 27 of his career-high 37 points in the second half.
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Monday, December 23, 2013
Alabama State Lady Hornets Rally Back For Win Over SSU
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Behind Quentori Alford's double-double performance of 13 points and 16 rebounds, ASU defeats Savannah State by the final score of 57-52.
Along with Alford, Taila Arrington had ten points and a team high four assist. Nakiya Smith added nine points of her own in the Lady Hornets victory.
"Our ladies fought hard all game," said head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. "We started off slow tonight, but the girls played really good defense to pull us within three points at the half, the girls showed they had a lot of will power in the second half which helped us fight back and pull off the victory."
The first six minutes of the game Savannah State jumped out to the early five point advantage over the Lady Hornets. SSU would then extend their lead by going on a 7-2 run for a span of three minutes. Poor shooting would hurt the Lady Hornets as they managed to shoot just 26.9% from the field at the end of the half but, remained much alive in the contest only trailing the Tigers by three heading into the locker rooms (26-23).
Alford led the way for ASU at the half with ten rebounds despite having only four points shooting (0-2) for the field for the half.
"Quentori had a great night, she had to battle against SSU's Tiyonda Davis size, but she had a really good game even though she scared me a little after taking that shot to the nose, she showed toughness by going back into the game and finishing it out." Freeman-Jackson stated.
ASU would come out for the second half energized as they would outscore SSU 7-4 in the first five minutes tying the score at 30 a piece. Both teams would battle back and forth until the 8:29 mark when ASU would take the one point lead (37-36). After a stretch of ties by both teams in the final minute of play the Lady Hornets Daniele Ewert would capitalize off of a key put back basket with 29.7 seconds to go. ASU would then take the 57-53 victory over SSU after sinking in their final free throws.
The Lady Hornets defense came up big tonight forcing 19 Tiger turnovers limiting their offense to just 17-53 from the field shooting 32.1% for the entire game.
"Our defense played possession basketball in the final two minutes stepping up getting multiple stops which led to tonight's victory." said Freeman-Jackson.
Alabama State will go on break for a short holiday break and will be back in action as they will travel to Georgia Tech, Holiday Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec.29-30th.
Box Score
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Along with Alford, Taila Arrington had ten points and a team high four assist. Nakiya Smith added nine points of her own in the Lady Hornets victory.
"Our ladies fought hard all game," said head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. "We started off slow tonight, but the girls played really good defense to pull us within three points at the half, the girls showed they had a lot of will power in the second half which helped us fight back and pull off the victory."
The first six minutes of the game Savannah State jumped out to the early five point advantage over the Lady Hornets. SSU would then extend their lead by going on a 7-2 run for a span of three minutes. Poor shooting would hurt the Lady Hornets as they managed to shoot just 26.9% from the field at the end of the half but, remained much alive in the contest only trailing the Tigers by three heading into the locker rooms (26-23).
Alford led the way for ASU at the half with ten rebounds despite having only four points shooting (0-2) for the field for the half.
"Quentori had a great night, she had to battle against SSU's Tiyonda Davis size, but she had a really good game even though she scared me a little after taking that shot to the nose, she showed toughness by going back into the game and finishing it out." Freeman-Jackson stated.
ASU would come out for the second half energized as they would outscore SSU 7-4 in the first five minutes tying the score at 30 a piece. Both teams would battle back and forth until the 8:29 mark when ASU would take the one point lead (37-36). After a stretch of ties by both teams in the final minute of play the Lady Hornets Daniele Ewert would capitalize off of a key put back basket with 29.7 seconds to go. ASU would then take the 57-53 victory over SSU after sinking in their final free throws.
The Lady Hornets defense came up big tonight forcing 19 Tiger turnovers limiting their offense to just 17-53 from the field shooting 32.1% for the entire game.
"Our defense played possession basketball in the final two minutes stepping up getting multiple stops which led to tonight's victory." said Freeman-Jackson.
Alabama State will go on break for a short holiday break and will be back in action as they will travel to Georgia Tech, Holiday Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec.29-30th.
Box Score
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Sunday, December 22, 2013
TSU's I’mani Davis Selected to Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team
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| I'MANI DAVIS (COURTESY TSU TIGERS ATHLETICS) |
GAINESVILLE, Florida --- Tennessee State Women’s Basketball Freshman I’mani Davis was named to the 2013 Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team on Saturday.
Davis, a 6-0 Guard, averaged a double-double of 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during the tournament. She also shot 41.7 percent from three-point range.
The Tulsa, Okla. native registered her second double-double of the season after scoring 15 points and hauling in 16 rebounds against LaSalle on Saturday. She also knocked down three triples versus the Explorers.
In the game against Florida, she had nine points and four rebounds while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from long range.
Davis is currently TSU’s third leading scorer and second best rebounder. She is ranked third in the OVC in steals and 10th in defensive rebounds.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
All-Louisiana: Kirk on first team, Reuther on second team
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| (L) MOIRA KIRK AND TAYLOR REUTHER (R) |
It's the first time that Kirk — a 5-foot-9 junior middle blocker from Dallas and a graduate of Bishop Lynch High School — was named All-Louisiana. Reuther, a 5-foot-7 junior outside hitter from Metairie, La., and a graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School, is All-Louisiana for the third tiime. She made the second team in 2011 and the first team a year ago.
Kirk produced 311 kills to rank second on her team and led the Gold Nuggets in hitting percentage (.347) and blocks (87) for the third consecutive year. Kirk hit .436 during the Nuggets' school-record 20-match win streak.
Reuther led Xavier in kills (395), aces (39), digs (403) and double-doubles (18) for the third consecutive season. She became the first to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in an XU career.
It's the first time that Xavier produced two All-Louisiana volleyball players in the same season.
Kirk finished third in voting for Player of the Year. XU's Hannah Lawing was the runner-up to Tulane's Sinisa Momic for Coach of the Year. Lawing, in her first season as head coach, led Xavier to a 26-8 record, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a berth in the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets set a school record for season victories and extended their winning streak against GCAC opponents to 43.
The GCAC championships and the appearances at the national tournament were Xavier's third in a row. The Gold Nuggets set school records for road victories (17), victories on opponents' courts (9), kills per set (12.6), hitting percentage (.249) and digs per set (15.4). They recorded four victories against NAIA tournament qualifiers and became the first XU team to win all home matches (9-0).
A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel of sports publicists selected the All-Louisiana team, which consists of players from NCAA Division I and NAIA members.
2013 All-Louisiana Women's Volleyball Team
FIRST TEAM
Briana Holman, freshman, LSU
Tea Juric, freshman, Tulane
Moira Kirk, junior, Xavier
Cati Leak, sophomore, LSU
Mel Mandelbaum, senior, Tulane
Cori Martone, senior, Tulane
Libero: Keelie Arenson, junior, Northwestern State
SECOND TEAM
Stacey Defrancesco, junior, Northwestern State
Ashley Elrod, freshman, Northwestern State
Andrea Hole, junior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Malorie Pardo, junior, LSU
Taylor Reuther, junior, Xavier
Malina Sanchez, sophomore, McNeese State
Libero: Marcela Araya, junior, Louisiana-Monroe
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Briana Holman, LSU
Voting: Holman 7, Martone 3, Kirk 2
LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Keelie Arenson, Northwestern State
Voting: Arenson 6, Araya 4, Grace Weaver (Tulane) 1, Haley Smith (LSU) 1
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Celeste Ramirez, New Orleans
Voting: Ramirez was only nominee
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: (tie) Briana Holman, LSU; Tea Juric, Tulane
Voting: Holman 6, Juric 6
COACH OF THE YEAR: Sinisa Momic, Tulane
Voting: Momic 8, Hannah Lawing (Xavier) 2, Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman (Northwestern State) 1, Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot (Louisiana-Lafayette) 1
HONORABLE MENTION
Eva Allen, sophomore, Loyola
Kayla Burling, freshman, Nicholls State
Maria Coelho, junior, Louisiana Tech
Desiree Elliott, senior, LSU
Chantelle Gardner, freshman, Louisiana-Lafayette
Kayla Mashburn, freshman, Nicholls State
Caiti O'Connell, junior, Northwestern State
Tonice White, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Florida A&M football inks 13 transfers
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| HEAD FOOTBALL COACH EARL HOLMES (COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS) |
They clearly were high on quarterback Brian Blackburn, who is transferring from the University of Toledo.
“You see a 6-foot-6 quarterback who step back and look over the field and throw the deep ball as well as can run it,” Holmes said. “It’s a great thing.”
That is exactly the way that Holmes, who is beginning his second season as head coach, summed up his first signing class. The day’s signings were limited to transfers from BCS programs and junior colleges.
FAMU also signed quarterback Shazzon Mumphrey from Monroe College. Mumphrey. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he threw for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
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Florida A&M Signs Early Class For Rattler Football 2014
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (12/18/13) -- Coach Earl Holmes and staff today announced early period signing of junior college, transfers and prep school athletes for the 2014 football season.
The following recruits represent the early signing class of 2014:
Patrick Dalton (6’6", 340 lbs.) Fayetteville, Ga. – OL, Whitewater High School, Jireh Preparatory School. Dalton is an impressive addition to the Rattler offensive line. He was recruited by Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Clemson and Tennessee. He is considered a behemoth lineman, who could develop into a prototype of a guard. For his size, he is reported to have quick feet and extremely strong hands. He has athletic legs and a massive upper body. His lengthy wingspan is important because when he latches on to a defender, he can render them useless. Rated #51 on Georgia Top 65 rankings in 2012 by National Underclassmen Football Combine (NUFC). NUFC 5th ranked OL of 13 on Georgia Top 65 for 2012.
Keir Abrams (5’11", 240 lbs.) Berkeley, California – FB, Berkeley High School. Abrams is a solid lead blocker and capable of getting tough yards. He also has soft hands and is able to make receptions out of the backfield. He went to Costa Contra College in San Pablo, California. Bench pressed 335 lbs. at age 16.
Shazzon Mumphrey (6’4”, 230 lbs.), Louisville, Kentucky – QB, Waggener Traditional High School, Dakota College at Bottineau. Mumphrey is an athletic quarterback, who excels in a pro-style offense, who threw for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He runs a 4.5, 40-yard dash. He is a solid athlete benching 335 lbs., and squatting 475 lbs. Photo Gallery. Offered by Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central, and Savannah State. A Dec. 2013 junior college graduate, he was rated as a two star QB by Rivals.Com.
Brian Blackburn Jr. (6’6”, 225 lbs.), Detroit, Michigan's Crockett Vocational Tech – QB, He was ranked the No.25 ranked player in the state of Michigan and was ranked three star by 247.com and Scout.com. As a junior, Blackburn went 134 for 219 (61%), 2234 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He rushed for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns. Received offers from Toledo, Buffalo and Central Michigan of the MAC. Photo Gallery. Transferring from University of Toledo as redshirt sophomore.
Mateo Kambui (6’3”, 288 lbs.) Wichita, Kansas – OC, Heights High School. Helped Butler Community College to a 9-2 record last season. He made first team All-KJCCC this past season at center. Highlights. Kansas Class 6A, First Team All-State as senior. Photo Appears also to be a comedian.....from his twitter account 12/20/13: "Felt broke putting $5 in my gas tank, then I looked over and seen this dude put $4 in his.... At that moment I knew the struggle was real."
Kendall Bruton (5’11", 185 lbs.) Long Island, New York -- DB, Nassau Community College. Bruton is a solid run-stopper as well as pass defender. He had 20 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns last season.
Sumir Burns (6’2”, 295 lbs.) Linden High School, Linden, NJ – NG/DT, Monroe College. Burns earned Player of the Week Oct. 8, for his defensive performance. He had 60 tackles on the season, with 31 solos and 29 assists. He had three sacks and finished fourth in the conference in tackles. Photo Named First Team All Northeast Football Conference in 2013.
Antoine Pickett Jr. (6’0”, 190 lbs.) De La Salle High School, Concord, California – RB/LB/DB, Contra Costa College. Pickett was ranked the No.2 defensive back in California by MaxPreps. He runs a 4.5 - 40 yard dash and has a 25” vertical leap. Previously offered by Sacramento State, North Dakota and Northern Colorado. Signed with Sacramento State in Feb. 2011, played one season, and bounced back to JC for a second shot at FBS. He was one of the top players on De La Salle's 2009 and 2010 CIF State D-I title teams. Brother is Adarius Pickett, a four star cornerback and UCLA commit out of El Cerrito High School (Class of 2014). Photo.
A.J. Liddell (6’3”, 200 lbs.) Atlanta, Georgia – WR, Atlanta Prep. ESPN rated Lidell as the No.49 player in the state. He was also three-star ranked by ESPN. Originally out of West Lake HS, he had several offers out of high school. While he plays wide receiver, he is also solid as a punt and kick returner.
Matt Tiedermann (6’1”, 310 lbs.) Ephraim, Utah – OL, Snow College. Tiedermann is an agile offensive lineman who could bolster the interior offensive line. With quick feet and great arm strength, Tiedermann was a teammate of Rattler receiver Casey Glines.
Photo
Ronald Harris II (6’3”, 220 lbs.) Raleigh, NC – LB, Jireh Prep. All-Conference in high school at Leesville Road High School. Harris is known as a solid tackler, while having good coverage skills when he drops back. He has excellent lateral movement inside a solid frame. His story. As a senior Ron helped the Pride (Leesville Road H.S.) to it first undefeated (12-1) regular season in 2011 and the third round of the NCHSAA 4AA playoffs. Ron made 68 solo tackles and one fumble recovery during his senior season.
Eddie Lee Williams (6'-3", 204 lbs.) Panama City Beach, Florida - Safety, Arnold High School. Transfer from Alabama, ranked No.1 player in Florida by ESPNU and Rivals.com in 2011. The football All-American was kicked out of the University of Alabama following his involvement in a second degree robbery and credit card fraud with three other Alabama football players. Williams, a former five-star recruit, did not play in 2012, but did practice at WR, as a redshirt freshman with the 2012 'Bama national championship team. He chose Alabama over Florida State, Florida and Auburn. Photos. Williams Bio. (beepbeep)
Eddie Lee Williams (6'-3", 204 lbs.) Panama City Beach, Florida - Safety, Arnold High School. Transfer from Alabama, ranked No.1 player in Florida by ESPNU and Rivals.com in 2011. The football All-American was kicked out of the University of Alabama following his involvement in a second degree robbery and credit card fraud with three other Alabama football players. Williams, a former five-star recruit, did not play in 2012, but did practice at WR, as a redshirt freshman with the 2012 'Bama national championship team. He chose Alabama over Florida State, Florida and Auburn. Photos. Williams Bio. (beepbeep)
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Note: The Eddie Lee Williams input, YouTube Videos, photo links, hot-links selected by the beepbeep. Sheeeeeee.... don't tell the rest of the MEAC that the Rattlers are on their way Back! I like this class!!!
East: Southern, Odums right fit for each other
Regarding NCCU: “I’m a different kind of guy,” Odums said. “I only knock on your door so many times, and if you don’t let me in, I respect you for what you’re trying to do. But I just don’t foresee that in the future that’s a door I’ll knock on.”
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern didn’t need North Carolina Central to show interest in Dawson Odums to appreciate what it had in its head football coach.
Likewise, Odums didn’t need to do any comparative shopping to appreciate what he had at Southern.
NCCU bringing in Odums to interview for the Eagles head coaching position didn’t change the fact that Odums was the right coach for Southern and Southern was the right place for Odums.
In fact, a brief negotiating period that yielded a three-year contract extension for Odums on Thursday reinforced to both sides what a mutually satisfying union this has become.
When NCCU interviewed Odums a week and a half ago, Jaguars Athletic Director William Broussard didn’t panic.
He knew the Eagles had one thing he couldn’t match: the emotional tie Odums has to his alma mater. But Broussard was confident in what he did have to offer.
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Dawson Odums foresees stability at Southern
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern football coach Dawson Odums has a new message for recruits.
He had been telling them that even though he had just one year left on his contract and he had a job interview at North Carolina Central, he was working on a long-term commitment to the Jaguars.
But now that he has agreed to a three-year extension, subject to approval by the SU System Board of Supervisors, he can be more definitive.
“Now we’re able to go back into the homes of the young men after Christmas and let them know, ‘hey we’re going to be here at least until you graduate,’ ” Odums said Friday, one day after agreeing to the new deal. “That’s great when you start talking to freshmen and transfers and even junior college players, that the coach that is recruiting them is going to be there. It projects a sense of stability in the program.”
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Saturday, December 21, 2013
K-State Outlasted in 2OTs by Hampton Lady Pirates
HAMPTON, Virginia -- K-State used a pair of late comebacks in regulation and the first overtime, but it was not enough for the Wildcats to defeat Hampton as the Lady Pirates defeated K-State 86-75 in double overtime at the HU Convocation Center. The loss ended K-State’s three-game winning streak.K-State (5-4) saw three players reach double figures on Saturday. Senior Katya Leick tallied K-State’s first double-double of the season and the first of her career with career-highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds. Ashia Woods joined Leick in double figures with 15 points.
Freshman Leticia Romero added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Hampton (9-3) was led by Nicole Hamilton and Alyssa Bennett with 24 points apiece. Bennett also hauled in 10 rebounds. Joining Hamilton and Bennett in double figures was fresh Malia Tate-Defreitas with 19 points.
Hampton chipped away at K-State’s nine-point halftime lead in the second half with aggressive, physical defense and timely baskets. The Lady Pirates would capture its first lead of the game, 45-44, with 9:12 to play in the second half.
K-State would regain the lead, 59-55, with a 13-5 run with 3:19 remaining in the game. The run was sparked by a three from Leick and a Chantay Caron three-point play. The Wildcats also received five made free throws from Romero.
Following two free throws from Romero to give K-State a 61-57 lead with 1:27 to play in regulation, Hampton raced up the floor and Hamilton connected for a three with 1:20 to play to cut K-State‘s lead to 61-60.
K-State turned the ball over on its next possession and Hampton took advantage with four points. Hamilton connected on a running layup and was fouled on the play. After Hamilton missed the free throw, the Lady Pirates grabbed the rebound and connected on a second running layup, this one by Tate-Defreitas with 29 seconds to play.
Romero raced the ball up the floor in the heart of Hampton’s press and nailed a jump shot to bring the Wildcats to within one, 64-63, with 18.6 seconds left. After K-State called its final timeout, Woods stole the inbounds pass and made a layup to give K-State a 65-64 lead with 17.3 seconds remaining.
A missed shot rebounded by Hampton resulted in a foul on the Wildcats. The Lady Pirates made one of two to tie the game, 65-65, with 4.7 seconds left. A final running shot attempt by Woods rolled off the rim to send the game to the extra session.
In the overtime, Leick tallied K-State’s first basket with a layup with 4:20 to play to give K-State a 67-65. Hampton answered with a pair of layups from Hamilton to give the Lady Pirates a 69-67 lead with 2:56 to play. After two made free throws from Hampton, Sheble carded a free throw and a layup to bring K-State to within one, 71-70, with 9.2 to play.
After K-State fouled to send Hampton to the line, the Lady Pirates missed both free throws. After the second miss and ensuing scrum, Leick was fouled trying to rebound the ball. Leick made the first of the two free throws to send the game to a second overtime.
In the second overtime, Leick staked K-State to a 73-71 lead on a layup with 3:45 to play. Hampton answered with a 13-2 run to defeat the Wildcats.
The Wildcats shot .362 from the field for the day and registered a 23-13 edge in bench points.
Kansas State will return to action, after a brief holiday break, to face North Carolina State on Dec. 28 in the Surf n’ Slam Classic in San Diego. The game will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. (CT), and the audio will be available on kstatesports.com/all access for free. K-State will face either UC Riverside or San Diego State on Dec. 30 to close out its 2013 non-conference schedule.
Box Score
COURTESY KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Second-Half Surge Lifts Herd Over Delaware State, 62-47
HUNTINGTON, West Virginia -- A slow start didn't stop the Thundering Herd (5-5, 0-0 C-USA) from picking up its second consecutive win, taking down Delaware State (3-7, 0-1 MEAC), 62-47, Saturday afternoon at Cam Henderson Center.
For the first time in coach Matt Daniel's two seasons, Marshall has won back-to-back games and will enter the holiday break with a .500 record. The Herd's last winning streak came in February 2012, when Marshall defeated Memphis, 65-54 (Feb. 16), and UAB, 40-37 (Feb. 19).
"This is a great way to go into the holidays, especially with everything that we've been going through and dealing with," Daniel said. "We found a way to win another game today. That's two in a row and I'm really pleased with the last two team victories that we've had."
It took the Herd almost four minutes to reach the scoreboard - a Chelsey Romero (Hampton, Va.) layup tied the game at two at 16:25 in the first half. Marshall found its first lead at 8:33 when senior Suporia Dickens (Freeport, Ill.) hit a jumper to put the Herd up, 9-8.
The score would tie thrice more before knotting for the fifth time at 19, going into the break.
Marshall's 19 halftime points were the fewest since putting up only 16 versus UAB, Feb. 17, 2013.
Junior Leah Scott (Detroit) opened the second half with an and-one layup, giving the Herd a 22-19 lead, and Marshall would never surrender again. With help from sophomore Norrisha Victrum's (Columbia, S.C.) 12 second-half points, including 8-of-10 free throws, the Herd gained momentum and had its largest lead of 15 with 20 seconds remaining. The final buzzer sounded for Marshall's fifth win of the season, 62-47.
Victrum finished the game on top for the Herd's third consecutive game, putting up 16 points. She had a solid outing from the point guard position, making four assists, three steals and committing zero turnovers. Two other Marshall players found double figures, with Scott's 13 and Dickens' 11.
Despite being outrebounded by Delaware State (42-37), Marshall feasted off the Hornets' 22 turnovers, scoring 20 points. The Herd also controlled the paint offensively, pouring in 36 points to the Hornets' 20.
"We literally, at a couple points in the game, had three kids on the court under 5-foot-6," Daniel said. "AJ Johnson did a great job. Chelsey Romero's size helped us tremendously." Romero tied her career-highs of 14 rebounds and three blocks in 32 minutes played.
After the teams' first meeting, Marshall now leads the all-time series with Delaware State, 1-0.
The Herd will have a week-long holiday hiatus before hosting Navy at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, at Cam Henderson Center. For all the latest information about Marshall women's basketball, follow @HerdWBB on Twitter.
COURTESY MARSHALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Nipe, Jackson, Jones Lead GW Women's Hoops Past North Carolina A&T, 80-54
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | HighlightsWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Grad students Megan Nipe and Danni Jackson and sophomore Jonquel Jones combined for 61 points as the George Washington women's basketball team defeated North Carolina A&T, 80-54, on Saturday afternoon at the Charles E. Smith Center for its third straight victory.
Making her GW debut after transferring from Clemson last December and sitting a full year due to NCAA transfer rules, Jones posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, connecting on 7-of-10 field goal attempts. Nipe poured in a game-high 23 points, and Jackson added a season-best 21 to go with seven assists, as two Colonials topped 20 points for the first time since Jackson and Tara Booker ('13) did it on Jan. 7, 2012 against Fordham.
Freshman Caira Washington pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, the most by a Colonial this season, and matched her career best with five blocks. With the seven helpers, Jackson became the seventh Colonial ever with 400 assists in her career and just the third with 1,000 points and 400 assists, joining Kimberly Beck ('08) and Anna Montañana ('05).
GW (7-4) led by three, 51-48, with 10:59 left in the game, but a three-pointer by Jackson ignited a 27-6 run over the final 9:50 of action, including 14 straight points to start the surge. Jackson scored all 13 of her second-half points during the game-ending run. The Colonials' lead peaked at 27 on a three-pointer by freshman Shannon Cranshaw that made it 79-52 with 55 seconds left.
Jones scored GW's first eight points, as the Colonials jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but A&T (7-2) responded with six straight to take a 9-8 lead with 14:40 left in the half. The score remained close for the next seven minutes, with three ties and neither team leading by more than four.
The Aggies led, 17-16, at the 9:01 mark, but a pair of free throws by Nipe put the Colonials on top for good and sparked a 16-2 GW run that included six straight points from Jackson, as the Colonials took a 32-19 lead. A&T rallied back with an 11-3 run of its own to cut its deficit to five, 35-30, at the break. Nipe scored seven of GW's first nine points out of the break as the Colonials regained a double-digit lead, but the Aggies again responded with a 12-5 run to pull within three, 51-48, with 10:59 to go. Neither team found the basket again for 69 seconds before Jackson's three started GW's big game-ending run.
The Colonials shot 64.3 percent (18-28) in the second half and finished at a season-high 53.4 percent (31-58) in the game. GW reached 80 points for the fourth time this season.
Debbie Smith led the Aggies with 21 points and six rebounds. A&T, which saw its seven-game win streak snapped in the loss, shot just 29.7 percent (11-37) in the second half and 32.8 percent (19-58) in the game while committing 25 turnovers. The Colonials return to action next Saturday, Dec. 28, when they host crosstown rival American at 2 p.m. at the Charles E. Smith Center.
COURTESY THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Maynor says he's ready for the MEAC
Former WSSU coach will now try to build a winner at HamptonWINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Before his final media conference at Winston-Salem State this week, Coach Connell Maynor sat in his office answering congratulatory phone calls from friends and family.
In between calls, Maynor was reminded that he’ll have 63 scholarships — the maximum for the Football Championship Subdivision — to work with as the head coach at Hampton. Given the increase from the 30 scholarships Maynor had at WSSU, out of the Division II maximum of 36, it was suggested that he might actually recruit a placekicker for field goals.
“Now that’s just crazy talk,” he joked.
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Boulware among candidates to get interviews for WSSU job
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Kienus Boulware, Winston-Salem State’s defensive coordinator the past four seasons, will be one of four or five candidates who will be interviewed for the school’s vacant head-coaching job, according to Athletics Director Bill Hayes.Hayes said that Boulware, 39, will be interviewed in the next two weeks or so.
“Coach Boulware will be officially interviewed along with three or four others,” Hayes said Friday in an email.
After Connell Maynor resigned earlier this week to become the head coach at Hampton, Hayes said he has been impressed with Boulware’s coaching abilities over the past four seasons. Boulware’s defense was ranked No. 1 in Division II most of this season.
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Friday, December 20, 2013
Ram Ramblings: Maynor will have to adjust to Hampton and it's president
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- It’s not everyday that the two most high-profile coaches in athletics at a college or university get along so well. But for Connell Maynor and Bobby Collins at WSSU they were each other’s biggest supporters.
Since Maynor arrived in 2010 he and Collins were quick to form a friendship and it’s something that Collins says will last a long time. Maynor has left to take the job at Hampton, and Collins made sure to let me know that he wanted to wish Maynor well in his new job.
“Connell is an incredible person,” Collins said earlier this week. “He’s very competitive and I feel like I’m having a brother leave for college. I know I’ll still see him from time to time but he’s a very good friend and we’ve supported each of our programs very well. I’m going to miss him.”
When Maynor said good-bye in his final news conference at WSSU he thanked everybody at WSSU and made it a point to say he was going to miss Collins.
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GW Women's Hoops Tips Off Saturday Doubleheader Against North Carolina A&T
WHO: GW Women's Basketball (6-4)
WHAT: Game #11 vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (7-1)
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338), 600 22nd Street NW
Directions to Smith Center | Parking Options | Public Transportation
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m.
HOW: Buy Tickets
VIDEO: Free on RaiseHigh Live and A-10 Mobile App
STATS: GameTracker
AUDIO: WRGW Sports
TWITTER: @GW_WBB | @GWGeorge | #RaiseHigh
NOTES: GW Notes
PROMOTION: Holiday Hoops Doubleheader - GW Men's Basketball vs. UMBC at 2:30 p.m. | Tickets for either game are good for both games
WASHINGTON, D. C. -- The George Washington women's basketball team goes for its third straight win when it hosts North Carolina A&T in the first game of a holiday hoops doubleheader at the Charles E. Smith Center on Saturday. The Colonials will face the Aggies at 12 p.m. ahead of the GW men's basketball game against UMBC, which will tip off at approximately 2:30 p.m. Tickets for either game are good for both contests.
GW (6-4) has not played since a 75-60 win over Morgan State last Saturday at the Smith Center. Graduate student Megan Nipe led four Colonials in double figures with 18 points, with 13 coming during GW's second-half comeback in which the Colonials outscored the Lady Bears, 43-25. Sophomore Alexis Chandler had a career day with 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals against Morgan State, while freshman Caira Washington matched her career high with 15 points.
Washington was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Monday. She is averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds and shooting 61.8 percent (21-34) with a pair of double-doubles in her last four games. The freshman from Brandywine, Md., is GW's top rebounder (7.9 rpg) and second-leading scorer (10.4 ppg), and she ranks sixth in the A-10 in shooting percentage (.500, 42-84), eighth in rebounding and ninth in blocked shots (1.0 bpg).
GW has averaged 72.5 points per game this season behind five players who are averaging better than seven points per game, including three in double figures. Nipe leads the way and ranks fourth in the A-10 with 18.1 points per game, as has scored in double figures in every game but one this season, while topping 20 four times. Nipe also ranks seventh in the league with 2.1 three-pointers made per game.
Graduate student Danni Jackson is averaging 10.0 points per game and ranks seventh in the A-10 in assists (4.4 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). She needs one helper to become the seventh Colonial ever with 400 assists in her career.
Saturday's game marks the GW debut for sophomore Jonquel Jones, who transferred to Foggy Bottom from Clemson last winter and had to sit out until the end of the Fall 2013 semester due to NCAA transfer rules. The 2012 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year and Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year at Riverdale Baptist, Jones averaged 9.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in eight games at Clemson before transferring to GW.
GW and North Carolina A&T will face off for just the second time on Saturday. The teams met for the first time ever on Jan. 6, 2013, in Greensboro, N.C., a 67-56 win for the host Aggies.
At 7-1, A&T is off to the best start in program history. The Aggies defeated UNC Asheville, 83-57, on Tuesday for their seventh straight victory, as their only loss on the year came to Quinnipiac in the season opener.
Tracy King paces the Aggies with 13.9 points per game, followed closely by Christina Carter's 13.8 points per contest. Both players are shooting better than 51 percent from the floor. In addition, Carter leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 5.6 assists per game, and King is tops with 3.6 steals per outing. A&T has outscored its opponents by 18.3 points per game this season and boasts both the top scoring offense and defense in the MEAC, averaging 73.1 points per game while allowing just 54.9. The Aggies also leads the league in field goal percentage (.456), assists (15.0 apg) and steals (11.9 spg).
After advancing to the 2013 WNIT with a 22-10 overall record, A&T - under the direction of second-year head coach Tarrell Robinson - was picked to finish second in the MEAC preseason poll.
Sophomore center Eboni Ross, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year, was named to the Preseason All-MEAC first team, while King was tabbed to the second team.
COURTESY THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATION
WHAT: Game #11 vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (7-1)
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338), 600 22nd Street NW
Directions to Smith Center | Parking Options | Public Transportation
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m.
HOW: Buy Tickets
VIDEO: Free on RaiseHigh Live and A-10 Mobile App
STATS: GameTracker
AUDIO: WRGW Sports
TWITTER: @GW_WBB | @GWGeorge | #RaiseHigh
NOTES: GW Notes
PROMOTION: Holiday Hoops Doubleheader - GW Men's Basketball vs. UMBC at 2:30 p.m. | Tickets for either game are good for both games
WASHINGTON, D. C. -- The George Washington women's basketball team goes for its third straight win when it hosts North Carolina A&T in the first game of a holiday hoops doubleheader at the Charles E. Smith Center on Saturday. The Colonials will face the Aggies at 12 p.m. ahead of the GW men's basketball game against UMBC, which will tip off at approximately 2:30 p.m. Tickets for either game are good for both contests.
GW (6-4) has not played since a 75-60 win over Morgan State last Saturday at the Smith Center. Graduate student Megan Nipe led four Colonials in double figures with 18 points, with 13 coming during GW's second-half comeback in which the Colonials outscored the Lady Bears, 43-25. Sophomore Alexis Chandler had a career day with 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals against Morgan State, while freshman Caira Washington matched her career high with 15 points.Washington was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Monday. She is averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds and shooting 61.8 percent (21-34) with a pair of double-doubles in her last four games. The freshman from Brandywine, Md., is GW's top rebounder (7.9 rpg) and second-leading scorer (10.4 ppg), and she ranks sixth in the A-10 in shooting percentage (.500, 42-84), eighth in rebounding and ninth in blocked shots (1.0 bpg).
GW has averaged 72.5 points per game this season behind five players who are averaging better than seven points per game, including three in double figures. Nipe leads the way and ranks fourth in the A-10 with 18.1 points per game, as has scored in double figures in every game but one this season, while topping 20 four times. Nipe also ranks seventh in the league with 2.1 three-pointers made per game.
Graduate student Danni Jackson is averaging 10.0 points per game and ranks seventh in the A-10 in assists (4.4 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). She needs one helper to become the seventh Colonial ever with 400 assists in her career.
Saturday's game marks the GW debut for sophomore Jonquel Jones, who transferred to Foggy Bottom from Clemson last winter and had to sit out until the end of the Fall 2013 semester due to NCAA transfer rules. The 2012 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year and Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year at Riverdale Baptist, Jones averaged 9.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in eight games at Clemson before transferring to GW.
GW and North Carolina A&T will face off for just the second time on Saturday. The teams met for the first time ever on Jan. 6, 2013, in Greensboro, N.C., a 67-56 win for the host Aggies.
At 7-1, A&T is off to the best start in program history. The Aggies defeated UNC Asheville, 83-57, on Tuesday for their seventh straight victory, as their only loss on the year came to Quinnipiac in the season opener.
Tracy King paces the Aggies with 13.9 points per game, followed closely by Christina Carter's 13.8 points per contest. Both players are shooting better than 51 percent from the floor. In addition, Carter leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 5.6 assists per game, and King is tops with 3.6 steals per outing. A&T has outscored its opponents by 18.3 points per game this season and boasts both the top scoring offense and defense in the MEAC, averaging 73.1 points per game while allowing just 54.9. The Aggies also leads the league in field goal percentage (.456), assists (15.0 apg) and steals (11.9 spg).
After advancing to the 2013 WNIT with a 22-10 overall record, A&T - under the direction of second-year head coach Tarrell Robinson - was picked to finish second in the MEAC preseason poll.
Sophomore center Eboni Ross, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year, was named to the Preseason All-MEAC first team, while King was tabbed to the second team.
COURTESY THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATION
Delaware State On-Deck for Marshall Herd
GAME 10: DELAWARE STATE (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) vs. MARSHALL (4-5, 0-0 C-USA)
Saturday, Dec. 21 | Noon ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Radio | Twitter | Game Notes
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Looking to build off a 71-56 win over Wofford (Dec. 19), Marshall women’s basketball (4-5, 0-0 C-USA) will play host to Delaware State (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) at Cam Henderson Center, Saturday, at noon.
Live stats and live video will be available through the women’s basketball schedule page at HerdZone.com. The official live radio broadcast can be found online or through WMUL 88.1 FM, and live updates will be available through @HerdWBB on Twitter.
HAVE YOU HERD?
For the second consecutive game, sophomore Norrisha Victrum (Columbia, S.C.) led the Thundering Herd offensively with career-highs of 24 points, eight assists and a 12-of-14 mark from the free-throw line in a 71-56 win over Wofford, Dec. 19. Each of her marks are the most by a Herd player in coach Matt Daniel’s two seasons.
Her 24 points are the most by a Marshall player since Tynikki Crook scored 25 in a 71-67 home win over Cleveland State, Dec. 18, 2010, and her 12 free throws are the most since Sikeetha Shepard-Hall hit 15 in a February 2006 win over UAB.
Marshall’s 48 second-half points were a Herd high since the team scored 57 in the first half of a 93-55 triumph over Kent State to open the 2011-12 season. It was the high for a Herd second half since Dec. 30, 2010 when Marshall scored 49 in a 79-69 home win over Elon.
OTHER NOTABLES:
- Junior AJ Johnson (Silver Spring, Md.) scored 18 points, a career-high, and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.
- Marshall is without junior post player Chukwuka Ezeigbo (Trenton, N.J.), who has returned to Nigeria for a 17-day span to attend the funeral of her father, who died of cancer last month.
CHANGING IT UP
Coach Matt Daniel has started five different combinations over nine games, and each of the Herd’s four wins have come with different starting lineups. Only redshirt senior guard Erica Woods (St. George, Bermuda) has started every game for Marshall so far.
MAKE IT RAIN
Against WVU Tech, Dec. 9, the Herd totaled 13 treys (13-of-36), the most scored since sinking 14 versus West Virginia, Jan. 18, 1995. Freshman McKenzie Akers (Princeton, W.Va.) made a career-high four treys against the Golden Bears, going 4-of-10. She became the 15th Herd player all-time to attempt 10 threes in a single game. Marshall’s mark of 6.8 made three-pointers per game ranks second in Conference USA.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Marshall’s defensive performance has been one of the most effective in the nation so far this season. Limiting opponents to just 59.1 points per game and 36 percent from the field (as of Dec. 18), the Herd’s scoring defense ranks 55th among NCAA DI schools.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Prior to the neutral-site matchup with West Virginia, Dec. 14, the Herd hadn’t hit the road since Nov. 12, when Marshall took a trip to Robert Morris in Coraopolis, Penn. From Dec. 19 through 31, the Herd will play four home games, and Marshall will not travel again until the new year, when it makes a trip to NJIT, Jan. 5.
CAM’S ADVANTAGE
Since Cam Henderson Center opened in 1981, the Herd holds a home record of 256-153 (.626 winning percentage) in 33 seasons. In coach Matt Daniel’s two seasons, the Herd is 10-10 at ‘the Cam.’ Last season, Marshall was 3-2 at home versus non-conference opponents.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Delaware State (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) is looking to snap a three-game skid when it visits Huntington, Saturday. Three of the Hornets’ six losses have come at No. 25 Vanderbilt (Nov. 14), No. 8 Maryland (Dec. 14) and most recently, West Virginia (Dec. 18). DSU has just one road win on the season, an 80-69 victory at Manhattan, Nov. 26.
The Hornets are averaging 69.7 points on 39 percent from the field, including 23 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing opponents 84.9 points per game. Junior Tierra Hawkins contributes a team-high 23 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, but hasn’t played since Dec. 7.
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Marshall and Delaware State.
UP NEXT
The Herd will have a week-long holiday hiatus before hosting Navy at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, at Cam Henderson Center. For all the latest information about Herd women’s basketball, follow @HerdWBB on Twitter.
COURTESY MARSHALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Saturday, Dec. 21 | Noon ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Radio | Twitter | Game Notes
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Looking to build off a 71-56 win over Wofford (Dec. 19), Marshall women’s basketball (4-5, 0-0 C-USA) will play host to Delaware State (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) at Cam Henderson Center, Saturday, at noon.Live stats and live video will be available through the women’s basketball schedule page at HerdZone.com. The official live radio broadcast can be found online or through WMUL 88.1 FM, and live updates will be available through @HerdWBB on Twitter.
HAVE YOU HERD?
For the second consecutive game, sophomore Norrisha Victrum (Columbia, S.C.) led the Thundering Herd offensively with career-highs of 24 points, eight assists and a 12-of-14 mark from the free-throw line in a 71-56 win over Wofford, Dec. 19. Each of her marks are the most by a Herd player in coach Matt Daniel’s two seasons.Her 24 points are the most by a Marshall player since Tynikki Crook scored 25 in a 71-67 home win over Cleveland State, Dec. 18, 2010, and her 12 free throws are the most since Sikeetha Shepard-Hall hit 15 in a February 2006 win over UAB.
Marshall’s 48 second-half points were a Herd high since the team scored 57 in the first half of a 93-55 triumph over Kent State to open the 2011-12 season. It was the high for a Herd second half since Dec. 30, 2010 when Marshall scored 49 in a 79-69 home win over Elon.
OTHER NOTABLES:
- Junior AJ Johnson (Silver Spring, Md.) scored 18 points, a career-high, and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.
- Marshall is without junior post player Chukwuka Ezeigbo (Trenton, N.J.), who has returned to Nigeria for a 17-day span to attend the funeral of her father, who died of cancer last month.
CHANGING IT UP
Coach Matt Daniel has started five different combinations over nine games, and each of the Herd’s four wins have come with different starting lineups. Only redshirt senior guard Erica Woods (St. George, Bermuda) has started every game for Marshall so far.
MAKE IT RAIN
Against WVU Tech, Dec. 9, the Herd totaled 13 treys (13-of-36), the most scored since sinking 14 versus West Virginia, Jan. 18, 1995. Freshman McKenzie Akers (Princeton, W.Va.) made a career-high four treys against the Golden Bears, going 4-of-10. She became the 15th Herd player all-time to attempt 10 threes in a single game. Marshall’s mark of 6.8 made three-pointers per game ranks second in Conference USA.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Marshall’s defensive performance has been one of the most effective in the nation so far this season. Limiting opponents to just 59.1 points per game and 36 percent from the field (as of Dec. 18), the Herd’s scoring defense ranks 55th among NCAA DI schools.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Prior to the neutral-site matchup with West Virginia, Dec. 14, the Herd hadn’t hit the road since Nov. 12, when Marshall took a trip to Robert Morris in Coraopolis, Penn. From Dec. 19 through 31, the Herd will play four home games, and Marshall will not travel again until the new year, when it makes a trip to NJIT, Jan. 5.
CAM’S ADVANTAGE
Since Cam Henderson Center opened in 1981, the Herd holds a home record of 256-153 (.626 winning percentage) in 33 seasons. In coach Matt Daniel’s two seasons, the Herd is 10-10 at ‘the Cam.’ Last season, Marshall was 3-2 at home versus non-conference opponents.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Delaware State (3-6, 0-1 MEAC) is looking to snap a three-game skid when it visits Huntington, Saturday. Three of the Hornets’ six losses have come at No. 25 Vanderbilt (Nov. 14), No. 8 Maryland (Dec. 14) and most recently, West Virginia (Dec. 18). DSU has just one road win on the season, an 80-69 victory at Manhattan, Nov. 26.
The Hornets are averaging 69.7 points on 39 percent from the field, including 23 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing opponents 84.9 points per game. Junior Tierra Hawkins contributes a team-high 23 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, but hasn’t played since Dec. 7.
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Marshall and Delaware State.
UP NEXT
The Herd will have a week-long holiday hiatus before hosting Navy at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, at Cam Henderson Center. For all the latest information about Herd women’s basketball, follow @HerdWBB on Twitter.
COURTESY MARSHALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
NCCU's Jerry Mack hits ground running in search of aides
DURHAM, North Carolina — A “Help Wanted” sign hanging outside the office of newly hired N.C. Central football coach Jerry Mack probably wouldn’t attract the labor force he needs to handle business with the Eagles.
NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree announced the appointment of the former South Alabama wide receivers coach to the NCCU head job on Thursday. And he comes without a staff.
Often when schools hire active head football coaches, they bring many of their assistant coaches with them.
Since Mack was an assistant himself, he doesn’t have a staff to bring to Durham. He has to put one together, and it would not be out of the question for one or more of his former fellow South Alabama assistants to join him at NCCU.
Mack, 33, said he’s been getting recommendations about potential assistants who are worth vetting.
CONTINUE READING
New HU football coach Maynor blunt, funny and successful
HAMPTON, Virginia -- Connell Maynor talked about winning championships and educating young men and joked that Hampton University might need a bigger stadium to accommodate the crowds that will come to see the football team.
Maynor was funny, serious and blunt as a blackjack Friday at his introductory press conference in the Armstrong Stadium team room, just days after he was named the 20th coach in the program's history.
"I want to do all I can to get this program back to winning championships, the way that it's used to," Maynor said. "I think the last championship was '06. That's too far apart for Hampton and our tradition and what we want to do. So we're going to try to get it back to winning championships back-to-back, to-back, to-back, to-back, to-back."
Yes, he said six championships in a row. He spoke openly of ...
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Associated Press Names Four TSU Tigers All-Americans
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| COURTESY TSU ATHLETICS |
Fitzpatrick was the lone Tiger chosen to the AP’s First Team and was second on the team in tackles with 75. He led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with eight interceptions on the year and the Fort Wayne, Ind. native broke up eight passes in 14 games.
Bass made the Second Team and was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 10 sacks, 34 stops and 14.5 tackles for loss. The junior also forced and recovered a pair of fumbles on the campaign.
Edwards was also placed on the Second Team after being selected to the All-Ohio Valley Conference Team for the third consecutive time following a season in which he started 13 games at left guard. The four-year starter accepted an invitation to the 2014 Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this month.
Leonard was the lone tight end on the Second Team and finished second on the Tigers with 34 receptions and 441 yards for an average of 13 yards per catch. The junior also added five touchdowns, placing him third on the squad.
Tennessee State made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 in 2013 and won a playoff game for the first time since 1986. The Tigers were the first OVC team to win a road playoff game since 1986 and the first HBCU to win a postseason contest since 1999.
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COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Faulkner beats XU Rush in matchup of ranked NAIA teams
Xavier Rogers scored 17 points for the Gold Rush, ranked 25th, and Sydney Coleman and Wesley Pluviose-Philip scored nine apiece. Pluviose-Philip grabbed eight rebounds.
Jake Mitchell scored 15 points and Stephen Strachan 14 for 17th-ranked Faulkner, and Cyrille Sandjon had nine rebounds.
Both teams are 9-4.
Xavier trailed 53-43 after Strachan's basket with eight minutes remaining, but the Gold Rush closed the gap to 54-51 on Morris Wright's basket with 3:52 remaining. Faulkner followed with a turnover, but Xavier missed a 2-pointer.
It was 56-53 after a Rogers basket with 1:53 remaining, but the Gold Rush turned it over after another defensive stop. Faulkner then outscored Xavier 6-0 in the final minute, all on free throws.
A Rogers basket at 4:52 of the first half gave Xavier its final lead, 24-22. Faulkner led 35-29 at halftime and did not lose its lead in the second half.
Both teams shot less than 40 percent from the floor. Faulkner made 25-of-33 free throws -- 19-of-24 in the second half -- and Xavier made 16-of-28. Faulkner outrebounded Xavier 40-30.
It was the final game before Christmas for the XU men, whose next game will start at 2 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Belhaven. The next Gold Rush home game will be Jan. 11 against SUNO.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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