FAMU Lady Rattlers Outlast SCSU Bulldogs For 70-64 Win

Jasmine Grice led FAMU with 26 points.
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The Florida A&M Women’s Basketball team won their second straight with a 70-64 win over South Carolina State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Contest, here Saturday afternoon at the Al Lawson Center.

SCSU jumped to a 15-8 lead capped off by a pair of Cabriel Duren free throws with 14:51 to go in the half.

FAMU would take their first lead of the game on a Taneka Rubin put back with 7:34 to in the first, capping a 13-5 run by the Lady Rattlers.

The Lady Rattlers closed the half with a 15-9 run to take a 35-29 lead into the half.

FAMU finished the first half shooting 38.1 percent (16-of-42), while SCSU shot 47.6 percent (10-of-21).

The Lady Rattlers opened the second half with a 14-5 run to take a 49-34 lead, capped off by a pair of Tierra Prothro free throws with 13:42 to go.

SCSU would answer with a 21-6 run as they tied the contest at 55-55 on a Lynasia Frazier layup with 7:30 to go in the game.

A pair of free throws and a Grice three-pointer would give the Lady Rattlers a 62-57 lead with 5:25 left in the game.

SCSU would tie the contest at 64-64 on a Duren jumper with 1:57 left in the game, capping a 9-2 run by the Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Rattlers would connect on four free throws in the final minute of the contest to hold on for the 70-64 win.

FAMU finished the contest shooting 35.1 percent (26-of-74), whereas SCSU shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53).

The Lady Lady Rattlers (10-11, 4-4 MEAC) were led by Grice as she scored a game-high 26 points. Prothro recorded her second double-double on the season with 16 points and 14 boards; whereas Rubin recorded her first double-double in the contest with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alicia Hines rounded out the cast of double-digit scorers with 10 points.

SCSU (5-13, 3-5 MEAC) was led by Mykala Jones with a team-high 24 points as she connected -on six treys in seven attempts from behind the arc, while Duren added 10 points on the night.  Both Cherisha Floyd and Persephone Goodwin finished with seven rebounds to lead the Lady Bulldogs on the boards. In addition, Goodwin recorded five blocks on the night.

FAMU will return to action on Monday, Feb. 3 as the Lady Rattlers will welcome Savannah State to the Al Lawson Center in a MEAC contest.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets win at Tougaloo after trailing by 14

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- Amara Person-Hampton's basket with 49 seconds remaining Saturday lifted NAIA No. 23 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 66-65 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

The Gold Nuggets (17-6, 7-0) have won five straight and 13 of their last 14 games.

Tougaloo (7-12, 1-6) scored its final points on Chasity Kearney's basket for a 65-62 lead with 2:43 remaining. But the Lady Bulldogs missed their final six field-goal attempts.

Whitney Gathright's two free throws with 1:26 remaining cut Tougaloo's lead to 65-64, then Gathright passed to Person-Hampton for the winning basket after a Kearney missed shot.

Vinnie Briggs had 20 points and 10 rebounds and was Xavier's only player to score in double figures. Whitney Gaston-Loyd had nine points and five rebounds, and Gathright had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Person-Hampton, a sophomore, was 4-of-6 from the floor and scored a career-best eight points.

Xavier's Paige Gauthier had seven points and 10 rebounds.

Kearney had 25 points and 16 rebounds for Tougaloo, and Portia Craft scored 16.

Tougaloo outscored Xavier 7-0 in the first two minutes and held its biggest lead, 34-20, after Craft made 1-of-2 free throws at 3:27. But the Gold Nuggets trimmed the margin to 38-31 by halftime.

Xavier's other lead was 60-59 when Gathright made two free throws with 6:14 remaining. The Gold Nuggets led for 77 seconds overall.

The Gold Nuggets will stay on the road and visit Philander Smith at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Little Rock, Ark.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold

ASU sweeps Miles in season-opening doubleheader

ALBANY, Georgia — For Albany State’s baseball team there could not be a better way to start the 2014 season.

 

Winning both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, the Golden Rams proved that they have determination and focus to come from behind as they edged out Miles College, 10-9, in the opener, then they showed their ability to dominate both hitting and pitching as they drubbed the Golden Bears, 14-2, in the nightcap.

 

“This is a momentum builder and we are going to stick with winning,” catcher Robert Latner said of his team’s perfect start to the season. “We outplayed these guys because we were in better shape, and that’s all due to the coaches and players working hard.”

 

Latner, who went 3-for-4 in game two with five RBIs, was a big ...

 

CONTINUE READING

Track and Field Shines at TSU Invite

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee State track and field program returned home with a bang on Saturday at the TSU Invite, winning six events on the day.

Quanisha Sales led the way for the Tigerbelles claiming top spots in two sprint events, the 55 and the 200 meters. Sales time in the 55 meters set a new career best of 6.97 seconds. The junior crossed the line in the 200 meters with a time of 24.30 seconds a season’s best mark.

Junior Ashontae Jackson won the long jump with a leap of 6.16 meters. Not only did the mark beat the closest competitor by .20 meters. The jump set a career best for the Gordonville, Va. Native.

The Flying Tigers day was highlighted by the 4x400 relay teams. Tennessee State claimed the top two spots in the event, with the A team taking the crown crossing the line in 3:17.18. TSU’s B squad followed closely behind with a mark of 3:18.35. The winning group consisted of Emmanuel Thornton, Jason Griffin, Quamel Prince and Perry Stokes.

Big Blue locked up a similar performance in the long jump, sweeping the podium.  Senior Royce Dates claimed the top spot, clearing 7.56 meters. Dates was followed by Tyler Anderson (7.40 meters) and Kareem Nicholas (7.20 meters). Anderson’s mark of 7.40 meters set a new personal best for the junior.

The freshman Prince continues to show his dominance in his first season with the Tigers, taking top spot in the 400 meters, crossing the line in 48.63. The time set a new career best for the Nashville, Tenn. native.

The track and field teams return to action next weekend for the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Ala.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Sunday Afternoon Football Punts

WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

• Former Mississippi Valley State University head football coach Karl Morgan is the new head football coach at Coahoma Community College, Clarksdale, Mississippi.  Morgan is a class act and did a reasonable job at the Valley, considering the many challenges tossed his way due to having the smallest athletic budget in Division I.  Morgan's recruiting budget was $8,800.00 per year to keep 63 roster spots filled with FCS level players. 
• Football Scoop is reporting Benedict College defensive coordinator Mike Fangoa has joined the staff as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. at Virginia Union.
• Prairie View A&M University has offered its defensive coordinator job to Terry Sims, current Bethune-Cookman University assistant head coach/defensive backs and special teams coach.
• CoachingSerch.com is reporting that Lawal McCray will remain at Bethune-Cookman.  He was offered the offensive coordinator/assistant head coach position at Virginia Union.  McCray is currently the recruiting coordinator/tight ends/tackles coach for B-CU.
• Southern University head football coach Dawson Odums signed a new four year contract that will keep him on the Bluff until 2017.  The new contract raises his pay to $175,000 yearly.  As a result of winning the 2013 SWAC Championship, SU football assistants and facilities upgrades are expected to be finalized by July 1, 2014. 
• Bishop Verot HS (FL) head  coach/athletic director Phil Dorn has accepted the offensive coordinator/offensive line job at Alabama A&M.
• Lane College offensive coordinator Malik Hoskins has been named interim head coach.
• Jackson State: Paul Spicer, former Jacksonville Jaguars assistant defensive line coach (2012) will join the Jackson State staff as defensive line coach, and Tommy Poynter will also come aboard, likely as offensive line coach, according to the Jackson (Ms.) Clarion-Ledger. 
• Texas A&M special teams quality control Bryan Cummings will be the new defensive line/special teams coordinator at Alabama A&M.
• SMU offensive grad assistant Timmy Chang officially accepted the offensive coordinator position at Jackson State., according to the Clarion-Ledger.  SMU offensive grad assistant Tommy Poynter also joined the Jackson State staff.

WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

Courtesy of the BGMM Media Team. Alabama A&M and South Carolina State University field shows from the Honda Battle of the Bands...

Former Southern Maryland legend hired as Assistant Head Coach/DL Coach at The Ohio State University



COACH LARRY JOHNSON
ALMA MATER: ELIZABETH CITY STATE ('73)

Larry Johnson coached at Charles County  (Md.) Lackey ('74 ) and McDonough High Schools ('75-'91) and Northern Virginia's T.C. Williams High School ('92-'93), prior to a long career at Penn State. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Larry Johnson, the highly regarded defensive line coach who has spent the past 18 years coaching talented student-athletes and recruiting the east coast as a member of the Penn State University coaching staff, was named assistant head coach and defensive line coach at The Ohio State University in early January, 2014.

"I am very pleased that Larry Johnson is an Ohio State Buckeye," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "I have great respect for him as a family man, as a coach and mentor of young men, and as a recruiter. He is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff."

Johnson, who grew up in Williamston, N.C., and is a 1973 graduate of Elizabeth City (N.C.) State University with a degree in health and physical education, has coached along the defensive line for 18 years at Penn State, including the last 14 seasons (2000-13) overseeing the entire unit. He spent his first four seasons at Penn State - 1996-99 - as defensive ends coach and special team's coordinator.

Ohio State is Johnson's second collegiate coaching stop. His career includes 20 years of high school coaching in Maryland and Virginia.

"In just a few hours I can tell that Ohio State cares about football," Johnson said. "There is a winning tradition that is important here. They care about academics and they care about players, and I like the way Coach Urban Meyer approaches things. He's a great teacher. He is very organized and this is what I was looking for.

"And I am really impressed with the Ohio State players. I just met a group of players, walked out of the room and thought, 'wow,' these are the kinds of players I want to coach. They were really impressive."

Johnson's list of coaching accomplishments while at Penn State is also impressive:

• Six of his defensive linemen were first-round NFL draft picks, including No. 1 overall pick Courtney Brown in 2000 and also featuring Jimmy Kennedy (2002), Michael Haynes (2003), Tamba Hali (2006), Jared Odrick (2010) and Aaron Mabin (2009).
• Seven of his defensive linemen achieved first-team All-American status (the six in the first note above and Devon Still).
• PSU defensive linemen have earned 22 Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors.
• Three of his position players have been named Academic All-American (Tim Shaw in 2006 and Pete Massaro in 2010 and 2012).
• Fifteen Nittany Lion defensive linemen have been named first-team all-Big Ten Conference.
• No Big Ten team (since 1996) has had as many players from one position earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors than the five Nittany Lion honorees hat Johnson mentored.
• And in 2005-06 Rivals.com named Johnson its national college football recruiter of the year.

In addition, he coached on a Penn State defense that led the nation in sacks between 2005 and 2009 and was No. 5 nationally in rushing defense from 2004-10. And between 1996 and 2013 Penn State's defense was a Big Ten Conference statistical champion 14 times, including four times in quarterback sacks and three times in scoring defense.

"I'm a relationship guy and I think in order to get the best out of your players you have to develop relationships," Johnson said. "I'm also a teacher. I like to teach the basic fundamentals of football. I want guys who are fundamentally sound and have the ability to play fast and to play relentless."

Johnson spent the first 20 years of his career as a highly successful high school coach. Six times chosen as the Washington Metropolitan Area coach of the year, he guided McDonough High School in Pomfret, Md., to three Maryland state championships and to a 139-36 record between 1975-91, and he also was coach two seasons (1992-93) at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. He started his coaching career in 1974 at Lackey High School in LaPlata, Md.

As a player, Johnson was an NAIA All-American and all-conference performer at Elizabeth City State University. He was inducted into the school's sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He played one year in the NFL, with the Washington Redskins in 1973.

Johnson and his wife, Christine, are the parents of two sons - Larry Jr. and Tony - and a daughter, Teresa. Larry Jr. and Tony both played football at Penn State with Larry Jr. rushing for a school record 2,087 yards in 2002 and later becoming a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Teresa played softball for the Nittany Lions.

Larry Johnson Quick Facts
Hometown: Williamston, N.C.
Alma Mater: Elizabeth City State, 1973
Degree: Health & Physical Education
Years in Coaching: 38
Wife: Christine
Children: Sons Larry Jr., and Tony; daughter Teresa
Larry Johnson Coaching Assignments

2014-pres.	Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line	Ohio State University
2000-13	Defensive Line	Penn State University
1996-99	Defensive Ends/Special Team's Coordinator	Penn State Universisty
1992-93	Head Coach	T.C. Williams H.S.
1975-91	Head Coach	McDonough H.S.
1974	Assistant Coach	Lackey H.S.

COURTESY THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Today at 4 PM: Norfolk State vs. Miami -- ESPN3

Feb. 1, 2014  |  4 p.m. 
BankUnited Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 560 WQAM | 90.5 WVUM | Sirius 138 | XM 194
Webcast:  WQAM.com | wvum.org | ESPN3
Miami: 10-10 (2-6 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes | Record Book

The Game
Miami takes time out from its ACC slate to face non-conference opponent Norfolk State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. in the BankUnited Center.

The Series
Miami is 1-0 in the all-time series against Norfolk State, defeating the Spartans, 76-58, on Jan. 2, 2005 in Coral Gables.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN3 with Mike Levine and Drew Nicholas making the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki and Josh Darrow, and on 90.5 WVUM, Miami’s student radio station.

The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 529-364 overall record in his 30th season as a head coach. He is 59-30 in his third season at the University of Miami.

The Polls (as of Jan. 30)
KenPom.com: Miami - 78, Norfolk State - 280. NCAA RPI: Miami - 88, Norfolk State - 281.

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables - 81/71. Norfolk - 53/46.

Up Next
Miami hosts a three-game homestand beginning with Norfolk State (Feb. 1), followed by No. 20/19 Pittsburgh (Feb. 5) and NC State (Feb. 8).

Miami vs. Norfolk State (1-0)
Since the rebirth of Miami basketball in 1985: 1-0
Since joining the ACC in 2004-05: 1-0
Since the arrival of Jim Larrañaga in 2011-12: 0-0

Stifling D by the Hurricanes

After playing man-to-man defense 95 percent of the time in his first 40 years of coaching, Jim Larrañaga’s team is now playing zone 95 percent of the game.

With the zone, Miami has held 12 of its last 13 opponents to less than 70 points, and only three teams overall this season have scored more than 70 points on the Canes: 80-Georgia Southern, 71-George Washington, 74-Maryland. Prior to the game vs. Florida State, UM held five-straight opponents to fewer than 60 points.

In five of the last six conference games, Miami has held Syracuse (twice), North Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Duke considerably below their offensive season scoring averages. Those six teams entered the game with the Canes averaging a combined 75.8 points per game, but have been held to an average of 57 ppg.

Wins vs. Losses for the Canes

In Miami’s 10 wins:
Six players average 7.5 ppg or better.
Miami scores 67.2 ppg, shooting 47.1% FG.
The Canes average 35.3 rpg, 13.0 apg and 6.1 spg.
Rion Brown shoots 46.8% FG and grabs 7.1 rpg.
Donnavan Kirk averages 11.1 ppg and Manu Lecomte 9.2 ppg.

In Miami’s 10 losses:
Three players average 7.5 ppg or more.
Miami scores 55.8 ppg, shooting 37.1% FG.
The Canes average 33.8 rpg, 9.0 apg and 4.5 spg.
Rion Brown shoots 39.5% FG and grabs 5.3 rpg.
Donnavan Kirk averages 8.1 ppg and Manu Lecomte 6.2 ppg.

Cardiac Canes
Miami leads all ACC schools having played nine games decided by five points-or-less or in overtime. Miami has played four overtime games and five others that were decided in the final minutes. Miami is 1-3 in overtime this season and 2-3 in close games that ended in regulation.

Rion Brown Rebounds
Senior Rion Brown, a 6-6 guard is averaging 6.3 rebounds, up from his 2.2 career average prior to the season. This season Brown has grabbed seven or more rebounds in 10 games. In his previous three seasons, he had only three games with 7+ boards. He pulled down seven once last year and had games with eight and seven as a rookie.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS