UR notes: Willie Lanier visits alma mater’s team

Bear Shots

RICHMOND, Virginia -- A Richmond resident who is a Morgan State alumnus visited with the Bears during their Friday afternoon practice at Robins Stadium. Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Lanier knows a bit about the sport.

Lanier, 69, is an alumnus of Maggie Walker High who was a two-time Small College All-American at Baltimore’s Morgan State. A linebacker, Lanier was selected in the second round of the NFL draft and played during 1967-77 for the Chiefs.

Lanier said he spoke to the Bears about the ways sports can mold lives.

“What you want to do is to manage the moment, appreciate the opportunity of where you are, the things that have happened from a change standpoint, and then hopefully project those things that might occur for you as you go forward,” Lanier said Saturday during the Bears’ 46-24 loss at Richmond.

CONTINUE READING

GSU's hopes for SWAC West fall on final play of Classic

NEW ORLEANS -- The 2014 edition of the Bayou Classic had a little bit of everything to offer the intrepid spectator.

There was the annual battle of the bands. A Mercedes-Benz Superdome filled packed with fans of the two marquee names in historically black college football. Even a marriage proposal at halftime — she said yes.

As for the game itself? How about a wild fourth quarter that not only saw Grambling pull within seven points of Southern, but have a shot to tie the game with eight seconds left at the goal line.

Johnathan Williams — along with Grambling's chances at the SWAC West title — was ...

CONTINUE READING

Lewis: This win can’t make up for their loss, but Southern’s Dray Joseph and Austin Howard can smile today

NEW ORLEANS -- At the end of the Saturday’s Bayou Classic, Dray Joseph sought out Austin Howard for an extra-long, tear-filled hug.

And for the first time in two weeks, they could smile, even celebrate.

Joseph, Southern’s record-setting quarterback of the previous four seasons, and Howard, the freshman who threw three touchdown passes to lead the Jaguars to their 52-45 victory against Grambling on Saturday, have been united in grief over the Nov. 17 shooting death of Juan Joseph, Dray’s older brother and Howard’s quarterbacks coach at West St. John High School, the trio’s prep alma mater.

“I know my brother’s proud of Austin today,” said Dray, now a volunteer assistant coach at Southern. “He’s probably got a big old smile like he usually did.”



CONTINUE READING

2014 Bayou Classic Band Battle Showcase

Tennessee State Lady Tigers Come Up Short in OT, 65-58 to Norfolk State

BOX SCORE

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State women’s basketball team dropped its first game in the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic to Norfolk State, 65-58, in overtime on Saturday.

Chelsea Hudson led TSU (1-4) with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting (46.1 percent) and tallied a game-high 11 rebounds.

Kayla Robberts poured in 23 points for Norfolk State (1-4) and secured a team-best eight boards.

Jemilah Leonard canned a three at the 12:47 mark, ending a seven-minute drought to start the game. The hoop ignited a 9-0 run – which Leonard capped with a jumper – and gave TSU an, 11-10, lead.

The Spartans built a five-point advantage later in the half, but two Rachel Allen triples in a two-minute span put the Lady Tigers within one with 3:07 to go in the half.

Each side had just one point during the final three minutes of the first half and NSU went into the break clinging to a, 23-22, lead.

The Lady Tigers crushed the Spartans on the glass during the opening 20 minutes, 23-14, but 12 TSU turnovers led to the gap on the scoreboard.

Hudson converted an old-fashioned three-point play 25 seconds into the second period and Briana Morrow had one, too, a minute later. Hudson then converted an easy lay-in to give the Lady Tigers a, 30-23, lead.

The Spartans fought back with a 12-3 run later in the half and went up by four with a jumper at the 8:58 mark. TSU was 1-for-6 (16.7 percent) during the stretch while NSU made 4-of-8.

The Lady Tigers were down two with 1:40 left in the game when Hudson nailed a layup to tie the game at 52. Hudson was fouled on the play, but missed the ensuing free throw.

NSU canned a three on the next trip down the floor, but Imani Davis answered right back with a three of her own with 36 seconds left to tie the game again at 55.

The Spartans were called for an offensive foul on their next possession, but the refs called Allen for one on TSU’s next chance, forcing overtime.

Jayda Johnson had the first hoop in the extra period, but the Lady Tigers could only muster one more point from there, and fell by seven.

TSU shot 56 percent from the charity stripe (9-of-16) and NSU had more chances (22) and eight more makes (17).

Tennessee State will close out the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic against Youngstown State tomorrow at 2 p.m.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Edges Saint Peter's Men's Basketball In Barclays Classic Saint Peter's Division Championship Game

COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey – Saint Peter's scored 10 of the final 14 points in the last 56 seconds of the game, but a shot to tie the game at the buzzer hit off the back of the rim and Norfolk State earned a 60-58 victory to take the Barclays Classic Saint Peter's Division Championship in non-conference men's basketball action on Saturday.

With the Spartans (4-3) leading 56-48, Travis Hester (Crozet, Va./The Miller School [Harcum]) hit a trey with 56 seconds left. After Jamel Fuentes made two free throws eight seconds later, Hester nailed another triple with 43 seconds left to make it a four-point game. A Norfolk State turnover, helped trim the margin to 58-55 after Tyler Gaskins (Roswell, Ga./Centennial [Lawson State]) hit 1 of 2 at the free throw line with 37 seconds left. Malik Thomas made the front end of two free throws and Gaskins drained a 3-pointer from the corner to make it a one-point game at 59-58 with 18 seconds left. D'Shon Taylor gave the Spartans a 60-58 lead after making 1 of 2 at the line with 15 ticks remaining. Gaskins shot to tie the game from inside the 3-point line in the right corner hit the back of the rim and out as time expired.

Marvin Dominique (Miramar, Fla./Miramar [Fordham]) paced the Peacocks (2-5) with 17 points to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team. Gaskins and Hester each added 12 points apiece in the loss.

Short was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring 20 points for the Spartans. RaShid Gaston also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team after tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds while Taylor added 14 points in the winning effort.

Saint Peter's held the lead for most of the game before the Norfolk State pressure defense helped to rally to give the Spartans the advantage and then Norfolk State held off a comeback in the waning minute of the contest to earn the Barclays Classic title in the first meeting between the two programs.

With the Peacocks holding a 48-37 lead after two Quadir Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Math, Civics and Science Charter) free throws with 6:54 left, the Spartans scored 14-unanswered points to take the lead they would not relinquish.

Short started the decisive run with a jumper at 6:32 before Gaston hit 1 of 2 at the line at 5:35. Short then converted a traditional 3-point play with 5:18 on the clock to trim the margin to 48-43. Gaston made consecutive baskets inside and Short gave Norfolk State the lead for good on a layup at 3:04 for a 49-48 edge. Gaston then recorded a tip-in basket and a layup before Taylor hit two free throws and Short capped the run with the one charity toss with 65 seconds left for the 56-48 margin. Fueled by two 3-pointers by Hester and a trey by Gaskins Saint Peter's nearly rallied for the victory as the game-tying shot hit off the rim as time expired.

Powered by five points from Short and four from Gaston, the Spartans jumped out to a 13-3 advantage to start the championship bout.

The Peacocks then closed the half on a 24-7 run to take a 27-20 advantage going into the locker room. Dominique sparked the run with eight points.

Saint Peter's then took its largest lead at 34-20 after starting the second half with seven-straight points. Trevis Wyche (Neptune, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) opened the run with a layup 32 seconds into the stanza before Dominique hit a jumper at 18:43 and Hester drained a 3-ball at 16:01 for the 14-point advantage.

Norfolk State answered with a 12-4 spurt thanks to eight points from Taylor to cut the margin to 38-32 with 11:15 on the clock.

Welton answered with two free throws at 10:24 and Gaskins drained a trey at 9:37 to regain an 11-point edge at 43-32. The Spartans then used a 22-5 run to take the lead en route to the 60-58 victory.

Welton finished the contest with five points and seven rebounds while Wyche added five points, six assists and five boards.

The Peacocks made 12 3-pointers in a game for the second time in three games and have posted 32 treys in the last three games after only hitting 17 in the first four contest.

Saint Peter's, who has played four times in the last seven games in the Barclays Classic, returns to action when the squad hosts Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Wednesday. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

UMES men's basketball handles Fordham 72-66

BRONX, New York -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team never trailed, as they defeated Fordham 72-66 Saturday night.

The Hawks (2-6) held a 32-26 lead over the Rams at halftime, as the Rams brought the game to within two points, with 3:33 left in the game, but the Hawks held on to earn the win.

Michael Myers led the Hawks with 20 points, and Dominique Elliott and Ryan Andino each chipped in with 12 points.

The Hawks outshot the Rams 52.4 percent to 46.7 percent and UMES bench outscored Fordham 27-12, but the Rams out rebounded the Hawks 30-27.

CONTINUE READING