Norfolk State Post Victory Over S.C. State Bulldogs In MEAC Play

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State Bulldogs dropped a tough, 76-63, defeat to the Spartans of Norfolk State Saturday (Jan.24) in Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) play at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

The Bulldogs fall to 6-15 overall, 4-3 in the MEAC, while the Spartans improve to 13-9, 6-1 in the league.

Freshman guard Edward Stephens paced South Carolina State with a team-high 16 points, while sophomore guard Karon Wright added 14.

NSU had four players in double figures with junior guard Jeff Short leading the way with 20 points and seven rebounds.  Senior forward Rashid Gaston posted the games only double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.  D'Shon Taylor and Malik Thomas each tossed in 16 in the win.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs forced 22 turnovers but only shot 32.8 % (22-of-67) from the field, 22.2 % (6-of-27) from three-point range and 48.1% (13-of-27) from the free-throw line.

SC State returns to action on Monday against the Pirates of Hampton University in a pivotal MEAC doubleheader with the women beginning at 5:30 p.m., and the men following immediately afterwards in a 7:30 p.m. start.

For more information on South Carolina State University basketball, please call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060, or visit the official Bulldogs website at www.scsuathletics.com



COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VIDEO COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

ASU hoops: Men stay unbeaten in SWAC play

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State junior Jamel Waters finished with a game-high 14 points and dished out four assists as the Hornets got an 84-60 win over Alcorn State on Saturday at the Acadome.

The Hornets (10-5, 6-0 SWAC) are off to their best conference start since the 2002-03 season, when the Hornets won their first seven conference games.

Alabama State, known for slow shooting starts this season, shot 45.7 percent from the field in building a 43-26 halftime lead. ASU ended the first half on a 12-2 run.

“It’s really important for us to play a complete game,” Waters said. “We know we play good defense. It was good to keep the pressure on them and off of us.”

Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson said his team has been trying to get the offense going early.

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Nuggets bounce back, never trail in GCAC road victory

JACKSONVILLE, Florida  -- Xavier University of Louisiana got career highs of 14 points from Donyeah Mayfield and 13 points from Alesha Smith in a 63-57 women's basketball victory Saturday at Edward Waters.

The Gold Nuggets (11-10, 4-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) bounced back from a 30-point home loss to GCAC leader SUNO and moved into second place after SUNO defeated Philander Smith 80-67.

Mayfield, starting for the first time in eight games, was 7-of-10 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds in 20 minutes. For the first time this season, she did not commit a turnover.

Smith, who matched her career scoring best, produced seven of her 11 first-half points in a 12-0 Xavier run to open the game. The Gold Nuggets never trailed and led for 38 1/2 minutes, including the final 24:56.

Also in double figures for Xavier was Whitney Gathright, who scored 14 points and made three 3-pointers. Her final trey ended the scoring with 22 seconds remaining and made her the seventh Gold Nugget to reach 100 3-pointers in a career.

Kyeshia Dawkins scored 14 points, Amber Antoine 13 and Britany Rowell 12 for the Lady Tigers (12-9, 1-5). Antoine grabbed 10 rebounds.

Edward Waters tied the score three times after its early deficit. Xavier went ahead to stay, 24-21, on a Trana Hopkins 3-pointer at 4:56 of the first half. Two Gathright free throws gave Xavier a 33-24 halftime lead, and the Nuggets held their biggest advantage, 42-26, after Mayfield's basket with 16:22 remaining.

Edward Waters cut Xavier's lead to 58-57 on Antoine's 3-point play with 2:33 remaining, but the Lady Tigers failed to score on their final four possessions. Gathright passed to Briggs for a basket which gave Xavier a 60-57 lead with 2:02 remaining.

Edward Waters outshot Xavier 38.2 to 35 percent from the floor. The Nuggets, led by Emoni Harvey's nine rebounds, won the boards 42-35. Xavier made 10-of-10 first-half free throws and finished 14-of-17.

Harvey and Gathright had five assists apiece, and Harvey matched her career high.

Xavier made 7-of-13 3-pointers after going a combined 0-of-9 the previous two games. Hopkins made two, and Taylor Norman's first-half trey was her first field goal of the season. This was Norman's fourth game after missing the first 17 because of a ruptured right achilles tendon.

Xavier will stay on the road and travel to Denmark, S.C., for a GCAC game against Voorhees at 5:30 p.m. EST Monday.

NOTES: Before Gathright, the last Gold Nugget to reach 100 career 3-pointers was Jasmine Grant on Feb. 25, 2010 . . . Xavier is 10-0 all-time against Edward Waters . . . They'll meet again Feb. 2 in the Nuggets' next home game . . . Harvey, a 5-foot-6 junior guard, leads Xavier with 42 rebounds in five conference games. Last season she grabbed 34 rebounds in 11 GCAC games . . . Xavier won both its GCAC road games this season and 29 of its last 34.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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TSU Tiger Softball Caps Off First Week With Winter Futures Camp

COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tiger softball team closed out the first week of practice by hosting the Winter Futures Camp. The one day event was attended by 85 middle school-to-high school aged athletes from 10 states, stretching from California to Massachusetts.

“I am pleased with the turnout,” said head coach Tom Opdenbrouw. “It is great to have that many athletes and their parents visit our campus and participate in our first camp.”

The Tigers returned to the field for practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but were pushed indoors on Friday due to the weather in the Nashville area. The team joined the TSU coaching staff in guiding the campers on Saturday where they covered all facets of the game.

The Tigers return to practice on Monday after a day off on Sunday. TSU is 12 days away from the season opener on Feb. 6 in Lafayette, La.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Ricky Johnson scores 24, but B-CU falls short to UMES, 74-70

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- — Maryland Eastern Shore coach Bobby Collins was not happy with his team's free-throw shooting down the stretch. But the Hawks hit enough to withstand Bethune-Cookman's late rally.

Brandon Stewart hit a long 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to pull B-CU to within two points, but Devin Martin broke the Wildcats' press and dunked with 8 seconds to go to give Eastern Shore a 74-70 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday at Moore Gymnasium.

“If we didn't get the steal, we wanted to foul them right away, but they threw it real quick, and then another quick pass got them the dunk,” B-CU coach Gravelle Craig said. “We've played some of the top teams in the MEAC real tough, but we have to get over the top.”

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WSSU’s Covington named All-America

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina --Defensive lineman Duvontae Covington of Winston-Salem State, the CIAA’s defensive player of the year, was named to the SBN Sports Black College All-America Team.

Covington (6-2 and 285 pounds), who is from Greensboro, tied for second in tackles for the Rams with 52. He had one sack and 6.5 tackles for losses with one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.

Covington, whose father, Richard Hayes, was co-defensive coordinator for the Rams last season, has also been invited to a regional combine at the Baltimore Ravens’ practice facility at the end of February.

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Delaware State, Delaware to Resume Football Series for Four Games in 2016-2020

NEWARK, Delaware -- The football series between the State of Delaware’s lone NCAA Division I programs will continue. 

University of Delaware Director of Athletics and Recreation Services Eric Ziady and Delaware State University Director of Athletics Candy Young announced jointly today that the schools have reached an agreement to meet on the gridiron four times between the 2016 and 2020 seasons.

The four games, which will all be played at the University of Delaware’s 22,000-seat Delaware Stadium, are scheduled to take place on Sept. 3, 2016, Sept. 2, 2017, Sept. 7, 2019, and Sept. 12, 2020.

“We are excited to announce this agreement between Delaware and Delaware State to continue this football series,” said Ziady. “This game is important for the State of Delaware. The fans, players, and coaches from both schools look forward to this game each year and I’m thrilled that we were able to work out the dates so that it works well for both parties. All of us at UD look forward to working with Candy and her staff to help build excitement around the series and provide a great college football environment that all of Delaware can enjoy.”

“We are excited to resume the in-state competition,” said DSU’s Young. “We look forward to the fans supporting these great events.”

The Blue Hens and Hornets have met six times previously for the First State Cup, beginning with the first meeting in 2007 when Delaware posted a 44-7 victory in the opening round of the NCAA Division I FCS Tournament.

Delaware has won all six previous meetings, including a 27-9 victory this past Sept. 7. No game is scheduled for the 2015 season but the series will resume in 2016.

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FSU's Michael Johnson gets to play in front of pro scouts

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --Michael Johnson's football career at Fayetteville State ended in early November, but the two-time All-CIAA safety hasn't taken a day off since.

"I've been in the gym or on the field constantly,'' Johnson said. "I've been playing football since I was 4 years old and I'm not ready to give it up just yet.''

Apparently, there are plenty of significant people who believe Johnson has the potential to keep playing - at the professional level.

The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder from Raleigh has been signed by the HOF Player Representatives out of Canton, Ohio, a sports agency that serves several NFL players, and he's been invited to participate in the 2015 College Gridiron Showcase on Jan. 31 in Arlington, Texas.

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Yonker: DSU's Collins finally the right man at the right time

DOVER, Delaware -- Ok.

Here goes.

Take a deep breath Shawn.

I was wrong …

Yeah, I know — that sounded just as weird in my head as I typed it. But wait for it …

I was wrong about the University of Maryland Eastern Shore basketball team.

Yeah, I didn't think I'd ever type that either. And during a decade of suffering on the sidelines at the Hytche Center, I'd never had to say it before.

Unless you are my wife who hears those first three words too often, I hardly ever have to say them — much less type them for the world to see.

But I was wrong about first-year head coach Bobby Collins.



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Lady Rattlers Make Strides In Final Meet At UF O'Connell Center

GAINESVILLE, Florida (Jan. 23) – The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers had a good showing at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational today at the final event at the indoor track at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida.

One of the highlights of the meet was the performance of Ashley Ivey. Ivey won the 55 meter hurdles in 7.98 to top the collegiate division. Ivey got stronger as the meet progressed, as she qualified for the finals nearly a full second slower.

Head coach, Darlene Moore, saw many positives in the meet. “It was a privilege to be able to compete in the last event at the historic O’Connell Center. It has been a big part of the track and field scene for the last quarter century. It was good to see our young ladies put on strong performances in this last meet,” Moore said.

Ashley Giacomucci took first place in the triple jump with a leap of 11.44m (37:06.50). Battling injuries, she performed well enough to win, which should bode well for the Lady Rattlers who are preparing for the MEAC Indoor Championship.



Sprinter Jharna Alston blazed to a second place finish in 57.27 in the 400m dash. Raven Diggs finished in sixth place (59.91) and Destiny Johnson finished in seventh (59.99). Alston also posted a third place finish in the 200m dash in 24.94

Andrea Aaron placed third in the shot put with a toss of 13.54m (46:05.25).

Ivey would also take fifth in the long jump, leaping 5.50m (17:04.25), while Jharna Alston placed 10th in 4.68m (15:11.75).

Quandra Shanks finished seventh in the mile run in 5:23.33. Newcomer Fridah Limo got a ninth place finish in 5:26.31.

Distance and middle distance runner Judith Kibii raced to a second place finish in the 3000m run, with a time of 10:19.25. She also navigated to a 2:25.25 finish in the 800m dash, good for 12th place overall.

Moore was pleased with the progress the team has made at this point in the season. “We saw some good things from the young ladies, but we also saw some areas we need to concentrate on. We’ll go back to work next week to make sure we can make the best of our talents in order to compete for a MEAC championship,” Moore said.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former NSU player Lynden Trail makes plays, shows versatility at Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Alabama -- When defensive end Lynden Trail arrived at Florida in 2010 he looked more like Corey Brewer than Jevon Kearse.

Trail was listed at 6-foot-7, weighing 203 pounds. The Gators were hopeful Trail would fill out into a disruptive defensive end.

Trail filled out, but at Norfolk State. He transferred after two years at UF in which he redshirted and then didn’t play his second season in 2011 as he struggled to add weight.

Three years later, Trail has morphed into one of the most impressive athletes at the Senior Bowl. During Tuesday’s official weigh-in, Trail was listed at a shade over 6-6 and checking in at 262 pounds. He has emerged as perhaps the most intriguing prospect from a Football Championship Subdivision school in the draft.

“I left Florida weighing around 225,” Trail said. “The thing that really helped me at Norfolk was my girlfriend. She changed my nutrition. I went from eating junk food and fast food to home-cooked meals. I’m not a greens guy, but she sneaks vegetables into dishes she makes. Slowly, I started to gain weight, it started to stick and form in the right ways.”



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Alcorn State Athletics Releases 2015 Football Schedule

LORMAN, Mississippi -- The Alcorn State athletics department announced the 2015 Braves football schedule today.

Fourth-year head coach, Jay Hopson and the 2014 SWAC and Black College National Champion Braves have a tough road ahead of them as they look to defend their title in 2015. The schedule consists of two non-conference opponents and as always a competitive nine-game SWAC schedule.

An early non-conference challenge kicks off the 2015 season as the Braves travel to Atlanta, Ga. on September 3rd for a Thursday night matchup against the 2014 Orange Bowl Champions, Georgia Tech, at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

After a nine-day rest period, the Braves hit the road once again on Sept. 12th to face their first SWAC Eastern Division opponent of the season, Alabama State.

Back-to-back home games wrap up the month of September with Mississippi Valley State coming to town on September. 19th followed by the Braves final non-conference game of the season against Concordia College (Selma) on Sept. 26th.

The Braves have only three games in October beginning with a trip to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 3rd. After an open date on Oct. 10th, Grambling State makes their way to Spinks-Casem Stadium on October 17th. October ends on Halloween Night with a rematch of the 2014 SWAC Championship game in Baton Rouge, La. as the Braves take on Southern University.

November will be full of excitement with Prairie View A&M coming to "Reservation" on Nov. 7th. On November 14th, the Braves travel to Houston to face Texas Southern before returning to Lorman, Miss. for their home finale against Alabama A&M on November 21st.

The 2015 regular season ends versus heated rival Jackson State on Nov. 28th at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss.

Coach Hopson had this to say about the 2015 schedule; "We are very excited about the schedule for the upcoming season, especially with the opportunity to open up against a very good Georgia Tech team from the ACC," said Hopson. "We encourage our alumni and fans to come out and support us this season as we look to defend our SWAC title.

Season ticket packages will be finalized within the next few weeks. For more information about ticket prices, call the ASU ticket office at 601.877.6822.



ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BRAVES 2015 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date		Opponent	Location	Home/Away	Conf. Game	Location		Day

9/3/2015 Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. A Atlanta, Ga. Thu. 
9/12/2015 Alabama State Montgomery, Ala. A * Montgomery, Ala. Sat.
9/19/2015 Mississippi Valley State Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat. 
9/26/2015 Concordia College (Selma) Lorman, Miss. H Lorman, Miss. Sat. 
10/3/2015 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark. A * Pine Bluff, Ark. Sat. 
10/10/2015 Open H Sat. 
10/17/2015 Grambling State Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat.
10/24/2015 Open H Sat.
10/31/2015 Southern Baton Rouge, La. A * Baton Rouge, La. Sat.
11/7/2015 Prairie View A&M Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat.  
11/14/2015 Texas Southern Houston, Texas A * Houston, Texas Sat. 
11/21/2015 Alabama A&M Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat. 
11/28/2015 Jackson State Jackson, Miss. A * Jackson, Miss. Sat.  


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COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UDC Firebirds Fend off Spartans for Third Straight Win

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- University of the District of Columbia held St. Thomas Aquinas without a field goal for nearly the final five minutes of regulation as the Firebirds pulled away late to win their third straight game, 62-48 in East Coast Conference play Thursday night in the nation's capital.

The Firebirds, ranked No. 8 in the D2SIDA East Region poll this week, improved to 14-3 overall and 7-2 in ECC play. They are currently 3^rd in the league standings behind Queens and NYIT – who each have one loss in league play. STAC fell to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in league play with tonight's loss.

 

After shooting a paltry 30-percent (10-of-30) in the first half from the field, the Firebirds made up for it by shooting 48-percent (14-of-29) in the second half. UDC also owned a sizeable, 43-24 rebounding advantage thanks in large part to its two forwards, senior Denikka Brent (Mechanical Engineering – Chesapeake, VA/Booker T. Washington HS) and junior Tatyana Calhoun (Architecture – Disputanta, VA/Sussex Central HS) combining for 26 rebounds. Brent finished with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds while Calhoun hauled in a season and game-high 16 rebounds (nine on the offensive glass), scored 10 points and had three steals.

 

UDC outscored STAC 30-18 in the paint and 18-6 in second-chance points courtesy of 22 offensive rebounds. The Firebirds also forced 18 Spartan turnovers and cashed them in for 22 points.

 

STAC had just one scorer in double figures – guard Jenna Erickson with 13 points. Erickson shot 5-of-11 from the field and also registered four assists and three steals. Kaitlyn McCue had a game-high five assists for the guests and KC Sokolski pitched in with a team-high nine rebounds.

 

The first half featured three ties and three lead changes as the two ECC foes were never separated by more than five points the entire half. The Firebirds, led by Calhoun's six points and nine rebounds, took a 25-21 lead into halftime.

 

Still a five-point game halfway through the closing period, the Firebirds used a 6-0 run to take their first double-digit lead of the night, 47-36 just past the eight-minute mark. The Spartans came charging back with a 10-2 surge, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers by Samantha Lane and consecutive layups by Erickson. The second of Erickson's layups brought STAC within three, 49-46 with 4:52 remaining.

 

On the ensuing Firebirds possession, UDC had the ball for 38 seconds including four shot attempts before junior guard Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore (Criminal Justice – Newport News, VA/Denbigh HS) converted a layup to put the Firebirds up five. Then, following a STAC turnover, Brent earned a trip to the free-throw line and converted a pair to extend the lead to seven with 3:45 left to play.

 

In the final 4:52, STAC managed only two free throws (on four attempts), shot  0-for-6 from the field and turned the ball over three times. Meanwhile, UDC made 7-of-8 free-throws and made its last two shots from the field, closing out the game on a 13-2 run to win by its largest margin of the night, 14.

 

Next up, UDC visits ECC foe Mercy in Dobbs Ferry, NY on Saturday, January 24^th at 12:30 p.m.

 

BOX SCORE

 

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTS INFORMATION

Shaq Roland ‘pretty excited’ about moving on to Prairie View

Roland considered going to Winston Salem State, West Georgia, West Alabama and Coastal Carolina before deciding on Prairie View.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A local legend and would-be USC superstar will finish his collegiate career far away from his home state, and that’s probably where Shaq Roland should have started it, say some of the people closest to him.

Roland will play his senior season at Prairie View A&M, an FCS program 45 miles northwest of Houston, his mother told The State on Friday.

“He’s pretty excited,” Petina Etheredge said.

Roland played in 10 games for the Gamecocks in 2014 but left the team Dec. 23, the day his teammates departed Columbia for the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. It was a quiet and disappointing ending to a career that began with plenty of promise.

Roland was named a PARADE All-American after leading Lexington High to an 11-1 record while gaining more than 2,000 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns as a senior in 2011. He was tabbed a five-star recruiting prospect by Scout.com. Alabama, Florida and Georgia all wore out U.S. 1 making recruiting visits to Lexington, but Roland spurned them and became the state’s fourth straight “Mr. Football” to sign with the Gamecocks.

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College Basketball Teams Most Likely to Stay Undefeated in Conference Play: NCCU Eagles

Record: 14-5 (6-0)

Biggest Hurdles Remaining: at North Carolina A&T (Feb. 7)

Chance Undefeated: 54.7 percent

It's been more than a full year since North Carolina Central lost a game in one of the worst conferences in the nation. The Eagles opened MEAC play in 2013-14 with a three-point loss at Florida A&M before winning 18 straight—most of them in blowout fashion.

Even without last year's outstanding backcourt of Jeremy Ingram and Emanuel Chapman leading the way on both offense and defense, it's been more of the same this year.

Scoring has been much more balanced, but the Eagles are winning games thanks to the evolution of senior Jordan Parks and the addition of transfers Nimrod Hilliard (Lamar) and Anthony McDonald (Mississippi Valley State).

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Hoppers name PVAMU's Hollis to 2015 coaching staff

COACH SEAN HOLLIS

HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky  --The Hoptown Hoppers have added Sean Hollis, a native of Boling, Texas, to their coaching staff for the 2015 season. He will work with the Hoppers’ pitching staff.

Hollis is currently a physical education teacher and multi-sport coach at Boyd High School located just northwest of Fort Worth, Texas. He serves on the coaching staffs for baseball, basketball, and football.

Hollis played collegiate baseball at two institutions as a pitcher, including Prairie View A&M University from 2011-2014, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health and Human Performance in 2013.

On the field for the Panthers, Hollis played a big part in Prairie View’s latest trip to the NCAA tournament. In his junior season he was featured as a starting pitcher and helped lead the team to a SWAC championship, along with an appearance in the 2012 Rice Regional.

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Guard Waters leading ASU Hornets’ charge in SWAC

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State junior guard Jamel Waters can fill a stat sheet as well as anyone.

Last Saturday against Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alabama A&M, Waters scored a team-high 18 points and had a career-high eight steals, along with five assists and six rebounds.

"We lost a game there last year so we definitely wanted to come out with a lot of intensity," Waters said. "We came out flat at first, but we able to get the W. It was really big."

Waters was named the SWAC player of the week for the second time this season after his performance, and said his work in practice has earned him such awards.

"It's such an honor," Waters said. "Every day, I work to the best of my abilities and just prepare to be my best every time I step on the floor."

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WSSU Baseball Returns to BB&T Ballpark in 2015

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- For the fifth consecutive season, Winston-Salem State University’s baseball program will suit up at BB&T Ballpark for the majority of their home games. The Rams will play 27 games at BB&T Ballpark from late January until mid-April.

Winston-Salem State has scheduled almost 100 games at BB&T Ballpark since the downtown facility opened in 2010. This season’s slate begins on Saturday, January 31, with a doubleheader against Mars Hill. The BB&T Ballpark schedule also includes nine games in February, 12 in March and four in April.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under. Fans can purchase their seats at the BB&T Ballpark Box Office, which is located under the scoreboard in right-center field. Outside food and beverages are not permitted, but concession stands will be open for each game.

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NCA&T Aggies Look Ahead To NCAAs With Meet At VT

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The North Carolina A&T track and field teams will be competing at the Virginia Tech Invitational this weekend in Blacksburg, Va. The meet is scheduled to begin Friday at 5 p.m., and resume Saturday at 11 a.m.

This is the first banked or raised track the Aggies will compete on during the indoor season. With many athletes already qualified for the MEAC championships, the Aggies look forward to using this meet to continue improving times and prepare for the NCAA championships.

The last Aggie to compete at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships was Alexandria Spruiel back in 2009. Spruiel ran a 53.67 in the women’s 400 meter dash to place seventh overall. She is still the A&T record holder for indoor (53.60) and outdoor (51.59) 400 meter races.

“NCAA championships are run on a banked track,” says Duane Ross, director of track and field programs. “We believe in being prepared for everything, and we plan on having multiple athletes at these championships. This track, along with the competition will help us prepare for that.”

At the rate the Aggies have been performing thus far, many athletes chance to break the five-year gap of not having an Aggie at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Kentucky State University Partnering With Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates

FRANKFORT, Kentucky – The Kentucky State University Athletics Department will recognize the life-saving gifts of T'neil Martin during halftime of the women's and men's basketball games this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Exum Center.
 
KSU alumni and parents of T'neil Martin, Denisha Henry and Dale Martin, unselfishly donated their daughter's organs, tissues, and corneas as part of the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) program. T'neil saved six lives through her organ donation, gave sight to two people through cornea donation, and enhanced the lives of countless others with tissue donation.
 
"We will never be able to count the number of people T'neil has truly touched. We know we have honored her legacy through her life-saving gifts," T'neil's mother Denisha Henry said.
 
During halftime of Saturday's basketball games, which will serve as the backdrop for Alumni Appreciation Day, the family of T'neil Martin will be given special recognition in order to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation.
 
Kentucky State University and Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) are collaborating to give students, alumni, faculty, staff, and fans the opportunity to give hope by registering as life-saving donors.  For those who are in critical need of the "Gift of Life" through organ donation, one life-saving registration with KODA means everything. On-site registration will be available during both of the Kentucky State University basketball games.
 
For more information about KODA or to become an organ donor, visit their website at http://www.kyorgandonor.org/.


COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Spring Hill Uses Late Run In Regulation To Stun Kentucky State In OT, 61-59

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- The Spring Hill College Badgers used an 11-0 run at the end of regulation to propel them to a stunning 61-59 overtime victory against SIAC opponent Kentucky State University on Thursday night at the Exum Center.
 
Spring Hill (6-12, 5-4 SIAC) grabbed a fast 6-0 lead over Kentucky State (4-10, 4-5 SIAC), but it was the Thorobreds that controlled for most of Thursday's game. KSU held the lead for almost 32 minutes (71 percent) of the contest.
 
The Thorobreds built their lead to a many as 11 points in the first half when Ivan Hookerconnected on a jumper to push the score to 30-19 in favor of KSU at halftime.
 
In the second half, Kentucky State came out as the aggressor and pushed their lead to 14 whenDarrien Wilkins hit a layup to put the Thorobreds ahead 43-28 with 12:35 remaining. Spring Hill responded with a 9-0 run to cut the KSU lead to six before the momentum swung back to KSU who went on a 8-3 run of their own. When Ulysses Thomas III hit a 3-pointer with just under four minutes remaining to push KSU's lead back to 11, everything looked to be going the Thorobreds way.
 
Unfortunately for KSU, they wouldn't get on the scoreboard again in regulation. SHC went on an improbable 11-0 run to close out regulation and send the game into overtime.
 
Still reeling from the final minutes of the second half, Kentucky State was unable to bounce back in overtime. After a pair of free throws from Tryston Ford gave KSU a one-point advantage at 53-52, Spring Hill took the lead right back with a pair of free throws from center Dejan Stefanovic and never looked back.
 
Despite the loss, Kentucky State had several bright spots on Thursday. Ulysses Thomas IIIscored a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Point guardQuentin Henderson finished with seven points, a game-high seven assists and three steals.Darrien Wilkins finished with a team-high seven rebounds while also dropping in five points and picking up three steals. Ivan Hooker had some solid minutes off the bench with four points, a pair of boards and a steal.
 
Junior guard Wesley Pietri had 13 points to lead SHC while sophomore center Stefvanovic added 12 points to go along with five board. DeVaughn Hardrick also pitched in with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds. SHC controlled the boards with a 43-34 edge in rebounding.
 
Kentucky State continues their current three-game home stand when they host Tuskegee on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Exum Center.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

21 NSU-Athletes Earn Degrees at Winter Commencement

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Twenty-one Norfolk State University student-athletes received their bachelor's degrees at the university's winter commencement in December.

The graduates include 10 former Spartan football players, three from men's track and field, two each from the baseball, men's basketball and softball programs, and one each from women's basketball and women's track and field.

The graduates were:

Football
Noel Clarke, Sociology
Ramsey Henderson, Mass Communications
De'Marta Johnson, Health Fitness Instruction
Keenan Lambert, Management
Darrin Marrow, Sociology
Michael Privott, Sociology
Edwin Rogers, Mass Communications
Jairus Spain, Mass Communications
Nick Taylor, Accounting
Cameron Williams, Political Science

Baseball
Justin Bhatti, Marketing
Ryan Montgomery, Medical Technology

Softball
Kathy Cortez, Psychology
Jamie Schulle, Health Fitness Instruction

Women's Track & Field
Ashley Sessoms, Business

Women's Basketball
Rachel Gordon, Psychology

Men's Track & Field
Ian Copeland, Biology
Quentin Parker, Health Fitness Instruction
Quinten Walker, Kinesiotherapy

Men's Basketball
Calvin Brown, Tourism & Hospitality Management
Chris McEachin, Political Science

Congratulations to all of the graduates and good luck in your future endeavors!




By Matt Michalec, SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

Norfolk State Releases 2015 Football Schedule; Opens with 3 Games at FBS Teams

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University head coach Latrell Scott announced the Spartans' 2015 football schedule on Thursday. Highlighting the slate are three non-conference games against Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents and four home games against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes.

"We have a very challenging schedule this year, but I know it's one our coaches and players are excited about facing head-on," Scott said. "Playing three high-caliber FBS programs is a tremendous opportunity for our program."

The Spartans open the year with three straight FBS road games, starting with a Sept. 5 matchup at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights, now a member of the Big 10, have hosted NSU three times previously (2007, '10, '13), with Rutgers winning all three. Rutgers is coming off a 7-6 season and a win in the Quick Lane Bowl.

The following week, the Spartans face cross-town rival Old Dominion on Sept. 12 at ODU's Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The game is a return matchup from a memorable 2013 game at NSU, which ODU won 27-24. It will be the third meeting all-time between the city of Norfolk's two Division I programs, including a 2011 matchup in the FCS playoffs. The Monarchs of Conference USA went 6-6 last season.

NSU's non-conference slate wraps up on Sept. 19 at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. It will mark the first-ever meeting between the teams. The Thundering Herd went 13-1, captured the C-USA championship and also won the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl this past season.

The remainder of the schedule consists of eight MEAC opponents. The league slate kicks off with NSU's home opener against Hampton in the annual Battle of the Bay on Sept. 26 at William "Dick" Price Stadium. NSU also has home games with North Carolina A&T (Oct. 10), Savannah State (Nov. 7 for Homecoming) and South Carolina State (Nov. 14). NSU travels for MEAC road contests at Howard (Oct. 3), Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 24), North Carolina Central (Oct. 31) and Morgan State (Nov. 21).

The Spartans face all five MEAC teams that shared the league title last year – N.C. A&T, N.C. Central, S.C. State, Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State. Florida A&M and Delaware State rotate off the Spartans' schedule this year. NSU will have its lone bye week of the season on Oct. 17.

2015 NSU Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
9/5/2015 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. TBA
9/12/2015 Old Dominion Norfolk, Va. (ODU) TBA
9/19/2015 Marshall Huntington, W.Va. TBA
9/26/2015 * Hampton Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m. 
10/3/2015 * Howard Washington, D.C. TBA
10/10/2015 * North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.
10/24/2015 * Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
10/31/2015 * North Carolina Central Durham, N.C. TBA
11/7/2015 * Savannah State (Homecoming) Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.
11/14/2015 * South Carolina State Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m.
11/21/2015 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. TBA

BOLD: Home Game
* Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Game

By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Decision by Division I athletic powers forces lower-level schools like NDSU to consider paying student-athletes

In an effort just to keep revenue flowing, some FCS schools are playing multiple FBS opponents for guaranteed money. Norfolk State (Va.), for instance, has Rutgers, Old Dominion and Marshall.

FARGO, North Dakota -- Now that the power players in Division I athletics have approved paying players funds in addition to scholarships, the question circulating among the lower levels of the division – “Will schools like North Dakota State pay its players?” – may have some in Division I FCS football on edge.

Bison athletic director Matt Larsen said Thursday that giving funds to student-athletes in addition to scholarship money – commonly called “cost of attendance” – is something his school will take a look at, but that’s as far as he’s willing to go. There are many unanswered questions, he said.

“What makes sense for us? What’s the cost?” Larsen said. “We still have to remain competitive and we have to allow our coaches to recruit against the schools we’re recruiting against now.”

The NCAA’s five major conferences, which include the Big Ten and Pac-12, approved a motion by a 79-1 vote last weekend allowing those universities to pay student-athletes funds in addition to scholarships to cover their general expenses. The range is expected to be between $2,000 and $6,000 per year per student-athlete.

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AAMU mourns the death of Assistant Men's Basketball Coach James Wright

JAMES WRIGHT
COURTESY ALABAMA A&M ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- It is with great sadness Alabama A&M announces the death of Assistant Men's Basketball Coach James Wright.

Wright passed away Wednesday. He was 46.

Head Coach Willie Hayes and Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks spoke with the basketball team Wednesday evening.

"We ask that you pray for Coach Wright's family and keep them in your thoughts," Hicks said.

A tireless recruiter, this was Wright's fourth year with the Bulldogs.

"We've lost a great coach, a great man and a great person," said Hayes. "I've known him since high school … I've lost a great friend."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Wright, a 1993 graduate of Jackson State, also coached at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the University of West Alabama.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION