South Carolina State Bulldogs look to land top class in MEAC

HEAD COACH OLIVER "BUDDY" POUGH
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough said lack of consistent offensive production may have keep cost the Bulldogs a postseason appearance in 2014. Thus far, S.C. State seems to be addressing those needs in recruiting, assembling the projected No. 1 class in the MEAC as ranked by 247sports.com.

Pough, who said he’d hoped to bring in at least two quarterbacks this recruiting cycle, has two committed. Charlotte, North Carolina (Providence High School) product Caleb York is a 6-2, 200-pound pro-style quarterback expected to sign on Wednesday. The Bulldogs also look to add two-star dual-threat quarterback Marquane Goodman (6-2, 200) from West Florence.

The Bulldogs also expect a signature from a potential game-breaker at receiver in Charlotte Latin School’s Canyon Tuttle (6-0, 170) and should also add running back Bishop Ford (5-5, 175) of William Amos High in Cornelius, North Carolina.

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler senior quarterback Khaliq Anthony is no stranger to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at South Carolina State. The Trojans occasionally practiced at the venue throughout his high school career.  Anthony is expected to cement his return to S.C. State as a member of the Bulldogs’ 2015 class. Anthony, The T&D Region’s All-Area first-team QB, accounted for 48 touchdowns, throwing for 2,009 yards and rushing for 1,542 as he led H-K-T to a second straight state title in 2014.

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Historic marker to go up at restored home of Florida A&M's Legendary Coach Jake Gaither

COURTESY CORNELIUS JONES
visit www.jakegaitherhouse.com

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Cornelius Jones has not given up. So circle April 11 on your calendar.

That’s when a Florida historic marker will go up at 212 Young Street, at the former home of Florida A&M University football coaching legend Jake Gaither — which has been lovingly restored by Jones.

Jones, 44, is a Tallahassee real estate entrepreneur, who bought the house more than a year ago simply to re-sell. But when he learned the house was the home of the late Gaither — and was still filled with all his photos, trophies and memorabilia — Jones decided to restore it as a meeting place and museum.

Already, the house has hosted several parties and receptions. It will host a grand opening when the historic marker is erected on April 11 — Gaither’s birthday.

A native of Cleveland, Jones played one year of football for FAMU before earning a degree in civil engineering in 1994. He never met Gaither, but saw his name all over campus and Tallahasssee and came to rever his role in local history.

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Albany State take pair of homecoming victories

ALBANY, Georgia -- It was a win that everybody could feel good about.

There’s nothing like beating your rival on homecoming.

Even Albany State women’s basketball coach Robert Skinner had to smile about what he saw Saturday evening.

The Lady Rams kicked off homecoming Saturday with a 74-64 win over Fort Valley State at the HPER Gymnasium.

ASU took an early 4-2 lead after a 3-pointer from Keidra Green. Both teams continued to trade baskets in the first half, with points in the paint being nearly nonexistent. The Lady Wildcats ended the first half with six blocks, while ASU had seven.

A pair of free throws and a basket from Artisha Holston helped the Lady Rams end the first half with a 33-28 lead.



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Livingston’s Career-High Helps Bowie State Dump Elizabeth City State 88-86

BOWIE, Maryland -- Bowie State men's basketball held off a feisty Elizabeth City State team and captured an 88-86 CIAA division win on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs improve their season record to 17-6, 9-2 in league play and 4-1 in the North.

The Bulldogs shot a season-best 54.9 percent from the field on 28-of-51 shooting and were led by junior Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md.) with a career-high 25 points. Livingston shot a blistering 8-of-11 from the field which included 8-of-9 behind the arc. Senior Cameron Knox (Baltimore, Md.) contributed 15 points while Zafir Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Justin Beck (Ellicott City, Md.) chipped in 11 points each. Beck led Bowie State on the glass with eight rebounds.

"I was pleased with the flow of our offense … We played faster today and did a good job moving the ball but I was not pleased with us defensively and did not come out with a defensive mindset", stated Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks.

Three Elizabeth City State players scored in double figures with Miykael Faulcon (Durham, N.C.) scoring a game-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting to go along with three rebounds. Brachon Griffin (Fayetteville, N.C.) scored 17 points in the loss while Darnell Ward contributed a double-double of 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The lead changed hands 15 times during the contest and 6 times over the final 12 minutes of the second half. The Vikings faced their largest deficit of the afternoon, a fourteen point spread (55-41) after Cameron Knox hit a three pointer at the 17:36 mark. ECSU then went on a tear with a 20-4 run which included 11 unanswered following a jumper by Faulcon, giving the Vikings took their first lead of the game since the first half, 61-59.

There were four more lead changes before senior Andre Jackson (Baltimore, Md.) knotted the count at 75-all with 5:51 to go.

A three-pointer from Jackson sparked a short 7-2 run giving BSU some cushion with 2:45 left. Griffin pulled the Vikings within three points twice in the final 1:41, first with a layup and then with two free throws with 26 seconds on the clock.

Beck countered Griffin's free throws with two of his own with 12 ticks remaining and a three at the buzzer by Jermaine Brown accounted for the final point spread.

The Bowie State Bulldogs hit the road for their next contest, making a short drive to The Lincoln University on Saturday (February 7th). Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Lions is set for 4 pm.

Box Score

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JC Smith men’s basketball gets efficient to surpass Shaw

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- Johnson C. Smith was short on healthy bodies against Shaw but long on efficiency.

The Golden Bulls men’s basketball team outscored Shaw 25-13 over the final eight minutes to earn an 83-67 CIAA South win Saturday at Brayboy Gym. It was the team’s second victory in a row after four straight losses.

J.C. Smith (11-11, 5-6) got sterling performances from forward Emilio Parks, who pumped in a game-high 28 points, and swingman Diondre Pratt, who came off the bench for 20. The Golden Bulls shot a torrid 62.5 percent (30-of-48) from the floor.

“I’m just glad my teammates believed in me to actually still score and still play the way I played,” said Parks, who connected on 12 of 14 shots. “I’m glad they got me the ball tonight.”

Parks knew what to do in the post, taking the ball strong against Shaw’s bigger defenders with a deft touch from either side of the basket.

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Stillman women's basketball can’t pull out upset over Kentucky State

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Stillman College women’s basketball team held up strong against top SIAC opponent, Kentucky State University, in its game at Birthright Gymnasium on Saturday. But The Lady Tigers made too many mistakes and weren’t able to pull off the upset, losing, 61-58, to the Lady Thorobrettes.

Stillman slowed down Kentucky State (13-4, 8-2), which is the most efficient field goal shooting team per game in the SIAC (43 percent), holding them to 36 percent from the field. However, Stillman couldn’t stop Shaia Horton from hitting three, heart-wrenching 3-pointers to give her team the edge in the second half. She finished with a game-high 17-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Stillman had an opportunity to make a push late in the game, but turnovers plagued any attempt the Lady Tigers made at a comeback. Stillman ended with 23 turnovers on the night.

Stillman (6-13, 5-6) kept the game close thanks to a lively performance from senior center Samantha Thomas and senior guard Angel Mitchell.

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Fayetteville State edges Saint Augustine's

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Fayetteville State had to stop the CIAA's top scorer on one play Saturday to score a critical Southern Division win.

And they did it.

Barely.

The Broncos thwarted a game-tying attempt by Jack Britt High School graduate Raheem Jolliffe that went down, then spun out of the basket as time expired to pull out a 77-75 victory against Saint Augustine's at Capel Arena.

The dramatic win helped FSU end a three-game losing streak and improve its record to 11-10 overall, 5-6 in CIAA play and 2-3 in the Southern Division.

"We needed this win,'' FSU coach Alphonza Kee said. "We have had everything happen to us. We've played well and lost, then we weren't very good against Shaw (in a Wednesday loss). We just wanted to get back going again and beat a good team, which we did the hard way because we didn't shoot the ball very well.''

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