UAPB Lions get validation from SEC

COURTESY UAPB ATHLETICS

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Carlos James has a saying every time his Arkansas-Pine Bluff baseball team gets off a bus to play an SEC school on its home field.

"It's 4.8 versus 11.7 and a million dollars," James said, referring to the number of scholarships UAPB is allotted because of budget restrictions compared to the deeper pockets of SEC schools.

Twice this season, UAPB has come out on top against those programs.

The Golden Lions (10-10) beat Missouri 8-3 on Tuesday in Columbia, Mo., a game in which the Tigers entered ranked 23rd nationally by Collegiate Baseball. The victory came three weeks after UAPB beat then-No. 7 Mississippi State 3-2 in Starkville, Miss.

The two victories are the school's first over major conference opponents since James took over as the Golden Lions' coach in 2011, and James said it is even more proof of the progress his program has made than the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division championship the team won last year.

"It just kind of validates everything that we believe in our program," James said.

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XU's Wright earns NAIA All-America honorable mention

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Morris Wright received honorable mention on the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball All-America Team announced Wednesday.

Wright is a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Zachary, La., and a former Zachary High School and Baton Rouge Community College standout. He led the Gold Rush with 14.9 points, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game and 70 made 3-pointers. He is the first Xavier player to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 made free throws, 50 made 3-pointers and 50 steals in a season.

Wright helped the Gold Rush go 24-10, finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament and qualify for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for a school-record fifth consecutive year. The Gold Rush ranked 19th entering nationals. Wright was first-team All-GCAC for the second straight year.


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XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XU's Gathright receives another All-America honor

XULAgold.com

NEW ORLEANS -- For the second time in nine days, Xavier University of Louisiana's Whitney Gatright has earned an NAIA postseason honor.

Gathright received honorable mention Wednesday on the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball All-America Team.

Gathright is a 5-foot-4 junior guard from New Orleans and a graduate of John Curtis Christian School. She led the Gold Nuggets with 12.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and she was the only Louisiana woman this season with 400 points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 made free throws, 40 made 3-pointers and 60 steals.

Last week she earned honorable mention on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's NAIA All-America team.

The Gold Nuggets were 18-15 this past season and finished second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament. Gathright was first-team All-GCAC for the second consecutive year.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XU launches SIDEARM-powered website, XULAgold.com

XULAgold.com

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Department of Athletics and Recreation has launched its new website, XULAgold.com, in partnership with SIDEARM Sports.

XULAgold.com went online at 10 a.m. Thursday. It replaced a longtime in-house site.

"We are very excited to provide this new look to all our XU stakeholders," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Jason Horn. "This new partnership gives us the opportunity to take advantage of the software and technology innovations that SIDEARM Sports brings to the table through their service to collegiate athletic programs. The new look will enhance the experience for all fans as well as give our programs a lift in recruiting. We are thrilled to be part of the SIDEARM family, and we look forward to a long, successful relationship."

As the official website provider of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, SIDEARM Sports gives XU fans a fully adaptive experience across all platforms. Fans can enjoy a version of XULAgold.com specifically tailored to their mobile device or opt to view the full site. Additionally, fans on mobile devices can click "Add to Home Page," and the site will provide an icon marker to allow easy access to the site without the need to download an app.

"The launch of XULAgold.com is one of our steps in energizing the branding of Xavier athletics and showcasing the successes of our department and of Xavier University," Horn said.

The site will feature information -- including schedules, live stats, streaming, rosters, statistics, game stories and photo galleries -- about Xavier's nine intercollegiate teams, along with extensive information for prospective student-athletes. Video interviews, coordinated by Administrative Specialist Jimmie Walker, will become a regular feature of the site.

XULAgold.com also offers fans the ability to sign up for free email and text message alerts for one or multiple XU teams.

Sports Information Director Ed Cassiere will continue as webmaster of the athletics website.

"SIDEARM Sports is excited to launch the new Xavier athletics website, XULAgold.com, and we are thrilled to welcome the university into our family," said Jeff Rubin, President/CEO of SIDEARM Sports. "We hope the fans, student-athletes, alumni, staff and supporters of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will enjoy all the features that the site offers."

SIDEARM Sports, based in Syracuse, N.Y., is the host of nearly 800 websites, most of them involving intercollegiate athletics.

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SUBR addresses future of Athletics Department

Statement from SUBR administration on personnel matter involving Director of Athletics Dr. William Broussard

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University Director of Athletics Dr. William Broussard has been temporarily reassigned to the Southern University System Office, effective April 1.

The reassignment is a personnel matter and therefore the University can not discuss it publicly. The University will have no further comment on the subject.

We fully anticipate that Dr. Broussard will return as Director of Athletics on Aug. 1, 2015.

SU Head Mens’ Basketball Coach Roman Banks will assume a dual role that will include Acting Director of Athletics, effective April 1. He will continue in both positions until the anticipated return of Dr. Broussard on Aug. 1, 2015.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

UAPB Drops Missouri 8-3 to Extend Win Streak to Three Games

COLUMBIA, Missouri -- Sophomore Jerimiah Figueroa hit his second home run of the year, batting in four runs and fellow teammate Josh Cassidy hit his second consecutive game home run, as The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (10-9, 6-3 SWAC) hammered No. 23 Missouri, 8-3, on Tuesday at Taylor Stadium

The Golden Lions, who have won 10 of their last 14 games, snapped the Tigers' mission, who's coming off a good series win verse No. 6 South Carolina last week.  UAPB has won their second game against a nationally rank SEC opponent this season.  

Missouri (18-7, 5-1 SEC) would draw first blood in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead heading into the second.  The Golden Lions would roar back after the Tigers would put two UAPB runners on first and second.  Followed by Tommy Haas grounded to first, but would reach base on an throwing error, which would score Cassidy and Colin Drury to put the Golden Lions ahead 2-1 in the top of the second. 

  
Cassidy first homer to left field, a solo shot in the seventh and Figueroa repeated the effort again with a two-run blast over the left field wall in the bullpen in the eighth withVladimir Gomez on first after he reached on an error.

UAPB, which playing one of the toughest non-conference schedule among division 1-AA schools, making its best start in school history and playing above 500, under the reign of  Coach Carlos James.

The Golden Lions pitching staff was outstanding once again, chalking up six strikeouts.

RHP Jr. Blake ESTEP received the start and tossed 5.1 innings with a team-high four strikeouts, while allowing just two hits and giving up two runs.  

RHP Jr. Billy Olson (4-2) came in for ESTEP to pitch 1.2 innings and struck out one while giving up just one hit, one run to earn the win.

The Tigers threatened in the sixth inning, placing runners on first and second with one, but CF Rashawn Tillman pulled UAPB out of the jam, with a diving catch in the left-center gap and throwing out a runner at second to complete the double play to end the inning. 

Andre Davis and Kevin Walsh came on in for the last two innings to strike out one, giving up one hit and no runs to secure the victory.  

Josh Cassidy led all hitters going 3-for-4 with an RBI, followed by Jerimiah Figueroa 2-for-4 with four RBI's, and both Andre Davis and Westi Hinkel both going 2-for-4. 

The Golden Lions will be back in action against the Tigers Wednesday March 25, with the first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. CT.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Commentary: ASU's Cyrus just wants 'foot in door' to NFL

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Malcolm Cyrus fell just short of achieving the second half of his "15-and-15" goal, but proved to be one of best running backs in college football as he rushed for 1,662 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

"I was close," Cyrus said with a laugh.

Now the former Alabama State star is looking to achieve his ultimate goal — to play in the NFL.

"All I want is a foot in the door, an opportunity," Cyrus said.



Before the 2014 season, Cyrus set a goal to rush for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns. He didn't score 15 times, but earned SWAC co-offensive player of the year honors. Cyrus rushed for 466 yards more than second-leading rusher Lenard Tillery — and played in one less game than the Southern sophomore.

Cyrus doesn't expect to get drafted, but if he's invited to an NFL camp, he plans to play on Sundays.

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