Eva Patterson-Heath Announces Retirement as FSU Head Women's Basketball Coach

Eva Patterson-Heath recorded
 an overall record of 91-76
 in six season at FSU, along
with  three CIAA Tournament
 Finals appearances
 and one CIAA Championship

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Eva Patterson-Heath, a native of Red Springs, NC, has decided to retire just before starting her seventh season as the women’s basketball head coach. She directed the Lady Broncos to three 20-win records in her previous six seasons and to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament finals. Fayetteville State won the CIAA tournament title in Patterson-Heath's first season (2009-2010) and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament.

“It is time, I announce my decision to retire from coaching basketball at Fayetteville State University,” said Patterson-Heath. “I want to thank Chancellor James A. Anderson and previous Athletic Director Dr. Edward McLean for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level. I also would like to thank the young women throughout my career who committed themselves to aspire for greatness. I want to wish the University, Mr. Anthony Bennett, Director of FSU Athletics and the women's basketball program much success going forward.”

Before coming to FSU, Patterson-Heath produced a 503-128 record in 24 years as head girls' basketball coach at Red Springs High School. She leaves Fayetteville State with an overall coaching record of 91-76 and winning percentage of .545. Patterson-Heath ranks second all-time in coaching victories and third in winning percentage.

Fayetteville State University Department of Athletics has announced Walter Mebane as the interim head women’s basketball coach, effective November 20, 2015. Mebane has served as the associate head coach for five seasons at FSU.

Mebane served as the interim head coach of the Winston-Salem State University women’s basketball program to conclude the 2009-10 season. He also spent five seasons as head coach at Division I Hampton University.

“I would first like to thank Dr. Anderson and Mr. Bennett for entrusting me with this program during this time of change,” said Mebane. “Our program is prepared to roll up our sleeves and go to work. Our goal is make the University, our supporters, and the city of Fayetteville proud with our effort on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.”

“The department of athletics has complete confidence and will fully support Coach Mebane as he transitions into the leadership role for our women’s basketball program,” said Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett. “Our focus and number one priority is providing the best overall experience for our student-athletes. Coach Mebane fits with that vision and will allow us to continue striving for competitive excellence.”

Mebane led Hampton to a 70-77 record from 2004-09, including a 51-35 mark in conference play. He guided Hampton to the 2009 MEAC Basketball Championship title game. Mebane arrived at Hampton in 1996 as the Director of Basketball Operations for the men's program before joining the staff of the women's team during the second half of the 1996-97 season.

Mebane will serve as the interim head coach for the reminder of the 2015-16 season. A nationwide search will be conducted at the conclusion of the season for a head women’s basketball coach.

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

42nd Annual Bayou Classic set to kick off November 28

NEW ORLEANS  -- Mark Alexander is what some might call a die-hard fan of the Southern University Jaguars.

Even though the New Orleans native matriculated at the University of Houston as an undergrad and earned a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, his roots in the Jaguar Nation run deep.

Three of Alexander’s brothers and his older sister all earned degrees from Southern University and spent their Saturday nights on Scot’s Bluff rooting for the Jags and grooving to the “Human Jukebox.” For the past 10 years, Mark has made the drive to Baton Rouge religiously to attend SU home football games. And whenever he gets a chance to do so, he makes the trek to places like Jackson, Miss. and Prairie View, Texas to watch the Jags take on SWAC foes like Jackson State University and Prairie View A&M University.

But none of that compares to the energy and excitement of watching the Jags battle SWAC West foe Grambling every Saturday after Thanksgiving in the Crescent City during the Bayou Classic.

Alexander hasn’t missed a Bayou Classic in 25 years — not even the one played in 2005 in Houston after Katrina flooded 80 percent of New Orleans — and has the ticket stubs to prove it.



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Preview: Savannah State at Baylor

vs.

No. 20/21 Baylor (2-1) vs. Savannah State (3-1) Nov. 23, 2015 | 7:00 p.m. CT Waco, Texas | Ferrell Center (10,284) TV: FOX Sports Net Radio: ESPN Central Texas

Watch |  Gametracker |  Listen Online |  Tickets |  Baylor Notes |  SSU Notes

WACO, Texas -- Baylor coach Scott Drew, trying to direct his team to its third consecutive NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, will continue to try and find the right pieces for another March Madness run on Monday night when the Bears host Savannah State. 

It's the second of six straight home games for the Bears who come in off a 77-60 victory over Jackson State on Friday, a schedule Drew crafted to make sure his squad had plenty of early practice time.

Drew's biggest task is trying to identify who can fill the roles vacated by two of his best players from last year's 24-10 squad, point guard Kenny Chery and forward Royce O'Neale. 

"We're trying to figure out the new roles for guys and give them the opportunity to get comfortable," Drew told the Waco Tribune. "Especially with the freshmen and guys who didn't play as many minutes last year, confidence is always big. Now without having to travel you can spend more days practicing. Travel wears you out and you have to cut down on some of your stuff."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Net

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE (3-1): The Tigers, picked to finish 12th out of 13 teams in the preseason MEAC poll, come in off a 77-59 road loss at Oregon on Friday. Senior guard Christopher Martin (14.8) and junior swingman Troyce Manassa (12.8) lead the team in scoring while 6-foot-7 senior forward Brian Pearson, a third team all-MEAC preseason pick, leads the team in rebounding (9.0). The Tigers, who scored more than 70 points just four times last season en route to a 9-22 record, have already accomplished that feat twice this season and are averaging 70.3 points per game.

STORYLINES 

• Baylor’s game against Savannah State will be televised nationally on FOX Sports Net. 

• Monday will mark the 3rd series meeting. Baylor is 2-0 vs. SSU with wins by 36 (2005) and 30 (2014) points. 

• Baylor has won 26 consecutive non-conference home games dating back to Dec. 12, 2012. 

• Baylor has won 17 straight home games against unranked opponents — last loss to WVU on Jan. 28, 2014. 

• Baylor is tied for the Big 12 lead in scoring defense, allowing 63.0 points per game. 

• Baylor is No. 20 in the AP Top 25 Poll and has now been ranked No. 22 or better in 14 consecutive AP polls. 

• Baylor has been ranked in the AP Preseason Poll in 5 of the last 6 seasons — last year was the lone exception. 

• Baylor is 46-6 in November/December games when ranked in the AP poll. BU is 59-12 in home games when ranked. 

• Baylor was the only major conference team to hold every opponent under 75 points last season, and the Bears have gone 48 consecutive games without allowing 75 points. 

• Baylor has a .700 winning percentage over the last four-plus seasons (105-45). 

• Rico Gathers has 874 career rebounds and needs 4 more to pass Jerry Mallett for 2nd on Baylor’s all-time list. 

• Taurean Prince has scored in double figures in 20 of the last 21 games, averaging 15.2 ppg in that stretch. 

• Al Freeman has posted back-to-back 20-point games — his career high prior to those games was 13 points. 

• Sophomores Johnathan Motley and Terry Maston and freshman King McClure combine to average 23.6 points per game off the bench. They’ve accounted for 84 percent of Baylor’s bench scoring (71 of 85 points). 

• Baylor is 84-11 when leading at the half over the last four seasons, including 2-0 this season. 

• BU has won 38% of its games (21-34) when tied or trailing at half since 2011-12, including 0-1 this season. 

COURTESY BAYLOR BEARS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
COURTESY The Sports XChange

Jackson State Volleyball defeats ASU to clinch SWAC Title

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL WINS ITS THIRD CONFERENCE
 TITLE IN FIVE YEARS BY DEFEATING DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
 ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Jackson State won the 2015 SWAC Volleyball Tournament Championship with a 3-1 (25-14, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13) win over defending champion Alabama State at the Clifford Seymour Gymnasium Sunday.

It is the third title in five years for the Tigers (15-21), and the first since 2012.

In a battle of the top two seeds in the SWAC Eastern Division, it was the top-seeded Tigers that roared out of the gate with a 13-3 start to the match. Alabama State (21-15) never mounted a consistent offensive response – the Hornets committed nine errors as opposed to seven kills in the period – as the Tigers cruised to an opening-set triumph.

The roles switched in set two, as the Hornets opened things up on a 9-3 scoring run.  Despite spurts of offense from Jackson State, 11 errors in the set derailed any attempt at a sustained comeback, and the quick start was enough to fuel Alabama State through the frame.

A back-and-forth third started to lean in favor of the Tigers when they earned the advantage with six straight points to snap a 9-9 tie. Jackson State looked poised to wrap up the period, but Alabama State reeled off four straight points to cut JSU’s lead to 19-17. The Tigers halted the rally with one of their own but held off a late ASU charge to claim the set.

In the fourth set, the Tigers broke a 6-6 game open with a 13-4 run that ultimately powered the Tigers to the title.

The Tigers were led by Taija Thomas, who notched 14 kills and three digs. Tournament MVP Mikayla Rolle added 13 kills, three blocks and two service aces. Alexsis Ford picked up 13 putaways as well, and Jenna Siddiqui accounted for 11 kills, 31 assists and six digs.

Alabama State's Myla Marshall picked up 14 kills and six blocks. Kori Kutsch put up 24 helpers and five digs. Rachel Smith had eight kills.

Jackson State clinches an automatic berth in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, and will find out its opening-round opponent during the tournament selection show, which will be Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.

    Championship Box Score
    Lady Tigers Stats

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N.C. A&T wins tiebreaker, will represent MEAC in inaugural Celebration Bowl

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — N.C. A&T will play in the inaugural Celebration Bowl next month in Atlanta.

A&T (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) lost its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, snapping an eight-game winning streak. But the Aggies, who will share the league title for the second consecutive season, won tiebreakers with Bethune-Cookman and N.C. Central to claim the MEAC’s berth in the bowl game.

The Celebration Bowl matches the champions of the MEAC and SWAC in a game at noon Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome. The bowl game will be shown live nationally on ABC.

“That’s why we do this: to have an opportunity to play,” A&T coach Rod Broadway said in the moments after Saturday’s 21-16 loss to Central. “To have an opportunity to go to the bowl game, even if it’s not under the circumstances we would have chosen, but, hey, it is what it is. … We’re going.”

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Tuskegee Golden Tigers win first playoff game in school history, advances to play UNA

SALISBURY, N.C. -- The third time is the charm.

For two consecutive years, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers have been on the step of making history by winning their first round playoff game, only to fall short by a couple of plays in both games.

After months of preparation through the spring and summer, the Golden Tigers made their dream a reality as they defeated third-seeded Catawba College 26-16 on the road Saturday afternoon.

The win marked the first-ever playoff victory for Tuskegee and propelled the Golden Tigers into the Round of 16 to face a familiar foe in the University of North Alabama next weekend.

"We are excited," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said. "We have been telling them all year this is a great opportunity because we are considered to be one of the top 28 teams in the country. They listened to us, and we are excited to make it past the first round.'

The game time will be announced next week for the game in Florence.

The celebrating started early on the Tuskegee (9-2) sideline when they took the opening drive down the field in just 3:40 on their opening drive. The Golden Tigers took seven plays to go 72 yards, and the drive culminated in a 39-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Ramzy from quarterback Kevin Lacey.

"We were very fortunate to have some big plays," Slater said. "We felt like if they did some things then we had a chance."

The touchdown was one of two for Lacey, who finished the day 10-for-18 passing for 219 yards.

The Golden Tigers struck again just nine minutes later when Jerome Lewis punched it in from two yards out with 3:59 to play in the quarter. The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard pass from Lacey to Hawkins to set up the touchdown run.

"We had a great plan," Lacey said. "When you stick to the game plan it works, you just have to execute. Coach (Slater) is a great coach and makes the right call, and sometimes I get away from that and he lets me know. I know now that you have to execute the plays that are called, and things will happen the right way."

Catawba was able to get on the board in the third quarter, trimming the lead to a touchdown, but the Golden Tigers came right back down the field using four plays and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Lacey to Leo Gilbert to extend the lead to 20-7.

After Catawba scored again to cut the lead to one possession, Jewell Ratliff made the biggest play of the game.

Ratliff stepped in front of a pass from Catawba quarterback Mike Sheehan, and did what every defender for the Golden Tigers do when they intercept a pass – look for the end zone.

"They were running a play we saw the whole game," Ratliff said. "I was getting out of position some, and locked my eyes and stayed in position and made the pick."

The senior linebacker went down the left sideline, before cutting to make an offensive lineman miss, and found the end zone for the third time this season with 7:27 left and the celebration hit a new level.

"I took the run back to my ninth grade," said a cheerful Ratliff.

Even a Catawba touchdown with six minutes left could not curb the celebration as the team and fans watch the clock in anticipation of hitting zero and marking history for the Tuskegee University football team.

As the clock went under a minute, Slater and defensive coordinator Joseph Carter felt the jubilation of the players as they had water dumped on them and got the celebration really started.

"It felt good because it is our first playoff win," Carter said. "Our kids have gone through a lot this season, and with that heartbreaking loss two weeks ago, it felt good to watch them have some success."

Senior Dennis Norfleet finished with 102 yards on 18 carries, leading the rushing attack that gained 171 yards on the day. Hawkins finished with three catches for 67 yards, while Norfleet had a pair of catches (32 yards) and Devozea Gaines had a pair of catches (24 yards).

Defensively, Osband Thompson finished with 13 tackles to lead the Golden Tigers. Ratliff finished with 10, while the team finished with eight tackles for loss and forced two turnovers.

Tuskegee now turns it attention to North Alabama next weekend.

"This was a big win for us," Slater said. "It is our f

irst playoff win, and now we have to focus on the next win. The next one is the most important one, we just have to get back to work. I have seen some strange things happen in the playoffs."

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook.

BOX SCORE

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Bethune-Cookman, MEAC snubbed by FCS playoff committee

NCAA FCS PLAYOFF BRACKET: Interactive | Printable

ORLANDO, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman and its fellow MEAC co-champions were all shut out of the 2015 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs when the 24-team field was announced Sunday.

Following B-CU's 35-14 victory over rival Florida A&M in the Florida Classic on Saturday, the Wildcats figured they had a pretty good shot of making the field for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

After Saturday's game, first-year B-CU head coach Terry Sims said, "We're one of the top 24 teams. It's that simple. We score points on offense and we stop teams on defense. We have mistakes that happen in a game, but we have a determined team that won't quit."

The victory earned them a share of the MEAC championship with co-champs North Carolina A&T (9-2) and North Carolina Central (8-3), and the Wildcats ended the regular season with a 9-2 record.

In stark contrast to the MEAC's shutout from the postseason were the multiple entries from the Missouri Valley (five teams: North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois), Colonial (four teams: James Madison, Richmond, William & Mary and New Hampshire) and Big Sky (three teams: Southern Utah, Portland State, Montana) conferences.

Western Illinois, with five losses, was the final team selected to the field and it was a big head-scratcher given the records of some other teams left out.

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