Morgan State Bears Withstand Late Push, Down Goldey-Beacom, 66-62

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Sophomore forward Phillip Carr recorded his first career double double with 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, hitting key free throws in the final 14 seconds, to help the Bears preserve a 66-62 home opener win against Division II Goldey-Beacom Monday night.

Andre Horne Jr. had 15 points and Tyler Streeter added 12 to improve the Bears record to 2-3. Freshman guard Martez Cameron posted a game-high six assists.

Goldey-Beacom (0-5) had three players that scored in double digits – Shakeem Wilson (13), Daniel Cooper and Elijah Tillman (10).

The Lightning shot 41 percent (25-61) from the field and hit 9-of-23 (.319 pct.) 3-pointers.

Morgan State led 63-50 following a pair of free throws by Carr with just over a minute remaining in the contest. However, the Lightning were not ready to throw in the towel. GBC mounted a 10-0 run punctuated by a 3-pointer and a steal by Jarrell Lane that led to a 3-pointer by Shakeem Wilson to trim the Bears lead to 63-60 with 14.8 seconds to go.

Carr was sent to the line in the final seconds where he connected on 3 of 4 free throws to seal the Bears to its second straight win.

The Bears finished the game shooting 20-of-28 from the free throw line and scored 19 points on second chance opportunities, and 20 pointsBO off of 17 GBC turnovers.

MSU led 33-28 in the first half.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Daniel Scores 30 in Howard Win Over Texas Southern

LAS VEGAS, Nevada  --  James "J-Byrd" Daniel poured in a game-high 30 points, but it was the contributions of some unusual suspects that proved to be the difference as Howard University defeated Texas Southern University 87-81 in the Men Who Speak Up tournament at the MGM Grand. With the victory, the Bison advance to the championship round of the Middleweight Division against the University of Central Arkansas on Wednesday at 6 pm.

"This was a gritty, physical game that showed me that this team can deal with and win in adverse situations," said Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry.

Daniel, the nation's leading scorer coming into the game at 28.7 per game, did his usual, tallying 18 of his points in the first half to give his team a 47-42 advantage at the half. His backcourt mate, James "JT" Miller, who was averaging 20 points per game, got into early foul trouble and was never a factor as he fouled out with 5 points.

So the Bison (2-2) needed someone to step up and boy did they get it from the junior trio of Damon Collins, Tyler Stone and Marcel Boyd.

Collins picked up the slack, tallying nine of his career-high 17 points in the first 20 minutes while Boyd chipped in with 8 of his 10 points as Howard led by as many as 13 before the Tigers (0-4) would make a run to narrow the gap at the intermission.

"Daniel really got us going early and gave us some confidence," said Nickelberry. "Collins and Boyd took it from there, Boyd inside and Collins from the outside

The Bison were able to maintain control early in the second half despite Daniel going scoreless for more than 10 minutes. That is when Stone and Solomon "Solo" Mangham began to make their presence felt. Stone scored all 10 of his points in the second half with 8 of 9 coming from the free throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots in one of his more productive all-around performances.

Mangham, who finished with 8 points off the bench, knocked down a big three when Texas Southern got close and had actually taken the lead.

The Bison would close out the win as Daniel converted on 5 of 6 free throws and Boyd scored on a tip-in off an inbounds play with a second left on the shot clock.

"This was one of those games where we were in control early and found a way to win with major foul trouble, especially with Miller," noted Nickelberry. "We had a lot of guys step up in the second half and not allow us to lose this game. Tyler made some huge plays down the stretch on offense and defense including some big free throws."

It was also a team effort on the boards as Boyd led the way with 8 while Collins and Stone each had 6 and Kofi Andoh with 5 off the bench.

The Tigers were led by Malcolm Riley with 26, David Blanks with 17 and Jose Rodriguez and Orlando Coleman with 13 each.

GAME NOTES: There were a total of 57 fouls called and 76 free throws attempted…Daniel has now scored 30 or more points for the third time in four games…the talented junior, who came into the game, second in the country in steals, added three more to his stat line to go along with 3 assists in 37 minutes of play.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION

North Alabama Hosts Tuskegee in Second Round of Playoffs

 UNA Head Football Coach Bobby Wallace and Tuskegee Head Coach Willie Slater
 prior to 2013 playoff meeting

FLORENCE, Alabama -- The University of North Alabama will host Tuskegee University Saturday (November 28) in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs at Braly Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11:30 AM Central Time.

Both teams bring 9-2 records into the contest, with UNA coming off a 50-7 home win over Newberry in the opening round of the playoffs and Tuskegee having downed Catawba 26-16 on the road.

It will be the second meeting in the playoffs between UNA and Tuskegee in the last three seasons. The Lions downed the Golden Tigers 30-27 in Florence in the opening round of the 2013 playoffs in Tuskegee's first-ever NCAA Playoff game. The win last weekend over Catawba was the first playoff win for the Tuskegee program in three tries.

North Alabama and Tuskegee have faced two common opponents this season in Miles College and UNC Pembroke. UNA defeated Miles 34-17 in its season opener in Birmingham and downed UNC Pembroke 62-28 on October 17. Tuskegee lost to both schools, falling 29-17 at UNC Pembroke and 26-23 at home against Miles.

The game features the two winningest collegiate football programs in the state of Alabama, by percentage, since 1990. UNA has a 222-86-1 record over the last 26 seasons for a 72.0 winning percentage. Tuskegee is 203-84-1 for a 70.6 percentage. Alabama is third at 69.7 and Auburn is fourth at 67.1.

North Alabama and Tuskegee are coached by two of the most successful coaches in Division II football history. UNA's Bobby Wallace has a 115-48-1 record in his 14 years at the school, leading the Lions to nine NCAA Playoff appearances and three NCAA Division II National Championships. He already holds membership in the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Division II Football Hall of Fame.

Tuskegee is coached by former UNA offensive coordinator Willie Slater who helped lead the Lions to their three NCAA Division II National Championships in the 1990s under Bobby Wallace. Slater was also an assistant on Wallace's staff at Temple. Slater was offensive coordinator at UNA from 1992-99. Slater has a stellar 90-23 record in his 10 seasons as Tuskegee's head coach. Tuskegee has won nine games in eight of Slater's 10 years at the school.



UNA is led offensively by senior quarterback Luke Wingo of Tuscaloosa who will be starting his 37th game for the Lions on Saturday. He has a 26-10 record as a starter and has led UNA to three straight GSC titles and three straight NCAA Playoff appearances. He has thrown for 2,958 yards and 25 touchdowns this season and now has 8,129 career passing yards with 60 TD passes. Wingo was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year in 2015 and is a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II National Player of the Year.

UNA averages 38.5 points and 485.4 yards per game this season on offense and boast one of the nation's top defenses against the pass, allowing just 155 yards through the air per game.

Tuskegee is led by a defense that has allowed just 15.8 points per game this season.The Golden Tigers have allowed just 23 touchdowns in 11 games this season. Quarterback Kevin Lacey has thrown for 1,683 yards and 13 touchdowns and a balanced rushing attack is led by Dennis Norfleet who has 616 yards and two scores.

UNA is 3-0 all-time against Tuskegee. The Lions downed the Golden Tigers 26-7 at Tuskegee in 1979, then defeated the Golden Tigers 25-13 the following year in Florence. The two schools met in the first round of the 2013 Division II Playoffs in Florence with UNA winning 30-27.

North Alabama has a 41-5-1 record all-time against teams from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UNA's last loss to an SIAC team was 17-10 to Albany State in Albany in the 1996 season-opener. The Lions have a current seven-game winning streak against SIAC institutions.

Ticket Sales
UNA season ticket holders will have until Wednesday at noon to claim their same seats for the playoff game. All other tickets go on sale on Monday at 8 a.m. at the UNA Ticket Office. There will be no on-line sales until Wednesday at 1 p.m.. Tickets are $15 for bench-back reserved seats and prime bench area. Other seats are $10 each and student tickets are $5.

The UNA Ticket Office will be open Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and from 8-12 on Wednesday. The office will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving but will re-open Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.



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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. 

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