Last Chance: Grambling State has opportunity to win last SWAC title game

GRAMBLING, Louisiana – Maybe Broderick Fobbs saves the sentiments for after the game has been played.

When his Grambling State football team loads the bus Thursday afternoon, heading to Houston, it’ll be the last time a bus ride in that direction will be needed after the annual regular season-end clash with Southern at the Bayou Classic.

Before the 2017 season kicked off, SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp announced the decision to forego the SWAC Championship Game after 18 seasons, meaning this year’s matchup between Grambling (10-1) and Alcorn State (7-4) will be the last one for the foreseeable future.

Since Fobbs took over the program at his alma mater four seasons ago, the Tigers have had their share of recent rollercoasters of emotions, falling to Alcorn in 2015, the last time an FCS opponent has beaten GSU, and avenged that loss last season, coming from behind to down the Braves, 27-20. Saturday marks the third straight season the Tigers will play Alcorn for the league championship.

Before Fobbs, Grambling State has tried to make the SWAC title game ...

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Career Highs By Fisher Lead Hampton Pirates Over St. Leo Lions

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Junior Kalin Fisher recorded career-highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double as Hampton University put away a pesky Saint Leo Lions squad 72-56 on Monday night at the HU Convocation Center.

The double-double was his second in a row after a 14 point-10 rebound outing against Rider last Friday night.

After a back-and-forth first half that saw five ties and six lead changes, the Pirates used an 18-3 run over a nearly nine minute span early in the second half to take a 53-39 lead with 9:56 left on a free throw from Trevond Barnes. Fisher started the run with a jumper at the 18:04 mark and hit a 3-pointer with 11:46 left to push the lead to 52-39.

The lead grew to 19 points on two occasions, with a layup from Eugene Marshall, III giving Hampton (3-5) its final points for a 72-53 lead with 22 seconds left.

Jermaine Marrow had 14 points and five assists to join Fisher in double figures. Joining Fisher in double figures on the boards were Charles Wilson-Fisher and Greg Heckstall with 10 apiece. Hampton held a 57-44 advantage on the boards.

Saint Leo (5-6) was paced by Drago Popovic with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Hampton returns to action on Wednesday night at 7 pm facing Mid-Atlantic Christian University at the HU Convocation Center.

For more information on Hampton University men's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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Mount St. Mary's Rally Comes Up Short in 69-63 Loss to Morgan State on Monday Night

EMMITSBURG, Maryland -- Mount St. Mary's saw its late rally come up short in a 69-63 loss to Morgan State on Monday night at Knott Arena. The Mount cut an 11-point deficit with three minutes remaining to one, but Morgan State was able to stave off the rally to secure the victory. Donald Carey and Junior Robinson each scored 13 points for the Mountaineers in the game.

Morgan State (4-2) held a 57-46 lead with 3:16 left in the game after a Lapri McCray-Pace bucket in the paint. On the next possession, Bobby Planutis hit a pair of free throws to begin a 14-to-3 run that cut the Mountaineer deficit to one. Carey then took control for the Mount, scoring the team's next eight points. He hit a pair of free throws to make it 57-50 with 2:46 on the clock. After the Bears hit 1-of-2 at the line, Carey drained a long jumper to make it a six-point game. The Mount drew a charge on the next possession, and Carey nailed a three-pointer with 1:29 left to make it 58-55. Morgan State's Antonio Gillespie countered with a three-pointer from the corner, but the Mount answered on the other end. Carey was fouled, and he hit the first free throw to make it a five-point game. He missed the second shot, but Planutis grabbed the rebound and converted in the paint to make it 61-58.

Morgan State's Martez Cameron then missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Carey drove to the bucket to make it 61-60 with 40 seconds on the clock. The Bears were able to answer immediately when David Syfax dunked in transition to push the lead back to 63-60. Robinson's lay-up on the ensuing possession rimmed out, and Morgan State hit six consecutive free throws to seal the win.

Trailing 32-31 at the half, the Mount took the lead on a Ryan Gomes bucket on a feed from Robinson just over a minute into the second half. Morgan State responded with an 8-2 run to grab a five-point lead. The Mount pulled within three when Greg Alexander slammed home an alley-oop pass from Robinson with 14:37 remaining, but the Bears scored the next nine points on three three-point baskets from Kyson Rawls to take a 12-point lead.

Carey scored 10 of his 13 points in the final 2:55 while adding eight rebounds and a pair of assists. Robinson stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals while Jonah Antonio and Alexander chipped in 11 points each in the loss. McCray-Pace led Morgan State with 15 points, Phillip Carr added a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds and Cameron finished with 14 points in the win.

Morgan State shot 52.9 percent from the field and was 5-for-11 (.455) from beyond the arc in the win. The Bears held a 36-to-25 edge on the boards as well. The Mount shot 40.0 percent overall and was 8-of-25 (.320) from beyond the arc.

After Morgan State opened the game with a 10-2 run, the Mountaineers rattled off a 17-to-2 run over the next eight minutes to take its biggest lead of the game, 19-to-12. Antonio's second three-pointer of the game capped the run to give the Mount a seven-point advantage. Alexander added five points during the streak as well. The Bears were able to counter the run, and held a 32-to-28 lead before Carey drained a three-pointer right before the halftime buzzer to make it 32-31 at the break.

The Mountaineers are back in action on Saturday, December 2, when Loyola visits Knott Arena for the 173rd all-time meeting between the two teams. The annual Catholic Clash is set to tip-off at 4:00 p.m.

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Get Big Upset Win Over East Carolina

GREENVILLE, North Carolina – North Carolina A&T’s two offensive stars in Aggies men’s basketball team’s 87-81 upset of East Carolina at Minges Coliseum talked about newness. Junior forward Femi Olujobi talked about a new mentality and Aaren Edmead discussed a new toughness.

Both were on display in the Aggies first win over the Pirates in six tries. The Aggies beat a non-conference in-state Division I foe not named UNC Greensboro for the first time since the 2010-11 season when they beat UNC Wilmington 84-79 in Corbett Sports Center. It was their first non-conference in-state Division I win outside of Greensboro since beating Wilmington during the 1990-91 season.

The Aggies (5-1) have now won four straight including two straight on the road.



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“We came into this game looking to win,” Olujobi, the nation’s leading scorer who finished with 23 points and nine rebounds on 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. “We have a whole new team and a whole new mindset. This was just another stepping stone to where we want to go as a team. Right now, we feel like we have a chance to do something special for the university and every guy in that locker room wants to be a part of it.

Everyone on this team brings something to the table. With all the pieces we have, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.”

Edmead, who scored 23 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, displayed the other newness in the Aggies men’s basketball program. With 15:25 remaining in the game and the Aggies leading 50-49, Edmead and ECU guard Shawn Williams found themselves in a heated verbal sparring match in which the two competitors got in each other’s faces. Edmead was called for a technical foul, giving the Pirates two free throws and the lead. It admittedly got him going.

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“I feel like I’m an energy guy, and I like to get the team going,” said Edmead. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that getting a tech is the way to do it, but it did spark me, and I just wanted to keep my team going. I’m ready to do what I can to continue winning. This is a new A&T this year, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Edmead hit big shot after big shot in the second half, perhaps the biggest coming with 4:07 remaining in the game. ECU’s Isaac Fleming hit two free throws to bring the Pirates to within two, 73-71. Edmead then dribbled down the floor, worked his way to the middle of the floor and pulled up from the top of the key just behind the 3-point arc and netted a three to give the Aggies a 76-71 lead. The Pirates never recovered.

Fleming did bring the Pirates to within three on a layup with just under three minutes to play. But freshman guard Kameron Langley put his defender on his right hip and drove left to score on a layup to give the Aggies an 80-75 lead with 2:25 remaining. A 3-point play from Olujobi 52 seconds later was the knockout punch.

N.C. A&T, who did not win a road game last season, is 2-1 on the road this season.

“Winning is hard enough, to get it done on the road is huge,” said N.C. A&T coach Jay Joyner. “It gives us a lot of confidence to know whether we are home or away we can still get the job done. We have two really good road wins so far.”

The Aggies jumped on the Pirates (2-4) early led by graduate guard Devonte Boykins. After ECU took a 3-2 lead 44 seconds into the game, the Aggies went on a 9-0 run sparked by a Boykins 3-pointer. ECU would not see the lead again until the 18:52 mark of the second half. Boykins scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half including three 3-pointers to lead the Aggies to a 43-40 halftime lead.

“When you're able to come on the road and control the first half, it takes the crowd out of it,” said Joyner. “It helps you settle down offensively and defensively because you have the lead. I thought East Carolina did a great job in the second half. They came out swinging, and we must understand basketball is a game of runs.

They're going to make their runs, we're going to make our runs, but at the end of the day it's about finishing the job. I'm so proud of these guys for finishing the job.”

N.C. A&T’s new task will be a road game against Central Connecticut on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

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Alabama State Lady Hornets draw second-seeded Florida in NCAA opening round

MONTGOMERY, Alabama | For the third time in the last four years, Alabama State will travel to Gainesville (Fla.) for the opening round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament, facing second-seeded Florida.

Alabama State (28-10) and Florida (25-1) met for the first time in 2014, while meeting last season for the second time. The two will be joined by Miami, Fla. (21-5) and College of Charleston (27-5), with play beginning this week.

"We will go out there and leave it all on the court," Alabama State head coach Penny Lucas-White said. "We are excited to say we made it to the Big Dance, and we expect to dance. The young ladies have built a legacy of winning and have fortitude. They are never going to lie down. They have changed the mentality of the program, and they will never back down from their opponent across the net."

Thirty-two conferences were awarded an automatic qualification, while the remaining 32 positions were filled with at-large selections to complete the bracket.

The top 16 teams were seeded nationally and placed within four regions. Penn State earned the top seed, followed by Florida as the two seed and defending national champion Stanford as the third seed. Kentucky rounded out the top four.

Per the established bracketing principles, the top 16 seeded were provided the opportunity to host. Additionally, team pairings were determined by geographic proximity, with the exception that teams from the same conference were not paired during the first- and second-rounds.

The Lady Hornets and Florida will start at 7 pm (est) on Thursday at the Exactech Arena at O'Connell Center in Gainesville.

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University volleyball, please follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateVB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.

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Howard Bison Draw Penn State in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The NCAA Volleyball Committee announced its 64-team bracket where Coach Shaun Kupferberg and the Howard University Women's Volleyball team drew the top-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions in the opening round. The announcement came Sunday night.

Howard, the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) volleyball champion, will take on No. 1 Penn State Friday, Dec. 1 in State College, Pa. The match is set for 7:30 p.m.

Sunday (Nov. 19), HU (16-15) won its third consecutive MEAC tournament championship with a straight-set win over Florida A&M (FAMU). Howard made its fourth straight appearance in the title match while becoming the first program since FAMU won nine straight from 2001-09, to win three straight MEAC titles.

Overall, this will be Howard's fourth NCAA appearance.

Penn State (29-1) won the Big Ten championship and currently rides a 19
-match winning streak. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 1 in the latest Top 25 poll from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

VCU-Pittsburgh is the other first-round match-up on Friday in State College. The winners of the two first-round matches will square off on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

Spears, Coleman Lead Lady Bears Past Mount St. Mary’s, 75-67

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Lexus Spears scored a game- and career-high 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting to lead Morgan State to a 75-67 non-conference victory over visiting Mount St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon at Hill Field House.

Spears also pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds and added two steals and a game-high four blocked shots, falling one shy of her career-high of five.

"The game plan for me is to always go out and play hard no matter who my competition is," said Spears on her performance. "Whatever comes easy is how I flow on defense and offense. I just keep reminding myself before each game that I can only be stopped by me. There aren't many defenders who can guard me, so I have to go out and play like I know and leave it all on the floor."

Adre'onia Coleman finished with a season-best 21 points and had seven rebounds, while Braennan Farrar added 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a game-high four steals in the victory.



The win was the Lady Bears' first this season over a Division I opponent and avenged last season's loss to the Mountaineers. Morgan State (3-3) now leads the all-time series against Mount St. Mary's, 8-7.

Mount St. Mary's (0-5) was led by Kayla Agentowicz, who finished with a team-high 18 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Ashlee White came off the bench to score 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range and dished out four assists.

Morgan State began the game scoring the first seven points, but the guests responded with a 10-4 spurt to take pull within 11-10, following a layup from Jatarrikah Settle with 4:38 to play in the opening quarter. Coleman would then score eight of Morgan State's final 11 points in the quarter to give the Lady Bears a 22-16 lead after one quarter of play.

The Lady Bears would maintain the lead throughout the second quarter and took a 34-31 advantage on a layup by Spears with 13 seconds remaining in the half. However, Daly Sullivan would drain a three-pointer to end the half and tie the score at 34 all at intermission.

The Mount would score the first four points of the third quarter to take their first lead of the game at 38-34. Trailing 48-47, Morgan State would put together a 10-0 run to take a 57-48 lead. The Mountaineers would close out the period with a quick 5-0 spurt, capped off by a three-pointer from White prior to the buzzer to cut the Morgan State lead to 57-53 at the end of three quarters.

Less than three minutes into the fourth period, the Lady Bears would break a 58 all tie, by using a 13-2 run to take their largest lead of the game at 11 points (71-60). Mount St. Mary's used a 7-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer by Agentowicz to cut the deficit to four points (71-67) with under a minute to play, but that would be as close as the Mount would get.

The Lady Bears return to action this Wednesday, Nov. 29, when they travel to New Britain, Conn. to take on Central Connecticut State. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils (0-4) will host Albany on Monday, Nov. 27, before facing Morgan State.

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Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletic Communications
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Chace Franklin's 3 Lifts JSU Tigers Past Nebraska - Omaha in Emerald Coast Classic

NICEVILLE, Florida -- The Omaha men's basketball team closed the Emerald Coast Classic Saturday morning, falling 75-73 in overtime to Jackson State.

Leaders for Omaha
Junior Zach Jackson tallied his second 20-point scoring performance of the year, finishing with 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four 3-pointers. He was 6-of-7 at the charity stripe and added two rebounds and two steals.

Sophomore KJ Robinson chipped in 13 points with a trio of threes, as well as a team-high five assists, two rebounds, a block and a steal. Senior Daniel Norl rounded it out with 12 points, a team-high five boards and three assists.

Senior Daniel Meyer matched Norl on the glass, pulling down five rebounds alongside eight points.

Leaders for Jackson State
Jackson State had a pair of 20-point scorers in Chace Franklin (22) and Paris Collins (21), with Franklin knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer in overtime. Charles Taylor added a game-high eight rebounds with eight points.

Team Stats
Omaha shot over 50 percent from the third straight game, finishing at .520 (26-of-50) from the floor, including .407 (11-of-27) from long range. JSU came in at .448 (30-of-67) from the field and .313 (5-of-16) behind the arc. The Tigers forced 18 Maverick miscues while committing 10 themselves.

Inside the First Half
Meyer led the Mavericks with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first half, while sophomore JT Gibson had seven as Omaha shot .480 (12-of-25) out of the gate. The half included six ties and 12 lead changes, with the Mavericks taking a 35-31 advantage by the break, their first halftime lead of the year.

Inside the Second Half
Omaha built a five-point advantage at 38-33 in the first 90 seconds of the second stanza, but JSU regained the lead at 56-55. Later, down 66-62, Jackson hit a wide-open three from the corner to pull the Mavericks within one with just under two minutes to play. JSU again stretched it to a three-point lead with 21 seconds left in regulation, but Norl drained another trey to tie it at 68-all with 10.2 seconds left, sending the game to overtime.

Inside Overtime
Omaha used a pair of free throws and Jackson's fourth triple of the game to go up 73-68 with 3:26 left in the extra period. But JSU sunk two Taylor free throws and added a layup from Collins to begin its comeback, and the Mavericks committed three straight turnovers as their lead was trimmed to 73-72. Franklin then hit the game-winning three in the closing seconds, sealing the game at 75-73 with JSU's final 7-0 run.

The Mavericks are now 0-7 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 2-4.

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Grambling Takes First Win at UT Rio Grande Valley

EDINBURG, Texas | Ivy Smith, Jr., scored a career-high 27 points as the Grambling State University men's basketball team picked up its first victory of the season with an 82-76 win over the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday night.

Smith was 6-of-13 shooting and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line to lead the Tigers with 27 points, six assists, six steals and three rebounds. Axel Mpoyo registered a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards, while Drake Wilks tallied 11 points off the bench.



Xavier McDaniel, Jr. paced the Vaqueros with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including four 3-pointers. N. Dixon tallied 26 points and eight boards.

Grambling State (1-4) shot 43.5 percent (22-of-54) from the floor and 75 percent (31-of-42) from the free-throw line.

Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Monday in Denton, Texas to take on North Texas. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathetics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.

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Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs rally past FIU in Thanksgiving Tournament

MIAMI, Florida  -- The Lady Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes Saturday to take a 58-51 win over host Florida International University in the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament.

Alabama A&M, 3-2, will face Hartford in Sunday's tournament championship. Tipoff is 11 a.m. Central.

Nigeria Jones led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points, Tierra Dark scored 11 and Natalie Collins added 10 points to give A&M three players in double-figure scoring.



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FIU held a 50-48 lead with 2:50 left when Dark hit a pair of free throws to tie the score.

The Panthers retook the lead at 51-50 on a free throw before Kenisha Sharp's layup at 1:58 gave A&M a 52-51 lead they never relinquished.

A&M trailed throughout the game until Jameica Cobb scored on a layup with 6:24 left in the third quarter to lift the Lady Bulldogs to a 29-28 lead.

However, FIU would go back in front and lead 41-38 at the end of the third.

The Lady Bulldogs trailed 47-40 with 7:27 left in the game but would go on a 8-1 run and tie the score at 48-48 with 4:17 to play.

Tharp pulled down 9 rebounds, including six on the defensive boards, to lead A&M.

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Big Runs Lead Hampton Over San Jose State, 81-73

Career Highs From Finney-Smith And Bates Give Hampton Split At Pacific Tournament

STOCKTON, California  --  Behind a 20-20 afternoon from Monnazjea Finney-Smith and the strength of an 18-4 run over the last six minutes of the third quarter, Hampton defeated San Jose State 81-73 for third place at the Tiger Turkey Tipoff at the University of Pacific on Saturday.

Finney-Smith scored a team-high 24 points and hauled in a career-best 21 rebounds to become the first player to score 20+ points and haul in 20+ rebounds in a game under ninth year head coach David Six. Her 21 rebounds is tied for fifth most in a game in school history and only two off the record of 23 by Brielle Ward against Virginia Tech on Jan. 1, 2014.

In a first half that saw seven ties, San Jose State held a 30-22 lead with 7:41 left in the second quarter on a Danae Marquez layup. Hampton went on a 20-9 run to lead 42-39 on a layup from Ashley Bates with 1:13 remaining. The Spartans scored the last three points on free throws to tie the game at 42 at half.



San Jose State opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to lead 52-44 with 6:40 left on a 3-pointer from Andrea Kohlhaas. The Lady Pirates answered with the quarter closing 18-4 burst. Hampton scored the first 10 points as Finney-Smith drained a couple triples and Bates hit a couple layups. A pair of Bates free throws with 30 seconds left gave Hampton its own eight-point lead at 62-54.

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A 3-pointer from Kohlhaas cut the deficit to 62-59 with 9:25 left but Hampton put the game away on the heels of a 14-4 run as a Finney-Smith layup with 4:44 left gave Hampton a 76-63 lead.

Joining Finney-Smith in the double-double club was Bates with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Allina Starr just missed a double-double with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Hampton now heads to Eugene, Oregon for a Tuesday night 9pm EST matchup with #10 Oregon.

For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

NSU Women’s Basketball Erases 10-Point Halftime Deficit in 52-51 Win over St. Francis Brooklyn

BOCA RATON, Florida – Kayla Roberts made a pair of free throws with 0.3 seconds left in the game to lift Norfolk State women's basketball past
St. Francis Brooklyn 52-51 on day two of the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Roberts scored the final five points of the game and becomes the first Spartan to sink a game-winning free throw with less than five seconds remaining since Whitney Long did so against Savannah State on Jan. 2, 2011.

Norfolk State (2-3) trailed by 10 at halftime and was down by six, 49-43, with just 3:21 left in the game. From there the Spartans scored nine of the game's final 11 points to complete the come-from-behind bid.

Roberts knocked down a 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining to pull NSU to within one, 51-50. The shot came on a scramble following an offensive rebound by Khadedra Croker.

The Spartan defense then forced St. Francis Brooklyn (1-4) into a turnover, and Roberts was fouled at half court just before time expired.

Norfolk State relied on a stout second-half defense to get back into the game. After scoring 34 points on 46.2 percent shooting in the first half, the Terriers managed only 17 points after the intermission and shot 33.3 percent from the field. St. Francis Brooklyn made seven 3-pointers in the first half but made only one in the final 20 minutes.

A slow start on offense had the Spartans down 18-11 after the first quarter. Croker made the first three baskets for NSU, but the team shot only 33.3 percent (4-of-12) in the first period.

Croker's third field goal came at the 7:12 mark of the first and trimmed the Terriers' lead to 10-6. However, Norfolk State went the next 3:49 without a point as St. Francis Brooklyn went on a 10-0 run.

Raven Russell broke that run with a pair of free throws at 2:02 and started a 5-0 quarter-ending spurt for NSU. Alexys Long hit a jumper with 1:02 remaining to make the score 18-10, and Russell made one final free throw to close out the first period.

Russell matched a career best with 13 points on Saturday. The junior guard made three of her six shots, including a pair of treys, and went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe to set new career highs in free throws made and attempted.

Alex Delaney started the second quarter with a made 3-pointer that put the Terriers ahead 21-11. Norfolk State would trim that deficit to three points twice in the quarter, but St. Francis Brooklyn led 34-24 at the break.

A 7-0 run by NSU made the score 21-18 with 6:20 left in the half. Roberts started the run with a layup. Russell bookended two free throws by Armani Franklin with a trey to complete the run.

Both teams traded layups before the Terriers broke away with two-straight 3-pointers to build a 29-20 lead with 4:46 remaining.

Russell knocked down a trey to trim the lead to six, but Jade Johnson answered with a 3-ball of her own to put St. Francis Brooklyn up by nine again, 32-23.

The Spartans came out energized to start the second half and scored the first nine points of the third quarter to cut the deficit to one point.

Long started the run with a trey at the 8:54 mark, and Russell followed with a layup 34 seconds later. Franklin accounted for the final four points of the run with a pair of free throws and a slicing layup that made the score 34-33 and prompted a timeout by St. Francis Brooklyn.

The Terriers went nearly five minutes without a point to start the third quarter – missing their first five shots and turning the ball over three times in that span. Lorraine Hickman broke the seal for St. Francis Brooklyn with a jumper at 5:01 and scored again at 3:41 to put her team up 38-35.

Russell briefly put the Spartans ahead with a free throw at 2:03. The 39-38 lead was the first for the Spartans' since the 9:31 mark of the first quarter, but it would not last long as Dana DiRenzo made a pair of free throws six seconds later.

Norfolk State trailed 43-41 entering the fourth quarter and never held a lead until the final second.

Croker knotted the score at 43-43 with a jumper at 8:03, but St. Francis Brooklyn scored the next six points. Maria Palarino gave the Terriers a six-point lead with a layup at 3:21, and it would be the Terriers' penultimate basket of the game.

Roberts began Norfolk State's final push of the game with a jumper at 2:59. The senior from Miami, Florida overcame a slow start of the game to score seven points in the fourth quarter on 2-of-4 shooting.

Franklin's final free throws of the game brought NSU to within one possession, 49-47, with 1:16 left in the game. The freshman guard matched a career-high with 10 points and went 6-of-8 from the free-throw line and assisted on three baskets.

A day after turning the ball over a season-high 24 times, the Spartans committed only 17 turnovers on Saturday. The Terriers turned the ball over 20 times, which led to 20 points.

NSU narrowly edged St. Francis Brooklyn on the boards 33-30, including a 15-11 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Delaney scored 13 points to pace the Terriers. Amy O'Neill recorded a game-high seven assists.

Norfolk State returns to Echols Hall on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with High Point.

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NCCU Eagles Back in Win Column to Finish Road Trip at Southeast Missouri State, 77-70

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri – North Carolina Central University had to hold off a late run from Southeast Missouri State, but the Eagles finish their three-game, five-day road trip with a 77-70 win on Sunday, Nov. 26 at the Show Me Center.

For the third time this year, NCCU (3-5) shot over 50 percent, as the Eagles made 51.9 percent of their attempts (28-54).

NCCU scored first in the contest, and after trading buckets with SEMO (2-4) in the early stages, the Eagles cobbled together a 10-0 run to go in front and keep the lead all the way through the first half.

Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) and Alston Jones (Kansas City, Mo.) started the game a combined 7-for-7 from the floor as they racked up eight points over that stretch, and Perkins finished the half with a team-high 12 points.

Over the first stanza, NCCU shot 55.2 percent from the floor (16-29), while holding SEMO to 37.9 percent (11-29).

NCCU hopped out of the gate in the second half playing the same refrain from the first half, as the Eagles rattled off a 6-0 run over the first two-and-a-half minutes. The Eagles led by as many as 16 in the second half, but SEMO turned the tide and built an 8-0 run of its own to pull within one at 59-58 with 8:40 remaining.

The Eagles were able to re-inflate the cushion, but SEMO made a late 6-0 run to again draw within five points with under three minutes remaining. But NCCU was able to make its free throws with help from Pablo Rivas (Colon, Panama) to hold off the Redhawks for a 77-70 final.

Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) came up one point shy of his season-high, but notched his third double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Perkins came up shy of a double-double of his own with 13 points and seven assists. C.J. Wiggins (Richmond, Va.) collected 11 points, and Reggie Gardner, Jr. (Bowie, Md.) added 10.

Justin Carpenter (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) added a double-double for SEMO with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and he was joined in double-figures by Donnie Lewis (Lexington, Ky.) and Denzel Mahoney (Oviedo, Fla.) who each had 15.

NCCU finally heads back to The Nest to host Christendom on Thursday, Nov. 30.

BOX SCORE

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern pleased with overall effort in Bayou Classic loss to Grambling

NEW ORLEANS -- Going into Saturday’s Bayou Classic game against Grambling, Southern felt somewhat disrespected.

Whether the slight was manufactured or real, Southern’s players took the field believing that nobody believed in them.

Although they did not come away with a win, the Jaguars felt they proved something to those that may have doubted them in a hard-fought 30-21 loss.



“To come into a game like this, where nobody picked us to win, and to fight like that, that’s why the emotion was so high,” said senior cornerback Danny Johnson. “After we leave here, I don’t feel like we have anything to (hang) our heads about.

“Nobody can question our character; nobody can question our effort. We played hard.”

Southern coach Dawson Odums said his team was “embarrassed” by its 52-30 loss in the 2016 Bayou Classic and came out aiming to prove it was on more equal footing with a Grambling team that has won 25 straight conference games since Southern beat it in the 2014 Bayou Classic.

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Having their kicks (and blocks and returns): Grambling special teams paves way for Bayou Classic victory

NEW ORLEANS -- After Southern scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5 minutes, 2 seconds left in the Bayou Classic, things didn't look good for Grambling.

There was plenty of time left, but Southern's defense had forced a Grambling punt on four of the previous five Tigers' possessions up to that point.

However, Calief Samon, a junior, returned the Jaguars' ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Southern 40, setting up Grambling's winning touchdown in what became a 30-21 victory with that 10-point spurt after falling behind 21-20.

“We were very dominant in the kicking game,” Tigers coach Broderick Fobbs said. “I thought it was the deciding factor in the game.

"We blocked a kick, they missed a kick because of our pressure, we ran a kickoff back across the 50. We were able to flip the field with a punt return. And, then we had (three) touchbacks (two on kickoffs)."



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WSSU football schedule for next fall nearly complete

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State’s football schedule for next fall is nearly complete.

Athletics Director Tonia Walker is trying to fill one more date for a nonconference game on Sept. 15. The rest of the schedule, however, is already.

The Rams, who went 6-4 this fall and missed out on playing for the CIAA championship for the first time in six years, will open next season with two straight home games.

“It’s good to open at home two weeks in a row but you have to be prepared and that will start with spring ball and carry over into the summer,” Coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams said.

The Rams will open against UNC Pembroke on Sept. 1 and will then welcome Catawba on Sept. 8 to Bowman Gray Stadium. Catawba went 9-2 last season and just missed qualifying for the Division II playoffs.

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Hampton's Marching Force band preparing for national 'battle'

Dr. Thomas L. Jones, Jr., Director of University Bands, Music

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Thomas Jones is very good at keeping a secret. And for a week or two, he had a good one to keep.

Jones, director of bands at Hampton University, learned in late October that the school’s Marching Force unit had been selected as one of eight finalists to compete in the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase on Jan. 27 at the Mercedes Benz Dome in Atlanta.

“I got the phone call from the organizers, but we had to keep it quiet until they were ready to make the announcement,” Jones said. “I didn’t even tell the band until the day before the press release was going to come out.”

And when he told them, how did the 100 or so members of the band and dance teams react?

“They were so excited,” Jones said. “It meant a lot to them. It was a validation for everything we’ve been doing this year.”

The event, in its 16th year, is a showcase for marching bands from historically black colleges and universities. The selection process incorporates input from band directors, school presidents, corporate sponsors and online voting. Each of the eight finalists receive a $20,000 grant from Honda to support music education, and the sponsor covers all travel expenses for the showcase.



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Pennsylvania State System BOG names Aaron A. Walton President of Cheyney University

Aaron A. Walton, President
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY

CHEYNEY, Pennsylvania  --  The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has named Aaron A. Walton president of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania for a term beginning immediately through June 30, 2021, to ensure stable leadership while the university implements a multi-year financial plan.

Walton has served as Cheyney’s interim president since May, shortly after the Middle States Commission on Higher Education ordered Cheyney to “show cause” as to why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. Since then, the university has made significant strides, including submitting a detailed operating plan to Middle States that explains, among other things, how it will balance its budget in the future while meeting the educational needs of students.

“While I came here to help transform Cheyney University, I can tell you that Cheyney University has changed my life. It beats in my heart. It courses through my veins,” said Walton. “The students on this campus will forever be part of my family. These remarkable young people deserve every opportunity to receive a high-quality education here and to earn a degree that will help ensure their successful future, and I will do everything within my power to make that happen.”

Last week, the Council of Trustees recommended Walton be named the university’s next president and in accordance with state law, the Council conferred with students, faculty and alumni prior to voting on the recommendation.

Cheyney University is America’s oldest historically Black university, and it has an important role in our society.

“When we considered who would be best to ensure the university's future, it was clear that Aaron Walton is that person,” said Robert W. Bogle, chair of Cheyney University’s Council of Trustees. “I applaud what he has accomplished in just six months, and I can only imagine what he will do with more time.”

“Since the day he arrived on campus, Aaron has demonstrated his commitment to securing Cheyney’s continuing accreditation and—just as important—to ensuring the university’s long-term future so it can continue to serve students,” said Board of Governors Chairwoman Cynthia D. Shapira. “There is no stronger advocate for Cheyney University, and no one better able to lead the effort to shape the future of this historic institution and ensure it is on the road to success.”

“We are confident that the strides the university already has taken under President Walton’s leadership will demonstrate to Middle States that Cheyney has a bright future,” said State System Interim Chancellor Karen M. Whitney. “He crafted an exceptional multi-year recovery plan that was submitted to Middle States. There is no better person to ensure the university’s success.”

Among the issues cited by Middle States in its “show cause” order was the importance of leadership. Walton is scheduled to appear before the commission Thursday, after which a decision regarding the university’s accreditation will be made.

PSSHE voted to forgive $30 million in loans it provided to the school, providing the budget is balanced in each of the next four years. So, Walton has agreed to serve until then. 

“I welcome the opportunity that has been given to me, and commit my all toward working together with the Board, the Trustees, and the students, faculty, staff and alumni to ensure there is a Cheyney today, and a Cheyney forever,” said Walton.

Prior to his arrival at Cheyney, Walton was previously employed by Highmark Inc., where he was one of nine principle officers responsible for providing overall management and direction of all of the organization’s corporate activities. During his 40-year tenure with Highmark, he held progressively higher key management roles in both corporate and subsidiary operations. Additionally, he has served on more than 35 community boards.

Walton holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from California University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

CIAA Basketball Legend Cal Irvin Passes Away

Calvin "Cal" Irvin finished his career with a remarkable 401-132 record at Johnson C. Smith University and North Carolina A&T State University, finishing third in the NAIA Tournament twice.  Irvin was a giant at A&T, where the basketball court now bears his name.

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- I stood in a funeral line several years ago with one of the greatest basketball minds in the history of the game. We didn’t talk about basketball.

Cal Irvin, a legendary basketball coach and a giant at N.C. A&T, died Saturday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Irvin brought big-time basketball to Greensboro long before the ACC Tournament came here, leading A&T to the 1959 NCAA College Division Final Four, the first historic black university to even earn a bid to the NCAA tournament, much less reach a Final Four.

Irvin would win 308 games in 18 years as the coach of the Aggies, leading A&T to CIAA titles in 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1967.

He’s a member of the CIAA Hall of Fame, the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

The brother of Negro League baseball legend Monte Irvin, Cal was also a great baseball player who played for the Newark Eagles and the Raleigh Grays before coming to Greensboro, where he would coach basketball and serve as the athletics director at A&T.

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PVAMU Marching Storm Takes Over New York City -- Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Neiko Hollins guides Prairie View past rival Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas -- Prairie View A&M struggled offensively, and Texas Southern's defense was outstanding.

At least that was the case for most of the first half Saturday night.

Then Panthers quarterback Neiko Hollins took over.

Hollins passed for three touchdowns and 319 yards, leading Prairie View to a 30-16 Southwestern Athletic Conference win over Texas Southern at BBVA Compass Stadium, securing a third straight winning season for the Panthers under third-year coach Willie Simmons, who is unbeaten against the Tigers.

"We're in a good place with the program," Simmons said. "It was my job to come and give us some consistency."

But Hollins was far from perfect. A third-quarter interception returned 39 yards for a score by Archie White got the Tigers to within five points.

But Hollins was instrumental in the Panthers' win over their biggest rival.

Since taking over as the starting quarterback six games ago, Hollins has been the guiding force for the resurgent Panthers (6-5, 4-3 SWAC), who ended their 2017 football season with their third straight win.



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JOHNSON: Grambling reminded everyone why it is the best of the best in the SWAC

NEW ORLEANS -- It is true as it is cliché: To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Grambling — hands down, bar none — has staked its claim as the best program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference by executing that cliché precisely. The Tigers have staked their claim so far down into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome turf that it might be sprouting roots.

Southern tried mightily to rip that stake out and end Grambling’s stranglehold on SWAC supremacy. And, for a moment, there appeared to be some light — a Southern lead in the fourth quarter, a gap between the stake and the ground.

And then — WHAM! — the staggering reality set in. It took all of 85 seconds for that gap to close.

It was frighteningly fast, Grambling’s reminder to Southern that it truly is boss.

A big kick return led to a quick touchdown. Eighty-five seconds after Southern took its only lead, Grambling stole it right back.



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With a chance to topple the SWAC's best, Southern fails to cash in chances in 31-20 loss

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- A theme was forming for Southern: The Jaguars had whiffed on too many opportunities and a third consecutive Bayou Classic win for Grambling was brewing. And so, the Tigers' 25th Southwestern Athletic Conference win in a row seemed fairly inevitable.

That was until Southern snatched a third-quarter fumble and quarterback Austin Howard began generating excellence, as he has for much of the later stages of his senior season, when Southern was emptied of momentum and reliant on hope.



The third quarter’s fumble-score swing muddied any certainty regarding how Grambling's eventual 31-20 win in the 44th annual Bayou Classic would end, diminishing the 17-7 lead Grambling’s smooth offense created by halftime.

Southern linebacker Kaycee Ntukogu forced the fumble as nearly five minutes remained in the third quarter. Howard, 80 seconds later, dropped a beauty in the hands of Kendall Catalon as he gracefully slid across the Mercedes-Benz Superdome's end zone.

Following the touchdown, Saturday's game, the SWAC's Western Division and a bid to the conference championship game was going to go to which of Louisiana's SWAC teams could muster enough to hold off their fiercest rival.

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Back-and-forth Bayou Classic ends with third straight Grambling win

NEW ORLEANS -- This was one for the defenses.

Grambling’s Brandon Varner stripped the ball away from Southern quarterback Austin Howard, then recovered the late fumble to provide the key play in the Tigers' 30-21 win over the Jaguars in the 44th annual Bayou Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The turnover set up Marc Orozco’s game-clinching 36-yard field goal and spoiled a spirited second-half effort by Southern’s defense.

Martez Carter led the Tigers on the ground with 106 yards and a touchdown on 14 rushes, including the 11-yard touchdown run that gave Grambling the lead for good with 3:22 left. Grambling quarterback Devante Kincaid was 14 of 30 for 171 yards and a score.

Grambling (10-1, 7-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) moves on to play Alcorn State next week in the SWAC championship game.

“I saw it all week. I had faith,” Varner said of his fumble recovery, which came with 2:44 remaining.

It was Grambling’s 10th straight win this season, third consecutive win in the series, and 25th consecutive win against a SWAC opponent. The Tigers have not lost a conference game since the 2014 Bayou Classic.

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Bayou Classic 2017 Halftime Show

FINAL: GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS 30, SOUTHERN JAGUARS 21