Latest news with #SouthwesternAthleticConferenceTournament
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mizzou Hoops Reportedly Adds Bethune-Cookman to 2025-26 Schedule
Mizzou Hoops Reportedly Adds Bethune-Cookman to 2025-26 Schedule originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Missouri Tigers men's basketball program is expected to add a new opponent to Mizzou Arena this winter. Advertisement According to a report in the Columbia Daily Tribune, Mizzou is expected to host Bethune-Cookman on December 14. The HBCU team out of Daytona, Florida, will be paid a reported $110,000 to compete in Columbia. Last season, the Wildcats went 17-16 before losing in the second round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament. Missouri Tigers Head Coach Dennis Gates reacts in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats© Gary Rohman-Imagn Images Bethune-Cookman is led by head coach Reggie Theus, a former NBA All-Star. Theus was drafted ninth overall in 1978 by the Chicago Bulls after an impressive collegiate career at UNLV. He was named an All-Star in the 1981 and 1983 seasons. Mizzou has also added Virginia Military Institute to its 2025-'26 schedule, with the game set for Sunday, Nov. 9 at home, falling on the same weekend the Tigers' football team is set to face conference foe Texas A&M. Though the VMI matchup is early into the season, it's unlikely to be the home opener. Advertisement In every season under head coach Dennis Gates, Mizzou has competed in three games within eight days of the first game. The Tigers announced May 21 that they will open their season on the road against Howard in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Nov. 3. Assuming they follow this timeline, there will likely be another matchup at Mizzou Arena scheduled in between the Howard and VMI tilts. The Tigers competed in 13 nonconference games in November and December of last season, which leaves room for six more opponents to be added this year. Related: Former Mizzou Guard Jumps Up NBA Draft Big Board This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FAMU tennis enters the NCAA Tournament 'six strong,' will face Georgia Bulldogs in regional
Florida A&M women's tennis team has more matches to play. The Rattlers are headed to the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs for the regional round in Athens, Georgia. It's the Rattlers' second national tournament appearance in the last three seasons under longtime head coach Nikki Houston. Florida A&M women's tennis team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship at New Orleans' City Park Tennis Center on Sunday, April 20, 2025. 'We've been there before and know what it takes,' Earl Wade, FAMU's assistant tennis coach, told the Tallahassee Democrat. "We're battle-tested. You have to play. Nothing is guaranteed.' Advertisement FAMU clinched the NCAA Tournament by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship by beating Jackson State 4-2 in the title match. The Rattlers' SWAC title win came a year after failing to repeat as champions when they lost to Alabama State in the 2024 championship round. 'I told the young ladies to remember this, keep your head up, and use this as your vehicle to get back,' Wade said. 'We knew what we wanted and had something to prove.' Florida A&M women's tennis team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship at New Orleans' City Park Tennis Center on Sunday, April 20, 2025. What made the Rattlers' championship season so special is that they pulled it off with an abbreviated roster of six. However, instead of the low numbers hampering the FAMU tennis team, it brought players closer together. Advertisement 'This year has been very taxing because we only had six players,' Wade reflected on the season. 'I call them 'six strong.' We're family, depend on each other, and count on each other. It's us against the world.' Florida A&M tennis player Sara Rakim participates in a match at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Tallahassee, Florida One of the FAMU's six players is Sara Rakim, named the SWAC's Tennis Player of the Year. The Morocco native also earned SWAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Other All-SWAC selections include Reagan Harris, a first-teamer, and Susan Salinas, who made the second team. 'I'm focusing on bringing the energy, staying positive, and believing in us because I know we got talent and can have great results,' Rakim said. Advertisement Now, as a senior, playing at Georgia is all too familiar to Rakim. The Rattlers also played the Bulldogs in the 2023 national tournament, where Georgia topped FAMU 4-0. Five of FAMU's six players from the 2023 SWAC Championship team remain on the roster in 2025. 'I'm very excited because this is my last tournament as a college tennis player,' Rakim said. 'My family wants to watch, and everybody's excited for me to play.' FAMU tennis (11-10) and Georgia (23-3) will meet at 1 p.m. at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens on Georgia Tech and Iowa round out the four-team regional. 'Hard work, determination, perseverance, fight. That's what this team did,' Wade said. 'With them doing that, you see the fruit of all the hard work by winning the SWAC again.' Advertisement Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat. Follow his award-winning coverage on and contact him via email at GDThomas@ or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU tennis to play against the Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FAMU tennis headed to New Orleans to recapture SWAC Tournament championship trophy
FAMU tennis headed to New Orleans to recapture SWAC Tournament championship trophy The Florida A&M tennis team is headed somewhere that has become all too familiar. The Rattlers are headed to this weekend's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, played at New Orleans' City Park Tennis Center. Advertisement FAMU (9-10, 7-2 in SWAC) enters the eight-team SWAC Tournament bracket as a three-seed and will match up against Southern (4-12, 4-5 in SWAC) in the first round. The first serve begins on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Florida A&M head tennis coach and director of tennis Nikki Houston looks on during the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament at the City Park Tennis Center in New Orleans. When FAMU and Southern played during the regular season, the Rattlers came out on top with a 4-1 victory. 'The girls are confident that we can come out and play well this weekend,' FAMU tennis head coach Nikki Houston told the Tallahassee Democrat. 'We got Southern in the first round and are looking forward to playing them again.' The SWAC Tournament match is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. Advertisement If FAMU reaches the title match, it will be the program's third consecutive year competing for the SWAC Championship. In 2023, the Rattlers defeated Jackson State in the SWAC championship. Last year, FAMU lost to Alabama State in the SWAC Tournament's championship match. Florida A&M's Reagan Harris participates in a match at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex. Five of FAMU's six-woman roster remain from the Rattlers' SWAC Championship team. FAMU has four seniors and two juniors. 'We got a veteran team,' Houston explained. 'Everybody has been to the championship, the expectations, and the focus we have to go in with.' The SWAC tennis title may run through Jackson State and the defending champions Alabama State. Jackson State is the No. 1 seed, with Alabama State at No. 2. Advertisement Those were the only SWAC teams FAMU lost to during the regular season. 'Even though we didn't fan out the regular season like we wanted to, we were in those matches,' Houston said. 'It prepared us for the championship this year.' Florida A&M tennis player Sara Rakim participates in a match at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Tallahassee, Florida FAMU winning the SWAC title would be its second in the last three years. Houston helped the Rattlers win the 1997 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. 'It would be great and add to the legacy of FAMU tennis and athletics,' Houston said when asked about what winning the SWAC title would mean. 'We come in to graduate and get a ring. So, that's what we're trying to do.' Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat. Follow his award-winning coverage on and contact him via email at GDThomas@ or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU tennis aiming for 2nd SWAC title in last 3 years this weekend
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama State wins first SWAC tourney title since 2011, pulls away late to beat Jackson State 60-56
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — CJ Hines scored 20 points and No. 5 seed Alabama State pulled away late to beat No. 2 seed Jackson State 60-56 on Saturday night in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship and clinched its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. Dorian McMillian's jumper gave Jackson State its last lead at 52-51 with 1:48 remaining. Micah Octave made a layup, TJ Madlock added a jumper, and Shawn Fulcher made a pair of free throws and Alabama State led 58-53 with 13 seconds left. McMillian hit another 3 before Micah Simpson sealed it at the free-throw line. Hines was 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and 4 of 6 from long range. Madlock grabbed 12 rebounds and had three assists, three steals and two blocks to go with seven points for Alabama State (19-15). Shannon Grant scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots to lead Jackson State (16-18). McMillian finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Jackson State outrebounded Alabama State 44-36, but the Hornets made four more 3-pointers and had just six turnovers compared to 14 from the Tigers. __ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and The Associated Press
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama State wins first SWAC tourney title since 2011, pulls away late to beat Jackson State 60-56
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — CJ Hines scored 20 points and No. 5 seed Alabama State pulled away late to beat No. 2 seed Jackson State 60-56 on Saturday night in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship and clinched its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. Dorian McMillian's jumper gave Jackson State its last lead at 52-51 with 1:48 remaining. Micah Octave made a layup, TJ Madlock added a jumper, and Shawn Fulcher made a pair of free throws and Alabama State led 58-53 with 13 seconds left. McMillian hit another 3 before Micah Simpson sealed it at the free-throw line. Hines was 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and 4 of 6 from long range. Madlock grabbed 12 rebounds and had three assists, three steals and two blocks to go with seven points for Alabama State (19-15). Shannon Grant scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots to lead Jackson State (16-18). McMillian finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Jackson State outrebounded Alabama State 44-36, but the Hornets made four more 3-pointers and had just six turnovers compared to 14 from the Tigers. __ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and
