ACU keeping options open when it comes to changes - Joey Richards, Abilene Reporter News
The landscape of college athletics seems to be ever changing, with schools bolting from one conference to another, and Abilene Christian University doesn't want to be caught off guard. ACU Athletic Director Jared Mosley said the school is considering all of its options during a current evaluation of the athletics program. However, he said rumors of the Wildcats jumping to Division I are just that — rumors.
"We're in the process of doing a thorough evaluation of athletics," he said. "Actually, we're looking at a lot of things. All the rumor mill, people have taken what they've wanted to and run with that. It's kind of turned into Division I talk. But we've actually presented a lot of material related to what things would look like if we were to stay Division II, what would it would like if we moved down to Division III and what it would look like if we moved up to Division I. Really, it's just a lot of information sharing and presenting relevant data on each case. At some point, we'll look at that a little deeper and use it to guide athletics and the institution to achieve what it needs to."
Mosley said he's aware all the changes going on in college athletics might lead to some tempting offers. The Southland Conference will lose two schools — Texas State and Texas-San Antonio — to the Western Athletic Conference on July 1, 2012, and the SLC — which competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) and Division I in all other sports — might be looking to add more schools.
"Obviously, if we were to move to Division I, the only realistic option is the Southland Conference, given our geographic location," Mosley said. "But I think just our annual evaluation of athletics and the process we go through every four or five years to look at it a little deeper plays a part (in the rumors). But with the timing of all the Division I transitions and people hopping conference, even the Lone Star Conference moves we saw this past summer, I think we have to be aware of the landscape across the country and think that out well and whatever option presents itself, be ready for that."
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Henry leads Texans to upset of No. 9 Cards
By BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
Tarleton State (12-3, 3-0) once again proved to be too much at home in Wisdom Gym.
The Texans upset No. 9 Incarnate Word (13-2, 2-1) 69-66 in a Lone Star Conference South Division battle in front of 2,464 Wednesday night, winning their 12th straight at home dating back to last year. The victory, paired with Eastern New Mexico's 89-69 loss at Midwestern State, leaves Tarleton as the only unbeaten team remaining in the South. Senior point guard Corin Henry led the way with 26 points, three shy of his career high. He was 9-16 from the floor.
"I thought Corin played very hard," Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman said. "He's been working hard to become a complete point guard, and you could see that hard work paying off tonight."
Tarleton led for good after Donta Smith converted a two-plus-one that made it 48-47 with 13:03 to go. It was 55-53 before Darrion Washington made the play of the night, draining a 3-ball through the outstretched arms of two UIW defenders. He was fouled and swished the free throw for a 4-point play and a 59-53 lead with 8:50 left.
Washington, who hit three triples and scored all 10 of his points in the second half, connected on another bomb moments later to open up a 9-point lead. The Texans were hot from the arc all night, connecting on 12 of 18 3-point attempts. The Cardinals worked their deficit down to two after a 9-2 run that ended with a Tracy Robinson runner that made it 64-62 with 2:36 remaining. Robinson came into the game averaging 18.6 points, but scored only four in the second half and finished with 11.
Wes Dipprey, the reigning back-to-back defensive player of the week in the South, stretched Tarleton's lead back to four on the next possession and it grew to five on a Henry free throw with 32 ticks on the clock. UIW's Eric Stewart hit a point-blank put back to make it 67-64 with 26 seconds left. Henry slipped and fell bringing the ball into the front court moments later, and Shaun Umeh converted the turnover into a layup on the other end to cut the deficit to one. Henry was fouled and made both free throws with 14 seconds to go, and a desperation 3-point attempt by UIW clanged off the rim just before the buzzer.
"We didn't play particularly well, but we did the things we needed to do late in the game to get the win," Reisman said. "Incarnate Word has a very good team, the highest-ranked team we've hosted here in a long time, and to beat a team like that takes a great effort from everyone."
UIW entered the game averaging right at 78 points per game, but couldn't get out of the 60s against the Texans, who came into this week lead the nation in scoring defense. The first half was much the same way as the second. Tarleton scored the first five points before UIW tied it at 9-9. The Texans moved back ahead by as many as seven at 24-17, but the Cardinals pulled within three by the break at 33-30.
Behind Henry and Washington, Fabian Wilson scored seven points, Dipprey added six and Smith and Carrington Tankson each had five for Tarleton. Robinson was one of three players to score 11 for UIW. The others were Chris Johnson and Shaun Umeh. Eric Stewart had 10 while Kelcey Solomon and Deleon Hines added nine each.
It was the first meeting between the teams since Tarleton swept a two-game home-and-home series in 2003. This is the Cardinal's first season in the LSC. Next up for the Texans is a difficult two-game road stretch. They travel to Portales, N.M. Saturday for an 8 p.m. (CST) battle with Eastern New Mexico, then return home for three days before heading west again to prepare for next Wednesday's contest at West Texas A&M.
Henry, Texans down No. 9 Cardinals, 69-66 - TSU Sports Information
Angelo State surges late to knock off A&M-K men - Corpus Christi Caller Times
UPSET AVOIDED - Nick Gholson, Times Record News
Buffs grab first LSC win - Lance Lahnert, Amarillo Globe News
Bronchos Cruise Past A&M-C - UCO Sports Information
Branch Has Career Night in Win - NSU Sports Information
Tigers drop 60-51 home decision to Cameron - ECU Sports Information
TexAnns welcome UIW to LSC with 30-point victory - TSU Sports Information
Back on track - Ricky Treon, Amarillo Globe News
Belles cruise past Javelinas - San Angelo Standard Times
ACU hoops: Simmons leads Lady Buffs past ACU women - Abilene Reporter News
Mustangs use inside game to end 5-game slide - J. Scott Russell, Times Record News
UCO Declaws Lions - UCO Sports Information
Charity Stripe Dooms Cameron as Aggie Women Fall to Tigers, 68-66 - CU Sports Information
Nitz Scores 17 in Win - NSU Sports Information
Basketball defeats SWOSU by 22 for fifth-straight win - TWU Sports Information
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Mitchell named All-State, signs with A&M Kingsville - Ben Cunningham, The Sealy News
In a surprise move toward university-level play, former Sealy Tiger linebacker-fullback Cass Mitchell has signed with Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Javelina football program and is on campus, getting ready for spring training. Mitchell, recently named to the All-State Football team, has already completed the required high school senior level work, has been granted graduation, and is now beginning classes in Kingsville.
Answering a question about college signing day in February, and the intentions of the All-State star, head coach, athletic director and Cass’ father, Jimmie Mitchell said, “He’s already gone. He is in Kingsville, getting ready for spring training with their program.”
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MIAA brings rivalry’ format to football - Jack Nicholl, Truman Index
Truman and Northwest Missouri State University have played each other 90 times, dating back to 1908, one of the oldest rivalry games in Div. II football. But starting in 2012, the Bulldogs and Bearcats will no longer play each other every season.
Truman's unofficial "rival", based on the finalized scheduling after the four-team conference expansion last fall, instead will be conference newcomer Lindenwood University. Truman and Lindenwood have never played each other.
The new "rivalry" format is part of the MIAA expansion scheduling that was voted on by the conference CEOs earlier this month. The CEOs also voted on women's soccer, deciding that every team will play the others in the conference once during the regular season. The volleyball schedule still is being worked on but will include two seven-team divisions.
Athletic Director Jerry Wollmering said the Ol' Hickory Stick game was discussed at expansion meetings, but it made more sense for Northwest to be paired with Missouri Western State University. The two schools are 45 minutes apart and have drawn large crowds in recent years.
The other pairs are Southwest Baptist—Lincoln, Nebraska-Kearney—Fort Hays, Washburn—Emporia, Missouri Southern—Pittsburg State, Nebraska-Omaha—Central Missouri and Northeastern State—Central Oklahoma.
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