Walter Moore Tigers Beat Texas Pan Am

Raye Bailey and Jovonni Shuler each hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to lead Savannah State to a 64- 58 win at Texas Pan American on February 2. The Tigers led by 10 midway in the second half but UTPA cut the deficit to 58-55 with 41 seconds left. Bailey led SSU with 19 points while Chris Linton added 12. The Tigers shot 63.2 percent from the floor in the second half. SSU lost a rare home game to Longwood 68-64 on Feb. 7 at Tiger Arena. The Tigers cut a eight point deficit to 66-64 with under a minute left but could not get any closer. Linton had 14 for the Tigers (12-12) while Bailey had 12, Shuler scored 11 and Anthony Jones chipped in 10 points.

Lady Tigers Top Longwood

Lashara Smith scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds to help Savannah State defeat Longwood 61-49 at Tiger Arena on February 7. SSU broke a tie game with a 11-1 run with five minutes left and never looked back. Crissa Jackson scored 13 points while Courtney Long had 11 points and seven rebounds. SSU fell at Texas Tech 80-39 on Feb. 2. The Raiders held SSU without a field goal the final 7:43 of the contest. TTU raced out to a 31-8 lead and never was threatened. Raven Fields led Savannah State (5-18) with 13 points while Smith added 12 points and nine rebounds.

SSU Football Signs 21

Savannah State football coach Robby Wells announced the signing of 21 young men to join the Savannah State family for the 2009 football season. Inking National Letters of Intent with the Tigers were: Blair Austin, WR, 6-2, 190, Brookwood HS/Thomasville, GA; Cedric "Chico" Brown, OL, 6-2, 275, Thomasville HS/Thomasville, GA; Tavarus Butler, DT, 6-4, 270, Putnam County HS/Eatonton, GA; Justin Cooper, CB, 6-2, 185, Cartersville HS/Cartersville, GA; Kevin Davenport, WR, 6-3, 210, Glenn Hills HS/Augusta, GA; Brian Forde, DT, 6-4, 295, Newton County HS/Conyers, GA; Phillip Gaines, LB, 5-10, 195, Gainesville HS/Gainesville, GA; Franklin Green, RB, 5-10, 205, Jenkins HS/ Savannah, GA; Kenneth "Micah" James, OL, 6-4, 306, Millcreek HS/Hoschton, GA Antonio Martin, CB, 5-9, 170, Jefferson HS/Jefferson, GA; Warren Mason, OL, 6-5, 310, Cedar Grove HS/Atlanta, GA; Quenton Pooler, LB, 6-2, 210, Newton County HS/Covington, GA; DaShawn Printup, S, 6-1, 190, Calhoun HS/Calhoun, GA; Terrick Ransom, OL, 6- 1, 300, Cedar Grove HS/Atlanta, GA; Ricky Rivera, WR, 6-1, 170, Long County HS/Ludowici, GA; Dustin Russell, LB, 6-1, 205, Newnan HS/Newnan, GA; Leland Russell, LB, 5-9, 210, Newnan HS/Newman, GA; Calvert "C.J." Smith, DB, 5- 10, 180, Memorial Day HS/Savannah, GA; Anthony Thomas, LB, 6-1, 205, Dublin HS/Dublin, GA; Channing Welch, DL, 6-3, 270, Furman Univ./Fayette County HS/Atlanta, GA; and Jonathan Clowers, OL, 6-6, 280, Perry HS/Perry, Ga.

Aycock Named Coach At JCSU

Johnson C. Smith University has named Steven Aycock as the 20th Head Football Coach in Golden Bull history. Aycock replaces Daryl McNeill who was fired. Aycock enters his fifth season as part of the Johnson C. Smith football staff. This will be his first as head coach. Aycock had served as interim coach since November 2008. He spent the previous four seasons supervising football operations, recruiting, and coaching the offensive line. The Atlanta, GA native was an All-SIAC offensive lineman at Savannah State in 1991 and `92, under the late Bill Davis. Aycock continued to learn from Davis at Tennessee State as a student assistant from 1993-95, then joined McNeill's J.C. Smith staff in 1995. When McNeill returned to SSU in 1997, he sought out Aycock to join his staff. Aycock earned a bachelor's degree in sports production from SSU in 1994, and a master's degree in communications from Barrington in 1999. He and his wife Donyell reside in Huntersville, NC.

Locals Sign Football Scholarships

A trio of Savannah athletes signed football scholarships on February 4. Beach High running back Jahquell Smith will attend Livingstone in North Carolina, Windsor Forest High safety Tae Benson will attend Coastal Carolina and Memorial Day School defensive back Calvert Smith will stay at home to play for Savannah State. Smith combined to rush and catch for 905 yards and four touchdowns last season while Benson made 43.5 tackles and Smith made 56 tackles.