Rattlers

KINGSLAND, Ga. -- It wasn't the best of homecomings for Morgan State coach Stump Mitchell or Bears backup quarterback Donald Green.Mitchell's Bears faced Florida A&M at the coach's high school stomping grounds, Camden County High's Gilman Stadium, and Green, also a Kingsland native, threw an interception as Florida A&M rolled to a 42-13 victory yesterday.The loss wasn't nearly as bad as the 83-12 thumping the Rattlers gave the Bears last season, but it was still disheartening for Mitchell.

Combine its own recent struggles at home with a desperate Florida A&M team coming to visit, and Coppin State looked to be headed for trouble last night. That's exactly what Coppin got, as Florida A&M received 36 points from Terrence Woods - all on three-point shots - during a 73-69 overtime victory over the Eagles at the Coppin Center. Coppin led by 11 points with less than five minutes to go, but it couldn't stop the Rattlers - one of the highest-scoring teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - from scoring 23 points over a 4:57 stretch to send the game into overtime.

Maryland basketball Coaches Turgeon, Frese to speak at Glen Burnie event The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation will host an exclusive event with Maryland men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon and women's basketball coach Brenda Frese on Oct. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 8p.m. at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. Tickets are $45 for an individual or $40 each for tables of 10, and are available by contacting Whitney Edmonds at WhitneyE@BabeRuthMuseum.com or 410-727-1539 ext. 3033.

This is the kind of loss that drives a coach to cry.Coppin State was on the verge of knocking off top-seeded Florida A&M in stunning fashion at yesterday's MEAC tournament semifinals. The Eagles rallied from a 20-point deficit early in the second half and were seemingly in control, leading by eight, with just over a minute to play.But the Eagles stopped the clock by committing two costly fouls, and Florida A&M forward Cathy Robinson took over the game. Robinson scored eight of her 22 points in the game's final minute, including a 19-foot jumper with two seconds remaining, as the Rattlers broke Coppin State's heart with a 78-76 victory at Hill Field House.

The losing continued for the Morgan State basketball team last night, but there were some encouraging signs.For at least the first 34 minutes, Morgan played defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Florida A&M tough. But the Bears faded badly at the end, losing, 96-78, at Hill Field House.Morgan was down by only 73-68 with 6 minutes, 12 seconds left in the game when the Rattlers went on a 23-10 tear that left Bears coach Michael Holmes shaking his head in disbelief.During the burst, Florida A&M was virtually unstoppable on the fast break.

IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. - What they wanted was a tuneup. What they got was a wakeup call. A loud one. But for the Bayhawks, last night's 21-19 loss to the Rochester Rattlers may be just what they needed to get ready for this week's Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend. "It's a good lesson," said Bayhawks player-coach Gary Gait, "that we have to be prepared and focused for a full 60 minutes." The Bayhawks (10-2), seeded second, will meet the No. 3 Rattlers (6-6) again Friday, in a semifinal at Nickerson Field in Boston.

An infusion of talent has kept alive Coppin State's quest for a record fourth straight regular-season title in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but it was the old-timers who delivered last night's 78-68 win over Florida A&M.With the Rattlers' 7-foot-1 sophomore center, Jerome James, giving Player of the Year candidate Terquin Mott fits inside, the Eagles were forced to turn to the perimeter and transition for some offense.Kyle Locke had five three-pointers and a season-high 21 points, and point guard Allen Watson had a game-high eight assists and 16 points.

NORFOLK, Va. -- Coppin State coach Fang Mitchell was smiling after his team's 74-70 loss to Florida A&M in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference semifinals, but his words told a different story."

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Tight spots have become commonplace for the Bayhawks, who pulled out another Major League Lacrosse nail-biter, this one a 14-13 triumph over the Rochester Rattlers. Midfielder Josh Sims scored the game-winner with 2:26 left, disappointing the Frontier Field crowd of 5,106. Baltimore, which has a league-best 6-2 record, is 3-0 in one-point games. "We've won a lot of tight games," said Bayhawks attack Dan Denihan. "The ball can bounce either way, and it's been bouncing for us. But I think we've been showing some pretty good composure."

Reggie Holmes scored 18 points and top seed Morgan State rolled to a 71-41 win over Florida A&M (10-21) last night in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C. Seeking their first MEAC championship since 1977, the Bears (21-11) advanced to tomorrow's semifinals, where they will face the winner of today's Coppin State-North Carolina A&T quarterfinal. Holmes made seven of 17 from the field and recorded nine rebounds. Jermaine "Itchy" Bolden scored 12 points and had six assists, while Marquise Kately added 10 points for the Bears.