THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2023

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS

SESSION 1

SATURDAY

GATES OPEN AT 9:30 AM ET

10:30 AM ET | CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

BETHANY CHRISTIAN (24-3) VS. LANESVILLE (27-2)

APPROX. 12:45 PM ET | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

LAPEL (22-7) VS. FOREST PARK (25-3) 

SESSION 2

GATES OPEN AT 5 PM ET

6 PM ET | CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

FAIRFIELD (27-2) VS. CORYDON CENTRAL (27-2) 

APPROX. 8:15 PM ET | CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

FISHERS (26-2) VS. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (26-3) 

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL

BATESVILLE	55	SHELBYVILLE	49
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE	49	JASPER	44
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH	83	NORTHVIEW	68
CASTON	65	NORTH MIAMI	51
CENTER GROVE	57	COLUMBUS NORTH	46
CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL	74	INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE	62
CLAY CITY	50	RIVERTON PARKE	36
DALEVILLE	57	EASTBROOK	43
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL	76	ANDREAN	58
EASTERN GREENE	49	EDGEWOOD	46	OT
EDINBURGH	95	BROWN COUNTY	57
EMINENCE	53	IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY	47
EVANSVILLE HARRISON	80	SPRINGS VALLEY	51
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK	78	FORT WAYNE NORTHROP	61
FORT WAYNE WAYNE	76	FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY	54
FRANKLIN CENTRAL	48	PERRY MERIDIAN	35
FREMONT	52	BETHANY CHRISTIAN	46
FRONTIER	65	SHERIDAN	52
GIBSON SOUTHERN	53	NORTH POSEY	46
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN	45	HAUSER	42
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN	49	BETHESDA CHRISTIAN	44	OT
LAWRENCE CENTRAL	86	SOUTHPORT	63
LAWRENCEBURG	67	OLDENBURG ACADEMY	21
LOOGOOTEE	83	NORTH KNOX	20
MADISON	41	SWITZERLAND COUNTY	33
MUNCIE BURRIS	53	BLACKFORD	43
NEW HAVEN	64	FORT WAYNE SOUTH	48
NORTH DECATUR	43	RUSHVILLE	40
NORTH WHITE	43	FAITH CHRISTIAN	34
OWEN VALLEY	86	SHAKAMAK	69
PLYMOUTH	52	NEW PRAIRIE	41
PRINCETON	55	TECUMSEH	42
RICHMOND	67	FRANKLIN COUNTY	34
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON	68	FORT WAYNE NORTH	67
SOUTH KNOX	69	WOOD MEMORIAL	39
SOUTH SPENCER	79	MOUNT VERNON (POSEY)	40
SOUTHRIDGE	64	BOONVILLE	58
TIPTON	66	LAPEL	33
UNIVERSITY	71	THRIVAL INDY ACADEMY	52
WHITE RIVER VALLEY	59	VINCENNES RIVET	44

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES

#4 UCLA 78 UTAH 71

#12 GONZAGA 97 SAN DIEGO 72

#15 ST. MARY’S 83 PACIFIC 52

ILLINOIS 66 #21 NORTHWESTERN 62

IUPUI 81 ROBERT MORRIS 75

MILWAUKEE 96 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 94

MICHIGAN 58 RUTGERS 45

PENN STATE 75 OHIO STATE 71

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 67 DETROIT 64

OAKLAND 75 WRIGHT STATE 68

MEMPHIS 83 WICHITA STATE 78

WASHINGTON 65 CALIFORNIA 56

USC 84 COLORADO 65

CLEVELAND STATE 76 GREEN BAY 65

WASHINGTON STATE 67 STANFORD 63

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230223

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD

#1 SOUTH CAROLINA 73 TENNESSEE 60

#3 STANFORD 73 #21 COLORADO 62 2OT

#5 LSU 82 VANDERBILT 63

#8 UTAH 101 CALIFORNIA 76

#9 VIRGINIA TECH 61 #22 NORTH CAROLINA 59

#10 NOTRE DAME 76 GEORGIA TECH 53

#11 DUKE 77 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 62

#12 MICHIGAN 71 RECORDS 53

OREGON 73 #14 ARIZONA 59

WASHINGTON STATE 62 #17 UCLA 55

#18 GONZAGA 73 SAN DIEGO 61

#23 FLORIDA STATE 61 WAKE FOREST 60

#24 UNLV 86 UTAH STATE 32

IUPUI 83 ROBERT MORRIS 69

MILWAUKEE 64 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 34

TENNESSEE TECH 78 SOUTHERN INDIANA 57

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 79 INDIANA STATE 64

VALPARAISO 76 BRADLEY 72

EASTERN MICHIGAN 61 BUFFALO 57

NEW MEXICO 70 AIR FORCE 65

FLORIDA 81 ALABAMA 77

LOUISVILLE 71 MIAMI FLORIDA 57

SYRACUSE 85 PITTSBURGH 55

WRIGHT STATE 83 OAKLAND 75

GREEN BAY 64 CLEVELAND STATE 49

CLEMSON 79 VIRGINIA TECH 69

GEORGIA 70 AUBURN 59

OLE MISS 72 MISSOURI 64

WISCONSIN 64 NORTHWESTERN 57

TEXAS A&M 74 KENTUCKY 67

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 65 DETROIT 46

WYOMING 81 NEVADA 66

MISSISSIPPI STATE 87 ARKANSAS 73

USC 47 WASHINGTON 43

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230223

NBA SCOREBOARD

BOSTON 142 INDIANA 138

DENVER 115 CLEVELAND 109

ORLANDO 108 DETROIT 106

PHILADELPHIA 110 MEMPHIS 105

TORONTO 115 NEW ORLEANS 110

DALLAS 142 SAN ANTONIO 116

UTAH 120 OKLAHOMA CITY 119 OT

LA LAKERS 124 GOLDEN STATE 111

SACRAMENTO 133 PORTLAND 116

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NHL SCOREBOARD

BUFFALO 6 TAMPA BAY 5

NEW JERSEY 4 LOS ANGELES 3

EDMONTON 7 PITTSBURGH 2

ANAHEIM 4 WASHINGTON 2

MINNESOTA 2 COLUMBUS 0

DETROIT 4 NY RANGERS 1

VANCOUVER 3 ST. LOUIS 2

VEGAS 4 CALGARY 3

BOSTON 6 SEATTLE 5

NASHVILLE 6 SAN JOSE 2

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NFL NEWS:

AP SOURCE: BRONCOS HIRE EX-HEAD COACH VANCE JOSEPH AS NEW DC

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) A person with knowledge of the hiring tells The Associated Press that Sean Payton is bringing back ex-Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to Denver to serve as his defensive coordinator.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the hiring hadn’t been announced by the team.

Two other former NFL head coaches – Rex Ryan and Matt Patricia – also interviewed for the job in recent days.

Joseph coached the Broncos from 2017-18, compiling an 11-21 record before being replaced by Vic Fangio. He spent the past four seasons as the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator.

Joseph also interviewed for Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator vacancy this week after Jonathan Gannon left to serve as the Cardinals head coach following the Super Bowl.

Payton was hired last month after spending a year in the Fox broadcast studio following his departure from the New Orleans Saints. He replaced Nathaniel Hackett, only the fifth head coach in NFL history not to make it through his first season.

AP SOURCE: RAMS PARTING WAYS WITH LB BOBBY WAGNER

LOS ANGELES (AP) Linebacker Bobby Wagner is parting ways with the Los Angeles Rams after just one season, a person familiar with the decision said Thursday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Wagner’s release won’t be official until after the start of the new league year next month.

The 32-year-old Wagner was outstanding in his only season with his hometown Rams, who signed him as a free agent last March following a decade with the Seattle Seahawks.

Wagner started all 17 games at middle linebacker and made 140 tackles with a career-high six sacks and even two interceptions for the Rams, who went 5-12 in the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history. Los Angeles’ defense soundly outperformed its offense throughout the season, with Wagner’s strong play and leadership playing major roles while most of the Rams’ other star players struggled with major injuries.

Wagner signed a five-year deal with $20 million guaranteed when he joined Los Angeles, but his release before June 1 will create $5 million in salary cap savings for the Rams, who are currently about $14 million over the cap. His release also results in $7.5 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap.

Rams middle linebacker Ernest Jones, who played alongside and behind Wagner last season, figures to be Wagner’s main replacement. Jones is heading into his third season with Los Angeles.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

GEORGIA’S DUMAS-JOHNSON CHARGED WITH RECKLESS DRIVING

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) Georgia linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, the second-leading tackler for 2022 national champions, was arrested Wednesday on charges of reckless driving and racing.

According to Athens-Clarke County jail records, Dumas-Johnson was released Wednesday evening after posting a combined bond of $4,000 – $2,500 for allegedly racing on highways/streets and $1,500 for alleged reckless driving.

The arrest on the misdemeanor charges followed an incident in Athens on Jan. 10, one day after the Bulldogs beat TCU 65-7 in the national championship game and Dumas-Johnson had four tackles.

Georgia said in a statement that the “alleged conduct” by Dumas-Johnson “does not reflect our program’s values or the high standards we have established.”

“As this is an open matter involving a student, we are not able to provide any additional information at this time and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement,” the statement added.

Georgia is also dealing with the fallout from a fatal crash after the team’s championship parade. Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy, a 24-year-old who worked in the recruiting department, were killed in an early-morning accident on Jan. 15, while another player and another employee were in the vehicle and injured.

Dumas-Johnson was a second-team selection to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team after recording 70 tackles with four sacks while starting every game in Georgia’s second consecutive national championship season.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NO. 15 SAINT MARY’S TOPS PACIFIC 83-52 FOR WCC TITLE SHARE

MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Logan Johnson scored 29 points in the final home game of his career and No. 15 Saint Mary’s clinched at least a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season title with an 83-52 victory over Pacific on Thursday night.

“It’s nice that we were able to clinch a share of it on our home court,” coach Randy Bennett said. “I wanted to make sure they would get recognized and win out on their home court the right way. … For them to be able to win this thing on our home court, I definitely wanted the crowd to be able to show their appreciation.”

Alex Ducas added 17 points and Mitchell Saxen scored 11 for the Gaels (25-5, 14-1). Saint Mary’s is assured no worse than a tie for first place in the conference for the first time since 2015-16 and can secure its first outright crown since 2011-12 by winning at No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday night.

The Gaels held a trophy ceremony at midcourt after the game and put on championship T-shirts. But the celebration didn’t last long, with a bigger game looming.

“About 10 more minutes until I shower and go home,” Ducas said of how long he’d celebrate this win. “We’ll get our minds right. We have bigger things to focus on. There’s plenty more time to celebrate after the season is done.”

The Gaels wrapped up their second straight perfect home season in conference play with a victory that gave them 25 wins for the 12th time in the last 16 seasons.

Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 11 points to lead the Tigers (13-17, 6-9), who have lost five of six.

Johnson helped break the game open early, sparking a 21-6 run that gave Saint Mary’s a 33-16 lead midway through the first half. He scored 12 points during that stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers to cap it.

Johnson finished with 20 points in the half as the Gaels led 48-31 at the break.

Saint Mary’s was never threatened in the second half, with Ducas’ 3 making it 68-35 midway through the half.

SENIOR NIGHT

The Gaels honored their three senior starters before the game: Johnson, Ducas and Kyle Bowen.

All three have started every game the past two seasons, helping Saint Mary’s earn a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament last year and putting the Gaels in position to win the conference title this season.

“These three guys are special,” Bennett said. “We may never have a group of three leaders, as seniors, as good as these guys. I know what special looks like and these guys are special.”

Ducas and Bowen could choose to return for a fifth season because of the 2020 campaign impacted by COVID-19 but haven’t made a final decision.

Saint Mary’s reserve Matt Van Komen also was honored.

BIG PICTURE

Pacific: The Tigers lost their 34th straight game against a ranked opponent since beating No. 21 Providence in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

Saint Mary’s: The Gaels have won four straight since their lone slip-up in conference play, an overtime loss at Loyola Marymount two weeks ago. But their toughest test yet comes in the finale at Gonzaga. Saint Mary’s won the first matchup at home 78-70 in OT earlier this month.

UP NEXT

Pacific: Hosts Portland on Saturday.

Saint Mary’s: Visits No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday night.

TIMME HELPS NO. 12 GONZAGA ROUT SAN DIEGO 97-72

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Drew Timme had 22 points and 13 rebounds to help No. 12 Gonzaga beat San Diego 97-72 on Thursday night.

The win sets up a matchup between Gonzaga and No. 15 Saint Mary’s for the West Coast Conference regular season title on Saturday. The Gaels haven’t won an outright WCC regular season title since 2011-12 and haven’t beat the Zags twice in a season since 2015-16.

“It’s a much anticipated matchup. They got us last time and we’re hungry. It’s going to be a good environment but we’ve got to focus on the game plan and not get caught up in all that stuff,” said Ben Gregg, who had 18 points for the Zags.

Timme needs to average 19.3 points per game over the next three games to break Gonzaga’s all-time scoring record set by Frank Burgess in 1961.

The Zags (23-6, 13-2 West Coast) dug out of an early six-point deficit with a 19-2 run before Jase Townsend took over for USD, scoring on an array of jumpers and drives to keep the margin in single digits. Not to be outdueled, Gregg reeled off 11 points in the last 4:35 of the first half as part of a 17-7 Gonzaga run to close the half up 17.

“We watched San Diego take Saint Mary’s down to the wire there last week and knew they had some really talented offensive players,” said Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. “I thought we did a nice job of handling their mixing defenses.”

Julian Strawther scored 17. Gonzaga is 16-0 this season when Strawther scores at least 14 points and have won 146 straight games when ahead by 10 or more at the half.

Timme and Bolton scored or assisted on 10 straight points to start the second for Gonzaga, igniting a 17-6 run to push the Zags’ lead to 30.

The Toreros (11-18, 4-11) couldn’t contain the Zags’ No. 1 scoring offense after holding No. 15 Saint Mary’s scoreless over the final 7:05 of a 62-59 home loss last week. San Diego closed the game with a 12-2 run.

Townsend scored 15 points and Marcellus Earlington added 11 in his return to the starting lineup after sitting out against Saint Mary’s due to injury.

“They’re a rhythm team offensively, so our first priority was to execute well enough offensively to set our defense so they wouldn’t get into that rhythm . then they went on those runs and never looked back,” said San Diego head coach Steve Lavin.

BIG PICTURE

Gonzaga is on a four-game win streak after an eight-point setback to Saint Mary’s. With a win, the Zags claim a share of the WCC regular season title for the 11th straight season. The Toreros have sole possession of second-to-last place in the WCC with one home game remaining and have lost 15 straight to Gonzaga. USD has lost four straight and six of its last seven.

UP NEXT:

San Diego: Host Santa Clara.

Gonzaga: Home against Saint Mary’s.

JAQUEZ JR. LEADS NO. 4 UCLA TO 78-71 WIN OVER UTAH

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half and Tyger Campbell added 18 to lift No. 4 UCLA to a 78-71 win over Utah on Thursday night.

“Jaime is a big-time player. He’s an All-American and a guy that’s going to play in the NBA for 10-12 years, so it’s not a surprise,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said.

Jaquez, who was UCLA’s only effective offensive player in the second half, made a 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining to seal the win just moments after Campbell made a 3 from the corner.

“I prepare myself to be in these situations,” Jaquez said. “My guys have faith in me that I’m going to make the right play every time down the stretch.”

UCLA (24-4, 15-2 Pac-12) has won seven in a row despite giving up more than 70 points for just the fourth time this season.

“The key is number one, taking care of the ball, and two, relying on your defense to get things done, not your offense,” Campbell said.

Mike Saunders Jr. came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points for Utah (17-12, 10-8 Pac-12), which has lost three in a row.

“Honestly, it felt amazing and it was crazy because I envisioned it,” Saunders said. “I was just waiting for an opportunity. I feel like my teammates believe in me.”

The Utes played without their starting backcourt of Rollie Worster and Gabe Madsen, who are both injured. Utah finally started making 3-pointers in the second half and cut the Bruins lead to 62-59 after Wilguens Exacte and Saunders hit from beyond the arc.

But Jaquez came up with baskets when the Bruins needed them most.

“The game was never in jeopardy,” Cronin said, despite Utah’s late runs. “When you have Jaime and Tyger, it’s easy to be confident.”

Utah held the Bruins without a field goal for more than six minutes in the middle of the second half, highlighted by a couple of thunderous blocks from Branden Carlson and Keba Keita.

“It was a heck of an effort. We’re not into moral victories but really, really proud of the way they played today,” Utah coach Craig Smith said.

Saunders, who only had three points in all of conference play coming into the game, brought a new element of speed to the Utes but made some mistakes characteristic of seldom-used players.

“He’s going to learn. They were some things tonight he’s got to do better, but he really sparked us on the offensive end,” Smith said.

UCLA’s 15-2 mark through 17 Pac-12 games marks the program’s best conference start since the 2007-08 Final Four team with Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook.

Jaquez thinks this team can go even further.

“National championship. That’s what we got in mind,” Jacquez said.

Tyger Campbell scored 10 of his points in the first half and helped manufacture open shots for his teammates while the Bruins held the Utes to 33 percent and 0-for-10 from 3-point range to take a 43-31 lead at halftime.

BIG PICTURE

UCLA: The Bruins took what the Utes gave them, so they consistently scored from the mid-range. Even with their scoring drought, the Bruins took care of the ball with only six turnovers, marking the 27th of 28 games this season they have less giveaways than their opponent.

Utah: The Utes made it difficult at times for the Bruins with a determined effort on the boards and a lot of hustle, but the Utes couldn’t shoot. Without their guards, Saunders was a pleasant surprise, but it didn’t matter because UCLA shot so well early and held Carlson in check.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

UCLA has been in the Top 10 for the last month and further upward mobility will probably depend on one of the top three losing this weekend.

UP NEXT

UCLA: At Colorado on Sunday.

Utah: Hosts Southern Cal on Saturday.

SHANNON’S SURGE RALLIES ILLINOIS PAST NO. 21 NORTHWESTERN

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Terrence Shannon Jr. shook off a slow start in his return from a concussion, scoring 24 of his 26 points in the second half as Illinois rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat No. 21 Northwestern 66-62 on Thursday night.

Shannon did not start and found himself back on the bench with three fouls as Northwestern (20-8, 11-6 Big Ten) closed on a 13-2 run to take a 37-19 lead into halftime.

But he picked up steam after the break and scored 15 of the Illini’s last 24 points as they erased a 14-point deficit in the final 10:07. His tiebreaking drive with 1:16 left put Illinois (19-9, 10-7) ahead 63-61, and he scored the team’s last five points – including a pair of free throws that sealed it with two seconds to go.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood said he was unsure Shannon would be available to play until he cleared concussion protocol at shootaround.

“Terrence was electric, getting downhill, getting to the foul line,” Underwood said.

Boo Buie led Northwestern with a career-high 35 points, hitting six 3-pointers and going 12 of 24 from the floor.

Illinois opened 0 for 11 from 3-point range before Shannon nailed two 3s early in the second half. Matthew Mayer added a 3 and hit three free throws after being fouled during a 14-1 run that winnowed the deficit to four with 15:06 left.

Mayer gave Illinois its first lead on two free throws with 2:36 remaining. He finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

“I thought we got a little bit stagnant,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. “I’ve got to do a better job helping the guys with that.”

Shannon said he was focused entirely on shoring up the Illini’s leaky defense after the Wildcats hit eight 3-pointers in the first half.

“My thought process through the end of the game was just to get stops,” Shannon said. “I didn’t really care about the offensive end.”

Buie kept chugging away for the Wildcats after scoring 22 in the first half, including five 3s, by hitting his first four shots after halftime to push Northwestern’s lead back to 14.

“I actually thought we did a pretty good job after they hit us with the initial burst, we got (the lead) back to 12 or 14 there,” Collins said. “Then give them credit, they came storming back. We just couldn’t match them offensively in the second half.”

The Wildcats were attempting to string together their second six-game Big Ten winning streak in the last 90 years.

Illinois climbed into a four-way tie for third place in the conference with three games left in the regular season. Northwestern remains in second but fell two games behind Purdue.

BIG PICTURE

Northwestern: The fact that a close road loss to an Illini program that has dominated the Wildcats in recent years is a disappointment is a sign of major progress after Collins started the season on the hot seat. The winningest Big Ten regular-season team in Northwestern men’s basketball history is hoping for some magic when the calendar turns to March.

Illinois: Shannon’s return in a gritty home win to avoid a season sweep by an in-state conference rival was a needed development for the Illini, who lack the 3-point shooting prowess of some of the nation’s premier teams. Underwood’s group has repeatedly dug itself early holes this season, and finally got out of one Thursday.

UP NEXT

Northwestern: Plays at Maryland on Sunday.

Illinois: Plays at Ohio State on Sunday.

MICHIGAN TRAILS EARLY, PULLS AWAY FROM RUTGERS FOR 58-45 WIN

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) Dug McDaniel scored 16 points and had five steals as Michigan rallied from an early 10-point deficit to earn a 58-45 win over Rutgers on Thursday night.

The win lifts the Wolverines into a three-way tie with Maryland and No. 17 Indiana for third place in the Big Ten Conference with three games left in the regular season. The top four finishers earn a bye into the conference quarterfinals.

Michigan was without Jett Howard, who averages just under 15 points per game, and the Wolverines managed just a McDaniel 3-pointer over the first six minutes while the Scarlet Knights opened a 13-3 lead. Hunter Dickinson hit a jumper and dunked, and Kobe Bufkin knocked down a 3 and scored at the basket to get Michigan within one, 13-12 with 9:13 left. Dickinson hit a jumper to put the Wolverines in front, and Joey Baker hit a 3 with 2:12 left for a 25-21 lead and they held a 26-23 advantage at intermission.

Rutgers got within a possession several times in the second half, but Michigan closed the game on a 10-3 run.

Bufkin finished with 14 points with three steals and three assists for Michigan (16-12, 10-7). Dickinson posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Cam Spencer paced Rutgers (17-11, 9-8) with 11 points and seven rebounds. Clifford Omoruyi had 10 points and 10 boards.

Michigan plays host to Wisconsin on Sunday. Rutgers plays at Penn State Sunday.

PICKETT’S BIG 2ND HALF LEADS PENN ST. PAST OHIO ST. 75-71

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Jalen Pickett scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half, Seth Lundy added 19 points and Penn State beat Ohio State 75-71 on Thursday night.

Pickett scored Penn State’s final 14 points, including a three-point play with 59.1 seconds left for a four-point lead.

Ohio State forward Justice Sueing scored inside to get within two points, but Pickett made it a two-possession lead again after two more free throws at 28.5. The Buckeyes had five 3-point attempts on their final possession but couldn’t get one to drop.

Camren Wynter made four 3-pointers and scored 18 for Penn State (17-11, 8-9 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions made two 3-pointers early in the first half to set a new single-season record with 295 makes. Penn State finished 10 of 19 from distance, with four makes from Lundy.

Each team had two double-digit scorers in a 37-all first half. Ohio State shot 52% from the field with Brice Sensabaugh scoring 14 and Bruce Thornton adding 10. Lundy had 14 points for Penn State and Wynter made three 3-pointers and added 11 points.

Sensabaugh finished with 20 points for Ohio State (11-17, 3-14). Thornton added 19 points and Sueing had nine points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

WSU WOMEN GET FIRST WIN AT PAULEY PAVILION, TOP NO. 17 UCLA

LOS ANGELES (AP) Bella Murekatete had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Tara Wallack made a key 3-pointer with 24.7 seconds left and Washington State beat No. 17 UCLA 62-55 on Thursday night for its first-ever win at Pauley Pavilion.

Washington State entered 0-34 against the Bruins in Los Angeles – with just 10 wins in 80 overall games. The Cougars (19-9, 9-8 Pac-12) need to win at USC on Saturday to post back-to-back winning seasons in Pac-12 play for the first time in program history.

Washington State used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to turn a four-point deficit into a 37-29 lead. Murekatete made two free throws with 1:21 left in the quarter to give the Cougars a nine-point lead before UCLA closed to 45-40 entering the fourth.

Wallack’s 3-ponter started a 6-0 run and UCLA was undone by closing on 2-of-12 shooting in the final five minutes.

Wallack finished with two 3-pointers and 15 points for Washington State, which matched last season’s record-setting win total. Charlisse Leger-Walker had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Murekatete recorded her 12th career double-double.

Washington State jumped out to a 13-4 lead as UCLA didn’t make its first field goal until Gabriela Jaquez got a friendly roll with 1:40 left in the first quarter. The Bruins missed their opening 13 shots of the game. UCLA’s six points were its fewest in any quarter this season.

UCLA scored 10 unanswered points during a 14-4 run to close the first half for a tie at 25-all.

Charisma Osborne led UCLA (21-8, 10-7) with 14 points and eight rebounds. Kiki Rice added 10 points.

KITLEY’S JUMPER LIFTS NO. 9 HOKIES PAST NO. 22 TAR HEELS

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Elizabeth Kitley watched the ball drop through the net, heard the horn and skipped toward midcourt to celebrate with her Virginia Tech teammates on North Carolina’s home court.

Only as they started to mob her, Kitley began backpedaling before they caught up her near a midcourt table.

“I thought I’d go towards them but I know how passionate my teammates are and I knew they’d come to me,” Kitley said with a smile. “So I didn’t want to fall down and get hurt or anything.”

The 6-foot-6 senior capped a night when she set Virginia Tech’s career scoring record with her jumper at the buzzer to help the ninth-ranked Hokies beat the 22nd-ranked Tar Heels 61-59 on Thursday night, extending the team’s late-season streak to seven games.

She finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a game played in her home state, the last coming with the Hokies (23-4, 13-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) locked in a tie game with 2.1 seconds left. Cayla King inbounded to Kitley on the right side, who had space to calmly launch about a 15-footer while UNC’s Anya Poole tried to close late.

“That’s a shot I think I’m really confident in, my teammates are confident in it for me,” Kitley said. “It felt good.”

Officials reviewed replays to ensure no time was left before declaring it was a walk-off basket in front of a stunned-silent UNC crowd.

“To be able to get a win like this and have a storybook ending with a winning shot but also becoming the all-time leading scorer … that’s pretty cool,” Hokies coach Kenny Brooks said.

Kayana Traylor added 20 points for Virginia Tech, which overcame an awful shooting start and a season-high 20 turnovers.

Deja Kelly scored 18 points to lead the Tar Heels (19-9, 10-7), including what appeared to be a go-ahead jumper with 12.2 seconds left that had the ball rattling around the rim before dropping through the net for a 58-57 lead.

“Overall we did a decent job on (Kitley), it’s a really tough kid to guard,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. “They great players. … We were two points not good enough tonight.”

BIG PICTURE

Virginia Tech: The Hokies’ six-game streak including wins against ranked Florida State and North Carolina State teams before beating then-No. 9 Duke last week to avenge their last loss. Now they’re set for a double-round bye in next week’s ACC Tournament.

UNC: The Tar Heels have lost four of six, though they did get back starters Alyssa Ustby and Eva Hodgson from multi-game absences. Hodgson last played Jan. 22 before going out due to an illness and Ustby last played Feb. 2 before being out with a lower-body injury. The mission now is getting them back to full speed with one game left in the regular-season schedule.

“It’s about game pace and they haven’t played in a month or so,” Kelly said. “But they’re experienced enough to get back into it soon.”

KITLEY’S MARCH

Kitley, the reigning ACC player of the year, needed 16 points to tie the scoring record of 1,883 points set by Aisha Sheppard just last year. She cracked that midway through the fourth quarter of a tight game, taking a feed from Georgia Amoore and hitting a jumper over Poole at the 5:18 mark to tie it at 49-all.

CHAOTIC FINISH

King followed Kelly’s jumper by calmly hitting two free throws to put the Hokies back in front with 9.1 seconds left, while Ustby banked in a free throw to tie the game at 59-all but missed the second to set up Kitley’s jumper – a miss that Banghart said left her “heartbroken.”

TIP-INS

Traylor had scored 18 combined points in her last three games and hadn’t hit double figures since going for a season-high 25 points at Virginia on Jan. 29. … Ustby had nine points on 4-for-11 shooting. Hodgson had two points and went 0 for 4 in her return. … Virginia Tech shot 56% after a 2-for-14 start. …. UNC scored 21 points off turnovers. … Virginia Tech had a 41-28 rebounding advantage.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech: At Georgia Tech on Sunday.

UNC: At ninth-ranked Duke on Sunday.

COOKE, NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN BEAT TENNESSEE 73-60

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Zia Cooke scored 19 points and Kierra Fletcher had 15 as No. 1 South Carolina spoiled Tennessee’s pack-the-paint strategy in a 73-60 victory Thursday night.

The Gamecocks (28-0, 15-0 Southeastern Conference) clinched at least a tie for the regular-season conference title.

“We’re blessed,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “We’re a low-maintenance, high-performance team. Can’t ask for more than that.”

The Lady Volunteers (20-10, 12-3) jammed the middle, trying to limit opportunities for star Aliyah Boston and daring the Gamecocks to beat them from the perimeter. Boston finished with 11 points.

“(Boston) is a high-level IQ basketball player,” Staley said. “She doesn’t force things. She always makes the right basketball play.”

Fletcher and Cooke combined to hit 5 of 8 3-pointers. The Gamecocks dominated the rebounding 48-34, with 20 of them on the offensive glass. Kamilla Cardoso had 15 boards and Brea Beal had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sixteen of those offensive rebounds came in the first half.”

“South Carolina … is a load,” said Tennessee coach Kellie Harper. “No one’s been able to crack them this year.”

“We had some schematic issues in the first half,” she said. “We’d have people sag off (on defense) but not box out.”

Rickea Jackson scored 21 points for Tennessee, which led 19-10 after the first quarter. Jordan Horston had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Karoline Striplin added 11 points.

Nine straight third-quarter points, five by Fletcher, turned a close game into a double-digit difference.

South Carolina had a 17-point run in the second quarter as it rallied from 10 down to later take a 33-29 halftime lead. Cooke scored eight straight points in that stretch.

The Lady Vols were held scoreless for more than 6 minutes before Striplin hit a 3-pointer just before the break.

“It takes a little bit of time,” Staley said of figuring out the Lady Vols’ strategy. “It takes time to figure out where the holes are. We had to maintain our defense.”

The Gamecocks went the final 4:44 of the first quarter without scoring as Tennessee built a 19-10 lead.

“We lost our pace in the second quarter,” Harper said. “We got some offensive rebounds and looked so excited to get them.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

South Carolina: The Gamecocks have been on top of the poll for 35 weeks, while winning 33 straight games. That’s third-most all-time behind UConn (51 weeks) and Louisiana Tech (36). . Sunday’s overtime escape from Mississippi State cost South Carolina one No. 1 vote this week, keeping the Gamecocks from being a unanimous selection for the first time all season. No. 2 Indiana got the one vote.

Tennessee: The Lady Vols have now lost to each of the top five teams in the poll. That statistic makes it easy to understand how they have to toughest schedule in the country.

BIG PICTURE

South Carolina: Since 1981-82, the NCAA Tournament era, only nine teams have had unbeaten seasons. UConn has done it six times and Baylor, Tennessee and Texas have done it once. . Ten of the 14 players on the Gamecocks’ roster are at least 6 feet tall.

Tennessee: Despite having three conference losses, the Lady Vols have locked up a double-bye for the SEC Tournament. . Horston came into the game with 427 assists, two behind Kristen Clement for No. 10 all-time in the Tennessee record book. . Tennessee junior Tess Darby has been named to the SEC Community Service Team for her involvement in a service trip to Rwanda through the university.

UP NEXT

South Carolina: Georgia will visit South Carolina on Sunday. Earlier this year, the Gamecocks beat the Bulldogs by 17 points.

Tennessee: The Lady Vols will close out their regular-season schedule at Kentucky on Sunday. The two teams have not met this season.

NBA NEWS

HARDEN, EMBIID, HARRIS RALLY 76ERS PAST GRIZZLIES 110-105

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Joel Embiid slogged through illness and even played the rare role of victim on a dunk attempt. With a few big buckets and his own one-handed stuff of Ja Morant, Embiid ultimately showed why it’s never good to count out The Big Man.

Tobias Harris sank the go-ahead 3-pointer with 39 seconds left, James Harden scored 31 points, and Embiid had 27 points and 19 rebounds to help the Philadelphia 76ers storm back and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 110-105 on Thursday night.

Embiid made 3 of 5 shots in the fourth – including the tying bucket that made it 100-all – to rally the Sixers from deficits of 17 points in the first half and 12 in the third.

“If you took away his offense, what else did he do?” coach Doc Rivers said with a laugh.

Try six blocks. Six assists. Oh, and 17 defensive rebounds. Go ahead, throw in 13 of 17 free throws.

“That tells you just how great the guy is,” Rivers said.

The 76ers shrugged off three of their worst quarters of the season to turn in a fantastic fourth that nearly shook the arena with each clutch bucket.

“The arena was so loud, it was like playoff basketball right here,” Harris said. “We need this to prepare us, get us ready.”

The Sixers won for the fifth time this season when trailing by 15 or more points.

Embiid said he had to “keep being a monster” defensively when the ball wasn’t dropping on offense.

“I always think two-way is better than one-way,” Embiid said. “In those type of nights, to be able to have an impact when you don’t have anything going on offensively, I think is nice.”

Harden buried a 3 to get the run rolling and Harris sank two free throws, then made a 3 that pulled Philly within 99-98. Embiid, who finished 7 of 25 from the floor, tied it at 100-all on a jumper.

Jaren Jackson Jr. hit a pair of tough buckets at the rim to put Memphis back ahead by four.

Harden, though, hit one of his six 3-pointers, Harris made it 106-105 with his 3, and Embiid scooped a loose ball for a dunk that sealed the comeback. Harris finished with 20 points.

“We’ve had a lot of games likes this where we get off to slow starts and have to make a comeback,” Harris said.

The Grizzlies stumbled before the All-Star break, losing eight of nine before a 3-1 streak to end the first half. Desmond Bane scored 25 points, Jackson had 18 and Morant 15 for the Grizzlies.

“There’s going to be struggles. There’s going to be adverse moments throughout the season,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “We’ve got to learn to get better from it. We found a way to win a couple of games going into the break, kind of on our terms.”

Embiid had a non-COVID illness that perhaps played a role in one of his worst first halves in recent memory. He most recently played in Sunday’s All-Star Game, scoring 32 points in 27 minutes.

Whatever the reason, Embiid missed his first six shots and Sixers fans booed when he tossed up a 28-foot airball in the second quarter. He was 2 of 14 for nine points in the half. Embiid entered second in the NBA in scoring at 33.1 points on 54% shooting from the floor.

“He’s human,” Rivers said. “I think most of the shots he liked.”

Maybe not when he drove down the lane for a thunderous one-handed dunk attempt that was soundly rejected by Jackson and led to a Memphis bucket for a 52-35 lead.

The block encapsulated how badly Memphis had its way with the Sixers.

“We had nothing,” Rivers said.

Bane hit four 3s and scored 19 points in the first quarter. He had 21 at the half and the Grizzlies raced to an early 17-point lead.

It just wasn’t enough against the Harris-Embiid-Harden trio.

TIP-INS

76ers: Dunk contest champion Mac McClung rang the ceremonial bell. McClung is on a two-way contract with the 76ers and plays in the G League. … C Dewayne Dedmon sat out with left hip tightness. … Harden reached out to a Michigan State student left paralyzed after a gunman shot and killed three students and injured five others. Harden told John Hao to “stay strong” in a video message.

Grizzlies: Made 11 of 21 shots in the first quarter but missed their last six shots of the game.

UP NEXT

Grizzlies: Play Saturday at Denver.

76ers: Host Boston on Saturday and Miami on Monday before they open March with a stretch of 12 of 15 road games.

JOKIC HAS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, NUGGETS BEAT CAVALIERS 115-109

CLEVELAND (AP) Nikola Jokic began his final push for a possible third straight MVP by getting yet another triple-double.

This season, that means another Denver win.

Jokic had 24 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists for his NBA-leading 22nd triple-double and Michael Porter Jr. scored 25, leading the Nuggets to a 115-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.

Jokic’s 13th triple-double in 16 games helped the Western Conference-leading Nuggets come out of the All-Star break with an impressive road win over the Cavs, who dropped to 25-7 at home. The Nuggets improved to 22-0 when Jokic gets a triple-double.

“He’s the MVP,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said about his star center. “When the MVP goes out and puts up a triple-double, it means a lot. He is a historically great player.”

There was no argument from the Cavs.

“I thought we had him contained until I looked up (at the scoreboard),” Cavs star Donovan Mitchell said. “The bigs did a good but then in the second half he was the aggressor in different ways.

“Look at what he and (Sixers star Joel) Embiid are doing on a nightly basis. It’s next level. It’s impressive and I think it’s going to come down to those two. Hell of a player.”

Evan Mobley scored 31 points, but zero in the fourth quarter for Cleveland, which had its chances down the stretch. Mitchell and Darius Garland had 22 points apiece and Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavs.

Porter made two 3-pointers and Jokic dropped another as the Nuggets went on a 13-4 run to take a 114-109 lead with 2:15 left. Cleveland then missed shots on its next three possessions – Mitchell twice misfired – allowing Denver to escape with a win in a game that had playoff intensity.

Jamal Murray returned to Denver’s lineup after missing six games due to soreness in his right knee. He had 16 points and nine assists.

Reggie Jackson, making his debut with Denver after being signed last week, ended the third quarter by making a 55-foot shot to pull the Nuggets to 91-89. Jackson was recently waived by Charlotte after being acquired from the Clippers in a trade deadline deal.

LOVE LOST

This was Cleveland’s first game since Kevin Love accepted a contract buyout from the Cavs during the break and signed with Miami.

Allen joked that Love’s move caught him off guard.

“I was told he was going for milk and cigarettes and he just never came back, Allen cracked before acknowledging Love’s absence will hurt.

“It was definitely sad to see him go,” he said. “He was a great guy for the 2 1/2 years I’ve known him. He did a lot for this team, whether it was bringing energy, making sure we were loose. Personality-wise, we’re definitely going to miss him.”

MOST VALUBLE

A two-time MVP, Jokic could become the first player to win the aware three straight years since Larry Bird (1984-86). If he had a vote, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff would give it to Denver’s well-rounded star.

“It’d be hard not to, to be honest with you,” he said.

Bickerstaff noted that criteria for voting has changed.

“Is it the best player in the game or is it the most talented player on the best team?” he said “Is it the guy who’s most impactful for his team? I think there’s been a variance in how it’s been voted for. It’s hard to argue against him this year though, for sure.”

TIP-INS

Nuggets: While Murray came back, Denver didn’t have All-Star Aaron Gordon (rib), who missed his fourth straight game and could be out a little longer. “It’s not where I wish it would be,” coach Michael Malone said of Gordon’s ailment. “I just hope at some point we can be whole again.”

Cavaliers: Mobley only took two shots in the fourth. … G Ricky Rubio (knee management) sat out as the team continues to closely monitor him following knee surgery. The plan is for Rubio to play Friday in Atlanta, but Bickerstaff said the Cavs will “err on the side of caution. Safety first.” … Danny Green didn’t play in his first home game with the Cavs since signing last week.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: At Memphis on Saturday night.

Cavaliers: At Atlanta on Friday night.

DONCIC, IRVING GET 1ST TANDEM WIN AS MAVS ROUT HAPLESS SPURS

DALLAS (AP) Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have their first win together in Dallas – on the highest-scoring and best shooting night from 3-point range this season for the Mavericks.

Doncic had 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and Irving scored 23 points in a 142-116 victory over the woeful San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.

The Mavericks stopped a three-game losing streak in the return from the All-Star break, while the Spurs extended their franchise-record skid to 15 games with their 20th loss in 21 games.

With Doncic and Irving directing the offense, Dallas topped its previous season high of 137 and shot 52% from 3, making 22 of 42.

Tim Hardaway Jr. went 6 of 11 from deep and scored 22 points after missing the last two games before the break with hamstring tightness.

Justin Holiday made 5 of 6 from beyond the arc for 15 points in his Dallas debut eight days after signing with the club as the Mavericks finished with eight players in double figures.

“People say that Luka and Ky need the ball,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Well, they also know how to use their teammates, and their teammates are delivering right now.”

The start of the opener of a six-game homestand, longest of the season for Dallas, was delayed about 20 minutes because of moisture on the court. Larger-than-normal crews worked before the game and at halftime to dry the court.

Malaki Branham led San Antonio with 23 points, and Keldon Johnson had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. The Spurs are nearing the end of their annual rodeo road trip, a nine-game trek this year.

Doncic did all of his work in the first three quarters, because Irving eliminated the need for the soon-to-be 24-year-old to play in the fourth.

Irving scored or assisted on 13 consecutive points early in the fourth quarter as a 10-point lead ballooned to 25 before the seven-minute mark. Irving had six assists and combined with Doncic to make 15 of 16 free throws.

“It’s definitely tough, two of the best iso guys in the league on the same team,” Branham said. “Played them solid and made them kick out to other players. The other players made shots.”

Leading by four when Irving joined Doncic with four minutes remaining in the first half, Dallas pushed the lead to 11 at the break.

Doncic assisted on consecutive dunks by Dwight Powell before a three-point play from Doncic and a turnaround jumper by Irving, who then assisted on 3-pointers from Reggie Bullock and Doncic.

Irving split two defenders as he twisted through the lane on a reverse layup for a 74-63 lead just 0.3 seconds before the first-half buzzer. Doncic watched, and laughed, from midcourt.

“It was insane,” Doncic said. “It was like three, four people and him and he still got an open layup. That’s why I was laughing.”

Christian Wood scored 16 points, Reggie Bullock had 12 on 4-of-6 shooting from 3, Josh Green scored 11 and Powell had 10.

Charles Bassey scored 16 points for San Antonio, Keita Bates-Diop added 15 and Zach Collins had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

ANOTHER TECH, DIFFERENT REF

Doncic was called for a technical foul in the first quarter in Dallas’ first game with the crew from a December loss in Minnesota when he was given two immediately and ejected. The ejection was assessed by Rodney Mott. This technical came from Karl Lane, who coincidentally shares Doncic’s No. 77.

It was the 12th technical for Doncic. Players must serve a one-game suspension if they get 16 in the regular season, but the count doesn’t carry into the playoffs.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Rookie No. 9 overall pick Jeremy Sochan didn’t play because of left quadriceps soreness. PG Tre Jones was out for the seventh time in eight games with a left foot injury. … The Spurs have lost six in a row to Dallas and 11 of 13 since a 25-4 stretch against their Texas rival from March 2012 to April 2019.

Mavericks: Coach Jason Kidd hasn’t sounded optimistic about F/C Maxi Kleber returning from a right hamstring tear during the long homestand. Kleber last played Dec. 12. … F Davis Bertans missed his eighth consecutive game with a right calf strain.

UP NEXT

Spurs: The nine-game rodeo road trip ends with consecutive games at Utah separated by a two-day break. The first game is Saturday.

Mavericks: LeBron James and the Lakers visit Sunday. James said he was disappointed his team didn’t acquire Irving at the trade deadline.

MARKKANEN SCORES 43, RALLIES JAZZ TO OT WIN OVER THUNDER

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Lauri Markkanen hit three free throws with 4.6 seconds left in overtime to give Utah the lead and finished with 43 points and 10 rebounds as the Jazz beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-119 on Thursday night.

Markkanen scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Jazz rally from a nine-point deficit early in the period. Walker Kessler tipped in a layup with 4.6 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Fresh off playing in his first All-Star Game on the Jazz’s home floor, Markkanen is evolving into a crunch-time leader for Utah.

“Yeah, I’m more confident,” Markkanen said. “My mindset going into games is go make a difference and be a finisher.”

Jordan Clarkson added 24 points and six assists for Utah. Kessler had 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots, Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji chipped in 12 points apiece, and Kris Dunn added 11 in his Jazz debut.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points and missed a potential game-winning jumper at the overtime buzzer for the Thunder. He also had eight rebounds and seven assists. Josh Giddey added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kenrich Williams had 16 points off the bench, and Lu Dort contributed 11 points and 11 boards.

Oklahoma City never trailed after halftime until the closing seconds of overtime.

“We haven’t been a 48-minute team in every single game this season,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “But when we’re not, I think our guys have a good recognition that the car is off the road and we get it back on the road quickly.”

Utah played without starting point guard Collin Sexton, who has a left hamstring injury. Talen Horton-Tucker made his second start of the season.

The Thunder forced 22 turnovers and scored 20 points off them.

Markkanen tied the game on a layup with 1:26 remaining. Oklahoma City again jumped out to a lead in overtime and maintained its advantage until Markkanen was fouled on a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds and made his free throws.

“He’s played with a tremendous amount of aggressiveness,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “His physicality has gone up as the season has gone on.”

Oklahoma City ended the first half on a 9-0 run to take a 55-46 halftime lead. Jaylin Williams started the run with a 3-pointer and Kenrich Williams finished it off with a reverse layup.

Clarkson scored or assisted on Utah’s first six baskets in the second half and cut the deficit to 68-66 on a fadeaway jumper. The Thunder stopped the rally and built their only double-digit lead, going up 84-74 when Giddey drove for a reverse layup to cap a 10-3 run.

“I thought our team showed a lot of resolve,” Hardy said. “We were, it felt like, down six to eight points for the majority of the game and just kept hanging around, kept battling.”

TIP-INS

Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander went 15 of 19 from the free-throw line. … Oklahoma City missed all eight of its 3-point attempts in the first quarter. Isaiah Joe made the Thunder’s first 3 a minute into the second.

Jazz: Rudy Gay played three scoreless minutes before leaving with a nasal fracture with 56.1 seconds remaining in first quarter. … Kessler attempted and made his first career 3-pointer on the game’s first play.

UP NEXT

Thunder: At Phoenix on Friday.

Jazz: Host San Antonio on Saturday.

MALIK BEASLEY SCORES 25 POINTS, LAKERS BEAT WARRIORS 124-111

LOS ANGELES (AP) LeBron James and Anthony Davis might finally have a supporting cast to help the Los Angeles Lakers make a push to get into the playoffs.

Malik Beasley scored 25 points and was one of eight players in double figures as the new-look Lakers returned from the All-Star break to beat the Golden State Warriors 124-111 on Thursday night.

Los Angeles (28-32) is 13th in the Western Conference but has won three of four since the trade deadline. They are 1 1/2 games out of a spot in the play-in tournament.

Beasley, who was acquired from Utah as part of a three-team trade at the deadline, has two 20-point games in his four starts for the Lakers.

“LeBron and AD didn’t get going as much as they wanted tonight, but we’re deep, and I think that’s the statement we want to make,” Beasley said. “It can be any player on any given night.”

Beasley made seven 3-pointers on a night when the Lakers shot a season-bet 53.3% from beyond the arc (16 of 30) and collected a season-high 58 rebounds.

It was a quiet night for Davis and James, who both saw under 30 minutes of action.

James – who suffered a hand injury during the All-Star game Sunday night – had 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. But James was 5 of 20 from the floor, marking only the sixth time in his career he has shot 25% or worse when attempting at least 20 shots.

“We’re still figuring things out on the fly,” said Davis, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds. “The past two games we’ve really looked good as a whole. I think we’ve got a complete team where we’re able to make a run.”

Austin Reeves had 17 points off the bench, including 13 in the third quarter. The Lakers got a season-best 68 points from their reserves, including five in double figures.

“Just overall great team win. Everybody contributed, everybody had different moments and guys stayed aggressive,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “I feel great about what we’ve been able to do (since the trade deadline). It’s paying dividends right now and we’ve just got to continue to get more and more familiar with one another.”

Klay Thompson led Golden State with 22 points and Ty Jerome added 20. The defending NBA champions are 29-30 and fell to 10th place in the Western Conference.

The Warriors are 9-12 this season without All-Star Stephen Curry. They have dropped four of six since Curry suffered a left leg injury on Feb. 4 against Dallas.

“We were fouling, had some disjointed offensive possessions, some turnovers and some difficult shots that were basically shot/turnovers,” coach Steve Kerr said. “There were several key stretches where we had a chance to get back in the game but couldn’t put it together.”

Golden State got to 59-58 early in the third quarter on a jumper by Thompson before the Lakers went on a 21-7 run.

The Warriors countered by getting within eight before the Lakers broke it open again with a 26-6 spurt.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Jordan Poole had 16 points. … Kevon Looney had 15 rebounds along with 10 points. He is the first Golden State player to have four straight games with at least 13 rebounds since Andrew Bogut in 2014.

Lakers: Mo Bamba had a double-double off the bench (10 points, 13 rebounds) … Rui Hachimura had 14 points and Dennis Schroder 13. … D’Angelo Russell sprained his right ankle in the first quarter and did not return.

UP NEXT

Warriors: Host Houston on Friday night.

Lakers: At Dallas on Sunday.

POELTL HAS CAREER-HIGH 18 REBOUNDS, RAPTORS BEAT PELICANS

TORONTO (AP) Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and a career-high 18 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-110 on Thursday night for their sixth victory in seven games.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer in the final minute, Scottie Barnes also had 18 and O.G. Anunoby returned from injury with 12 points as the Raptors matched their season high by winning three straight.

Toronto won despite playing without guard Fred VanVleet, who was scratched shortly before tip off because of personal reasons.

The Raptors have won three of four since acquiring Poeltl from San Antonio shortly before the trade deadline. Toronto couldn’t hold a 12-point lead in the final five minutes of Poeltl’s Feb. 10 debut, losing 122-116 to Utah, but the Raptors are unbeaten since.

“First game was a little like getting thrown into the deep end,” Poeltl said, “Every game I just feel like I’m getting more and more comfortable.”

Poeltl shot 9 for 11 against the Pelicans. He had 10 points and six rebounds in the fourth quarter, three of them on the offensive end.

“He was huge,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Down the stretch of the game, when we went and helped and contested shots, he was right there under the basket and he kind of cleaned up everything.”

Seven of Poeltl’s 18 rebounds Thursday were offensive. Toronto outscored New Orleans 22-13 in second-chance points.

“He gives them a true big, a guy who can finish around the basket,” Pelicans guard CJ McCollum said of Poeltl. “He sets screens, protects the rim, does a lot of the dirty work and is very efficient and effective.”

Siakam, who was named an All-Star for the second time this season, shot 9 for 21, topping 25 points for the fifth straight game. He went 1 for 5 from 3-point range but finished 7 for 8 at the free throw line.

Brandon Ingram scored 14 of his 36 points in the fourth and McCollum finished with 23 as the Pelicans lost for the third time in four games. New Orleans is 10-20 on the road.

“We got off to a sluggish start, missed some easy bunnies, had some turnovers, gave up some offensive rebounds, some transition points,” McCollum said. “I think that’s what shifted the game.”

Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, who had won the previous two meetings with Toronto.

Ingram’s jump shot in the lane cut the deficit to three points, 111-108, with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter. Poeltl made one of two at the line before Ingram connected again with 33 seconds left, making it 112-110. Trent answered with his third 3-pointer, putting Toronto up by five points 12.3 seconds remaining.

Up 23-19 after one, Toronto led 54-45 at halftime.

Siakam shot 5 for 5 and scored 16 points in the third as the Raptors widened the gap, taking a 92-77 edge to the fourth.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: Josh Richardon scored 11 points. . G Dyson Daniels (sprained right ankle) sat for the 12th straight game. Daniels last played Jan. 24 at Denver. . F Larry Nance Jr. returned after missing the final game before the All-Star break because of a sore left groin.

Raptors: Poeltl’s previous career high for rebounds was 17, set twice. . Anunoby returned after missing the final nine games before the All-Star break because of a sprained left wrist.

AIR BOUCHER

Chris Boucher punctuated the third quarter with a full court drive and one-handed slam dunk in the final seconds of the period, taking off from just inside the free throw line.

“That was pretty cool,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of Boucher’s soaring slam.

Boucher had nine points and eight rebounds.

PACK YOUR BAGS

Toronto plays seven of its next eight on the road.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: At New York on Saturday night.

Raptors: At Detroit on Saturday.

FOX, SABONIS HELP KINGS ROUT SHORT-HANDED BLAZERS 133-116

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points, Domantas Sabonis had his seventh triple-double of the season and the Sacramento Kings beat the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 133-116 on Thursday night.

“We started off slow tonight and it gave Portland a lot of confidence,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “Big test for us tomorrow night. Our bench did a nice job coming in and getting stops.”

Sabonis had 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Kings improve to 33-25. Terence Davis scored 20 points off the bench and Harrison Barnes added 15. Sacramento trailed by 16 points in the first half.

“I wasn’t worried,” Sabonis said about the slow start. “Once we got our wind under us, I knew that we would be alright.”

Nassir Little scored 26 points for Portland. Cam Reddish added 24 and Trendon Watford had 15. Portland has lost three of its last four to drop to 28-31.

“I thought we played hard,” Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “I thought we played well. . I was happy to see Nassir get hot. He did a good job of picking the right spots to shoot.”

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (rest), Jermani Grant (rest), Jusuf Nurkic (calf strain), Anfernee Simons (ankle sprain) and Justice Winslow (ankle sprain) were all ruled out before the game.

Kings: F KZ Okpala was ruled out with knee soreness. . G Malik Monk returned to the lineup after exiting the Mavericks game with a leg injury prior to the NBA All-Star game break. . Sabonis has 15 or more rebounds in 13 games this season.

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: Host Houston on Sunday night.

Kings: At Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

WENDELL CARTER BEATS BUZZER WITH TIP-IN, MAGIC BEAT PISTONS

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Wendell Carter Jr. tipped in Paolo Banchero’s missed layup at the buzzer to give the Orlando Magic a 108-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.

Franz Wagner led Orlando with 21 points, and Carter controlled the boards in the fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

“Tonight was his night – big-time rebounds, battling on the boards,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said.

“I didn’t want to go into overtime so I had to figure out something,” said Carter, who barely avoided reaching over the rim and getting called for basket interference. It took a review to confirm the non-call.

Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 25 points. He hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to tie it, but he missed two free throws with 51 seconds left and Detroit down by three.

“It just came down to the last possession,” said Ivey, who made 5 of 7 threes. “It could have been a different situation if I hit free throws, and I’ve just got to live with the consequences and learn from it.”

Alec Burks added 16 points for the Pistons, who stayed in the game with 17-of-34 3-point shooting.

Markelle Fultz had 14 points and eight assists for Orlando and Cole Anthony added 15 points off the bench.

Ivey and Burks combined on 6 of 7 3-point shooting in the first half, but 12 Pistons turnovers led to 11 Magic points and a 47-46 Orlando lead at the break. Detroit finished the game with 21 turnovers.

“We came out with a lot of energy, which is difficult to do after the All-Star break,” noted Pistons coach Dwayne Casey. “The timing, the rhythm, we did all that, except for the turnovers. Twenty-one (turnovers) for 21 points in a one-point game. We can’t gift them 21 points.”

Wagner and Fultz sparked a 15-0 Magic run early in the third quarter that netted a 14-point lead, the largest of the game. But Hamidou Diallo scored six of Detroit’s 14 straight points to get the Pistons right back in it.

Two free throws by Carter put the Magic up 104-99 with 1:36 left, but a hook shot by James Wiseman with 9.5 seconds left brought the Pistons within one. After two free throws by Wagner, Ivey hit a 26-footer to tie it.

TIP-INS

Pistons: F Marvin Bagley III, out since Jan. 2 after having surgery on his right hand, might be activated as early as Saturday. … The Pistons have given up 100 or more points in 34 straight games… . Burks shot 4 for 4, all 3-pointers

Magic: Banchero finished with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. . . . Jonathan Isaac had 10 points and seven rebounds in a season-high 16 1/2 minutes. . . . The win was only the second in the last seven games against Detroit.

PLAY-IN FEVER

The Magic are 20-15 since a 5-20 start, but still 13th in the East and hesitant to proclaim a rare playoff push.

“We believe we can be a playoff team and do something very special this year and that’s what we’re focused on – just trying to get better every day and let the results come,” said Fultz.

“Guys are talking about the play-in and the playoff push, and we understand that,” said Mosley. “But the most important thing is always going to be: Are we getting better? Are we improving? Are we focusing on little details, no matter the game, no matter the time of the year.”

UP NEXT

Pistons: At Toronto on Saturday.

Magic: Host Indiana on Saturday night.

NHL NEWS

NHL-LEADING BRUINS ACQUIRE ORLOV, HATHAWAY FROM CAPITALS

BOSTON (AP) The NHL’s best team just got bigger and tougher.

Already on their way to one of the best seasons in hockey history, the Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals on Thursday in exchange for forward Craig Smith and three draft choices. It’s the latest big acquisition by an Eastern Conference contender as the league approaches the March 3 trade deadline.

“Let’s hope we stay healthy and try to take a run, play our best hockey at the right time,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a call with reporters. “It’s going to be a hard path. It’s a hard path to get in. It’s even harder once you are in.”

Boston sent a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-rounder, a 2025 third-rounder and Smith to Washington. The Capitals retained half of Orlov’s salary and Minnesota will pay 25%; the Wild will receive a 2023 fifth-rounder for helping Boston stay under the cap.

Sweeney said Orlov and Garnet were arranging travel so they can join the Bruins on on their four-game trip, which began Thursday night against Seattle. They will join the team with the NHL’s best record after leaving one that won it all in 2018 but hasn’t gotten out of the first round since and is struggling to get into postseason position this season.

“They’ve been a ridiculously competitive and successful part of the (Capitals) organization,” Sweeney said. “So (they’re) a little bit shocked. But once they hear the excitement in our voice in bringing them on board, it quickly shifts.”

With a 43-8-5 record and 91 points heading into the Kraken game – a pace that would surpass the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens’ all-time record of 132 points – the Bruins have shown few weaknesses. But the memories of recent playoff disappointments left Sweeney worried about depth, especially on defense, heading into what he hopes will be a long postseason run.

The Capitals are selling at the trade deadline for the first time since Alex Ovechkin’s rookie year more than a decade and a half ago.

“This trade allows us to acquire draft capital, infuse youth and restock our system,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “While this season has proven challenging with injuries to our significant players, we are in a position to use some of our current assets to retool our club and build a competitive team moving forward.”

The Bruins have topped 100 points for four straight non-pandemic seasons but have made just one long playoff run, losing to the St. Louis Blues in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. After falling in the first round last year, Sweeney fired coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with Jim Montgomery.

Despite starting the year without top scorer Brad Marchand and top defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who were both recovering from offseason surgery, the Bruins zoomed to the top of the NHL standings. They won 17 of their first 19 games and did not lose in regulation at home until Jan. 12.

“Our roster is battle-tested,” Sweeney said. “I think we can play any type of game against any type of team and we’re able to react accordingly or dictate accordingly. We were trying to complement and add to that.”

Orlov, 31, was a homegrown player for Washington and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2018. Hathaway, 31, has played on the Capitals’ fourth line for the past four seasons.

“Dmitry has been with our organization for almost 14 years and was a key contributor in helping us win the Stanley Cup,” MacLellan said. “Garnet has been an important part of our team and a role model off the ice for his contributions to our community. We wish both players all the best with Boston.”

Orlov was officially traded from Washington to Minnesota and then on to Boston, with the Wild sending 2017 pick Andrei Svetlakov to the Bruins. Sweeney said he didn’t have any indication that Svetlakov, who’s playing in the KHL, would be leaving Russia.

Minnesota gets a draft pick for helping facilitate a trade for the second time in less than a week. The Wild got a 2025 fourth-round pick from Toronto for retaining salary in the deal that sent Ryan O’Reilly and ex-Bruins forward Noel Acciari from St. Louis to the Maple Leafs.

DUCKS END 6-GAME SKID, HAND CAPITALS 6TH CONSECUTIVE LOSS

WASHINGTON (AP) Jakob Silfverberg scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, John Gibson made 41 saves and the Anaheim Ducks handed the reeling Washington Capitals a sixth consecutive defeat, 4-2 Thursday night.

The Capitals are mired in their longest losing streak since losing seven in a row in 2019 and their longest stretch without a point in nearly two decades. They last lost six consecutive games all in regulation in October 2003, before the NHL had a salary cap and before Alex Ovechkin was drafted.

This loss to the last-place Ducks, who ended their six-game skid, came in the aftermath of Washington trading two key players. Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Dmitry Orlov and gritty winger Garnet Hathaway were sent to the league-leading Boston Bruins for draft picks and depth forward Craig Smith, the start of the first trade deadline selloff by the Capitals since Ovechkin’s rookie year in 2005-06.

“We still have a chance to make the playoffs,” Ovechkin said. “You never know what’s gonna happen. We just will continue to play. … Nothing we can do. We players, we have to play the game and it’s not our job to make a decision.”

The team’s struggles in recent weeks contributed to general manager Brian MacLellan making the first of what could be several moves trading pending free agents such as Orlov and Hathaway. Defenseman Nick Jensen, who scored one of Washington’s two goals, could be another.

Anaheim will also be selling, but the Ducks enjoyed a moment of joy in a rough season thanks to goals by Isac Lundestrom, Troy Terry and Silfverberg, an empty-netter by Derek Grant.

“It’s been tough sledding this year for us, I think: a lot of ups and downs,” said Ducks center Ryan Strome, who improved to 7-0 in the NHL against brother Dylan. “In such a tough season, you want to ride the highs as much as you can.”

Strome wants Gibson to ride high after Anaheim’s long-term starting goalie made some hockey history.

Gibson’s 21st save gave him the most through a goalie’s first 40 games of the season since Hall of Famer Jacques Plante made 1,396 for the New York Rangers in 1963-64. Gibson, who has faced the most shots and made the most saves in the NHL this season, made 40-plus stops for a league-leading 10th time.

“I feel like he’s making 40 saves every night,” Silfverberg said. “He’s been terrific for us.”

The Capitals were booed by home fans amid several turnovers, missed defensive assignments and at least one soft goal given up by Charlie Lindgren, who faced just 20 shots in his first start since Feb. 12 – the start of this skid.

“It’s been a really tough stretch here,” Lindgren said. “There’s no room for pouting. There’s no room for sulking.”

Ovechkin in his first game back after missing the past week for the death of his father had a few quality scoring chances but no points. He and his teammates wore white and red stickers saying “Papa Ovi” on their helmets.

“Thanks for team, thanks for organization for support,” Ovechkin said. “It was a hard time for me, for my family and for all my friends, but it’s life and it’s gonna be a memory forever and we just have to move on.”

Terry scored in his first game back from injury, while the Ducks played without two players who are candidates to be traded: defenseman John Klingberg and winger Adam Henrique, out with lower-body injuries.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Wrap up this four-game Eastern Conference road trip at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

Capitals: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.

MCDAVID SCORES TWICE, OILERS BLAST REELING CROSBY, PENS 7-2

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Edmonton Oilers are running out of words to describe Connor McDavid. The Pittsburgh Penguins may be running out of time to salvage their season.

McDavid scored twice to push his total to a career-best 46 goals as the Oilers embarrassed Sidney Crosby and the Penguins 7-2 on Thursday night.

McDavid beat Tristan Jarry from in close in the first period and then used some dazzling stickwork to deke past backup Casey DeSmith on a penalty shot late in the third period. The 26-year-old added two assists to boost his point total to an NHL-best 109.

“I think it’s important that everybody takes a step back and understands that we’re seeing someone at the top of their craft in the prime of their career putting out there what he’s putting out,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “He does it day in and day out. He’s supported by a bunch of teammates that he loves to lead and that work hard for him. It’s quite impressive.”

Leon Draisaitl picked up 35th goal for the Oilers, who improved to 10-1-5 in their last 16 games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist to reach 600 career points. Warren Foegele, Kailer Yamamoto and Devin Shore also scored. Stuart Skinner stopped 22 shots but was rarely tested for most of the first two periods.

“Really consistent up and down the lineup for pretty much 60 minutes,” Shore said. “Played in their end more than we played in our end.”

Kris Letang scored early in the first and again late in the final minutes, but the Penguins were outclassed for long stretches in between. Jarry made 23 saves before being pulled after allowing six goals in two periods in his second start since returning from an upper-body injury that forced him to sit out a month.

“It’s frustrating right now,” Letang said after Pittsburgh’s fourth straight loss. “We’re not playing the way we’re supposed to play. We get discouraged pretty quick and it’s something we shouldn’t have in this dressing room and it starts with the main guys like me, (Crosby) and (Evgeni Malkin).”

While there are still seven weeks to go in the regular season, the franchise’s run of 16 consecutive playoff berths – the longest active streak in major North American professional sports – is in jeopardy thanks to a condensed schedule, an older and top-heavy lineup and little wiggle room for general manager Ron Hextall to maneuver.

The fans at PPG Paints Arena that arrived to watch a showdown between Crosby and McDavid were instead treated to a glimpse at the widening gap between the Penguins and the NHL’s elite.

Edmonton did whatever it wanted, whenever it wanted for most of the game in the kind of clinic Pittsburgh used to put on with regularity for the better part of two decades.

Those days appear over. The Oilers, led by their superstar who is a heavy favorite to win his third Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, have the firepower that once came so easily to Crosby and the Penguins.

McDavid set a personal best for goals in a season when he roofed a shot from in tight over a crouching Jarry 13:18 into the first. Draisaitl put the Oilers in front later in the period when he banged home a rebound on the power play.

Edmonton was just getting started. The Oilers tacked on four goals in the second against a shaky Jarry, who is still searching for the form he showcased during the first two-plus months of the season before enduring multiple injuries.

Pittsburgh mustered little response, mostly because the Penguins spent most of the night chasing the younger, faster Oilers. After McDavid spun Letang around to set up Nugent-Hopkins’ 28th goal with 1:06 to go in the second, chants of “Fire Hextall” began as Hextall sat stoically in a coach’s box just above press row.

“I think it was a tough night for everybody and we don’t like putting on a performance like that in front of them and they pay their ticket and they want to see better, I understand that,” Crosby said. “It wasn’t a great night for everyone.”

UP NEXT

Oilers: Visit Columbus on Saturday.

Penguins: Travel to St. Louis on Saturday.

DEBRUSK SCORES LATE IN 3RD PERIOD, BRUINS EDGE KRAKEN 6-5

SEATTLE (AP) Jake DeBrusk scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:38 left in the third period and the Boston Bruins edged the Seattle Kraken 6-5 on Thursday night.

The win avenged Boston’s first regulation home loss of the season, which was a 3-0 defeat to Seattle back on Jan. 12, still the only time Boston has been shut out this year.

Seattle’s Matty Beniers scored just 40 seconds into the game, and the teams went back and forth the rest of the way.

Jaden Schwartz put Seattle ahead 5-4 at 15:50 of the third period. Brandon Carlo tied it less than 30 seconds later.

DeBrusk scored the go-ahead goal at 18:22, with an assist from Charlie McAvoy.

The two teams combined for 74 shots on goal. Boston’s Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves for the Bruins and Phillip Grubauer finished with 27 for Seattle.

Patrice Bergeron put Boston ahead 4-3 at 17:51 of the second period. Yanni Gourde tied it on the power play at 18:52.

David Krejci, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand also scored for the Bruins.

Vince Dunn and Jamie Oleksiak scored for Seattle.

NOTES: Boston acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from Washington in a three-team trade Thursday for forward Craig Smith and a trio of draft picks. . Seattle put goaltender Chris Driedger on waivers. He has yet to play in a game this season while recovering from a torn right ACL.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Play at Vancouver on Saturday.

Kraken: Host Toronto on Sunday.

MLB NEWS

PHILLIES’ DOMBROWSKI: HARPER LIKELY TO REPORT IN 2 WEEKS

(AP) — Bryce Harper’s arrival at spring training camp remains a couple of weeks away as the Philadelphia Phillies slugger recovers from elbow surgery.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Harper is taking swings with a bat at home in Las Vegas and will report March 8 or 9.

Harper had surgery on his right elbow in November after leading the Phillies to the NL pennant. The Phillies said then that Harper was expected to return in a designated hitter role by the All-Star break and could play right field by season’s end.

“He’s doing great from the recovery perspective,” Dombrowski said. “In his progress, doctors are happy where he is.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the next step in the rehab progress will be Harper hitting off a tee and taking soft toss in a batting cage.

The 30-year-old Harper sustained small tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in April. He last played right field at Miami on April 16.

Harper had a platelet-rich plasma injection in May and shifted to DH. He went on to help the Phillies reach their first World Series since 2009, and they lost to Houston in six games.

He hit .349 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 17 postseason games.

Harper missed two months last season after breaking a thumb when he was hit by a pitch in late June. The two-time NL MVP hit .286 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs in 99 games.

THOMPSON OFFERS ARBITRATION ANALYSIS

Tampa Bay reliever Ryan Thompson called for more transparency in the arbitration process after losing his case last week. Thompson will make $1 million rather than the $1.2 million he sought.

“The biggest issue with this process to me is that the arbitrators get to make whatever decision they come to, but with no explanation or defense of the decision,” Thompson said in a lengthy Twitter thread. “In any other legal case, the decision is public, this for some reason is very hidden and secretive.

“If the process is created in order for fairness, then why don’t we learn the laws of the land? In some sense, we were shooting in the dark not knowing what the arbitrators leaned into and what they disregarded. These understandings matter.”

Major League Baseball and the players’ association agreed when they established arbitration for 1974 that only a decision would be issued, with no explanation.

Thompson said he had no hard feelings toward the Rays and said they were “as professional and respectful as possible considering the circumstances.” But he had issues with the statistics that were used to judge his worth as a middle reliever.

Thompson said he considers holds and leverage index the most important statistics for a middle reliever or setup man such as himself. He said the Rays discredited his statistics in those categories and noted his blown saves, lack of usage against left-handers and what he cited as a Fangraphs metric called “meltdowns,” which essentially notes whether a pitcher made his team more likely to lose by a certain amount.

Thompson also noted that he was told not to reveal the date of his case to make sure arbitrators wouldn’t research him beforehand and create a bias.

“However, upon entry to the hearing, they all have phones out and they use them freely during the breaks,” Thompson tweeted. “After the case, they don’t sit in the room and hash out the decision, but rather they had to the hotel bar. It is extremely disconcerting that the arbitrators are socializing, drinking and using their devices prior to making a decision. (Not at all assuming foul play). Just an obvious flaw I witnessed.”

Thompson, 30, went 3-3 with three saves and a 3.80 ERA in 47 appearances last season.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes said last week “there’s no denying that the relationship is definitely hurt” after the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner heard the team’s arguments during a hearing he lost, resulting in a $10.01 million salary rather than the $10.75 million he requested

Major League Baseball proposed in bargaining last year to replace arbitration with a metric-based system, but the players’ association preferred the current system.

CORTES CONTINUES ADVANCING

New York Yankees All-Star left-hander Nestor Cortes worked an inning in his first simulated game since a strained right hamstring resulted in a 10-day layoff.

The injury cost Cortes a chance to pitch for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic.

Cortes, who struck out Anthony Rizzo, is set to have another simulated game before possibly appearing in a spring training game.

“Actually, it was a lot better than I thought it would be,” Cortes said. “Just because it was my first live, I didn’t know how the leg was going to react with the intensity and facing those guys.”

Cortes went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts last year.

BEN GAMEL JOINS RAYS

Outfielder Ben Gamel and the Tampa Bay Rays finalized a minor league contract.

Gamel, who turns 31 on May 17, hit .232 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs in 115 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He’s a .253 career hitter with 40 homers and 198 RBIs over portions of seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Seattle, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

MEN’S GOLF NEWS

SAUDI ARABIA CHALLENGES MAGISTRATE RULING ON LIV SUBPOENAS

(AP) — Saudi Arabia is disputing a federal magistrate’s ruling that its sovereign wealth fund and the fund’s governor be required to provide documents and testimony in LIV Golf’s antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

Attorneys for the kingdom filed a letter on Thursday challenging the reasons a magistrate judge cited for allowing subpoenas of the Public Investment Fund and its governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan.

The letter was sent to U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, who is overseeing the case in the Northern District of California.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen in a Feb. 16 decision said the PIF and al-Rumayyan are not protected by the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act because of a commercial activity exception.

The dispute centers around LIV’s argument that the PIF and al-Rumayyan provided broad oversight of the rival league. The PGA Tour says documents obtained during discovery indicate they were actively involved in signing players to LIV Golf.

According to court documents, the PIF owns 93% of LIV Golf, which in the last year has paid signing fees reported to be upward of $100 million to players, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

The letter also says van Keulen suggested the PIF would have waived its immunity if it authorized LIV Golf to sue the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour banned players who joined LIV Golf from competing in its events, and nine players – including Mickelson and DeChambeau – filed an antitrust lawsuit on Aug. 3. LIV Golf soon joined as a plaintiff, and only three players – DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones – remain as plaintiffs.

“Her reasoning has broad implications for Saudi Arabia beyond the instant case,” said the letter, filed by the Washington law firm of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick.

The letter said while van Keulen’s ruling held that al-Rumayyan – a minister in Saudi Arabia’s government – met the requirements for common-law foreign official immunity, that law has a commercial-activity exception to immunity.

“Recognition of such an exception to common-law foreign official immunity likewise has wide-ranging implications for Saudi Arabia,” the letter said.

The PIF and al-Rumayyan contend that enforcing subpoenas in the U.S. would force them to violate Saudi law against disclosure of confidential information.

The letter said Saudi Arabia planned to file a friend-of-court brief that would include interpretations of the commercial activity exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act and enforcement of Saudi Arabia law.

Freeman, meanwhile, ruled the PGA Tour could add the PIF and al-Rumayyan as defendants in its countersuit.

HORSCHEL, BRAMLETT LEAD HONDA CLASSIC WITH 1ST-ROUND 65S

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) Billy Horschel has never won a PGA Tour event in his home state of Florida. His quest to change that is off to a fine start.

Horschel shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday, tying him with Joseph Bramlett for the first-round lead in the Honda Classic at PGA National. Bramlett had a bogey-free round; Horschel had six birdies and one bogey.

“Just played really solid,” Horschel said. “Didn’t do anything special. Hit some quality iron shots here and there. I wouldn’t say everything was sort of automatic and it was easy. I had to just sort of work my way into making some good swings here and there. But overall, it was a really solid day of golf.”

Horschel’s pre-Honda preparations included a trip to the doctor, finally giving in and getting a prescription after trying to fight off a sinus infection for a few days. He might have felt tired, but it didn’t show.

The 65 was his best score in 33 rounds as a pro at PGA National. He’d shot 66 on two previous occasions.

“Listen, there’s no secret,” said Horschel, who played his college golf at Florida. “It’s not a secret. I grind. I work hard. It’s no secret out here that I work really, really hard out here. But this week with just the way I’m feeling and everything, energy’s still not completely 100 percent every day.”

Bramlett scrambled nicely when he had to. He missed six of 14 fairways and hit 13 of 18 greens.

“I definitely like when the conditions are difficult and guys have to really earn it,” said Bramlett, who has never won on the PGA Tour. “I think that’s historically always been in my favor.”

Pierceson Coody – a sponsor exemption playing his first PGA Tour event as a professional – finished the first round at 4 under, alongside Justin Suh. Coody has two wins in 15 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour since turning pro in June.

“It really just feels like another professional event,” the grandson of 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody said. “I’ve only played (15) professional events. But other than the big grandstands it’s not that different. You’re just playing golf, you’re trying to put a good score together. No real nerves out there. Just happy to play well.”

Suh missed a 10-foot birdie putt on his last hole – No. 9 – that would have tied him for the lead.

DIVOTS: Play was suspended for darkness just past 6 p.m., and four groups were unable to finish. Carson Young was at 4 under with three holes left to play. … Past Honda champion Sungjae Im, the top-ranked player in the field at No. 18, birdied the last and shot 3-under 67. … Past Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington played with the 2023 Ryder Cup captains, Luke Donald of Europe and Zach Johnson of the U.S. There was a bit of Cup talk during the round. “He’s a nice resource. He loves the Cup and represented it well,” Johnson said of Harrington. Johnson shot 68, Donald 71 and Harrington 72. … Defending champion Sepp Straka opened with a 1-under 69. … Monday qualifier Parker Coody, Pierceson’s twin brother, shot 74.

LEADERBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/GOLF/FINAL.ASP?TOUR=PGA

WOMEN’S GOLF NEWS

HALL OF FAMER JAN STEPHENSON DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) Jan Stephenson, a three-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her “Crossroads Foundation” said Thursday the cancer was stage 3 and the 71-year-old Australian will begin a treatment of chemotherapy and radiation in the next two weeks.

“It means so much to me for all my friends and family to lend so much support,” Stephenson said in a statement. “I have had some negative challenges in my career and managed to survive. This is just another tough hole that is `uphill and against the wind.’ See you on my next downhill and downwind hole!”

Stephenson was among the first to bring sex appeal to women’s golf, part of that the design of former LPGA Tour Commissioner Ray Volpe. Stephenson’s most famous moment outside the ropes was posing in a bathtub, her body covered only by golf balls.

She backed up her celebrity by winning 16 times on the LPGA Tour, including three majors. She was lacking only the Kraft Nabisco Championship to complete the career Grand Slam.

She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2019 and also received the Order of Australia Medal.

Her foundation supports disabled military veterans and first responders.

TOP INDIANA NEWS RELEASES

PACERS BASKETBALL

GAME REWIND: PACERS 138, CELTICS 142 (OT)

After a full week off, it’s hard to predict what might happen in the first game back after the All-Star break. While rust might be expected, that was far from the case on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers and Celtics treated fans to an absolute shootout.

Myles Turner matched his career high with 40 points and drained a career-best eight 3-pointers, Tyrese Haliburton recorded a double-double, and the Pacers went blow for blow with a Boston team with the best record in the NBA.

In the end, however, the Celtics ultimately prevailed. All-Star Game MVP Jayson Tatum scored the final four points of the contest — including a clutch putback to seal the win — to lift Boston (43-17) to a 142-138 overtime victory over Indiana (26-34).

“I just love the fight that our guys brought to the game,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. “They never went away, stayed into it. We weren’t perfect. Rebounding continues to be a challenge, but the level of fight and level of battle was tremendous.

“Close-out games like this against the top teams on the planet come down to details — block outs, loose balls — very thin margins.”

The Pacers had used a 14-3 run to take a 116-114 lead over the Celtics midway through the fourth quarter. The two teams traded the lead on each of their next five possessions, but Boston eventually got a stop after winning a jump ball and former Pacer Malcolm Brogdon knocked down a corner three — his fifth triple of the night — to give the visitors a 124-120 lead with 3:11 to play.

Haliburton’s stepback three with 2:26 remaining made it a one-point game once again, but on the other end, Buddy Hield was whistled for a foul on Jaylen Brown’s 3-point attempt with 2:02 left in the game. Carlisle challenged the call, but was unsuccessful.

Brown made just one of the three free throws, however, then fouled Haliburton on the other end. Indiana’s newest All-Star knocked down both free throws to tie the game with 1:41 remaining.

Neither team scored on its next two possessions. Brown then rushed an entry pass to a cutting Al Horford and threw the ball out of bounds, giving Indiana possession with 22.2 seconds remaining and the shot clock turned over.

Haliburton dribbled down the clock against Marcus Smart, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Smart contested Haliburton well, forcing an off-balance three that bounced high off the back of the rim and ultimately missed, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Bennedict Mathurin hit an early three that put Indiana up 130-127. But on the other end, he committed his sixth foul on Smart on a three hoisted late in the shot clock. The rookie reacted to the call and was issued a technical foul. Boston hit all four free throws to move back in front.

Smart added a jumper before Turner tied the game at 133 with his eighth 3-pointer of the night with 2:59 remaining in overtime.

Tatum drew a foul and hit one of two shots on the other end, then — after an Indiana turnover — Brogdon’s left-handed floater just barely soared over Turner’s block attempt and into the rim with 2:02 to play.

On the other end, Nesmith corralled the offensive rebound off a missed three and converted a three-point play to tie the game with 1:40 left. The game didn’t stay tied for long, as Brogdon raced down the floor and connected with Brown on a go-ahead lob just 13 seconds later.

Haliburton came right back down the court and drew contact on Horford. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla challenged that call, but was also unsuccessful, and Haliburton made both foul shots to tie the game once again with 1:16 remaining.

On the other end, Tatum spun past Haliburton and drew a foul on the right baseline, converting both attempts from the charity stripe with 56.2 seconds to play.

Nesmith had a look at a go-ahead 3-pointer from the left wing, but couldn’t get it to fall. Boston secured the rebound and dribbled down the shot clock. Tatum hoisted a three that didn’t hit the rim, but Smart caught the rebound and quickly hoisted it back up. That didn’t fall, but Tatum raised in from the wing for the crucial putback basket that put Boston up by four with just 10.4 seconds left and that proved to be the difference.

Turner finished with 40 points for the second time in his career, going 13-for-15 from the field, 8-for-10 from 3-point range, and 6-for-7 from the free throw line, and also pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss.

“I was just being aggressive,” Turner said. “The three is what presented itself the most tonight and I was just making the most of my opportunities. The guys were getting me the ball in the right spots.”

Haliburton added 22 points, 14 assists, and three steals, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Blue & Gold to come away with the victory.

The Pacers took an early 8-2 lead on Thursday behind threes from Turner and Haliburton and a jumper from Andrew Nembhard. But Boston countered with a 12-2 run to surge ahead and remained in front for the remainder of the opening quarter.

The Celtics led by as many as nine in the frame, but Indiana closed the quarter on an 8-2 run — capped by a buzzer-beating three from Chris Duarte — to cut the deficit to 34-31 after one.

The Pacers pulled within one on T.J. McConnell’s basket on the opening possession of the second quarter, but Boston gradually built its lead back up from there. Behind 10 points from Brogdon, the Celtics surged ahead 62-46 with just over three minutes remaining in the first half.

Eight straight points from the Blue & Gold briefly brought the deficit back to single digits and the hosts trailed by 10 at the intermission at 68-58.

Indiana mounted a charge right out of halftime. Turner converted a three-point play off a putback on the first possession of the half. Hield then added a three and Haliburton converted a three-point play of his own before Hield’s dunk made it a one-point game just 2:07 into the third quarter.

After a Celtics timeout, Haliburton shook down Horford before knocking down a go-ahead jumper. Tatum answered on the other end with a baseline slam through contact, and the two teams went back and forth over the next several minutes.

The Pacers rained 3-pointers in the third quarter, making eight over the course of the frame. Hield and Turner drained three apiece, Haliburton added a deep one, and even backup center Daniel Theis got in on the act.

The Celtics answered with some elite shot-making of their own, as the two squads traded blows throughout the frame, which featured 12 lead changes and three ties. Brogdon’s 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining in the frame put Boston back in front, however, and the visitors entered the fourth quarter holding onto a narrow 100-97 advantage.

Tatum, Brogdon, and Sam Hauser all hit threes over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, helping the Celtics push their lead back up to nine at 111-102. But the Pacers came back with nine straight points of their own, tying the game on Turner’s seventh three of the night.

Tatum’s trey from the left corner briefly put Boston back in front, but Mathurin tied the game once again with a three on the other end. Aaron Nesmith then put the Blue & Gold in front, stripping the ball from Smart and racing down for the go-ahead layup to give Indiana a 116-114 lead with 5:48 to play in regulation.

Mathurin had 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists before fouling out in overtime. Hield tallied 18 points on 4-of-10 3-point shooting.

Tatum had a rough night shooting, going just 1-for-8 from the field in the first half and 3-for-12 from 3-point range, but still managed 31 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, going 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Fellow All-Star Brown added 30 points and 11 boards.

Brogdon was brilliant against the team that traded him to Boston this summer, tallying 24 points, five rebounds, and seven assists while going 9-for-12 from the field and 5-for-6 from 3-point range.

The Pacers will now head to Orlando on Saturday for the start of a four-game road trip. Indiana has lost 11 straight road contests, with its last win away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse coming on Dec. 23.

“This is going to be the toughest stretch, toughest test of the season,” Turner said of the upcoming trip. “Obviously the most important. We’re a team that’s struggled on the road and I think is a make-or-break point for us. That’s the attitude we have to have. Our back’s against the wall right now. We have to go out there and fight and play for it.”

Inside the Numbers

Turner’s 40 points matched his total from another overtime game — a 135-134 loss to the Wizards in Washington on Oct. 22, 2021. He had made seven 3-pointers twice before in his career, including on Nov. 23 against Minnesota, but surpassed that with eight treys on Thursday.

Haliburton recorded his team-leading 27th double-double of the season, while Turner registered his 18th.

The Pacers went 22-for-49 (44.9 percent) from 3-point range, one shy of the franchise record for 3-pointers made in a game. They set that mark with 23 threes in Brooklyn on Oct. 29.

The Celtics had a distinct advantage on the boards, outrebounding Indiana 51-37 overall and 20-10 on the offensive glass.

Brogdon, who shot just 35.2 percent from 3-point range over three seasons in Indiana, entered Thursday leading the NBA in 3-point percentage this season at .445 and improved his percentage on Thursday, going 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Thursday’s game featured 22 lead changes and 14 ties, with 20 lead changes and 13 ties coming after halftime.

You Can Quote Me On That

“You can’t ask for a better fight. It was the number one team in the league. We go toe-to-toe with them and take it to overtime. We don’t want any pity, but I think we’re taking a step in the right direction heading into the last few weeks of the season.” -Turner on competing with the Celtics until the final buzzer

“I think we responded really well. I feel like a team like Boston thought that a young team like us would go away, but we didn’t. And we took some steps in the right direction.” -Pacers guard T.J. McConnell on takeaways from Thursday

“Just high-level basketball there. Especially that third quarter, it felt like nobody was missing. And a lot of their shots were tough fadeaway twos. But kudos to them — that’s one of the best teams in the NBA.” -Haliburton on the back-and-forth play down the stretch

“I think just not being one-dimensional. I think in times in the past in the past few years I just kind of settled a lot on the perimeter and kind of floated out there a lot. But I just like the fact that I’m going back to playing like I know I can play inside and out. If teams try to go small and put smalls on me, I can score in the post. I can get to the free throw line, I can score in the mid-range, I’m a three-level scorer.” -Turner on the key to his improvement as a scorer this season

“He just played a great game. He was amazingly efficient offensively. A game like this if you’re going to be beating Boston, your bigs got to be hitting shots. Myles hit eight threes…and he did damage on the inside as well.” -Carlisle on Turner’s performance

“He’s unreal on both ends of the floor. He’s the best shot-blocker in the NBA and his ability to pick-and-pop is such a mismatch.” -McConnell on Turner

Stat of the Night

Turner became just the 10th player in NBA history and the first center to score 40 points, grab 10 rebounds, and make eight 3-pointers in a single game. The others to do it are Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Paul George, James Harden (four times), Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Kevin Love, and Tatum (twice).

Noteworthy

The Pacers went to overtime for just the second time this season on Thursday. They are 0-2 on the year when playing an extra session. Their other loss was 129-126 at Philadelphia on Jan. 4.

Indiana and Boston have split their first two meetings in the regular season, with the road team winning both matchups. They are scheduled to play once more on March 24 in Boston.

Hield now has 234 3-pointers made on the season, the most in the NBA this season.

Up Next

The Pacers head to Orlando to take on Paulo Banchero and the Magic on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 PM ET.

Tickets

The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, March 6 at 7:00 PM ET.

INDIANA SWIMMING

THREE HOOSIERS STRIKE GOLD ON THURSDAY

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana swimming and diving won the last three events of Thursday (Feb. 23) night’s session and sits just nine points off the lead for the team title halfway through the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside Canham Natatorium.

IU won a gold in each of the three disciplines. Senior Van Mathias sprinted to an individual swimming title in the 50-yard freestyle and sophomore Carson Tyler had a dramatic win on the 1-meter springboard before the Hoosiers captured gold in the 400-yard medley relay. Ohio State leads the pack with 487 points, but Indiana is close on its heels with 478 points after two days.

“We have a battle on our hands,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “I think this is going to come down to the last day, and I give a lot of credit to Ohio State and Michigan, they’re doing a great job. Our guys really dug down deep tonight. I thought our prelim session could have been better, and we’ll need to have a good one tomorrow. That’s what we have to keep our eye on, what we do in the next session.”

Mathias had never broken 20 seconds prior to the start of the season. Last year, he was swimming the 200 IM on night two of conference championships. A year later, the senior won his first individual Big Ten title in the 50-yard freestyle with a career-best 19.00. Mathias started the day with his best time sitting at 19.38. In prelims, he dropped to 19.16 before trimming it again in the final. His fellow Hoosier in the 50 free A final also earned a personal best, as junior Gavin Wight placed fourth with a 19.26. Sophomore Rafael Miroslaw (19.50) maxed out his points in the B final with a ninth-place finish, while senior Jack Franzman (19.78) and Finn Brooks (19.80) took 14th and 15th, respectively.

Tyler’s worst dive of the day earned him 62.40 points, and his consistency earned him his first-career Big Ten title. The sophomore walked into the championship final as the No. 2 seed after scoring a career-best 414.05 points in the prelim. In the evening, he tallied a 67.20, 72.85. 72.00, 72.00, 72.00 going into his final dive. With Ohio State senior Lyle Yost totaling 430.95 points in front of him, Tyler needed a 74.90 to tie. Tyler didn’t bend to the pressure and executed a reverse 1 ½ somersault with a 2 ½ twist free into 75 points flat.

IU has won the last four Big Ten diving titles as Tyler nabbed the 1-meter crown from teammate and defending champion, redshirt senior Andrew Capobianco, who scored 406.95 points for a third-place finish. Capobianco now has nine medals over five conference meets in his career. Sophomore Quinn Henninger placed sixth (374.75), while freshmen Maxwell Weinrich (363.40) and Dash Glasberg (271.40) bookended the B final.

“What a team effort today,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “All six of our men scored for the team. Carson had a personal best score while winning his first Big Ten title. Maxwell also had a personal best while winning the B final. Andrew has led this team in so many ways over the years, and his bronze medal performance was another great contribution to the team. We’re looking forward to the next two days.”

The same quartet that set a Big Ten meet record at last year’s championships won the 400-yard medley relay again Thursday night to stretch IU’s winning streak in the event to eight seasons. Junior Brendan Burns, sophomore Josh Matheny, junior Tomer Frankel and sophomore Rafael Miroslaw went 3:01.53, short of their superlative 3:00.76 from the 2022 national meet, but over four seconds better than the Canham Natatorium facility record (3:06.08).

“We did an awesome job with the end of this session,” Looze said “From Rafael Miroslaw winning the B final, to Van Mathias winning the 50, then Carson Tyler winning the 1-meter and winning the relay – that was a nice way to close things out. We have had a couple good days for us on the boards and in the water, we just have to do our job.”

In the 500 free that started the evening, senior Mikey Calvillo (4:18.45) and junior Warren Briggs (4:18.62) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Sophomore Luke Barr also earned a top-five finish in the 200 IM, placing fifth in 1:44.06.

TEAM SCORES

Ohio State – 487

Indiana – 478

Michigan – 403

Wisconsin – 341

Minnesota – 280

Purdue – 240

Northwestern – 210

Penn State – 204 

RESULTS

500 FREESTYLE

5. Mikey Calvillo – 4:18.45 (NCAA B Cut)

6. Warren Briggs – 4:18.62 (NCAA B Cut)

200 IM

5. Luke Barr – 1:44.06 (NCAA B Cut)

50 FREESTYLE

1. Van Mathias – 19.00 (Big Ten Champion, Pool Record, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)

4. Gavin Wight – 19.26 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)

9. Rafael Miroslaw – 19.50 (NCAA B Cut)

14. Jack Franzman – 19.78 (NCAA B Cut)

15. Finn Brooks – 19.80 (NCAA B Cut)

1-METER DIVE

1. Carson Tyler – 431.05 (Big Ten Champion, NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)

3. Andrew Capobianco – 406.95 (Bronze, NCAA Zone Qualifier)

6. Quinn Henninger – 374.75 (NCAA Zone Qualifier)

9. Maxwell Weinrich – 363.40 (NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)

16. Dash Glasberg – 271.40

400 MEDLEY RELAY

1. Brendan Burns, Josh Matheny, Tomer Frankel, Rafael Miroslaw – 3:01.53 (Big Ten Champion, Pool Record, NCAA A Cut)

UP NEXT

Indiana will look to set the tone for another great night when they open day three with the morning preliminary session on Friday (Feb. 24) beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter dive and 200 freestyle relay will be contested.

INDIANA BASEBALL

BASEBALL GAMEDAY: AT TEXAS

AUSTIN, Texas – Another early season test awaits the Indiana baseball program in week two with a trip to UFCU Disch-Falk Field and a three-game series with Texas is on deck. The Hoosiers and Longhorns will meet for just the second time in program history and the first since its 2018 NCAA Austin Regional matchup.

Gameday Info

Friday, February 17, 2023

IU: Ben Seiler, LHP, Sr.+

UT: Lucas Gordon, LHP, Jr.

Live Video: es.pn/3kipoo5

Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio

Live Stats: bit.ly/3m0Ttce

Saturday, February 18, 2023

IU: Seti Manase, RHP, Jr.

UT: Zane Morehouse, RHP, R-Jr.

Live Video: es.pn/3Y2oBoS

Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio

Live Stats: bit.ly/3m0Ttce

Sunday, February 19, 2023

IU: TBA

UT: TBA

Live Video: es.pn/3lVQpxL

Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio

Live Stats: bit.ly/3m0Ttce

Quick Hitters

Indiana and Texas will meet for the second time in series history, with the UT getting the win in the only other meeting at the 2018 NCAA Austin Regional championship game. MORE ON PAGE 3

Indiana placed four student-athletes on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2022 and redshirt-junior Matthew Ellis was named third-team All-B1G by the conference coaches.

Freshman Carter Mathison and redshirt-senior Matthew Ellis each hit home runs on opening weekend to bring their career totals to 20 and 19, respectively, for the Cream and Crimson. Mathison has played in 63 career games and has 63 career RBIs over that span to go along with his 20 home runs. MORE ON PAGE 7

Senior Hunter Jessee carries a 23-game reached base streak into the week, which dates back to the 2022 season, and marks a career long for the left-handed hitter. MORE ON PAGE 7

Jessee posted his second career multi home run game on Tuesday night versus Miami (Ohio) with a first inning home run to right field and a seventh inning shot to the opposite field.

Indiana’s pitching staff posted a program record 600 strikeouts in 2022. That mark ranks No. 2 in Big Ten history, behind Iowa’s 602 punchouts in 2022, as well. MORE ON PAGE 8

Head coach Jeff Mercer became the eighth IU skipper to reach 100 victories in the cream and crimson with a series finale win at Auburn on February 19, 2023. FULL BIO ON PAGE 17

Scouting the Opponent

Texas enters the weekend with a 1-3 overall record after opening the season 0-3 at the College Baseball Showdown before it won a midweek contest over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Longhorns dropped one-run decision to Arkansas and Missouri over the weekend, before Vanderbilt won the finale at the event, 12-2. UT rebounded with a 12-2 win in its home opener on Tuesday.

Leadoff hitter Eric Kennedy paces the team with a .333 average and is tied with Jack O’Dowd with a team-high four RBIs.

Dylan Campbell owns a .471 on-base percentage with four hits and four walks in 17 plate appearances. He has also stolen three bases in four starts.

On the mound, the Texas pitching staff has struck out 45 and walked just 11 over 35 1/3 innings of work.

Junior Lucas Gordon (0-0) fired five shutout innings against No. 8 Arkansas in the season opener. He struck out six, walked one and allowed just two hits..

Series Notes

Indiana and Texas will meet for the second time in program history, with the only other meeting coming in 2018 NCAA Austin Regional final, a 3-2 Longhorn victory.

In all, Indiana has matched up with the Big XII on 25 occasions and owns a 6-19 mark in those contests.

The last regular season meeting with the conference came in 2019 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when Indiana defeated Kansas State, 5-0, and lost to Oklahoma, 6-3.

The last true road games versus a Big XII opponent came in the Lone Star State on the form of a three-game, season-opening series at Texas Tech. Indiana won the opening game, but dropped the series, 2-1.

INDIANA MBB

INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 29 AT NO. 5/5 PURDUE

Opening Tip

• Indiana University plays its final road game of the 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball at No. 5/5 Purdue on Feb. 25. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET with a national broadcast on FOX.

• The Boilermakers, led by 18th-year head coach Matt Painter, enter the rivalry showdown with a 24-4 record and a 13-4 mark in B1G play.

Game Information

Feb. 25, 2023 • 7:30 p.m. ET

Mackey Arena (14,240) • West Lafayette, Ind.

TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Series History: Indiana trails, 91-125

Last Meeting: IU 79, PUR 74 on Feb. 4, 2023 in Bloomington

Series History

• For the 217th time in program history, Indiana will take on archrival Purdue. The Boilermakers hold a 125-91 advantage in the series, the most victories of any opponent against the Hoosiers. No team has appeared on IU’s schedule more often than Purdue.

• Indiana picked up head coach Mike Woodson’s first signature victory in collegiate basketball with a 68-65 win over No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 20, 2022. Senior guard Rob Phinisee scored 20 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 17 seconds on the clock. The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for IU against Purdue.

• The Hoosiers took down the top-ranked Boilermakers by a score of 79-74 on Feb. 4 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis posted 25 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks in the victory.

• The two programs have met 17 previous times with both teams ranked inside the top-25 of the Associated Press. IU holds a record of 12-5 in the ranked matchups, including four-straight games dating back to Feb. 29, 2000. Just six of the games have been played at Mackey Arena.

• A total of six points have separated the two teams in the last three meetings dating back to the 2022 Big Ten slate.

Last Time Out

• Indiana raced out to an early nine-point advantage over Michigan State on Feb. 21, but could not sustain the defensive pressure and eventually lost 80-65 at the Breslin Center.

• The Hoosiers wore ‘Spartan Strong’ warmup hoodies to honor the victims of the tragic shooting on the Michigan State campus that occurred on Feb. 13. The game was the first for the MSU men’s program in East Lansing since the shooting.

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis recorded 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss. The game marked the ninth time this season the National Player of the Year candidate led the Hoosiers in points, rebounds, and assists. He achieved that statistical feat in just one game in his previous three seasons combined.

• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino posted 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from inside the arc. He added three rebounds and a steal.

Jackson-Davis, The All-American

• Since the calendar flipped to 2023, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has averaged 23.2 points, 13.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.1 blocks per game. His rebounding figure marks the highest tally in the NCAA during the 15-game stretch.

• In Big Ten play, Jackson-Davis ranks second in the league with 21.9 points and 12.9 rebounds per contest. He leads the conference with 3.1 blocked shots per game. His rebounding rate is the second highest in conference play in the last 25 seasons.

• Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis (Jan. 2023), Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal have averaged at least 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in a calendar month (min. 5 games) in Division I basketball or the NBA.

• TJD posted three 30-pooint games in the month of January, including back-to-back games with 35 points at Illinois (Jan. 19) and 31 points against Michigan State (Jan. 22). He also grabbed at least 20 rebounds three times during the stretch of nine games.

Rise of the Fino

• Since returning to the Indiana lineup against Kansas on Dec. 17, freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino is averaging 14.3 points and 3.9 assists on 42.4% shooting from the floor and 37.3% shooting from the 3-point line. He has 14 double-digit scoring outputs during that stretch, including four games exceeding the 20-point threshold.

• Hood-Schifino scored a career-best 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line against Northwestern on Jan. 8, the highest point total by a Hoosier freshman since Eric Gordon scored 33 against Chattanooga on Nov. 12, 2007.

• JHS ranks third among all freshmen in the Big Ten in scoring (12.8 points per game), second in assists (4.0), fourth in rebounds (4.0), and sixth in made 3-pointers per game (1.2). He is second in the league averaging a combined 20.7 points, rebounds, and assists per game.

• In seven crunch-time Big Ten games, defined as single-digit outcomes in the final four minutes of play, Hood-Schifino 9-of-15 (66.7%) from the floor, 2-of-2 from the 3-point line, and 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the free throw line.

The Trey Gallo-Way

• Junior guard Trey Galloway has averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in 18 starts this season. Indiana is 12-6 in his starts this season.

• Overall this season, Gallo is shooting 51.2% from the floor and 50.0% from the 3-point line. He has made more 3-pointers (24) this season than his first two seasons on campus (12) combined.

• Galloway scored a career-high 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep in IU’s first Big Ten win of the season over Nebraska on Dec. 7. The Culver Academies graduate scored 17 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the 3-point line against MSU on Jan. 22.

He Did What?

• In his career, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has recorded four games with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots. The rest of the Big Ten has combined to post five such games in the last 25 seasons.

• TJD posted 25 points, seven rebounds, and five blocked shots in Indiana’s 79-74 victory over No. 1/1 Purdue on Feb. 4. He is the first player to produce at least 25 points and five blocks in a win over the AP No. 1 team since Marcus Camby had 32 points and 5 blocks in UMass’ win over Kentucky on November 28, 1995.

• The four-time Big Ten Player of the Week compiled 25 points, 21 rebounds, and six blocked shots at Minnesota on Jan. 25. The game marked the first 20-20 game from a Hoosier since D.J. White on Jan. 8, 2008. He also became the first high-major player to post a 25-20-5 game since UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet on Feb. 14, 2009.

Chasing History

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis currently is tied for fourth all-time at IU in scoring (2,100), third in rebounds (1,075), and holds the school record for blocked shots (251). He joins Alan Henderson as the only Hoosiers to be top-10 all-time in career scoring, rebounding, and blocks.

Up Next: Career Scoring Leaders

1. Calbert Cheaney (2,613)

2. Steve Alford (2,438)

3. Don Schlundt (2,192)

4. Trayce Jackson-Davis (2,100)

5. A.J. Guyton (2,100)

Up Next: Career Rebounding Leaders

1. Alan Henderson (1,091)

2. Walt Bellamy (1,087)

3. Trayce Jackson-Davis (1,075)

Up Next: Career Double-Doubles

1. Walt Bellamy (59)

2. Archie Dees (56)

3. Alan Henderson (49)

4. Trayce Jackson-Davis (47)

• TJD is the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Joe Barry Carroll (Purdue), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Greg Kelser (Michigan State), and Herb Williams (Ohio State).

• The Center Grove product is the only active men’s Division I player to tally at least 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 250 career blocks. In the last 25 seasons, only five players have achieved those numbers in college basketball. Only Kyle Hines (UNCG) produced those numbers on a higher career scoring average.

• Jackson-Davis is one of two high-major players (Zach Edey; Purdue) to average at least 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season.

• In 17 conference games, TJD is averaging 21.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game.

• TJD is the active career Big Ten leader in points (2,100), rebounds (1,075), blocked shots (251), double-doubles (47), made field goals (790), and free throws made (520).

PURDUE SWIMMING

SHERMAN WINS SILVER, BREAKS 200 IM RECORD AGAIN

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Nick Sherman eclipsed the team record in the 200 individual medley for the fourth time while winning his first individual medal at the Big Ten Championships, claiming silver to highlight the Thursday evening session for Purdue men’s swimming & diving.

Ethan Shaw, Idris Muhammad, Aaron Frollo and the 400 medley relay team all joined Sherman in accounting for top-10 times in the team record book.

Sherman’s time of 1:42.62 made him the first Boilermaker to medal in an IM event at Big Tens since Guillermo Blanco won bronze in the 200 IM in 2015. Sherman won his fourth career medal at Big Tens on Thursday.

A time drop of 0.28 hundredths from his time of 1:42.90 at the Purdue Invitational in November should also help keep Sherman ranked among the top 20 nationally and earn him an individual bid to the NCAA Championships. That in turn should also help the Boilermakers’ top relay teams qualify for the national championship meet.

Jordan Rzepka and Sam Bennett both finished among the top 10 in 1-meter diving, teaming up to account for 40 team points. Rzepka was seventh in the championship final and remains 4-for-4 in career Top-10 finishes at Big Tens. As the runner-up in the consolation final, Bennett posted his first career top-10 showing at Big Tens. The sophomore recorded a career-best list score of 347.75 in the consol.

Shaw and Frollo registered career-best times in the 500 freestyle and earned second swims in the C final. Shaw was even faster as the runner-up in the C final, moving up to third place in program history with an NCAA provisional qualifying (B Cut) time of 4:20.79. It stands as the fastest time by a Boilermaker since Batuhan Hakan set the program record (4:18.43) at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. Frollo moved into seventh place in team history with a time of 4:23.64 in the prelims.

Sherman teamed up with Muhammad, Brady Samuels and Keelan Hart for a time of 3:08.36, taking over fourth place in team history. On the leadoff backstroke leg, Muhammad’s split of 46.98 was a career best and moved the sophomore into fifth place in the record book.

Muhammad scored individually with a fourth-place finish in the B final of the 50 free, improving on his prelim time with a B Cut time of 19.63 on his second swim. Senior Liam Walker also scored in the C final of the 50 free, matching his career-best time of 20.12 in the prelims.

Sherman won heat 7 of the prelims with a time of 1:43.24, earning the No. 2 seed and the right to race in lane 5 in the A final — the Purdue grad’s third career championship final at Big Tens. He enjoyed a time drop of 0.62 hundredths from the prelims to final Thursday. He has now lowered the Purdue record in the 200 IM by 1.25 seconds since originally eclipsing Blanco’s benchmark (1:43.87) in the prelims of the 2021 NCAA Championships.

Coleman Modglin accounted for a career best and Purdue’s No. 2 time this season in the 200 IM, posting a time of 1:48.20 in the prelims.

The Big Ten Championships continue Friday with swimming prelims at 10 a.m. ET, 3-meter diving prelims at noon and the finals session at 5 p.m.

THURSDAY TEAM SCORES

1.) #8 Ohio State 487

2.) #6 Indiana 478

3.) #17 Michigan 403

4.) #23 Wisconsin 341

5.) #25 Minnesota 280

6.) Purdue 240

7.) Northwestern 210

8.) Penn State 204

PURDUE BASEBALL

PURDUE RIDES 13-GAME NC WIN STREAK INTO NJIT SERIES

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

NJIT (2-1, 26-27 in 2022) vs. Purdue (3-1, 29-21 in 2022)

4-Game Series / Friday to Sunday, Feb. 24 to Feb. 26

Ting Stadium / Holly Springs, N.C.

Doubleheader: Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. ET

Middle Day: Saturday, Feb. 25 at TBA

Series Finale: Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET

All-Time Series: Purdue leads 2-1

Last Series: Purdue won 2 of 3 (March 2019 in Marion, N.C.)

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Friday Game 1: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. NJIT’s Ryan Fischer (Sr, RHP)

Friday Game 2: CJ Backer (Jr, RHP) vs. NJIT’s Aidan Kidd (Jr, LHP)

Saturday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. TBA for NJIT

Sunday: Calvin Schapira (R-Sr, LHP) vs. NJIT’s Joe Georgini (Grad, RHP)

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Purdue baseball plays consecutive weekend series at Ting Stadium for the second year in a row, hosting NJIT for a four-game set in the first of the back-to-back road trips to the Raleigh area.

Due to rain in the forecast for much of Saturday, the series will now begin with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. ET Sunday’s series finale remains at 1 p.m. A late afternoon start time is projected for Saturday. Admission is free for all of the Boilermakers’ games at Ting Stadium the next two weekends. They host Akron for a four-game set at Ting Park next weekend.

Purdue swept a four-game series vs. Princeton and a three-game set vs. Longwood at Ting Stadium last year. Four of those seven victories came in walk-off fashion, serving as evidence that both were competitive series. The Boilermakers added a quality midweek win at Charlotte on their 11-day North Carolina trip and the 8-0 record on the trip helped power the program-record 15-0 start. Purdue is returning to campus between its two weekend series at Ting Stadium this year.

Cam Thompson accounted for two of the four walk-off hits at Ting Stadium last season, including a game-winning home run in the 11th inning to end the road trip. Jake Stadler and CJ Valdez also delivered walk-off hits. Jake Jarvis scored the game-winning run on Stadler’s 13th-inning wall-banger vs. Longwood in what proved to be the longest game of the 2022 season.

The Boilermakers have won 13 consecutive games in North Carolina dating back to a March 2019 series win vs. NJIT. The first and only other previous meetings between the two teams was played at Big League Camp in Marion, North Carolina. It was a late addition to the schedule after both teams had originally scheduled series canceled due to winter weather.

Along with last year’s 8-0 road trip, Purdue also went 3-0 in Buies Creek to win the Campbell Invitational during the second weekend of the 2020 season. The Boilermakers have beaten seven different teams during their 13-game win streak in North Carolina.

Due in part to the schedule changes and the doubleheader moving to Friday, Purdue has opted to shuffle its rotation while keeping the same quartet of starters in place. CJ Backer moves to game 2 of the series and the nightcap of Friday’s doubleheader. Coming off Tommy John Surgery, Calvin Schapira moves to game 4 for additional rest and to potentially reduce extended innings for the bullpen to cover earlier in the series as Schapira continues to build up his allotted pitch count. Jonathan Blackwell moves up to game 3 after he worked five innings of one-run ball in his team debut Sunday.

NJIT has moved from the Atlantic Sun Conference to the America East Conference since it last played the Boilermakers in 2019. The Highlanders opened their season with a series win at Davidson last weekend, scoring 26 runs over the final two days to take two of three after losing 4-3 on Opening Day. NJIT is playing its first 10 games in the state of North Carolina, returning to the Raleigh area next weekend for a three-game set at NC State.

Like Purdue, the Highlanders are active on the base paths and had four players with 10-plus stolen bases last season. NJIT finished the season 87 of 107 in stolen bases attempts in 53 games last year. Purdue was 116 of 135 in 50 games.

ACTIVE STREAK DATING BACK TO 2022

• Evan Albrecht – Hit safely in 7 straight games

• Paul Toetz – Reached base safely in 7 straight games

HIGH & LOWS FROM THE SEASON-OPENING WEEKEND

• Hit 11 home runs, with eight different Boilermakers going deep

• Scored 41 runs in 31 innings at the plate

• .971 team fielding percentage & three pickoffs

• .348 batting average with runners in scoring position

• Batted .396 with two outs, registering 19 two-out hits and 21 two-out RBI

• Scored four runs in an inning three times

—

• On the Mound: 19 strikeouts vs. 18 walks

• At the Plate: 28 strikeouts vs. 16 walks

• Nine wild pitches in 33 innings

• With a runner on third and less than two outs, scored that runner in 8 of 14 opportunities (57%)

2022 PURDUE LEADERS AT TING STADIUM (7-GAME TOTALS)

• CJ Valdez: 11-for-25, .440/.531/.600, 4 2B, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 3 R, Sac Fly, SB – Hit Safely in all 7 Games

• Evan Albrecht: 9-for-26, .346/.433/.462, 3 2B, 4 RBI, BB, 3 HBP, 3 R, 4 SB

• Cam Thompson: 9-for-27, .333/.471/.556, 3 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 4 HBP, 7 R, SB – On Base in all 7 Games

• Mike Bolton Jr.: 7-for-27, .259/.400/.444, 3 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 6 BB, HBP, 3 R, 3 SB – On Base in all 7 Games

• Jake Jarvis: 4-for-9, .444/.583/.444, 2 BB, HBP, 3 R, 2 SB

• Jake Parr: 3-for-10, .300/.417/.700, 2B, HR, BB, HBP, 3 R, SB

• Khal Stephen: 2-0, 4 App, 7 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K, 1.29 ERA, .087 B/Avg

• CJ Backer: 2 App, 6 2/3 IP, 9 H, BB, 5 K, 1.35 ERA, .360 B/Avg

PURDUE SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL PRIMED FOR UCF KNIGHTS CLASSIC

KNIGHTS CLASSIC SCHEDULE

Friday, February 24

vs. Columbia | 2 p.m. ET

vs. Bradley | 4:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, February 25

vs. Bradley | 4:30 p.m. ET

at #23/25 UCF | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Sunday, February 26

vs. Louisville | 11 a.m. ET

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball team travels south for the Knights Classic this weekend, hosted by No. 23/25 UCF. The Boilermakers, coming off a 3-1 showing at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, is set the enter the weekend with a 5-3 overall record.

LAST WEEK LOOK BACK: AT CAMPBELL & THE ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE

Eight Boilermakers posted a .400 batting avg. or higher last week with at least two plate appearances, including: Kiara Dillon (9 AB, .556), Tyrina Jones (18 AB, .500), Anna Lonchar (10 AB, .400) and Khloe Banks (10 AB, .400).

As a team, Purdue went 3-2 on the weekend, with a .333 batting avg., a .521 slugging % and a .981 fielding %.

On Saturday, Purdue posted back-to-back shutouts with wins vs. Syracuse (7-0) and at NC State (4-0). The shutout was the first time since 2016 the program has accomplished two in a single day.

The Boilermakers totaled 12 doubles in four consecutive games, the most since 2019.

ON THE RISE: TYRINA JONES

From the plate, Tyrina Jones is leading the team with a .407 batting average this season.

The sophomore shortstop has recorded a hit in six of the team’s eight games and is currently riding a four-game hitting streak.

Jones’ four hits at NC State marked the second-most by a Boilermaker in a single game. It has happened 44 times in program history, last two seasons ago by 2022 All-America Honorable Mention Rachel Becker, who posted four vs. Rutgers (2021).

Jones’ five RBI vs. Syracuse (2/17) was the third-most in a single game by a Boilermaker and most since 2021 (Ryleigh Scott at Michigan State, 4/23/21).

THE PITCHING STAFF: MO WIMPEE & ALEX ECHAZARRETA

Senior Mo Wimpee and fifth year Alex Echazarreta both posted complete game shutouts during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Over a five-game span in Week 2, Mo Wimpee held a 0.05 ERA over 14 innings in the circle. The Boilermaker posted a career-high six strikeouts during her first complete game showing vs. Syracuse (2/18). In the outing, she allowed just three hits.

Veteran Echazarreta notched her first complete game of the season with a one-hitter shutout vs. NC State. In the win, the righty tossed 11 strikeouts, just one shy of her career-best.

SCOUTING COLUMBIA

Notably, Knight’s Classic is the first time Columbia is set to play this season.

Columbia graduated its top-two offensive threats in Abby Stuart (.373 batting avg.) and Maria Pagane (.258).

Top returners include #6 Maddie Souza, who was third on the team with a .250 batting avg. a season ago,

Columbia’s roster is evenly split among upper and lowerclassmen: five freshmen, four sophomores, five juniors and four seniors.

Last year, #22 Jordan Hill led the pitching staff with a 3.18 ERA, followed by #3 Raquel Reyes (4.00).

Hill led the team with a 6-12 record in the circle.

SCOUTING BRADLEY

Batting avg. leaders include #23 Lauren DeRolf (.483) followed by #32 Grace French (.480) and #17 Angela Cirone (.406).

DeRolf (8), Cirone (6) and #5 Addie Welsh (6) have scored the most runs for the Braves.

Leading in pitching with an ERA of 5.25 is #9 Camryn Schaller followed by #6 Abbott Badgley (7.41) and #32 Grace French (9.95).

#9 Camryn Schaller leads in pitching wins-losses at 2-0 along with #6 Abbott Badgley at 2-2.

SCOUTING #23/25 UCF

Leading the team in batting average is #12 Chloe Evans (.375) followed by #5 Micaela Macario (.320) and #46 Shannon Doherty (.313).

Meanwhile, the most runs have been scored by #17 Jada Cody (10), Evans (8) and #1 Jasmine Williams (7).

Leading in pitching with an ERA of 2.62 is #6 Angelina DeVoe followed by #18 Kaitlyn Felton (3.41) and #66 Sarah Willis (4.61).

#6 Angelina DeVoe leads in pitching wins-losses at 3-2.

Significantly, UCF defeated #25 Michigan with an 8-2 victory.

SCOUTING #RV LOUISVILLE

Leading the team in batting average is #22 Daisy Hess (.333), #8 Taylor Roby (.333), and #2 Sarah Gordon (.333).

 #33 Korbe Otis and #9 Vanessa Miller have posted the most runs this season with seven apiece.

The pitching effort is guided by #8 Taylor Roby (.046 ERA), #16 Gabby Holloway (1.27 ERA) and #13 Alyssa Zabala (1.35 ERA).

Zabala’s 3-1 record in the circle leads the pitching staff.

BUTLER TRACK

BUTLERXCTF PREPARE FOR THE BIG EAST INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND

The Butler men’s and women’s track and field teams will travel to compete at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday in the Dr. Conrad Worrill Indoor Track and Field Center at Gately Park. The meet will be streamed live on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports.

The Bulldogs will feature a distance quartet in the men’s 3,000 and 5,000-meter races. Current BIG EAST leaders include Barry Keane in the 5,000 meters (13:21.57) and Jesse Hamlin in the 3,000 meters (7:44.69). Keane will look to defend his BIG EAST title in the 5,000 meters. The men’s distance program will also include Jack McMahon (3,000m and 5,000m), Will Minnette and Edouard Morin-Luzuy (5,000m), and David Slapak (3,000m).

On the women’s side, Angelina Ellis hopes to cap off her successful indoor season with a top finish in the 3,000 meters. Ellis broke the school records in the mile (4:37.06) and 3,000 meters (9:04.93) earlier this season on her way to ranking in the top three for the BIG EAST conference in each event. Mia Beckham and Abby Olson are scheduled to compete in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters while Laure Bertrand will race in the 5,000 meters.

The duo of Karmen Koch and Remi Beckham will compete in the women’s indoor pentathlon, which consists of the 60-meter hurdles, 800-meter run, high jump, long jump, and shot put events. Katherine Olsen and Morgan Walsh are also on the heat sheets to compete in the 800 meters.

Luke Finnegan will lead the way in the sprint events, including 60 and 200-meter dashes. Finnegan is the two-time MAC champion in the 200-meter and will look to add a BIG EAST title to his name this weekend. Gavin Cougle and Zac Stanley also hope to leave their mark in the 400-meter dash.

The Bulldogs will look to wrap up the meet in the field that features student-athletes ranking high in their respective events for the conference, including Jack Elder (fourth) in the pole vault and Joey Gareis (fifth) in the triple jump. Drew Herman will top it off in high jump after earning the BIG EAST Field Athlete of the Week honors (Jan. 18) earlier this season.

Action begins 9:45 a.m. CT on Friday with the first events of the heptathlon and pentathlon. Field events start at 10 a.m. and races begin at 12:45 p.m. and will continue through 5:10 p.m. A dozen of Friday’s running events will be trials, while the 5,000-meter event and distance medley relays will be finals. Pentathlon events will also wrap up on Friday.

Saturday’s schedule begins at 10 a.m. with the final events of the heptathlon. Field events will begin at 10:30 a.m. Races will start at 10:50 a.m., kicking off with the unseeded section of the 3,000 meters. Starting with the mile at 11:30 a.m., all running events will be medal runs.

BUTLER WBB

BUTLERUWBB TO HOST SETON HALL ON SENIOR DAY

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler’s final home game of the regular season is up next for the women’s basketball program. Four Bulldogs will be recognized before the 7 PM tip vs. Seton Hall as Butler aims for their fourth-straight BIG EAST victory.

GameDay

Date: Friday, Feb. 24

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse

Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – Statbroadcast

Watch: FloSports.com – BEDN

Bulldog Bits

– Friday is the 22nd overall meeting between Butler and Seton Hall.

– Butler never trailed Xavier on Tuesday night to post their 10th win of the season.

– Sydney Jaynes ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (51.7).

– Jaynes led Butler with 16 points, five assists and three blocked shots in the win over Xavier.

– Jaynes went 6-for-8 from the field and was perfect from the free throw line (4-4).

– Rachel McLimore added 15 points in the victory over the Musketeers.

– McLimore has made 12 3-pointers over her last four games while shooting 57 percent from distance.

– McLimore and Shay Frederick are tied for fifth in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (40.6).

– Anna Mortag ranks second in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (43.3).

– Mortag was in foul trouble vs. Xavier, but managed seven points and four rebounds in just 10 minutes.

– Butler used an 8-0 scoring run to build a lead vs. Xavier and went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter.

– The Bulldogs went 16-for-18 from the free throw line vs. Xavier.

– 16 free throws is the third-highest total for BU this season trailing only 23 vs. Chicago State and 17 vs. DePaul.

– Butler has shot over 80 percent from the charity stripe in three straight games (88%, 81%, 83%).

– Jessica Carrothers, Jordan Meulemans and Anna Mortag were all inactive in the first meeting at SHU.

– Carrothers ranks 12th in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (47.6).

– Caroline Strande posted a double-double at Seton Hall with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

– Butler was limited to just 45 points at Seton Hall; their second-lowest scoring output of the season.

Scouting Seton Hall                                                                              

The Pirates are 17-11 overall with a 10-8 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. Lauren Park-Lane and Sidney Cooks are the top scoring threats on the roster. Park-Lane ranks third in the BIG EAST with her 20.2 scoring average and Cooks is behind her at seventh by averaging 16.3 points per game. The Pirates rank third in the league in scoring offense (72.2), but 10th in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (68.8). Their defense did however play well against the Bulldogs in the first meeting. Butler shot just 30 percent from the floor and 25 percent from 3-point range (6-24).

All-Time Series vs. Seton Hall                                                             

Butler trails Seton Hall in the all-time series 16-5. The Pirates have won the last nine meetings. Butler’s last win came just four days into 2019 (62-59 at Hinkle Fieldhouse). Four of Butler’s five wins vs. Seton Hall have been played at Hinkle.

Butler’s Last Game vs. Seton Hall                                                     

The Pirates overcame a nine-point first-quarter deficit to score a large-margin win over the visiting Bulldogs at Walsh Gym. The Hall’s Sidney Cooks and Lauren Park-Lane tied for the game high with 19 points apiece, with Cooks adding eight boards and Park-Lane tallying eight assists. The eight dimes moved Park-Lane into a tie for 10th all-time on the BIG EAST’s career assists list with 339 over 58 conference tilts. With Seton Hall leading 9-4 after four minutes, Butler went on a 16-2 run to lead 20-11 before closing the quarter with a 20-16 advantage. The Bulldogs were limited to just 25 points the remaining three quarters as the Pirates pulled away. Caroline Strande led Butler with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Seton Hall’s Last Game                                                                        

Lauren Park-Lane and Azana Baines registered double-doubles to lift Seton Hall to a 72-59 victory over Xavier on Senior Day at Walsh Gym. A 9-0 run early in the third quarter enabled the Pirates to pull away. The Pirates shot 50 percent from the field and recorded 11 steals to help defeat the Musketeers. SHU also scored 23 fast break points. The victory improved Seton Hall to 10-8 in the BIG EAST, its fourth straight year with double-digit wins in conference games.

Hands Off                                                                                                             

Butler will need to defend Seton Hall without fouling on Friday night. The Pirates average 15 free throws per contest and are first in the BIG EAST in team free throw percentage (79.4). Point guard Lauren Park-Lane ranks 12th in the country in free throw attempts. She has just two less free throw attempts this season (180) than Rachel McLimore (68), Sydney Jaynes (57), Jessica Carrothers (31) and Anna Mortag (26) combined. The Bulldogs ranks eighth in the nation in fewest fouls per game (13.1).

Three-Straight                                                                                        

The Bulldogs have won three-straight games for the second time this season. Their current streak includes victories over Providence, Georgetown and Xavier. Earlier this season, BU defeated Tennessee State, Sacred Heart and Binghamton to end the month of November. The streaks are significant in that Butler only won one game a year ago and three total the year prior.

Senior Day                                                                                                             

The Butler coaching staff will recognize four seniors on Friday night before tip at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Join us pregame to honor the playing careers of Tenley Dowell, Shay Frederick, Rachel McLimore and Kelsy Taylor!

McLimore Makes BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (2/20)                 

Rachel McLimore scored a game-high 21 points off 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three, to go along with a game-best six assists as Butler topped Georgetown.

Behind The Arc                                                                                       

Butler ranks 11th in the NCAA and second in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8). The Bulldogs average 7.8 made 3-point field goals per game (2nd in the BIG EAST).

Butler vs. Xavier Recap                                                                        

Butler led from start to finish on Tuesday night to claim a 60-43 win over visiting Xavier. Sydney Jaynes and Rachel McLimore combined for 31 points and the Bulldogs shot 45 percent from the floor to come up with their 10th win of the season. The victory also moves Butler’s conference record to 5-13. Courtney Prenger led Xavier (7-20, 0-18) with 12 points off 5-of-10 shooting. The Bulldogs moved a full game ahead of Providence in the standings as they are currently in ninth, half a game back of eighth-place Georgetown.

Tournament Talk                                                                                                

The 2023 BIG EAST women’s basketball tournament is eight days away. If the tournament started this weekend, Butler would play as the No. 9 seed and face No. 8 seed Georgetown. The winner of that contest would advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 1 seed UConn. Other first round pairings would feature No. 6 seed Seton Hall playing No. 11 seed Xavier and No. 7 seed DePaul playing No. 10 seed Providence. The tournament will be held in Uncasville, Conn. at Mohegan Sun Arena. Action starts March 3 and the championship game will air March 6 on FS1.

8-9-10                                                                                                                     

The Bulldogs are down to the final two games of the regular season, but their conference tournament seed is still undetermined. Butler is currently ninth with a 5-13 BIG EAST record. They could move to eighth with two wins, or one win accompanied by Georgetown losing at St. John’s. They could also slide back to tenth if they go 0-2 and Providence goes 1-1. The Friars will end the regular season with a game at Villanova followed by a Monday tilt at home vs. St. John’s. Villanova defeated Providence 79-54 in the first meeting and St. John’s topped the Friars 63-55 in Queens.

Up Next                                                                                                                  

Butler will end the 2023 regular season with a game at Creighton on Feb. 27. Tip in Omaha is set for 7 PM.

BUTLER BASEBALL

CAMPBELL TO HOST BUTLER AT JIM PERRY STADIUM

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will play a three-game series at Campbell this weekend. Action in Buies Creek N.C. will get underway on Friday, Feb. 24 with a 5 PM first pitch. The Bulldogs head into the matchup with a 2-2 overall record. Campbell is 3-1 on the young season after defeating #11 East Carolina in extra innings on Tuesday night.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, Feb. 24 – 5 PM

Saturday, Feb. 25 – 3 PM

Sunday, Feb. 26 – 1 PM

Projected Starters

LHP Cory Bosecker vs. RHP Cade Kuehler

RHP Aaron Barokas vs. RHP Chance Daquila

RHP Shane Kilfoyle vs. TBA

Scouting Campbell

Last year’s Campbell team finished with a 41-19 record, capturing the Big South regular season crown, the conference tournament title, and punching their ticket to the NCAA tournament. The Fighting Camels have begun 2023 3-1 after beating Rutgers in a three-game series 2-1 and most recently taking down No. 11 East Carolina. Campbell’s Logan Jordan hit an RBI single in the 10th to cap the 6-5 win over the nationally ranked East Carolina team.

Right-handers Cade Keuhler and Chance Daquila are likely to get starts this weekend against the Bulldogs. Keuhler made 15 starts last year recording a 4-6 record, 4.07 ERA, striking out a program-record 111 batters, ranking 14th nationally in hits allowed per nine at 6.11, and notching Big South’s lowest opposing batting average, .184. In his lone appearance this year, Keuhler pitched five innings, allowing five hits, two runs, while striking out eight batters against Rutgers. Daquila is a transfer from Catawba Valley where he posted a 9-3 record. The redshirt junior earned a win against Rutgers in his first start of the season and Campbell debut. He tossed five scoreless innings allowing only one hit while striking out five. Daquila’s performance led to a two-hit shutout performance from Campbell.

BIG EAST Player of the Week

Joey Urban shined in his Bulldog debut, batting .438 (7-for-16) over four games against Farleigh Dickinson. The freshman posted a 1.062 slugging percentage and registered a .500 on base percentage, tallying at least one run, hit and RBI in all four games. Overall, Urban tallied six runs, six RBI, two home runs, a triple and earned a walk, while also putting out 14 for a perfect fielding percentage on defense.

Reached Base Streak

Jake DeFries, Xavier Carter, Kyle Van Liere, Joey Urban and Carter Dorighi reached base safely in all four games over opening weekend.

Heavy Hitters

DeFries, Dorighi, Urban and Carter all head to Campbell with four-game hitting streaks.

Top of the Order

Dorighi, DeFries and Carter were the top three hitters in the lineup in each game vs. Fairleigh Dickinson.

On the Move

The Bulldogs stole eight bases (8-9) over the first four games of the season. Seven different players accounted for the eight and DeFries led the way with two.

Top BA

Carter Dorighi hit .444 against FDU with eight hits in 18 at-bats. The BU newcomer scored five runs and posted three RBI. Dorighi had three multi-hit games in Lexington. His extra base hit (2B) moved his slugging percentage to .500 and three walks raised his on-base percentage to .524.

Get on Base

Four Bulldogs have an on-base percentage of .500 or higher. Kollyn All leads the group at .545.

Going, Going, Gone

Joey Urban and Jake DeFries hit home runs for Butler in Lexington. Urban hit two homers helping him generate six total RBI. He hit one in game one of the series and wrapped up the weekend with another on Sunday. DeFries went yard in game three of the FDU series. His three-run home run came in the bottom of the seventh.

Barokas Beats FDU

Aaron Barokas was terrific in his 2023 debut. The senior struck out three over five full innings limiting the Knights to just one hit and no runs keeping his ERA at 0.00.

Schedule Update

Butler will now host a three-game series vs. Northwestern. The Wildcats will be in Indianapolis for a Saturday doubleheader on March 18. The two teams will also play a single game on Sunday with a 2 PM first pitch. Butler’s last three-game series vs. a Big Ten opponent came in 2018 at Indiana.

Up Next

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play at Indiana on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The forecast is promising for the 4 PM first pitch with a high of 45 degrees.

BUTLER SOFTBALL

BUTLERSOFTBALL HEADS TO ALABAMA FOR GREEN & GOLD CLASSIC

Tournament Information – Green & Gold Classic at UAB

DATE:                         Friday, Feb. 24 – Sunday, Feb. 26

LOCATION:                Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field at UAB

LIVE STATS:                uabsports.com

LIVE VIDEO (Gm 2 & 3):   CUSATV

The Butler softball team travels to Birmingham, Ala., for its third tournament of the season at the UAB Green & Gold Classic. The 1-10 Bulldogs are looking to break an eight-game losing streak as they face Louisiana-Monroe, Alabama-Birmingham, and Cleveland State.

Bulldog Bits                                                       

Monique Hoosen’s home run vs. FIU was her second of the season and the 15th of her career, moving her into a tie for eighth on Butler’s all-time career list.

Teagan O’Rilley’s home run vs. FIU was her first of the season and the fifth of her career.

O’Rilley had one or more hits in each of the five games in last weekend’s Panther Invite, going 7-for-15 (.467).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

LOUISIANA-MONROE (7-5)  Series: ULM leads, 1-0.  Last game: 2/19/16- ULM 5, Butler 2

wins include: UC-Davis, Cal, Western Michigan     

losses include: UC-Davis, Cal, Western Michigan

Batting Leaders

Lourdes Bacon (.385) 15-for-39    

Madelyn Fletcher (.353) 6-for-17                   

Ashlan Ard (.321) 9-for-28

Pitching Leaders

Maddie Nichols (1-0) (1.75 ERA, 4 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 4 K)

Adrianna Chavarria (3-1) (1.98 ERA, 17.2 IP, 19 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 13 K)

Gianni Hulett (1-0) (2.62 ERA, 24 IP, 20 H, 10 R, 9 ER, BB, 14 K)

ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM (7-4)  Series: (teams have never met)       

wins include: Ball State, Belmont, Samford                 

 losses include: Central Arkansas, McNeese St., Belmont

Batting Leaders (as of Feb. 19)

Olivia Valbak (.389) 14-for-36                         

Lauren Brock (.361) 13-for-36       

Sierra Frazier (.310) 9-for-29        

Pitching Leaders (as of Feb. 19)

Caitlin Russell (2-0) (1.00 ERA, 18 IP, 15 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K)

Sarah Cespedes (2-2) (3.46 ERA, 26 IP, 31 H, 15 R, 10 ER, 4 BB, 25 K)

Olivia Valbak (2-0) (3.46 ERA, 13 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, BB, 5 K)

CLEVELAND ST. (1-4)  Series: Cleveland State leads, 28-19   Last game: 2/25/19- Butler 9, CSU 6

wins include: Jacksonville                               

losses include: Penn State, Memphis, North Florida

Batting Leaders

Sophie Spellman (.333) 4-for-12  

Jenna Deang (.313) 5-for-16           

Becky Hurosky (.250) 3-for-12                        

Pitching Leaders

Melissa Holzopfel (1-2) (3.29 ERA, 17 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 12 BB, 16 K)

Torrie Jenkins (0-0) (4.67 ERA, 6 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 2 K)

IUPUI MBB

JACKSON’S CAREER NIGHT SENDS JAGUARS PAST COLONELS

INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI freshman DJ Jackson had a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds and Jlynn Counter tossed in 17 as the Jaguars staved off Robert Morris, 81-75, inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. IUPUI shot a toasty 55 percent after halftime and piled up 52 second half points to erase a five-point halftime deficit.

RMU’s Kahliel Spear had a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds as the Colonels had their four-game winning streak snapped.

“Honestly, just a gutsy win. Our freshmen are growing up and not really playing like freshmen now. You saw DJ have a monster game and Armon had two four-point plays down the stretch. Those aren’t plays that freshmen make,” head coach Matt Crenshaw said. “Vince has continued to be really good for us and another guy, (Counter), played like a go-to player for us.

“Every guy that played tonight contributed to the win. That was special to be able to take down a team that’s as hot as anyone in our league right now. Now, we have to back it up and take care of business on Saturday.”

IUPUI (5-25, 2-17 HL) was down 50-43 with 13:05 to play when Michael Green III scored on a drive, but began chipping away from there. Chris Osten capped a 10-2 burst with a three-point play to give the Jaguars the lead with 10:18 left and the Jaguars were able to maintain the lead over the final seven minutes of the contest.

Each time RMU (15-16, 10-10 HL) nipped at the lead, IUPUI responded, often in emphatic fashion. Armon Jarrard drained a wing three and was fouled, building an eight-point lead with 4:06 left. Just more than a minute later, Jarrard did the same, connecting on a corner three while drawing a foul to push the lead to nine.

RMU’s full court press bothered the Jaguars and made things dicey down the stretch, but IUPUI weathered the storm to seize the win. Osten had a key putback of a miss with 34 seconds left to make it a two-possession game and the Jags confidently made free throws when sent to the line to extend the game.

IUPUI finished 22-of-28 (78.6 percent) from the foul line and outrebounded the Colonials 42-32. Jonah Carrasco had a season-high nine boards off the IUPUI bench and Brady grabbed seven.

Enoch Cheeks and Green both tallied 15 points for RMU, which finished the game at just 39.7 percent overall and 4-of-20 (20 percent) from three-point range. IUPUI held the guests with a made three in the second half.

Osten, who battled foul trouble all night, closed with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Jarrard finished with nine points off the IUPUI bench as the Jaguars’ reserves finished with 15 points, all in the second half.

IUPUI will close out the regular season against Youngstown State on Saturday (Feb. 25) at 7:00 p.m. inside the Jungle. The Jaguars will recognize the senior quartet of Carrasco, Osten, Marlon Taylor and Zach Gunn immediately before the game.

IUPUI WBB

JAGS CLINCH #3 SEED IN #HLWBB TOURNAMENT WITH WIN OVER ROBERT MORRIS, 83-69

NDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s basketball team defeated Robert Morris on Thursday evening to seal the number three seed and a first round bye in the Horizon League Tournament, 83-69. Jazmyn Turner led the Jaguar offense with 21 points while senior Destiny Perkins scored 20. Rachel Kent added a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds.

The Jags took the early lead in the first quarter, 21-15 and never gave up the lead. Although the Colonials never took the lead, they never went away keeping it at just eight points at the half, 39-31. In the third quarter, IUPUI held onto the lead with six points to spare, 60-54. Jaci Jones scored two free throws to seal the win at 83-69 in the four quarter.

Turner led the IUPUI offense with 21 points, adding six rebounds. On senior night, Destiny Perkins once again showed why she is a key piece in the IUPUI program dropping 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Kent added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Natalie Andersen scored 12 points while Logan Lewis added seven.

With the win the Jaguars end the regular season, 17-12 and 13-7 overall, sealing the number three seed in the Horizon League Championship. IUPUI will next play on March 2nd in the second round of the tournament.

BALL STATE BASEBALL

CARDINALS FLY TO SOUTH CAROLINA FOR FOUR NEUTRAL SITE CONTESTS

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team returns to the Swig & Swine at The Shipyard Park in Charleston, S.C. for four neutral-site contests. The tournament will begin with a single game on Friday, two games on Saturday, and one contest on Sunday.

The Cardinals are coming off tough opening weekend against the Charlotte 49ers. Ball State won the opening game of the series, 2-1, before dropping the remaining three contests.

The Cardinals enter the weekend with a 1-3 record. Ball State will face Merrimack, Rutgers, Bucknell, and Canisius in Charleston. This weekend’s games will be streamed on HiCast. It is a single-camera feed from behind home plate, and there will be no score bug or announcers.

Gold Glove Peltier

At the conclusion of last season, Peltier was honored as the best defensive third baseman in the NCAA and received an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove. After being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and earning a spot on the All-MAC Second Team for back-to-back seasons, Peltier was awarded the first Gold Glove in BSU history. He was a 2023 Preseason All-American honoree from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Peltier has started the season on fire. He is batting .500 with three home runs to go along with four walks. His eight home runs are currently tied for eighth in the NCAA and tied for the MAC lead. He has a slugging percentage of 1.400, has an on-base percentage of .643, and is a perfect 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts.

What Can Brown Do for You?

Ryan Brown was named the No. 49 prospect in college baseball by D1 Baseball. Brown was the only Mid-American Conference player selected to the top-100 list. He was also tabbed as one of the top mid-major prospects for the 2023 season. Brown also landed on the 2023 MLB Draft: Rising Righthanded Pitchers watch list. Last season, Brown earned recognition as a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American along with the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team.

Brown leads the pitching staff with the lone win and an 0.00 ERA. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in 4.2 innings of relief against Charlotte. He held opponents to a .071 batting average.

Possible Starting Matchups (subject to change)

Friday: Ty Johnson (RHP) vs. TBA

Saturday: Trennor O’Donnell (RHP) vs. John Modugno (RHP)

Saturday: TBA vs. TBA

Sunday: TBA vs. TBA

Weekend Schedule

Friday: BSU vs. Merrimack – Noon

Saturday: BSU vs. Rutgers – Noon

Saturday: BSU vs. Bucknell – 4 p.m.

Sunday: BSU vs. Canisius – 9 a.m.

*Times and locations are subject to change

Cardinals vs. Warriors: The Series

Ball State and Merrimack will meet for the first time on Friday.

Scouting Merrimack

The Warriors are led by First Team All-NEC honoree Alex Haba. Last season, he hit .368 during the season, which was second best in the conference. He was second in the conference in hits with 70 and doubles with 17. He was tied for fourth in runs scored with 46. He led the team with a .556 slugging percentage and six steals.

The Cardinals will be the first opponent for the Warriors in the 2023 season.

Cardinals vs. Scarlet Knights: The Series

The Cardinals and Scarlet Knights will meet for the just the second time. Ball State won the lone meeting 6-2, on March 18, 2015.

Scouting Rutgers

Rutgers is led by Ryan Lasko, who earned a spot on the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. He also earned six different preseason All-American lists. Last season, Lasko led the Big Ten with 90 hits and 81 runs and was tied for the team lead with 16 home runs. After the opening weekend, Trevor Cohen was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Cohen led the team with a .727 batting average and is averaging 2.66 hits a game. He produced a team-high eight hits with six RBIs. The Scarlet Knights are expected to start John Modugno, which will be his 2023 debut.

Cardinals vs. Bison: The Series

Ball State and Bucknell have only met once, which was in the first game of last season’s Swig & Swine. The Cardinals knocked off the Bison, 8-7.

Scouting Bucknell

Will Greer and Grant Voytovich lead the Bison as Preseason All-Patriot League honorees. Sean Keys leads the team with a .300 batting average after the opening weekend. Keys paces Bucknell with two RBIs Jacob Corson leads the Bison with a .500 on-base percentage after drawing four walks along with being hit by one pitch. He added two hits. Kyle Lyons is second on the squad hitting .250.

Cardinals vs. Griffs: The Series

Ball State and Canisius will face off for the first time in program history.

Scouting Canisius

Max Grant leads the Griffs in preseason honors, as the projected to be the MAAC Player of the Year by the MAAC, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game. He also received Preseason All-America honors by the NCWBA and Collegiate Baseball. He is listed as the 16th-best second baseman by D1 Baseball and is listed as the second-best 2023 draft prospect in the MAAC. Matt Duffy was named the conference Pitcher of the Year preseason honors by D1 Baseball and Perfect Game. He is ranked as the 83rd-best starting pitcher in D1 Baseball. The Griffs make their 2023 debut in the Swig & Swine.

BALL STATE SWIMMING

WOMEN’S S&D CLOSES THURSDAY WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM RECORD

OXFORD, Ohio – – Ball State started out hot on day two of the Mid-American Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, continuing the momentum from Wednesday’s program records.

Freshman Kiran Stauffer started the day off for the Cardinals with a career best in the 500 freestyle prelims (4:57.14). In the championship heat, she crushed her prelim time with a finish at 4:52.64 for the second-fastest in school history.

The current 500 freestyle record holder, junior Marcella Ribeiro, took more than three seconds off her season-best score and finished fifth in the championship heat for the Cardinals (4:50.72).

Freshman Payton Kelly and senior Apsara Sakbun both qualified for the 50 freestyle championship heat with career-best times in the prelims. Kelly touched at 22.94 and Sakbun finished at 23.09.

Both swimmers blew past those times in the 50 freestyle championship heat. Kelly finished second and had the top time in program history at 22.51, beating the 1997 record set by Joy Gallagher (22.50). Sakbun finished close behind tying for fourth-place at 22.77, which is the third fastest time in program history.

Kelly and Sakbun would finish their day with a bang in the 200 freestyle relay helping sophomores Hannah Jones and Gracey Payne set another program record with a time of 1:31.38. The relay finished fourth for the Cardinals.

After two days, the Cardinals are currently sixth among the eight-team field at 139 points. Akron is first overall at 246.5.

Action at the MAC Championships resumes Friday, with five individual swimming events, 3-meter diving, and the 400 medley relay.

Preliminaries for the 100 butterfly will start at 10:30am and will be followed by the 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 100 backstroke.

TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY 2

1. Akron – 246.5

2. Buffalo – 224

3. Miami – 210.5

4. EMU – 169

5. Ohio – 161

6. Ball State – 139

7. Toledo – 97

8. Bowling Green – 59

BALL STATE THURSDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCES

500 Freestyle

 5th – Marcella Ribeiro – 4:50.72

11th – Kiran Stauffer – 4:52.64 (2nd in program history)

16th – Callie Tuma – 5:03.09

50 Freestyle

2nd – Payton Kelly – 22.51 (Program Record)

4th – Apsara Sakbun – 22.77 (3rd program history)

200 Freestyle Relay

4th – Payton Kelly, Apsara Sakbun, Hannah Jones, Gracey Payne – 1:31.38 (Program Record)

BALL STATE THURSDAY’S PRELIM PERFORMANCES

500 Freestyle

6th – Marcella Ribeiro – 4:53.81

15th – Kiran Stauffer – 4:57.14

16th – Callie Tuma – 4:57.54

42nd – Mary Kate Phillips – 5:09.06

200 IM

27th – Phoebe Rensink – 2:06.84

30th – Sophia Kuehn – 2:07.15

32nd – Sydney Dygert – 2:07.35

50 Freestyle

3rd – Payton Kelly – 22.94

7th – Apsara Sakbun – 23.09

17th – Hannah Jones – 23.60

18th – Gracey Payne – 23.67

20th – Elizabeth King – 23.81

39th – Laura Wright – 29.32

40th – Jenn Gillen – 29.64

EXH – Haley Sakbun – 23.67

EXH – Eliza Bader – 24.13

EXH – MaKayla Miller – 24.57

EXH – Emma Horton – 25.29

1M Diving

14th – Ashleigh Provan – 236.82

17th – Maddy Hischer – 231.57

23rd – Hannah Justice – 223.05

BALL STATE TRACK

T&F SET TO COMPLETE INDOOR SEASON AT MAC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO – The Ball State track and field team will compete in their last indoor meet of the 2022-23 season, the Mid-American Conference indoor championships, in the Perry Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25.

The Cardinals look to bring home their first MAC championship since 2001. This squad would be the fourth Ball State track and field team in program history to be crowned MAC champions (1996, 1998, 2001).

The Cardinals finished sixth overall in last year’s MAC indoor championships.

The tickets for a general admission day pass are priced at $15.00 and an adult all-session pass is $20.00. A youth all-session pass is priced at $15.00, and you can purchase your tickets here.

“The ladies are excited about the opportunity to compete this weekend at the MAC Championships. Throughout the season, we utilized our competitive schedule to take us through dress rehearsals in preparation for the big show,” said head coach Adrian Wheatley. “This weekend, the big show happens at Bowling Green State University. The ladies have committed themselves to each other and the process. I’m excited to see the team showing up for each other and in action.”

The competition begins on Friday, Feb. 24 at 10:00 a.m. with the pentathlon. The first day of events wraps up at 6:15 p.m. with the distance medley relay final. The Cardinals will resume action for day two of the conference championships at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 with the triple jump.

Ball State Entries in the MAC Indoor Championships

FRIDAY FEB. 24th

Pentathlon (10:30 am): Lea-Marie Diedicke, Charity Griffith, Jenelle Rogers

    Pent 60m Hurdles (10:30am)

    Pent High Jump (11:15 am)

    To follow HJ PENT SP

    To follow SP PENT LJ (1 pit)

    To Follow LJ PENT 800m

Long Jump (12:00 pm): Jenelle Rogers, Charity Griffith, Moriah Johnson

Mile (1:45 pm): Sarah Greer, Shelby Christman

60m Hurdles (2:45pm): Jennah Rogers, Makensie Kramer

400m (3:15pm): Alexis Thigpen, Emma Potter

60m Dash (3:45pm): Alana Springer, Jenna Oriani, Lindley Steele

800m (4:15pm): Kayla Jones, Grace Dean

200m (4:50pm): Jenna Oriani, Alana Springer, Lindley Steele

Distance Medley Relay (6:15pm): Ball State

SATURDAY FEB. 25th

Triple Jump (11:00am): McKenna Cinotte

Shot Put (1:30pm): Malena Higgins

Mile Final(1:40pm)

High Jump (2:00 pm): Charity Griffith

60m Hurdles Finals (2:10pm)

400m Finals (2:35pm)

60m Finals (3:00 pm)

800m Finals (3:20pm)

200m Finals (3:40pm)

3000m Run (4:10pm): Sarah Mahnensmith, Shelby Christman

4x400m Relay (4:50pm): Ball State

5:15PM: Awards Ceremony

CARDINALS IN THE MAC RANKINGS

With 14 Cardinals placing in the top 16 on the MAC performance list, Charity Griffith (high jump, pentathlon), Jenna Oriani (200m), Kayla Jones (800m), and the 4×400, relay (Emma Potter, Allison Valladay, Jenna Oriani, Jenelle Rogers) lead the conference in their respective events.

60m: 2. Jenna Oriani (7.54), 7. Alana Springer (7.62), 13. Lindley Steele (7.65)

200m: 4. Jenna Oriani (24.44) 5. Alana Springer (24.55)

400m: 10. Alexis Thigpen (56.34) 12. Kayla Jones (56.68), 14. Jenna Oriani (57.16), 15. Emma Potter (57.17)

800m: 1. Kayla Jones (2:10.00)

3,000m: 14. Sarah Mahnensmith (9:42.41)

60 Hurdles: 7. Charity Griffith (8.67), 12. Jenelle Rogers (8.74), 13. Jennah Rogers (8.75)

4×400 Relay: 3. Ball State (3:50.23)

Distance Medley Relay: 3. Carly Spletzer, Jenna Oriani, Emma Potter, Sarah Mahnensmith (12:00.21)

High Jump: 1. Charity Griffith (1.88m / 6-2.0), 3. Jenelle Rogers (1.73m / 5′-8″)

Long Jump: 5. Charity Griffith (5.91m / 19′-4.75″), 6. Jenelle Rogers (5.88m / 19′-3.5″)

Shot Put: 11. Malena Higgins (13.62m / 42-10.25)12. Jenelle Rogers (13.34m / 43-9.25)

Pentathlon: 1. Charity Griffith (4179), 2. Jenelle Rogers (3962), 6. Lea-Marie Diedicke (3490)

CARDINALS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS

The Cardinals have two student-athletes ranked in the Top 100 on the NCAA Division I performance list. Charity Griffith is third in the nation for high jump (1.85m / 6-0.75) and fifth in the nation in the pentathlon (4179). Jenelle Rogers is ranked in two events, placing 35th in the nation in the pentathlon (3962).

High Jump: 3. Charity Griffith (1.88m / 6-2.0), T-91. Jenelle Rogers (1.73m / 5-8.0)

Pentathlon: 5. Charity Griffith (4179), 35. Jenelle Rogers (3962)

EVENT WINNERS:

The Cardinals have 16 total event wins from 10 different student-athletes this season. Charity Griffith leads the team with four event wins.

GVSU Big Meet

400m Dash: Alexis Thigpen (56.34)

800m Dash: Grace Dean (2:14.59)

Triple Jump: McKenna Cinotte (11.20m / 36-9.0)

Long Jump: Charity Griffith (5.92m / 19-5.0)

IU Relays

Long Jump: Charity Griffith (5.91m / 19-4.75)

60m Hurdles: Jenelle Rogers (8.802)

Gladstein Invitational

3,000m:  Carly Spletzer (10:11.62)

60m:  Jenna Oriani  (7.58)

600m:  Kayla Jones (1:30.69)

200m:  Jenna Oriani (24.59)

Hawkeye Invitational

High Jump: Charity Griffith (1.85m / 6-0.75)

Tom Wright Open

60m: Jenna Oriani (7.58)

200m: Alana Springer (25.18)

60m Hurdles: Jennah Rogers (8.78)

Long Jump: Charity Griffith (5.71m)

800m: Kayla Jones (2:12.51)

NOTRE DAME WBB

WATSON’S FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE HELPS IRISH TOP YELLOW JACKETS, 76-53

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — For the second consecutive year, Notre Dame will finish the regular season with 13 wins at Purcell Pavilion.

On Thursday, the 10th-ranked Irish (23-4, 14-3) welcomed Georgia Tech (13-15, 4-13) to the home court and walked away with a 76-53 victory. It is the first time since the end of the 2018-19 regular season that Notre Dame has topped back-to-back ACC opponents by 20+ points.

“We started off a little slow, but I feel like we picked up our energy,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said. “I’m happy we adjusted early and turned the table.”

Georgia Tech kept in close in the first half, starting off on an 8-0 run. Ivey called a timeout to right the ship. She talked about crashing the boards and locking in defensively. It largely worked, as the Irish outscored their visiting opponent 33-19 for the remainder of the half. They took a 6-point lead into the break.

Notre Dame dominated the third quarter, winning the frame 22-12. The Irish made 10 of 16 shot attempts in that period (62.5 percent). They won the final quarter 21-14, including a 7-8 performance from the charity stripe.

In total, Olivia Miles led the charge with 13 points. She also had 8 boards, and the ACC assist leader added four more to her ever-growing list. Maddy Westbeld had 11 points, bringing her career total to 990. Finally, Kylee Watson continues her late-season surge, as she posted her first double-double of her three-year career. She finished the night with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

“I’ve been focusing a lot on my mental game,” Watson said postgame. “That comes from getting more shots up and a lot of working on being better at self talk. Being surrounded by the girls that I’m so close with really helps me too.”

As a team, Notre Dame turned the ball over just 9 times. Their season low is 8, coming against Arizona State in November. Three of five starters — Watson, Sonia Citron and Lauren Ebo — did not commit a turnover. On the other end, Georgia Tech allowed 20 points off of 16 turnovers.

It was Ebo’s Senior Night, and she was honored pre-game alongside Dara Mabrey. The 6-4 center finished the night with 8 points and 5 rebounds over 14 minutes played. She is still progressing back to a full-go after suffering a lower body injury around a month ago.

Notre Dame concludes its regular season on Sunday with an ACC title on the line. If the Irish beat Louisville, they will claim at least a share of the 2022-23 regular season championship. They are currently tied with Duke atop the standings.

NOTRE DAME TRACK AND FIELD

O’BRIEN WINS PENTATHLON ON DAY ONE OF ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish traveled for the 2023 ACC Indoor Championships and brought home one event title on the first day of competition. The Irish also tallied multiple All-ACC finishes.

Jadin O’Brien tallied the first event title of the weekend in the women’s pentathlon where she scored 4377 points for a new personal best, and making her number one in the country in the event.

The first day of the ACC Indoor Championships saw multiple throwing, jumping, and distance events for the Irish. The first scores to come in featured the women’s pentathlon. Jadin O’Brien, Alaiana Brady and Reese Sanders all competed for the Irish.

The first event for the pentathlon was the 60 meter hurdles where O’Brien took second place with a time of 8.53, and Brady took fourth place with a time of 8.59. Sanders followed, crossing the finish line at 8.92. The pentathlon continued on with the high jump where O’Brien took second place with her best mark being 1.71m which also became a new personal best. Brady took seventh place with a mark of 1.65m, and Sanders hit 1.56m which established a personal best for herself. 

The pentathlon shot put had O’Brien take first place with a mark of 13.68m. Brady took second place with a best of 12.97m and established a new personal best. Sanders finished the event with a mark of 10.36m. The long jump had O’Brien take third place as she hit her best mark of 5.90m. Brady hit a mark of 5.32m and Sanders hit 5.16m. Sanders set her second personal best of the day with this event. The final event of the day for the pentathlon was the 800m. O’Brien took first place with a time of 2:13.95. This put her in first place in the pentathlon with 4377 points, a new personal best, and making her number one in the country in the event. Teammates Brady and Sanders completed the pentathlon with 4103 and 3654 points, respectively.

Shae Douglas and Remy Finn represented the Irish in the women’s 200 meter dash where they ran for times of 24.36 and 25.10 seconds, respectively. Emma Albano competed for Notre Dame in the women’s weight throw where she hit a mark of 16.44 meters. Michael Shoaf hit a mark of 19.67m in the men’s weight throw and teammate Blake Kusky hit 18.54m.

In the first distance event of the night, the women’s 5000 meter race saw Erin Strzelecki take seventh place with a time of 16:16.47. Katie Rose Blachowicz crossed the finish line with a time of 16:54.26. In the men’s 5000 meter race, Ethan Coleman ran for a time of 13:52.09 to take second place. Carter Solomon finished in sixth place after running a 14:00.42 while teammates Josh Methner and Henry Chapman finished at 14:14.73 and 14:17.17. Kevin Berry crossed the finish line at 14:25.53.

The women’ distance medley relay had anchor Olivia Markezich kick it just in time to take second place. The Fighting Irish team of Katie Thronson, Eve Balseiro, Katie Ryan and Markezich crossed the finish line at 10:51.52. The men’s team of Jackson Storey, Joey Dobrydney, Nick Miller, and Daelen Ackely crossed the finish line at 9:32.89 for second place.

The Irish return to ACC Indoor Championship action tomorrow afternoon.

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

IRISH TRAVEL TO UNCG FOR WEEKEND SERIES

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame baseball team (1-2) is back on the road for their second road series of the season as they take on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1-3) for the first time in program history. The three game series kicks off of Friday, Feb. 24 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Friday, Feb. 24 @ UNCG – 4:00 PM  | Live Stats | ESPN+

Probable Starters: RHP Radek Birkholz (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Shuey (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Saturday, Feb. 25 @ UNCG– 2:00 PM  | Live Stats | ESPN+

Probable Starters: RHP Jackson Dennies (0-0, 0.00 ERA)  vs. RHP Jay Miller (0-1, 4.26 ERA)

Sunday, Feb. 26 @ UNCG – 12:00 PM | Live Stats | ESPN+

Probable Starters: RHP Blake Hely (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. TBA

Notre Dame vs. UNCG Game Notes

Notre Dame is back on the Road at UNCG

• UNCG comes into the series 1-3 after dropping their opening weekend series to Northeastern and falling to Wake Forest 20-2 in their midweek game on Tuesday. 
• The Spartans fell in game one against Northeastern 11-0 and game three 12-9, but we’re able to pull out a game two win 7-6.
•  The Spartans have yet to play on the road this year as their homestand continues with their fifth home game of the season at the UNCG Baseball Stadium on Friday. 

Irish Open Campaign at Lipscomb

• The Notre Dame baseball team took on the Lipscomb Bisons for just the second time in program history Feb. 17-9 in Nashville, Tennessee. 
• The Irish fell 5-4 in game one despite scoring two runs in the top of the ninth to close the gap within one. 
• Norte Dame bounced back in game two, defeating the Bison 8-4 after a big seven-run inning in the top of the seventh. The Irish were hit by eight pitches in game two, five of which happened in the seventh. 
• Despite taking home game two, the Irish struggled to connect at the plate and fell in game three 4-2, falling to 1-2 to start the 2023 season. 
• With only 10 hits as a team on the weekend, TJ Williams and Jack Penney both hit their first home runs of the 2023 season.
• Freshmen Rory Fox and David Lally Jr. made their debuts on the mound on Sunday, as well as graduate transfers Carter Bosch and Blake Hely who pitched in an Irish uniform for the first time.  

Lethal Lineup is Back for 2022

• Coming off the most successful season in almost 20 years, a strong portion of the 2022 leadership returns as seven graduate students are back for another year with the Irish, four of which were every day starters.
• Graduate students Carter Putz, Zack Prajzner, Jack Zyska, and Brooks Coetzee all return to the field for the Irish. 
• Putz started all 58 games and was a big piece of Notre Dame’s success last season. He also led the team in hits (81) and runs (55) and was second on the squad in doubles (13)  and batting average (.339). 
• Putz’s 81 hits were the most hits in a single season since 2013 when World Series Champion Trey Mancini had 89 hits on the year.
• Prajzner returns to the Irish after starting all 58 games and setting career highs in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs last season. He was also fourth on the team in hits and runs as he finished with 44 runs and 58 hits. 
• Prajzner was named to the 2022 Statesboro Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting the game-tying home run in the 6-4 win over No. 22 Georgia Southern to advance to the Statesboro Regional Championship. 
• Both Putz and Prajzner were also recognized by Perfect Game as two of the top 50 seniors in the country heading into the 2023 season.
• Zyska made 38 starts on the season and was a big piece of the Super Regional win over No. 1 Tennessee as he hit one of four home runs in the 8-6 win over the Volunteers in game one and set a career-high four hits against Tennessee in game two. 
• He finished with 34 runs, 45 hits, 12 doubles, 13 home runs, and seven stolen bases.
• Coetzee started all 58 games and had a big year with the Irish as he set career highs in runs (42), hits (59), home runs (12), and RBI (43). 
• He finished second on the team in home runs and was one of three Irish players to hit double-digit home runs last season as the Irish set the program record for home runs in a single season with 79 homers.

Findlay, Tyrell, and Mercer Return 

• While the Irish lost main starters John Bertrand and Austin Temple, the Irish return Freshman All-American LHP Jack Findlay.
• Findlay capped off his freshman season as a pivotal piece of Notre Dame’s postseason success. He made 20 appearances, including eight starts, but was recognized as a big-time closer for the Irish. 
• Findlay led the Irish in ERA and saves, was second in wins and third on the team in innings pitched after finishing the 2022 season with a 2.17 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and 6-2 record with four saves through 49.2 innings. 
• Findlay was named a 2022 Perfect Game Second Team Freshman All-American and a 2022 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. 
• At the beginning of this year, Findlay was also recognized by Perfect Game as one of the top 50 sophomores in the country. 
• Graduate student Aidan Tyrell also returns to the mound for Notre Dame. 
• Tyrell made 26 appearances and had five starts for the Irish as he finished the year with a 3.75 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and a 5-2 record with two saves through 48.0 innings pitched.
• Tyrell won his first three starts of the season after allowing just one run in 16.0 innings pitched and had a string of four and five-straight appearances out of the bullpen without allowing a run.
• Graduate student Will Mercer returns for his fifth season after making 13 appearances and 3 starts in 2022. 
• Mercer finished his senior year with a 4.18 ERA and a 2-1 record with one save through 23.2 innings pitched along with 24 strikeouts. He tossed a season-best 3.2 innings pitched and did not allow a run against #5 Texas A&M at the College World Series. 

Newcomers 

• The Irish also have 14 newcomers, featuring 10 freshmen and four grad transfers. 
• Blake Hely is a graduate transfer that joined the Irish this fall after spending four years at Davidson. 
• He was another Notre Dame player recognized by Perfect Game this year as one of the top 50 impact transfers in the nation. Hely was a weekend starter for the Wildcats, appearing in and starting 15 games with a 3.80 ERA and a 9-2 record after leading Davidson in 2022 with 85.1 innings pitched. 
• Hely was also named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year, Atlantic 10 First Team, and ABCA All-Atlantic Region Team this past season.
• Hely held opponents to a .207 batting average, led the A-10 with 6.86 hits allowed per nine innings and was second in the league with 97 strikeouts.
• Graduate transfers Vincent Martinez (C) and Justin Moore (RHP) joined the Irish this fall after each of them spent four years at Stanford.
• RHP Carter Bosch is another graduate transfer who joins the Irish from Georgetown.
• David Lally Jr., of Grand Blanc, Michigan, is predicted to be a force on the mound as he helped guide his high school to a 2021 State Championship, is a two-time Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American and was recognized this year as one of the top 100 freshmen in the country by Perfect Game.  
   

Season to Remember in 2022

• Notre Dame’s run at the College World Series came to a close on June 21, 2022 after a 5-1 loss to Texas A&M in the Bracket 1 elimination game.
• The Fighting Irish finished the season with a 41-17 overall record after making the program’s third trip to Omaha for the College World Series. 
• The Irish reached the Super Regional round in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history and were the only ACC team that advanced to Omaha after four ACC squads were in the Super Regionals last year. 
• They eclipsed the 40-win plateau for the first time since 2006 and knocked off the No. 1 overall seed Tennessee in the Super Regionals.
• Heading into the contest, Tennessee was 37-3 at home  and had won 11-straight games. 
• The Irish hit four home runs in the win, the most home runs Tennessee had allowed all season.
• The Irish handed Tennessee their first loss at home in the postseason since 2001. 
• Left-handed pitcher John Michael Bertrand, infielder/right-handed pitcher Jack Brannigan and left-handed pitcher Jack Findlay all earned All-American honors. 
• Bertrand was named a second team All-American by the NCBWA, Brannigan was named to the third team by Perfect Game and Findlay was a second team freshman All-American from Perfect Game. 
• It was Bertrand’s third postseason All-American honor this year (Collegiate Baseball & CoSIDA), Findlay’s second of the season (Collegiate Baseball) and Brannigan earned his first of the season. 
• Bertrand was also named the NCBWA District Five Player of the Year, ABCA All-Region First Team, and was named the Statesboro Regional Most Outstanding Player as he helped pave the way on the Irish’s run to the College World Series

NOTRE DAME WBB

NO. 10 IRISH HOST GEORGIA TECH FOR SENIOR NIGHT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The regular season home game slate will come to an end on Thursday, as No. 10 Notre Dame (22-4, 13-3) hosts Georgia Tech (13-14, 4-12). The Yellow Jackets are coming off of a loss to No. 24 Florida State, 80-66. 

Led by fourth year head coach Nell Fortner, Georgia Tech has had an up and down season. They have a win over NC State and close losses to multiple schools, including Louisville and Miami. They have not won a conference road game this year.

Cameron Swartz, who began her college career at Colorado and played the last three years at Boston College, leads the Yellow Jackets with 12.8 points per game. While the record may not reflect it, the team has the ability to score quickly and en masse. Georgia Tech shot 73.3 percent in the first quarter against the Seminoles and 70 percent in the fourth quarter against Wake Forest earlier this year. 

All in all, Georgia Tech is a defensive-minded team. They rank seventh in the conference in scoring defense at 61.9 points per game. For reference, Notre Dame is third at 58.5.

The Irish are currently tied for the lead in the ACC with Duke, but the Blue Devils hold the ACC Tournament tiebreaker after topping Notre Dame a few weeks back. Notre Dame beat Pittsburgh on Sunday by a score of 83-43. Seven Irish players had at least 9 points, and they held Pittsburgh to its lowest offensive output of the year. 

Olivia Miles continues to pace the Irish in points (14.8), rebounds (7.4), assists (7.2) and steals (2.1). She is one week removed from her buzzer beater against Louisville, her first of college. 

In addition to tonight’s game, Notre Dame will recognize two of its own players for Senior Night. Dara Mabrey and Lauren Ebo, both of whom are graduate students, will make the walk to center court with family prior to tip off. 

Mabrey has been and remains the heart and soul of the program. The third Mabrey sister to play in South Bend, Dara transferred to Notre Dame after playing for two seasons at Virginia Tech. Up until an injury prematurely ended her collegiate career, she started every game in which she was on a college roster. That is 135 in total. 

The 3-point specialist finished her collegiate career with 301 deep buckets (146 at Notre Dame). She topped both of her sisters in that category, as Michaela made 228 and Marina made 274. Both of them started and finished their careers at Notre Dame, and Marina holds the program record for career treys in an Irish uniform. All-in-all, the Mabreys totaled a whopping 803 splash-downs.

Ebo, who transferred to Notre Dame this year after a pair of seasons at both Penn State and Texas, has brought a dominant post presence to the roster. The Washington D.C. native has stolen the show recently despite coming off the bench for the first 19 games and in the two most recent games. In addition to a .521 success rate from the floor, Ebo is posting 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds every time she takes the floor.

Despite missing the five games recently with a lower body injury and returning for just 5 minutes against Louisville and 13 minutes against Pitt, her name peppers the individual rankings among ACC bench players. Excluding the stats from her start against the Seminoles, Ebo leads the conference in total made field goals (69), points (188) and is second in rebounds (132). Ebo and Bransford are tied for the league lead with 50 free throws made off the bench. It’s difficult to find a more important sixth player in the ACC.

Notre Dame-Georgia Tech tips off at 6 p.m. ET on Bally Sports and ACCNX. The Irish are 16-1 all time against the Yellow Jackets.

NOTRE DAME WLAX

GAME 4 PREVIEW: CLEMSON

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Fighting Irish are back at home on Saturday, February 25 at Loftus Arena to take on the Clemson Tigers for the first time in program history. There will be live stats available as well as a live stream on ACCNX.

#14 NOTRE DAME vs. CLEMSON

Date/Time: Saturday, February 25 — 1:00 p.m.

Location: Loftus Sports Center

Live Stream: ACCNX

Live Stats: Click Here

Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax

For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame

FOR STARTERS

• The No. 14 Irish will play host to the Clemson Tigers for the first time in program history.
• Live stats will be available for the contest as well as a live stream through ACCNX.
• The attacking trio of  Choma, Ahern, and Wolak combine for 42 of the 82 Irish points.
• Jackie Wolak tallied her ninth hat trick of her career, and matched her career high for goals in a game with four.
• Anna Kenney claimed her first career goal in the first quarter of the matchup. She went on to tally three goals for her first hat trick of the season.
• Franny O’Brien tallied her first career goal in the fourth quarter of the game.

THE NOTRE DAME – CLEMSON SERIES

• The Irish and Tigers are meeting on Saturday for the first time in program history.
• The Tigers are in their first year and have established a 4-0 record so far this season.
• The weekend matchup will be the first conference contest for both teams.

IN THE POLLS

• Notre Dame now sits at No. 14 in the ILWomen/IWLCA weekly poll after week two.
• The Irish are also ranked No. 14 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason rankings.
• Six other ACC programs are currently ranked in the top-25 according to the  IL Women/IWLCA Preseason Poll, including #1 North Carolina, #2 Syracuse, #4 Boston College, #10 Duke, #12 Virginia, and #23 Louisville.

BALANCED ATTACK

• The Irish return 3 of the 4 top scorers from the 2022 season in Kasey Choma, Madison Ahern, Jackie Wolak.
• The top scorers were assisted by Kelly Denes who won 100 draw controls and tallied 14 goals of her own.
• Choma, Ahern, and Wolak lead the Irish in points combining for 42 points.
• Wolak and Choma are both ranked in the top ten in the ACC for points per game. 
• Denes is ranked fourth in the ACC for draw controls per game tallying  7.33.
• Fourteen different players have scored at least one goal this season with 12 having found the back of the net multiple times

THREE HEADED MONSTER

• The attacking trio of Choma, Ahern, and Wolak are combining for 42 points.
• Choma leads the Irish with 12  goals, Wolak has nine goals and seven assists, and Ahern has seven goals and five assists.
• Wolak leads the team in points with 16, while Choma has 14 and Ahern has 12.
• Choma  now has tallied a hat trick in every game of the 2023 season.
• Choma, Ahern and Wolak combined for 15 points in the win over Central Michigan (02/18/23).
• They also combined for 14 assists leading to eleven different goal scorers.
• Choma ranks second in the ACC for goals per game (4.00), and Wolak ranks third for assists per game (2.33) and fourth in points per game (5.33).

CALLAHAN IN THE CREASE

• Callahan made her first double-digit save performance of her career, finishing with 15 saves against Northwestern. This also established a new career high in saves for her.
• Ranks in the top 20 in the country in both goals-against average (8.0) and save percentage (.532)
• Lilly Callahan earned her first career win in her first career start while holding the San Diego State attack to just two goals .
• The two goals Callahan allowed marked the lowest scoring output in SDSU program history, which dates back to the 2012 season. 

DOMINATING THE DRAW

• The Irish have won the draw control battle in all three games this season
• Notre Dame currently ranks No. 8 in the country in draw control percentage (.681) and No. 4 in draw controls per game 20.67
• Kelley Denes leads the Irish in draws per game (7.33) and is the primary player used at the draw for the Irish
• The Irish currently have won the draw control battle on the season by a margin of 62-29.

INDIANA STATE WBB

LATE LEAD SLIPS AWAY FOR SYCAMORES AGAINST SALUKIS

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Bella Finnegan led all scorers with 21 points Thursday night, but a slow fourth quarter proved costly for Indiana State in a 79-64 loss inside Banterra Center.

15 of Finnegan’s 21 points came in the first half, as she shot 50 percent (8-for-16) from the field and 60 percent (3-for-5) from 3-point range. Chelsea Cain finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Del’Janae Williams had nine points and four assists.

Indiana State shot better than 50 percent in the first half, which allowed the Sycamores to take a 42-40 lead into the intermission. Cain and Finnegan combined for 25 points in the opening 20 minutes, while the Sycamores took care of the ball well in the first two quarters. Indiana State had a 54-52 lead entering the fourth, but the Sycamores were unable to get into any rhythm in the fourth as SIU outscored the Trees 27-10 in the final period.

First Half

Williams opened Indiana State’s scoring with a layup off a backdoor cut and Finnegan quickly added a pair of 3-pointers as the Trees took a 10-9 lead midway through. A 7-0 run which included an Anna McKendree 3-pointer gave Indiana State its largest lead of the half at 22-14, but SIU closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run of its own. The Trees took a slim 22-21 lead into the second.

Indiana State and Southern Illinois traded shots in the second, as neither team led by more than five in the quarter. SIU had a 36-31 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the second, but Indiana State closed the quarter strong. Baskets from Lily Niebuhr and Finnegan cut the deficit to one, and the Trees later took the lead on another Finnegan layup. Indiana State took a 42-40 lead into the intermission following a Finnegan 3-pointer inside the last 10 seconds.

Second Half

Unlike the first two quarters, the third was a slugfest. Cain gave the Sycamores a 46-45 lead with a jumper, and Hattie Westerfeld later made it 49-48 with a basket down low. Indiana State scored the final three points of the quarter on a Williams pull-up jumper and an Anderson free throw, as the Sycamores took a 54-52 lead into the fourth.

The fourth quarter proved to be the difference Thursday, as Southern Illinois outscored Indiana State 27-10 in the period. SIU opened the quarter on a 14-2 run, but a Finnegan three-point play cut it to 66-60 near the midway point of the quarter. That was the closest Indiana State got, though, as five 3-pointers in the final frame for the home side clinched the win for SIU.

Inside the Numbers

Indiana State outscored or tied Southern Illinois in three of the four quarters. The lone quarter where the Sycamores were outscored was the fourth.

Despite SIU’s size advantage, Indiana State won the rebound margin 33-32.

Indiana State’s 32 paint points were the Sycmaores’ most since scoring 32 against Evansville on Feb. 1.

News & Notes

Bella Finnegan’s 21-point outing was her second career 20-point game. She has scored in double-figures in four of the last five games.

Three of Indiana State’s five starters  played 30-plus minutes (Chelsea Cain, Bella Finnegan, Del’Janae Williams).

Hattie Westerfeld’s eight points were her most against a conference foe this season. Westerfeld and Lily Niebuhr combined for 12 of the Sycamores’ 13 bench points.

Up Next

Indiana State’s final road game is Saturday at Missouri State, with tipoff set for 2 p.m.

INDIANA STATE TRACK AND FIELD

MEN TABBED FAVORITES, WOMEN SECOND IN MVC PRE-INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP POLL

ST. LOUIS – Indiana State was picked to win the men’s indoor title in the MVC Pre-Championship Poll, as announced Thursday afternoon. In addition, the Sycamores were picked to finish second on the women’s side.

The Sycamore men earned six of the 10 first-place votes and finished with 93 points. ISU’s women received 127 points in the poll, which was voted on by the head coaches in the conference.

The defending MVC Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Champions, Indiana State returns a plethora of talent from last season’s title-winning team. Three-time 60m champion JaVaughn Moore is back and leads the conference in the 60m (6.62) and 200m (21.08), with his 60m time currently among the top 20 nationally.

Including Moore, Indiana State has four of the top five in the 60m. Kevin Krutsch owns a top-30 national mark in the high jump at 2.15m (7-00.50), while Shomari Rogers-Walton leads the conference in both the long jump (7.65m/25-01.25) and the triple jump (15.56m/51-00.75). The Sycamores also have the top pole vaulter in the conference in William Staggs (5.23m/17-01.75).

Indiana State returns all of its event winners from last season’s MVC Championship in Moore (60m), Rogers-Walton (triple jump), Staggs (pole vault), Mitch Conard (long jump) and Lawrence Mitchell (high jump).

After winning the MVC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2022, Indiana State looks to defend its title with another strong showing. Ryann Porter leads the way for the Sycamores with top-three marks in the triple jump (1st, 12.59m/41-03.75) and 60m hurdles (8.66), while the Trees also have two of the top three pole vaulters in Brooklyn Giertz (second, 3.97m/13-00.25) and Selene Weaver (3.96m/12-11.75).

Zoe Sullivan enters as the top-ranked Sycamore in a track event, with her 60m hurdles time of 8.42 sitting second in the MVC. Brittney Walker owns top-three marks in both the long jump (5.86m/19-02.75) and triple jump (12.06m/39-06.75), while Kelsey Bowlds and Eva Grace Quinlan have both cleared 1.73m (5-08.00) in the high jump.

The 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships will take place Sunday and Monday at Gately Park in Chicago. Valparaiso and UIC will co-host the championships.

INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL

SYCAMORE SOFTBALL READY FOR EASTON BAMA BASH

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball is heading to Tuscaloosa, Alabama this weekend to play in the Easton Bama Bash, which begins Friday at the University of Alabama’s Rhoads Stadium. 

Action for the Trees will begin on Friday, February 24 at noon ET against Southeastern Louisiana followed by a 2:30 p.m. ET contest against Kennesaw State. On Saturday, Indiana State will begin their day at noon ET against nationally ranked Alabama and end with a 7:30 p.m. nightcap against Kennesaw State. The trip will wrap up on Sunday with a 11:30 a.m. game against Southeastern Louisiana. Each game will have live stats available with the contest against the Crimson Tide being streamed on SECN+ and the radio.

This will be ISU’s first trip to Tuscaloosa since the 2007 season when they played in the Crimson Classic.

Last Time Out

The Sycamores went 2-2 in their recent trip to Chattanooga Challenge where ISU fell to Marshall in a pair of one-run games but were able to defeat Maine and Chattanooga to remain above .500 on the season. Lauren Sackett tossed a no-hitter in her first collegiate start, leading the Trees to an 8-0 win over Maine.

The Opponents – Southeastern Louisiana

Indiana State will open their weekend against Southeastern Louisiana who is off to a 9-0 start in 2023. The Lions, who won a program-best 40 games last season, were picked to finish second in the 2023 Southland Conference preseason poll. Four players were named preseason first team all-conference as shortstop Maddie Watson, catcher Bailey Krolczyk, outfielder Cam Goodman and designated player Audrey Greely all garnered honors.

The Lions are coached by Rick Fremin who has amassed over 200 wins in his eight seasons as head coach. To begin their season, Southeastern Louisiana swept fellow Missouri Valley Conference opponent Missouri State in a three-game series. ISU and the Lions have met two previous times with the series tied 1-1. The two matchups were in 2007.

The Opponents – Kennesaw State

The Kennesaw State Owls come into Tuscaloosa with a 3-5 record on the season. They lost a pair of games to MVC opponent Murray State last weekend in Troy, Alabama. Head Coach Tripp MacKay is in his fifth season with the program and recently picked up his 100th career win. The Owls were picked third in the ASUN preseason coaches’ poll with infielder Taylor Cates being named to the all-conference team.

The Sycamores and Owls have met three times previously, with KSU winning all three matchups. The two schools last played in 2021 at the Chattanooga Challenge.

The Opponents – Alabama

The host Crimson Tide enter the weekend at 6-2 after they won four of five games at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational including wins over nationally ranked teams in Duke, Florida State, Indiana and UCF. Alabama was picked to finish fourth in a jam-packed SEC preseason coaches’ poll. Starting pitcher and three-time First Team All-SEC selection Montana Fouts and catcher Ally Shipman were named to the preseason All-SEC team.

Now in his 25th season as head coach of the Crimson Tide, Patrick Murphy has won over 1,000 games in his career and has led Alabama to a national title in 2012 as well as 13 Women’s College World Series berths, six SEC regular season titles, five SEC Tournament titles and 23-straight NCAA Tournament bids. His team is currently ranked as high as No. 6 in the country in various polls.

Indiana State and Alabama have faced each other one previous time, a 3-1 win for the Crimson Tide in 2007.

Sycamore Standouts

All-MVC performer Isabella Henning is already in midseason form, currently batting .467 through five games with three RBIs and three runs scored. She went a perfect 4-4 in the weekend finale against Chattanooga with a double while driving in two runs. Shortstop Kennedy Shade is off to a solid start at the plate, batting .417 which includes a pair of multi-hit games against Maine and Chattanooga.

In the circle, Indiana State has gotten strong outings from Lexi Benko, Cassi Newbanks and Lauren Sackett. Benko has a 0.95 ERA in three starts, striking out 15 in 14.2 innings pitched while walking just two batters. Cassi Newbanks threw a complete game four-hitter against Marshall, striking out three as ISU lost in a 1-0 battle. Lauren Sackett owns a 0.78 ERA in two appearances, collecting 13 strikeouts across 9.0 innings of work. She recorded a no-hitter in her first collegiate start on Saturday, February 18 against Maine.

The Sycamores have been successful on the base paths, going a perfect 7-7 so far this season. Olivia Patton and Hannah Welch are tied for the team lead with two each.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MBB

HIGH-SCORING #HLMBB CONTEST GOES TO MILWAUKEE

MILWAUKEE – Jarred Godfrey finished with a team-high 21 points but it came in a losing effort on Thursday (Feb. 23) as the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons fell at Milwaukee 96-94.

Godfrey added six boards, five assists and two steals to his 21 points. He now owns 261 3-pointers, creeping up on Mo Evans’ 266 for tops in program history. Godfrey also now has 214 steals, moving into third place in program history. Godfrey also took third place all to himself in assists with 471 assists, passing Evans’ 466.

Godfrey was one of five Mastodons in double-digits. Deonte Billups scored 18 and Bobby Planutis had 13 points. Both made four 3-pointers. Billups passed John Konchar for career 3-pointers in program history in the game. Billups now has 196, seventh in program history, passing Konchar’s 193.

Damian Chong Qui finished with 13 points while Ra Kpedi had 11 and eight boards. 

Despite the loss the ‘Dons are still in a position to host a home game in the Barbasol Horizon League Championship on Tuesday, February 28th. At 8-11 in the league, the ‘Dons are ninth in the standings and would go on the road to open the postseason if they stay in that spot. However, a win on Saturday over Green Bay by the ‘Dons and a Wright State loss to Detroit Mercy, would put both Wright State and Purdue Fort Wayne at 9-11 and in a tie for eighth. The ‘Dons would win that tiebreaker thanks to a season sweep of the Raiders and give the Mastodons the No. 8 seed. Wright State and Detroit Mercy have a 1 p.m. tip on Saturday while the ‘Dons and Green Bay start at 5 p.m. ET. That means the ‘Dons will know exactly what is on the line when the ball is thrown in the air in Title Town.  Thursday’s game was an offensive show with both teams shooting above 50 percent. The ‘Dons finished at 55.0 percent (33-of-60). Milwaukee was 34-of-66 for 51.5 percent. The even box score saw both teams make 13 3-pointers and 15 free throws. Milwaukee’s 13-3 lead in offensive boards for a 14-4 edge in second chance points was the difference in the box score.

Godfrey had a chance to win it at the buzzer but his shot just missed. He went up with two hands to grab a full-court pass from Planutis with 1.1 seconds left in the game following a made free throw by Milwaukee. Godfrey’s turn around 3-point attempt from decently behind the 3-point line found the rim, but not the bottom of the net. Chong Qui had eight points in the final minute as Milwaukee went 5-of-9 from the free throw line in the final minute to leave the door open for the ‘Dons.

The competitive contest featured 17 lead changes. The second half went back and forth as the Panthers made eight treys in the second half to erase a six-point halftime deficit. Kentrell Pullian had a game-high 25 points for Milwaukee. BJ Freeman earned a triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

The ‘Dons were 9-0 when scoring 80 or more this season prior to Thursday’s game.

Milwaukee improves to 19-10 (13-6 Horizon League) The ‘Dons fall to 16-14 (8-11 Horizon League).

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB

MASTODON WBB SECURES HOME GAME FOR #HLWBB CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team dropped a Horizon League game at Milwaukee 64-34 on Thursday night (Feb. 23).

With the loss, the Mastodons have guaranteed a home game for the Barbasol Horizon League Championship on Tuesday (Feb. 28). The start time is to be determined, based on the possibility of a doubleheader with the Mastodon men’s basketball team.

The Panthers used a 21-2 first quarter to take the advantage that held until the final buzzer.

Milwaukee out-shot the Mastodons 46.2 percent to 24.1 percent. The ‘Dons did hold Milwaukee to 25 percent from beyond the 3-point line.

The Mastodons were even with the Panthers in the fourth quarter behind a 53.8 percent shooting quarter.

Shayla Sellers had team-high marks with eight points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block. Audra Emmerson added eight points as well.

Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 12-17, 9-10 in Horizon League play. Milwaukee improves to 10-17, 8-11. The Mastodons head to Green Bay on Saturday for a game against the Phoenix, who are chasing a regular season championship.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL

MASTODON SOFTBALL STAYS IN THE STATE TO COMPETE IN THE ACES HOME TOURNAMENT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team will hit the road again this weekend, but remain in the state as spring creeps closer. The Mastodons are set to make an appearance at the 2023 Aces Home Tournament #2.

Tournament Information
Host: Evansville
When: Friday-Sunday, February 24-26
Where: Evansville, Ind. 
Live Stats: Link
Watch: None

Aces Home Tournament #2 Schedule
Friday, Feb. 24
    10:00 AM – Bowling Green 
    12:30 PM – Evansville 
Saturday, Feb. 25
    10:00 AM – St. Thomas
    3:00 PM – Evansville 
Sunday, Feb. 26
    10:00 AM – St. Thomas

SeriesHistories
Bowling Green: Bowling Green leads 12-10
Evansville: Series tied 4-4
St. Thomas: First meeting

Know Your Foes
Bowling Green: Bowling Green is 3-6 but has lost its last three games to Connecticut (twice) and No. 3 Florida. The Falcons played a full game against the Gators, but fell 10-7. They had a 3-2 win over familiar foe Detroit Mercy in the season opener.
Evansville: Evansville enters the weekend with a record of 8-1 following a 4-0 performance last weekend. The Aces picked up victories over USI and Green Bay while defeating Kansas City in two contests. Hannah Hood is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week.St. Thomas: St. Thomas is 4-6 this season and had three wins at the Mardi Gras Mambo over Nicholls, Louisiana Tech and Houston Christian. Kaitlyn Raymond and Brooke Ellestad have 11 hits each for the Tommies.

Graced By Her Presence
Grace Hollopeter led Purdue Fort Wayne to a three-win week, picking up two wins over Rhode Island and one against Eastern Kentucky. The freshman finished the week with seven hits with a .368 batting average and a 1.053 slugging percentage. Hollopeter had nine RBI behind four home runs, three of which were 2-run shots. In the first game against Rhode Island, Hollopeter had two two-run home runs in her first two at bats, the second of which was on the first pitch she saw. Defensively, she was a perfect 1.000 in the field with eight putouts. 

Last Time Out
The Mastodons went 3-2 at the Bob Heck Classic at Georgia State last weekend, picking up two wins over Rhode Island and one against Eastern Kentucky.

Next Time Up
The Mastodons will start of the month of March by taking part in the Hoosier Classic (March 3-4) at Indiana. The ‘Dons will play Green Bay, the Hoosiers, and Wisconsin twice.

EVANSVILLE WBB

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BATTLES, BUT FALLS ON THE ROAD AT MISSOURI STATE

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Hanging with the Lady Bears for much of the contest, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team dropped a road contest at Missouri State, 63-51, on Thursday evening in Springfield, Mo.

It was a team effort for the Aces with seven different players scoring four-or-more points in the game. Redshirt junior center Barbora Tomancova led the way on the night for Evansville, finishing with 14 points and seven boards. Also reaching double figures in a return to the lineup was fifth-year guard Myia Clark, who tallied 11 points in a team-high 32 minutes of action. For the Lady Bears, Paige Rocca and Aniya Thomas both recorded 15 points, tying for the game high.

An early fast start for the Aces allowed Evansville to build a solid cushion in the first quarter. As UE’s offense got going, Missouri State’s sputtered in the early going as the Aces opened a 13-3 advantage with just under four minutes left in the opening period. The Lady Bears would get into a rhythm as the first quarter waned, closing within four at 13-7 going into the second quarter.

After going just 3-for-20 from the field in the opening quarter, Missouri State righted the ship offensively, hitting six of its 14 attempts in the second period. Evansville seemed to inherit the Lady Bears shooting woes in the second frame, shooting just 13.3% (2-15) from the field in the quarter. The Aces were able to keep themselves within striking distance despite the cold shooting, getting to the free-throw line six times and hitting five of its attempts to trail by just one at 23-22 at the break.

Both sides came out of the locker room with improved offenses in the third quarter as the two sides combined for 36 points in the period. After the Aces kept their deficit within four for much of the first five minutes of the second half, a late push from Missouri State helped the Lady Bears grab a nine-point lead with 10 minutes of regulation to play.

In the fourth, Evansville again proved its resilience that it has displayed all season. Despite trailing by double-digits in the final moments of the third, UE fought back within five points on multiple occasions, including an incredible series of plays late in the period. After Clark got to the basket and hit a layup, Evansville applied defensive pressure on the in-bounds play, forcing the ball to be thrown high, ricocheting off the backboard, which was then retrieved by Clark, who was fouled and went to the line to hit a pair of free throws. Although showing moxie to work back within five, Evansville could draw no closer as the Lady Bears captured the 63-51 win.

Evansville rounds-out its final road weekend of the season with a trip to battle Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM in Carbondale, Ill.

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

BASEBALL OPENS HOME SEASON THIS WEEKEND AGAINST EASTERN MICHIGAN

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team will return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium this weekend to open up its home slate, as the Purple Aces will host Eastern Michigan in a three-game series.  The series will begin Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and continue on both Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) afternoon.

Evansville (0-4) will be looking for its first win of the 2023 campaign after dropping a three-game series at Troy and a 6-3 decision at Kentucky on Tuesday.  Since German American Bank Field was constructed at Braun Stadium in February 2020, UE has posted a 38-23 overall record at GAB Field.  UE went 17-9 a season ago at home, and the Purple Aces have lost only four of 16 series played at the renovated facility.

UE’s middle infield combo of junior shortstop Simon Scherry (Santa Claus, Ind./Heritage Hills) and junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse (Linton, Ind./Linton-Stockton) currently lead the Purple Aces’ offense.  Scherry is hitting a team-best .375 (6-for-16) through four games, while also boasting a team-best .474 on-base percentage.  Fougerousse, meanwhile, is second on the team in hitting at .350 (7-for-20) and he ranks eighth nationally in home runs with three.  He enters this weekend’s action just two home runs shy of the national lead.

Eastern Michigan will bring a 1-2 overall record to Evansville after a season-opening series against Northern Kentucky that was played in Hoover, Alabama.  The Eagles rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning of the series finale to earn a 13-9 victory.  Reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Matt Kirk currently lead the EMU offense, as the fifth-year outfielder is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with a home run and two runs driven in.  Fifth-year shortstop Taylor Hopkins (.400/1/8) and senior third baseman Glenn Miller (.364/0/0) also hit above .350 this year for the Eagles.

Evansville and Eastern Michigan have met only once on the baseball diamond – the 1999 UE Diamond Classic hosted at Evansville’s old Carson Center Field.  The Purple Aces picked up a 10-2 victory that day behind a 3-for-4 effort by then-sophomore and current head coach Wes Carroll.  The next day, Eastern Michigan was supposed to face Dayton, but that EMU game never happened, as UE and Memphis played to a 4-4 tie in 21 innings that day, which is still the longest collegiate baseball game ever played in Indiana.  The old Carson Center Field did not have lights, and EMU and Dayton were never able to take the field, as the game was called at 4 p.m. local time to allow Evansville to catch a flight to Florida to take part in the Rollins College Baseball Challenge.

Evansville will send junior RHP Nick Smith (0-1, 13.50 ERA) to the mound for Friday’s opener looking for UE’s first victory of the year.  He will be opposed by EMU RHP Thomas House (0-1, 8.31 ERA).  Friday’s game can be seen live on ESPN+.

EVANSVILLE SB

SOFTBALL BACK HOME FOR WEEKEND TOURNAMENT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Another home tournament is on the slate for this weekend as the University of Evansville softball team is back at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium.  A total of 10 games will be played with the Purple Aces taking part in five contests.  Live stats for each game will be available by clicking here.

Friday, February 24th

10 a.m.            Bowling Green vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

12:30 p.m.       Evansville vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

3 p.m.              St. Thomas vs. Bowling Green

5:30 p.m.         Evansville vs. St. Thomas

Saturday, February 25th

10 a.m.            Purdue Fort Wayne vs. St. Thomas

12:30 p.m.       Evansville vs. Bowling Green

3 p.m.              Evansville vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

5:30 p.m.         Bowling Green vs. St. Thomas

Sunday, February 26th

10 a.m.            Purdue Fort Wayne vs. St. Thomas

12:30 p.m.       Evansville vs. Bowling Green

UE enters the weekend with a record of 8-1 following a 4-0 performance last weekend.  The Aces picked up victories over USI and Green Bay while defeating Kansas City in two contests.  Hannah Hood is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week.  Hood batted .571 with six runs, five walks, five RBI, four stolen bases and two home runs to lead the Purple Aces to a perfect 4-0 mark.

Megan Brenton did not allow a single earned run in six frames of work over the last week.  Her first appearance came in Sunday’s win over Kansas City.  She gave up one hit while fanning three batters in two frames.  Brenton’s efforts against USI were pivotal in keeping her team in the game.  Over four innings, she allowed an unearned run on three hits while striking out four.

Mikayla Jolly finished with a 1.50 ERA in six innings of work over the last week.  On Sunday, she made the start against Kansas City and allowed two runs, one earned, in four innings.  She allowed four hits while striking out three on her way to the win.

SOUTHERN INDIANA MBB

USI LOSES A NAIL-BITER TTU, 82-79

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball lost a hard-fought nail-biter in the 2022-23 home finale to Tennessee Tech University, 82-79, Thursday evening at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 15-15 overall and 8-9 in the OVC, while the Golden Eagles are 18-12, 10-7 OVC.    

With the loss, USI remains in a sixth-place tie with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which lost to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 79-74. The Eagles, who clinched a spot in the OVC Tournament Thursday, will likely be the sixth or seventh seed in next week’s league playoff depending upon the outcome of Saturday’s season finale at Tennessee State University.

After USI senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) scored the opening bucket, TTU surged to a 10-point, 16-6, lead by the first media timeout. The Golden Eagles would extend their margin to as many as 12 points twice (22-10 and 25-13) before seven minutes were gone.

Both teams were on a torrid pace from the field during the first seven minutes with TTU shooting 75 percent (9-12) and USI netting 60 percent (6-10).

USI battled back with an 11-0 dash to pull to with one, 25-24, and forced a TTU time out with 10:38 left before the break. The Screaming Eagles were five-of-seven during the run and was led by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana), who had four of the 11 points during the sprint.

The USI Eagles continued their surge over the next five minutes and regain the lead at 5:39 of the first half, 35-34, on a layup by junior guard Gary Solomon (Detroit, Michigan). The advantage would be short lived as the Golden Eagles outscored USI the way they started the half with a 17-6 wave and led, 51-41, at the intermission.

After both sets of Eagles trades buckets to start the second half, USI senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) detonated a 19-5 explosion with a thunderous dunk to put USI back in front with 63-59. The Screaming Eagles would go eight-of-15 from the field during the surge, led by the six points from sophomore guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois).

The Golden Eagles, however, were not done, outscoring USI in the final six minutes, 23-13, in nailing down their 82-79 win. 

USI had five players in double-digits, led by the 26-point performance of Swope. The sophomore guard, who had 14 in the first half and 12 in the second, was nine-of-18 from the field, four-of-eight from beyond the arc, and four-of-five from the stripe.

Polakovich and Hernandez followed with 12 points each. Polakovich marked his 13th double-double of the season with 14 rebounds, while Hernandez finished the contest two points short of a season high.

Graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) and Solomon rounded out the five double-figures with 11 points and 10 points, respectively.

Next Up For USI:    

The USI Eagles finish the 2022-23 regular season campaign Saturday when they return to the road to visit Tennessee State University for a 3:30 p.m. contest. 

Tennessee State Tigers posted an 88-82 victory over the University of Tennessee at Martin and watched their record go to 14-16, 10-7 OVC. The Tigers were led by graduate forward Zion Griffin, who had 19 points.    

The Eagles lead the all-time series with Tennessee State, 3-2, after losing the first meeting of the season at Screaming Eagles Arena, 80-76. USI was led by Swope with 24 points. 

Following Saturday’s matchup, the seeding for the upcoming OVC Tournament will be announced. The OVC Tournament runs May 1-4 at the Ford Center in Evansville. 

The games will be streamed on ESPN+ (with cable subscription) in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.      

SOUTHERN INDIANA WBB

SHAFFORD POSTS FIFTH DOUBLE-DOUBLE, USI FALLS TO TENNESSEE TECH

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) picked up her fifth double-double of the season on Thursday night, but the Screaming Eagles could not overcome an early deficit to Tennessee Tech University, as USI fell in the home finale, 78-57.

Shafford led USI with 21 points and 11 rebounds to post her fifth double-double this season. Thursday also marked the fourth time this season that Shafford reached the 20-point plateau in a game.

A slow start hurt USI early, as Tennessee Tech jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The Golden Eagles’ lead climbed to 20-2 in the first quarter. The Screaming Eagles’ combination of senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) and sophomore guard Takiya Howard (Chicago, Illinois) combined for six USI points in the last couple of minutes of the first quarter. Tennessee Tech led 23-8 after the opening 10 minutes.

In the early minutes of the second quarter, Tennessee Tech knocked down a pair of three-pointers. Meanwhile, USI senior forward Tara Robbe (Wildwood, Missouri) scored twice on a couple of layups in the middle minutes of the second. After her second layup, Haithcock found room at the basket for another score for USI, making the score 30-14 Tennessee Tech at the halfway point of the second period. A few minutes later, Southern Indiana got back on the scoreboard off the first tally of the game for Shafford. Late first-half scoring for both sides led to a 40-20 halftime score in favor of the Golden Eagles.

At the start of the second half, Tennessee Tech continued its hot shooting, including from beyond the arc. In the middle of the third quarter, Shafford found a little more breathing room amid the Golden Eagles’ tight defense. The sophomore canned a three-pointer with 4:38 left in the third, as USI trailed 55-29. With two minutes left in the third, Haithcock went to work in the post for a basket. Inside the last 20 seconds of the third period, Shafford cashed in on a three-point play. The score was 63-37 Tennessee Tech heading to the fourth quarter.

The Screaming Eagles started the fourth quarter with some rhythm. Shafford and fellow sophomore guard Aubrey Burgess (Linton, Indiana) each buried a triple in the first two minutes of the fourth. Seconds later, Robbe scored on a transition layup, trimming the score down to 65-45 with 7:15 remaining. Shafford drained another two triples during the fourth quarter, but Southern Indiana could not muster a big enough run at Tennessee Tech in the end.

In her double-double effort, Shafford was 8-15 from the field and 4-7 from three. Haithcock also reached double figures, scoring 10 points on 3-8 shooting and 4-6 at the line with five rebounds in the contest. Southern Indiana went 21-50 for 42 percent overall and 10-17 for 58.8 percent at the stripe with five three-pointers. USI outrebounded Tennessee Tech 35-28.

Tennessee Tech senior guard Maaliya Owens, who scored 29 points in the first meeting between the two schools in early February, recorded 28 points on Thursday night. Owens was 10-18 overall and 6-12 from three. Junior guard Peyton Carter registered 14 points for the Golden Eagles. Tennessee Tech shot 27-57 for 47.4 percent from the floor, 11-25 for 44 percent from beyond the arc, and 13-17 for 76.5 percent at the free-throw line.

With Thursday’s results, USI’s record moved to 11-17 overall and 5-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which puts USI in ninth place in the standings. Tennessee Tech, who is locked in third place, improved its record to 18-9 this season and 12-5 in the OVC.

The Screaming Eagles will conclude the 2022-23 regular season Saturday at Tennessee State University at 1 p.m. The game can be seen live on ESPN3 and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).

SOUTHERN INDIANA TRACK AND FIELD

HUFNAGEL SITS ATOP THE PODIUM AT OVC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior Noah Hufnagel (Santa Claus, Indiana) was crowned champion in the 3,000 meters at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship Thursday afternoon at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The Screaming Eagles earned a sixth-place team finish after totaling 33 points.

Hufnagel finished the championship with a 3,000-meter time of eight minutes, 21.06 seconds to cap off USI’s first-ever conference championship appearance. He also secured a second-place finish in the 5,000 meters with a 14:25.16 mark.

Junior Mitchell Hopf (Santa Claus, Indiana) earned a pair of top-five performances, nabbing fourth in the 3,000 meters before placing fifth in the 5,000 meters. Hopf crossed the line in 8:25.36 in the 3,000 meters and secured a personal-best time of 14:40.05 in the 5,000 meters. Also finding the top five were sophomores Dylan Bland (Holland, Indiana) and Brady Terry (Philpot, Kentucky) with Bland earning 10th in the 5,000 meters (15:01.85)  and Terry placing ninth in the mile (4:17.42).

Two USI relays earned top-10 marks in the championship with the distance medley relay group finishing in fourth while the 4×400 relay nabbed eighth. The distance medley relay team consisted of Terry, junior Ethan Goddard (Avon, Indiana), senior Tyler Garrett (Martinsville, Indiana), and sophomore Trace Manzi (Evansville, Indiana) rallied to finish the relay in 10:29.01. The 4×400 relay team consisting of Terry, Garrett, sophomore Rick Pflanz (Huntingburg, Indiana), and sophomore Luke Heinemann (Georgetown, Kentucky) earned a point for the Eagles with a time of 3:29.51.

Making some noise in the field was junior Josh Kaminski (Lafayette, Indiana) who tossed an 11th-best 45 feet, seven inches in the shot put. Junior Kyle Crone (Maryville, Illinois) had a 6′ 00″ performance in the high jump, placing 12th.

NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:

The Eagles will begin the outdoor season on March 17 in Louisville, Kentucky at the Jim Vargo Invitational hosted by Bellarmine University.

GREIWE CROWNED CHAMPION IN EAGLES’ OVC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior Lauren Greiwe (West Harrison, Indiana) sat atop the podium after winning the 5,000 meters at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship Thursday afternoon at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The Screaming Eagles ended the two-day event in sixth place after accumulating 65 points in their first-ever appearance.

Greiwe earned USI’s first OVC individual title after winning the 5,000 meters, crossing the line in 17 minutes, 29.46 seconds. She also secured a personal-best time of 9:49.27 in the 3,000 meters to earn fourth.

Two-time co-OVC Track Athlete of the Week winner junior McKenna Cavanaugh (New Albany, Indiana) placed second in the 3,000 meters and the mile. Cavanaugh’s mile time of 4:55.20 was 0.06 seconds behind the first-place finisher. She was able to finish the 3,000 meters in 9:47.48 to gain eight points for the Eagles.

After earning a personal-best mark in the 800 meters, sophomore Audrey Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) paced a 2:14.77 performance to earn second in the event. Comastri secured a third-place finish in the preliminaries to move on to the finals. Also finishing in the top five were senior Kara Martin (Herrin, Illinois) and junior Aubrey Swart (Noblesville, Indiana). Martin reached the podium with a third-place finish in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:47.90 while Swart nabbed fifth place in the 5,000 meters with an 18:09.77 mark.

The Eagles’ distance medley relay team was able to tally a second-place performance. Martin, Comastri, Cavanaugh, and junior Emma Brown (Evansville, Indiana) crossed the line in 11:54.64 to add to USI’s point total.

NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:

The Eagles will begin the outdoor season on March 17 in Louisville, Kentucky at the Jim Vargo Invitational hosted by Bellarmine University.

VALPO WBB

BEACONS HOLD ON FOR THIRD STRAIGHT ROAD WIN WITH VICTORY OVER BRADLEY

The Valpo women’s basketball team led by as many as 16 points in MVC action Thursday night in Peoria, Ill. and held off a furious rally from host Bradley in the final quarter to come away with a 76-72 win. The Beacons have won three consecutive conference road games over the last seven days.

How It Happened

A back-and-forth first quarter which featured nine lead changes finished with the Beacons on top, as junior Ava Interrante (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) hit classmate Jayda Johnston (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) with a perfect pass for an open layup in the final seconds to give Valpo a 16-15 edge at the end of the period.

The Beacons scored 12 points over a stretch of 2:47 early in the second quarter, as Interrante knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, senior Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids [St. Bonaventure]) converted a 3-point play and fifth-year Ilysse Pitts (Aurora, Ill./Montini Catholic) hit a triple of her own. Pitts’ shot put Valpo ahead 28-19 with 6:40 to play in the first half.

A 3-pointer later in the quarter from freshman Ali Saunders (Depauw, Ind./North Harrison) pushed Valpo’s advantage into double figures for the first time, and the Beacons took a 33-23 lead into intermission.

Valpo looked like pulling away early in the third quarter, as fifth-year Maya Dunson (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne [Loyola]) converted a layup and redshirt junior Emma Tecca (Tallamadge, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban [Akron]) knocked down a 3-pointer on the Beacons’ first two possessions of the second half to push their lead to 15 points.

Bradley rallied to within as close as seven in the third period, but Valpo ended the quarter on a 10-2 run over the final 4:29 — including 3-pointers from Saunders and junior Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) — to earn its largest edge at 53-37 entering the fourth quarter.

Valpo scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor in the final period, but needed every bit of it, as Bradley poured in 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting over the final 10 minutes.

Valpo’s advantage was still 16 points with eight minutes remaining after a drive and finish by Brown. Later in the period, after a Bradley run, sophomore Olivia Sims (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy [Oakland]) finished a driving layup while being fouled to push the lead back into double figures at 66-55 with 4:34 to play.

The Braves outscored Valpo 10-2 over the next three minutes to close to within one possession at 68-65 with 1:31 to go. Saunders hit Brown for a layup with 1:08 to play to make it a five-point game, but on the other end, Bradley’s Ruba Abo Hashesh hit from deep to cut the lead to 70-68.

Valpo ran the shot clock down on its next possession and got Earnest in an iso at the top of the key, and the junior drove past her defender for a one-handed layup to make it 72-68 with 22.6 seconds remaining. Bradley scored inside on each of its next two possessions, but both times Valpo hit a pair of free throws — first Earnest, then Saunders — to keep the Braves from possessing with a chance to tie or take the lead.

Inside the Game

Thursday’s win gives Valpo three road victories over the last seven days.

It is the first time the program has earned road wins in three straight conference road games since winning at Loyola once and at Southern Illinois twice in February 2021, and the first time it has done so against three different opponents since taking down Oral Roberts, Centenary and Western Illinois on their home floors in January 2007.

The three-game winning streak, all on the road, is the program’s first since the aforementioned 2021 trio of victories. The last time prior to that came on either side of New Year’s Day 2005, when Valpo won at Dartmouth to close nonconference play and opened Mid-Con play with wins at Centenary and at Oakland.

Valpo shot a season-best 53.2% from the field in Thursday’s win. The Beacons have hit at better than 50% in each of the last two games after doing so just twice in the first 24 games of the season.

This marks the first time Valpo has shot 50% or better in consecutive games since doing so against Bradley and Illinois State last February.

The Beacons were especially efficient inside the arc, going 17-of-23 (73.9%) from 2-point range. That 2-point percentage is the program’s best in a single game in at least the last 13 seasons.

It was a balanced team effort on Thursday, as no player played more than 31 minutes and nine played at least 15 minutes. All nine of those players scored, with six of them scoring six or more points.

Leading the way offensively were Brown and Saunders, who shared game-high honors with 17 points. Brown paced Valpo for the third straight game in the scoring column, going 6-of-8 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the foul line.

Saunders scored in double figures for the 15th time with her 17-point effort, missing just once from the floor (6-7 FG; 2-3 3PT; 3-3 FT). The freshman also tied for team-high honors with four assists and committed just one turnover.

Earnest’s four clutch points in the final minute of play bumped her game total to 11 points, as she scored in double figures for a team-best 17th time this season. The junior also pulled down five rebounds.

Interrante notched eight points off the bench, while Tecca scored seven and Pitts added six on a pair of 3-pointers. Pitts also tied Saunders for the team best with four assists.

Dunson tied for a game high with six rebounds, just one off her career best.

The Valpo defense limited Bradley to 23 points on 38.5% shooting over the opening 20 minutes before the Braves scored 49 points on 70% shooting over the final 20 minutes.

Next Up

Valpo (7-19, 5-12 MVC) aims for a fourth straight road win Saturday afternoon when it takes on MVC co-leader Illinois State in Normal, Ill. Game time is slated for 4 p.m., and the game can be seen live on ESPN3.

U OF I WBB

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COMPLETES COMEBACK AGAINST UMSL

INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women’s basketball team trailed by 10 points at the half tonight on the road at Missouri-St. Louis and still came back to pick up a 65-63 win over the Tritions at the Mark Twain Building. With the victory, the Hounds pick up a regular season sweep over UMSL and improve to 16-11 overall (12-7 GLVC).

Three different players scored in double figures tonight, led by Idalis Ortiz at 16 points. Elana Wells chipped in 12 points while Lauren With had 10. With also led the team with seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hounds found themselves facing the double-digit deficit heading into the intermission after UMSL rattled off an 11-3 scoring run to end the second quarter. UIndy finished the opening 20 minutes shooting just 30.8 percent from the field while the Tritions were at a better 43.8 percent in return.

Continuing the season trend of keeping games close, the Greyhounds stormed back into the contest and took the lead with 9:35 left in the fourth on a layup by Liv Becker. This set up a back-and-forth final quarter of action which saw play come down to the wire. With under a minute remaining, UIndy went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe which played a big role in helping lock up the victory in the end.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

-The Hounds finished shooting 40 percent (20-of-50) while the Tritions ended at 37.1 percent (23-of-62).

-UIndy was out-rebounded by 10 tonight and allowed 17 offensive boards.

-The Greyhounds went 18-of-22 from the free throw line.

-Each team ended with 19 personal fouls.

MORE NOTES

This marks the 16th game this season that has had a single-digit outcome for UIndy. The Hounds are now 9-7 in games decided by 9 or less.

UP NEXT

The Hounds will cap off the regular season on Saturday in Rolla, Mo., against Missouri S&T. Tipoff for that contest is set for 2 p.m. ET.

U OF I MBB

HOUNDS FALL TO TRITONS IN PENULTIMATE GAME OF REGULAR SEASON

ST. LOUIS – The No. 4 UIndy men’s basketball team (24-3, 16-3 GLVC) saw its 18-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday, dropping a 64-57 decision at Missouri-St. Louis (19-9, 11-8 GLVC).

The Tritons even the regular-season series with the victory, redeeming a Greyhounds’ 77-70 win in mid-January.

Kendrick Tchoua posted his eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Bruno Williams added 11 points and a team-high three assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The host Tritons bounced back late in the first half, as seven straight points from Williams put the Hounds up 18-6 early. Missouri-St. Louis forged a 27-9 run before the break to lead 33-27 at the break.

Sean Craig and Josiah Tynes drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to put UIndy up three early in the second half, but the Tritons continued to fight back. Missouri-St. Louis quickly stretched its lead to eight by the under-eight media timeout, fending off every Greyhound comeback attempt.

A pair of free throws from Jesse Bingham cut the deficit to five with just over three minutes remaining. However, the Tritons would not let the visitors get any closer before the final buzzer.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

– It was lucky number three for Craig, who went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc on Thursday, while securing three boards.

– Julian Steinfeld recorded five rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.

– Tynes dished out a team-high three assists, adding 11 points to his stat line.

– UIndy committed just 10 personal fouls, but turned the ball over on 11 occasions.

MORE NOTES

The loss snaps the Greyhounds’ 18-game win streak, which matched the program’s DII record dating back to the 1996-97 season … the Tritons have now won three straight home games in the series … UIndy leads the all-time series, 26-10 … Victor Nwagbaraocha led all scorers with 18 points, while adding three steals and two blocks for Missouri-St. Louis on the defensive end … the Greyhounds and Tritons were both within the top four – UIndy No. 1, Missouri-St. Louis No. 4 – in the most recent DII Midwest Regional poll.

HOUND BYTES

Head coach Paul Corsaro on the loss…

I don’t think we had the toughness or togetherness it takes to win a GLVC road game tonight; we weren’t our very best. We need to learn from it and get better for Saturday.

UP NEXT

The Greyhounds look to end the regular season on a strong note, visiting Missouri S&T on Saturday for a 4 p.m. ET tip. UIndy downed S&T in their last meeting on Jan. 12 from Nicoson Hall, 86-67.

MARIAN TRACK AND FIELD

ANNOUNCE 2023 NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPANTS

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian track and field team are one week away from competing in the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships, hosted at South Daktoa State University on March 2-4. Marian, the 2023 men’s and women’s Crossroads League Champions, will be competing in 13 events on the men’s side, while the women will compete in 12 events. In total, 31 athletes will represent Marian at the 2023 championships.

Below is the list of events for both the Marian men and women, and who will be competing for the Knights.

60m: Tyler Thomas/Manny Manneh

200m: Otto De St Jeor/Olivier Lifrange | Giorgia Mameli

400m: Olivier Lifrange

600m: Maksims Sincukovs | Hanna Reuter

800m: Drew Thornton

1000m: Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez

5000m: Ali Ray

60m Hurdles: Erin Oleksak

Long Jump: Armani Glass | Erin Oleksak/Jai-Lyn Norwood

Triple Jump: Eli Felton/Chase Maxey | Jai-Lyn Norwood/Shirmara Anderson

High Jump: Erin Oleksak

Weight Throw: Isaiah Tipping/Christian Rios | Arriana Benjamin

Shot Put: Jacob Netral/Christian Rios | Arriana Benjamin

Pentathlon: Erin Oleksak

4x400m Relay: Eli Givens/Olivier Lifrange/Matthew Riehle/Drew Thornton/Maksims Sincukovs | Hanna Reuter/MaKayla Melvin/Giorgia Mameli/Jai-Lyn Norwood/Erin Oleksak/Taylor Thomas

4x800m Relay: Maksims Sincukovs/Drew Thornton/Owen Pittman/Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez/Joe Barrett/Howard Hendricks | Liz Loichinger/Nora Steele/Taylor Thomas/Katie Woods/Hanna Reuter

DMR: Joe Barrett/Howard Hendricks/Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez/Blake Hipkiss/Eli Givens/Matthew Riehle

Marian is currently ranked No. 7 for the men and No. 11 for the women in the latest coaching polls released by the USTFCCCA. The championships will begin on March 2, with Marian’s first event of the weekend coming in the form of Erin Oleksak and the pentathlon, as the senior looks to win her third NAIA National Championship in the event.

MARIAN WBB

SELECTED AS NAIA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FIRST AND SECOND ROUND HOST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Thursday the final group of hosts for the 2023 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Basketball National Championship First & Second Rounds, presented by Ballogy.

For the third consecutive year, the Marian women’s basketball team has been chosen as a host for the opening round of the NAIA National Championship.

Each first and second round site will feature four teams and will play single elimination on Tuesday & Wednesday, March 7-8. The winner of the final game will go to the NAIA National Championship Final Site in either Sioux City, Iowa (women) or Kansas City, Mo. (men). Five sites will host both men’s and women’s opening round sites. Indiana Tech (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Loyola (La.) (New Orleans, La.), Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (Park City, Kan.), Visit Wichita/Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (Wichita, Kan.) and Alexandria Pineville Area CVB (Alexandria, La.).

Marian first hosted in 2021 when the NAIA Tournament field merged division one and two into one organization, and expanded the field from 32 to 64 teams. The Knights have welcomed St. Francis (Ill.), Columbia (Mo.), Rio Grande, West Virginia Tech, Grand View, Rochester, Olivet Nazarene, and Shawnee State over the past two seasons as visiting teams in the NAIA Tournament.

Marian holds a perfect 3-0 record in the NAIA First and Second Rounds, defeating Grand View in their lone game of the 2021 tournament, while defeating Olivet Nazarene and Rio Grande in the 2022 tournament.

The field for the 2023 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament will be announced on March 2 at 7 p.m. ET on the NAIA YouTube channel. A full release of the field will be announced on MUKnights.com following the selection show. To view all of the host sites for the NAIA First and Second Rounds in both men’s and women’s basketball, click here.

All games of the NAIA First and Second Round will be streamed on the ISC Sports Network.

SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

SPORTS EXTRA

NBA STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Boston	43	17	.717	—	24-7	19-10	8-1	26-12	8-2	2 W
2 Milwaukee	41	17	.707	1.0	24-5	17-12	8-4	23-13	10-0	12 W
3 Philadelphia	39	19	.672	3.0	24-8	15-11	7-5	22-13	7-3	5 W
4 Cleveland	38	24	.613	6.0	25-7	13-17	11-3	22-11	7-3	2 L
5 Brooklyn	34	24	.586	8.0	18-11	16-13	6-7	24-13	5-5	1 W
6 New York	33	27	.550	10.0	16-15	17-12	5-8	23-16	6-4	3 W
7 Miami	32	27	.542	10.5	19-10	13-17	7-3	15-17	5-5	2 L
8 Atlanta	29	30	.492	13.5	15-12	14-18	5-5	17-19	4-6	2 L
9 Toronto	29	31	.483	14.0	19-13	10-18	4-9	17-19	7-3	3 W
10 Washington	28	30	.483	14.0	14-12	14-18	6-3	15-17	6-4	2 W
11 Chicago	26	33	.441	16.5	16-13	10-20	5-7	20-20	3-7	6 L
12 Indiana	26	35	.426	17.5	18-15	8-20	4-5	18-18	2-8	1 L
13 Orlando	25	35	.417	18.0	15-15	10-20	3-8	13-25	6-4	1 W
14 Charlotte	17	43	.283	26.0	9-18	8-25	6-8	9-29	3-7	2 W
15 Detroit	15	45	.250	28.0	8-21	7-24	0-9	6-28	2-8	3 L
Western Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Denver	42	18	.700	—	27-4	15-14	10-5	29-11	8-2	4 W
2 Memphis	35	23	.603	6.0	24-5	11-18	6-2	17-16	4-6	1 L
3 Sacramento	33	25	.569	8.0	18-12	15-13	5-6	21-13	6-4	1 W
4 LA Clippers	33	28	.541	9.5	15-13	18-15	6-4	19-16	6-4	2 W
5 Phoenix	32	28	.533	10.0	20-10	12-18	9-1	21-15	7-3	1 L
6 Dallas	32	29	.525	10.5	20-10	12-19	8-2	24-16	6-4	1 W
7 Minnesota	31	30	.508	11.5	20-13	11-17	8-7	22-19	5-5	1 L
8 New Orleans	30	30	.500	12.0	20-10	10-20	7-4	19-15	4-6	2 L
9 Utah	30	31	.492	12.5	19-12	11-19	5-6	20-18	5-5	1 W
10 Golden State	29	30	.492	12.5	22-7	7-23	4-7	17-15	4-6	2 L
11 Oklahoma City	28	30	.483	13.0	17-12	11-18	5-7	15-18	5-5	1 L
12 Portland	28	31	.475	13.5	16-14	12-17	5-8	20-17	5-5	2 L
13 LA Lakers	28	32	.467	14.0	15-14	13-18	3-9	15-20	5-5	2 W
14 San Antonio	14	46	.233	28.0	9-21	5-25	2-8	5-31	0-10	15 L
15 Houston	13	45	.224	28.0	8-20	5-25	1-8	7-31	2-8	7 L

NHL STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Boston Bruins	57	44	8	5	93	42	216	123	24-2-3	20-6-2	6-3-1
2 Carolina Hurricanes	56	38	10	8	84	35	192	148	20-6-2	18-4-6	9-1-0
3 New Jersey Devils	58	38	15	5	81	37	201	157	17-11-2	21-4-3	7-2-1
4 Toronto Maple Leafs	58	35	15	8	78	35	200	156	22-6-4	13-9-4	6-4-0
5 Tampa Bay Lightning	57	36	17	4	76	34	206	169	22-4-3	14-13-1	5-2-3
6 New York Rangers	58	33	16	9	75	30	193	160	16-10-4	17-6-5	7-2-1
7 New York Islanders	61	30	24	7	67	30	177	171	18-10-3	12-14-4	6-2-2
8 Detroit Red Wings	57	28	21	8	64	26	179	181	15-11-3	13-10-5	7-3-0
9 Florida Panthers	60	29	25	6	64	27	209	210	16-8-3	13-17-3	6-4-0
10 Pittsburgh Penguins	57	27	21	9	63	26	182	185	15-9-4	12-12-5	3-6-1
11 Buffalo Sabres	56	29	23	4	62	28	210	198	11-15-2	18-8-2	5-4-1
12 Washington Capitals	60	28	26	6	62	27	178	177	14-13-3	14-13-3	3-7-0
13 Ottawa Senators	56	27	25	4	58	25	172	179	16-12-2	11-13-2	7-2-1
14 Philadelphia Flyers	59	23	26	10	56	22	159	190	11-14-3	12-12-7	3-5-2
15 Montreal Canadiens	57	24	29	4	52	20	156	207	14-14-1	10-15-3	4-5-1
16 Columbus Blue Jackets	58	18	35	5	41	17	146	214	12-18-2	6-17-3	3-5-2
Western Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Vegas Golden Knights	58	35	18	5	75	32	190	163	18-13-0	17-5-5	6-1-3
2 Dallas Stars	58	30	16	12	72	28	188	152	15-8-7	15-8-5	2-3-5
3 Edmonton Oilers	59	32	19	8	72	32	225	195	14-11-5	18-8-3	5-1-4
4 Los Angeles Kings	59	32	19	8	72	27	200	199	17-9-2	15-10-6	6-2-2
5 Winnipeg Jets	58	35	22	1	71	34	181	150	20-8-0	15-14-1	4-6-0
6 Minnesota Wild	58	32	21	5	69	26	171	162	19-10-2	13-11-3	5-4-1
7 Seattle Kraken	58	32	20	6	70	32	202	184	15-11-3	17-9-3	4-5-1
8 Colorado Avalanche	55	31	19	5	67	27	173	155	14-9-4	17-10-1	6-2-2
9 Calgary Flames	59	27	20	12	66	26	189	183	15-11-2	12-9-10	4-3-3
10 Nashville Predators	56	28	22	6	62	25	163	169	16-10-3	12-12-3	6-4-0
11 St. Louis Blues	58	26	28	4	56	23	178	212	13-13-3	13-15-1	3-6-1
12 Vancouver Canucks	58	23	30	5	51	20	198	233	11-15-1	12-15-4	4-4-2
13 Arizona Coyotes	58	20	29	9	49	17	158	205	13-9-2	7-20-7	5-1-4
14 San Jose Sharks	59	18	30	11	47	17	176	219	6-15-7	12-15-4	4-5-1
15 Chicago Blackhawks	57	20	32	5	45	19	143	206	12-16-3	8-16-2	5-4-1
16 Anaheim Ducks	59	18	34	7	43	15	149	248	9-16-1	9-18-6	3-5-2

FOOTBALL HISTORY

February 24, 1989 – Harold E. Ballard sold the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats to David Braley per OnThisDay.com. Braley was the owner of three Canadian Football League teams over the years and once was the Canadian League’s interim commissioner. His other former teams were the B.C. Lions and the Toronto Argonauts. According to an ESPN.com article ; “His teams won four CFL titles, among them Toronto’s championship in the 100th Grey Cup in 2012.”

February 24, 1991 End of World League of American Football’s (WLAF) 1st draft. According to a web page titled World League of American Football, “The NY/NJ Knights make the first selection on the first day of the WLAF draft and choose 6-3, 290lb offensive tackle Caesar Rentie of Oklahoma.” on February 14 to kick off the picking of teams from scratch draft. This final day of picking was to choose defensive backs and assign 40 operation discovery players for each franchise.After some ups and downs and major changes the leagues disbanded in 2007 under the moniker of NFL Europe.

HOF BIRTHDAYS

February 24, 1906 – Muskegon, Michigan – The fantastic end from the University of Michigan, Bennie Oosterbaan was born. For more on this legend of the game, please click his name.

February 24, 1910 – Birmingham, Alabama – Fred Sington the great Tackle front the University of Alabama arrived into this life per the NFF.

February 24, 1923 – Toledo, Ohio – The nifty halfback from the Michigan Wolverines gridiron program, Bob Chappuis celebrated his day of birth. The NFF says that; “As a football star, he led the Big Ten in total offense twice and in 1947 was unanimous All-America halfback. He helped Michigan to a perfect season and was voted Most Valuable Player in the Rose Bowl after leading the way to a 49-0 victory over Southern California.” The National Football Foundation honored Bob Chappuis with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

February 24, 1952 – Arcadia, Louisiana – The stud linebacker from Louisiana Tech, Fred Dean was born. Fred as the leader of the La Tech defense helped take the team to the 1973 NCAA Division II Championship. Dean had 392 career tackles during his college days. Fred Dean was forever recognized as one of the top collegians of the gridiron when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. The San Diego Chargers took Fred in the second round of the 1975 NFL Draft and he played 11 seasons in the League both with the Chargers and the 49ers as a defensive end according to the ProFootballHOF.com. Sacks was not an official stat of the NFL during most of his playing days but it has been documented that the big DE probably had upwards of 100 take downs of QBs behind the line of scrimmage in his career. In 1983 when they were official, Dean posted 17.5 sacks in the League books. He was received as an All-Pro in both 1980 and 1981 and played in 4 Pro Bowl games. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Fred Dean’s football NFL legacy in 2008.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1943       The Texas League, as will most minor leagues, announces the circuit will cease operations for the duration of World War II. The difficulty of traveling and the lack of non-disabled men available to fill team rosters make suspending play necessary.

1948       The White Sox trade Ed Lopat to the Yankees for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wight, and Fred Bradley. The 29-year-old southpaw, called ‘The Junkman’ by his teammates, will spend eight seasons with the Bronx Bombers, compiling an impressive 113-59 (.657) record.

1966       The Braves sign the University of Southern California hurler Tom Seaver, but Commissioner William Eckert nullifies the contract due to rules governing the signing of college players. The right-hander declared ineligible by USC will become available to any team, except Atlanta, willing to match the original contract in a lottery, an offer that only the Indians, Phillies, and Mets will submit bids.

1977       The A’s trade Macon (GA) native Ron Fairly to the Blue Jays for minor leaguer Mike Weathers and cash. The 38-year-old first baseman/outfielder, who played with the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 1974, becomes the first major leaguer to appear with both Canadian teams, compiling a .277 batting average and hitting 105 home runs playing with clubs north of the border for seven seasons.

1986       Eleven weeks after Padres executives attempt to buy out his contract, only to be thwarted by team owner Joan Kroc, Dick Williams resigns as the Padres manager. The future Hall of Fame skipper, who captured an NL pennant in 1984 and compiled a 337-311 (.520) record during his four seasons in San Diego, will be replaced by Steve Boros.

1990       Former Red Sox fan favorite Tony Conigliaro dies at 45 of pneumonia and kidney failure. In 1965, the Revere (MA) native became the youngest player ever to lead the American League in home runs when he hit 32 round-trippers as a 20-year-old.

2003       In the wake of last week’s death of 23-year-old Oriole pitcher Steve Belcher, Commissioner Bud Selig bans the use of ephedra in the minor leagues. Players on the current 40-man major league rosters can continue to use the substance because the new collective bargaining agreement’s drug-testing rules ban only drugs of abuse and certain illegal steroids.

2010       A Kansas man, who sat six rows behind the third-base dugout, files a lawsuit against the Royals due to being hit in the eye by a hot dog thrown by Sluggerrr, the team’s mascot. The suit is seeking $25,000 in damages for injuries caused by the flying frank, which includes a detached retina and the development of cataracts in the left eye.

SPORTS IN NUMBERS

21 – 7 – 33

February 24, 1917 – The Boston Red Sox sold the rights to righthanded pitcher Smoky Joe Wood, claiming that his arm was used up and dead at the age of 26. The Cleveland Indians didn’t think so as they sent $15,000 to the Sox in return for his services. The Sox may have been correct in their assessment of Woods because in three seasons with Cleveland he won only one game and had an ERA of 5.40!

February 24, 1932 – Sir Malcolm Campbell set a world land speed record speed of 253.96 mph driving his famous Blue Bird car at Daytona Beach, Florida

February 24, 1952 – Canada won the country’s 6th Olympic ice hockey title courtesy of a final round 3-3 tie with the United States. The Olympics were played at the Oslo Winter Games as Canadian center Billy Gibson topped all scorers with 19 points in the tournament.

February 24, 1963 – Tiny Lund in the Number 21 Ford, driving for the Wood Bros Racing team, won the 5th running of the Daytona 500 using just 4 pit stops as the first 10 laps were run under a caution flag because of rain.

February 24, 1968 – Garry Unger, Number 7 of the Detroit Red Wings (at least at the start) began an NHL consecutive game record that lasted for 914 games and spanned from from Feb. 24, 1968, through Dec. 21, 1979, breaking the previous mark of 630 held by Andy Hebenton according to NHL.com

February 24, 1987 – LA Lakers center Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Number 33 scored his 36,000th NBA point in a 97-93 win over the Suns in Phoenix

TV FRIDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
Richmond at VCU	7:00pm	ESPN2
Siena at Rider	7:00pm	ESPNU
Xavier at Seton Hall	7:00pm	FS1
Marist at Manhattan	7:00pm	ESPN3
Saint Peter’s at Canisius	7:00pm	ESPN3
Fairfield at Niagara	7:00pm	ESPN+
Iona at Mount St. Mary’s	7:00pm	ESPN+
Jacksonville State at North Alabama	7:00pm	ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville	7:00pm	ESPN+
Austin Peay at FGCU	7:00pm	ESPN+
Bellarmine at North Florida	7:00pm	ESPN+
Lipscomb at Stetson	7:00pm	ESPN+
Queens at Liberty	7:00pm	ESPN+
Marshall at Old Dominion	7:00pm	ESPN+
Coastal Carolina at Troy	7:00pm	ESPN+
App State at Georgia Southern	7:00pm	ESPN+
Arkansas State at ULM	7:30pm	ESPN+
Southern Miss at Texas State	8:00pm	ESPN+
Georgia State at James Madison	8:00pm	ESPN+
Kennesaw State at Central Arkansas	8:00pm	ESPN+
South Alabama at Louisiana	9:00pm	ESPN2
Wyoming at Colorado State	9:00pm	FS1
Seattle U at Grand Canyon	9:00pm	ESPN+
Air Force at UNLV	9:30pm	CBSSN
Nevada at Fresno State	11:00pm	FS1
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WOMEN’S	TIME ET	TV
Maryland at Ohio State	6:00pm	BTN
Miami(FL) at Louisville	6:00pm	ACCN
South Carolina at Tennessee	7:00pm	ESPN
Kentucky at Texas A&M	7:00pm	SECN
Wisconsin at Northwestern	7:00pm	BTN
COLLEGE HOCKEY	TIME ET	TV
Denver at WMU	7:00pm	CBSSN
Ohio State at Minnesota	9:00pm	ESPNU
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA: The Honda Classic	2:00pm	GOLF
NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
New York at Washington	7:00pm	NBCS-WSH MSG
Miami at Milwaukee	7:30pm	ESPN Bally Sports
Cleveland at Atlanta	7:30pm	Bally Sports
Charlotte at Minnesota	8:00pm	Bally Sports
Oklahoma City at Phoenix	9:00pm	Bally Sports
Brooklyn at Chicago	10:00pm	ESPN YES NBCS-CHI
Houston at Golden State	10:00pm	ATTSN-SW NBCS-BAY
Sacramento at LA Clippers	10:30pm	NBCS-CA Bally Sports
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Buffalo at Florida	7:00pm	MSG-BUF Bally Sports
Minnesota at Toronto	7:00pm	Bally Sports Sportsnet
Montreal at Philadelphia	7:00pm	Sportsnet NBCS-PHI
Ottawa at Carolina	7:00pm	Bally Sports Sportsnet
Los Angeles at NY Islanders	8:00pm	Bally Sports MSGSN
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
Bundesliga: Mainz 05 vs Borussia M’gladbach	2:30pm	ESPN+
English Premier League: Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers	3:00pm	USA
La Liga: Elche vs Real Betis	3:00pm	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Lille vs Brest	3:00pm	beIN Sports
Argentina Primera División: Belgrano vs Tigre	7:00pm	Paramount+
Argentina Primera División: Rosario Central vs Godoy Cruz	7:00pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Necaxa vs Querétaro	8:05pm	TUDN
Liga MX: Mazatlán vs Pumas UNAM	10:10pm	TUDN

TV SATURDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
UConn vs. St. John’s	12:00pm	CBS
Creighton vs. Villanova	12:00pm	FOX
Michigan State at Iowa	12:00pm	ESPN
TCU at Texas Tech	12:00pm	ESPN2
Oklahoma at Iowa State	12:00pm	ESPNU
Stony Brook at Charleston	12:00pm	CBSSN
Clemson at NC State	12:00pm	ACCN
Missouri at Georgia	1:00pm	SECN
Ohio at Miami (OH)	1:00pm	ESPN3
Merrimack at LIU	1:00pm	NEC
Sacred Heart at Central Connecticut	1:00pm	NEC
St. Francis Brooklyn at Fairleigh Dickinson	1:00pm	NEC
Wright State at Detroit Mercy	1:00pm	ESPN+
Lehigh at Boston University	1:00pm	ESPN+
Arizona State at Arizona	2:00pm	CBS
Texas at Baylor	2:00pm	ESPN
Arkansas at Alabama	2:00pm	ESPN2
Kansas State at Oklahoma State	2:00pm	ESPNU
Furman at Samford	2:00pm	CBSSN
Louisville at Georgia Tech	2:00pm	ACCN
St. Thomas at North Dakota	2:00pm	–
Western Illinois at North Dakota State	2:00pm	–
Maine at Binghamton	2:00pm	ESPN3
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan	2:00pm	ESPN3
Buffalo at Toledo	2:00pm	ESPN3
Dartmouth at Penn	2:00pm	ESPN+
Princeton at Harvard	2:00pm	ESPN+
Brown at Columbia	2:00pm	ESPN+
The Citadel at Mercer	2:00pm	ESPN+
Army West Point at Holy Cross	2:00pm	ESPN+
Lafayette at Bucknell	2:00pm	ESPN+
Campbell at Radford	2:00pm	ESPN+
High Point at Winthrop	2:00pm	ESPN+
UTEP at Florida Atlantic	2:00pm	ESPN+
Northeastern at Hofstra	2:00pm	FloSports
Hampton at North Carolina A&T	2:00pm	FloSports
Monmouth at William & Mary	2:00pm	FloSports
Rhode Island at Fordham	2:30pm	USA
Oral Roberts at South Dakota State	3:00pm	–
Gardner-Webb at USC Upstate	3:00pm	–
Northern Kentucky at Oakland	3:00pm	ESPN+
Utah Tech at UTA	3:00pm	ESPN+
Texas A&M at Mississippi State	3:30pm	SECN
Minnesota at Nebraska	3:30pm	BTN
Ball State at Eastern Michigan	3:30pm	ESPN3
Auburn at Kentucky	4:00pm	CBS
West Virginia at Kansas	4:00pm	ESPN
Florida State at Miami (FL)	4:00pm	ESPN2
Colgate at Navy	4:00pm	CBSSN
Cal State Fullerton at CSU Bakersfield	4:00pm	Spectrum
Louisiana Tech at Middle Tennessee	4:00pm	Stadium
UNCG at ETSU	4:00pm	–
Western Michigan at Akron	4:00pm	ESPN3
Wagner at Saint Francis U	4:00pm	NEC
UT Martin at Morehead State	4:00pm	ESPN+
VMI at Western Carolina	4:00pm	ESPN+
Houston Christian at Nicholls	4:00pm	ESPN+
Rice at Charlotte	4:00pm	ESPN+
Northern Arizona at Northern Colorado	4:00pm	ESPN+
Vermont at Bryant	4:00pm	ESPN+
Delaware State at Morgan State	4:00pm	–
Howard at North Carolina Central	4:00pm	–
Maryland Eastern Shore at Coppin State	4:00pm	–
Grambling State at Florida A&M	4:00pm	Facebook
Southern at Bethune-Cookman	4:30pm	–
UNC Asheville at Longwood	4:30pm	ESPN3
McNeese at Southeastern Louisiana	4:30pm	ESPN+
Southeast Missouri at SIUE	4:30pm	ESPN+
Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois	4:30pm	ESPN+
Little Rock at Lindenwood	4:30pm	ESPN+
Southern Indiana at Tennessee State	4:30pm	ESPN+
Syracuse at Pitt	5:00pm	ACCN
Washington State at California	5:00pm	PAC12N
Omaha at Denver	5:00pm	ALT
Kent State at Bowling Green	5:00pm	ESPN3
New Hampshire at UMass Lowell	5:00pm	ESPN3
A&M-Commerce at UIW	5:00pm	ESPN+
American at Loyola Maryland	5:00pm	ESPN+
Northwestern State at A&M-Corpus Christi	5:30pm	ESPN+
Presbyterian at Charleston Southern	5:30pm	ESPN+
Southern Utah at Sam Houston	5:30pm	ESPN+
Virginia at North Carolina	6:00pm	ESPN
Florida at Vanderbilt	6:00pm	ESPN2
George Mason at Dayton	6:00pm	ESPNU
South Carolina at Tennessee	6:00pm	SECN
Loyola Chicago at Saint Louis	6:00pm	CBSSN
La Salle at George Washington	6:00pm	ESPN+
Portland State at Montana State	6:00pm	ESPN+
UC Davis at Cal Poly	6:00pm	ESPN+
Texas Southern at Jackson State	6:30pm	–
Alabama A&M at Alabama State	6:30pm	YouTube
Notre Dame at Wake Forest	7:00pm	ACCN
Boise State at San Jose State	7:00pm	NBCS-BAY
Portland at Pacific	7:00pm	–
NJIT at UAlbany	7:00pm	ESPN3
SMU at South Florida	7:00pm	ESPN+
CSUN at Long Beach State	7:00pm	ESPN+
UTSA at FIU	7:00pm	ESPN+
Purdue Fort Wayne at Green Bay	7:00pm	ESPN+
Cornell at Yale	7:00pm	ESPN+
Youngstown State at IUPUI	7:00pm	ESPN+
New Orleans at Lamar	7:00pm	ESPN+
Utah Valley at Abilene Christian	7:00pm	ESPN+
Towson at UNCW	7:00pm	FloSports
Delaware at Elon	7:00pm	FloSports
UAPB at Mississippi Valley State	7:00pm	YouTube
Indiana at Purdue	7:30pm	FOX
DePaul at Marquette	7:30pm	FS1
Tarleton at UTRGV	7:30pm	ESPN+
Virginia Tech at Duke	8:00pm	ESPN
Houston at East Carolina	8:00pm	ESPN2
USC at Utah	8:00pm	ESPNU
UAB at WKU	8:00pm	CBSSN
Eastern Washington at Idaho State	8:00pm	ESPN+
Cleveland State at Milwaukee	8:00pm	ESPN+
Kansas City at South Dakota	8:00pm	–
LSU at Ole Miss	8:30pm	SECN
Sacramento State at Montana	9:00pm	ESPN+
Idaho at Weber State	9:00pm	ESPN+
Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga	10:00pm	ESPN
UC Irvine at Hawai’i	10:00pm	ESPN2
San Francisco at BYU	10:00pm	ESPNU
San Diego State at New Mexico	10:00pm	CBSSN
Oregon at Oregon State	10:00pm	PAC12N
Santa Clara at San Diego	10:00pm	Stadium
UC Santa Barbara at UC San Diego	10:00pm	ESPN+
Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine	10:30pm	Bally Sports
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WOMEN’S	TIME ET	TV
UConn at DePaul	2:00pm	FOX
Colorado St. at Wyoming	9:30pm	FS1
COLLEGE HOCKEY	TIME ET	TV
Ohio State at Minnesota	5:30pm	BTN
Notre Dame at Michigan	8:00pm	BTN
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA: The Honda Classic	1:00pm	GOLF
MLB SPRING TRAINING	TIME ET	TV
Boston vs Atlanta	1:05pm	MLBN
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
Xfinity: Production Alliance Group 300	5:00pm	FS1
NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Toronto at Detroit	12:00pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports
Miami at Charlotte	7:00pm	Bally Sports
Indiana at Orlando	7:00pm	Bally Sports
New Orleans at New York	7:30pm	Bally Sports MSG
Denver at Memphis	8:00pm	ALT2 Bally Sports
Boston at Philadelphia	8:30pm	ABC
San Antonio at Utah	9:00pm	ATTSN-RM Bally Sports
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Edmonton at Columbus	12:30pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports
NY Rangers at Washington	1:00pm	ABC ESPN+
Pittsburgh at St. Louis	3:30pm	ABC ESPN+
Boston at Vancouver	7:00pm	Sportsnet NESN
Anaheim at Carolina	7:00pm	Bally Sports
Ottawa at Montréal	7:00pm	NHLN Sportsnet
Philadelphia at New Jersey	7:00pm	MSGSN NBCS-PHI
Tampa Bay at Detroit	8:00pm	Bally Sports
Dallas at Vegas	10:00pm	Bally Sports
Chicago at San Jose	10:00pm	NBCS-CHI NBCS-CA
Calgary at Colorado	10:00pm	Sportsnet ALT
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
La Liga: Espanyol vs Mallorca	8:00am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Hertha BSC vs Augsburg	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Köln vs Wolfsburg	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Bochum	9:30am	ESPN+
English Premier League: Leeds United vs Southampton	10:00am	USA
English Premier League: Everton vs Aston Villa	10:00am	Peacock
English Premier League: Leicester City vs Arsenal	10:00am	Peacock
English Premier League: West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest	10:00am	Peacock
La Liga: Cádiz vs Rayo Vallecano	10:15am	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Angers SCO vs Olympique Lyonnais	11:00am	beIN Sports
Bundesliga: Schalke 04 vs Stuttgart	12:30pm	ESPN+
English Premier League: AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City	12:30pm	NBC
La Liga: Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid	12:30pm	ESPN+
Serie A: Empoli vs Napoli	12:30pm	Paramount+
English Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool	2:45pm	USA
Serie A: Lecce vs Sassuolo	2:45pm	Paramount+
La Liga: Valencia vs Real Sociedad	3:00pm	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Montpellier vs Lens	3:00pm	beIN Sports
MLS: Nashville SC vs New York City	4:30pm	FOX
Argentina Primera División: Estudiantes vs Sarmiento	5:15pm	Paramount+
Argentina Primera División: Platense vs Talleres Córdoba	5:15pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Cruz Azul vs Juárez	6:00pm	Univision
MLS: Charlotte vs New England	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: DC United vs Toronto FC	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Cincinnati vs Houston Dynamo	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Orlando City SC vs New York RB	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Inter Miami vs CF Montréal	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Atlanta United vs SJ Earthquakes	7:30pm	MLS Pass
Argentina Primera División: Vélez Sarsfield vs Boca Juniors	7:30pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Tigres UANL vs Guadalajara	8:05pm	Univision
MLS: Dallas vs Minnesota United	8:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Austin vs St. Louis City	8:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC	9:30pm	MLS Pass
Liga MX: Atlas vs América	10:05pm	Univision
MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake	10:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Portland Timbers vs Sporting KC	10:30pm	MLS Pass
XFL	TIME ET	TV
D.C. at Vegas	7:00pm	FX ESPN+