THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” MONDAY JANAURY 16, 2023

*******************THE SCOREBOARD*******************

***************INDIANA SRN BOYS BASKETBALL POLLS*************

4A

1. BEN DAVIS
2. PENN
3. BROWNSBURG
4. CATHEDRAL
5. HOMESTEAD

3A

1. MISHAWAKA MARIAN
2. NORTH DAVIESS
3. NORTHWOOD
4. NORWELL
5. WEST NOBLE

2A

1. LINTON STOCKTON
2. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK
3. SOUTH SPENCER
4. TAYLOR
5. UNIVERSITY

1A

1. BLOOMFIELD
2. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN
3. ORLEANS
4. LOOGOOTEE
5. LUTHERAN

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SAGARIN RATINGS: HTTP://SCOREBOARD.HOMESTEAD.COM/BOYS/CLASSRATE.HTM#LOADED

***************INDIANA SRN GIRLS BASKETBALL POLLS************

4A

1. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
2. ZIONSVILLE
3. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
4. NOBLESVILLE
5. FISHERS

3A

1. TWIN LAKES
2. INDIAN CREEK
3. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL
4. JAY COUNTY
5. CORYDON CENTRAL

2A

1. BLACKFORD
2. NORTH KNOX
3. CENTRAL NOBLE
4. ANDREAN
5. PIONEER

1A

1. LANESVILLE
2. TRI
3. TRINITY LUTHERAN
4. CASTON
5. NORTHEAST DUBOIS

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SAGARIN RATINGS: HTTP://SCOREBOARD.HOMESTEAD.COM/GIRLS/CLASSRATE.HTM#LOADED

***********TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL***********

ST. JOHN’S 85 #6 UCONN 74

#12 XAVIER 80 #25 MARQUETTE 76

ELSEWHERE:

MISSOURI STATE 64 INDIANA STATE 62

IOWA 81 MARYLAND 67

MICHIGAN 85 NORTHWESTERN 78

RUTGERS 68 OHIO STATE 64 OT

MEMPHIS 61 TEMPLE 59

SOUTH FLORIDA 81 E. CAROLINA 70

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:  HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230115

************TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL***********

#1 SOUTH CAROLINA 81 MISSOURI 50

USC 55 #2 STANFORD 46

#4 UCONN 65 GEORGETOWN 50

#5 LSU 84 AUBURN 54

#6 INDIANA 93 WISCONSIN 56

#7 NOTRE DAME 72 SYRACUSE 56

#8 UCLA 87 CALIFORNIA 70

#9 MARYLAND 80 RUTGERS 56

#10 UTAH 80 #14 ARIZONA 79

#22 NORTH CAROLINA 56 #11 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 47

TEXAS 68 #15 IOWA STATE 53

#16 DUKE 65 GEORGIA TECH 47

WEST VIRGINIA 74 #18 BAYLOR 65

WASHINGTON STATE 85 #21 OREGON 84 OT

#24 ILLINOIS 70 MINNESOTA 57

ELSEWHERE:

NORTHERN IOWA 73 EVANSVILLE 68

VIRGINIA 66 BOSTON COLLEGE 50

CENTRAL FLORIDA 59 WICHITA STATE 56

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 75 DETROIT 51

LOUISVILLE 82 FLORIDA STATE 75

TENNESSEE 68 GEORGIA 55

MIAMI FLORIDA 55 WAKE FOREST 43

OAKLAND 73 WRIGHT STATE 68

CLEMSON 72 PITTSBURGH 57

ST. LOUIS 80 DAYTON 69

KENTUCKY 81 FLORIDA 75

ILLINOIS STATE 70 BELMONT 56

MURRAY STATE 83 BRADLEY 48

WASHINGTON 79 OREGON STATE 67

MISSISSIPPI STATE 60 TEXAS A&M 44

ALABAMA 63 OLE MISS 58

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:  HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230115

***********SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND SCHEDULE************

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15

BUFFALO 34 MIAMI 31….BOX SCORE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/FB/BOXSCORE.ASP?GAMECODE=20230115002&HOME=2&VIS=15&FINAL=TRUE

NEW YORK GIANTS 31 MINNESOTA 24… BOX SCORE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/FB/BOXSCORE.ASP?GAMECODE=20230115016&HOME=16&VIS=19&FINAL=TRUE

CINCINNATI 24 BALTIMORE 17….BOX SCORE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/FB/BOXSCORE.ASP?GAMECODE=20230115004&HOME=4&VIS=33&FINAL=TRUE

MONDAY, JANUARY 16

NFC:    8:15 PM (ET)                 5 DALLAS AT 4 TAMPA BAY (ESPN/ABC, ESPN2-MANNINGCAST, ESPN+, ESPN DEPORTES)

***********NBA***********

NEW YORK 117 DETROIT 104

LA CLIPPERS 121 HOUSTON 100

CHICAGO 132 GOLDEN STATE 118

OKLAHOMA CITY 112 BROOKLYN 102

SACRAMENTO 132 SAN ANTONIO 119

DENVER 119 ORLANDO 116

PORTLAND 140 DALLAS 123

PHILADELPHIA 113 LA LAKERS 112

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP?META=TRUE

***********NHL***********

MONTRÉAL 2 NY RANGERS 1

VANCOUVER 4 CAROLINA 3

WINNIPEG 2 ARIZONA 1

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

************TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES*************

************NFL PLAYOFFS**************

BILLS HANG ON FOR 34-31 WILD-CARD WIN OVER DOLPHINS

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Josh Allen shrugged off a three-turnover outing by throwing two touchdown passes 3:11 apart in the third quarter, and rallying the Buffalo Bills to a 34-31 win over the injury-depleted Miami Dolphins in an AFC wild-card matchup on Sunday.

Cole Beasley scored the go-ahead touchdown with a 6-yard catch, and Gabe Davis extended the lead to 34-24 with a 23-yard TD reception in a game where Buffalo squandered an early 17-0 lead.

The Bills defense, which forced six punts and two turnovers, then held on to secure the win when Miami turned the ball over on downs on its final possession.

Rookie Skylar Thompson’s pass on fourth-and-6 went just off the fingertips of tight end Mike Gesicki with 2:22 remaining.

Buffalo was able to run out the clock when Devin Singletary bulled his way for a 7-yard gain to convert a third-and-7.

It was a sloppy game played between two division rivals, and the outcome fitting after Miami and Buffalo split their regular-season series in games decided by a combined five points. The Dolphins beat Buffalo 21-19 at Miami in September, with the Bills rallying to beat Miami 32-29 last month.

Allen finished 23 of 39 for 352 yards and three TDs, but also threw two interceptions, which resulted in the Dolphins scoring 10 points. He also lost a fumble while being sacked by Eric Rowe, with Zach Sieler recovering the ball and returning it 5 yards for a touchdown to put Miami ahead 24-20, just 61 seconds into the third quarter.

“It’s a one-week season, that’s it,” Allen said. “All that matters is surviving and advancing.”

As the AFC’s second seed, Buffalo advances to host either the third-seeded Cincinnati Bengals or fourth-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round. Their matchup will be determined after the Bengals host Baltimore on Sunday night.

A Bills-Bengals matchup would come two weeks after their game was canceled when Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field.

Hamlin was with the team in spirit, while live-tweeting during the game from home, where he continues to recover. A message Hamlin posted on his Twitter account about an hour before kickoff read: “My heart is with my guys as they compete today! … Nothing I want more than to be out there with them.”

The 24-year-old Hamlin was released from a Buffalo hospital on Wednesday and visited with his teammates at the Bills facility on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Dolphins: offseason.

Bills: Host either Cincinnati Bengals or Jacksonville Jaguars in AFC divisional playoff next weekend.

GIANTS OUTLAST VIKINGS 31-24 FOR 1ST PLAYOFF WIN IN 11 YEARS

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Daniel Jones passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 78 yards in his first career playoff game for the New York Giants, a 31-24 victory over Minnesota in the wild-card round that gave the Vikings their first loss in 12 one-score games this season.

Saquon Barkley rushed for two scores, including the tiebreaker midway through the fourth quarter. The Giants’ defense finished off the franchise’s first playoff win since the Super Bowl 11 years ago by swarming tight end T.J. Hockenson after a 3-yard catch on a pass from Kirk Cousins at midfield on fourth-and-8. The Vikings turned the ball over on downs with 1:44 to go and no timeouts left.

Jones became the first quarterback in NFL history with 300-plus passing yards, two-plus passing touchdowns and 70-plus rushing yards in a postseason game as first-year head coach Brian Daboll’s Giants advanced to play No. 1 seed and NFC East rival Philadelphia in the divisional round next weekend.

“We did what we wanted to do, come out with a win,” Barkley said. “Celebrate on the way back, watch film, learn from it and get ready for Philly.”

Isaiah Hodgins and Daniel Bellinger had touchdown receptions for New York.

Cousins went 31 for 39 for 273 yards and two scores and a rushing touchdown to cap the game’s opening possession, the too-short throw to Hockenson his one glaring mistake. Justin Jefferson, the NFL’s leading receiver, had only one catch after halftime and finished with 47 yards.

The Vikings stayed on brand by facing 10-point deficits late in the second quarter and again early in the third quarter.

Cousins, who delivered all kinds of on-target throws as he was knocked to the turf by the blitz-fueled Giants defense, hit Irv Smith Jr. for a short touchdown pass that brought the Vikings within three at 24-21.

Then a funny thing happened – the defense got a stop.

Danielle Hunter’s sack forced the first Giants punt, and the Vikings went the other way for the tying field goal. They left behind some crucial points, though, when Cousins ran successful sneak on fourth-and-1 at the 15 that was negated by a false start on left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Jones converted a penalty-free fourth-and-1 sneak on the next drive for the Giants. Barkley – who had 109 total yards on only 14 touches – chugged into the end zone for the lead with 7:47 to go.

The Giants and Vikings were among seven teams in the playoffs that missed out last season, a six-year absence for the Giants that ended with their 9-7-1 finish under Daboll to grab a wild-card spot.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was a first-timer on the job, too, directing a 13-4 division champion team that – in an NFL season with a record number of close margins and comeback wins – set an all-time mark by going 11-0 in one-score games.

UNFLAPPABLE GIANTS

Five years and one day after Case Keenum’s 61-yard last-play touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs gave the Vikings a 29-24 victory over New Orleans in the divisional round, Cousins finally got a postseason game in Minnesota in his fifth season with the team.

His injured right tackle Brian O’Neill led the crowd in the pregame “Skol” chant, helping crank up the decibel level. The fans went wild in the first quarter when franchise leading rusher Adrian Peterson was shown on the videoboard for an interview.

The Giants, having played here just three weeks ago, were clearly unfazed by the noise. They cruised for 166 yards on their first nine plays for touchdowns on their first two drives, then gained 90 yards in a whopping 20 plays for a field goal and a 17-7 lead.

Jones took advantage of the typically deep drops by Vikings linebackers into their coverages to run free when he didn’t see anyone open. Usually he did, with Hodgins and Slayton especially successful at working the spaces in the zone in the middle of the field.

NO MULLIGANS ALLOWED

The Vikings punted twice, both on what-could-have-been drives in the first half.

On third-and-1 at their own 34, O’Connell called a trick play that resulted in a 2-yard loss on a throwback pass from Jefferson to Cousins. Then on second-and-3 at their own 47, a wide-open Smith dropped a short throw to the sideline before another incompletion.

INJURY REPORT

Giants: OLB Azeez Ojulari (quadriceps) was hurt in the second quarter and ruled out at halftime. … Backup FS Jason Pinnock left on a cart after covering a kickoff in the fourth quarter. … CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee) returned from a seven-game absence and played a big role in keeping Jefferson quiet after he had 133 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches against the Giants last month.

Vikings: LB Brian Asamoah II (concussion) was injured covering a kickoff late in the second quarter. … Backup CB Cameron Dantzler Sr. (personal) was inactive after missing practice all week.

HUBBARD’S 98-YARD FUMBLE RETURN LIFTS BENGALS OVER RAVENS

CINCINNATI (AP) The ball went right to Sam Hubbard, and the defensive end took off down the field. All the way down the field in his hometown.

On an unforgettable wild-card run.

Hubbard returned Tyler Huntley’s fumble 98 yards for a tiebreaking touchdown in the fourth quarter, helping Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens 24-17 in the first round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday night.

“You can’t even dream that one up,” Hubbard said. “It’s pretty special.”

Facing third-and-goal at the 1 with about 12 minutes left, Huntley tried to go over the top of the line for the go-ahead score. But he was stood up by Germaine Pratt and stripped by fellow linebacker Logan Wilson.

Hubbard got the ball at the 2, and he was helped along by a convoy of teammates on the longest fumble return for a touchdown in NFL postseason history. It also was the longest go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter in the postseason.

“That’s why you never give up on a play, even inside the 2,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.

Moments after the defensive TD for the Cincinnati native, with the Paycor Stadium crowd of 66,399 still buzzing, Hubbard sucked on oxygen as he sat on the bench on the sideline.

“To make the play and be the guy to come through is an amazing feeling,” Hubbard said.

Baltimore drove down to the Cincinnati 17 in the final minute, but Kevin Zeitler was flagged for holding and Huntley threw incomplete to the end zone on the final play.

“I feel like we controlled this game from start to finish, and it just didn’t turn our way,” Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews said.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Huntley was supposed to go low on the play that resulted in the fumble.

“That’s the way the play is designed,” he said. “We felt that was the best call. We just didn’t execute it right.”

Playing behind a patchwork offensive line, Burrow passed for 209 yards and a touchdown for the AFC North champions. He also had a 1-yard touchdown run a week after the Bengals beat the Ravens 27-16 in the regular-season finale.

A year after Cincinnati made a surprise run to the Super Bowl, it won a playoff game for the second straight postseason for the first time in franchise history.

“Hard-fought. That’s how it is in the playoffs, especially when you play a divisional team for a third time,” Burrow said. “It’s never going to be easy.”

Next up for Cincinnati (13-4) is a trip to Buffalo for a rematch of their Week 17 game that was canceled after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. With Hamlin watching from home, Buffalo advanced with a 34-31 victory over Miami on Sunday.

Playing without Lamar Jackson once again because of the quarterback’s knee injury, Baltimore (10-8) managed two offensive touchdowns for the first time since Nov. 27. Huntley passed for 226 yards and two TDs, but he also had a costly interception.

Hubbard’s dramatic trip to the end zone sent the Ravens into a uncertain offseason centered around the future of Jackson, who is eligible for free agency. The 2019 MVP got hurt during a 10-9 win against Denver on Dec. 4, and he did not travel with the team to Cincinnati for the playoff game.

Huntley was intercepted by Cincinnati linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither on the second attempt of his first postseason start. The Bengals turned the miscue into Burrow’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase early in the second quarter, but they had to settle for a 9-0 lead after Evan McPherson missed the extra point.

Huntley stepped up after the early trouble, leading the Ravens on a 17-play, 75-yard drive that lasted more than 10 minutes. J.K. Dobbins got Baltimore on the board when he stretched the ball over the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown reception.

A fumble by former Baltimore tight end Hayden Hurst set up Justin Tucker’s 22-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half, giving the Ravens a 10-9 lead at the break. The biggest play of the scoring drive was a 19-yard reception by Josh Oliver after Huntley had to run back to recover a high snap that went off his hands.

WORTH NOTING

The Bengals lost left tackle Jonah Williams to a left knee injury in the first half. They already were playing without right tackle La’el Collins and right guard Alex Cappa due to injuries.

NOT ANYMORE

Baltimore had been 6-0 on the road in wild-card games.

UP NEXT

The Bengals are going to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and the AFC East champion Bills (14-3).

*************COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS**************

UGA FOOTBALL PLAYER KILLED IN WRECK AFTER TITLE CELEBRATION

Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and a recruiting staff member were killed early Sunday in a car wreck, the school said, just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony.

Two other members of the football program were injured in the crash, which occurred in Athens, south of the Georgia campus. They were not immediately identified, but the school said both were in stable condition.

ESPN reported that another offensive lineman, Warren McLendon, was among the injured. The junior announced Saturday he was entering the NFL draft.

The single-vehicle wreck occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m., according to a statement from the Athens-Clarke County police department.

The initial investigation found that a Ford Expedition “left the roadway, striking two power poles and several trees,” the statement said.

The 20-year-old Willock was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, was transported to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.

LeCroy was a recruiting analyst for the Bulldogs.

On Saturday, Georgia marked its 65-7 rout of TCU in the national championship game with a parade through town and a ceremony at Sanford Stadium.

The joyous mood quickly turned to grief.

“We are all heartbroken and devastated with the loss of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “Devin was an outstanding young man in every way. He was always smiling, was a great teammate and a joy to coach.”

Smart said LeCroy was “a valuable member of our football staff and brought an incredible attitude and energy every single day. We grieve with their families for this tragic loss and will support them in every way possible.”

Police said the wreck was still under investigation and they have not determined what factors may have contributed to the crash. It may be several days before an accident report is issued.

Willock was a 6-foot-7, 335-pound redshirt sophomore from New Milford, New Jersey.

He played extensively as a backup during the 2022 season and started at right guard in Southeastern Conference victories over Tennessee and Kentucky.

With McClendon and offensive lineman Warren Ericson headed to the NFL draft, Willock likely would have been competing for a starting position in 2023 as the Bulldogs go for a third straight national title.

Athletic director Josh Brooks said Willock and LeCroy were “two special people” who “meant the world to our football program and athletic department.”

“We will continue to honor their memory in the years to come,” Brooks added.

Police said a 21-year-old male passenger sustained minor injuries and a 26-year-old female passenger sustained serious injuries. “We will continue to monitor their status with medical personnel,” the school said.

Georgia also said its mental health and performance personnel would “make sure we are providing the best support possible for our staff and student-athletes who are processing this grief.”

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, who spoke at the championship celebration, tweeted that Willock’s death was “incredibly sad news and we join in sharing our sympathies, prayers and support.”

Another Georgia player, linebacker Nolan Smith, said Willock’s death “hurt my heart.”

“All I have to say the GREAT ONES LEAVE (TOO) SOON,” Smith tweeted. “(at)DevinWillock I LOVE YOU FOREVER.”

A few hours before his death, Willock retweeted a post that showed him taking time with a young Georgia fan at what appeared to a restaurant, even letting the youngster wear his championship ring.

“Special thank u to (at)DevinWillock for taking time for my grandson when he didn’t have to,” the tweet said. “U went out of ur way to make him feel special and U made his day!! Good luck next year! Go Dawgs!”

*************COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS**************

SORIANO’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE HELPS ST. JOHN’S OVER NO. 6 UCONN

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) St. John’s did something Sunday it had not done in 35 years – beat UConn in Hartford.

Joel Soriano scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Red Storm (13-6, 3-5 Big East) over the No. 6 Huskies (15-4, 4-4), who have lost four of five after starting the season with 14 straight wins.

St. John’s scored 22 points off 21 UConn turnovers and outscored the Huskies 44-28 in the paint.

The double-double was the 16th of the season for Soriano. AJ Storr and Posh Alexander each added 14 points for the Red Storm, which has won two in a row after a five-game losing streak.

“This game proves a lot,” Soriano said. “It shows what we can do when we’re together, when we’re connected. It just shows that when we’ve got our hats on, we do good.”

Dylan Addae-Wusu and Rafael Pinzon added 12 points each for St. John’s and and Andre Curbelo had 10.

Jordan Hawkins led all scorers with a career-high 31 for UConn, but 20 of those came in the first half. Alex Karaban had 16 points and Adama Sanogo added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies.

The game was tied at the half, but St. John’s scored the first two baskets after intermission and led the entire second half.

The Red Storm went up 68-60 on a break-away dunk by AJ Storr after UConn missed four shots that could have cut the lead to four points. That was part of a 9-0 run that put the Red Storm up by 13. They led by as many as 16 points with 2 minutes left.

“It’s a good day to be a Johnnie,” coach Mike Anderson said. “I thought our guys had been trending in the right direction and today, we put 40 minutes together.”

The Huskies were up by as many as eight points in the first half before St. John’s fought its way back and after a 12-2 run went up 27-22. The teams traded leads the rest of the half and went into intermission tied at 38.

“Their program was a lot tougher than our program today and I didn’t see it coming.” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “We looked weak and unprepared. They were just way tougher.”

BIG PICTURE

St. John’s: The Red Storm won at what is now the XL Center for the first time since Feb. 29, 1988 (77-62). The program earned its first road win over a top-10 opponent since knocking off Marquette 70-69 on Feb. 5, 2019.

UConn: The Huskies had won their first 10 home games and came into Sunday on a 15-game home winning streak. UConn, which had been ranked as high as No. 2 after its hot start, could tumble out of the top 10 with this loss.

“To be where we were a couple weeks ago and to be where we are today, there’s just a lot of frustration,” Hurley said.

CHIPPY CONTEST

The game was extremely physical, with 51 fouls called, 30 on UConn.

UConn’s Donovan Clingan and David Jones of St. John’s each picked up a flagrant foul for exchanging elbows after Clingan grabbed a rebound in the first half. St. John’s Posh Alexander and UConn’s Hassan Diarra chirped at each other later in the half, with each picking up technical fouls.

Sanogo got thrown out of the game for saying something to an official with less than a minute to go and Curbelo was tossed a few seconds later. Anderson said he did not get an explanation as to why.

UP NEXT

St. John’s: The Red Storm host Villanova at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

UConn: The Huskies travel to New Jersey to face Seton Hall on Wednesday.

NO. 12 XAVIER’S STREAK AT 11 WITH WIN VS NO. 25 MARQUETTE

CINCINNATI (AP) Souley Boum and Jack Nunge each scored 16 points and No. 12 Xavier won its 11th straight game with a 80-76 victory over No. 25 Marquette on Sunday.

The final few seconds were close, with Olivier-Maxence Prosper making a jumper to cut Xavier’s lead to 78-76 with 8 seconds left. Boum then hit two free throws to seal the victory as the Musketeers went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 28 seconds.

“That’s how I’ve been my whole life, I like being in those moments,” said Boum, who scored nine points in the final three minutes, including going 4-for-4 from the line. “I practice those free throws all the time, so I’m not scared of it. I just have to do my job to make sure my team leaves the building with a victory.”

“He’s so accurate as a shooter,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “He’s got a repertoire that so few guards have. He’s so confident from the line. It’s not like he’s at the line early in the game. We’re talking about, make the free throws to win it.”

Six players scored in double figures for Xavier (15-3, 7-0 Big East), which is off to its best start ever in Big East play. The Musketeers’ winning streak is their longest since starting the 2015-16 season 12-0. Nunge had 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season and second straight.

Tyler Kolek scored 25 points and Oso Ighodaro had 14 for Marquette (14-5, 6-2 Big East), which snapped a five-game winning streak. Kolek who averages eight assists per game, dished out seven.

After a wild first half that saw a 92 combined points scored, the second half was a grind.

The Musketeers had no answer in the first half for Kolek, who had 20 points on 9 of 11 shooting and four assists. Marquette led 48-44 at halftime.

The defenses – and perhaps some fatigue – showed up late in the second half with both teams going scoreless for more than six minutes. A steal and dunk by Marquette guard Chase Ross tied the score 68-68 with 3:31 remaining. But Boum answered with a 3-pointer to put the Musketeers ahead to set up a frantic finish.

“It’s always tough coming in here,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “With 45 seconds left, it’s a tie game. Xavier had the ball in their leading scorer’s hands. He made tough shots. Lot of things that we’ll look at on the tape that we need to improve on.”

BIG ADJUSTMENT

After Kolek’s 20-point outburst in the first half for Marquette, the Musketeers adjusted their defense. After halftime, Kolek scored only five points and was 2 of 7 from the field and the Golden Eagles scored only 28 points.

“We kind of let him get to his left hand too much (in the first half) and getting downhill,” Nunge said. “We just locked in, switched more. We did a good job in the second half.”

BIG PICTURE

Marquette: The Golden Eagles have been outrebounded 11 times this season and struggled to handle the 7-foot Nunge, ending up getting beat on the boards 45-32 on Sunday and giving up 17 second-chance points to Xavier.

“We knew going into the game they had just two bigs,” said Nunge, who had 13 rebounds, eight of them offensive. “We really thought that was an area where we could exploit them. We wanted to make sure we sent three to the glass.”

Xavier: The Musketeers struggled on defense in the first half, allowing 48 points on Sunday – the 16th time it has allowed 40 or more in a half this season. But in the second half, Xavier shut down the Golden Eagles, allowing only 28 points.

“We’ve been inching toward getting better,” Miller said. “Have we gotten better by leaps and bounds? No. We are, in kind of a quiet way behind our offense, getting better here and there.”

UP NEXT

Marquette: Hosts No. 19 Providence on Wednesday.

Xavier: At DePaul on Wednesday.

ALABAMA’S MILES, 2ND MAN CHARGED WITH CAPITAL MURDER AFTER FATAL SHOOTING

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and another man have been charged with capital murder after a fatal shooting near campus.

Tuscaloosa Police Capt. Jack Kennedy said that the shooting occurred early Sunday morning in the Strip off University Blvd. near campus. He said Jamea Harris, 23, of the Birmingham area was shot and killed.

Miles, 21, a junior reserve forward from Washington, D.C., and Michael Lynn Davis, 20, of Charles County, Maryland, were both charged with capital murder. The capital murder charge arose because the death involved shots fired into a vehicle, Kennedy said.

“At this time, it appears that the only motive was a minor altercation that these individuals had with the victim as they were out on The Strip,” Kennedy said in a news conference Sunday evening.

He said the driver of another vehicle, in which Harris was a passenger, approached campus police near Bryant-Denny Stadium at about 1:45 a.m. saying that someone had shot into the vehicle, and he fired back. One of the suspects was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

Miles was a reserve on the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide team. Alabama had announced before Saturday’s game against LSU that he was out for the season with an ankle injury. His bio has been removed from the athletic department website and the university said that he “has been removed from campus” and is no longer on the team.

“The University of Alabama’s utmost priority is the safety and well-being of the campus community,” a university statement said. “We are grieved by the incident that occurred near campus last night and extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends.”

Neither the driver of the other vehicle nor Harris nor Davis appeared to be affiliated with the university, Kennedy said.

******************WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL*********************

BOSTON KEEPS NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA PERFECT IN 81-50 WIN

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Dawn Staley accepts that Aliyah Boston’s decorated career at South Carolina is steadily coming to an end. So the Gamecocks coach plans to enjoy every moment Boston has left on the court.

The 6-foot-5 senior had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 1 South Carolina to an 81-50 victory over Missouri in Sunday. It was Boston’s 71st double-double, moving her one away from the program’s all-time record that’s held by Shelia Foster.

“We’re savoring everything that she brings to the table,” Staley said of Boston, who is the expected No. 1 pick in the next WNBA draft. “There’s going to a huge void.”

And not just for the Gamecocks, Staley believes: “For all the things she does for women’s basketball, we’re going to miss her.”

Boston’s 11th game with double-figure points and rebounds this season kept the Gamecocks perfect at 18-0 and 6-0 in the Southeastern Conference. Zia Cooke added 16 points and Ashlyn Watkins 13 for the Gamecocks.

Missouri (14-5, 3-3) lost its third straight after opening SEC play with three consecutive victories. Lauren Hansen finished with 14 points to lead the Tigers.

The Tigers, which ended South Carolina’s perfect start a season ago, came out firing from the field and ready to go toe-to-toe with the Gamecocks in the paint. Hansen had three 3-pointers in the opening quarter and the game was tied at 17 in the final minute of the period.

That’s when South Carolina pushed the pace and left Mizzou in the dust with a 30-11 burst. Cooke had a pair of 3s in the surge and backup point guard Raven Johnson led charge with four assists and two steals in the second quarter.

One of Johnson’s top dimes was a bullet pass from the right side of the key through several defenders to Brea Beal for an easy layup.

Cooke like how her team locked into to its defense and fastbreak to shut down the Tigers’ outside game, saying, “Once we were able to do that, the lead started to open up.”

Missouri played its typical physical game against South Carolina. Tigers center Jayla Kelly fouled Kamilla Cardoso hard and the 6-foot-7 player fell flat to the floor. Staley yelled at officials, calling for a technical foul to no avail.

Missouri had just three field goals and one rebound in the second quarter as the Gamecocks led 47-28. South Carolina kept piling on in the second half to lead by as many as 33 points.

Missouri coach Robin Pingeton said South Carolina’s talent and depth took control as the game wore on. She said her team has a week to reflect and refocus on playing winning basketball.

“I feel like our locker room is rock-solid. I feel there’s great maturity in there,” she said. “I feel like this is a team that’s really resilient and understands the big picture of where we’re trying to get to.”

BIG PICTURE

Missouri: The Tigers could not hold up down low against the taller, stronger Gamecocks. They were outrebounded 52-22 overall and 23-4 on the offensive glass. South Carolina’s pressure forced 15 turnovers and the Tigers committed 26 fouls.

South Carolina: The defending national champions once again showed a fire to put away opponents as they drive toward more trophies. It will take a team playing out of its mind, South Carolina performing way below par or both for anyone to slow this team down.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

South Carolina finished a satisfying week of victories. Between Sunday’s win and a 95-66 drubbing at Kentucky this past Thursday night, the Gamecocks defeated the only two teams to beat them last season in consecutive games. “It’s good,” Cooke said, “But we want to win them all.”

UP NEXT

Missouri: Returns home to play Tennessee on Jan. 22.

South Carolina: Goes to Vanderbilt on Thursday night.

USC USES DEFENSE TO UPSET NO. 2 STANFORD 55-46

LOS ANGELES (AP) Destiny Littleton scored 18 points with six assists as Southern California pulled off a program-defining win Sunday with a 55-46 upset victory over No. 2 Stanford.

Okako Adika scored 11 points with 11 rebounds, while Taylor Bigby and Kayla Williams added nine points each as the Trojans set the tone with their defense and held on late to end a 14-game losing streak against the Cardinal who had won 51 straight against unranked opponents.

It was USC’s first victory over Stanford since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament.

“I just thought we really took care of business this weekend, which is the understatement of the century,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “Stanford is so good. They’re No. 2 in the country. I thought we executed the game plan, were super tough and made plays the whole game. I haven’t even looked at the stat sheet because who cares, right?”

USC (13-4, 3-3 Pac-12) held Stanford to four points in the first quarter, its low for any period this season. The Trojans led by as many as 11 points early in the fourth quarter before closing out the victory just eight days after a heartbreaking loss to then-No. 12 UCLA.

Cameron Brink scored 11 points with 14 rebounds for Stanford (17-2, 5-1), which saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end. The defeat also ended the Cardinal’s 39-game winning streak over Pac-12 competition.

Haley Jones had 12 rebounds for Stanford but was held to eight points after she entered with 13.3 per game.

“It wasn’t just turnovers, it was bad shots,” Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said. “I don’t know that we can do anything any worse. This has to be rock bottom in terms of execution offensively, lack of screening. They got to the free-throw line 26 times. Even with all of those bad things, it was a six point game with three, four minutes left.”

Stanford held USC to 27.3% shooting from the field, but the Trojans made up the difference by going 8 of 19 from 3-point range and making 17 of 26 free throws. Stanford was 4 of 21 from distance and 8 of 10 from the line.

USC looked up for the task early with a suffocating defense that forced six turnovers in the first quarter and held Stanford to 2 of 10 shooting in the opening 10 minutes, while taking an 11-4 lead.

Stanford rallied to tie the game 19-19 with 1:09 left in the first half before a five-point USC burst put the Trojans up 24-19 at the break.

USC made a statement to close the third quarter. Clarice Akunwafo blocked Stanford’s Lauren Betts with three seconds left in the period. Williams used the time to get into the front court and drain a 24-footer at the buzzer for a 43-33 advantage, USC’s largest of the game to that point.

“(Akunwafo) showed up today and she got that key block, I will remember it forever,” said Littleton, a South Carolina transfer in her first season at USC. “It was a momentum swing and we come down and hit a 3. That was because of (Akunwafo).”

USC nearly held Stanford to single digits in the fourth quarter as well, allowing 13, with four of those coming in the closing seconds. The only other time Stanford was held to single digits in a quarter this season was a seven-point performance in the fourth quarter in its only other defeat vs. South Carolina on Nov. 20.

“We haven’t shot the ball really well in the last couple of games,” VanDerveer said. “But we have to be grittier. I just feel like we have to be a much more competitive, aggressive, grittier team. Obviously some shots didn’t go down, but maybe it’s taking better shots. Our field-goal percentage (30.9%) was abysmal and theirs was not much better.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Stanford: After a victory over No. 8 UCLA, followed by the unexpected loss at USC, another challenge awaits for the Cardinal with a home test against No. 10 Utah on Friday to open a run of four consecutive home games.

USC: The top defense in the Pac-12 (52.0 points per game entering Sunday) has been making more statements. USC gave up a combined 10 first-quarter points to Cal (six) and Stanford (four) in a span of three days.

UP NEXT

Stanford: Home against Utah on Friday.

USC: At Washington State on Friday.

****************NBA NEWS****************

RANDLE’S 42 LEADS KNICKS TO 11TH STRAIGHT WIN OVER PISTONS

DETROIT (AP) Julius Randle had 42 points and 15 rebounds as the New York Knicks extended their winning streak against the Detroit Pistons to 11 games with a 117-104 victory Sunday.

Randle, who put up the first 40/15 game for the Knicks since Patrick Ewing on Jan. 19, 1996, averaged 28.5 points in four games against the Pistons this year.

“I’m not sure it has anything to with Detroit,” he said. “I feel like I can get my shot away against any team.”

Detroit hasn’t beat the Knicks since Nov. 6, 2019, the end of its eight-game winning streak over them.

Jalen Brunson added 27 points for the Knicks and drew three charges, putting him into a three-tie with Kevin Love and Kenrich Williams for first place in the league.

“If he’s tied for first, it is good, because now he has something to work toward,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That says to me that you are sacrificing yourself for the team – sometimes it is taking a charge, setting a screen or being the first player on the floor. That all goes into winning.”

Immanuel Quickley added 17 points.

“Quick was Quick today,” Thibodeau said. “He’s indispensable.”

Jaden Ivey had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Pistons and Saddiq Bey added 21 points.

“We battled the whole game, but we should have started better,” Ivey said. “We got back into the game, but we wish we could have some of those late-game possessions back.”

Isaiah Livers moved into Detroit’s starting lineup and scored 11 points in 39 minutes, but the focus was on his defense.

“He sets the tone for us,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “He did a good job getting into the ball. Brunson had 27, but he had to work for them because of Isaiah’s size and length.”

New York led by seven at halftime and increased the margin to 90-80 on Randle’s buzzer-beating tip at the end of the third.

The Knicks started the fourth with a 10-2 run, including five from Quickley to go up 100-82 with 9:43 left.

Detroit cut the deficit to 105-98 on Livers’ 3-pointer, but the game was delayed for several minutes by a malfunctioning shot clock. Randle’s 3-pointer put the margin back to double figures, and he answered Bey’s basket with one of his own.

Randle helped the Knicks clinch the game from the line.

“We’re trying to build ourselves as a team so, when the playoffs happen, we’re ready for it,” he said.

The Knicks led by as many as 20 in the first half, taking advantage of Isaiah Stewart’s foul trouble, but Bey and Kevin Knox II helped Detroit cut the deficit to 62-55 at halftime.

HEADING OVERSEAS

The Pistons’ next home game won’t be at Little Caesars Arena – they are “hosting” the Bulls at the Accor Arena in Paris on Thursday.

“I’ve been out of the country a few times and been to London, but I’m really excited about this,” Ivey said. “I want to see a change of scenery, explore the world, do a little shopping and beat the Bulls.”

TIP-INS

Knicks: New York had 11 offensive rebounds to Detroit’s four in the first half. … Quickley scored 17 of New York’s 20 bench points. … The Knicks swept the four-game season series by an average of 19 points.

Pistons: Detroit got Stewart back from a shoulder issue but played without starters Jalen Duren (ankle) and Bojan Bogdanovic (non-COVID illness) as well as reserve center Nerlens Noel (knee), along with long-term absentees Cade Cunningham (leg fracture) and Marvin Bagley III (broken hand).

UP NEXT

Knicks: Host the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

Pistons: Play the Chicago Bulls in Paris on Thursday.

MANN, LEONARD LEAD CLIPPERS OVER LAST-PLACE ROCKETS 121-100

LOS ANGELES (AP) Terance Mann slipped the gold-chained championship belt proclaiming “Big Moment Fella Performance” over his head.

He clearly earned it, scoring a career-high 31 points in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 121-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

After Houston tore through their defense early, the Clippers settled down and dominated the fourth quarter to extend the Rockets’ season-worst skid to 10 straight games.

Kawhi Leonard added 30 for the Clippers, who had dropped eight of nine. He scored 13 points, including nine straight, in 11 minutes of the opening quarter.

Both teams were shorthanded. Houston starters Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate served one-game suspensions for leaving the bench area during an on-court altercation in Friday’s loss at Sacramento. The Clippers were missing starters Paul George (right hamstring soreness) and Marcus Morris (left knee contusion).

The Clippers broke open a close game and outscored the Rockets 30-10 in the fourth.

“Nobody could get stops. Everybody was moving slow and that might have been because it was an early game,” Mann said. “Whichever team was going to play defense first was going to win.”

With Leonard on the bench to start the fourth, the second unit gave the Clippers their first double-digit lead of the game. Robert Covington opened an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer and scored inside before Moses Brown’s tip-in closed it for a 103-92 lead. Norman Powell led the bench with 18 points.

At the other end, the Rockets came up empty on consecutive possessions.

“Keep the pressure on the defensive end, that’s really what I like to bring to the table,” Mann said.

Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points. Kenyon Martin Jr. had 22 points and nine rebounds and Alperen Sengun had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

The Rockets stretched their lead to eight early in the third. Leonard returned to score 12 points and Mann added five in a 25-16 run that gave the Clippers a 91-90 lead going into the fourth.

The Rockets didn’t play like a team mired in last place in the West. They hammered the Clippers’ defense for eight dunks in the first half, including four in the game’s opening minutes. Martin accounted for six one-handed jams, one of the most vicious coming with a second left before halftime.

The crowd had barely finished reacting to it when Mann tossed up a high-arcing 3-pointer from midcourt that dropped in at the buzzer, drawing roars and leaving the Clippers trailing 63-62 at the break. Mann raised both arms as if to say, “How ’bout that?”

TIP-INS

Rockets: Green and Tate also were docked a game’s pay. “Our guys got to stay on the bench,” coach Stephen Silas said. … Garrison Mathews and Tari Eason were both fined for their roles in the incident. … They got swept in the season series, 4-0. … Daishen Nix got his first start of the season. … Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot contusion) sat out.

Clippers: Luke Kennard (right calf soreness) and John Wall (abdominal soreness) were out. … Wall will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Wall said he hurt himself dunking in Friday’s loss to Denver but finished the game. “Can’t really run,” he said. “It’s definitely frustrating.” … Amir Coffey started after being a DNP in two of his last three games and playing only a minute in the other. … Reggie Jackson got a flagrant-1 foul midway through the second for not allowing Mathews to land on his shot attempt. … Morris said he would be back to play Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Rockets: Stay in Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Monday.

Clippers: Host Philadelphia on Tuesday to wrap a five-game homestand. —

VUCEVIC HELPS BULLS SNAP 11-GAME LOSING STREAK VS. WARRIORS

CHICAGO (AP) Nikola Vucevic matched a career high with 43 points and the Chicago Bulls snapped an 11-game losing streak against Golden State, beating the Warriors 132-118 on Sunday

Vucevic last scored 43 points on Feb. 2, 2021, against the Bulls as a member of the Orlando Magic.

Chicago beat Golden State for the first time since March 2, 2017.

Zach LaVine added 27 points despite shooting 1 for 8 from 3-point range as the Bulls (20-24) snapped a three-game losing streak. They won without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan, who missed his third consecutive game due to a right quad strain.

Klay Thompson scored 26 points and Stephen Curry added 20 for Golden State (21-22), which has dropped four of its last five games. The Warriors committed 23 turnovers that led to 31 points.

“It’s got to be a team effort to slow (Vucevic) down and connect the game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It seemed like they had seven or eight stampede fast breaks that ended up in layups or dunks. And that’s because of poor offensive possessions, either on difficult shot attempts or turnovers.”

Vucevic shot 18 for 31 overall, including five 3-pointers. He hit consecutive 3’s that gave the Bulls a 100-88 lead less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

“I know I’m capable of it,” Vucevic said. “I know how good I am, especially at the offensive end. It’s just me finding my spots and playing that way.”

The Bulls withstood a 42-point second quarter by the Warriors, who used a 19-5 spurt to take a 62-59 lead at halftime. It was the eighth time this season the Warriors scored at least 40 points in a quarter.

“I think we defended well,” LaVine said. “They were going to make shots, either way. They got those type of players. Their offense is tough to play against. We just stuck with it. Played good in runs and kept attacking.”

TIP-INS

Warriors: Thompson likely won’t play Monday at Washington as the team tries to treat his knee soreness with caution, coach Steve Kerr said. … F Andre Iguodala (right hip soreness) might miss Monday’s game, according to Kerr. … F Jonathan Kuminga (right foot sprain) worked out Saturday, but missed his sixth consecutive game, and Kerr was unsure when he would return.

Bulls: DeRozan’s injury isn’t considered a long-term ailment, and the next three days off could help him return as soon as Thursday, coach Billy Donovan said. … LaVine experienced “pretty significant swelling” on the knuckle of his right shooting hand after Wednesday’s game at Washington that required an MRI, but won’t sideline him, Donovan said.

UP NEXT

Warriors: At Washington on Monday.

Bulls: Face Chicago Bulls on Thursday at Paris.

GIDDEY, GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER LEAD THUNDER OVER NETS 112-102

NEW YORK (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey each scored 28 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Lu Dort added 22 points for the Thunder, who earned a third straight win to wrap up a road trip to the East and improved to 21-23.

“It’s positive times,” Giddey said. “For a young team, we’re making improvements. Obviously it’s such a long way to go but we’re headed in the right direction. The morale around the group is really high right now. We’re feeling good.”

The Nets aren’t, after dropping their second straight since losing Kevin Durant to a sprained knee ligament. Seth Curry scored 23 points and Nic Claxton recorded his team-best 12th double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Claxton also had four blocks, which stretched his streak of games with at least three to eight. The franchise record is 11 by Shawn Bradley, who did it twice in the 1995-96 season.

“The challenge for us as a group (is) to be able to sustain,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “That is harder mentally and physically because (Durant) does save you at times and give you a bucket, and now your defense is set. So the challenge with this group is they have to dig in and have a mental fortitude greater than before. Because every possession does matter.”

Kyrie Irving finished with 15 points and Royce O’Neale added 11, but Ben Simmons missed the game with back soreness.

The first of two regular-season matchups was a taut affair throughout as the biggest lead either team had was 10 points. Entering the fourth quarter, the Nets led 80-75.

It did not last especially long.

Oklahoma City used a 15-6 spurt over the first four minutes of the fourth to take a 90-86 lead. Giddy scored nine points to spearhead the Thunder’s push.

The teams then traded 3-pointers for a stretch, with Isiah Joe’s second pushing the Thunder’s advantage to 99-92. They extended it to 105-94 after Gilgeous-Alexander’s basket with 3:05 left.

“We’ve got a really strong, connected group,” Giddey said. “That goes a long way as a young team because guys can get caught up in their own individual stuff. But (our) guys don’t do that. It’s all about the team.”

TIP-INS

Thunder: Rookie Jalen Williams has made an impression on Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault. And to hear the coach of the Thunder, he and organizational decision-makers noticed the guard during the NBA draft combine. “(What stood) out to me was at the combine, a lot of players don’t play,” Daigneault said. “Even guys (who) feel like they’re solid second-round picks won’t play at the combine. And he played in the first day of the combine; played really well. .And he played the second day, and he played better the second day.” Williams, the 12th pick in the draft, is averaging 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 39 games this season.

Nets: Vaughn said the organization had not yet decided whether Durant would join the team for its upcoming five-game road trip. Durant suffered an isolated sprain of the right MCL in the third quarter of the Nets’ 102-101 win over the Heat in Miami on Jan. 8. The next day the team released a statement saying Durant would be “reevaluated in two weeks.” . Brooklyn recalled F Kessler Edwards and C Day’Ron Sharpe from Long Island of the G League prior to the game.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Hosts Indiana Wednesday.

Nets: Visits San Antonio on Tuesday.

KINGS ROLL PAST SPURS, EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO 4 GAMES

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Harrison Barnes scored 29 points, Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 18 rebounds, and the Sacramento Kings extended their winning streak to four games with a 132-119 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.

“For us, we tried to match that aggression with aggression,” Barnes said. “If they are going to deny passes, force us off our spots, we’re going to try to cut hard and put pressure on the rim.”

The Kings did that, shooting 55% from the field and having six players score at least 12 points.

De’Aaron Fox added 23 points and Davion Mitchell had 19 points for Sacramento.

San Antonio suffered a second consecutive double-digit loss after falling 144-113 to Golden State on Friday night in front of the largest regular-season crowd (68,323) in NBA history in a home-away-from-home game at the Alamodome.

The Spurs have lost four straight overall.

Jakob Poeltl led San Antonio with 23 points, Josh Richardson added 21 points and Keldon Johnson had 20.

“I think we are all aware that this is a learning season for us,” Poeltl said. “Even for the guys that have a little bit more experience, a lot of us have different goals trying to do different things out there. It’s a learning experience for all of us.”

San Antonio has gone 8-28 since opening the season 5-2.

While the Kings remain atop the Pacific Division after winning seven of 10, they are learning as well in Mike Brown’s first season leading Sacramento.

“It was evident that defensively we picked it up in the second half,” Brown said. “We are going to have to do a better job of defending for closer to 48 minutes. We can’t keep defending for 24 minutes of the game, especially in the second half. It’s just something that our guys have to do.”

The Spurs scored 44 points in the paint in the first half.

Poeltl had eight points and two blocks in the opening 4 1/2 minutes as the Spurs opened the game on a 13-4 run. Poeltl was 4 for 4 from the field during the run, driving into Sabonis.

“We were just trying limit points in the paint,” Barnes said. “They got a lot of easy looks in the first half, over 40 points in the paint. We knew we wanted to try to shrink the floor and make them make shots over us.”

The Kings outscored the Spurs 39-26 in the third quarter as a large group of their fans serenaded them with chants of “Sac-ra-mento!” The Spurs were limited to nine field goals while the Kings shot 60% from the field.

“Against them, we make too many mistakes,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “It’s a lot easier to score when you make stops.”

San Antonio did rally, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers in cutting a 12-point deficit to 111-106 four minutes into the final quarter. Johnson capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers, but air-balled his next attempt and the Kings extended their lead to 115-106.

TIP-INS

Kings: Sacramento’s last loss to San Antonio was Nov. 10, 2021, 136-117 at the AT&T Center. .. Former Spurs players Chimezie Metu and Trey Lyles seemed a bit surprised when they were recognized before the game for their two seasons in San Antonio. Metu spent his first two seasons in the league with the Spurs, averaging just over 5 minutes in a very limited role. Lyles played two seasons for the Spurs. Lyles averaged 6.4 points in 20.2 minutes while playing 63 games in his first season with San Antonio in 2019. Lyles played 23 games the following season, averaging five points in 15.6 minutes.

Spurs: F Doug McDermott missed the game due to upper back tightness. McDermott was initially listed as questionable after scoring 14 points in 22 minutes against Golden State on Friday.

UP NEXT

Kings: At Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Spurs: Host Brooklyn on Tuesday.

JOKIC’S LATE 3 LIFTS NUGGETS PAST MAGIC 119-116

DENVER (AP) Nikola Jokic hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining, capping his 12th triple-double of the season, and the Denver Nuggets won their 13th in a row at home by beating the Orlando Magic 119-116 on Sunday night.

Jokic connected from the top of the key, stepping back to get the shot away over Franz Wagner to finish with 17 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. It was his 88th career triple-double.

“He stepped back, got the space and just shot over the top,” said Aaron Gordon, whose 25 points led the Nuggets. “It was a beautiful shot.”

Added Jokic: “It was a good feeling because we won the game basically.”

Gordon’s final points came on a pair of free throws that gave the Nuggets a 116-115 lead with 16 seconds remaining. Jamal Murray added 18 points.

Markelle Fultz had 20 points for the Magic and made one of two free throws with 14 seconds left to play to tie it at 116, setting the stage for Jokic’s shot. Wagner added 19 points and Paolo Banchero had 18. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said he liked the way his team fought back after falling behind at the half, and noted it took a superb play by Jokic at the end to beat them.

“To be on the back end of a five-game road trip and to give that intensity and that effort, coming down the stretch, where an MVP-type player makes the MVP-type play, that’s what it came down to,” said Mosley, whose club closed out a 2-3 road swing.

Down by 15 at the half, the Magic pulled within six points on Wagner’s layup just before the close of the third quarter.

Orlando went in front 103-102 with 7:47 remaining on a dunk by Bol Bol off an alley-oop pass from Cole Anthony. Bol had seven points in just over a minute to help push Orlando in front, but the game remained tight with the teams trading the lead down the stretch.

Michael Porter Jr., who finished with 16 points, connected on his four 3 pointers in the first half, helping the Nuggets take a 69-54 lead. Jokic had nine assists in the first half, matching the Magic’s team total in the first two periods.

TIP-INS

Magic: G Gary Harris, who was forced to leave Friday’s game at Utah early due to a right hand injury, was back in the starting lineup for his return to Denver. Harris spent more than six years with the Nuggets before going to Orlando as part of the March 2021 trade that brought Gordon to Denver.

Nuggets: G Bones Hyland left the game midway through the second quarter with a right ankle sprain and did not return. He landed awkwardly trying to defend against a running dunk by Bol Bol. . F Vlatko Cancar was ruled out of the game against the Magic with a lower left leg contusion.

UP NEXT

Magic: Return home to host New Orleans on Friday night.

Nuggets: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

LILLARD NETS 40, TRAIL BLAZERS COMPLETE 2-GAME SWEEP OF MAVS

PORTLAND Ore. (AP) Damian Lillard scored 40 points and the Trail Blazers beat the Dallas Mavericks 140-123 on Sunday night, giving Portland consecutive wins for the first time since mid-December.

It was the second game of a back-to-back between the teams. Portland snapped a five-game losing streak with a 136-119 victory on Saturday in the first.

The Mavericks rested star Luka Doncic, who had a season-low 15 points in 35 minutes in Saturday night’s loss. But it came after a double-overtime win against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday, when he played 53 minutes and had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.

Doncic has missed five games this season, all second games of back-to-backs.

Doncic’s absence did not necessarily make it easy for the Blazers, who led by just 98-96 heading into the final quarter. But Jusuf Nurkic’s 3-pointer pushed the Blazers’ lead to 118-103 with 8:09 left and Portland cruised the rest of the way.

“Any time you’re coming off a tough stretch of games where you’re losing, you’re just searching for a win. We got one last night, a really good win,” Lillard said. “It’s always tough to beat a team twice. They had a couple of guys out, but we still had to be sharp and locked in mentally regardless of who was out there.”

Spencer Dinwiddie led the Mavericks with 28 points and nine assists.

The Mavericks were also without Tim Hardaway Jr., who hurt his ankle late in Saturday’s game. But Christian Wood started after missing the first game against Portland with a sore ankle and finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds.

“It comes down to our defense. We’ve got give a better effort, unless we’re just going to be an offensive team where we’re just going to try and score 140 every night,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said.

The Blazers welcomed back forward Nassir Little, who was sidelined since Nov. 29 with a hip injury.

“We’re definitely happy to have Nas back. We haven’t had a lot of practice time to execute practice together. But it’s good to have him back, for sure,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.

Little came into the game with 8:34 left in the first half. He finished with 10 points in 16 minutes.

The Mavericks were within 33-31 going into the second quarter, but Portland stretched the lead to 42-34 on Gary Payton II’s 3-pointer. The Blazers led by as many as 12 points and were up 61-54 at halftime.

Dinwiddie’s 3-pointer got Dallas within 63-62 early in the third quarter. Wood’s layup put the Mavs in front but it was short-lived and Portland went up 86-79 after Little hit a 3-pointer.

“I think it was good for us to feel good about what we’re doing,” Lillard said.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Hardaway’s injury stings for the Mavs, who have already been beset by injuries with Josh Green, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith all currently out. … It was the last of a five-game trip.

Trail Blazers: Portland lost the first two games of the series against the Mavericks this season, both in Dallas. … The last time the Blazers won consecutive games was in mid-Dec. 10-14, when they won three straight, two against Minnesota and one against San Antonio.

MISSING YOU?

With Doncic out, Kidd was asked if it’s difficult to find a rhythm without him.

“I think the guys are starting to get used to him when he is out,” Kidd said. “If this was just the first time or second time, sometimes it could be a little hesitant or you’re trying to get a rhythm. But I think with the games that he’s missed, the guys understand what they have to do when he’s not playing.”

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Return home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Trail Blazers: Visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday before returning home for a six-game homestand.

LEBRON HITS 38K, BUT EMBIID LEADS 76ERS PAST LAKERS 113-112

LOS ANGELES (AP) LeBron James became the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points, but Joel Embiid had 35 points and 11 rebounds while the Philadelphia 76ers held off the Los Angeles Lakers 113-112 Sunday night for their seventh win in nine games.

Russell Westbrook failed to get off a clean shot or a pass in the final second under defense from Embiid, allowing the 76ers to hold on for their fourth straight road win. James Harden added 24 points and 13 assists for Philadelphia, which swept the season series and beat Los Angeles for the sixth straight time.

James put up 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost three straight after a five-game winning streak.

James surpassed 38,000 points with a jumper that was part of his 8-for-9 start with 16 points in the first quarter. The Lakers crowd gave him an ovation when the milestone was announced in the next timeout break, and Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers laughingly hugged James in celebration.

James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only members of the NBA’s 38,000-point club, and James will pass Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points) atop the career scoring list next month if he remains on his current pace.

Neither team led by more than eight points in a well-played game. Georges Niang hit a 3-pointer on an assist from Embiid with 1:28 left to put Philadelphia up 111-109.

A lengthy video review then overruled a call and resulted in a turnover for James before Embiid drained a 14-foot jumper with 45.5 seconds left. Troy Brown Jr. hit a corner 3-pointer to trim Philly’s lead to one point, and Embiid missed a jumper with Westbrook in his face.

Westbrook drove to the hoop with a chance to win it, but couldn’t get off a shot or a pass, with an apparent crosscourt pass attempt deflecting off Niang’s hands before time ran out.

Westbrook had 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, extending his NBA record with his 198th career triple-double. Westbrook has four triple-doubles off the bench this season, putting him past Detlef Schrempf for the career record for triple-doubles as a reserve.

Tyrese Maxey scored 16 points and Tobias Harris had 15 in Philly’s fourth straight road win over the Lakers since March 2020.

TIP-INS

76ers: Rivers used Embiid and the mildly ailing Harden (left heel) and Harris (left knee) even on the second night of a back-to-back that began in Utah. … De’Anthony Melton, the San Fernando Valley native and USC product, went scoreless in 21 minutes.

Lakers: Anthony Davis has now been out for a month, missing his 15th straight game with a foot injury. He worked out on the court before the game in his ramp-up to a return, but Lakers coach Darvin Ham has put no timetable on the process. … The Lakers used their 24th different starting lineup in 43 games this season. … Patrick Beverley missed his second straight game with a non-COVID illness. Los Angeles is still playing without Lonnie Walker (knee) and Austin Reaves (hamstring).

UP NEXT

76ers: At Clippers on Tuesday night.

Lakers: Host Houston on Monday night.

******************WNBA NEWS***********************

AP SOURCE: NEW YORK FINALIZING DEAL FOR 2021 MVP JONES

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Liberty are finalizing a trade for 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones as part of a three-team deal with the Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday night on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.

Connecticut would receive the No. 6 pick in the draft as well as Rebecca Allen from New York and Tyasha Harris from Dallas. The Wings would get Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield from the Liberty. Kayla Thornton will head to New York.

Jones had one year left on her contract with the Sun. She averaged 14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season to help Connecticut reach the WNBA Finals for the second time in four seasons.

The 29-year-old Jones, who is from the Bahamas, would bolster a young New York squad that has lost in the opening round of the playoffs the last two years. She was the No. 6 pick in the 2016 draft and was the league’s Most Improved Player in 2017. The next season she earned the Sixth Woman of the Year award before garnering the MVP three years later.

Allen had played her entire seven-year career in New York. The 30-year-old Australian made her WNBA debut in 2015. She was the longest tenured player on the Liberty roster. Howard played two seasons in New York after the Liberty traded for her in 2021. She averaged 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds last season.

Dangerfield, who was the Rookie of the Year in 2020 for Minnesota, will be playing on her fifth different team. She averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 assists for New York last season, starting 27 of the 30 games she played in.

Thornton averaged 8.0 points and 5.9 rebounds for Dallas last season while starting 35 of the 36 games.

Harris has averaged 5.2 points for Dallas during her three-year career. She started 11 games since being drafted seventh in 2020.

**************NHL NEWS***************

CAUFIELD’S 3RD PERIOD GOAL LEADS CANADIENS PAST RANGERS 2-1

NEW YORK (AP) Cole Caufield scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and Sam Montembeault made 38 saves to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Caufield converted a pass from captain Nick Suzuki at 8:56 of the final period for the decisive goal. Caufield leads the Canadiens with 26 goals and has scored in seven of Montreal’s last eight games.

Kirby Dach also scored for Montreal, which was coming off a 2-1 loss to the Islanders on Saturday. The Canadiens have four wins in their last 16 games. They are 4-11-1 since Dec. 12.

Montembeault denied a point-blank chance by Panarin with four minutes to go, and he made 13 saves in the third period to improve to 8-7-2 this season.

Artemi Panarin scored for the Rangers, who had won five of their last six games and had points in seven-straight, with a 5-0-2 mark. They hadn’t lost in regulation since dropping a 4-0 decision at home against Washington on Dec. 27.

New York is still 6-2-2 in its last 10 games and 13-3-2 since Dec. 5.

After a scoreless first, Dach notched his eighth of the season at 4:54 of the second with assists to Christian Dvorak and Cole Caufield.

Panarin tied the game for New York at 16:03 of the second with his 12th goal. He leads the Rangers with 47 points, including 35 assists.

The Rangers outshot the Canadiens 14-10 in the first period. Both teams had 12 shots in the second.

NOTES: Montreal scratched forward Jake Evans, who was injured during Saturday’s loss to the Islanders, in addition to goaltender Jake Allen and defenseman Chris Wideman. … The Rangers scratched injured forward Chris Kreider for the second straight game and also scratched forward Ryan Carpenter and defenseman Libor Hajek. . The teams meet again March 9 in Montreal. . The Rangers won the teams’ previous meeting, 4-1 in Montreal on Jan. 5.

UP NEXT

Rangers: At Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.

Canadiens: Hosting Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

PETTERSSON SCORES IN SHOOTOUT, LIFTS CANUCKS PAST HURRICANES

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Elias Pettersson scored on the final attempt in the shootout as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Sunday night and avoided a winless five-game trip.

Ethan Bear, J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser scored in regulation for the Canucks, who went 1-4-0 in five road games. Boeser’s goal with 17 seconds left in regulation forced overtime. Collin Delia stopped 29 shots.

“They play hard because we’re all in it together,” Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “They’re a good group and they want to win. It doesn’t work all the time.”

Sebastian Aho scored with 2:52 remaining in regulation to break a tie for the Hurricanes. Paul Stastny and Jordan Martinook had first-period goals for Carolina, which squandered a two-goal lead at home for the second time in a week. Pyotr Kochetkov made 29 saves and slipped to 0-3-1 in four games since winning on Dec. 20.

“We were trying,” Martinook said. “It just wasn’t 100% there, that’s for sure.”

Andrei Kuzmenko converted on Vancouver’s first shootout attempt. After Andrei Svechnikov evened it for Carolina, Pettersson sealed the win.

The Hurricanes won twice over the previous three nights, but seemed to be lacking energy.

“We were flat, tired,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I think the game (Saturday night versus Pittsburgh) we put everything into that one. But you know what, we still had the game in our hand to win it.”

The Hurricanes appeared in good shape after Aho scored his 14th of the season for a 3-2 lead at 17:08 of the third. The Canucks pulled Delia and tied the game on Boeser’s goal.

Stastny recorded his third goal of the season just 2:25 into the game. He was on the receiving end of Svechnikov’s cross-ice pass.

Martinook’s 10th goal of the season came with 34 seconds to play in the first period. He knocked in a rebound of his own shot, scoring for the first time this month.

“That’s a game if you looked at it in the first period and you weren’t involved, you would think it would have a different outcome,” Delia said.

Bear, who was honored during a first-period stoppage as a former Hurricane returning to the building, scored with 2:08 left in the second period. It was his third goal of the season.

Miller tied it with a strong individual effort. He headed for the slot and sent a shot off the post, then knocked in his own rebound for this 17th goal this season. It was his fourth goal in six games.

CAPTAIN OUT

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal missed a game for the first time this season. The team announced that the center’s absence was for personal reasons.

Carolina went with seven defensemen in its lineup. Staal was without a point in the last four games.

EMOTIONAL RESPONSE

The Canucks learned that Gino Odjick, described as a legend with the team, died at age 52 stemming from an apparent heart attack. He was a fan favorite in eight seasons with the Canucks.

Bear said he had a personal connection to Odjick, who welcomed him to Vancouver when he joined the organization.

“Maybe he was there for me on that shot,” Bear said of his goal.

ICE MATTERS

The Canucks allowed at least four goals in the first four games of the road trip. . Vancouver improved to 2-7-1 against Metropolitan Division opponents. . Carolina has played in a league-high 15 games that have extended beyond regulation. The Hurricanes are 7-8 in those, including 3-2 in shootouts.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Host Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

Hurricanes: Host Minnesota on Thursday.

WHEELER, JETS SEND COYOTES TO NINTH STRAIGHT LOSS 2-1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Blake Wheeler thought it was time to quit passing and his decision paid off.

Wheeler’s goal in the second period proved to be the winner as the Winnipeg Jets beat Arizona 2-1 on Sunday night and dealt the Coyotes their ninth straight loss.

After Wheeler’s linemates, Cole Perfetti and Mark Scheifele, passed the puck around in the Arizona zone, Scheifele finally sent it to Wheeler and his shot beat goalie Karel Vejmelka at 16:45.

“I was just tired and wanted to get off the ice,” Wheeler said. “I was hoping one of them would score. It’s one of those, kind of funny, puck’s on your stick, empty net, you just want to get rid of it. Yeah, it worked out.”

Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for the Jets, who have won three straight and improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine. Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves for Winnipeg, which has won five straight home games.

Winnipeg’s 59 points also puts the team in first place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Dallas Stars.

Jets head coach Rick Bowness said the spot they’re in is “meaningful.”

“Maybe you know what we’ve been through with the travel and the injuries and the sickness and everything, and for us to be sitting there – and listen, there’s a lot of hard work ahead of us and there’s a long road to go, we know that – but it’s a credit to their resilience that we’re sitting here where we are today,” Bowness said.

Clayton Keller scored for the Coyotes, who were coming off a 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Saturday night. Vejmelka stopped 22 shots for Arizona, which last lost nine straight in regulation in October-November 2021. The Coyotes also have a 13-game winless streak on the road (0-11-2).

“I don’t know what to say anymore,” Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny said. “We worked really hard. I’m really proud of the guys. It’s back-to-back. Winnipeg is a really, really good team. I think we hold our own, we battle hard.”

Keller said he’s staying positive despite his team’s rough ride.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to play in the NHL, the best league in the world,” Keller said. “Every day is an opportunity, every day is fun being in this league.

“Even on the tough days, you’re one of the best players in the world and just to compete every single night, it’s nice. Tonight at least we had a good effort. It was a quick turnaround and I thought we battled hard.”

There was no scoring in the first period, when the Jets outshot the Coyotes 12-4.

Winnipeg went on its first power play with 23 seconds left in the first and capitalized on it 37 seconds into the second period after Dubois tipped in a shot by Josh Morrissey for his 20th goal of the season.

On Arizona’s their fifth shot of the game, Keller tied it at 11:02 of the second with a tight-angled shot that beat Hellebuyck.

Wheeler gave his team the 2-1 lead with a shot from the circle at 16:45 after a passing sequence with Cole Perfetti and Mark Scheifele.

Arizona defenseman Josh Brown hit the post early in the third period, quickly followed by Dubois also clanging a puck off the iron during a Winnipeg power play.

Hellebuyck also stymied Nick Schmaltz on a close-in shot with two minutes remaining.

HE’S NO. 2

Scheifele’s assist on Wheeler’s goal was notable. Scheifele has 616 points with the Jets, moving past Ilya Kovalchuk for second place in Jets/Thrashers franchise history for points. Wheeler holds the record with 787 points.

HIGH-SCORING COMPANY

Winnipeg became the third NHL team with at least three 20-goal scorers, including Dubois, Kyle Connor and Scheifele. Edmonton (four players) and Toronto (three) are the other two clubs.

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers is on a tear after missing 36 games following surgery for a sports hernia.

Since returning to action on Jan. 6, the speedy Dane has nine points in six games (three goals, six assists), including extending his point streak to five games with an assist on Dubois’ goal.

UP NEXT

Coyotes: Host Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.

Jets: At Montreal on Tuesday in the opener of a five-game trip.

*******************MLB NEWS**********************

PADRES SIGN TOP CATCHING PROSPECT SALAS FOR $5.6 MILLION

SAN DIEGO (AP) The San Diego Padres signed 16-year-old catcher Ethan Salas of Caracas, Venezuela, to a $5.6 million bonus on Sunday, the first day of the international signing period.

Salas is the consensus top overall prospect in this year’s class. The left-handed hitter is the younger brother of Jose Salas, one of the top prospects in the Miami Marlins system.

The Salas brothers have a long pedigree. Their father, Jose Antonio, played in the Atlanta Braves` organization; their uncle, Jose Gregorio, played in the Toronto Blue Jays` system; and their grandfather, Jose Gregorio, played in the Houston Astros’ and Kansas City Royals’ systems.

According to scouting reports, Salas has raw power at the plate and strong defensive skills.

Also Sunday, the Washington Nationals signed outfielder Elian Soto, the 17-year-old brother of Padres right fielder Juan Soto. The Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres in a blockbuster deal on Aug. 2.

The Texas Rangers signed outfielder Pablo Guerrero, the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and younger brother of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays.

**********************MEN’S GOLF NEWS***************************

SI WOO KIM RALLIES WITH BIG FINISH TO WIN SONY OPEN

HONOLULU (AP) Si Woo Kim battled all day from a three-shot deficit in the Sony Open, and when he finally caught up late Sunday afternoon, it only got harder.

His 7-iron to the par-3 17th bounded over the firm green and into a tough patch of grass in the rough. Behind, he could hear the cheering for Hayden Buckley making birdie on the 16th hole to regain the lead.

Suddenly, a tough chip got easier.

“Nothing to lose,” Kim said.

With an aggressive stroke, Kim chipped in from 30 feet to tie Buckley, and then he won the Sony Open with a 5-iron out of the bunker from 236 yards that bounced along the dry grass and onto the green, setting up a two-putt birdie from 40 feet and a 6-under 64.

Buckley missed a 12-foot birdie on the par-5 closing hole that would have forced a playoff.

The finish brought a sleepy Sony Open to life and gave the 27-year-old Kim his fourth career PGA Tour victory, and first in two years.

Buckley, who started the final round with a two-shot lead, was among nine of the leading 16 players going into Sunday who had never won on the PGA Tour. He did his part except for a pair of short par putts that he missed on the back nine. He closed with a 68.

“Winning on the PGA Tour is the hardest thing to do, and sometimes you just get beat,” Buckley said. “And I feel like that’s what happened today.”

Kim opened with three straight birdies to get back in the mix, and he stayed there the entire day as other contenders came and went.

The pivotal point came on the 17th. And as much pressure as Kim felt over the shot, Buckley’s 15-foot birdie putt and the reaction seemed to calm him.

“If he made a par, like I’m more nervous because I have to save (par), and especially into the grain with the pressure, it’s more nervous for me,” Kim said. “But I knew it. I heard the sounds.”

One shot behind, he felt it was birdie or bust.

“Bogey is fine,” he said. “So I have to hit it aggressive. I think that really helps.”

He pumped his first when it dropped for birdie, a big moment, but not enough for him to react the way he did at the Presidents Cup when his partner, Tom Kim, made a big putt to win a fourballs match.”

“If I was playing with him I definitely would do that,” Kim said with a laugh. “But this more stroke play and he (Buckley) is still behind me. I wanted to, but I just kept calm.”

Kim, who got married a month ago in South Korea, finished at 18-under 262 and is assured two weeks in Hawaii next year, as defending champion in the Sony Open and the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.

More immediately, the victory assures him a spot in the Masters.

Buckley, who once shot a 61 at a college event on Kauai that convinced him he might try to play golf for a living, moved up to No. 14 in the FedEx Cup in a big year in which only the top 70 reach the postseason.

He was in reasonable shape off the tee at the par-5 closing hole, but his approach from the right collar of the rough came out flat and to the right, leaving a tough pitch up the slope to a pin in the back right. It rolled out some 12 feet, and the birdie putt to force a playoff narrowly missed.

Buckley made nine straight pars after opening with a birdie, and then had a six-shot stretch on the back nine of one par, two bogeys and three birdies. His two bogeys came on putts of 5 feet and just inside 4 feet, and he failed to birdie the two par 5s at Waialae.

“I feel like I made a lot of those long putts, but I struggled on the short ones. That was dating back to Thursday,” Buckley said. “That really just caught up to me at the end. I feel like I had control of the tournament pretty much the whole way, but just a late miss on 15 from 3 or 4 feet really hurt.

“Overall, I was impressed by what I did, and I think I’ll remember this day and it’ll just make me better.”

Chris Kirk had a 68 and finished alone in third.

It was the second straight week in Hawaii that someone rallied from at least three shots behind to win, though it wasn’t nearly as stunning as Jon Rahm coming from six back with nine holes to play at Kapalua against Collin Morikawa.

“It always can happen fast, like last week,” Kim said. “I tried my best every shot. It was a little shaky the last four holes.”

He missed the green on the 17th, and he missed the fairway on the 18th, two places that make birdies hard to find. Kim found them and walked away as a winner.

**********TOP INDIANA RELEASES************

PACERS BASKETBALL

Game Preview

The Pacers tip off a challenging four-game road trip on Monday afternoon in Milwaukee. Indiana (23-21) will be trying to snap a three-game skid, but it won’t be an easy task against the Bucks (27-16), who have dominated the Central Division rivalry recently.

The Blue & Gold have dropped their last eight games and 12 of their last 13 contests against the 2020-21 NBA champions. The Pacers have also lost eight straight road games against the Bucks, losing every contest since Fiserv Forum opened at the start of the 2018-19 season.

Monday will be the first meeting this season between Indiana and Milwaukee. The teams will meet again on Jan. 27 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and then twice more in March.

Of course, much of Milwaukee’s dominance against the Pacers has been because of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, a nightmare matchup for all opponents. The 6-11 Greek Freak is having another MVP-caliber season, ranking third in the league in scoring at 31 points per game — which would be a career high — and second in rebounding (11.9 per contest).

Antetokounmpo has missed Milwaukee’s past two games with a sore knee, but is listed as probable for Monday.

The Pacers are coming off a 130-112 loss to Memphis on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers didn’t have enough firepower to keep up with the red-hot Grizzlies — who have won nine straight — while playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

Milwaukee is similar to Memphis in that both teams are big and physical. While the Grizzlies lead the league in rebounding, the Bucks are second. Aside from Antetokounmpo, the Bucks also rely heavily on veteran big men Brook Lopez (14.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game) and Bobby Portis (14 points and 10 rebounds per contest).

The Pacers have been undermanned in the frontcourt lately, as starting center Myles Turner has missed the past three games with back spasms. Second-year big Isaiah Jackson and third-year forward Jalen Smith have played increased minutes in Turner’s absence and will have their hands full on Monday in Milwaukee, particularly if Turner remains sidelined.

Indiana’s young bigs are still learning how to be consistently productive on both ends of the floor, but both showed some flashes in larger roles over the weekend. Smith had 14 points and six rebounds on Friday against Atlanta, while Jackson has blocked 11 shots over the past two games.

Projected Starters

Pacers: G – Andrew Nembhard, G – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Isaiah Jackson

Bucks: G – Jrue Holiday, G – Grayson Allen, G – Pat Connaughton, F – Bobby Portis, C – Brook Lopez

Injury Report

Pacers: Goga Bitadze – questionable (non-COVID illness), Myles Turner – questionable (back spasms), Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress reaction), Tyrese Haliburton – out (left elbow sprain/left knee bone contusion), Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery)

Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo – probable (sore left knee), Jrue Holiday – probable (right ankle sprain), Bobby Portis – probable (right quad contusion), Serge Ibaka – out (personal reasons), Joe Ingles – out (left knee injury management), Khris Middleton – out (sore right knee)

Last Meeting

Feb. 15, 2022: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points on 17-of-21 shooting and also pulled down 14 rebounds to lift the Bucks to a 128-119 victory over the Pacers in Milwaukee.

The Pacers hung around with the Bucks for much of the night, thanks in part to the sensational shooting of Buddy Hield who tallied a team-high 36 points, going 14-for-20 from the field and 8-for-12 from 3-point range.

Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points, eight assists, and four steals for a team just a week removed from multiple franchise-altering trades.

“We did a lot of good things,” Rick Carlisle noted. “We had 32 assists. We were battling out there. We hung around. It’s just a tough night.”

Khris Middleton finished with 19 points and eight assists for Milwaukee, while Jrue Holiday added 14 points and eight dimes.

Noteworthy

The Bucks have swept the season series with Indiana for two straight seasons. The Pacers’ last win over Milwaukee came at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Feb. 12, 2020.

Indiana has yet to win a game at Fiserv Forum, dropping its first eight contests at the Bucks’ home arena. The Pacers’ last win in Milwaukee came in their final game at the Bradley Center on March 2, 2018.

Former Pacer George Hill is in his fourth season in Milwaukee. The Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI alum is averaging 5 points per game off the bench for the Bucks in his 15th NBA season.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

Tickets

After a four-game road trip, the Pacers will be back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:00 PM ET.

INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 6/6 Indiana used fuel from a record crowd as it cruised past Wisconsin, 93-56, on Sunday afternoon inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. A regular season record of 10,422 were in attendance to see the victory, just second overall to the 2018 WNIT Championship.

KEY MOMENTS

After coming out of the gate piping hot, with freshman guard, freshman Yarden Garzon scoring IU’s first seven points, senior forward Mackenzie Holmes was able to take control of the paint scoring ten points. However, the Hoosiers offense slowed, being held scoreless over the last three minutes to close out the quarter. The Hoosiers (16-1, 6-1 B1G) took a six-point lead into the second, 24-18.

The Hoosiers had their way in the paint, allowing Holmes to go into halftime leading the way with 21 points. The Badgers would come within as few as four in the second, but IU went into halftime on a 19-2 run over the last seven minutes of first half action as it would keep the Badgers to 1-for-11 going into the break.

Coming out of halftime, Indiana continued to control the paint, scoring 16 of their 31 points in the quarter in the lane. The Hoosiers got hot shooting a barrage of 3’s from three separate players, including a pair from Garzon and one each from senior guard Sara Scalia and junior guard Sydney Parrish. The Hoosiers were able to score on nine of their last 10 field goals to close out the third quarter, taking a 31-point lead into the final frame, leading 78-47.

In the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers were able to extend their lead to 37-points, closing out the game, holding the Badgers to one of their last eight field goals.

NOTABLE

Today’s game set a regular season attendance record with 10,422 people attending. This was also the second largest crowd sine the 2018 WNIT Championship game.

The 37 -point win for the Hoosiers was the second largest margin of victory against Wisconsin since 1974 where they won by 54.

Indiana had four players finish with double figure scoring (Holmes 29, Garzon 19, Berger 11, Parrish 10)

Holmes recorded 21 of her 29 points in the first half.

The Hoosiers finish the half on a 6-0 run to lead the Badgers 47-26.

Garzon tied her season highs in rebounds and assists, finishing with eight rebounds and seven assists.

Garzon shot 80 percent (4-5) from behind the arc.

Holmes shot 73 percent from the field (11-15) and 78 percent (7-9) from the free throw line.

Freshman forward Lilly Meister recorded eight points and two rebounds in 10 minutes of action.

Scalia tied her career high in steals, finishing with four.

Junior forward Kiandra Browne recorded her first points of the season.

The Hoosiers shot 55 percent from the field while holding Wisconsin to 35 percent shooting from the field.

Indiana recorded 31 points off of 21 Wisconsin turnovers and outscored the Badgers in the paint 50-to-30.

Indiana recorded 26 assists on 35 made field goals, its seventh game this season with 20 or more assists.

Parrish has recorded a steal in seven-straight games.

Chloe Moore-McNeil finished with five points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

QUOTABLE

Indiana head coach Teri Moren

“First off, I want to comment quickly on the crowd, which was unbelievable. The second largest in history in our program which is pretty terrific. It was one of those days where there was a lot of really good basketball that they were able to see. Still trying to find it beyond the arc a little bit for some of us, but I love the fact that they kept shooting. Those are eventually going to go down. On a day where both Yarden’s mom and sister were here, what a game she had. 19 (points), eight (rebounds), and seven (assists). So pretty terrific day for her. But I am proud of all of them. I thought Lilly (Meister) came in and did some really good things for us. I am just happy because it feels good to win in the manner that we did today. We have been in some really tight games, so it was great to play some of those kids off the bench. I thought for the most part, there is very little to be unhappy with. 26 assists on 35 makes. We shot the ball fairly well. We want to be better from the free throw line, you know I have to find something that I am not pleased with. Again, great day for us, but also a great day to be able to share this team with the groups of young people that were here. It is great to share our team with not just our community, but also the surrounding communities. Particularly, those young kids that were in the crowd today.”

UP NEXT

The Hoosiers hit the road for the next two starting at Illinois on Wednesday evening. Tipoff at State Farm Center is set for 8 p.m. ET on B1G+.

INDIANA MEN’S TENNIS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––––– Indiana Men’s Tennis started their season off on the right foot, defeating Dayton in a 4-1 match on Sunday morning at the IU Tennis Center.

The Hoosiers got rolling with two quick wins at doubles to earn the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead. Luka Vukovic and Ekansh Kumar’s win at No. 3 Doubles plus Sam Landau and Luc Boulier’s win at No. 2 Doubles was enough to give IU the advantage ahead of singles play.

In singles play, Ekansh Kumar, Sam Landau and Ilya Tiraspolsky won their respective matches to put IU up 4-1 and clinch a victory over the Flyers.

The win puts Indiana at 1-0 to start the season.

Indiana will close out the day with their second match of the double-header against Toledo at 4 p.m.

Indiana 4, Dayton 1

Singles competition

1. Connor Bruce (UD) def. Patrick Fletchall (IU), 6-3. 6-2

2. Luka Vukovic (IU) vs. Matt DeMarco (UD), 4-6, 4-4, unfinished

3. Sam Landau (IU) def. Ron Hiyur (UD), 6-4, 6-0

4. Ilya Tiraspolsky (IU) def. Eric Perkowski (UD), 6-2, 6-3

5. Jagger Saylor (IU) vs. Erik Eliasson (UD), 4-6, 5-3, unfinished

6. Ekansh Kumar (IU) def. Georgi Mavrodiev (UD), 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Patrick Fletchall/Ilya Tiraspolsky (IU) vs. Connor Bruce/Matt DeMarco (UD), 6-6 (4-4), unfinished

2. Sam Landau/Luc Boulier (IU) def. Eric Perkowski/Georgi Mavrodiev (UD), 6-4

3. Luka Vukovic/Ekansh Kumar (IU) def. Ron Hiryur/Max DeCurtins (UD), 6-3

Order of Finish:

Singles: 6, 1, 3, 4, unfinished

Doubles: 3, 2, unfinished

INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s tennis will open the Spring season on Monday with a double-header as they host Bellarmine and Butler at the IU Tennis Center. IU’s match against Bellarmine will begin at 11 a.m. with Butler at 4 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY

• This will be the second match up between Indiana and Bellarmine. The two squads first met on Feb. 12, 2022 when IU defeated the Knights 4-0.

• IU leads the series against the Butler Bulldogs 14-0 since the 2005-06 season. In the last match up on Feb. 9, 2022, the Hoosiers won 6-1.

STATS

The matches can be viewed and followed on Playsight video and live stats. 

ABOUT THE HOOSIERS

 • Sophomore Lara Schneider is a standout on the squad. She was named All-Big Ten selection finishing the last season with a 19-7 overall singles record and a 21-9 overall doubles record. Schneider competed in the No. 1 singles spot in all but one Big Ten match and went 4-3 in conference play.

• Senior Xiaowei “Rose” Hu won six of her seven singles matches while classmate Mila Mejic earned four single match victories during the fall season.

• IU have added three new additions to their roster including two graduate transfers in Saby Nihalani and Lauren Lemonds. The duo posts a high-level of experience for the Hoosier squad. Lemonds was named the team MVP, an ITA Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree during her four years at Michigan State.

• In the 2021-22 season, Nihalani was a named team Captain at Wake Forest and finished with a 7-4 singles record, including 4-3 in ACC matches.

• Freshman Nicole Teodosescu looks to make an immediate impact this season for the Hoosiers. She is a tough competitor with a lot of experience. Teodosescu has competed in nine professional 15k tournaments in the past year, accumulating three ITF women’s ranking points on the year.

BUTLER WOMEN’S TENNIS

The Butler women’s tennis team fell to Cincinnati on Sunday. The season opening contest finished in a close 4-3 score line in the Butler Bubble.

Natalie Boesing and Chase Metcalf started off strong taking their doubles set 6-3, but the Bearcats took the doubles point after edging out close 6-4 victories in the final two sets.

Four of the singles matches needed three sets to decide the winner. Boesing won at the No. 1 singles spot, while Norah Balthazor and Katie Beavin won at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively for the Bulldogs.

Butler goes on the road tomorrow, Jan. 16, for a trip to Bloomington to face Indiana.

Match Results

Doubles:

Natalie Boesing/Chase Metcalf (BUT) def. Cassie McLay/Elizabeth Pendergast (CIN) 6-3

Kelli Niehaus/Maria Santilli (CIN) def. Delaney Schurhamer/Veronika Bruetting (BUT) 6-4

Sofia Bruno/ Callie Flanagan (CIN) def. Norah Balthazor/Jordan Schildcrout (BUT) 6-4

Singles:

Natalie Boesing (BUT) def. Elizabeth Pendergast (CIN) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

Cassie McLay (CIN) def. Chase Metcalf (BUT) 5-7, 7-6, 6-2

Maria Santilli (CIN) def. Delaney Schurhamer (BUT) 7-5, 6-2

Norah Balthazor (BUT) def. Kelli Niehaus (CIN) 5-7, 6-2, 7-6

Katie Beavin (BUT) def. Natasha Opaciuch (CIN) 6-3, 3-6, 10-6

Callie Flanagan (CIN) def. Emma Beavin (BUT) 6-2, 6-2

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After 30 minutes of near-equal basketball, No. 7 Notre Dame (14-2, 5-1) pulled away from Syracuse (13-5, 4-3) during the final quarter for a 72-56 win. The Irish shot 60.0 percent, held the Orange to 33.3 percent, and won the quarter 22-11.

After letting the game slip away in the fourth quarter at North Carolina last week, the Irish proved to themselves they could overcome adversity on the road.

“We were in the same situation at North Carolina, and we didn’t get the stops,” Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said after Sunday’s game. “Today I felt like we shot the ball better and made better decisions, but we defended. Our toughness, our grit showed up a lot in the fourth quarter. That was the difference, our defense.”

It was a back and forth first 20, as the Irish had a lead no greater than 6 points. The Orange’s greatest lead was 4 with 2:35 to go in the second quarter. Miles had 10 points in the first half, leading the way for Notre Dame. She has been in double figures for 15 of Notre Dame’s 16 games this year. Westbeld’s 5 rebounds and 4 assists paced the Irish up until the break.

Notre Dame’s 3-point shooting woes continued in the first half, as the Irish went 1-7 from deep. The second 20 minutes were an entirely different story; Notre Dame was 6-11 from behind the arc to close out the game. Westbeld was responsible for the first trey before Miles sank one and both Sonia Citron and Dara Mabrey sank two apiece. Mabrey has now made 300 three-pointers over the course of her college career.

“I knew the only way to get myself out of the slump was to shoot myself out of it,” Mabrey said. “I never lost my confidence. I knew at some point it was going to be over, and I got hot in the third [quarter]. But I have to credit my teammates as well because they keep throwing me the ball. That really says a lot about our team collectively.”

When the clock hit zero, Miles had a season-high 23 points and a team-leading 7 assists. Lauren Ebo quietly posted 8 rebounds.

Syracuse’s leading scorer Dyaisha Fair finished with 14 points. She was averaging 19.9 per contest prior to Sunday. Only Fair and Asia Strong finished in double-digits, as the Irish scoring defense continues to show out in ACC play.

Notre Dame is back on the road for its midweek contest. Clemson (12-7, 3-4) will host the Irish on Thursday. Notre Dame is 7-3 all-time against the Tigers and 3-1 at Littlejohn Coliseum.

INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Indiana State got down early and put up a late fight Sunday afternoon at Missouri State, but could never fully overcome its deficit against the Bears as the Sycamores suffered their second-straight loss in Valley play, 64-62.

Indiana State (13-6, 6-2 MVC) trailed by 13 points midway through the second half but outscored Missouri State (9-9, 5-3 MVC) 10-4 in the last 1:10 of play to fall by just two points.

The Bears lit it up early from deep, shooting 5-of-7 beyond the arc in the first seven minutes. They made five straight threes after missing their first two attempts, and the fifth triple in that sequence put the Bears up by double digits at 21-11 with 13:10 to go in the first half.

Indiana State responded with a 6-0 run to pull within four at 21-17 and Cooper Neese later nailed a 3-pointer off an assist from Julian Larry to cut the deficit to one point at 23-22, but the Bears responded with two more buckets to go back up by five.

Back-to-back Sycamore triples cut Missouri State’s lead to 32-30 with 3:25 left in the opening frame, and after trailing by 10 midway through the first half, Indiana State trailed by just four points at 35-31 going into the break.

Missouri State opened the second half with a pair of buckets to go up 39-31 at 17:45, and the Sycamores did not score until 16:34 in the frame on Trenton Gibson’s and-1. The Missouri State lead reached a game-high 13 points at 52-39 with 10:26 left in the second half.

The Sycamores kept themselves in the game, using an 8-2 run over the next four minutes to make it 54-47, and later cut their deficit all the way down to one point with a 7-0 run that made it 60-59 with 31 seconds to go. The Bears knocked down a couple free throws to put the Sycamores down 62-59, and Indiana State had multiple chances to tie things up but missed a couple threes in the last 11 seconds. Missouri State would hit another pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to go up 64-59, and Neese drilled a shot from the logo with 0.7 left on the clock to make it a final score of 64-62.

Inside the Numbers

Both teams shot 12-24 in the first half, but Missouri State hit six threes and five free throws compared to ISU’s four triples and three free throws in the frame.

Indiana State narrowly outshot the Bears 49.0 percent to 38.5 percent overall from the field in the game, but the Sycamores shot just 6-of-23 from three and 8-of-14 from the free throw line. The Bears were 16-of-17 from the free throw line.

Indiana State faced some foul trouble as Cameron Henry, Robbie Avila, and Courvoisier McCauley each picked up four fouls.

After getting down by 13 at 10:26 in the second half, Indiana State outscored Missouri State 23-12 in the last 8:57 and 10-4 in the last 1:10 of the game.

Cameron Henry led the way for the Sycamores with a team-high 17 points and five rebounds. He shot 6-of-6 from the field with a season-high and Valley-high 3-of-3 from deep.

News & Notes

Missouri State’s 13-point lead in the second half was Indiana State’s largest deficit in Valley play this season.

Indiana State did not lead at all in the game for first time this season. It was the first time the Sycamores have not held a lead at any point in a game since Jan. 30, 2022 at Bradley. ISU lost that game 67-52.

Xavier Bledson made his first appearance since Dec. 29 against Evansville and tied his season-high three steals alongside four points and two assists.

With Indiana State’s loss, there is now a three-way tie for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference as ISU joins Southern Illinois and Belmont with a 6-2 record in league play.

Indiana State is now 6-35 on the road against Missouri State, and after starting off 6-0 in Valley play, the Sycamores have lost two straight while snapping their three-game Valley road win streak.

Up Next

The Sycamores return home to host Bradley Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. ET.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon men’s basketball team is in action on Monday night against Cleveland State.

Game Day Information

Who: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (12-6, 4-3 Horizon League) vs. Cleveland State Vikings (10-8, 5-2 Horizon League)

When: Monday, January 16 | 7 p.m. ET

Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Live Stats: Link

Watch: ESPN+

    Talent: John Nolan, Michael Kibiloski

Radio: 1380 AM The Fan | Listen

    Talent: Brett Rump, Justin Kenny

Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne | Cleveland State

Series Record: Cleveland State leads 8-3

NICE TO C (S) U AGAIN:

// The ‘Dons and Vikings have 11 total meetings and have played each other eight times sine the ‘Dons joined the Horizon League in 2020-21. This includes a 3 OT Horizon League Quarterfinal game that the Vikings won and a 3 OT game last season in the regular season that the ‘Dons won and led SportsCenter that night.

// The series dates back to 1994. CSU leads 8-3, but how close have the games been? Only two games have been decided by double digits. Plus, if you add up the combined score of the 11 games it is 875-872 in favor of Cleveland State. 

‘DONS AND ENDS:

// The ‘Dons limited IUPUI (Jan. 12) to one made 3-pointer. The last time the ‘Dons limited an opponent to one 3-pointer was Nov. 25, 2020 against Southeastern Louisiana.

// Jarred Godfrey has seven games of 20 or more points this season and has done it in three straight games. He has 32 career games of 20 or more points.

// In league play, Jarred Godfrey is averaging 18.9 points per game, second best in the league.

// The ‘Dons took only 10 attempts from beyond the arc against Green Bay (Jan. 5). It was the fewest during the head coach tenure of Jon Coffman. The last time the ‘Dons took 10 or fewer in a game was when they took 10 at IUPUI on Feb. 22, 2014.

// Anthony Roberts has five or more points in each of the last seven games.

// Ra Kpedi grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds at Robert Morris (Dec. 29) with a career-best nine offensive rebounds. Kpedi is the first Mastodon with 15 rebounds since John Konchar had 15 vs. North Dakota State (March 2, 2019). He is the first Mastodon to record nine offensive rebounds in a game since Kevin Harden had nine against UTPA (now UTRGV) on Nov. 16, 2012.

// The ‘Dons are giving up 64.9 points per game, second best in the Horizon League. Should the Mastodons finish the season at this average, it would be the best during the Division I era  (2001-present) in program history. The current record is the 66.0 points the ‘Dons gave up in 2012-13.

// Jarred Godfrey has played in 139 career games, 2nd in program history. Former teammate Cameron Benford played in a program high 141 games from 2017-22.

// The ‘Dons are 10-0 this season when scoring 71 or more points in a game.

// Per sports-reference.com, Ra Kpedi leads the Horizon League in offensive rebounding percentage at 15.6 percent. He has is tied for a league-best 66 offensive boards.

// Jarred Godfrey owns 1,899 career points, second place in program history. The only Mastodon ahead of Godfrey is his former teammate John Konchar. Konchar sits in first place in program history with 2,065 points. 

// Jarred Godfrey owns 578 rebounds, sixth in program history. When he reaches 603 rebounds he’ll enter the top five in program history. He is already in the top five in points, assists, steals, field goals and 3-pointers.

// Jarred Godfrey is shooting 93.2 percent (69-of-74) from the free throw line, 6th in the nation. Only once in program history has a player made 50 or more free throws in a season and finished at 90 percent or better. That was Ben Botts in 2009-09, making 65-of-71 (91.5 percent).

// Jarred Godfrey has the best free throw percentage of any player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with 70 or more attempts.

// Ra Kpedi has won the opening tip in 15-of-18 games this season. He also won the tip in overtime against Oakland (Dec. 3).

// The ‘Dons are 12th in the nation in 3-pointers per game (10.1).

// The ‘Dons are 10th in the nation in 3-point defense with teams shooting just 27.9 perecent against them from three.

// Jarred Godfrey (1,899), Damian Chong Qui (1,455), Anthony Roberts (1,446),  and Bobby Planutis (1,082) have each scored 1,000 career NCAA points. Deonte Billups (931) could enter that group this season.

// The ‘Dons have 12 games of double-digit offensive rebounds this season.

// Jarred Godfrey has failed to reach double-digits only once this season (nine points vs. Bluffton).

// When he scores his first point on Monday vs. Cleveland State, Jarred Godfrey will be the only active player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with 1,900 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 3-pointers. Since 1992-93 only 24 student-athletes have finished with such a career stat line. The list includes Shabazz Napier, Jameer Nelson, Eddie House and Kerry Kittles. (per sports-reference.com)

// Jon Coffman owns a 151-120 career record. The Mastodons’ victory over Bluffton (Nov. 27) set a new program record for coaching wins for Coffman. He passed Andy Piazza who went 142-108 with the ‘Dons from 1987 to 1996.

VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL

UIC (9-10, 1-7 MVC)

at Valparaiso (7-12, 1-7 MVC)

Game No. 20 – Tuesday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. CT

Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: For the first time as Missouri Valley Conference adversaries, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball program and UIC will renew an old rivalry on Tuesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center. With the Flames in their first season in The Valley, this marks the third time these two teams have shared conference affiliation. Valpo will look to make it back-to-back wins after prevailing at Evansville on Saturday. Prior to tipoff, Valpo’s Kobe King will be recognized for reaching the 1,000-career point milestone last week vs. Belmont.

Last Time Out: Valpo went on the road and garnered a Missouri Valley Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, fending off Evansville 76-69. Kobe King made big plays in the second half, finishing a rebound shy of a double-double while registering 15 of his game-high 20 points after halftime. He drilled clutch free throws late and went 8-of-9 at the foul line to lead four Beacons in double figures. The Valpo advantage peaked at 18 in a game where the Purple Aces rallied to make it interesting, thanks in part to 36 free-throw attempts (although they misfired on half of those tries).

Following the Beacons: Streaming – The Valley on ESPN+ Exclusive – Andy Masur (play-by-play) and David Kaplan (analyst)

Radio – 95.1 FM, WVUR, ValpoAthletics.com, TuneIn Radio App – Todd Ickow (play-by-play)

Twitter updates – @ValpoBasketball

Links for video, audio and live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Matt Lottich: Matt Lottich (104-108) is in his seventh season as the head coach of the men’s basketball program in 2022-2023. Twice during his tenure, Valpo has upset Top-25 opponents, defeating Drake and Rhode Island at the ARC. Valpo has four wins over AP Top 25 teams in program history, and two have come under Lottich. In 2019-2020, Valpo became the first team in the history of Arch Madness, the annual Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, to reach the title game after playing in the opening round by winning three games in three days. Lottich, hired as the 22nd head coach of the Valpo men’s basketball program in April 2016, graduated from Stanford University in 2004 and New Trier High School (Illinois) in 2000.

Series Notes: These two teams will face off for the 58th time with UIC owning a 31-26 lead in the series. UIC has won the last two games – both nonconference showdowns while the Flames were still part of the Horizon League – winning 74-70 in overtime last season at the ARC after defending their home court with a 66-50 victory on Dec. 1, 2020. Prior to these two wins by the Flames, Valpo owned a 17-game head-to-head winning streak that dated back to Feb. 15, 2009. This is the first league game between these two teams since Jan. 22, 2017, a Horizon League battle that saw Valpo win 96-65 with Alec Peters surpassing Bryce Drew as the program’s all-time leading scorer. Valpo and UIC shared Horizon League affiliation from 2008-2017 and shared AMCU/Mid-Continent Conference affiliation from 1982-1994.

Double Figure Streak

The only player in the Missouri Valley Conference who has scored in double figures in each of his team’s games this season is Kobe King, who has scored 10+ in 19 straight.

King has scored in double figures in 38 of his 42 games in a Valpo uniform.

The former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball has scored 15 points or more in 13 of his 19 games this season. He has six 20-point outputs this year and has scored 15 or more points in 23 of his 42 games with the Beacons.

King is up to 43 career double-figure scoring efforts including his tenure at Wisconsin.

At the end of last season, King became Valpo’s second All-Newcomer Team choice since joining the league and first since Bakari Evelyn in 2017-18.

He appeared on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays after a three-quarter court buzzer-beater on Dec. 11 vs. Charlotte, a play that ranked No. 9 on the popular countdown that evening.

Krikke in Select Company

Ben Krikke is one of eight players in the country who is averaging at least 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting better than 75 percent from the free-throw line and better than 50 percent from the field.

Krikke is on pace to become just the third different Missouri Valley Conference player since 2005 to average at least 17 points and five boards while shooting better than 75 percent from the free-throw line and 50 percent from the field. He would join Missouri State’s Isiaih Mosley and Creighton’s Doug McDermott, who did so twice each.

Krikke is one of four players in the MVC shooting better than 50 percent from the field and better than 75 percent from the foul line, joining Drake’s Garrett Sturtz, Indiana State’s Cooper Neese and Bradley’s Rienk Mast.

Krikke is one of two players in the MVC averaging at least 17.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game this year. He joins Drake’s Tucker DeVries.

Krikke on the All-Time Scoring List  

Ben Krikke moved up another spot on Valpo’s all-time scoring list in the Jan. 10 game vs. Belmont. He made his way past Chuck Kriston (1960-63; 1,287) for 18th.

Entering Jan. 17 vs. UIC, Krikke has scored 1,313 career points. His next target is Milo Stovall (1998-2002), who is 17th in program history with 1,345 points.

Krikke cracked the top 20 on Valpo’s all-time scoring list when he scored the first basket of the game on Dec. 18 vs. Elon, and moved up to 19th on Jan. 4 vs. UNI.

Kobe Reaches 1,000

Kobe King reached a significant career milestone on Jan. 10 vs. Belmont at the Athletics-Recreation Center. At the 13:41 mark of the second half, he made his milestone basket to reach the 1,000-point threshold. He was recognized with a nice ovation at the next timeout.

King will be recognized prior to the Jan. 17 game against UIC as Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Small and head coach Matt Lottich present him with a commemorative game ball.

King registered 386 points over his three seasons at Wisconsin and has done the rest of the damage during his two-year run with the Beacons.

King became the second Valpo player to score his 1,000th collegiate point this season. Ben Krikke achieved the feat in the Nov. 13 home-opening victory over Western Michigan.

Three members of Valpo’s starting lineup are 1,000-point scorers as Quinton Green reached the milestone while playing at Division-II Cedarville

Prior to this year, the last Valpo player to join that esteemed group was current graduate assistant Tevonn Walker exactly five years prior to Krikke’s milestone – Nov. 13, 2017 vs. Trinity Christian.

Edwards Anecdotes

Valpo point guard Nick Edwards is one of 20 players in the nation with 90 or more assists and 50 or fewer turnovers and the only player in the Missouri Valley Conference with that combination.

Edwards is averaging over 7.5 points per game and over 4.5 assists per game. Just two Valpo players have finished a season with 7.5 ppg and 4.5 apg – Ali Berdiel (three times; 2002-2005) and Bryce Drew (four times, 1994-1998).

If Edwards stays on his current pace (4.7 assists per game), he would post Valpo’s highest apg number since Berdiel’s 6.0 in 2003-2004.

Q’s Recent Thievery

Sixth-year senior Quinton Green has transformed into a steals machine over the last four games. He matched a career high set while playing at Cedarville with four steals on Jan. 4 vs. UNI and again hit that total on Jan. 10 vs. Belmont.

Green has recorded multiple steals in four straight outings, totaling 13 in that span.

He has over doubled his season steal total in that time as he had 10 total steals over the first 15 games.

Among Conference & National Leaders

Valpo has two of the top three players in the MVC in terms of field goals made and two of the top 45 nationally. Ben Krikke leads the conference and ranks eighth in the nation with 140 made field goals, while Kobe King ranks third in the conference and 42nd nationally with 119.

Valpo is one of two teams in the country with two players in the top 45 nationally in terms of field goals made, joining Marshall.

Krikke and King also represent two of the league’s top five players in terms of scoring average. Krikke’s 17.8 points per game rank fourth in The Valley with King not far behind at 16.8 ppg, fifth.

In league-only games, Krikke is averaging 18.8 points per outing, second only to UNI’s Bowen Born (20.8 ppg).

Valpo is the only team in the conference with two players who rank in the top 10 in the league in scoring average.

Starter Shuffle

Ben Krikke, Kobe King and Quinton Green have been fixtures in the starting lineup this season as all three have started each of the first 19 games.

The other two spots have rotated with Maximus Nelson (10 starts) and Jerome Palm (nine starts) splitting time as Krikke’s frontcourt mate. Nelson has started each of the last four contests.

Darius DeAveiro (two), Preston Ruedinger (six) and Nick Edwards (11) have all started at point guard. Edwards has started each of the last eight. 

Sharing is Caring

Ben Krikke’s scoring ability has been a constant throughout his Valpo career, but he has developed a knack for distributing the basketball in recent games.

The 6-foot-9 senior had nine total assists in 15 games this season (0.6 apg) prior to Jan. 4 vs. UNI. He now has three or more assists in each of his last four contests and 18 total assists in that span (4.5 apg), double his previous season total.

In the Jan. 4 game vs. UNI, he gave out a team-high six assists, shattering his previous career high of five set on Jan. 26, 2021 vs. Bradley. He again tallied five helpers on Jan. 14 at Evansville

.

U OF I WRESTLING

LIBERTY, Mo. – The No. 12-ranked University of Indianapolis Wrestling team picked up a pair of wins on the campus of William Jewell College, moving to 3-0 in GLVC action.

#12 UIndy 43 – William Jewell 6

The first match of the day was versus the host school in the Cardinals, in which the Hounds dominated on route to a 43-6 victory. The match started with a 125 forfeit by the Cardinals, putting the Hounds up by 6, but Jewell fought back with a win at 133. Ray Rioux however, slammed the door shut on a Cardinal run with a fall in just 42 seconds. From there it was Hound-City, with Nathan Conley winning 10-2 at 149, and then No. 3 Logan Bailey getting his eighth pin of the year at 157, this one in just 33 seconds.

No. 8 Jack Eiteljorge kept the pin train rolling with one of his own at 165 to give the Hounds a 28-3 lead. Owen Butler grabbed a tech-fall before the Cardinals grabbed their second win of the dual at 184. A forfeit victory by No. 11 Blubaugh preceded a major by Cale Gray at heavyweight securing the win.

125         Aidan Sprague over Unknown (For.)

133         Nathan Wishne  over Nick Varanelli (Dec 9-3)

141         Ray Rioux over Ethan Flaherty (Fall 0:42)

149         Nathan Conley over Leslie Davenport (MD 10-2)

157         #3 Logan Bailey over John Jenkins (Fall 0:33)

165         #8 Jack Eiteljorge over Jaxson McIntyre (Fall 5:54)

174         Owen Butler over Dom Howlett (TF 18-0 2:21)

184         John Gholson over Kyle Saez (Dec 4-1)

197         Derek Blubaugh  over Unknown (For.)

285         Cale Gray over Mario Quezada (MD 12-4)

#12 UIndy 35 – William Jewell 9

Aidan Sprague once again accepted a forfeit to get the ball rolling in the match against Ouachita Baptist. Like the William Jewell contest, the Tigers fought back at 133, getting a fall and evening the score up. Adding to the levels of Déjà vu the match was giving, Rioux got his second pin of the day, this one in 2:13.

A major by Conley at 149 led into another victory by No. 3 Bailey. Eiteljorge joined Rioux in the double pin crew with his own in 2:24. Butler, Kyle Saez and Blubaugh’s trio of victories put the dual out of reach.

125         Aidan Sprague over Unknown (For.)

133         James Anderson over Nick Varanelli (Fall 1:16)

141         Ray Rioux over Cole Mccartney (Fall 2:13)

149         Nathan Conley over over Zander Fields (MD 11-3)

157         #3 Logan Bailey over Jaylon Otero (Dec 5-2)

165         #8 Jack Eiteljorge over Marcel Molu (Fall 2:24)

174         Owen Butler over Will Martin (MD 9-0)

184         Kyle Saez over Cole Eason (Dec 9-6)

197         Derek Blubaugh over Brooks Schrimsher (Dec 6-2)

285         Johnny Green over Cale Gray (Indianapolis) (Dec 5-3)

UP NEXT

The Greyhounds face one of the premier wrestling squads in the GLVC in the Maryville Saints on Wednesday, Jan 18 in St. Louis, Mo. The action is set to begin at 7 p.m.

MARIAN WRESTLING

INDIANAPOLIS – Hosting their first dual meet in over two years, the Marian wrestling team made a statement in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, dominating Lourdes to the tune of a 33-3 score. Marian’s victory improves their WHAC record to 2-0 this season.

At 125 Jacob Simone fell to a 5-1 decision at the hands of Nick Rodriguez, allowing the Gray Wolves to take an early 3-0 lead in the dual. Marian scored their first team points at 133, with Blake Mulkey defeating Cole McKinley 11-4. Mulkey surrendered the first four points of his match in the first period, but rebounded strong to dominate and tie the dual.

Aundre Beatty had a strong performance at 141 to push Marian back in front, controlling the pace in his match from the first period en route to a 10-3 victory by decision. Ian Heath captured the third striaght victory at 149, putting together a dominant tech fall victory after defeating Cyle Wells 27-12. The win vaulted Marian ahead 11-3, and grew by three points after Bailey Moore earned a 2-1 victory at 157.

Leading 14-3 at the halfway point, Marian’s lead over the Gray Wolves grew as Elliott Rodgers earned a 9-2 decision over Andrew Torres to bolster the lead by three points. Noah Hollendonner was competitive at 174, extending the win streak six straight by picking up an 11-3 major decision victory.

Sam Osho scored the victory of the day, as the third ranked wrestler at 184 earned a statement win against No. 20 Will Speight. Osho scored points on takedown and caution calls against Speight, as he electified the crowd in his home win. Jack Servies followed suit with a win by decision as he won 5-1, and Austin Lane closed the match at 285 with a win by fall in the second period, closing the commanding 33-3 victory.

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

*************BIG 10 MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS*************

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
3 Purdue	5-1	.833	2-1	3-0	16-1	.941	8-1	4-0	4-0	3-0
Rutgers	5-2	.714	3-1	2-1	13-5	.722	11-2	2-2	0-1	2-1
Michigan State	4-2	.667	2-1	2-1	12-5	.706	7-1	3-2	2-2	2-2
Michigan	4-2	.667	3-0	1-2	10-7	.588	7-2	1-2	2-3	0-2
Iowa	4-3	.571	3-1	1-2	12-6	.667	9-2	2-2	1-2	2-1
Penn State	3-3	.500	2-2	1-1	12-5	.706	9-2	1-2	2-1	1-1
Northwestern	3-3	.500	1-2	2-1	12-5	.706	8-3	3-1	1-1	2-1
Illinois	3-3	.500	2-1	1-2	12-5	.706	9-1	1-2	2-2	3-2
18 Wisconsin	3-3	.500	2-1	1-2	11-5	.688	6-2	2-2	3-1	1-1
Indiana	2-4	.333	2-1	0-3	11-6	.647	9-1	1-4	1-1	2-2
Maryland	2-4	.333	2-0	0-4	11-6	.647	8-1	1-4	2-1	2-2
Ohio State	2-4	.333	1-2	1-2	10-7	.588	7-2	1-3	2-2	1-3
Nebraska	2-5	.286	1-2	1-3	9-9	.500	6-2	2-5	1-2	1-3
Minnesota	1-4	.200	0-2	1-2	7-8	.467	5-4	1-3	1-1	0-3

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************BIG 10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS**********

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
3 Ohio State	7-0	1.000	3-0	4-0	18-0	1.000	9-0	7-0	2-0	4-0
6 Indiana	6-1	.857	4-0	2-1	16-1	.941	11-0	3-1	2-0	3-0
12 Iowa	6-1	.857	4-0	2-1	14-4	.778	10-1	3-2	1-1	2-2
24 Illinois	5-2	.714	3-0	2-2	15-3	.833	9-0	5-2	1-1	1-2
17 Michigan	5-2	.714	3-1	2-1	15-3	.833	7-2	4-1	4-0	2-2
9 Maryland	5-2	.714	3-1	2-1	14-4	.778	6-2	6-1	2-1	3-2
Purdue	3-4	.429	1-2	2-2	12-5	.706	7-2	3-2	2-1	0-3
Nebraska	3-4	.429	2-2	1-2	11-7	.611	8-2	1-5	2-0	2-5
Penn State	2-5	.286	2-1	0-4	11-7	.611	9-2	0-5	2-0	0-3
Michigan State	2-5	.286	1-2	1-3	10-8	.556	8-3	2-3	0-2	1-5
Rutgers	2-5	.286	1-2	1-3	8-11	.421	7-4	1-4	0-3	0-5
Wisconsin	2-5	.286	1-2	1-3	6-12	.333	4-3	2-5	0-4	0-2
Minnesota	1-6	.143	1-3	0-3	8-10	.444	7-5	0-5	1-0	0-4
Northwestern	0-7	.000	0-4	0-3	6-11	.353	5-6	1-5	0-0	0-6

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************BIG EAST MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS***********

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
12 Xavier	7-0	1.000	4-0	3-0	15-3	.833	10-1	4-0	1-2	2-3
19 Providence	6-1	.857	3-0	3-1	14-4	.778	10-0	4-2	0-2	2-0
25 Marquette	6-2	.750	4-0	2-2	14-5	.737	10-1	3-3	1-1	2-1
Creighton	4-3	.571	4-0	0-3	10-8	.556	8-1	0-4	2-3	3-4
6 UConn	4-4	.500	3-1	1-3	15-4	.789	10-1	2-3	3-0	1-2
Seton Hall	4-4	.500	2-1	2-3	11-8	.579	7-2	3-4	1-2	0-1
St. John’s	3-5	.375	2-2	1-3	13-6	.684	9-2	1-4	3-0	1-2
Butler	3-5	.375	2-2	1-3	11-8	.579	8-2	2-4	1-2	0-2
Villanova	2-5	.286	1-2	1-3	8-10	.444	5-2	2-5	1-3	0-2
DePaul	2-5	.286	2-2	0-3	8-10	.444	6-3	2-5	0-2	0-0
Georgetown	0-7	.000	0-4	0-3	5-13	.278	4-7	0-5	1-1	0-1

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************BIG EAST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS********

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
4 UConn	8-0	1.000	4-0	4-0	15-2	.882	8-0	4-2	3-0	4-2
25 Villanova	7-1	.875	3-1	4-0	16-3	.842	6-1	8-0	2-2	1-3
Seton Hall	6-2	.750	4-0	2-2	13-5	.722	6-2	5-2	2-1	2-1
Creighton	6-3	.667	2-2	4-1	12-5	.706	4-3	8-2	0-0	3-3
St. John’s	5-3	.625	3-1	2-2	14-3	.824	10-1	2-2	2-0	1-2
DePaul	4-3	.571	2-3	2-0	11-7	.611	5-5	4-1	2-1	1-2
Marquette	4-4	.500	2-1	2-3	11-6	.647	7-2	2-3	2-1	1-3
Providence	2-6	.250	1-2	1-4	11-8	.579	8-2	3-6	0-0	1-2
Butler	2-7	.222	0-4	2-3	7-11	.389	3-6	2-5	2-0	0-2
Georgetown	1-7	.125	1-3	0-4	8-9	.471	5-3	2-5	1-1	0-3
Xavier	0-9	.000	0-6	0-3	7-11	.389	5-8	2-3	0-0	0-3

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************HORIZON LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS******

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
Youngstown State	6-2	.750	3-1	3-1	14-5	.737	7-2	6-3	1-0	0-0
Milwaukee	6-2	.750	2-1	4-1	12-6	.667	8-2	4-4	0-0	0-0
Northern Kentucky	6-2	.750	4-1	2-1	11-8	.579	9-2	2-3	0-3	0-0
Cleveland State	5-2	.714	3-1	2-1	10-8	.556	6-3	4-5	0-0	0-0
Oakland	5-3	.625	3-1	2-2	7-12	.368	5-3	2-6	0-3	0-0
Purdue Fort Wayne	4-3	.571	2-2	2-1	12-6	.667	7-2	4-3	1-1	0-1
Wright State	4-4	.500	1-3	3-1	11-8	.579	4-4	5-3	2-1	0-0
Robert Morris	3-5	.375	2-1	1-4	8-11	.421	5-2	3-6	0-3	0-1
Detroit	3-5	.375	2-2	1-3	7-12	.368	5-2	2-9	0-1	0-0
Green Bay	1-7	.125	1-3	0-4	2-17	.105	2-4	0-11	0-2	0-0
IUPUI	0-8	.000	0-4	0-4	3-16	.158	2-5	0-8	1-3	0-0

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

************HORIZON LEAGUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS*******

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
Cleveland State	7-1	.875	5-1	2-0	16-2	.889	9-1	5-1	2-0	0-1
Green Bay	7-1	.875	2-0	5-1	14-3	.824	6-0	7-2	1-1	0-0
Youngstown State	6-1	.857	2-1	4-0	12-4	.750	8-1	4-3	0-0	0-0
IUPUI	4-3	.571	3-1	1-2	8-8	.500	5-3	3-5	0-0	0-1
Northern Kentucky	4-4	.500	3-2	1-2	10-7	.588	8-3	2-4	0-0	0-0
Oakland	4-4	.500	3-1	1-3	9-8	.529	6-1	2-6	1-1	0-0
Milwaukee	4-4	.500	3-0	1-4	6-10	.375	4-2	1-8	1-0	0-0
Purdue Fort Wayne	3-5	.375	2-3	1-2	6-12	.333	5-4	1-5	0-3	0-1
Robert Morris	2-6	.250	1-2	1-4	8-9	.471	7-2	1-7	0-0	0-1
Detroit	1-7	.125	1-3	0-4	3-14	.176	3-5	0-9	0-0	0-0
Wright State	1-7	.125	0-4	1-3	2-16	.111	1-5	1-10	0-1	0-1

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************MAC MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS*********

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
Kent State	4-0	1.000	2-0	2-0	14-3	.824	8-0	5-3	1-0	0-2
Ball State	3-1	.750	2-0	1-1	12-5	.706	7-0	3-3	2-2	0-0
Akron	3-1	.750	2-0	1-1	11-6	.647	9-0	1-3	1-3	0-0
Toledo	2-2	.500	1-1	1-1	11-6	.647	6-1	3-3	2-2	0-0
Bowling Green	2-2	.500	1-1	1-1	8-9	.471	5-4	3-5	0-0	0-0
Buffalo	2-2	.500	2-0	0-2	8-9	.471	7-1	0-5	1-3	0-1
Central Michigan	2-2	.500	2-0	0-2	7-10	.412	5-2	1-7	1-1	0-0
Western Michigan	2-2	.500	2-0	0-2	6-11	.353	5-2	1-8	0-1	0-1
Ohio	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	9-8	.529	7-1	2-6	0-1	0-1
Miami (OH)	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	7-10	.412	6-5	1-4	0-1	0-1
Northern Illinois	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	5-12	.294	2-3	2-8	1-1	0-1
Eastern Michigan	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	4-13	.235	3-3	1-7	0-3	0-1

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************MAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS*******

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
Bowling Green	3-1	.750	2-0	1-1	14-2	.875	6-0	7-2	1-0	0-1
Toledo	3-1	.750	2-0	1-1	12-3	.800	7-1	4-1	1-1	1-0
Akron	3-1	.750	1-1	2-0	12-3	.800	7-2	4-1	1-0	0-0
Ball State	3-1	.750	2-0	1-1	13-4	.765	8-0	4-3	1-1	0-1
Buffalo	3-1	.750	2-0	1-1	8-5	.615	4-2	4-3	0-0	0-0
Northern Illinois	2-2	.500	2-0	0-2	10-5	.667	5-1	4-4	1-0	0-1
Kent State	2-2	.500	1-1	1-1	10-5	.667	6-2	2-3	2-0	0-0
Western Michigan	2-2	.500	1-1	1-1	7-8	.467	4-2	3-6	0-0	0-2
Eastern Michigan	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	9-6	.600	6-3	2-2	1-1	0-0
Miami (OH)	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	6-11	.353	6-3	0-6	0-2	0-0
Central Michigan	1-3	.250	1-1	0-2	3-12	.200	3-4	0-6	0-2	0-0
Ohio	0-4	.000	0-2	0-2	2-13	.133	0-6	2-7	0-0	0-1

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************MISSOURI VALLEY MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS*******

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
Southern Illinois	6-2	.750	3-1	3-1	14-5	.737	8-1	5-3	1-1	0-0
Indiana State	6-2	.750	3-1	3-1	13-6	.684	7-2	4-3	2-1	0-0
Belmont	6-2	.750	4-0	2-2	13-6	.684	7-1	4-4	2-1	0-0
Drake	5-3	.625	4-0	1-3	14-5	.737	9-0	1-5	4-0	1-0
Bradley	5-3	.625	4-0	1-3	12-7	.632	10-0	2-5	0-2	0-2
Murray State	5-3	.625	3-1	2-2	10-8	.556	6-1	2-6	2-1	1-0
UNI	5-3	.625	3-1	2-2	9-9	.500	6-4	2-3	1-2	0-0
Missouri State	5-3	.625	3-1	2-2	9-9	.500	6-2	2-5	1-2	0-0
Illinois State	3-5	.375	2-2	1-3	8-11	.421	5-4	3-3	0-4	0-0
UIC	1-7	.125	1-3	0-4	9-10	.474	5-4	2-6	2-0	0-0
Valparaiso	1-7	.125	0-4	1-3	7-12	.368	5-4	1-7	1-1	0-0
Evansville	0-8	.000	0-4	0-4	4-15	.211	2-5	1-8	1-2	0-0

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************MISSOURI VALLEY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS******

Conference	Overall	vs
	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	W-L	Pct	Hm	Rd	Nt	Top 25
Illinois State	5-1	.833	1-1	4-0	11-5	.688	4-2	5-3	2-0	0-0
UNI	5-1	.833	1-1	4-0	10-5	.667	4-3	4-2	2-0	0-3
Murray State	4-2	.667	4-0	0-2	11-4	.733	7-1	4-3	0-0	0-0
Drake	4-2	.667	2-1	2-1	9-5	.643	5-2	3-2	1-1	1-2
Missouri State	4-2	.667	2-1	2-1	9-6	.600	5-3	3-2	1-1	0-0
UIC	3-3	.500	3-1	0-2	11-6	.647	6-2	3-3	2-1	0-0
Belmont	3-3	.500	2-1	1-2	7-10	.412	4-3	2-5	1-2	0-3
Southern Illinois	3-3	.500	1-1	2-2	6-9	.400	3-4	3-4	0-1	0-0
Evansville	2-4	.333	1-3	1-1	7-7	.500	4-3	3-4	0-0	0-1
Indiana State	2-4	.333	0-3	2-1	7-8	.467	5-5	2-3	0-0	0-0
Valparaiso	1-5	.167	1-2	0-3	3-11	.214	2-6	1-5	0-0	0-0
Bradley	0-6	.000	0-3	0-3	3-14	.176	2-5	1-8	0-1	0-0

Conference W-L – conference win-loss record
Conference Pct – conference winning percentage
Conference Hm – conference home record
Conference Rd – conference away record
Conference Nt – conference neutral site record

Overall W-L – overall win-loss record
Overall Pct – overall winning percentage
Overall Hm – overall home record
Overall Rd – overall road record
Overall Nt – overall neutral site record
vs Top 25 – record vs. Top 25 teams

x – conference champion — regular season
y – conference champion — tournament
z – divisional champion

*************NBA STANDINGS***********

Eastern Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Boston	32	12	.727	—	17-5	15-7	5-0	18-8	8-2	6 W
2 Brooklyn	27	15	.643	4.0	13-7	14-8	5-3	20-8	7-3	2 L
3 Milwaukee	27	16	.628	4.5	16-5	11-11	4-3	15-12	5-5	2 L
4 Philadelphia	27	16	.628	4.5	17-7	10-9	4-3	17-10	7-3	2 W
5 Cleveland	27	17	.614	5.0	18-4	9-13	7-3	17-8	5-5	1 L
6 New York	25	19	.568	7.0	11-11	14-8	2-4	16-10	7-3	3 W
7 Miami	24	20	.545	8.0	14-9	9-11	5-1	10-12	7-3	3 W
8 Indiana	23	21	.523	9.0	15-9	8-12	2-2	16-11	6-4	3 L
9 Atlanta	21	22	.488	10.5	11-9	10-13	4-3	15-15	4-6	2 W
10 Chicago	20	24	.455	12.0	12-10	8-14	4-3	16-13	5-5	1 W
11 Toronto	19	24	.442	12.5	14-11	5-13	2-8	13-17	4-6	1 L
12 Washington	18	25	.419	13.5	11-9	7-16	4-3	11-15	6-4	1 L
13 Orlando	16	28	.364	16.0	10-12	6-16	2-5	7-18	3-7	2 L
14 Detroit	12	35	.255	21.5	6-16	6-19	0-6	4-21	3-7	2 L
15 Charlotte	11	33	.250	21.0	5-15	6-18	3-6	5-22	2-8	4 L
Western Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Denver	30	13	.698	—	19-3	11-10	7-3	22-9	8-2	6 W
2 Memphis	29	13	.690	0.5	18-3	11-10	6-2	14-10	9-1	9 W
3 New Orleans	26	17	.605	4.0	17-5	9-12	7-3	16-10	5-5	1 W
4 Sacramento	24	18	.571	5.5	14-9	10-9	4-5	12-9	7-3	4 W
5 Dallas	24	21	.533	7.0	16-6	8-15	6-2	18-10	5-5	2 L
6 LA Clippers	23	22	.511	8.0	13-10	10-12	3-4	13-14	3-7	1 W
7 Minnesota	22	22	.500	8.5	14-9	8-13	6-4	14-13	6-4	2 W
8 Golden State	21	22	.488	9.0	17-5	4-17	4-4	13-9	6-4	1 L
9 Portland	21	22	.488	9.0	11-8	10-14	4-6	15-13	4-6	2 W
10 Utah	22	24	.478	9.5	14-8	8-16	3-4	16-14	3-7	1 L
11 Phoenix	21	23	.477	9.5	14-7	7-16	8-0	18-12	2-8	2 L
12 Oklahoma City	21	23	.477	9.5	13-9	8-14	3-6	10-12	6-4	3 W
13 LA Lakers	19	24	.442	11.0	10-10	9-14	1-7	8-15	6-4	3 L
14 San Antonio	13	31	.295	17.5	8-15	5-15	2-7	5-24	2-8	5 L
15 Houston	10	33	.233	20.0	6-14	4-19	1-8	5-25	0-10	10 L

*************NHL STANDINGS***********

Eastern Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Boston Bruins	42	33	5	4	70	31	160	94	20-1-3	13-4-1	7-1-2
2 Carolina Hurricanes	44	27	9	8	62	24	141	120	13-5-2	14-4-6	5-3-2
3 New Jersey Devils	43	28	12	3	59	28	152	113	11-10-2	17-2-1	6-3-1
4 Toronto Maple Leafs	44	26	11	7	59	26	147	117	15-3-4	11-8-3	5-4-1
5 Tampa Bay Lightning	41	27	13	1	55	26	148	121	17-4-1	10-9-0	7-3-0
6 New York Rangers	44	24	13	7	55	22	141	119	11-8-4	13-5-3	6-2-2
7 Washington Capitals	45	23	16	6	52	23	144	126	13-7-3	10-9-3	5-3-2
8 New York Islanders	44	23	18	3	49	23	133	120	13-7-1	10-11-2	5-4-1
9 Pittsburgh Penguins	42	21	15	6	48	20	135	127	11-5-4	10-10-2	2-6-2
10 Buffalo Sabres	41	21	18	2	44	20	159	142	9-11-2	12-7-0	6-4-0
11 Florida Panthers	44	20	20	4	44	19	144	152	11-6-3	9-14-1	5-5-0
12 Detroit Red Wings	41	18	16	7	43	17	128	139	11-9-3	7-7-4	5-5-0
13 Philadelphia Flyers	43	18	18	7	43	18	122	137	9-10-1	9-8-6	7-3-0
14 Ottawa Senators	42	19	20	3	41	18	125	137	11-10-1	8-10-2	5-4-1
15 Montreal Canadiens	44	18	23	3	39	14	116	162	9-11-0	9-12-3	3-7-0
16 Columbus Blue Jackets	42	13	27	2	28	12	109	167	10-13-1	3-14-1	3-7-0
Western Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Winnipeg Jets	44	29	14	1	59	29	147	114	17-6-0	12-8-1	8-2-0
2 Vegas Golden Knights	44	28	14	2	58	25	147	126	13-11-0	15-3-2	6-3-1
3 Dallas Stars	44	25	12	7	57	24	152	119	12-5-3	13-7-4	6-3-1
4 Seattle Kraken	42	26	12	4	56	26	158	130	10-8-2	16-4-2	8-2-0
5 Los Angeles Kings	46	25	15	6	56	21	154	157	14-8-2	11-7-4	6-3-1
6 Minnesota Wild	42	24	14	4	52	21	134	118	13-8-1	11-6-3	5-3-2
7 Calgary Flames	44	21	14	9	51	20	139	133	12-7-2	9-7-7	6-2-2
8 Edmonton Oilers	45	24	18	3	51	24	164	149	10-11-2	14-7-1	6-3-1
9 Colorado Avalanche	41	21	17	3	45	18	125	118	10-8-3	11-9-0	3-6-1
10 St. Louis Blues	44	21	20	3	45	18	139	159	8-10-2	13-10-1	5-4-1
11 Nashville Predators	42	19	17	6	44	17	118	126	9-7-3	10-10-3	5-4-1
12 Vancouver Canucks	43	18	22	3	39	15	149	170	8-10-1	10-12-2	3-7-0
13 San Jose Sharks	44	13	23	8	34	12	134	168	4-12-6	9-11-2	3-5-2
14 Arizona Coyotes	43	13	25	5	31	12	115	158	7-6-2	6-19-3	1-9-0
15 Anaheim Ducks	43	12	27	4	28	9	100	181	8-13-1	4-14-3	3-6-1
16 Chicago Blackhawks	41	11	26	4	26	11	94	154	8-15-2	3-11-2	4-6-0

*******FOOTBALL HISTORY*******

January 16, 1883 – Quebec Rugby Football Union forms per the PRFA’s publication “The Coffin Corner” Volume 23, by Robert Sproule in 2001. A group of teams from the Quebec province after teams in Ontario organized on January 6, 1883. There were teams from Montreal, McGill, Britannia and Quebec City. There were 15 players per side in this game on a field that was 110 yards in length. The game more closely resembled rugby by today’s standards, but at the time it was different because the ball was placed on the ground and the teams, which were lined up on opposing sides came together to try and gain control of the ball and try to push it past a line on the ground. Sproule notes that it was closer to a line of scrimmage than a scrum. Finally in 1904 the QRFU adopted a system of downs where it was slowly morphing into what we would recognize as Canadian Football.

January 16, 1955 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – At the 5th annual NFL Pro Bowl the Western Conference team defeated the Eastern Conference, 26-19. The games Most Valuable Player was San Francisco 49er Wide Receiver Billy Wilson.

January 16, 1965 – Jeppeson Stadium, Houston – The American Football League held its 4th All Star Game. In the end of the year exhibition game the Western Division defeated the Eastern Division squad by the score of 38-14. The MVPs were Los Angeles Chargers Running back Keith Lincoln and Willie Brown the Denver Broncos Defensive Back.

January 16, 1970 – NFL realigned into 3 divisions in each Conference after the official merger of the AFL into the NFL per the American Football Fandom site. As we talked about in earlier posts the NFL had 16 teams prior to the merger while the AFL held only 10. The easiest fix to balance out the conferences was to move three traditionally NFL teams to the new AFC to join the existing AFL squads. So in the realignment the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns all joined the old AFL squads in the conference. The divisions were listed as the AFC West being made up of the Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, and Chiefs. The AFC East consisted of the Bills, Colts, Patriots, Jets, and Dolphins. The Central Division of the AFC placed the Browns, Bengals, Oilers and Steelers together. Over in the other conference the NFC East consisting of the Eagles, Redskins, Cowboys, Giants, Cardinals. The NFC Central was comprised of the Packers, Bears, Vikings, Lions. The Rams, 49ers, Saints, Falcons made up the NFC West.

January 16, 1972 – Tulane Stadium, New Orleans – The NFL title would be decided in Super Bowl VI as the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins would clash to see who would take home the Lombardi Trophy. Dallas Running back Duane Thomas pounded out 95 yards on the ground with a touchdown while Roger Staubach tossed scoring passes to Mike Ditka and Lance Alworth to lift the Cowboys over the Miami Dolphins, 24-3. According to the Pro-Football-Reference.com Roger Staubach with his 12 of 19 for 119 and two scores was selected as the games MVP.

January 16, 1988 – The St Louis Cardinals football team announced that they would be moving to Phoenix according to the barstoolsports.com. The franchise spent 27 years in the Gateway to the West City. The Cardinals who are the oldest franchise in the NFL are the first to have called three different cities home. Our colleague on the Sports History Network, Joe Ziemba has some great Podcasts on the history of the Cardinals, especially their years in Chicago. Joe is probably one of the foremost experts on Cardinals history and that is solidified with his great book “When Football was Football.”

A link to Joe’s When Football was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL book is shown below. Purchasing the book through the Amazon link below helps some proceeds go to PigskinDispatch.com to help pay for our operating costs. Your patronage is appreciated both by PigskinDispatch and Joe!

HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR JANUARY 17

January 16, 1882 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Henry Phillips the stellar Sewanee guard was born. The National Football Foundation selected Henry Phillips to go into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.

January 16, 1894 – Blue Springs, Nebraska – Guy Chamberlin the sensational back and end of Nebraska Wesleyan and University of Nebraska was born. Guy was also a top early NFL coach who won multiple championships. Click his name to learn more about him with some other posts.

January 16, 1914 – New Orleans, Louisiana – The great halfback of Tulane Claude Monk Simons arrived into life. Monk’s father was the highly regarded trainer of the Green Wave of Tulane and his young son grew up dreaming about being on the playing field of the gridiron for Tulane. Sometimes with hard work and dedication those dreams come true, they sure did for Simons. The NFF has a great story in their bio of Monk. The Tulane team was invited to host the first Sugar Bowl game against Head Coach Pop Warner’s very talented Temple team. That New Year’s Day in 1935 the 22,000 fans filled the air with excitement! The home crowd was silenced at the onset of the contest as Temple scored two quick touchdowns to start the game. Simons had been preparing for this moment for most of his young life. After the second Owl TD, Tulane’s Johnny McDaniel handed off to Simons, and the fleet-footed halfback raced 86 yards down the sideline for the score that ignited the Green Wave to a comeback and eventual victory, 20-14. The College Football Hall of Fame inducted Monk Simons in 1963.

January 16, 1953 – Akron, Ohio – Dave Brown the safety from Michigan was born. Michigan had a remarkable defense when Brown was on the team. The Wolverines were 30-2-1 and in 33 games played, his teams surrendered more than ten points in only five games and registered 11 shutouts according to the NFF. As a junior Brown was consensus All-America selection, and he scored a TD in each of his 3 seasons played. Dave Brown was received as a legend into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

January 16, 1977 – Philipsburgh, Kansas -The great Kansas State linebacker Mark Simoneau was born. According to the footballfoundation.org website Simoneau holds a school record with 251 career unassisted tackles, ranks third in school history with 400 total tackles, 52 TFL and eight forced fumbles. The NFF voters selected Mak Simoneau to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Mark was a third round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2000 NFL Draft. Simoneau played 11 seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

******BASEBALL HISTORY******

1878       The Providence Grays hire Benjamin Douglas as the team’s manager and names Tom Carey as the team’s captain. The skipper of the new National League franchise in Rhode Island will be fired for insubordination before the season begins, replaced by left fielder Tom York, who led the team to a third-place finish with a 33-27 (.550) record.

1886       The Washington Nationals, also known as the Statesmen, are admitted to the National League. The new franchise, which will play its home games at the Swampoodle Grounds, will win only 28 games of the 120 games played, finishing 60 games behind the first-place Chicago White Stockings in their first season of the team’s four-year existence in the nation’s capital.

1891       The National League, American Association, and the Western Association sign a new national agreement that creates a three-person panel to settle disputes. Two days ago, the Senior Circuit owners voted to allow the American Association to place a team in Boston, despite the fierce opposition from the owners of the Boston Beaneaters, the existing NL franchise in town.

1952       Stan Musial gets a salary raise to $85,000 despite a Korean War wage freeze. Using a complex formula, the U.S. Standardization Board gives its okay for teams to give individual players pay increases.

1960       The Cubs trade Alvin Dark, along with John Buzhardt and Jim Woods, to the Phillies in exchange for Richie Ashburn. After a slow start in Philadelphia, the team deals the ‘Swamp Fox’ to the Braves, where he hits .298 for Milwaukee before retiring as a player at the end of the season to become the skipper for the Giants, the team he served as captain during their 1951 and 1954 World Championship campaigns.

1960       The Bucs’ very competitive shortstop Dick Groat scores 14 points against the NFL Steelers in a scheduled 15-minute benefit basketball game for the Children’s Hospital. The Duke University hoop standout takes exception to a foul called on him by Bob Prince, the team’s broadcaster refereeing the game, that allows their football rivals to tie the score in the final few seconds of the contest and eventually win the exhibition against the Pirates in overtime, 22-20.

1964       The American League owners, by a 9-1 vote, nix Charlie Finley’s proposal to move the A’s to Louisville, giving the maverick owner an ultimatum to sign a lease in Kansas City by February 1 or lose his franchise. Ten days ago, Finley had announced he had signed a two-year deal with Louisville and had plans to shift the franchise there to start playing for the upcoming season.

1973       Steve Carlton becomes the highest-paid pitcher when he signs a contract with the Phillies for a reported $165,000. The 28-year-old southpaw, last season’s unanimous Cy Young Award winner, will lose a league-leading 20 games this season after posting a 27-10 record in the previous campaign for the last-place team.

1974       The BBWAA elects former Yankees teammates southpaw Whitey Ford and slugger Mickey Mantle to the Hall of Fame. The franchise leader in wins (236), innings pitched (3,171), strikeouts (1,956), and shutouts (45), and his buddy, the ‘Mick,’ only the seventh player to make it in his first year of eligibility, will be enshrined in Cooperstown in August.

1996       The Giants signed much-acclaimed amateur free-agent Osvaldo Fernandez. The Cuban National squad’s All-Star hurler, who defected when his club played Team USA in Tennessee, will post a disappointing 10-17 record during his two-year stay by the Bay.

1997       At the winter meetings in Phoenix (AZ), the owners voted 26-2 to place the Devil Rays in the American League and put the Diamondbacks in the Senior Circuit. The Royals and the Rangers opposed the plan, fearing realignment may result in their team playing in a western division, a reality Texas is trying to escape and a scenario Kansas City wants to avoid due to the two-hour difference in the starting times.

2001       The BBWAA elects Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett to the Hall of Fame. The former Twins, both selected in their first year of eligibility, played together for Minnesota in 1993-94, becoming the seventh pair of teammates to be chosen by the writers in the same year.

2001       The Angels sign free agent Jose Canseco, offering an incentive-laden contract ranging from $200,000 to $5 million based on plate appearances as a designated hitter. At the end of spring training, after 39 at-bats, Anaheim releases the 36-year-old slugger, who will start the season with the independent Atlantic League Newark Bears before joining the White Sox in June.

2002       Pedro Astacio (8-14, 5.09) agrees to a one-year, $5 million incentive-laden free-agent deal with the Mets. After being traded to the Astros by the Rockies last season, the 32-year-old right-hander developed shoulder problems.

2003       The owners establish the minimum age of 14 for batboys after a near collision at home plate during Game 5 of the World Series involving four-year-old Giants’ batboy Darren Baker. The Nationals will select the San Franciso skipper Dusty’s son, who prompted the change from not having any age requirement, in the 27th round of the 2017 MLB draft.

2003       Gary Carter will become the first player, and most likely the only one, to wear an Expos hat on his Hall of Fame plaque. Although the former catcher had expressed his wish to go in as a member of the Mets, the team which now employs him, and the franchise he helped win the 1986 World Series, Cooperstown decided the ‘Kid’ should enter the Hall with a Montreal logo.

2003       To restore the competitive edge to the All-Star Game, the owners unanimously approve the World Series home-field advantage to go to the team representing the winning league of the Midsummer Classic. The players’ approval is needed to change the current rotation between the two circuits, a schedule used since the inception of the World Series in 1903.

2006       Dontrelle Willis (22-10, 2.63), signing a record-setting one-year contract with the Marlins, avoids arbitration by agreeing to a $4.35 million one-year offer, potentially worth $4.55 million if he reaches specific performance-based incentives. The All-Star southpaw’s deal surpasses those for Roy Halladay and Andy Pettitte, each inking $3.8 million contracts for the highest amount ever given to a starting pitcher in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

2007       The Marlins, the team with the lowest payroll in the majors, spending only $15 million last season, agrees to a one-year deal with southpaw Dontrelle Willis (12-12, 3.87) for $6.45 million, a significant raise from the $4.35 million he received on this date last season. In his final season with the club before being traded to the Tigers in December, the 25-year-old Florida ace leads the league in games started (35) but also gives up the most earned runs (118) in the circuit, compiling a 10-15 record along with a hefty ERA of 5.17.

2008       Jon Lieber (3-6, 4.73), a former 20-game winner with the team in 2001, signs a $3.5 million, one-year deal to rejoin the Cubs. The right-handed veteran, who played with the Phillies for the past three years, missed most of last season due to surgery needed to repair a ruptured tendon in his foot.

2008       The Tigers, avoiding salary arbitration, sign Nate Roberts (9-13, 4.76) to a three-year $21.25 million deal. The 30-year-old southpaw, who would have been eligible to become a free agent after the 2009 season, has made 30+ starts during his four seasons with Detroit.

2009       The Red Sox sign another infielder to a long-term contract when Kevin Youkilis agrees to a four-year deal reportedly worth $41 million. The 29-year-old Gold Glove first baseman will join Dustin Pedroia, who inked a six-year contract extension in December, on the right side of Boston’s infield for the foreseeable future.

2010       Scott Hairston returns to the Padres, the team that traded him last July in a four-player deal with the A’s. The Friars send third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and prospect Eric Sogard to Oakland in exchange for their former outfielder and Aaron Cunningham.

2011       Joey Votto and the Reds agree to a three-year contract extension worth $38 million. The 27-year-old first baseman, last season’s National League’s Most Valuable Player, had a career year, batting .324 and hitting 37 home runs, driving in 113 runs.

2013       The Mariners acquire Michael Morse from the Nationals in a three-way trade that sends catcher John Jaso to the A’s, who deal minor league pitchers A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen, and a player to be named later to Washington. The 30-year-old outfielder/first baseman, obtained to provide additional punch to Seattle’s middle-of-the-order, spent the first four years of his big league career playing for the Northwest team.

2014       Expanded instant replay, a concept previously agreed to by the Players Association and World Umpires Association, is unanimously approved at the quarterly Owners Meetings. Each manager will begin a game with one challenge, with the crew chief initiating reviews when necessary from the Replay Command Center at MLB Advanced Media headquarters in New York, starting at the top of the seventh inning.

2017       The World Champion Cubs are welcomed at the White House by President Barack Obama, a noted White Sox patron who is offered a midnight pardon by Chicago GM Theo Epstein for his partisanship with the South Side team. In addition to receiving No. 44 jerseys from his fellow No. 44, Anthony Rizzo, the Commander in Chief is given a lifetime pass to any Cubs game, a gift Michelle, the First Lady, will probably appreciate more than her husband.

2020       The Giants announce Alyssa Nakken, who joined the club as an intern in baseball operations in 2014, will become baseball’s first female coach on a major league staff. The former Sacramento State softball standout will be in uniform as an assistant under recently hired manager Gabe Kapler.

2020       The Mets and recently-hired skipper Carlos Beltrán announced they have “agreed to mutually part ways,” due to his role in the Astros’ cheating scheme of using electronics to steal signs. The move follows the dismissal of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Houston’s bench coach in 2017, when Beltrán, the only player mentioned by name in the Commissioner’s nine-page report, played for the team.

2020       George Springer and the Astros come to terms on a one-year, $21 million incentive-laden contract that amounts to an increase of a little less than nine million dollars the 30-year-old All-Star outfielder made last year. The 2017 World Series MVP from New Britain (CT) set career highs last season, hitting 39 home runs with 96 RBI while batting .292 for the American League champions.

******SPORTS IN NUMBERS*******

6 – 84 – 9 – 22 – 24 – 32 – 30 – 12 – 31 – 13

January 16, 1905 – Stanley Cup, Dey’s Arena, Ottawa, ON: Ottawa Senators rout Dawson City (Yukon), 23-2 for 2-0 series sweep; most lopsided challenge playoff game in history. In the series, Frank McGee scored a remarkable 14 goals

January 16, 1952 – Stan Musial has the U.S. Standard Board give the okay on his salary to be raised to $85,000. The St Louis Cardinal Outfielder who wore the Number 6 on his uniform received the increase in pay of $35,000 after a new salary stabilization policy was announced. the government decided that the club’s payroll and not the individual player would be the measuring stick in the regulated formula.

January 16, 1955 – 5th NFL Pro Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Western Conference beats Eastern Conference, 26-19; MVP was Number 84, Billy Wilson, the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver.

January 16, 1960 – Right wing Gordie Howe, of the Detroit Redwings, wearing the Number 9 on his sweater scored an assist and a goal to move into the top spot in the NHL’s All-Time leader in scoring in his 888th game. His 947 career points slid him past Maurice Richard of Montreal.

January 16, 1962 – Bob Pettit, registered an NBA All-Star game record 27 rebounds as the West team defeated the East 150-130. Petit represented the St Louis Hawks that season and wore the Number 9.

January 16, 1963 – Bill Russell, who wore Number 6 with the Boston Celtics, was named the MVP of the NBA All-Star game. The East won the game 115-108.

January 16, 1965 – 4th AFL All Star Game, Jeppeson Stadium, Houston: Western Division beats Eastern Division, 38-14. There were two MVPs selected. Los Angeles Chargers Runningback, Number 22, Keith Lincoln, on offense; and on defense, Denver Broncos defensive back, Number 24, Willie Brown.

January 16, 1966 – The legendary Jim Brown sporting his famous Number 32 jersey, was selected as the MVP of the NFL Pro Bowl.

January 16, 1966 – Chicago Black Hawks’ right wing Bobby Hull (Number 9) scored 4 goals (his 17th career hat trick) in a 6-5 loss to NY Rangers; becomes the first player in team history to score 300 goals

January 16, 1966 – Chicago is granted an NBA franchise to be called the Bulls; become the 3rd NBA franchise in the city, after the Chicago Stags (1946–50) and Chicago Packers/Zephyrs (now the Washington Wizards)

January 16, 1968 – 21st NHL All-Star Game, Maple Leaf Gardens: Toronto Maple Leafs beat All-Stars 4-3; MVP selected was Toronto Maple Leafs Goaltender, Number 30, Bruce Gamble.

January 16, 1972 – Super Bowl VI, Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA: Dallas Cowboys beat Miami Dolphins, 24-3; MVP selected was Dallas, QB, Number 12, Roger Staubach.

January 16, 1982 – Edmonton’s rookie goaltender Grant Fuhr, Number 31 had his 23-game unbeaten streak end with a 7-1 Oilers’ defeat in Toronto

January 16, 2019 – Records were set in bunches in the Golden State Warriors versus the New Orleans Pelicans. In the first quarter Golden State broke two franchise records; in 1st quarter, record 10 three-point field goals on way to franchise best 51 points in the period. Golden State guard Stephen Curry (Number 30) became the first player in NBA history to hit eight or more three-point field goals in 3 consecutive games. Curry went 9-of- 17 from beyond the arc in the Warriors’ 147-140 victory over New Orleans. These two teams combined for an NBA record of forty-three 3-pointer field goals.

January 16, 2019 – Houston Rockets guard, Number 13, James Harden becomes first player to score 55+ points in back-to-back NBA games since Wilt Chamberlain (1962); scores 58 in 145-142 OT loss to Brooklyn; 18 straight games with 30+ points

**********TV MONDAY*********

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES	TIME ET	TV
Georgetown at Villanova	12:00pm	FOX
Hofstra at Towson	12:00pm	NBCS-WSH
Cornell at Columbia	12:00pm	SNY
Saint Joseph’s at La Salle	2:00pm	CBSSN
Saint Francis U at Sacred Heart	2:00pm	NEC
Dartmouth at Harvard	2:00pm	ESPN+
Purdue at Michigan State	2:30pm	FOX
George Washington at George Mason	4:00pm	CBSSN
UTEP at Charlotte	4:00pm	ESPN+
Mississippi Valley State at Florida A&M	4:30pm	Facebook
Hartford at UMBC	5:00pm	ESPN+
Brown at Yale	5:00pm	ESPN+
William & Mary at Charleston	5:00pm	FloSports
Illinois at Minnesota	6:00pm	BTN
Delaware at Northeastern	6:00pm	NESN
UC Davis at UC San Diego	6:00pm	ESPN+
Morehouse at Howard	7:00pm	FS1
Florida Atlantic at WKU	7:00pm	ESPNU
Syracuse at Miami (FL)	7:00pm	ACCN
Lehigh at Loyola Maryland	7:00pm	CBSSN
St. Francis Brooklyn at LIU	7:00pm	SNY
Princeton at Penn	7:00pm	NBCS-PHI
Fairleigh Dickinson at Stonehill	7:00pm	NEC
Cleveland State at Purdue Fort Wayne	7:00pm	ESPN+
North Texas at FIU	7:00pm	ESPN+
Elon at UNCW	7:00pm	FloSports
North Carolina A&T at Hampton	7:00pm	FloSports
Wagner at Merrimack	7:30pm	NEC
UAPB at Bethune-Cookman	7:30pm	YouTube
Rice at UTSA	8:00pm	ESPN+
Cal Poly at UC Riverside	8:00pm	ESPN+
Alcorn State at Prairie View A&M	9:00pm	ESPNU
UAB at Middle Tennessee	9:00pm	CBSSN
Jackson State at Texas Southern	9:00pm	–
Montana at Eastern Washington	9:00pm	–
Montana State at Idaho	9:00pm	ESPN+
UC Santa Barbara at UC Irvine	9:00pm	ESPN+
CSUN at Hawai’i	10:00pm	Spectrum
CSU Bakersfield at Cal State Fullerton	10:00pm	ESPN+
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
Boston at Charlotte	1:00pm	NBATV NBCS-BOS Bally Sports
Indiana at Milwaukee	2:30pm	Bally Sports
New Orleans at Cleveland	3:00pm	Bally Sports
Toronto at New York	3:00pm	Sportsnet MSG
Golden State at Washington	3:00pm	NBCS-BAY NBCS-WSH
Miami at Atlanta	3:30pm	TNT
Utah at Minnesota	4:00pm	Bally Sports ATTSN-RM
Phoenix at Memphis	6:00pm	TNT
Houston at LA Lakers	10:30pm	NBATV ATTSN-SW Spectrum
NFL PLAYOFFS	TIME ET	TV
NFC Wild Card Playoff: Dallas at Tampa Bay	8:15pm	ABC ESPN
NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
Florida at Buffalo	1:00pm	MSG-BUF Bally Sports
Philadelphia at Boston	1:00pm	NBCS-PHI NESN
Detroit at Colorado	3:00pm	ALT Bally Sports
New Jersey at San Jose	4:00pm	MSGSN NBCS-CA
Tampa Bay at Seattle	4:00pm	Root Sports Bally Sports
Anaheim at Pittsburgh	6:00pm	ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports
Dallas at Vegas	7:00pm	ATTSN-RM Bally Sports
NY Rangers at Columbus	7:00pm	MSG Bally Sports
Washington at NY Islanders	7:30pm	NBCS-WSH MSGSN
Calgary at Nashville	8:00pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports
Ottawa at St. Louis	8:00pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
Serie A: Empoli vs Sampdoria	2:45pm	Paramount+
La Liga: Cádiz vs Elche	3:00pm	ESPN+
England League One: Port Vale vs Peterborough United	3:00pm	ESPN+