“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
HOMESTEAD.COM
| ANGOLA | 56 | GARRETT | 44 | |
| AUSTIN | 57 | HENRYVILLE | 47 | |
| BARR-REEVE | 52 | TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | 36 | |
| BEN DAVIS | 53 | FRANKLIN CENTRAL | 38 | |
| BLACKFORD | 66 | ALEXANDRIA | 53 | |
| BLUE RIVER | 65 | COWAN | 60 | OT |
| BLUFFTON | 54 | LAKELAND CHRISTIAN | 26 | |
| BOONVILLE | 64 | TECUMSEH | 53 | |
| BROWN COUNTY | 46 | OWEN VALLEY | 38 | |
| BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL | 64 | SCOTTSBURG | 30 | |
| CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN | 55 | KNIGHTSTOWN | 50 | |
| CARROLL (FLORA) | 52 | CASTON | 43 | |
| CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 46 | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA | 41 | |
| CENTERVILLE | 81 | DALEVILLE | 43 | |
| CHARLESTOWN | 57 | CLARKSVILLE | 25 | |
| CHESTERTON | 72 | WASHINGTON TWP. | 38 | |
| CLINTON PRAIRIE | 61 | DELPHI | 55 | |
| COLUMBUS EAST | 55 | BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | 49 | |
| CROSSPOINTE CHRISTIAN | 58 | MTI KNOWLEDGE | 42 | |
| CROTHERSVILLE | 92 | LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN | 76 | |
| CULVER ACADEMY | 38 | LAKE CENTRAL | 37 | |
| DELTA | 53 | YORKTOWN | 45 | |
| EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL | 60 | MUNSTER | 44 | |
| EASTERN (GREENTOWN) | 71 | TRI-CENTRAL | 61 | |
| EASTERN (PEKIN) | 51 | CRAWFORD COUNTY | 45 | |
| EDGEWOOD | 67 | CASCADE | 54 | |
| EVANSVILLE CENTRAL | 57 | MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) | 37 | |
| EVANSVILLE HARRISON | 57 | CASTLE | 54 | |
| EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | 60 | JASPER | 55 | |
| EVANSVILLE NORTH | 45 | GIBSON SOUTHERN | 43 | OT |
| EVANSVILLE REITZ | 67 | EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | 61 | OT |
| FOREST PARK | 57 | LOOGOOTEE | 33 | |
| FORT WAYNE LUERS | 81 | FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 35 | |
| FORT WAYNE SOUTH | 66 | FORT WAYNE NORTH | 50 | |
| FORT WAYNE WAYNE | 61 | FORT WAYNE SNIDER | 50 | |
| FRANKLIN | 52 | GREENWOOD | 46 | |
| FRANKTON | 50 | EASTBROOK | 33 | |
| FRONTIER | 73 | ROSSVILLE | 70 | |
| GARY WEST | 60 | HAMMOND CENTRAL | 57 | |
| GOSHEN | 52 | EAST NOBLE | 49 | |
| GREENCASTLE | 56 | SOUTH PUTNAM | 50 | |
| GREENFIELD-CENTRAL | 74 | NEW PALESTINE | 57 | |
| GREENSBURG | 52 | TRITON CENTRAL | 51 | |
| GRIFFITH | 63 | ILLIANA CHRISTIAN | 42 | |
| HAGERSTOWN | 52 | UNION COUNTY | 39 | |
| HAMILTON HEIGHTS | 88 | LOGANSPORT | 50 | |
| HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 57 | BREBEUF JESUIT | 42 | |
| HAMMOND MORTON | 61 | BOWMAN ACADEMY | 55 | |
| HEBRON | 72 | TRI-TOWNSHIP | 30 | |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN | 60 | INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 52 | |
| HERITAGE HILLS | 50 | NORTH POSEY | 41 | |
| HIGHLAND | 77 | WHITING | 43 | |
| HOMESTEAD | 72 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 40 | |
| INDIAN CREEK | 72 | CLOVERDALE | 64 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS | 63 | WARREN CENTRAL | 55 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL | 78 | INDIANAPOLIS TECH | 55 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RITTER | 75 | BETHESDA CHRISTIAN | 35 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE | 74 | VICTORY COLLEGE PREP | 29 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI | 45 | DECATUR CENTRAL | 43 | |
| IRVINGTON PREP | 76 | CENTRAL CHRISTIAN | 31 | |
| JAC-CEN-DEL | 67 | SHAWE MEMORIAL | 43 | |
| JEFFERSONVILLE | 56 | SEYMOUR | 36 | |
| JENNINGS COUNTY | 74 | EAST CENTRAL | 38 | |
| KIPP INDY LEGACY | 97 | SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) | 73 | |
| KOKOMO | 84 | MCCUTCHEON | 67 | |
| KOUTS | 62 | SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) | 41 | |
| LAPORTE | 49 | LOWELL | 34 | |
| LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 47 | COVINGTON | 38 | |
| LAFAYETTE JEFF | 48 | HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) | 42 | OT |
| LAWRENCEBURG | 62 | BATESVILLE | 52 | |
| LEBANON | 52 | WESTERN BOONE | 22 | |
| LINTON | 74 | MITCHELL | 64 | |
| MACONAQUAH | 71 | WABASH | 44 | |
| MADISON-GRANT | 52 | ELWOOD | 34 | |
| MARION | 73 | RICHMOND | 59 | |
| MILAN | 57 | SOUTH DECATUR | 49 | |
| MISHAWAKA | 61 | ANDREAN | 57 | OT |
| MOORESVILLE | 66 | BLOOMINGTON NORTH | 50 | |
| MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) | 44 | PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 39 | |
| NEW ALBANY | 92 | FLOYD CENTRAL | 66 | |
| NOBLESVILLE | 50 | CARMEL | 37 | |
| NORTH DAVIESS | 60 | NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) | 49 | |
| NORTH DECATUR | 66 | EDINBURGH | 52 | |
| NORTH VERMILLION | 84 | TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN | 48 | |
| NORTHEASTERN | 51 | EASTERN HANCOCK | 35 | |
| NORTHVIEW | 59 | WEST VIGO | 35 | |
| OAK HILL | 40 | MISSISSINEWA | 38 | |
| ORLEANS | 56 | NORTHEAST DUBOIS | 35 | |
| PAOLI | 59 | WEST WASHINGTON | 27 | |
| PARKE HERITAGE | 58 | PARK TUDOR | 44 | |
| PENN | 46 | CONCORD | 40 | |
| PERU | 71 | SOUTHWOOD | 59 | |
| PIKE | 66 | BROWNSBURG | 56 | |
| PLAINFIELD | 84 | MARTINSVILLE | 65 | |
| PRINCETON | 62 | EVANSVILLE BOSSE | 46 | |
| PROVIDENCE | 67 | LANESVILLE | 34 | |
| PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD | 75 | INDIANAPOLIS HERRON | 25 | |
| RENSSELAER CENTRAL | 55 | NORTH WHITE | 32 | |
| RIVERTON PARKE | 36 | FOUNTAIN CENTRAL | 24 | |
| ROCHESTER | 59 | NORTH JUDSON | 43 | |
| ROCK CREEK ACADEMY | 56 | CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 55 | |
| RUSHVILLE | 36 | FRANKLIN COUNTY | 35 | |
| SEEGER | 66 | NORTH MONTGOMERY | 55 | |
| SHAKAMAK | 79 | NORTH KNOX | 71 | |
| SHELBYVILLE | 70 | NEW CASTLE | 61 | |
| SHENANDOAH | 62 | TRI | 49 | |
| SHERIDAN | 53 | CLINTON CENTRAL | 33 | |
| SILVER CREEK | 69 | NORTH HARRISON | 44 | |
| SOUTH ADAMS | 40 | CHURUBUSCO | 38 | |
| SOUTH BEND ADAMS | 65 | VICTORY CHRISTIAN | 46 | |
| SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) | 56 | BORDEN | 54 | |
| SOUTH DEARBORN | 72 | MADISON | 62 | |
| SOUTH RIPLEY | 75 | HAUSER | 62 | |
| SOUTHMONT | 72 | DANVILLE | 66 | |
| SOUTHPORT | 60 | BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 57 | |
| SOUTHRIDGE | 34 | SOUTH KNOX | 23 | |
| SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) | 80 | NEW WASHINGTON | 49 | |
| SPEEDWAY | 54 | MONROVIA | 51 | |
| SULLIVAN | 43 | NORTH PUTNAM | 38 | |
| SWITZERLAND COUNTY | 59 | RISING SUN | 51 | |
| TAYLOR | 45 | NORTHWESTERN | 36 | |
| TELL CITY | 76 | EVANSVILLE DAY | 70 | OT |
| TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 73 | NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) | 63 | |
| TRI-WEST | 79 | FRANKFORT | 43 | |
| TRITON | 45 | PIONEER | 27 | |
| TWIN LAKES | 55 | TRI-COUNTY | 46 | |
| VALPARAISO | 57 | HANOVER CENTRAL | 44 | |
| VINCENNES LINCOLN | 71 | SHOALS | 40 | |
| VINCENNES RIVET | 70 | WASHINGTON CATHOLIC | 16 | |
| WALDRON | 46 | MORRISTOWN | 38 | |
| WAPAHANI | 55 | LAPEL | 44 | |
| WASHINGTON | 71 | SOUTH SPENCER | 51 | |
| WES-DEL | 78 | UNION (MODOC) | 31 | |
| WEST CENTRAL | 60 | SOUTH NEWTON | 45 | |
| WEST LAFAYETTE | 81 | CRAWFORDSVILLE | 41 | |
| WESTERN | 42 | TIPTON | 32 | |
| WESTFIELD | 53 | GUERIN CATHOLIC | 40 | |
| WESTVILLE | 70 | BOONE GROVE | 41 | |
| WHEELER | 67 | LAKE STATION | 51 | |
| WHITELAND | 63 | PERRY MERIDIAN | 55 | |
| WINAMAC | 61 | ARGOS | 34 | |
| WINCHESTER | 64 | UNION CITY | 38 | |
| WOOD MEMORIAL | 47 | PERRY CENTRAL | 43 | |
| ZIONSVILLE | 77 | LAWRENCE CENTRAL | 60 |
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL
HOMESTEAD.COM
| ALEXANDRIA | 67 | BLACKFORD | 22 | |
| BELLMONT | 53 | EAST NOBLE | 29 | |
| BLUE RIVER | 34 | COWAN | 31 | OT |
| BLUFFTON | 66 | WOODLAN | 43 | |
| BREMEN | 71 | KNOX | 30 | |
| CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 75 | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA | 61 | |
| CENTRAL CHRISTIAN | 39 | IRVINGTON PREP | 20 | |
| CHESTERTON | 52 | PORTAGE | 19 | |
| COLUMBIA CITY | 74 | NORWELL | 67 | |
| CORYDON CENTRAL | 65 | SALEM | 26 | |
| CULVER ACADEMY | 48 | CULVER | 19 | |
| DANVILLE | 63 | SOUTHMONT | 35 | |
| DEKALB | 57 | LEO | 39 | |
| EASTSIDE | 70 | PRAIRIE HEIGHTS | 18 | |
| ELKHART | 63 | NEW PRAIRIE | 28 | |
| ELWOOD | 50 | MADISON-GRANT | 19 | |
| FAIRFIELD | 53 | LAKELAND | 36 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTH | 55 | FORT WAYNE SOUTH | 42 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 67 | FORT WAYNE LUERS | 29 | |
| FORT WAYNE SNIDER | 57 | FORT WAYNE WAYNE | 36 | |
| FRANKLIN | 72 | GREENWOOD | 32 | |
| FRANKTON | 51 | EASTBROOK | 21 | |
| GIBSON SOUTHERN | 63 | EVANSVILLE NORTH | 60 | OT |
| GREENFIELD-CENTRAL | 48 | NEW PALESTINE | 35 | |
| HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 61 | AVON | 45 | |
| HOMESTEAD | 76 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 34 | |
| HUNTINGTON NORTH | 70 | NEW HAVEN | 21 | |
| INDIAN CREEK | 64 | CLOVERDALE | 24 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 65 | HERITAGE CHRISTIAN | 38 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE | 39 | VICTORY COLLEGE PREP | 12 | |
| JAY COUNTY | 53 | ADAMS CENTRAL | 50 | OT |
| KANKAKEE VALLEY | 51 | HOBART | 46 | |
| LAVILLE | 40 | JOHN GLENN | 36 | |
| LAKE CENTRAL | 53 | MICHIGAN CITY | 39 | |
| LEBANON | 54 | WESTERN BOONE | 44 | |
| MCCUTCHEON | 54 | KOKOMO | 45 | |
| MONROVIA | 66 | SPEEDWAY | 40 | |
| MORRISTOWN | 73 | WALDRON | 40 | |
| MUNSTER | 67 | LOWELL | 32 | |
| NORTHWOOD | 57 | MISHAWAKA | 21 | |
| NORTHFIELD | 48 | SOUTHWOOD | 34 | |
| NORTHRIDGE | 52 | CONCORD | 14 | |
| NORTHVIEW | 68 | WEST VIGO | 26 | |
| OWEN VALLEY | 62 | BROWN COUNTY | 32 | |
| PENN | 64 | MISHAWAKA MARIAN | 19 | |
| PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD | 68 | ANDERSON | 34 | |
| SHELBYVILLE | 47 | NEW CASTLE | 38 | |
| SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH | 55 | SOUTH BEND ADAMS | 39 | |
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 64 | SOUTH BEND RILEY | 31 | |
| SOUTH PUTNAM | 57 | GREENCASTLE | 54 | |
| SOUTHERN WELLS | 55 | HERITAGE | 19 | |
| SULLIVAN | 56 | NORTH PUTNAM | 27 | |
| TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 50 | JIMTOWN | 17 | |
| TRI-CENTRAL | 45 | EASTERN (GREENTOWN) | 38 | |
| TRI-TOWNSHIP | 51 | HEBRON | 15 | |
| TRI-WEST | 89 | FRANKFORT | 15 | |
| UNIVERSITY | 55 | MUNCIE BURRIS | 18 | |
| VALPARAISO | 54 | CROWN POINT | 46 | |
| WAWASEE | 41 | GOSHEN | 19 | |
| WEST NOBLE | 33 | CHURUBUSCO | 28 | |
| WESTFIELD | 46 | ZIONSVILLE | 36 | |
| WESTVILLE | 73 | BOONE GROVE | 31 | |
| WHITKO | 57 | MANCHESTER | 39 | |
| WINAMAC | 44 | ARGOS | 39 |
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING RESULTS
DUAL RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/dualresults.html/
TOURNEY RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/curtournamentresults.html/
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE VS. JACKSON STATE (CELEBRATION BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ABC
INCARNATE WORD AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
MINNESOTA STATE AT VALDOSTA STATE (DII SEMIFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
BETHEL (MN) AT SUSQUEHANNA (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
MARY-HARDIN BAYLOR AT JOHNS HOPKINS (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
SPRINGFIELD AT NORTH CENTRAL (ILL.) (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
MOUNT UNION AT SALISBURY (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
NAVY AT NO. 22 ARMY (NORTHWEST STADIUM IN LANDOVER, MD) | 3 P.M. | CBS
UC DAVIS AT SOUTH DAKOTA (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
MERCER AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
SLIPPERY ROCK AT FERRIS STATE (DII SEMIFINALS) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN (SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 17
NO. 25 MEMPHIS VS. WEST VIRGINIA (FRISCO BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18
JAMES MADISON VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY (BOCA RATON BOWL) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 24 UNLV VS. CAL (LA BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 19
SAM HOUSTON VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (NEW ORLEANS BOWL) | 7 P.M. | ESPN2
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
OHIO VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE (CURE BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
FLORIDA VS. TULANE (GASPARILLA BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 8 INDIANA AT NO. 5 NOTRE DAME (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 8 P.M. | ABC/ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
NO. 10 SMU AT NO. 4 PENN STATE (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 12 P.M. | TNT/MAX
UC DAVIS/SOUTH DAKOTA VS. IDAHO/MONTANA STATE (FCS SEMIFINALS) | 12 OR 3:30 P.M. | ABC
UIW/SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. MERCER/NORTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS SEMIFINALS) | 12 OR 3:30 P.M. | ABC
TBD VS. TBD (DII CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MCKINNEY, TX) | 2 P.M. | ESPN2
NO. 16 CLEMSON AT NO. 3 TEXAS (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 4 P.M. | TNT/MAX
NO. 7 TENNESSEE AT NO. 6 OHIO STATE (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 8 P.M. | ABC/ESPN
TBD VS. TBD (DIII SEMIFINALS) | TBA | ESPN+
TBD VS. TBD (DIII SEMIFINALS) | TBA | ESPN+
MONDAY, DEC. 23
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. UTSA (MYRTLE BEACH BOWL) | 11 A.M. | ESPN
NORTHERN ILLINOIS VS. FRESNO STATE (FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
SOUTH FLORIDA VS. SAN JOSE STATE (HAWAI’I BOWL) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 26
PITT VS. TOLEDO (GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL) | 2 P.M. | ESPN
RUTGERS VS. KANSAS STATE (RATE BOWL) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
ARKANSAS STATE VS. BOWLING GREEN (68 VENTURES BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 27
NAVY VS. OKLAHOMA (ARMED FORCES BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
GEORGIA TECH VS. VANDERBILT (BIRMINGHAM BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS TECH (LIBERTY BOWL) | 7 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 21 SYRACUSE VS. WASHINGTON STATE (HOLIDAY BOWL) | 8 P.M. | FOX
USC VS. TEXAS A&M (LAS VEGAS BOWL) | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 28
UCONN VS. NORTH CAROLINA (FENWAY BOWL) | 11 A.M. | ESPN
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NEBRASKA (PINSTRIPE BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. LOUISIANA (NEW MEXICO BOWL) | 2:15 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 13 MIAMI (FLA.) VS. NO. 18 IOWA STATE (POP-TARTS BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
COLORADO STATE VS. MIAMI (OHIO) (ARIZONA BOWL) | 4:30 P.M. | CW NETWORK
NC STATE VS. EAST CAROLINA (MILITARY BOWL) | 5:45 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 17 BYU VS. NO. 23 COLORADO (ALAMO BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
NO. 22 ARMY VS. MARSHALL (INDEPENCE BOWL) | 9:15 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, DEC. 30
NO. 19 MISSOURI VS. IOWA (MUSIC CITY BOWL) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 31
NO. 11 ALABAMA VS. MICHIGAN (RELIAQUEST BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
LOUISVILLE VS. WASHINGTON (SUN BOWL) | 2 P.M. | CBS
NO. 15 SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NO. 20 ILLINOIS (CITRUS BOWL) | 3 P.M. | ABC
LSU VS. BAYLOR (TEXAS BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 9 BOISE STATE VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — FIESTA BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 12 ARIZONA STATE VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — PEACH BOWL) | 1 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 1 OREGON VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — ROSE BOWL) | 5 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 2 GEORGIA VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — SUGAR BOWL) | 8:45 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, JAN. 2
NO. 14 OLE MISS VS. DUKE (GATOR BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 3
NORTH TEXAS VS. TEXAS STATE (FIRST RESPONDER BOWL) | 4 P.M. | ESPN
MINNESOTA VS. VIRGINIA TECH (DUKE’S MAYO BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, JAN. 4
LIBERTY VS. BUFFALO (BAHAMAS BOWL) | 11 A.M. | ESPN2
SUNDAY, JAN. 5
TBD VS. TBD (DIII STAGG BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN HOUSTON, TX) | TBA | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 6
TBD VS. TBD (FCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN FRISCO, TX) | 7 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAME — ORANGE BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAME — COTTON BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 20
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME — IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
NFL WEEK 15 SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, DEC. 15
DALLAS COWBOYS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P CBS)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)
NEW YORK JETS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P FOX)
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1:00P FOX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1:00P CBS)
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1:00P FOX)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:25P CBS)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:25P CBS)
BUFFALO BILLS AT DETROIT LIONS (4:25P CBS)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4:25P FOX)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4:25P FOX)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 16
CHICAGO BEARS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8:00P ABC)
ATLANTA FALCONS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (8:30P ESPN)
NFL WEEK 16 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, DEC. 19
DENVER BRONCOS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
HOUSTON TEXANS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1:00P NBC)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (4:30P FOX)
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS 1:00P FOX)
NEW YORK GIANTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT BUFFALO BILLS (1:00P CBS)
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)
DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)
TENNESSEE TITANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT NEW YORK JETS (1:00P CBS)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P FOX)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:05P FOX)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:25P CBS)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (4:25P CBS)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 23
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (8:15P ESPN)
NFL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25 (CHRISTMAS)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1:00P NETFLIX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (4:30P NETFLIX)
THURSDAY, DEC. 26
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CHICAGO BEARS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SATURDAY, DEC. 28
TBD TBD (1:00P NFL NETWORK)
TBD TBD (4:30P NFL NETWORK)
TBD TBD (8:00P NFL NETWORK)
SATURDAY GAME POOL:
DENVER BRONCOS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT NEW YORK GIANTS
ATLANTA FALCONS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
SUNDAY, DEC. 29
NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO BILLS (1:00P CBS)
TENNESSEE TITANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P CBS)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P FOX)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1:00P FOX)
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P CBS)
DALLAS COWBOYS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4:25P FOX)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 30
DETROIT LIONS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8:15P ESPN/ABC)
NFL WEEK 18 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, JAN. 4 OR SUNDAY, JAN. 5
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DENVER BRONCOS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT DETROIT LIONS
CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS
NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
TOP 25:
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
ELSEWHERE:
NEBRASKA 85 INDIANA 68
WOMEN’S COLLEGE SCOREBOARD
TOP 25:
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
NBA SCOREBOARD
INDIANA 121 PHILADELPHIA 107
CLEVELAND 115 WASHINGTON 105
MINNESOTA 97 LA LAKERS 87
MEMPHIS 135 BROOKLYN 119
CHICAGO 109 CHARLOTTE 95
DENVER 120 LA CLIPPERS 98
PHOENIX 134 UTAH 126
SAN ANTONIO 118 PORTLAND 116
NHL SCOREBOARD
OTTAWA 3 CAROLINA 0
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MORE PLAYING TIME? A FRESH START? EXTRA CASH? THE TRANSFER PORTAL PRODUCES WINNERS AND LOSERS
Some were upset about playing time. Others just needed a change of scenery. In a lot of cases, it was a matter of cold, hard cash — either the money they would get by going elsewhere, or the money they never got at the place they were at.
With the transfer portal open, and more than 1,000 players potentially on the move, now is a good time to look at some of the biggest winners and losers from last year’s round of what is essentially college football free agency.
In this, the College Football Playoff edition, we’ll look at players who either left CFP teams for a new start, or turned their new school into one of this season’s lucky 12.
Winners
WR Isaiah Bond, Alabama to Texas: When Nick Saban left the Crimson Tide, Bond decided it was time to go, too. With no certainty about what Alabama would become, he knew going to the Longhorns would give him a spot in a big-time offense. Stats: 33 receptions, 532 yards, five touchdowns.
RB Trevor Etienne, Florida to Georgia: He moved to Florida’s archrival, but Etienne said he saw the uncertainty around the Gators rebuild and instead “decided to bet on myself and take a chance somewhere else.” Stats: 571 yards, nine TDs.
QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma to Oregon: When Gabriel’s draft status didn’t appear as good as he was hoping, he decided to use his sixth year of eligibility. OU coach Brent Venables said he was surprised when Gabriel told him he wanted to transfer to be closer to home (Hawaii). Neither the Ducks nor Gabriel has lost since. Stats: 3,558 yards, 28 TDs, 6 interceptions.
QB Will Howard, Kansas State to Ohio State: With one more year of eligibility, Howard made the decision to go to a school with a more traditional passing offense, and one where he’d have a better chance to be a title contender. Check and check. Stats: 2,860 yards, 27 TDs, 8 INTs.
QB Sam Leavitt, Michigan State to Arizona State: Leavitt played sparingly as a freshman and the Spartans fired coach Mel Tucker, who had recruited the QB. Tucker’s replacement, Jonathan Smith, came from Oregon State, which sealed the deal because Smith never offered Leavitt even though Leavitt went to high school in Portland. Stats: 2,663 yards, 24 TDs, five INTs.
QB Riley Leonard, Duke to Notre Dame: Leonard’s 2023 got off to a great start, with a win over Clemson and an 4-0 record. Then, he got hurt. Then, his coach left. When Notre Dame became an option, it was a no-brainer. Stats: 2,092 yards, 16 TDs, five INTs.
QB Kurtis Rourke, Ohio to Indiana: Rourke had one season of eligibility left and new Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti came calling. Cignetti was trying to start something at a school with zero football tradition and Rourke decided to move up to the Big Ten. Stats: 2,827 yards, 27 TDs, four INTs.
WR Evan Stewart, Texas A&M to Oregon: This social media post says it all for Stewart, who was the top receiver in the portal last year: “I saw it coming freshman year when I didn’t get paid a dollar from A&M but ‘sliced bread’ had y’all thinking we was all millionaires.” Stats: 48 receptions, 613 yards, five TDs.
Losers
WR Elijhah Badger, Arizona State to Florida: The fifth-year senior jumped in the portal this spring, bailing on the Sun Devils despite catching 135 passes for 1,579 yards and 10 TDs in two years under coach Kenny Dillingham. He’s now headed to the Gasparilla Bowl. Stats: 37 receptions, 789 yards, four TDs.
DB Trikweze Bridges, Oregon to Florida: The 6-foot-3 Alabama native was looking for more playing time and a chance to switch to safety when he moved closer to home after four years with the Ducks. He ended up back at cornerback following a slew of injuries at the position. Stats: 69 tackles, one INT.
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia to Kentucky: A two-year starter and two-time national champion with the Bulldogs, Dumas-Johnson transferred to Lexington to “have more fun with it.” The Wildcats lost six of their final seven games and will miss a bowl game for the first time since 2015. Dumas-Johnson was a bright spot, though. Stats: 67 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks.
DE B.J. Green, Arizona State to Colorado: Despite being ASU’s best pass rusher for three seasons, Green joined Deion Sanders in Boulder for his senior year. He raised his production slightly but will play in the Alamo Bowl instead of the CFP. Stats: 30 tackles, 7 1/2 sacks.
S Bryan Massey, SMU to Houston: Massey looked like one of the best kick returners in the country in 2021. But injuries cost him playing time as a senior. He found a fresh start about 250 miles away, although he ended up sharing return duties. Stats: 227 all-purpose yards, 4 tackles.
S Kobee Minor, Indiana to Memphis: Despite earning honorable mention status on the All-Big Ten team as a junior, Minor transferred for the second time in two years. He missed two games. Stats: 31 tackles, five pass breakups.
RB Savion Red, Texas to Nevada: Red had a solid season with the Wolf Pack. But he may have been able to put up similar numbers at Texas after the Longhorns lost starter CJ Baxter and backup Christian Clark during fall camp. Stats: 687 yards, eight TDs.
QB Brock Vandagriff, Georgia to Kentucky: Vandagriff might have been in position to start a CFP game in place of injured senior Carson Beck. But he left Athens for a guaranteed job in Lexington. It surely didn’t go as planned. Vandagriff was benched in October. Stats: 1,593 yards, 10 TDs, eight INTs.
TENNESSEE VOLS BUTT OF NO MORE JOKES AND PLAYOFF-BOUND REVIVED BY JOSH HEUPEL
A turnover trashcan foreshadowed a coaching search best described as a dumpster fire that wound up costing both a coach and athletic director their jobs. A revolving door to the coaching office. NCAA investigations and scholarship reductions.
Don’t forget the mustard bottle thrown onto the Neyland Stadium field or the golf ball that came perilously close to Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin — whose one-year stint made him the first of seven coaches, counting two interims, at Tennessee after Philip Fulmer’s firing after the 2008 season.
No. 6 Ohio State is very accustomed to the playoff stage with the Buckeyes chasing their first national championship since 2014 and first title game berth since 2020. Seventh-ranked Tennessee has its own championship pedigree, though its last national title came in 1998. The Volunteers had been the butt of too many jokes for too many painful years.
That officially ends Dec. 21 when ninth-seeded Tennessee visits No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2, No. 6 CFP) in the first round of the newly expanded College Football Playoff with the winner traveling to the Rose Bowl to face top-ranked Oregon.
“We’ve done our job and gotten this place back to back to where it needs to be and where it’s supposed to be,” said center Cooper Mays, who played high school ball in Knoxville and knows what this game means. “We’re out here in the in the thick of things going into December, going into the playoffs. And that’s kind of all you can ask for at this point in the season.”
Plenty of credit goes to coach Josh Heupel who has the Vols (10-2, No. 9 CFP) here in his fourth season on Rocky Top.
A quick revival for a program that went 3-7 in 2020 with a season capped by the chancellor firing then-coach Jeremy Pruitt and nine others over what she called “shocking” NCAA violations. Tennessee took its medicine to ease NCAA sanctions by cutting scholarships, leaving Heupel with 65 his first season. University officials refused to self-impose a bowl ban on top of that.
That probe ended in the summer of 2023 with the NCAA’s scathing report detailing more than 200 infractions — including 18 Level I violations and approximately $60,000 paid out to athletes and families in recruiting infractions under Pruitt.
Yet Heupel, who called potential NCAA punishment a “mere speed bump” when hired in January 2021, has managed something none of his recent predecessors could. He has led Tennessee to 30 victories since 2022 — matching the Vols’ winningest three-year stretch since 1998 through 2000.
To Heupel, the playoffs is simply the next step.
“You earn the right to be in a game like this,” Heupel said. “Proud of what we’ve done throughout the course of the regular season. The new season starts here. There was an expectation inside of our program to earn the right to play in a game like this in the postseason. So, a lot of excitement in here but also understand we’re getting ready to go play a great team and we’ve got to be at our best.”
Heupel initially was seen as a quick fix. New athletic director Danny White, who was lured away from Central Florida to rebuild the athletic program, brought Heupel with him to Knoxville a week after his own hiring.
Now Heupel is the third coach in Tennessee history with multiple 10-win regular seasons with two in three years. He joins Fulmer (five in 17 years) and Gen. Robert Neyland (five in 21 including the 1951 national championship season). Neyland Stadium is full again. The waiting list for season tickets now tops 20,000, even with an announced ticket hike for 2025 to help the Vols pay and keep top talent.
“Vol Nation proves again why y’all are the best fan base in all of sports!” White wrote on social media Wednesday night.
When the NCAA came at Tennessee again over name, image and likeness compensation to athletes, the same chancellor who made sure everyone cooperated in the last investigation didn’t hold back. Donde Plowman called the NCAA a “failing” organization in a letter in January pursuing “factually untrue and procedurally flawed” allegations.
She had the backing of the attorneys general of both Tennessee and Virginia who sued the NCAA, and a federal judge granted their injunction request in February keeping the organization from enforcing NIL rules for recruits.
The winning has been contagious at Tennessee:
— Coach Rick Barnes won the regular season Southeastern Conference men’s basketball title in March and now has the nation’s top-ranked team.
— Coach Tony Vitello won the Vols’ first national baseball title in June.
— New Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell has the women’s basketball team back in the AP Top 25 after White fired Kellie Harper, who won national titles for the late Pat Summitt as her point guard.
Yet, football really just means more in the SEC. Those devoted Vols’ fans, who stopped the hiring of then-Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano before Tennessee could even announce a news conference in 2017, had hoped Tennessee would host a game. Road losses to Arkansas and Georgia are why Tennessee is hitting the road.
This game seemed a distant hope for Tennessee after too many beatdowns by Alabama, Georgia and Florida — and yes even Vanderbilt. Not to Heupel, who was the quarterback who led Oklahoma to the 2000 national championship.
And not for Tennessee, not now. ___
MARYLAND’S EDWARDS SAYS HE’S ENTERING TRANSFER PORTAL; BOISE STATE’S NELSON REPORTEDLY ENTERING, TOO
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. announced Thursday night he’s decided to enter the transfer portal, meaning the Terrapins will likely have a new starter at the position for a second straight season.
Edwards said on social media he’s excited for the opportunities ahead. He threw for 2,881 yards in 11 games this season, his first as Maryland’s No. 1 quarterback after Taulia Tagovailoa held down the position for four years. The Terrapins went 4-8 this season.
Maryland has signed four-star quarterback Malik Washington, one of the highest-ranked recruits in the country at the position, as part of next year’s class.
Elsewhere, ESPN reported Boise State quarterback Malachi Nelson intends to enter the portal. Nelson has been a backup this season for the playoff-bound Broncos. Nelson was one of the top recruits nationally in 2023 and went to Southern California before transferring to Boise State.
NFL NEWS
JAGUARS TE EVAN ENGRAM TO HAVE SEASON-ENDING SHOULDER SURGERY AND JOIN QB TREVOR LAWRENCE ON IR
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Coach Doug Pederson announced the decision Friday, saying Engram will be placed on injured reserve two days before the Jaguars (3-10) host the New York Jets (3-10).
Engram has 47 receptions for 365 yards and a touchdown this season, his third in Jacksonville. He missed four games early in the season because of a strained hamstring. Engram hurt his shoulder in the first half of last week’s 10-6 victory at Tennessee, and tests later revealed the extent of the injury.
Engram joins a growing list of offensive starters sidelined, following quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion/non-throwing shoulder), receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) and receiver Gabe Davis (knee).
Jacksonville will turn to Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell to handle Engram’s share of the workload moving forward.
Engram is one of three tight ends in NFL history with at least 40 receptions in their first eight seasons, joining Jeremy Shockey and George Kittle. Engram has 496 career catches for 4,922 yards and 25 scores, with most of those coming during his five years with the New York Giants.
WEEK 15 NFL CAPSULES
Dallas Cowboys (5-8) at Carolina Panthers (3-10) 1 p.m. ET, FOX
What are the odds the Carolina Panthers are favorites in a game this season? This is the week. Oddsmakers for the first time since December 2022 are giving the Panthers the edge — they’re 2.5-point favorites as of Friday afternoon — over the Cowboys. Dallas rolls into Charlotte on a short turnaround from a 27-20 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Playoff prospects are dimming for Dallas after a botched blocked punt gave the ball back to the Bengals for their game-winning score. The Panthers are familiar with bum luck. Carolina lost its last three games but had chances to win each one late in setbacks to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas has been in one-possession games for three consecutive weeks, winning the first two of those. Cooper Rush remains at quarterback with Dak Prescott out. He didn’t reach the 200-yard mark in passing the past two weeks with RB Rico Dowell providing a boost with back-to-back games 100-plus-yard games on the ground. One name and face the Panthers know from their 33-10 loss to Dallas last season is LB Micah Parsons. Parsons had six tackles, including 2.5 sacks, in the 2023 meeting. Panthers QB Bryce Young threw an interception for the first time in four games last week and head coach Dave Canales continues to celebrate his progress and competitive fire.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) at Cleveland Browns (3-10) 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Andy Reid has a 9-0 record against Cleveland and has two wins over Kevin Stefanski with the Browns, including a playoff victory in 2021. The Chiefs (12-1) clinched the division for the ninth straight season by edging the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17 last Sunday night. They could add PK Harrison Butker back to the roster from injured reserve, a weapon Kansas City would be glad to have given its penchant for close games this season. Pass rush is a constant talking point for both coaches, and in turn, pass protection. Breakdowns have led to turnovers — the starting quarterbacks have combined for 20 interceptions — and flipped momentum throughout the season. Browns QB Jameis Winston has 1,975 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has a 68.1 completion rate with 3,189 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Cleveland increased production on offense with Winston at quarterback. But a 27-14 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week officially eliminated the Browns from playoff contention. The Chiefs are hoping to stockpile wins as they begin a stretch of three games in a 11 days sitting on a two-game lead in the AFC homefield race.
Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Houston Texans (8-5), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Slim and none are too harsh to describe Miami’s playoff chances, but those might be applicable tags if the Dolphins drop an eighth game of the season on Sunday at Houston. The Dolphins have won four of their past five games, but they remain a long shot to qualify for the AFC playoffs. The Dolphins went 1-3 and averaged 10 points per game while standout quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined due to a concussion and are still trying to climb out. They lost their first two games after Tagovailoa returned from IR and have topped 30 points in three of their past four games. Hope stayed alive last week. The Dolphins, who trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter, received a tying 52-yard field goal from Jason Sanders with seven seconds left to force overtime and beat the Jets. Off a bye last week, Houston could claim consecutive division titles on with a win Sunday and a loss by the Indianapolis Colts against the Denver Broncos. The Texans lead the Colts by two games and swept the two-game season series to hold the all-important tiebreaker. Because of a challenging closing schedule — Miami is the first of three opponents in a span of 11 days — head coach DeMeco Ryans wants all of Houston’s focus on Miami. The Texans visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 21 and then host the Baltimore Ravens four days later on Christmas Day, which falls on a Wednesday. The Texans are still trying to find firm footing with just two wins since a 5-1 start.
New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
A matchup that feels quite draft-y, the Jaguars entered December in the race for the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in five years (2021, 2022). They’re even with the Jets with three wins meaning the losing team would have the draft order advantage in April. A dose of positive news would be welcome on either side. Jacksonville won for the first time since Oct. 20 snapping a five-game losing streak. The Jets last won on Halloween and extended their own losing streak to four games at Miami last week. The Jets have lost nine of their last 10 games, including four in a row. They are 2-7 in one-score games and have lost the last three games by a total of 12 points. QB Aaron Rodgers turned 41 this month but Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, a longtime Packers backup to Brett Favre, said he isn’t showing his age. Rodgers passed for 339 yards and a score in a 32-26 overtime loss at Miami. He 2,966 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’ll face Jaguars QB Mac Jones with Trevor Lawrence (concussion, shoulder) on IR.
Washington Commanders (8-5) at New Orleans Saints (5-8), 1 p.m., FOX
Saints fans, please welcome … Jake Haener? It’s possible New Orleans rolls out Haener for his first career start or turns to him early given the health of QB Derek Carr (hand). Maybe he’ll borrow from Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels, who is back in Louisiana where he starred as the Heisman Trophy winner at LSU last season. Daniels can become the fourth rookie QB with 3,000 passing yards (2,819) and 500 rushing (589). It also could be a homecoming for Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who was acquired by Washington in a trade with New Orleans on Nov. 5. The four-time Pro Bowler has missed the past five games because of a hamstring injury sustained while with the Saints, but he practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday. If you need a little inspiration to squeeze in a holiday workout, consider the career of Commanders LB Bobby Wagner. He has 104 tackles in 2024 at age 34, giving him 100 tackles for the 13th consecutive season. Only London Fletcher has a streak that long since 2000. He gets a matchup with Saints RB Alvin Kamara worth watching. Kamara leads all backs with 64 receptions this season, ranks third in the NFL with 1,423 yards from scrimmage yards and is 62 yards shy of his first-ever 1,000-yard rushing season. Kamara also needs only 15 yards to hit 500 receiving yards for the season for his fifth time.
Baltimore Ravens (8-5) at New York Giants (2-11), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
It will be a marathon 11 days for the Ravens. Currently fifth seed in the conference playoff picture, there’s still time for Baltimore to make a jump in the standings. Just two games behind division-leading Pittsburgh with four games to go, the Ravens have a home date with the Steelers in Week 16 in the midst of a three-games-in-11-days gauntlet that includes a Christmas Day trip to Houston. One explicit focus for the Ravens is getting PK Justin Tucker fixed. He kicked outside in the rain this week while the Ravens were indoors working out in hopes of snapping a funk causing panic because of his existing legacy as one of the most reliable in the NFL. Tucker, who has a total of 10 missed kicks this season including two PATs, missed multiple kicks in the 24-19 loss to the Eagles in Week 13 before the Ravens’ bye week. It’s been an ultramarathon for the Giants already. With an eight-game losing streak, the Giants are making a QB change once more to start Tommy DeVito this week. DeVito was named starter after Daniel Jones was released last month. But he was battered by the Buccaneers in that game and Drew Lock started the Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas. DeVito returns with the Giants still chasing their first win at home this season. First-round WR Malik Nabers wasn’t targeted in the first half of DeVito’s previous start. Still he’s been incredibly consistent — five-plus receptions in 10 of 11 games — while the QB carousel spins. Nabers has 80 receptions more than an NFL player in league history through their first 11 career games.
Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) at Tennessee Titans (3-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Titans head coach Brian Callahan might be one of the few professionals who could pitch a believable plan to stop Joe Burrow’s flame-throwing run through the NFL this season. Callahan became Titans head coach in January after serving as offensive coordinator of the Bengals and a direct tutor of Burrow. The student is glad to show his work on Sunday. Burrow leads the NFL with 3,706 pass yards & 33 TD passes in 2024. At Dallas on Monday, he posted his seventh game this season with three-plus TD passes, his sixth game with at least 300 yards passing and if Burrow overcomes a sore knee to do both Sunday in Nashville, he’ll join former 49ers QB Steve Young (1998) as the only players with 300-3 in five consecutive games. There’s another probable All-Pro on Callahan’s mind this week: WR Ja’Marr Chase. While Titans leading receiver Calvin Ridley has 738 yards in 13 games, here’s what Chase has done the past four games: 602 yards (150.5 per game), 8 TDs. Chase leads the NFL with 93 catches, 1,319 yards and 15 TDs. The Titans could soon be on the clock looking for their Burrow clone. Will Levis was thought to be a potential franchise quarterback but results in 2024 are uneven to date. There has been improvement from Levis taking care of the ball after struggling in that area to start the season. He’s INT-free for the past two games.
New England Patriots (3-10) at Arizona Cardinals (6-7), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
First-time general manager Eliot Wolf was on the clock with the No. 3 pick in the draft and two marquee players stood out: North Carolina QB Drake Maye and Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Wolf and the Patriots took the passer, and Maye is making strides. He hit 24 of 30 passes and one TD and rushed for 59 yards in Week 13 before New England’s bye week. During the time off Wolf & Company had a chance to take a look at Harrison Jr., who went one spot after Maye in the draft to the Cardinals. He leads all rookies with seven TD catches in 2024. Harrison is not the lead option for Arizona. TE Trey McBride is in the midst of an unstoppable stretch with seven-plus receptions (31 total) in the past three games. His 80 catches are tops on the Cardinals by a wide margin. The Patriots and Maye want to avoid playmaking S Budda Baker, who had 18 tackles last week and is second in the NFL with 132 tackles in 2024. Arizona is two games out of both the NFC West lead and the last wild-card spot, giving them two options to chase. While they would need to jump three teams to land a wild-card berth, they have to slip past two teams — the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams — to take the division.
Indianapolis Colts (6-7) at Denver Broncos (8-5), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Broncos hold a two-game lead over the Miami Dolphins (6-7) and Colts in the wild-card race, and they meet Sunday after a December bye week that opened additional time to prepare for what Colts head coach Shane Steichen is framing as a must-win in his own locker room. That’s because the Colts are two games behind the Texans in the AFC South and Houston holds the tiebreaker. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor could hold the key to keeping his team from folding in a feisty road environment. He has six 100-yard games this season, but the Broncos are among the league’s best at penetrating to disrupt timing in the backfield. That often means sending LB Nik Bonitto (11.0 sacks this season) and causing interior linemen to communicate protections to also account for DE Zach Allen (12 tackles for loss in 2024). Denver steps into the final four games of the season after a bye last week and the Broncos are riding a three-game winning streak. Not many projected the Broncos’ Bo Nix-to-Courtland Sutton combination to be one of the best in the league this season, but here they are on the doorstep of the playoffs and five consecutive games with at least six connections and 70 yards. That’s more than any QB-WR combo in the NFL this season.
Buffalo Bills (10-3) at Detroit Lions (12-1), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
A clash of conference frontrunners at Ford Field might point to a possible preview of the Super Bowl, but more imminently signals a lot of points. The Lions are the NFL’s top-scoring team at 32.5 points per game and the Bills are first in the AFC with 30.5 ppg. Already safely in the postseason, neither team wants to drop a game at this juncture because of the likely ramifications on home-field advantage through the conference title games. Playing outside of their comfortable home environment, Buffalo already has three losses this season. The Bills lost on the road to the Rams in one of Josh Allen’s top career performances — 424 yards (342 passing, 82 rushing), career-high six TDs (three pass, three rush) — and are trying to avoid back-to-back road defeats for the second time this season. Detroit is withstanding the gravity of losing several key defensive players to date. Explosive with depth on the offensive side of the ball, the Lions are already in playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1993-95. QB Jared Goff has 25 touchdown passes to seven receivers and one to himself (no, seriously) and Detroit can grind with the best of them behind a powerful offensive line and RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The Lions compiled 1,964 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 as a team in 2024. The NFC homefield fight could be decided Jan. 5 at Ford Field when the Minnesota Vikings visit.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
In the playoff field as of final play of Week 14, there’s no ground to give for either team with four games remaining on the regular-season schedule. Up next for the Chargers is division rival Denver, which has a matching 8-5 record. Before the Chargers can get there, they’ll need to deal with Tampa Bay’s improved running game and QB Baker Mayfield. With Chargers leading receiver Ladd McConkey sidelined last week, WR Quentin Johnston seemed to awaken from a rough patch at Kansas City last week and has become a primary read for QB Justin Herbert again. Herbert rarely has put the ball in harm’s way with a run of 11 consecutive games and an NFL-record 335 consecutive attempts without an interception. Tight margins are customary to the Chargers. Los Angeles leads the NFL in points allowed (15.9 per game) but half of its eight wins were decided by seven points or fewer. Tampa Bay is back on track with three wins in a row, but the Buccaneers built that streak against the Raiders, Giants and Panthers. Those teams own a combined 7-32 record. Often overlooked in the NFC playoff picture because the South is anchored by three sub-.500 teams, the Buccaneers have wins over the Lions, Eagles and Commanders — two division leaders and one of the current wild-card spot holders. Tampa Bay has games with the Cowboys, Panthers and Saints left on the schedule.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-2), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
It’s feasible that Eagles WR A.J. Brown snuck a peek ahead at the schedule to see the Steelers coming and wanted a public decree to remind peers of his run of dominance against Pittsburgh. He had six catches for 153 yards and a career-high three TDs the last time he saw the Steelers and has consecutive games with at least 6-150-1 in the matchup. While “passing” has been backburnered, there’s a good and epically productive reason Philadelphia is last in the NFL in pass attempts: Saquon Barkley. He leads NFL and already set a franchise-record with 1,623 rushing yards this season. That’s the second-most all-time by a player in the first 13 games of season since 2000. Barkley leads the NFL with 1,890 scrimmage yards. The Eagles might appreciate the existing trend in this series with the home team winning nine of the past 10 meetings. But the Steelers are 6-1 with Russell Wilson at quarterback this season. Wilson is 5-0 in his career against the Eagles. He’s down his top wideout in George Pickens on Sunday. Pittsburgh does have familiar defensive stalwarts back together. LB Alex Highsmith was back in the lineup last week and record a sack. He’s the sidekick to T.J. Watt, who needs 0.5 sacks to hit 10 in a season for the sixth time in his career.
Green Bay Packers (9-4) at Seattle Seahawks (8-5), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
The “12s” raise the flag on Sunday night encouraged to know the home team has won four straight in the often-dramatic Packers-Seahawks rivalry. The potential playoff preview brings added significance to possible tiebreaking — and homefield — scenarios in January. To ensure a home game in the playoffs, Seattle would like to stay a game ahead of the pack of NFC West teams in close pursuit following the Rams (8-6) win over the 49ers on Thursday. The Seahawks might have unintentionally unearthed an unstoppable backfield pairing with starter Kenneth Walker III idle last week. Zach Charbonnet set career highs in catches (seven), total yards (193), rushing yards (134) and two rushing TDs in a critical victory over Arizona. His emergence coincides with the rapid rise of WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a corps of receivers that also includes DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Given the newfound playmaking, it’s a good time for Green Bay to have top corner Jaire Alexander (knee) healthy for the first time in a month and rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper expecting to play after a long absence. The Packers continue to push RB Josh Jacobs toward peak production. He has eight rushing touchdowns in the past four games. And in Jacobs’ only career game against the Seahawks while he wore a Raiders’ uniform, Jacobs delivered a career-high 229 rushing yards, 74 receiving and two TD runs. Seattle DT Leonard Williams plopped himself in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year conversation with a run of highlight reel games the past month.
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: SPURS RALLY FROM 17 DOWN TO EDGE BLAZERS
Victor Wembanyama made two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to notch a 118-116 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Wembanyama made all 10 of his free-throw attempts while recording 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Devin Vassell scored 23 points off the bench, Julian Champagnie had 19 points and Jeremy Sochan added 15 for San Antonio, which overcame Portland with a 24-4 run in the final quarter.
Jerami Grant matched his career high of eight 3-pointers and scored 32 points as Portland lost its fifth straight game and fell for the ninth time in the past 11. Anfernee Simons produced 30 points and seven assists, and Deni Avdija had 19 points off the bench.
Suns 134, Jazz 126
Devin Booker put up a game-high 34 points and Kevin Durant returned from an injury absence to score 30, lifting Phoenix to a win over Utah in Salt Lake City.
Tyus Jones added 19 points and 11 assists and former Jazz forward Royce O’Neale chipped in with 17 points as the Suns snapped a three-game skid at the end of a four-game road trip.
Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 23 points and John Collins totaled 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. Lauri Markkanen contributed 19 points and Keyonte George tallied 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds, but the Jazz lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Cavaliers 115, Wizards 105
Donovan Mitchell had 20 points and Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen combined to make 24 free throws as Cleveland survived a surprising challenge from visiting Washington.
Garland finished with a team-high 24 points, Allen 21 and LeVert 14 for the Cavaliers, who improved to 14-1 at home this season. LeVert did most of his scoring on free throws as he made 8-of-12 attempts, while Garland went 9 of 10 and Allen 7 of 10.
Bilal Coulibaly paced Washington with a career-high-tying 27 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Jordan Poole chipped in with 17 points, a team-high six assists and three steals, Justin Champagnie pulled a team-high eight rebounds to complement 16 points and Alexandre Sarr added 14 points.
Pacers 121, 76ers 107
Tyrese Haliburton recorded 32 points to propel Indiana to a road victory over Philadelphia.
Pascal Siakam chipped in 23 points and eight boards for Indiana, while Obi Toppin notched 20 and eight off the bench. Haliburton drained 7 of 15 shots from beyond the arc and also dished out 11 assists.
Sixers star Joel Embiid, who has missed significant time this season due to injuries and suspension, exited late in the second quarter and did not return after taking an errant blow to the face. He finished with 12 points and five assists in 17 minutes. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 22 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Timberwolves 97, Lakers 87
Anthony Edwards scored 23 points on 9-for-20 shooting, and Minnesota held on for a wire-to-wire win over Los Angeles in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle finished with 21 points for Minnesota, which won for the fifth time in its past six games. Jaden McDaniels scored 18 points, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Anthony Davis scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Los Angeles, which lost for the eighth time in 11 contests. Austin Reaves contributed 18 points, and Max Christie scored 15. LeBron James did not play because of left foot soreness. James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, missed his second game of the season.
Grizzlies 135, Nets 119
Ja Morant had 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as Memphis won its fourth straight game, beating visiting Brooklyn.
Desmond Bane added 21 points and eight assists and Santi Aldama made five 3-pointers and had 20 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who won for the 10th time in their past 11 games. Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 20 points, Brandon Clarke scored 14 and Jaylen Wells had 12.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored 19 points to lead Brooklyn, which committed 18 turnovers and lost for the fifth time in its past six games. Dennis Schroder and Jalen Wilson scored 15 points apiece, and Noah Clowney, Shake Milton, Day’Ron Sharpe, Cameron Johnson and Keon Johnson each had 12 points.
Nuggets 120, Clippers 98
Jamal Murray scored 20 points in his return from a hamstring injury and Michael Porter Jr. added 17 as Denver beat visiting Los Angeles to win consecutive games for the first time in a month.
Nikola Jokic scored 16 points, while Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson added 14 each as the Nuggets won for the first time in three tries against the Clippers this season.
Kevin Porter Jr. and Norman Powell each scored 16 points as the Clippers lost their season-high-tying third consecutive game.
Bulls 109, Hornets 95
Chicago led Charlotte nearly wire to wire behind a stingy defensive performance and salvaged the finale of a three-game homestand.
The Bulls pounced on Charlotte with an early 12-2 run. Ayo Dosunmu, who scored a team-high 19, notched seven straight to cap the pivotal early run. Dosunmu led six Chicago scorers in double figures, including all five starters. Josh Giddey had a strong all-around performance with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Charlotte’s Brandon Miller led all scorers with 21 points, but he committed a game-high seven turnovers and shot a dismal 3-for-15 from 3-point range. Mark Williams, who shot 6-for-7 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds, finished with 15 points in the loss, the Hornets’ ninth in their last 10 games.
NHL NEWS
PINTO SCORES TWICE, ULLMARK GETS 2ND SHUTOUT OF SEASON AS SENS TOP CANES
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Shane Pinto scored twice, Linus Ullmark stopped 32 shots, and the Ottawa Senators beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Friday night.
Nick Jensen had a goal and an assist as the Senators won for the fourth time in five games. Nick Cousins and Michael Amadio both had two assists..
Ullmark got his second shutout of the season and 10th of his career.
Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves, but the Hurricanes were shut out for the second time in six games and lost for the fifth time in the last seven.
Pinto converted from the slot off a short pass from Amadio at 4:04 of the second period to open the scoring. Pinto added an empty-net goal with 47 seconds left.
The Senators beat the Hurricanes for only the sixth time in the last 20 meetings, with the first road win in the season in more than three years.
Takeaways
Senators: Ottawa’s best groove of the season is largely connected to the defensive end. The Senators haven’t allowed more than one goal in any of their past four victories.
Hurricanes: Carolina has trailed at some point for the 11th straight game.
Key moment
The Hurricanes threatened a few times in the second period, with Ullmark deflecting Brent Burns’ shot off his mask to maintain the 1-0 lead.
Key stat
The Senators killed off two Carolina power plays in the first period, so now they have gone 7 for 7 on penalty kills over the past two games. That’s a good boost for a team ranked 24th in the NHL in penalty-killing.
Up Next
Senators host Pittsburgh on Saturday, while Hurricanes host Columbus on Sunday.
BASEBALL NEWS
YANKEES TO ACQUIRE CLOSER DEVIN WILLIAMS FROM BREWERS FOR NESTOR CORTES, CHAD DURBIN, AP SOURCE SAYS
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have agreed to acquire All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press.
The Yankees also will receive more than $1 million from the Brewers as part of the trade, the person said on condition of anonymity Friday because the trade, first reported by MLB.com, had not been announced.
A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with a two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.
Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged 94.7 mph and he threw it on 53.5% of his pitches, mixing in 45% changeups and 1.5% cutters.
An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Williams was a second-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft and is 27-10 with a 1.83 ERA and 68 saves in 78 chances over six seasons, striking out 375 and walking 112 in 235 2/3 innings over 241 games.
Milwaukee declined a $10.5 million club option in favor of a $250,000 buyout last month, making Williams eligible for arbitration.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
COLTS NEWS
COLTS RULE OUT WR ASHTON DULIN, T BRADEN SMITH FOR WEEK 15 GAME VS. DENVER BRONCOS
The Colts on Friday ruled out wide receiver Ashton Dulin (ankle) and right tackle Braden Smith (personal matter) for their Week 15 game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High, head coach Shane Steichen said.
Wide receiver Josh Downs (shoulder), who missed the Colts’ Week 13 win over the New England Patriots, participated in all three of the Colts’ practices this week.
Linebacker Jaylon Carlies (fibula, shoulder) and center Ryan Kelly (knee), who are both on injured reserve, were designated to return to practice on Wednesday. Both Carlies and Kelly participated in practice this week – Carlies was full on Wednesday and Thursday, while Kelly was limited both days. The Colts would need to activate either or both players off injured reserve on Saturday for them to be able to play Sunday in Denver.
Steichen said “we’ll see” when asked if Carlies, Downs and Kelly could play Sunday.
Center Tanor Bortolini (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. He did not play in Week 13.
Check back later for the Colts’ final practice report of Week 15, which will include game status designations.
The Pacers shot 51.6 percent from the field, making 14 3-pointers, while holding the Sixers to 43.5 percent shooting and 10 treys. Philly turned the ball over 15 times in the game, which the Blue & Gold converted into 16 points.
INDIANA PACERS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 121, 76ERS 107
After a four-day break from games, the Indiana Pacers returned to the hardwood on Friday and secured their largest road win of the season.
Matching a season-high 35 team assists, and led by a dominant performance by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers (11-15) beat the Philadelphia 76ers (7-16), 121-107, at Wells Fargo Center.
Indiana set the pace early, building an 11-point halftime lead, before using a big run in the fourth quarter to prevent a Sixers comeback. The Blue & Gold did not trail at the end of any quarter.
Haliburton commanded the floor from start to finish, shooting 12-for-23 overall (including 7-for-15 from 3-point range) for 32 points while dishing out 11 assists.
After Haliburton, Pascal Siakam supplied 23 points and eight rebounds, and Obi Toppin recorded 20 points and eight boards off the bench.
Tyrese Maxey topped the Sixers with 22 points, former Pacer Paul George had 15, and Ricky Council IV added 14.
2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid played 17 minutes for the Sixers, finishing with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Embiid exited the game with around 6 seconds left in the second quarter, and didn’t return, after getting hit in the head while trying to grab a rebound.
The Pacers led 61-50 at halftime, as Haliburton posted 19 points and seven assists in the first 24 minutes while Siakam and Toppin each supplied 11 points. Indiana shared the ball plenty to start, dishing out 20 assists on 23 made baskets while just turning the ball over four times in the first half.
Maxey and Embiid led the Sixers with 12 points each at the break.
The Pacers used a 22-8 scoring run, fueled by four made 3-pointers by Haliburton, to lead the Sixers 31-22 at the end of the first quarter.
Indiana came out strong on both ends of the floor, using a 14-0 run to lead 16-9 with 4:40 left in the opening frame. During the scoring spree, Haliburton collected an offensive rebound and turned it into a 3-pointer before draining his second three of the night off a steal and pass by Bennedict Mathurin.
A bucket by K.J. Martin snapped a five-minute scoreless stretch for the Sixers, but a 3-pointer by Toppin and two more treys by Haliburton helped the Pacers stay in front by nine.
The Sixers retook some momentum to start the second quarter, but the Pacers finished the half strong to take an 11-point lead into the locker room.
Philly narrowed the score to one possession by the midway point of the second quarter, using scoring bursts of 8-2 and 7-0 to cut it to 43-40, before the Pacers’ starting unit took over. In the final 5:40 of the half, the Pacers outscored the Sixers 18-10 – on seven more points by Haliburton – to lead by 11.
Embiid’s injury occurred when going up for a rebound with Mathurin. He did not return from the locker room after the injury.
Indiana continued its strong play early in the third quarter.
An 11-0 streak, where Siakam added four points and Haliburton made his sixth 3-pointer of the game, pushed the Pacers lead to 80-62 with 6:11 left in the frame.
The Sixers managed a 17-7 run in the final 3:44 of the third quarter, with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond each scoring six points, but the Pacers led 90-83 going into the final frame.
Toppin scored five quick points, and T.J. McConnell added two buckets to start the fourth quarter before a 3-pointer by Martin cut it to 100-94 with 7:16 remaining, forcing a Pacers timeout.
Out of the huddle, a mini 5-1 Pacers run gave the visitors a 105-95 cushion before Siakam scored five straight points and Haliburton converted an and-one to spur a 15-4 run and 115-98 lead with 2:54 remaining.
Down the final stretch, the Sixers never pulled within a possession of the lead as the Pacers emptied their bench.
The Pacers return home Sunday to host the New Orleans Pelicans.
Inside the Numbers
Tyrese Haliburton recorded his ninth double-double of the season.
T.J. McConnell, who finished with 11 points, has scored in double figures in seven straight games.
The Pacers outscored the Sixers 54-48 in the paint.
Philly won the rebounding margin 47-41.
Indiana finished 13-for-17 on free throw attempts while the Sixers made 23-of-32.
The Pacers led by as many as 19 points in the game.
Paul George scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half.
All 11 Pacers players that took the floor scored a basket against the Sixers.
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
HOOSIERS SUFFER SETBACK IN LINCOLN
LINCOLN, Neb. — A road victory was there for the taking. Indiana had positioned itself for that at Nebraska. And then, suddenly, it was gone.
The Hoosiers lost their down-the-stretch shooting touch, closing 1-for-18 from the field against a Nebraska team that shot 61 percent for the game and scored 17 of the last 18 points Friday night. IU’s 85-68 loss ended its four-game winning streak.
“We took shots out of rhythm and gave up some open looks,” guard Myles Rice said. “That’s a recipe for disaster. We have to be better going down the stretch.”
IU dropped to 8-3 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten while playing its first true road game. It lost its fourth straight contest to Nebraska (7-2, 1-1).
“They made shots,” coach Mike Woodson said, “but we have to be better defensively. We work on defense. I know defense wins, especially when you’re not making shots. Tonight, Nebraska had it both ways. – they made shots and we weren’t good defensively.”
The Cornhuskers took away IU’s inside scoring, forcing the Hoosiers into a perimeter approach that resulted in a season-high 35 3-point attempts. It was the most 3-pointers ever attempted during Woodson’s four-year run as the Hoosiers’ head coach. Indiana made eight of them.
“I was proud of the looks we got,” Woodson said. “They doubled us. You can’t force it down there. We sacrificed, got the ball outside and had good looks. We just missed shots.”
Forward Malik Reneau and center Oumar Ballo combined for 20 points on just 10 total shots. They had just three points in the second half.
Guard Myles Rice had 14 second-half points and 20 overall. He added four steals.
“He played well,” Woodson said. “He kept us afloat in the second half.”
Added Rice: “I saw when we were in transition it was a chance to get easy looks at the rim. The flow of the game was there for me to attack downhill.”
IU had no answer for Nebraska guard Brice Williams, who totaled 30 points, six rebounds, and five assists. He was a major reason why the Cornhuskers shot better than 60 percent the entire game.
“He was getting downhill, getting to the free throw line,” Woodson said. “He made a couple of tough shots. We had no defensive presence to start the game. We have to get that fixed. You have to establish yourself from a defensive standpoint.”
A slow first two minutes put IU in an 8-0 hole and saw swingman Mackenzie Mgbako head to the bench with two fouls before guard Trey Galloway hit a 3-pointer. Nebraska hit its first five shots for a 13-3 lead to force a Woodson timeout three minutes into the game.
A pair of Rice steals and a layup, plus a Reneau dunk, helped the Hoosiers score five straight points. Still, Nebraska led 17-10 after five minutes by hitting its first seven shots.
A Ballo free throw, a Reneau free throw, and a Bryson Tucker 3-pointer got IU within 17-15. A Luke Goode 3-pointer got the Hoosiers within a point at 19-18.
A second Goode 3-pointer gave IU a 23-19 lead. Nebraska countered with consecutive 3-pointers to regain the lead by two points. Galloway’s second 3-pointer put the Hoosiers back in front.
A Ballo follow-up basket off a Galloway miss gave IU a 31-29 lead. It pushed ahead 35-32, then 37-33. Nebraska rallied for a 44-41 halftime lead.
The second half opened with a Nebraska dunk and an Indiana missed 3-pointer. Then Reneau went briefly to the bench with his third foul. Galloway hit a 3-pointer off Goode’s hustle play.
Nebraska surged ahead 58-49. Consecutive Rice baskets helped the Hoosiers fight back. He added a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer as part of a personal 11-0 run to get IU withing 62-60. Guard Kanaan Carlyle then tied it with a jumper.
Nebraska inched ahead 68-64. A Goode 3-pointer drew the Hoosiers within a point at 68-67. The Cornhuskers responded by scoring 10 straight points to take control they never lost.
“Nebraska played great,” Woodson said, “but we let it go down the stretch. This is something we have to grow from. It’s tough on the road when you can’t make plays down the stretch.”
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
#11 PURDUE FACES ANOTHER SEC CHALLENGE AGAINST #17 TEXAS A&M IN INDY CLASSIC
GAMEDAY INFORMATION — GAME 11
[11] Purdue (8-2) vs. [17] Texas A&M (8-2)
Noon ET | Indianapolis, Indiana
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (18,345)
TELEVISION: CBS (Rich Waltz, Bill Raftery, Jay Wright, Jon Rothstein)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 11-ranked Purdue men’s basketball team ends finals week with a trip to the Circle City for the third annual Indy Classic, facing off against No. 17-ranked Texas A&M in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It’s the first game of a doubleheader as Wisconsin and Butler will square off in game two, in what will be the elite college basketball event of a busy Saturday across America.
• The Boilermakers are coming off a big 83-78 win over a very good Maryland squad, while the Aggies scored a 72-67 victory over a good Texas Tech team on Sunday. The contest Saturday marks one of two games between ranked opponents across the country (#8 Gonzaga vs. #18 UConn).
• Texas A&M will be the fourth ranked team, all coming in non-conference play, after the Boilermakers have played Alabama, Marquette and Ole Miss already. The Boilermakers will play ranked team No. 5 next week when it faces Auburn. The five ranked teams in non-conference play will be the most in school history. It will tie Baylor and Auburn for the most ranked teams played in the country.
• The previous non-conference record of ranked teams played was a year ago (4), meaning nine of Purdue’s 22 non-conference opponents since last year will have been nationally-ranked. The Boilermakers are 6-1 in those games (loss to Marquette this season).
• Purdue will play its third SEC opponent already this season when it faces off against Texas A&M on Saturday. The Boilermakers are 2-0 against the SEC and have won six straight against the league. SEC teams are 16-8 against ranked teams (0-2 vs. Purdue; 16-6 vs. everyone else).
• Purdue’s schedule currently ranks 13th nationally (KenPom), but is expected to move up after playing Texas A&M and Auburn in the next two weeks. A year ago, Purdue played the nation’s second-toughest schedule. With Auburn ranked No. 2 nationally, Purdue is expected to play three teams ranked in the top seven, and five in the top 19, in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll.
• In the last five games, Purdue is 88-of-117 (.752) from the free throw line. In the first five games, Purdue was just 79-of-116 (.681).
• Purdue and Texas A&M rank first and second nationally in free throws attempted margin since the start of the 2022-23 season. Purdue is first having attempted 812 more free throws than its opponent, while the Aggies are second at plus-500.
• Purdue and Texas A&M are also first and second nationally in most points per game scored by in-state players this season. Players from Indiana account for 58.0 points per game for Purdue, while Texas natives account for 38.3 points per game for the Aggies.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 40-1 (.976) in regular-season, non-conference play. Kansas (42-6) and Houston (42-6) own the next best records, with a winning percentage of .875. During that stretch, Purdue is 10-1 (.909) against ranked teams.
• In Purdue’s eight wins, it averages 10.1 turnovers per game, while forcing 10.5. In its two losses, it averages 19.5 turnovers, while forcing 11.0
• Purdue has won 25 straight games when holding its opponent under 70 points. The last loss came to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Purdue is now 100-21 since the start of the 2021-22 season, recording the second-most wins in the country (Houston – 103) during that span. The senior class of Caleb Furst (only senior) needs one win to become the seventh class in school history with 100 career victories. His current winning percentage of .826 would easily be the best in school history.
• The starting backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 71-13 since their arrival at Purdue, starting every game of their tenure. The duo has combined for 1,863 points, 587 rebounds and 712 assists during their careers, shooting 258-of-644 from deep (.401).
• Purdue, Duke, Gonzaga and Houston are the only programs in America to have made at least a Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final Four during their last five NCAA Tournaments. Purdue reached the Sweet 16 in 2022, the Elite 8 in 2019 and the Final Four in 2024.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
WATTS HONORED AS AFCA FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
For the second-consecutive season, graduate safety Xavier Watts has earned First-Team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Watts is the first Irish player to repeat as an AFCA First-Team All-American since DB Todd Lyght in 1989 and 1990.
Watts, a Notre Dame team captain, was also named a Walter Camp First-Team All-American for the second-consecutive season.
The AFCA All-America team is one of the five All-America teams that are utilized to determine both consensus and unanimous All-America honors. The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America and American Football Coaches Association teams are the other three that have yet to announce their teams.
Watts has also been named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic and Pro Football Focus. Watts was named a First-Team Midseason All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, PFF, Athlon Sports, The Athletic and CBS Sports.
Watts earned Notre Dame’s program Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and he was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Watts has totaled 12-career interceptions, the most by a Notre Dame player since 1996. He is the 19th Notre Dame player to intercept 10 or more passes and is tied for eighth on the all-time list for career interceptions in program history.
Watts ranks third in the nation in total interceptions (5), fourth in the nation in interceptions per game (0.4), and 12th in the country in passes defended (1.2 per game).
Notre Dame has gained 28 turnovers this season (tied for first in the nation). Watts is responsible for six of them (five interceptions, one fumble recovery).
The Irish defense is one of the most complete defenses in the country, ranking among the FBS’ top teams. At the end of the regular season, Notre Dame was first in team passing efficiency defense (94.10), first in turnovers gained (28), first in defensive touchdowns (6), third in scoring defense (13.6), fourth in passing yards allowed (157.9), fourth in interceptions (17), seventh in fumbles recovered (11), ninth in red zone defense (0.733), 10th in total defense (296.8) and 10th in first downs defense (197).
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BULLDOGS TO END NON-CONFERENCE SLATE VS. SAINT FRANCIS
The first-ever meeting between Saint Francis and Butler will signal the end of the non-conference schedule for the Bulldogs on Sunday at 1 p.m. Butler enters the weekend with a 9-3 overall record and will face a Red Flash team that didn’t play this week due to final exams. Fans can catch all the action on FloSports.com
GameDay
Date: Sunday, December 15, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM EST
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com
Watch: FloSports.com
Bulldog Bits
– Butler played in a double overtime game on Wednesday night for the first time since 2015.
– The Bulldogs led Wisconsin for 32 minutes on Wednesday; they led by 15 in the first half.
– BU dished out 19 assists on 23 made field goals.
– All seven of Butler’s made 3-pointers vs. Wisconsin came in the first half.
– Butler grabbed 20 offensive rebounds vs. the Badgers to outrebound Wisconsin 42-39.
– Lily Carmody had a season-high four rebounds.
– Kilyn McGuff leads the BIG EAST and ranks 14th in the nation in double-doubles (5).
– McGuff played 47 of the 50 minutes vs. Wisconsin.
– McGuff leads the team and ranks second in the conference in rebounds per game (8.0).
– McGuff has led Butler in rebounding in nine-straight games.
– McGuff needs two more 3-pointers to reach 100 in her career and Caroline Strande is three shy of 100.
– Strande ranks third among all BIG EAST players in made 3-pointers (22), she averages two per game.
– Ari Wiggins has been great from 3-point range this year making 72% of her attempts (8-11).
– Karsyn Norman needs four assists on Sunday to reach 100 in her career (45 games).
– Butler leads the BIG EAST in bench points per game (27.6).
– Butler’s bench scored 37 of the team’s 64 points against Wisconsin.
– Cristen Carter ranks third in the league in blocked shots (15) and is seventh in blocks per game (1.2).
– The Bulldogs lead the league in free throw attempts (21.1) and free throws made (14.5) per game.
– Butler has attempted 20 or more free throws in six-straight games and nine times overall.
BIG EAST Standings
Creighton 1-0, 7-2
St. John’s 0-0, 9-1
UConn 0-0, 8-1
Seton Hall 0-0, 7-2
Marquette 0-0, 6-2
Butler 0-0, 9-3
Georgetown 0-0, 6-4
Villanova 0-0, 6-5
Providence 0-0, 6-6
DePaul 0-0, 3-7
Xavier 0-1, 4-5
Scouting Saint Francis
The Red Flash are 2-9 overall with wins over Robert Morris and Delaware State. They took the week off to prepare for the Bulldogs after suffering a 61-45 setback to UMBA last Sunday. Yanessa Boyd scored a team-high 13 points in the loss, marking the fifth time this season she has scored in double figures. Boyd averages 9.2 points per game this year to lead the team. She shoots 38 percent from the field and is the second-best 3-point shooter on the team behind Airah Lavy. Jade Campbell controls the paint to collect 7.8 rebounds per game and Ineivi Plata is yet another impact player for Saint Francis that leads the team in assists and steals.
All-Time Series
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
NET Rankings
NET rankings were updated this week and the Bulldogs are listed at 93rd. UConn leads the league (4) and are one of eight BIG EAST schools to appear in the top 100. All three BU setbacks this season came against top-notch competition. Texas is second in the NET rankings, Vanderbilt is 11th and Wisconsin is 84th.
Sarah Armington Named to Indiana Basketball HOF
Butler alum Sarah Armington was selected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Armington was a 1991 Indiana All-Star that averaged 24.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.7 steals as a senior at Anderson H.S. Over four seasons at Butler, Armington helped the Bulldogs to a 71-42 slate while netting 1,022 points and 480 rebounds. She ranks 23rd all-time on the Butler women’s basketball scoring list.
History Has Been Made
The Bulldogs won six games during the month of November for the first time in program history. Head Coach Austin Parkinson guided BU to four November wins in his first season with the program and five in 2023-24. BU also won five games during the opening month of the season in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The November slate of games were highlighted by a 56-46 win over Indiana in front of a record-setting crowd of 4,135 fans!
Wednesday’s Wisconsin Recap
Riley Makalusky and Sydney Jaynes both had 13 points for the Bulldogs. Nine of Makalusky’s points came from beyond the arc. She also tied career-high totals with six rebounds and two steals. The first double overtime game for Butler since Feb. 8, 2015 featured each team scoring four points in the first OT, but Wisconsin outscored BU 12-5 in the second overtime. Serah Williams led the Badgers with 36 points and 14 rebounds.
Strande Sidelined
Caroline Strande left the Wisconsin game with three minutes to play in the first half and was unable to return to action. There is no timetable for her return at this time.
Indy 500
Kilyn McGuff came to Indianapolis to reach 500 career rebounds. She had a career-high 15 rebounds at Ohio, becoming the first Bulldog to grab 15 or more in a contest since Feb. 17, 2019. McGuff has 44 rebounds over her last four games, pushing her season total to 96.
Makalusky Making Shots
Riley Makalusky has scored in double figures seven times over her last eight games. She had 11 in the win over UT Martin, 10 at Ohio, and 13 vs. Wisconsin.
Well Done Wiggins
Ari Wiggins had a team-high five assists and just one turnover in 30 minutes of action vs. Wisconsin. She has hit a 3-pointer in three-straight games and now has posted more assists than turnovers in eight games.
Crazy Eights
Cristen Carter has scored eight points for Butler in three-straight games. She didn’t miss a field goal at Ohio (3-3) and went 4-for-5 from the field against Wisconsin.
Bulldogs Off The Bench
Sydney Jaynes and Jocelyn Land gave the team a lift against Wisconsin with 13 and eight points against the Badgers. Jaynes just missed a double-double by adding eight rebounds. Land went 3-for-4 from the field to just miss her season-high point total.
Schedule Swap
Three of Butler’s first four BIG EAST games this year will be played on the road, but after their FS1 game at Marquette on Jan. 4, the Bulldogs will host four of their next five opponents at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The only road game during that stretch is a short drive over to Cincinnati to play Xavier.
1,000 Point Watch List
Three Bulldogs are closing in on 1,000 career points this year. Caroline Strande is the closest at 931. The graduate guard scored 484 points for BU last year just missing the program’s top ten list for most points scored in a single-season. Belmont transfer Kilyn McGuff has 846 career points and Sydney Jaynes is up to 773 points.
Cheers To 50
The Butler women’s basketball program is celebrating 50 years of Bulldog basketball in 2024-25. Over the previous 49 years, BU has recorded 689 wins under the direction of nine head coaches. The program record for most wins in a single-season was set in 1980-81 when the Bulldogs went 26-2 under the leadership of Linda Mason. Butler’s only NCAA Tournament appearance came in 1995-96 when BU posted a 21-9 overall record.
Up Next
Butler will head to Chicago to play DePaul on Dec. 21. The 2024-25 BIG EAST opener will be played at Wintrust Arena at 3 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Central.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER HEADS DOWNTOWN TO PLAY NO. 20/22 WISCONSIN IN INDY CLASSIC
Butler makes the short drive to downtown Indianapolis to meet Wisconsin at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the 2024 Indy Classic. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a five-game stretch that includes four Top 25 opponents (having played Houston, and with Wisconsin, Marquette and Connecticut upcoming).
THE SPECIFICS:
Butler (7-3) vs. #20/22 Wisconsin (8-3)
Saturday, Dec. 14 • 2:30PM
Indy Classic
Gainbridge Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Ind.
FOLLOW ALONG:
TV: Big Ten Network • Dave Revsine & Brian Butch
Audio: Varsity Network App, SiriusXM 389, XM App 979 & TuneIn • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
TEXT TO SCROLL THROUGH AT YOUR LEISURE:
• The Bulldogs are 12-7 all-time at Gainbridge, most recently playing in the 2021 and final Crossroads Classic.
• Butler enters Saturday’s game with Wisconsin off a loss to North Dakota State; the Bulldogs used a 45-point second half to fully erase a 23-point second half deficit (taking a five-point lead) before falling in the final minutes.
• Pierre Brooks II matched his career-high with 26 points against NDSU; he made four three-pointers for the third time this season.
• Jahmyl Telfort added 23 points for the Bulldogs; Telfort has scored 20 or more points in four of the last five games.
• Brooks and Telfort each scored 20 or more points in the same game for just the second time in their 43 career Butler games played together (also vs. Mississippi State in the 2024 Arizona Tip-Off championship game).
• Butler committed a season-low four turnovers in Tuesday’s loss to NDSU; it marked the first time this season that the Bulldogs had fewer turnovers than their opponent.
• The Bulldogs rank 17th nationally in three-point percentage, making 40.1 percent of their attempts on the season.
• Butler ranks 21st nationally, averaging 18.9 made free throws per game. Butler has made 15 or more free throws in each game this season.
• Butler is shooting 76.5 percent from the free throw line this season, which ranks among the Top 50 nationally. The Bulldogs have shot at least 70 percent from the free throw line in each game so far this season.
• Butler’s last two opponents (Houston, NDSU) combined for 22 made three-pointers; the Bulldogs only allowed a total of 44 3FGM in the eight games to open the season.
• Telfort leads the BIG EAST in both free throws made (54) and attempted (66), while his 81.8-percent accuracy is eighth in the conference.
• Patrick McCaffery is 37th nationally, making 45.9 percent of his three-point attempts on the season. He has hit multiple three-pointers in eight of the team’s 10 games, including five twice.
• Telfort, Brooks and McCaffery rank 1-2-5 in the BIG EAST in minutes played per game.
• Telfort’s scoring average of 17.0 points per game is fourth in the BIG EAST.
• Andre Screen is tenth in the BIG EAST at 6.2 rebounds per game, while his 1.1 blocks per game rank eighth.
• Butler’s Big 3 of Telfort, Brooks and McCaffery have scored 444 of the team’s 732 points this season (60.7 percent of the team’s output).
• The Bulldogs defeated Northwestern and No. 25 Mississippi State in taking the Arizona Tip-Off title over Thanksgiving. Butler is 3-1 against power conference opponents so far this season (also defeating SMU) with a non-conference match-up with Wisconsin looming.
• The Arizona Tip-Off title was Butler’s first in-season, multi-team event championship since the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
• Telfort earned Tournament MVP honors at the Arizona Tip-Off, averaging 23.5 points per game in the team’s two contests. Telfort scored 23 in the win over Northwestern and then followed that with 24 in the championship game win over Mississippi State.
Wisdom on Wisconsin
• The Badgers are ranked No. 20 and 22, respectively, in the national polls.
• After winning their first eight games of the season, Wisconsin has dropped three straight, which includes a pair of Big Ten games (Michigan, at Illinois) and one to in-state rival Marquette.
• John Tonje leads Wisconsin at 20.8 points per game.
• The Badgers lead the country in free throw shooting (83.9 percent) and make 19.0 free throws per game (19th nationally).
The Series with Wisconsin
• Butler and Wisconsin first met in the 1921-22 season.
• Only one of the 31 previous meetings between the two programs came on a neutral court, which was also the most recent match-up: a 61-54 Butler win in the 2011 NCAA Sweet 16 as the Bulldogs ultimately advanced to the second of back-to-back national championship games.
• Butler won at No. 10 Wisconsin (58-44) on Jan. 30, 2001; Thad Matta was the Bulldogs’ head coach in that match-up, which came during his first stint leading the Bulldogs (the 2000-01 season). Prior to the 2011 NCAA Tournament match-up, the 2001 game was the last time the two teams met.
• In his 13 seasons leading the Ohio State program, Matta faced Wisconsin a total of 25 times as Big Ten foes; the Badgers held a slim 14-11 advantage during that span.
Series: Wisconsin Leads, 17-14
Streak: Butler, W3
Neutral Court: Butler Leads, 1-0
First Meeting: 1921-22 season; Butler, 26-20
Last Meeting: March 24, 2011; Butler, 61-54 (NCAA Sweet 16)
Success Downtown
• Butler’s 12-7 record at Gainbridge Fieldhouse over the years includes a 6-5 mark in the Crossroads Classic, which ran through 2021.
• Butler also defeated Notre Dame and Indiana at the Fieldhouse in the 2006 Preseason NIT, ultimately advancing to Madison Square Garden and winning the event.
• Joel Cornette’s tip dunk gave the Bulldogs a 66-64 win over Indiana Dec. 29, 2001 in the Hoosier Classic played at the venue. That was the second game Butler ever played at the Fieldhouse, following a win over Samford the night before.
BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYING AT BELLARMINE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON
The Ball State men’s basketball team emerges from Finals Week to play Bellarmine at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Louisville.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+, while Mick Tidrow and David Eha handle the radio broadcast on WMUN 1340AM – 92.5FM. The Cardinals topped the Knights 67-58 in Muncie on Dec. 2, 2023 in the first meeting between the two programs.
Ball State fell 82-69 at SIUE on Sunday afternoon despite a hot-shooting first half that gave the visiting Cardinals a 41-39 halftime lead. Juanse Gorosito scored 17 points and Ben Hendriks added a career-best 13 points in the setback.
Bellarmine (3-7) of the Atlantic Sun Conference beat Brescia University 94-66 last Saturday in its most recent game. The Knights have won three of their last five contests after starting the season 0-5, including an 80-68 win over Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green on Nov. 23.
The Cardinals will return home for a game for the first time in a month when they host Evansville at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 in Worthen Arena.
SCOUTING BELLARMINE: The Knights were picked to finish 10th by the coaches and 11th by the media in the ASUN preseason poll. Head coach Scott Davenport is in his 20th season leading the team.
The Knights can shoot it, as they lead the ASUN in free throw percentage (81.8, No. 4 in NCAA Division I), field goal percentage (47.9), 3-point percentage (37.4) and effective field goal percentage (57.0).
Redshirt junior guard Ben Johnson paces the team in scoring (14.2 points per game) while ranking second in the ASUN in 3-point percentage (39.4) and third in 3-pointers made (28) so far this season.
MILESTONE WATCH: Payton Sparks (950 points), Jeremiah Hernandez (877) and Mickey Pearson Jr. (825) are each closing in on scoring 1,000 points in his Division I career.
Ethan Brittain-Watts recently made his 100th career 3-pointer, while Sparks (573 rebounds) needs only 12 more boards to move into the Top-20 in Ball State program history for a career.
KEEPING UP WITH KENTUCKY SCHOOLS: Saturday’s game at Bellarmine will be Ball State’s second of the year against a team from the Bluegrass State.
The Cardinals defeated Eastern Kentucky 63-61 on Nov. 25 in the first game of the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla.
TOP OF THE HILL: Junior Jermahri Hill was named the Mid-American Conference Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 2 after averaging 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Hill had assists on three-point plays to Mickey Pearson Jr. and Payton Sparks in the final minute of the 63-61 win over Eastern Kentucky in the opener on Nov. 25. The guard paces the MAC in free throw attempts (61) and makes (41) while ranking fifth at 16.2 points per game on the year.
GORO-THREE-TO: Junior guard Juanse Gorosito has gone 17-for-32 from beyond the arc in the last four games to raise his shooting percentage from distance to 48.2 percent on the year.
Gorosito made at least three triples in each of the four games including 6 of 10 against Richmond and 5 of 9 at SIUE. The 3-point percentage leads the MAC and ranks No. 20 in NCAA Division I, while Gorosito’s 27 made 3-pointers are the second-most in the MAC.
I REMEMBER YOU: Ball State has played seven different players this season who were on MAC rosters during the 2023-24 season. SIUE’s Darrion Baker (from Akron) was the seventh. The full list is below.
Darrion Baker (Akron to SIUE)
Legend Geeter (Eastern Michigan to Detroit Mercy)
Markus Harding (Central Michigan to Indiana State)
Orlando Lovejoy (Eastern Michigan to Detroit Mercy)
Cyril Martynov (Eastern Michigan to Eastern Kentucky)
Zarique Nutter (Northern Illinois to Georgia State)
B. Artis White (Western Michigan to Richmond)
GETTING TO THE LINE: The Cardinals paced the Mid-American Conference in both free throw attempts per game (25.9) and free throws made per game (17.8) through the season’s first nine games.
Ball State ranks No. 18 and No. 39 in those categories in NCAA Division I, respectively. The tallies outpace the next-closest MAC team (Buffalo) by 15 attempts and nine makes.
FAMILIAR FOES: Ball State’s matchup with Bellarmine will be its fourth of five games this season against nonconference opponents that the Cardinals also faced last year.
Including Indiana State (Nov. 16), Detroit Mercy (Nov. 20) and SIUE (Dec. 8), Ball State will also play Evansville (Dec. 21).
SLAM JAM: Hill’s one-hand slam dunk for an and-one at the end of the first half on Nov. 13 at Dayton was the No. 1 play on SportsCenter’s Top 10 list.
Hill led the Cardinals with 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the game.
WE’LL PLAY ANYWHERE: The Cardinals will play in a fifth different state away from home when they take on Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky. It will be the final road game on the nonconference schedule.
Ball State played at Georgia State in the season opener, at Dayton in the third game of the year, in Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase in late November, and last Sunday at SIUE in Illinois.
IN-STATE BATTLES: Ball State is set to host Franklin (Nov. 8), Indiana State (Nov. 16), Evansville (Dec. 21) and Anderson (Dec. 31) for a quartet of in-state rivalries this season.
The men’s basketball program hasn’t hosted at least four teams from the state of Indiana since 2013-14 when that team played Taylor, Butler, Valparaiso and Oakland City at Worthen Arena.
PEARSON POUNDING THE GLASS: Mickey Pearson Jr. tied his career-best with 13 rebounds in the season opener at Georgia State before grabbing 11 against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 20.
The forward also notched 13 boards on Nov. 7, 2022 against Earlham at Worthen Arena. Pearson Jr. averages 6.8 rebounds per game which ranks fourth in the MAC, while his 61 total rebounds are second.
HOME STATE HEROES: Brittain-Watts (2019), Zane Doughty, Joey Hart and Jones (2023) were each named Indiana High School All-Stars, while three more Cardinals also had ties to the state before arriving in Muncie.
Ball State has the second-most players from Indiana high schools among Indiana-based Division I teams behind Purdue.
WORLD FLYERS: The 2024-25 Ball State roster consists of student-athletes from three different countries in addition to the United States of America.
Juanse Gorosito (Argentina), Hendriks (Canada) and Jurica Zagorsak (Croatia) are international Cardinals this season. Interestingly, Juanse, Ben and Jurica were born on different continents, so Ball State has student-athletes from North America, South America and Europe on the team.
TRANSFERS FROM ALL OVER: Each of Ball State’s seven student-athletes who have transferred into the program have come from different college basketball conferences.
The list includes Brittain-Watts (Patriot League, Boston), Gorosito (West Coast Conference, Portland), Hart (SEC, Kentucky), Hernandez (Ohio Valley Conference, USI), Pearson Jr. (Big 12, TCU), Sparks (Big Ten, Indiana) and Hill who played junior college ball at South Plains in Levelland, Texas.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
PURDUE FORT WAYNE WBB WELCOMES AQUINAS TO SUMMIT CITY
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball will play host to the Aquinas Saints on Saturday morning (Dec. 14) at 11 a.m. in the Gates Sports Center.
Game Day Information
Who: Aquinas Saints
When: Saturday, December 14 | 11 AM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Link
Tickets:Link
Game Notes:Purdue Fort Wayne | Aquinas | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Aquinas is 6-5 and 4-1 in the WHAC so far this season, with a game at Defiance on Friday (Dec. 13) before visiting the Mastodons on Saturday. The Saints will be playing Saturday’s game as an exhibition. Aquinas is coming off a 73-48 win over Great Lakes Christian, which was the Saints’ fourth win in a row. Claire Gregwer is averaging a team-best 22.6 points per contest.
The Series
Purdue Fort Wayne and Aquinas have met three times, all of which were victories for the Mastodons. The two squads have met just once since the ‘Dons moved Division I. That game came last season, which resulted in a 77-43 win for the ‘Dons. Shayla Sellers had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in that game.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 11 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 49.2 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from 3-point range and 91.5 percent from the line. With a slight uptick in field goal percentage, she could be the first player to ever shoot 50/50/90 since the 3-point line was added to college basketball.
Free Assists Here!
Sydney Freeman has 487 assists in her career, needing just 13 to reach 500 for her career. She ranks in the top-20 nationally among active players in that category.
Biggest Secret in College Basketball
Purdue Fort Wayne has used the same starting lineup in all 11 games this season of Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Jazzlyn Linbo, Audra Emmerson and Sydney Freeman.
League Leaders
Through the early portion of the Horizon League slate, Purdue Fort Wayne is the only 3-0 team. There are five teams without a league loss, Detroit Mercy, Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Purdue Fort Wayne and Oakland, but the Mastodons are the only one to play three and win all three.
Offensive Threat
Per College Basketball Reference, Lauren Ross has an offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) of 132.0, the highest on the team among rotation players. She also has an effective field goal percentage of 64.5 percent, a team-best. She is taking 61.3 percent of her shots from 3-point range. She also has the highest plus/minus on the team among rotation players with +8.6 per game.
Fill It Up
Purdue Fort Wayne is averaging 75.9 points per game, which ranks second in the Horizon League and top-60 nationally. The Mastodons’ 38.7 3-point shooting percentage and 9.8 3-point makes per game both rank top-15 nationally.
Our Ball!
Purdue Fort Wayne’s 5.36 turnover margin ranks first in the Horizon League and is a top-45 mark nationally.
Closing In on 1,000
Audra Emmerson has a chance to reach 1,000 points for her career. She has 774 points, needing 226 to reach the milestone. She scored 343 last season.
Saving the Best for Last
Lauren Ross is shooting 49.2 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from 3-point range and 91.5 percent from the charity stripe, while grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game. All of those marks are the best of her career. Ross’ 3.45 triples per game ranks sixth in the country and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc ranks ninth.
Bromo-Tastic
Amellia Bromenschenkel scored a season-high 19 points while shooting 7-of-11 from the floor at IU Indianapolis on December 11. She added seven rebounds to help the Mastodons move to 3-0 in the Horizon League.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons picked up a 79-71 league victory on the road on Wednesday (Dec. 11) at IU Indianapolis. Amellia Bromenschenkel had a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds.
Coming Up
The ‘Dons will welcome Lauren Ross’ former squad, Western Michigan, to Fort Wayne on Saturday (Dec. 21).
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
MASTODON SOFTBALL SIGNS FIVE NEWCOMERS
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne softball head coach Amber Bowman has announced her program’s five-member signing class for 2025: Evelyn Henson, McKenna Scott, Ava Gardner, Missy Saldana, and Addi Fisher.
“I am very excited to add the versatility of our 2025 class to our already experienced team,” Bowman said. “They are incredible people and come from great supporting families. We are so excited to add them to our Mastodon family. This 2025 group will continue to grow our culture and bring a good mixture of speed and power to our program.”
Henson is a 5-foot-6 utility player from Trenton, Ohio. Henson has 59 stolen bases to her name in her career and a batting average of .460. She earned 46 RBIs in 2024 and 29 stolen bases in 2023. She was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the 2022 season followed by an offensive player of the year in the 2023 season. She was named to the First Team All-Conference in each of her three seasons and named MVP in the last two.
Scott is a 5-foot-7 shortstop player from Wintersville, Ohio. Scott was named to the First Team OHSAA Eastern District three times, and OVAC First Team twice while also holding the school’s single-season stolen base record. She played for Ohio Wolfpack for five years until switching to the Ohio Stingrays for the past four years. In her club experience, she won 2020 USA All American Region 2 and helped lead her team to being 2022 SA Softball National Champions. On top of her accomplishments with softball, Scott also played basketball for her high school, racking up numerous All-League accolades as well.
Gardner is a 5-foot-10 outfielder from Hudsonville, Michigan. Gardner has accumulated a career batting average of .462 and a fielding percentage of .978. She has totaled 109 hits with four of them being home runs. She has been named to numerous All-League and All-District teams in the last two years, along with First Team All-State nod last year. In 2024, Gardner helped lead her team to winning a state championship. She played with Finesse Fastpitch for three years, followed by Lake Effect Athletics for two years and lastly at Lakeshore Storm for the last five years. Alongside softball, Gardner also played on her high school’s basketball and golf teams where she was a team captain for both in her most recent seasons.
Saldana is a 5-foot-5 outfielder from Glendale Heights, Illinois. Saldana has achieved a batting average of .561 in her junior year along with 5 home runs and 48 RBIs. She was named to the All-Conference team twice, Offensive MVP and Overall MVP three times, and Upstate 8 Rookie of the Year. She also obtained a spot on the Academic All-Conference team twice in her career. In club, she played for Sparks, Iowa Premier, and most recently New Lenox Lightning.
Fisher is a 5-foot-10 first baseman and designated hitter from Wapakoneta, Ohio. Fisher brings a batting average of .529, on base percentage of .590, and a fielding percentage of .982. Fisher was named the 2024 Western Buckeye League Player of the Year, along with accolades of All-District and First Team All-League. Fisher played for Findlay Blackhawks Eclipse for one year, then Ohio Blackhawks Boom for two years, and Finesse Hoverman for the last four years where she was named Space Coast Champions in 2023. Fisher follows a family history of college sports, behind her mother and father who played volleyball and baseball at Bluffton, and sister who played softball at Findlay.
The quintet of future Mastodons will join the roster for the 2026 season.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
USI CONCLUDES NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SUNDAY AT ILLINOIS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball closes the non-conference season Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Screaming Eagles visit the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois.
The first-ever meeting between the two programs can be seen on Big Ten+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
In a battle of two 8-2 teams on Sunday, Southern Indiana’s visit to Illinois marks the Screaming Eagles’ third matchup against a power-conference team this season and their second against a Big Ten Conference opponent. USI fell in the second game of the season at top-25 University of Louisville, 75-51, and was narrowly edged out on December 4 at Indiana University, 67-63. Illinois will be the fourth Big Ten team USI has played since moving to Division I in 2022. The Eagles also played Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin last season in 2023-24.
Sunday’s contest at Illinois is USI’s final tune-up game before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play on December 19 against Tennessee State University. Southern Indiana opens conference play with three consecutive home games at Liberty Arena between December 19 and December 31.
Preceding finals week at USI, the Screaming Eagles returned home to Liberty Arena with a 70-45 win against Oakland City University last Saturday. Following an even start to the game, the Eagles pulled away in the middle of the game after holding the Mighty Oaks to nine points in the second quarter and outscoring Oakland City 25-11 in the third quarter. Southern Indiana capitalized on 50 points in the paint and 30 points off turnovers. USI’s defense forced 28 turnovers with 18 steals.
Junior guard Ali Saunders (6) and sophomore guard Triniti Ralston (7) combined for 13 of the team’s 18 takeaways. Ralston’s seven steals in the game was a USI first since January 20, 2020, when Emma DeHart had seven against McKendree University. The combination of Ralston and Saunders was the first game with two USI players recording six or more steals in the same game since November 21, 2004, when Marshay Jolly and Brandon Sabrina did so in a 62-point win against Calumet of St. Joseph.
Defense is a key priority for Southern Indiana, as the Screaming Eagles rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring defense (56.0), field-goal percentage defense (33.7), three-point defense (25.1), turnover defense (21.7), steals (12.1), and defensive rebounding (28.4). Across Division I, USI ranks top 50 in the nation in three-point defense and turnovers forced per game, and the Eagles are top 30 in the nation in steals and top 15 in field-goal percentage defense.
Offensively, graduate forward Meredith Raley led Southern Indiana in scoring in the last game against Oakland City, dropping 26 points on 12-16 shooting. Raley was one point away from tying her career high that she set in February 2023 at Southeast Missouri State University. Between the game against Oakland City and on the road at Indiana last week, Raley paced USI with 18 points per game while also grabbing 12 total rebounds.
Raley’s 26-point performance against the Mighty Oaks propelled the forward into the team lead in scoring at 13.2 points per contest. Saunders is second with 12.7 points per outing but tops the squad with 4.2 assists, three steals, and 31.5 minutes played per game. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford is third on the team with 11.6 points per game. USI averages 74.1 points as a team.
Heading into Sunday’s tilt at Illinois, Southern Indiana is No. 18 in the CollegeInsider.com Women’s Mid-Major Top 25® for the second consecutive week. USI has been top 20 for four straight weeks. In the NCAA NET ratings, the Eagles are in the low 80s and are the only OVC team in the top 100.
Illinois received votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, technically falling as the 27th team, and was ranked No. 25 in the latest Coaches Poll earlier this week. The Fighting Illini started their season 6-0 before suffering their first loss to top-20 University of Kentucky on November 27. Since then, Illinois has had two wins in its last three games but endured another ranked loss at the hands of top-15 ranked Ohio State University last Sunday to tip off play in the Big Ten Conference.
Prior to Sunday’s game against USI, Illinois is coming off a 70-52 home win on Thursday against Bradley University. The game was a good battle throughout, featuring seven lead changes and a single-digit score difference through each of the first three quarters. The Illini went on to win the fourth quarter, 17-8, to eventually reach a double-digit advantage and earn the win. Despite both teams being effective from the field, Illinois capitalized on points in the paint (+22), points off turnovers (+9), and second-chance points (+13).
Coming a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds on Thursday, fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic leads Illinois at 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game this season. Bostic has six double-doubles on the season. Second in scoring is senior guard Adalia McKenzie at 13.1 points per game. McKenzie scored 23 points against Bradley. Four other players are registering double figures for Illinois on the season. Illinois averages 75.1 points while limiting opponents to 57.6 points per game.
Game coverage information and links can be found on the USI Women’s Basketball page at usiscreamingeagles.com.
VALPO FOOTBALL
FLORENCE, FELTROP JOIN VALPO FOOTBALL STAFF AS WADDLE ANNOUNCES COORDINATORS
In his first official move as Valparaiso University head football coach, Andy Waddle has announced that two key contributors to his program’s success at Marietta College will be joining him at Valpo, as Reed Florence has been named the program’s offensive coordinator, while Zach Feltrop has been tabbed the squad’s defensive coordinator.
“Reed and Zach are two really awesome people and great coaches,” Waddle said. “Watching how much they care about their players and how much their players care about them is something special.”
Florence spent the last three seasons on Waddle’s staff at Marietta, where he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was named the 2024 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Pioneers average nearly 460 yards of total offense per game, second only to Mount Union, and a league-best 3,020 passing yards.
Under Florence’s leadership, the Pioneers offense broke the following program records in 2024 – points (433), points per game (43.3), offensive touchdowns (58), passing touchdowns (29), first downs (236), passing first downs (123), offensive yards (4,612) and yards per game (461.2).
“Reed did an amazing job with our quarterbacks and running our offense at Marietta,” Waddle said. “We saw a dramatic improvement in his three years in charge of our quarterback room and the offense as a whole. We run lots of different formations and motions, but high execution is what we’re about.”
During Florence’s three years at Marietta, the Pioneers enjoyed a 22-8 overall record and 19-8 conference mark. He mentored Connor Vierstra, the Marietta all-time leading quarterback in every career statistical category, as well as Dawson Snyder, who finished his career as the program’s all-time leading wide receiver in every statistical category. He also developed Bryce Agnew, a 2022 All-American and the program’s second all-time leading rusher, while instructing 20 all-league and three all-region selections.
During the 2024 season, Marietta ranked among conference and national leaders in the following offensive categories – first-down offense (second OAC, 21st nationally), passing offense (second OAC, 32nd nationally), red-zone offense (second OAC, eighth nationally), scoring offense (second OAC, 21st nationally), total offense (second OAC, 19th nationally) and more.
“I am excited to stay with Coach Waddle because of the pride he takes in developing young men as well-rounded human being as well as his values and vision for the football program,” Florence said. “I am excited to be here at Valpo because of the opportunity to continue to develop and lead our student-athletes. I look forward to building relationships with the guys on the team and the great community of Valparaiso.”
Prior to his arrival at Marietta in February 2022, Florence served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and running backs coach at Wittenberg University from March 2017 to February 2022 after initially joining the Wittenberg staff coaching safeties (January 2016 to June 2016) and wide receivers (June 2016 to March 2017). During his time leading the offense, the Tigers posted a 33-8 record including a 31-5 conference mark and three conference championships. The offense averaged 402.67 yards, 33.97 points, 243.1 passing yards and 159.57 rushing yards per game while converting at a 43.5 percent clip on third down and a 75 percent clip in the red zone. He instructed 20 all-league honorees.
Before leading the offense at Wittenberg, Florence served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Millikin University (January 2015 to January 2016), the quarterbacks coach at Marian University (June 2014 to January 2015) and the assistant defensive backs coach at Wittenberg (January 2014 to June 2014). He graduated from Wittenberg with a bachelor’s degree in sports management in May 2014 after two seasons as the team’s starting quarterback. During his playing days, Florence was named USA Today Division-III Quarterback of the Year and 2013 conference MVP while compiling a 38-7 league record as a three-time conference champion.
Feltrop spent the last six seasons at Marietta, serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Under his leadership, the Pioneers ranked first in the country in third-down conversion defense at .250 in 2024. Other notable rankings for this past season include first-down defense (153, first in OAC, 23rd nationally), interceptions (15, second in OAC, 26th nationally), passing yards allowed (158.8, first in OAC, 24th nationally), red-zone defense (.613, first OAC, 12th nationally), rushing defense (77.3, first OAC, 18th nationally), sacks per game (3.18, second in OAC, 16th nationally), tackles for loss (7.5 per game, second in OAC, 28th nationally), total defense (236.1, first in OAC, 10th nationally), turnovers forced (0.22 per game, first in OAC, 30th nationally) and more.
“Zach Feltrop is an awesome person and an awesome coach,” Waddle said. “He did a great job with our defense and front seven at Marietta. We had multiple All-Americans among our defensive line and linebacker positions. He does a great job of figuring out the opposing team’s bread and butter, finding ways to generate a pass rush and taking away what the opponent wants to do.”
Feltrop instructed four conference Defensive Lineman of the Year honorees in a five-year period – Drake Neuberger in 2020, Kyle Gallagher shared with Neuberger in 2021 and Chance Knight in 2023 and 2024. In addition, Feltrop coached Harley Hopkins, who was named the conference’s Linebacker of the Year in 2024. The Pioneers finished .500 or better in five of Feltrop’s six seasons on staff. The program posted a 34-22 record during his tenure including a 16-5 mark over the last two campaigns.
“Coach Waddle has been an unbelievable mentor to me the last six years,” Feltrop said. “Not only is he an amazing football coach and leader, but he is a tremendous family man. I am so excited to continue working with him, teach these young men the game and help them succeed in life.”
Prior to his successful six-year stay at Marietta, Feltrop served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Division-III Geneva College of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, for eight seasons. He joined the Golden Tornado staff as linebackers coach in 2011, and took on the added responsibility of junior varsity coach in 2013 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2015. He coached 25 all-conference picks and had five players earn either National Christian College Athletic Association or Eastern College Athletic Conference All-American honors.
A four-year varsity letter winner at Geneva, Feltrop was a three-year starter at linebacker and served as team captain during his senior campaign. He earned all-conference honors three times and was twice named an NCCAA All-American. Feltrop led the Golden Tornadoes in tackles in three of his four seasons. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing from Geneva in 2008.
What They’re Saying About Coach Florence
Connor Vierstra, Former Marietta College Quarterback: “Coach Florence is a coach who brings incredible energy and a great mindset to football. His ability to connect with players and develop game plans is second to none. He’s not only a brilliant coach, but he’s also someone who invests in building relationships and fostering growth, both on and off the field. I’m confident he’ll have a huge impact at Valpo, just like he did at Marietta.”
Tyson Beacham, University of the Cumberlands Wide Receivers & Tight Ends Coach: “Reed is one of the best offensive minds who I’ve had a chance to work with. He is always working to put together the best scheme possible to put his players in a spot where they can succeed on the field. The relationships he has with his players speak for themselves in how hard they play for him. He’s a proven winner from his career as a quarterback and as a play caller. He will bring tremendous value to the Valpo football program.”
Joe Fincham, Former Wittenberg University Head Coach, 1996-2021: “Reed is one of the best players we had in my 30 plus years at Wittenberg. He was a tireless worker, fearless on game day and respected by all. The same skill set benefits him as a coach. Young men love playing for Reed Florence.”
BJ Coad, Ohio Dominican Offensive Coordinator: “I couldn’t be happier for Coach Florence in his well-earned new opportunity at Valparaiso. He is a great offensive mind with a proven ability to recruit and develop his players to their highest potential. I have no doubt he will continue to maximize each player to their fullest potential while leading Valparaiso’s offense to new heights!”
What They’re Saying About Coach Feltrop
Alan Estep, Case Western Reserve University Offensive Line Coach: “From both the opposing and same sideline as Zach, you notice just how much he identifies the strengths and weaknesses of his players and builds his defense to allow players to play at their highest level. His defenses play with the same competitive drive, grit and determination that he has and they always fly to the football. When they get to it, they get there angry.”
Geno DeMarco, Geneva College Head Coach: “Zach is relentless in preparation, earning the trust of his players by being truthful in expectation and evaluation. He gets the most out of his players, and they know he cares for them beyond the field. He is one of the toughest players I have coached in 32 years!”
MARIAN SOFTBALL
LUCY KEMP SIGNS WITH MARIAN SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian softball team has announced their first signing in their 2025 recruiting class, as head coach Scott Fleming announced the signing of Lucy Kemp.
Lucy Kemp is a local product to Marian, coming to the west side from Guerin Catholic High School. As a Golden Eagle, Kemp played both second base and short stop for her high school team, batting .349 in her junior season. Kemp recorded 36 RBI and 25 extra base hits, including five home runs and six triples. The middle infielder has been twice named to her All-Conference Team, and has been named All-Hamilton County twice, once as a first team member and the other as an honorable mention honoree.
Kemp was additionally named All-USA Central Indiana during her junior season. Away from the field, Lucy Kemp is an exemplary student in the clasroom, carrying a GPA over 4.00 as a senior at Guerin Catholic. At Marian University, Lucy intends to major in nursing.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB 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”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
32 – 88 – 4 – 9 – 28 – 16 – 21 – 17 – 22 – 34 – 9 – 30 – 20
December 14, 1953 – Brooklyn Dodgers sign pitcher Sandy Koufax. The Picher would wear the Number 32 for the Dodgers through the 1966 season.
December 14, 1958 – Number 88, Pat Summerall kicked the game winning field goal for the New York Giants against the Cleveland Browns at Yankee Stadium
December 14, 1968 – Number 4, Bobby Orr scores first career hat trick and it was against the Chicago Blackhawks.
December 14, 1980 – Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Number 9, Tommy Kramer threw for 456 yards against Cleveland Browns, winning 28-24 on a tipped pass that receiver Number 28, Ahamad Rashad caught for the game winner on the last play. The Miracle at the Met
December 14, 1982 – LA Kings’ Number 16, Marcel Dionne became the 9th NHL skater to score 500 goals in a career. The Kings organization retired the Number 16 in Dionne’s honor on November 8, 1990
December 14, 1991 – 57th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Michigan wide receiver, Number 21, Desmond Howard
December 14, 1996 – 62nd Heisman Trophy Award was won by Florida Quarterback, Number 17, Danny Wuerffel
December 14, 1997 – Phoenix Coyote winger Number 22, Mike Gartner became the 5th NHL skater to score 700 goals
December 14, 1998 – 64th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Texas running back Number 34, Ricky Williams
December 14, 2009 – 75th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Alabama running back, Number 22, Mark Ingram, Jr.
December 14, 2019 – 85th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Louisiana State University Quarterback Number 9, Joe Burrow. Burrow had the highest percentage of first place votes ever with 90.7%
December 14, 2021 – Steph Curry, Number 30 of the Golden State Warriors, made his 2,974th three-point shot to pass Ray Allen (Number 34 & Number 20) as the NBA’s top career 3-point shooter during Golden State Warriors’ 105-96 win over NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden
FOOTBALL HISTORY
December 14, 1920 – Fighting Irish legend George Gipp passed away from pneumonia at the age of 25. The History of College Football reminds us that Gipp is probably best known for asking his Coach Knute Rockne from his hospital bed, to at sometime at a point in the future, will find themselves in Rockne and the Irish need some inspiration to ask the team “to win one for the Gipper.”
December 14, 1930 – An interesting Gridiron charity game pitted the New York Football Giants against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Giants surged earlier in the season but then dropped their last two games which eliminated them from a chance at the NFL Title. With this in mind they teamed up with the ever popular Notre Dame eleven to hold a benefit game to raise money for cash strapped families during the Great Depression according to Hapmoran.org. The G-men triumphed 22-0.
December 14, 1930 – The National Football League Champions were the Green Bay Packers who with a 10-3-1 record repeated to take the title with best record and in that era of the NFL, the team with the best record received the Title per the fandom.com American Football story on the season.
December 14, 1941 – It is amazing that with all of the times that the Bears and the Packers have faced each other that there was only one time in history so far that they met in the postseason. That one time meeting was indeed historic as it was also the first NFL divisional playoff game. In that era of the NFL thre were two divisions and the team with the best record in each division would meet in the NFL Championship Game. The 1941 season however the Bears and Packer tied for the best record in the Western Division of the NFL with identical 10-1 records. Each team was victorious on the other’s field. On Sept. 28, the Bears defeated the Packers at City Stadium, 25-17. The Packers returned the favor on Nov. 2 at Wrigley Field, winning 16-14. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online covers the game play in detail but also shares with us that in this meeting it was the Bears who claimed the right to play for the Title as they knocked off the Packers 33-14 in the third and most important meeting of the season.
December 14, 1947 – Action from the AAFC Championship Game had the Cleveland Browns defeating the New York Yankees 14-3 to win yet another title in the fledgling league.
December 14, 1980 – Metropolitan Stadium – “the Miracle at the Met” the Minnesota Vikings have sure been involved in a lot of famous plays. Before the Minneapolis Miracle there was this fantastic game when the Cleveland Browns were in town according to ESPN.com. The Browns held a 1 point lead with 14 ticks of the clock remaining. It looked dismal for the home fans as the Vikings had possession of the ball but were 80 yards away from the Brown’s goal line. The use of a hook and lateral ate up 9 precious seconds as the lateral went to Vikes running back Ted Brown who reached the Cleveland 46 got out of bounds. Quarterback Tommy Kramer then fired a lofty pass to the right side of the endzone in desperation, three Browns were in a position to make a play on the ball but they tipped it into the hands of Vikings Receiver Ahmad Rashad in the back corner of the endzone in a truly miraculous conclusion. Kramer passed for 456 yards to set a franchise record in a non Over Time game, and the final score was 28-24, Minnesota!
December 14, 1980 – New Orleans Saints fans ended their paper bags over their heads “Aints” era when their favorite team edged out the New York Jets 21-20 to stop a 14 game losing streak.
December 14, 1991 – The 57th Heisman Trophy Award went to Desmond Howard, the University of Michigan’s talented wide receiver and return man. Howard according to the Heisman.com website held the second largest voting margin of victory in the Awards history. The Junior wideout helped the Wolverines achieve a 10-1 record while catching 61 receptions for 960 yards with 19 TDs and ran in a couple more scores on rushes. He scored another couple of touchdowns on a kick and a punt return. He averaged a whopping 31 yards per kick return and a solid 15.3 yards per punt return. I would say that sets up for some great field position on offense!
December 14, 1996 – Quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the Florida Gators was voted as the 62nd Heisman Trophy winner. Wuerffel was only the second Gator to win the Award, the other was none other than his Florida Head Coach Steve Spurrier per the Heisman’s official website. Danny rifled 3,625 yards and 36 touchdowns as he aided the Gators to an 11-1 record and another shot at the national title. Wuerffel showed up in that big national championship game too as he threw for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns against a strong Florida State defense in a 52-20 Gator romp against their cross state rivals to win Florida’s first ever National title.
December 14, 1998 – The Downtown Athletic Club handed its 64th version of the Heisman Award to University of Texas Running Back Ricky Williams. We told you earlier that Desmon Howard in 1991 received the second highest percentage of Heisman votes, well Ricky Williams is the only player ahead of him in that category. Williams had 43% of the voters cast his name in the Heisman voting according to the Award’s website tabulation. Ricky set 21 NCAA records as he ran for an impeccable 2,124 yards and 27 TDs on the season. The standout Longhorn runner also won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards as well as becoming the only player in College Football history to win the Doak Walker Award twice.
December 14, 2009 – University of Alabama hard working running back Mark Ingram Jr. won the 75th Heisman Trophy Award. He was unbelievably the first Bama Heisman winner to also win a National Championship Title with the Tide that same season. Ingrams according to the Trophy’s official site won the narrowest vote in Heisman history up to that point. Mark Ingram in the 2009 season rushed for 1,542 yards with 15 touchdowns and caught 30 passes for 322 yards and three TD’S to aid Alabama in going undefeated on the year.
December 14, 2019 – The 85th Heisman Trophy was earned by Joe Burrow, the stud quarterback of Louisiana State University. Heisman.com informs the reader that the LSU Senior signal caller threw a Heisman tying record 48 touchdowns on the season with 4715 yards through the air. Joe’s 2019 completion rate of 77.9% is the highest ever in the Award’s history.
Birthdays of Hall of Fame Players for December 14
December 14, 1921 – Pittston, Pennsylvania – Charley Trippi the Georgia Bulldogs great halfback was born. The NFF starts out their bio of Charley with the story of the 1943 Rose Bowl game in which Georgia would face powerhouse UCLA. The Bulldogs would be at a slight disadvantage as their stud All-America runner Frank Sinkwich was hurt and not able to play. The substitute for Sinkwich was Trippi and boy did he ever put on a show as he went on to become the game’s MVP by helping the Dogs overcome adversity in defeating the Bruins 9-0. After some great seasons at Georgia which were WWII interrupted, and he served his country, Trippi really set his fabled Bulldog lore in his Senior year. Charley led Georgia t0 a perfect 10-0 regular season, the the amazing halfback won the Sugar Bowl for the Bulldogs when he tossed a touchdown pass to teammate Dan Edwards, sealing off a 20-10 victory over the Tarheels of North Carolina. The National Football Foundation selected Charley Trippi to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. Trippi may be the only player to have ever played in four Chicago College All-Star games as a collegian, two with the Bulldogs, two while in the service and a fifth as a professional. The Pro Football Hall of Fame tells an interesting story about Charley after college. It was the AAFC’s New York Yankees who were ready to hold a press conference to announce Charley Trippi as their newest player but at the last minute they found out that Charles Bidwell Senior of the Chicago Cardinals had inked Trippi to a sweet deal. Charley signed a four-season long, $100,000 professional contract with the Chicago Cardinals making him the second highest paid pro player at the time behind only Red Grange. Bidwell was billing it the “Dream Back Field” as Trippi would join Cardinals greats Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg and, later, Elmer Angsman but Mr. Bidwell passed away before ever seeing the men play together. The Dream Backfield was as thought and the Cardinals captured the 1947 Championship of the NFL by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21. Trippi put on basketball shoes to gain traction on the Icy Comiskey Park surface to rush for 206 total yards of rushing and returns with 2 scores. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined him in 1968.
December 14, 1939 – New Salem Pennsylvania – Ernie Davis the standout Syracuse halfback was born. Ernie, according to the NFF web bio on him, led Syracuse to a national championship in 1959. Davis was the top player in the nation in 1961 as he rushed for 823 yards as a senior and scored 15 touchdowns while leading Syracuse in pass receiving with 16 catches for 157 yards. Ernie Davis the first African-American player to win the Heisman but he was also the first black player to be drafted with the top pick in the NFL Draft! Unfortunately shortly after signing a life changing contract with the Browns, Ernie came down with Leukemia and was not able to live out his professional dream. We lost the great Ernie Davis at the young age of just 23. The National Football Foundation selected Ernie Davis to become a member posthumously of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
TODAY IN SPORTS
Dec. 14
1920 — Jack Dempsey knocks out Bill Brennan in the 12th round at Madison Square Garden to retain his world heavyweight title.
1933 — Howie Morenz becomes the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer in the Montreal Canadiens’ 2-0 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Morenz scores the 247th goal of his career to move ahead of Cy Denneny. The milestone comes at the Forum. Montreal’s Lorne Chabot gets the shutout and the a game is played without a penalty being called.
1947 — The Cleveland Browns beat the New York Yankees 14-3 in the second AAFC championship game. It’s the second straight year the two team meet in the title game, with Browns coming out on top again.
1965 — Rookie Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors scores 57 points in a 141-137 loss to the New York Knicks.
1975 — Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar grabs an NBA-record 29 defensive rebounds in a 110-100 victory over Detroit.
1982 — Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings scores his 500th goal in a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. Dionne is the ninth player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
1985 — UCLA beats American University 1-0 in the eighth overtime period, in the longest soccer match held in the United States, to capture the NCAA soccer title.
1986 — Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins sets an NFL record with the seventh 400-yard game of his career as he passes for 403 yards and five touchdowns in a 37-31 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Marino hits Mark Duper with a 20-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win the game.
1991 — Desmond Howard, the nation’s second-leading scorer with 23 TDs, wins the Heisman Trophy by the second-biggest margin in history. The Michigan receiver beats runner-up Casey Weldon of Florida State by 1,574 points.
1995 — The first Division I-A overtime game takes place at the Las Vegas Bowl with Toledo beat Nevada 40-37.
1997 — The New York Jets equal the NFL mark for greatest turnaround in modern NFL history with their 31-0 victory over Tampa Bay. The Jets, 1-15 last season, post their ninth win of the season.
2002 — Marvin Harrison breaks Herman Moore’s 1995 mark of 123 catches. By making nine receptions in a 28-23 win at Cleveland, Harrison reaches 127 with two games remaining. He also gains 172 yards, giving Harrison 1,500 yards for the second straight season, the first player with consecutive 1,500-yard seasons.
2002 — Michael Jordan matches his career low with two points as the Washington Wizards beat the short-handed Toronto Raptors. The 39-year-old Jordan shoots 1-for-9 from the field, but has nine assists and eight rebounds as he matches his season high by playing 40 minutes.
2007 — Appalachian State, which kicked off the football season with the stunning upset of Michigan, ends the season with a historic victory. The Mountaineers are Division I-AA’s first three-peat national champion with a 49-21 win over Delaware.
2008 — Oakland becomes the first team to lose at least 11 games in six straight seasons after their 49-26 loss to New England. The Patriots’ 35 first-half points are the most scored against Oakland since the merger in 1970.
2008 — Pittsburgh holds another team under 300 yards in beating Baltimore 13-9. The Steelers tie the 1973 Los Angeles Rams for the longest streak — 14 games to start a season — since the NFL merger in 1970.
2021 — Steph Curry makes his 2,974th three-point shot to pass Ray Allen as the NBA’s greatest career 3-point shooter during Golden State Warriors’ 105-96 win over NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
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Dec. 15
1925 — The first NHL game is played at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Americans score first, but the Montreal Canadiens prevail 3-1, before 17,000 in attendance.
1929 — The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 in their first game at Chicago Stadium. Vic Ripley scores twice in 35 seconds during the second period to the delight of the 14,212 fans in attendance.
1935 — Detroit Lions win NFL championship with a 26-7 win over the New York Giants.
1946 — Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants 24-14 at the Polo Grounds for the NFL championship. A record crowd of 58,326 attend the game. Sid Luckman’s 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth puts the Bears ahead 21-14. Before the game, New York’s star fulback Merles Hapes is declared ineligible by NFL commissioner Bert Bell for not reporting bribe attempt to throw the game. New York police phone taps produced coversations with gambler Alvin J. Paris and Hapes. The Bears were 10-point favorites.
1964 — San Francisco’s Wilt Chamberlain scores 58 points, including nine in overtime, to give the Warriors a 134-132 victory over the New York Knicks.
1970 — Glenn Hall of the St. Louis Blues becomes the second goaltender in NHL history to reach 400 victories. Hall makes 38 saves in a 2-1 win against the Minnesota North Stars. Hall joins Terry Sawchuk in the 400-win club.
1973 — Tennessee beats Temple 11-6 in the lowest scoring NCAA basketball game since 1938. With 11:44 left in the first half and Tennessee leading 7-5, Temple holds onto the ball without a shot. Tennessee doesn’t take a shot in the second half, but manages four free throws by John Snow.
1973 — Sandy Hawley becomes the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year, riding Charlie Jr. to victory in the third race at Laurel Race Course.
1974 — Oakland’s Jim “Catfish” Hunter is ruled a free agent by arbitrator Peter Seitz when A’s owner Charles O. Finley fails to live up to the terms of Hunter’s contract.
1984 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky has five goals and an assist to lead the Oilers to an 8-2 triumph over the St. Louis Blues.
1995 — The Vancouver Grizzlies avoid tying the NBA record for consecutive losses in a season by snapping a 19-game losing streak with a 104-100 overtime victory over Portland.
2000 — Georgia Southern beats Montana 27-25 for a second-straight Division I-AA championship and its a record sixth championship.
2012 — Matt Scott throws two touchdown passes in the final 46 seconds and college bowl season starts with a wild one when Arizona rallies to beat Nevada 49-48 in the New Mexico Bowl. Arizona trails 45-28 entering the final quarter. The teams combine for 1,237 total yards, the second most of any bowl game.
2013 — Jamaal Charles ties a franchise record with five touchdowns in a game as the Kansas City Chiefs beat Oakland 56-31. The Chiefs become the fourth team ever to make the playoffs a year after losing at least 14 games.
2016 — In the biggest Division I women’s basketball rout ever, No. 3 Baylor overwhelms Winthrop 140-32. The 108-point margin of victory surpasses the 102 set by Grambling when it beat Jarvis Christian College 139-37 in 1986.
2017 — Mount Union wins its 13th Division III football national championship with a 12-0 victory over defending champion Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Purple Raiders (15-0) limit Mary Hardin-Baylor to 144 yards. The Crusaders (14-1) had not trailed all season and had their 29-game winning streak snapped.
2019 — Raiders play their final NFL game in Oakland conceding 17 unanswered 2nd half points to go down 20-16 to the Jacksonville Jaguars; team to play out of Las Vegas in 2020
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Dec. 16
1918 — Jack Dempsey knocks out Carl Morris in 14 seconds in a heavyweight bout in New Orleans.
1930 — Golfer Bobby Jones wins the first James E. Sullivan Award. The award is given to “the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.”
1940 — Joe Louis knocks out Al McCoy in the sixth round at the Boston Garden to retain the world heavyweight title.
1945 — The Cleveland Rams beat the Washington Redskins 15-14 for the NFL championship. The deciding play turns out to be a first-quarter automatic safety when the Redskins’ Sammy Baugh passes from his own end zone and the wind carries the ball into the goal post.
1967 — Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 68 points in a 143-123 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
1973 — O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills rushes for 200 yards in a 34-14 victory over the New York Jets and sets an NFL record with 2,003 yards rushing for the season. Simpson needed 61 yards to break Jim Brown’s NFL single season rushing record of 1,863 yards set in 1963.
1990 — Warren Moon passes for a 527 yards — the second-greatest passing day in NFL history — as the Houston Oilers beat Kansas City 27-10.
2003 — New Orleans Saints receiver Joe Horn is fined $30,000 by the NFL for making a choreographed cell-phone call in the end zone to celebrate a touchdown during the Saints’ 45-7 rout of the New York Giants on Dec. 14.
2006 — Morten Andersen becomes the greatest scorer in NFL history. The 46-year-old Andersen breaks Gary Anderson’s career scoring record of 2,434 points with the second of four extra points in the Atlanta Falcons’ 38-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
2007 — Brett Favre passes for 227 yards in Green Bay’s 33-14 win over St. Louis, eclipsing Dan Marino to become the NFL career leader in yards passing. Favre, in his 17th season, finishes the game with 61,405 yards. Marino had 61,361 in 17 seasons.
2007 — Kikkan Randall becomes the first U.S. woman and second American to win a World Cup cross country race when she defeats world sprint champion Astrid Jacobsen of Norway in the final meters of a 1.2-kilometer freestyle race. Randall is the first American to win a World Cup cross country race since Bill Koch in 1983.
2010 — American Ryan Lochte sets the first individual swimming world record since high-tech bodysuits were banned, winning the 400-meter individual medley at the short-course world championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
2012 — Ryan Lochte wins two more races at the short-course world championships in Istanbul, finishing the event with six golds and one silver. The result matches his medal total from the last championships, in Dubai in 2010.
2013 — Justin Tucker makes six field goals, including a 61-yarder in the final minute, to give the Baltimore Ravens an 18-16 win over the Detroit Lions.
2014 — Nick Bjugstad scores the game-winning goal in the longest shootout in NHL history to lift the Florida Panthers over the Washington Capitals 2-1. Bjugstad’s goal comes in the 20th round of a shootout — on the 40th shot — and beats Braden Holtby on the right side.
2016 — James Harden gets his sixth triple-double of the season and the Houston Rockets make an NBA-record 24 3-pointers in a 122-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
2019 — Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning’s NFL record (539) for career touchdown passes as New Orleans Saints rout Indianapolis Colts, 34-7; Brees 29 of 30 for 307 yards & 4 TDs for record 96.7% pass completion.
2020 – US Major League Baseball announces it is elevating the Negro Leagues to Major League status
Dec. 17
1933 — The Chicago Bears win the first NFL championship with a 23-21 victory over the New York Giants. The Bears score the winning touchdown on a 36-yard play that starts with a short pass from Bronko Nagurski to Bill Hewitt, who then laterals to Bill Kerr for the score.
1944 — National Football League Championship, Polo Grounds, NYC: Green Bay Packers beat New York Giants, 14-7 for 6th and final league title under long-time coach Curly Lambeau.
1983 — In his 352nd NHL game, Wayne Gretzky scores a goal & 5 assists in 8-1 rout of Quebec Nordiques to record his 800th point and 500th assist; averages 2.27 points, 1.42 assists, 0.85 goals per game to start career.
1987 — Chicago’s Michael Jordan scores 52 points to lead the Bulls to a 111-100 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
1991 — The Cleveland Cavaliers turn a 20-point halftime lead over Miami into the most lopsided victory in NBA history, 148-80 over the Heat. The 68-point margin eclipses the mark of 63 set March 19, 1972, when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 162-99.
1993 — Julio Cesar Chavez secures his place in boxing history, retaining his WBC super lightweight title with a fifth-round victory over Britain’s Andy Holligan. It’s the 27th time Chavez fought for a title without a loss since 1984, breaking Joe Louis’ mark of 26.
1993 — Virgil Hill becomes the most successful light heavyweight in boxing history, winning a record 15th title defense with a unanimous decision over Guy Waters of Australia. Hill, the WBA champion for five of the last six years, had been tied with Bob Foster, who held light heavyweight titles from 1968 to 1974.
2000 — Terrell Owens catches an NFL-record 20 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 17-0 victory over Chicago. Jeff Garcia completes 36 of 44 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers.
2005 — John Ruiz loses the WBA heavyweight title, dropping a disputed majority decision to 7-foot Nikolay Valuev of Russia in Berlin. Valuev, the first Russian heavyweight champion, also becomes the tallest and heaviest (323 pounds) champion of all-time.
2006 — LaDainian Tomlinson breaks Paul Hornung’s 46-year-old NFL single-season scoring record on a 15-yard run in the first quarter of San Diego’s game against Kansas City. The touchdown run gives him 180 points, breaking Hornung’s record of 176 set with the Green Bay Packers in 1960.
2006 — Gilbert Arenas sets a franchise record with 60 points, 16 of them in overtime, to lead Washington to a 147-141 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
2013 — Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scores 21 points on a career-high seven 3-pointers and No. 1 Connecticut beat second-ranked Duke 83-61. Breanna Stewart has 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies as coach Geno Auriemma earns his 850th career win.
2016 — Donnel Pumphrey breaks the NCAA career rushing record in his college finale, running for 115 yards and a touchdown in San Diego State’s 34-10 victory over Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl. Pumphrey passes former Wisconsin star Ron Dayne’s mark of 6,397 yards on a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter and wraps up his sensational career in his Nevada hometown with 6,405 yards. Pumphrey’s senior total of 2,133 yards rushing ranks in the top 10 for a FBS player.
2016 — Malik Monk scores a Kentucky freshman record 47 points and hits the go-ahead 3-pointer with 16.7 seconds left to lead the sixth-ranked Wildcats past No. 7 North Carolina 103-100 in a thrilling showdown of traditional powers.
2022 — Minnesota Vikings recover from 33-0 down at halftime to beat Indianapolis Colts, 39-36 in overtime at US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN; biggest comeback in NFL history.
_____
Dec. 18
1930 — Adolph Rupp coaches his first game at Kentucky, a 67-19 win over Georgetown College in Kentucky. Rupp retires in 1972 after winning 879 games and four national titles.
1949 — The Philadelphia Eagles win the NFL championship with a 14-0 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
1954 — Montreal’s Maurice Richard becomes the first player in NHL history to score 400 goals during the Canadiens’ 4-2 road victory against the Chicago Black Hawks.
1961 — Olympic track star Wilma Rudolph wins The Associated Press’ female athlete of year award for the second consecutive year.
1962 — Wilt Chamberlain of the San Francisco Warriors scores 61 points in a 130-110 over the St. Louis Hawks.
1964 — Oscar Robertson of the Cincinnati Royals scores 56 points, including 18 in the final quarter, in a 111-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
1976 — Oakland quarterback Kenny Stabler scores with 14 seconds left to give the Raiders a 24-21 comeback victory over the New England Patriots in the in the AFC divisional playoffs.
1983 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky scores his 100th point of the season the Edmonton Oilers’ 34th game, a 7-5 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Gretzky scores two goals and has two assists to get to 100 points faster than any player in NHL history. He finishes the season with 205 points.
1995 — Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers records the fifth-highest yardage total by a receiver in NFL history with 289 yards, and catches three touchdown passes in a 37-30 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
1997 — Germany’s Katja Seizinger wins her sixth straight race to tie former French star Jean-Claude Killy’s World Cup record for consecutive victories.
2005 — Indianapolis, which won its first 13 games, the fourth team in NFL history to do so, loses 26-17 at home to San Diego.
2006 — Tenth-ranked Arizona State beats Texas Tech 61-45 when the second outdoor game in women’s college basketball history is called on account of rain with 4:18 to play at Chase Field, home of baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
2007 — Edmonton sets an NHL record by competing in its fourth straight shootout, but loses to Dallas 2-1. The Oilers, who had won the first three, lose for the second time in their 12 shootout appearances.
2008 — Steve Asmussen is the first North American trainer to win 600 Thoroughbred races in a single year as Storm Trust captures the fifth race at Delta Downs.
2011 — The Green Bay Packers’ 19-game winning streak, second-longest in NFL history, is snapped with a 19-14 loss at Kansas City.
2011 — Brittney Griner scores 12 of her 25 points in the closing run that pushes the top-ranked Baylor Lady Bears past No. 2 UConn 66-61.
2016 — New England defeats Denver 16-3 to clinch the AFC East and earn a first-round bye. It marks the eighth consecutive division title for the Patriots, the longest streak in NFL history, breaking a tie with the 1973-79 Los Angeles Rams (seven). New England is the only team in NFL history to win 13 division titles in a 14-year span.
_____
Dec. 19
1913 — Heavyweight champion Jack Johnson fights to a 10-round draw with Battling Jim Johnson in Paris.
1917 — The NHL begins play. Joe Malone of the Montreal Canadiens scores five goals in a 9-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Harry Hyland of the Montreal Wanderers scores five goals in a 10-9 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1943 — Harry Lumley, at 17 years and 38 days old, becomes the youngest goaltender in NHL history when he plays for the Detroit Red Wings in a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
1948 — The Cleveland Browns complete an undefeated season beating the Buffalo Bills 49-7 in AAFC championship game.
1948 — The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Chicago Cardinals 7-0 in a major snowstorm for the NFL title. Philadelphia’s Bucko Kilroy recovers a fumble on the 17-yard line in the fourth period, and Steve Van Buren later scores from the 5.
1976 — The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Colts 40-14 in an AFC playoff game. Ten minutes after the game, Donald Kroner, a former charter pilot, crashes a rented, low-wing, Piper Cherokee into the upper deck of Memorial Stadium. No one is seriously hurt as most of the capacity crowd of 60,020 left the one-sided contest early or were heading down the exit ramps.
1987 — Boston and St. Louis combine for the fastest two goals in NHL history. Ken Linseman puts the Bruins ahead 6-5 with 10 seconds left in the third period. Doug Gilmour of Boston wins the faceoff and shoots the puck into an empty net two seconds later to wrap up a 7-5 win over the Blues at Boston Garden.
1990 — Los Angeles Raiders running back Bo Jackson is named to the AFC team, as a reserve, becoming the first athlete chosen for All-Star games in two sports.
2001 — Marshall, led by Byron Leftwich, comes back from a 38-8 halftime deficit to beat East Carolina 64-61 in double-overtime in the GMAC Bowl for the highest scoring bowl game in history.
2007 — New York Islanders forward Chris Simon is banned for 30 games, drawing the longest suspension in NHL history again. Simon’s latest infraction was stepping on Pittsburgh’s Jarkko Ruutu with his skate during a Dec. 15 game. This is the seventh suspension of Simon’s career.
2009 — Michael Phelps helps his American team trounce a group of European all-stars in the Duel in the Pool, anchoring a relay to one of the eight world records the U.S. sets over the two-day meet in Manchester, England.
2010 — Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson returns a punt 65 yards for a touchdown as time expires in the Eagles’ 38-31 comeback win at the New York Giants. It’s the only game-winning punt-return touchdown in NFL history as the Eagles come back from a 31-10 fourth-quarter deficit. It marks the ninth time in NFL history in which a team trailed by at least 21 points in the fourth quarter and wins the game.
2010 — The Detroit Lions stop their record road skid at 26 games with a 23-20 overtime win at Tampa Bay. It’s the first road win since Oct. 28, 2007, when they beat the Bears 16-7 at Chicago.
2017 — Freshman Trae Young has 26 points and ties an NCAA Division I record with 22 assists as No. 17 Oklahoma rolls past Northwestern State 105-68.
2017 — North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell becomes the third women’s Division I coach to register her 1,000th career victory after the Tar Heels beat Grambling State 79-63.
2017 — Geno Auriemma wins his 1000th game as top-ranked UConn beat Oklahoma 88-64 in the Hall of Fame women’s Holiday Showcase. Auriemma becomes the fourth women’s coach to reach the 1,000-win mark, joining Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer and Sylvia Hatchell, who earned her milestone victory earlier in the day.
2018 – Houston Rockets set NBA single-game record with 26 three-pointers in 136-118 victory over Washington Wizards
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
11 a.m.
ESPN2 — Memphis at Clemson
Noon
CBS — Texas A&M vs. Purdue, Indianapolis
12:30 p.m.
BTN — Coppin St. at Penn St.
1 p.m.
ESPN2 — Ohio St. vs. Auburn, Atlanta
FS1 — Wichita St. at DePaul
2 p.m.
ESPNU — Tulsa vs. UCF, Sunrise, Fla.
2:30 p.m.
ACCN — Georgetown at Syracuse
BTN — Butler vs. Wisconsin, Indianapolis
CBSSN — Fordham vs. Bryant, Uncasville, Conn.
3 p.m.
ESPN2 — UCLA vs. Arizona, Phoenix
FOX — Seton Hall at Rutgers
3:15 p.m.
ESPN — NC State at Kansas
3:30 p.m.
SECN — Arizona St at Florida
4 p.m.
CW — La Salle at North Carolina
ESPNU — LSU at SMU
4:30 p.m.
ACCN — Tulane at Florida St.
5 p.m.
CBSSN — St. Bonaventure vs. Providence, Uncasville, Conn.
5:15 p.m.
ESPN — Louisville at Kentucky
5:30 p.m.
FOX — Tennessee at Illinois
6 p.m.
ESPNU — McNeese St. vs. Mississippi St., Tupelo, Miss.
SECN — Grand Canyon at Georgia
7 p.m.
CBSSN — Marquette at Dayton
8 p.m.
ESPNU — Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma St., Oklahoma City
FOX — Gonzaga vs. UConn, New York
8:30 p.m.
SECN — Creighton at Alabama
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
5 p.m.
BTN — Kentucky at Purdue
9:30 p.m.
BTN — Utah at Washington
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Noon
ABC — Cricket Celebration Bowl: SC State vs. Jackson St., Atlanta
ESPN — FCS Tournament: Incarnate Word at S. Dakota St., Quarterfinal
3 p.m.
CBS — Navy vs. Army, Landover, Md.
3:30 p.m.
ABC — FCS Tournament: Mercer at N. Dakota St., Quarterfinal
8 p.m.
ESPN — 2024 Heisman Trophy Ceremony: From New York
9 p.m.
ESPN — IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama vs. W. Michigan, Montgomery, Ala.
COLLEGE HOCKEY (MEN’S)
7 p.m.
BTN — Notre Dame at Ohio St.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
5 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: Kentucky at Pittsburgh, Regional Final
7:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: Stanford at Louisville, Regional Final
GOLF
4:30 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Third Round, Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, South Africa
2 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA/PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Second Round, Tiburon Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Naples, Fla.
3 p.m.
GOLF — Korn Ferry/PGA Tour: The Q-School, Third Round, Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
NBC — LPGA/PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Second Round, Tiburon Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Naples, Fla.
4:30 a.m. (Sunday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Final Round, Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, South Africa
HORSE RACING
3 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
7 p.m.
ESPNEWS — UFC Fight Night Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Tampa, Fla.
9:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — UFC Fight Night Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Tampa, Fla.
10 p.m.
ESPN2 — UFC Fight Night Main Card: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley (Welterweights), Tampa, Fla.
NBA BASKETBALL
4:30 p.m.
TNT — In-Season Tournament: Atlanta vs. Milwaukee, Semifinal, Las Vegas
TRUTV — In-Season Tournament: Atlanta vs. Milwaukee, Semifinal, Las Vegas (DataCast)
8:30 p.m.
ABC — In-Season Tournament: Houston vs. Oklahoma City, Semifinal, Las Vegas
NHL HOCKEY
1 p.m.
NHLN — Chicago at New Jersey
7 p.m.
NHLN — Toronto at Detroit
SKIING
5 p.m.
NBC — FIS: Alpine World Cup, Beaver Creek, Colo. (Taped)
SOCCER (MEN’S)
7:25 a.m.
CBSSN — English League Championship: Queens Park at Bristol City
9:55 a.m.
CBSSN — English League One: Cambridge United at Wrexham AFC
10 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Leicester City at Newcastle United
12:30 p.m.
NBC — Premier League: Aston Villa at Nottingham Forest
Sunday, Dec. 15
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
1 p.m.
CBSSN — Omaha at Iowa St.
2 p.m.
BTN — New Orleans at Iowa
4 p.m.
BTN — Georgia Tech vs. Northwestern, Milwaukee
6 p.m.
BTN — Stephen F. Austin at Oregon
8 p.m.
BTN — Montana St. at Southern Cal
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
ACCN — Miami at Pittsburgh
BTN — Iowa at Michigan St.
SECN — Longwood at Florida
1 p.m.
ABC — NC State at Louisville
2 p.m.
ACCN — Georgia Tech at North Carolina
ESPN2 — West Virginia at Temple
SECN — South Florida at South Carolina
3 p.m.
ESPNU — Penn St. at Kansas
4 p.m.
ACCN — Clemson at Wake Forest
SECN — Lipscomb at Missouri
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
3 p.m.
ABC — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Final
8:30 p.m.
ESPN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Final
GOLF
4:30 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Final Round, Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, South Africa
1 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA/PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Naples, Fla.
2 p.m.
GOLF — Korn Ferry/PGA Tour: The Q-School, Final Round, Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
NBC — LPGA/PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Naples, Fla.
HORSE RACING
2:30 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL
3 p.m.
NBATV — Greensboro at Westchester
NFL FOOTBALL
1 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: Kansas City at Cleveland, Baltimore at N.Y. Giants, Miami at Houston
FOX — Regional Coverage: Cincinnati at Tennessee, Washington at New Orleans, Dallas at Carolina, N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville
4:25 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: Indianapolis at Denver, Buffalo at Detroit, New England at Arizona
FOX — Regional Coverage: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Tampa Bay at L.A. Chargers
8:20 p.m.
NBC — Green Bay at Seattle
PEACOCK — Green Bay at Seattle
NHL HOCKEY
3 p.m.
NHLN — N.Y. Islanders at Chicago
6 p.m.
NHLN — Vegas at Minnesota
SKIING
4 p.m.
NBC — FIS: Alpine World Cup, Beaver Creek, Colo. (Taped)
SOCCER (MEN’S)
9 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Crystal Palace at Brighton & Hove Albion
11:30 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Manchester United at Manchester City
2 p.m.
USA — Premier League: Brentford at Chelsea
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
CBSSN — Serie A: Sassuolo at Inter Milan (Taped)