INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
Angola 49 West Noble 46
Argos 55 North Newton 49
Barr-Reeve 47 Southridge 43
Bedford North Lawrence 60 Evansville North 43
Bloomfield 55 Eastern Greene 37
Bloomington North 77 Floyd Central 56
Bloomington South 51 Jennings County 40
Blue River 70 Wes-Del 61
Boonville 53 South Spencer 42
Carroll County (Ky.) 71 Shawe Memorial 69
Cascade 52 Western Boone 51
Chesterton 86 Whiting 51
Christian Academy 96 Cannelton 34
Clinton Prairie 72 Tri-County 38
Cloverdale 64 Eminence 40
Culver 72 Tri-Township 58
Decatur Central 75 University 56
Demotte Christian 64 Frontier 49
East Central 58 Shelbyville 51
East Chicago Central 67 Morgan Twp. 53
East Noble 43 DeKalb 35
Eastern (Greentown) 61 Madison-Grant 55
Edgewood 69 Mitchell 50
Elkhart Christian 74 LaVille 71
Fort Wayne Blackhawk 67 Fort Wayne South 49
Fort Wayne Canterbury 55 Heritage 52
Fort Wayne Luers 63 Bellmont 58
Fort Wayne North 78 Adams Central 76 OT
Greenfield-Central 80 Martinsville 60
Greensburg 54 South Ripley 42
Greenwood 72 Mooresville 64
Hagerstown 54 Knightstown 52
Hammond Science & Tech 46 Attica 37
Harrison (West Lafayette) 77 Marion 66
Hauser 73 Milan 42
Henryville 71 Crothersville 51
Indian Creek 57 Sullivan 55 OT
Jasper 59 Pike Central 42
Jeffersonville 67 Evansville Christian 49
KIPP Indy Legacy 65 Indianapolis Herron 58
Kankakee Valley 69 McCutcheon 63
Kokomo 59 Tippecanoe Valley 37
Kouts 54 Lowell 50
Lafayette Central Catholic 63 Crawfordsville 61
Lakeland Christian 43 Oregon-Davis 28
Lawrenceburg 52 Connersville 35
Loogootee 46 Northeast Dubois 32
Louisville Male (Ky.) 84 Indianapolis Cathedral 81
Maconaquah 59 Culver Academy 41
Merrillville 69 Hobart 28
Mississinewa 49 Bluffton 48
Monrovia 66 Indianapolis Lutheran 59
New Palestine 76 Whiteland 75
North Central (Indianapolis) 79 Carroll (Fort Wayne) 68
North Daviess 42 White River Valley 19
North Posey 71 Tell City 37
North Putnam 82 Riverton Parke 57
North Vermillion 66 South Putnam 60 OT
Northview 70 Clay City 56
Oldenburg Academy 44 Rushville 38
Orleans 72 Shoals 26
Paoli 62 Salem 34
Parke Heritage 69 Seeger 42
Perry Central 67 Tecumseh 54
Pioneer 45 North White 40
Plymouth 55 Triton 44
Princeton 56 Forest Park 35
River Forest 49 Washington Twp. 47
Rossville 76 Faith Christian 67
Seton Catholic 70 Cambridge City Lincoln 21
Shenandoah 52 Muncie Burris 44
Silver Creek 69 Corydon Central 53
South Adams 79 Smith Academy 34
South Central (Elizabeth) 78 Springs Valley 67
South Central (Union Mills) 48 Knox 46
South Vermillion 88 Covington 84 2OT
Southmont 50 Fountain Central 43
Speedway 54 Indianapolis Scecina 43
Switzerland County 76 New Washington 25
Terre Haute North 66 Evansville Harrison 36
Tri-West 46 North Montgomery 37
Tri 64 Randolph Southern 51
Trinity Lutheran 69 Madison 65
Twin Lakes 65 Delphi 60
Union County 60 Morristown 44
Waldron 83 Seven Oaks 22
Wapahani 40 Yorktown 38
Warsaw 63 Hammond Morton 59
Washington 58 Mount Vernon (Posey) 55
Wawasee 54 Mishawaka 51
West Lafayette 42 Lebanon 36
Whitko 66 Churubusco 41
Woodlan 57 Fort Wayne Dwenger 47
Hoosier Conference playoffs
Benton Central 43 Western 36 5th
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL
SATURDAY’ S SEMISTATES
CLASS 4A
LaPorte
Lake Central 55 Homestead 42
Noblesville 59 Valparaiso 42
Lake Central 52 Noblesville 36
Southport
Lawrence Central 48 Plainfield 34
Center Grove 45 Franklin 33
Lawrence Central 53 Center Grove 40
CLASS 3A
Huntington North
Norwell 64 Hamilton Heights 50
Bremen 45 NorthWood 43
Norwell 64 Bremen 20
Jasper
Danville 54 Indianapolis Chatard 44
Gibson Southern 81 Scottsburg 66
Gibson Southern 63 Danville 48
CLASS 2A
Logansport
Fort Wayne Luers 56 Lapel 38
Andrean 35 Lewis Cass 25
Fort Wayne Luers 49 Andrean 36
Shelbyville
Brownstown Central 48 Linton-Stockton 41
Eastern Hancock 62 Sheridan 54 OT
Brownstown Central 45 Eastern Hancock 29
CLASS 1A
Frankfort
Clinton Central 42 Union City 18
Marquette Catholic 41 Caston 34
Marquette Catholic 72 Clinton Central 70
New Albany
Lanesville 62 Jac-Cen-Del 40
North Central (Farmersburg) 54 Wood Memorial 53
Lanesville 68 North Central (Farmersburg) 33
INDIANA WRESTLING STATE FINALS INFORMATION
INDIANA BOYS SWIMMING SECTIONAL
1. Lake Central (16) | Thurs, 5 pm CT Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm CT Finals | Scores |
Crown Point, East Chicago Central, Gary West Side, Griffith, Hammond Bishop Noll, Hammond Central, Hammond Morton, Highland, Illiana Christian, Lake Central, Lowell, Munster, North Newton, Rensselaer Central, South Newton, West Central.
2. Valparaiso (14) | Thurs, 6 pm CT Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm CT Finals | Scores |
Boone Grove, Calumet, Chesterton, Hobart, Kankakee Valley, Knox, Kouts, LaPorte, Merrillville, Michigan City, North Judson-San Pierre, Portage, Valparaiso, Wheeler
3. Penn (10) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores | Bremen, Mishawaka, Mishawaka Marian, New Prairie, Penn, South Bend Adams, South Bend Riley, South Bend Saint Joseph, South Bend Washington, Trinty School at Greenlawn
4. Warsaw (12) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Cass, Columbia City, Culver Academies, Logansport, Manchester, Northfield, Pioneer, Plymouth, Rochester Community, Tippecanoe Valley, Wabash, Warsaw Community
5. Elkhart (11) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Angola, Concord, DeKalb, East Noble, Eastside, Elkhart, Goshen, Jimtown, Northridge, NorthWood, Wawasee
6. Fort Wayne South Side (12) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 12:30 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Carroll (Fort Wayne), Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Fort Wayne Canterbury, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Northrop, Fort Wayne North Side, Fort Wayne Snider, Fort Wayne South Side, Fort Wayne Wayne, Homestead
7. Jay County (11) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 1 pm (all diving), 4 pm ET Finals (all swimming) | Scores |
Adams Central, Bellmont, Blackford, Bluffton, Delta, Huntington North, Jay County, Muncie Burris, Muncie Central, Norwell, South Adams
8. Fishers (12) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Anderson, Elwood Community, Fishers, Frankton, Hamilton Heights, Hamilton Southeastern, Lapel, Mississinewa, Marion, Oak Hill, Pendleton Heights, Yorktown
9. Carmel (10) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Carmel, Eastern (Greentown), Guerin Catholic, Kokomo, Maconaquah, Noblesville, Northwestern, Tipton, Western, Westfield
10. Crawfordsville (12) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9:30 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Attica, Benton Central, Crawfordsville, Delphi Community, Fountain Central, North Montgomery, North Vermillion, Seeger, South Vermillion, Southmont, Twin Lakes, Western Boone
11. Plainfield (10) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Avon, Cascade, Danville Community, Greencastle, North Putnam, Plainfield, South Putnam, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo, West Vigo
12. Lafayette Jefferson (10) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Frankfort, Harrison (West Lafayette), Lafayette Central Catholic, Lafayette Jefferson, Lebanon, McCutcheon, West Lafayette, Zionsville
13. Decatur Central (13) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Ben Davis, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Brownsburg, Decatur Central, Herron, Indianapolis Arsenal Technical, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Indianapolis Shortridge, International School of Indiana, Park Tudor, Pike, Speedway, Tri-West Hendricks
14. Lawrence North (13) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Beech Grove, Franklin Central, Heritage Christian, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Cathedral, Indianapolis Scecina Memorial, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, North Central (Indianapolis), Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown, University, Roncalli, Warren Central
15. New Palestine (11) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 10 am, 2 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Centerville, Connersville, Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Hagerstown, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), New Castle, New Palestine, Richmond, Seton Catholic, Shelbyville
16. Franklin Community (9) | Thurs, 5:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Center Grove, Franklin Community, Greenwood Community, Indian Creek, Martinsville, Mooresville, Perry Meridian, Southport, Whiteland Community
17. Columbus North (14) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 9 am, 1 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Batesville, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Edgewood, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Milan, Oldenburg Academy, Rising Sun, South Dearborn, South Ripley
18. Floyd Central (15) | Thurs, 6 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 8:15 am, 11 am ET Finals | Scores |
Charlestown, Floyd Central, Henryville, Jeffersonville, Jennings County, Madison Consolidated, New Albany, Providence, Salem, Scottsburg, Seymour, Shawe Memorial, Silver Creek, Southwestern (Hanover), Switzerland County
19. Jasper (15) | Thurs, 6:30 pm ET Prelims | Sat, 10 am, 2 pm ET Finals | Scores |
Bedford North Lawrence, Bloomfield, Corydon Central, Forest Park, Heritage Hills, Jasper, Lanesville, Northeast Dubois, North Harrison, Pike Central, South Spencer, Southridge, Tecumseh, Tell City, Vincennes Lincoln
20. Evansville North (13) | Thurs, 5 pm CT Prelims | Sat, 10 am, 1 pm CT Finals | Scores |
Boonville, Castle, Evansville Bosse, Evansville Central, Evansville Christian, Evansville Harrison, Evansville Mater Dei, Evansville Reitz Memorial, Evansville North, Evansville F.J. Reitz, Gibson Southern, Mt. Vernon, North Posey
MEN’S TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
#21 VIRGINIA 49 WAKE FOREST 47
#10 IOWA STATE 82 TEXAS TECH 74
#15 ALABAMA 100 TEXAS A&M 75
#17 CREIGHTON 79 BUTLER 57
#3 HOUSTON 82 TEXAS 61
#16 DAYTON 78 FORDHAM 70
OKLAHOMA STATE 93 #19 BYU 83
#9 DUKE 76 FLORIDA STATE 67
#7 NORTH CAROLINA 96 VIRGINIA TECH 81
IOWA 88 #20 WISCONSIN 86 OT
#1 CONNECTICUT 81 #4 MARQUETTE 53
LSU 64 #11 SOUTH CAROLINA 63
#6 KANSAS 67 #25 OKLAHOMA 57
#14 ILLINOIS 85 MARYLAND 80
#22 KENTUCKY 70 #13 AUBURN 59
#8 TENNESSEE 88 VANDERBILT 53
#12 BAYLOR 94 WEST VIRGINIA 81
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 74 #23 INDIANA STATE 69
#5 ARIZONA 105 ARIZONA STATE 60
ELSEWHERE:
NEBRASKA 68 PENN STATE 49
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 83 DETROIT 69
MISSOURI STATE 82 VALPARAISO 74
OAKLAND 107 IUPUI 59
MIAMI OHIO 80 BALL STATE 59
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#24 WEST VIRGINIA 70 #23 OKLAHOMA 66
#5 TEXAS 81 IOWA STATE 60
#7 KANSAS STATE 60 CENTRAL FLORIDA 58
#17 GONZAGA 91 PACIFIC 78
#25 PRINCETON 70 YALE 25
ELSEWHERE:
BALL STATE 75 OHIO 60
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 80 INDIANA STATE 70
WISCONSIN 61 RUTGERS 43
MINNESOTA 88 NORTHWESTERN 63
MISSOURI STATE 73 EVANSVILLE 56
BUTLER 55 VILLANOVA 52
NEBRASKA 77 PURDUE 65
ILLINOIS STATE 78 VALPARAISO 64
NBA SCOREBOARD
NO GAME SCHEDULED
NHL SCOREBOARD
LOS ANGELES 5 BOSTON 4 OT
EDMONTON 4 DALLAS 3 OT
CHICAGO 3 OTTAWA 2
DETROIT 5 CALGARY 0
NASHVILLE 5 ST. LOUIS 2
BUFFALO 3 MINNESOTA 2 OT
FLORIDA 9 TAMPA BAY 2
TORONTO 9 ANAHEIM 2
WASHINGTON 4 MONTRÉAL 3
NEW JERSEY 6 PHILADELPHIA 3
WINNIPEG 4 VANCOUVER 2
CAROLINA 3 VEGAS 1
COLUMBUS 4 SAN JOSE 3
NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25 ROUNDUP: LSU ERASES 16-POINT DEFICIT, EDGES NO. 11 SOUTH CAROLINA
Jordan Wright scored LSU’s final four points as the Tigers erased a 16-point second-half deficit and stunned No. 11 South Carolina 64-63 on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, S.C.
After Ta’Lon Cooper put the Gamecocks ahead 63-60 with 29 seconds left, Wright made a layup to cut South Carolina’s lead to 63-62 with 17 seconds to go.
On the ensuing inbounds pass, LSU’s Tyrell Ward forced a turnover on a held ball with 14 seconds left. Wright was then fouled on a drive to the basket and sank two free throws with five seconds remaining to give the Tigers the lead. South Carolina’s Jacobi Wright had one final shot, but his 3-pointer from the left corner was off the mark at the horn.
Ward finished with 16 points and had two steals for LSU (13-12, 5-7 Southeastern Conference). Jordan Wright had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
B.J. Mack totaled 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Gamecocks (21-5, 9-4). Meechie Johnson, South Carolina’s leading scorer entering Saturday, was held scoreless and had four assists.
No. 1 UConn 81, No. 4 Marquette 53
Donovan Clingan scored 17 points as part of a double-double as the Huskies cruised to a victory over the Golden Eagles in Hartford, Conn.
Clingan also snatched 10 rebounds as UConn (24-2, 14-1 Big East) won its 14th consecutive game. Tristen Newton flirted with a triple-double (15 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) for the Huskies, who also got 14 points apiece from Cam Spencer and Hassan Diarra.
Kam Jones finished with a team-high 15 points for Marquette (19-6, 10-4). Oso Ighodaro supplied 14 points, but reigning Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek was held to just seven on 2-of-11 shooting.
No. 3 Houston 82, Texas 61
L.J. Cryer drilled six 3-pointers and scored a game-high 26 points while Jamal Shead added 16 points as the Cougars rolled to a home win over the Longhorns.
Houston (22-3, 9-3 Big 12) extended its homecourt winning streak to 19 games while capping the season sweep of Texas (16-9, 5-7). The Cougars did so behind the shooting of their senior starting backcourt, as Cryer and Shead combined to connect on 15 of 24 field-goal attempts.
Dylan Disu paired 16 points with seven rebounds for the Longhorns, who shot 38.6 percent overall and finished with a minus-11 rebounding margin.
No. 6 Kansas 67, No. 25 Oklahoma 57
Hunter Dickinson scored 20 points and added 16 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks past the Sooners in Norman, Okla.
The win snapped a four-game road losing streak for Kansas (20-6, 8-5 Big 12).
Jalon Moore led Oklahoma (18-8, 6-7) with 17 points and eight rebounds while Javian McCollum added 15 points and Milos Uzan had 11.
No. 7 North Carolina 96, Virginia Tech 81
Armando Bacot had 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Tar Heels used relentless offense and rebounding to defeat the Hokies in Chapel Hill, N.C.
RJ Davis added 20 points, Cormac Ryan had 16 and Harrison Ingram posted 12 points and 17 rebounds for North Carolina (20-6, 12-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which reached the 20-win mark for the 64th time in program history.
MJ Collins led Virginia Tech (14-11, 6-8) with 18 points, Mylyjael Poteat had 15 off the bench, former Tar Heel Tyler Nickel produced 14 and Lynn Kidd and Hunter Cattoor each had 11.
No. 8 Tennessee 88, Vanderbilt 53
All five starters scored in double figures as the Volunteers never trailed in a rout of the Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn.
Dalton Knecht and Zakai Zeigler each scored 14 points for Tennessee (19-6, 9-3 SEC), while Josiah-Jordan James added 13 and Santiago Vescovi netted 12. Jonas Aidoo chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
Ven-Allen Lubin scored 10 points for Vanderbilt (7-18, 2-10), which upset Texas A&M on Tuesday night but couldn’t replicate similar success against a much tougher foe. The Commodores’ top two scorers, Ezra Manjon and Tyrin Lawrence, were held to six and eight points, respectively.
No. 9 Duke 76, Florida State 67
Jared McCain quieted a sellout crowd in Tallahassee, Fla., with a sensational shooting performance, scoring 35 points to lead the Blue Devils past the Seminoles.
Jeremy Roach added 17 points, including eight in the final five minutes, as Duke (20-5, 11-3 ACC) won its fourth straight and kept pace with first-place North Carolina in the ACC race.
Jamir Watkins had 15 points and four blocks to pace Florida State (13-12, 7-7), which lost for the fifth time in its past six games, with all of the defeats coming by single digits. Cameron Corhen hit 7 of 10 shots for the Seminoles, scoring 14 points and pulling down nine rebounds.
No. 10 Iowa State 82, Texas Tech 74
Keshon Gilbert poured in 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead a balanced attack as the Cyclones defeated the Red Raiders in a key Big 12 Conference game in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State (20-5, 9-3 Big 12) built a 14-point lead at the break that it expanded to 58-37 just over 8 1/2 minutes into the second half. Texas Tech pulled within 75-67 on two Robert Jennings free throws with 51 seconds remaining, but the Red Raiders ran out of time.
Curtis Jones added 12 points for the Cyclones. Joe Toussaint’s 16 points led Texas Tech (18-7, 7-5), which had a two-game winning streak snapped.
No. 12 Baylor 94, West Virginia 81
Ja’Kobe Walter scored 23 points and Jayden Nunn added 20 to lead the Bears past the Mountaineers in Morgantown, W.Va.
RayJ Dennis added 18 points and eight assists and Yves Missi tallied 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor for Baylor (19-6, 8-4 Big 12), which won for the fifth time in its past six games.
RaeQuan Battle scored 25 points and Jesse Edwards added 21 points and nine rebounds for West Virginia (8-17, 3-9), which lost its fourth straight game. The Bears won for the ninth time in the past 10 games against the Mountaineers.
No. 22 Kentucky 70, No. 13 Auburn 59
Antonio Reeves scored 22 points to help the Wildcats post a wire-to-wire road victory over the Tigers in SEC play.
Adou Thiero added 14 points and eight rebounds and Rob Dillingham scored 11 points for Kentucky (18-7, 8-4 SEC). Ugonna Onyenso had 11 rebounds and Reed Sheppard had five steals for the Wildcats.
Johni Broome recorded 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots and Chad Baker-Mazara also scored 14 points for Auburn (20-6, 9-4). Denver Jones added 12 points for the Tigers, who fell to 13-1 at home this season.
No. 14 Illinois 85, Maryland 80
Terrence Shannon Jr. totaled 27 points and four blocks and Marcus Domask had 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Fighting Illini pulled out a win over the Terrapins in College Park, Md.
Illinois (19-6, 10-4 Big Ten) never led by more than seven points but still secured its fifth win in six games. Coleman Hawkins added 14 points and Justin Harmon scored 10 for the Fighting Illini, who won at Maryland for the second time in program history.
Maryland, playing less than 24 hours after the death of legendary coach Lefty Driesell, got a superhero performance from Jahmir Young. He racked up 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Terrapins (14-12, 6-9).
No. 15 Alabama 100, Texas A&M 75
Mark Sears scored a game-high 23 points and the Crimson Tide riddled the Aggies with 18 3-pointers to stay atop the SEC with a rout in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Rylan Griffen added 17 points for Alabama (18-7, 10-2 SEC), while Latrell Wrightsell Jr. hit for 16 points. The Crimson Tide canned 52.1 percent of their field-goal attempts and earned a 22-4 advantage in fastbreak points.
Tyrece Radford scored 22 points for Texas A&M (15-10, 6-6), which made only 37.8 percent of its field-goal attempts and went 4 of 23 from beyond the 3-point line.
No. 16 Dayton 78, Fordham 70
DaRon Holmes II scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half to lift the Flyers to a victory over the visiting Rams in Atlantic 10 play.
Holmes made 10 of 13 shots from the floor and had 10 rebounds for Dayton (21-4, 11-2 Atlantic 10), which improved to 13-0 at home this season. The Flyers’ Javon Bennett scored all 14 of his points in the first half, while Enoch Cheeks finished with 12 points and Nate Santos added 11.
Japhet Medor and Kyle Rose each scored 17 points for reeling Fordham (10-15, 4-8), which has lost three games in a row and seven of its past nine.
No. 17 Creighton 79, Butler 57
Baylor Scheierman scored 27 points and Ryan Kalkbrenner added 21 to lead the Bluejays to a victory over the Bulldogs in Indianapolis.
Scheierman also grabbed 10 boards, giving him his sixth straight double-double, the longest such streak at Creighton since 1985. Trey Alexander added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Bluejays (19-7, 10-5 Big East).
Jalen Thomas led Butler (16-10, 7-8) with 18 points. Posh Alexander supplied 13 points (all in the first half), and DJ Davis scored 12. Creighton scored 28 of the first 39 points of the second half to establish a 62-46 cushion. The Bulldogs trailed by at least 13 the rest of the way.
Oklahoma State 93, No. 19 BYU 83
Jamyron Keller scored a career-high 22 points on 8-of-8 shooting to lead the Cowboys past the Cougars in Stillwater, Okla.
Keller knocked down four 3-pointers to help Oklahoma State (11-14, 3-9 Big 12) earn its first win over a Top 25 opponent this season. Brandon Garrison tallied 21 points, Quion Williams chipped in 15 and Javon Small finished with 14.
Fousseyni Traore led BYU (18-7, 6-6) with 17 points. Trevin Knell added 16 points and Jaxson Robinson had 14 for the Cougars. BYU outscored Oklahoma State 21-5 in second-chance points but shot just 8 of 35 from 3-point range.
Iowa 88, No. 20 Wisconsin 86 (OT)
Tony Perkins made a layup with 1.3 seconds to go in overtime and the Hawkeyes held on for a win over the Badgers in a Big Ten Conference matchup in Iowa City, Iowa.
Owen Freeman scored 20 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field and 8-for-11 shooting from the free-throw line to lead Iowa (15-11, 7-8 Big Ten). Perkins and Payton Sandfort each scored 18 points.
Steven Crowl scored 22 points to lead Wisconsin (17-9, 9-6). AJ Storr finished with 21 points on 8-for-18 shooting, and Chucky Hepburn had 18 points and nine rebounds. The Hawkeyes outscored the Badgers 10-8 in overtime to notch the narrow win.
No. 21 Virginia 49, Wake Forest 47
Reece Beekman scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half to lead the Cavaliers to a win over the Demon Deacons in Charlottesville, Va.
Ryan Dunn contributed six points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven blocks for Virginia (20-6, 11-4 ACC). Beekman, the reigning defensive player of the year in the ACC, also played a big role in holding the Demon Deacons’ leading scorer, Hunter Sallis, to 12 points.
Efton Reid notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds for Wake Forest (16-9, 8-6). The Demon Deacons shot 34.5 percent from the floor and made 5 of 21 (23.8 percent) shots from 3-point range en route to their season-low scoring output.
Southern Illinois 74, No. 23 Indiana State 69
Xavier Johnson drove for the go-ahead layup with 53 seconds left and the Salukis scored the last six points to upset the Sycamores in Carbondale, Ill.
Troy D’Amico added a 1-and-1 with 21.8 seconds remaining and Johnson canned both ends of a 1-and-1 with 7.7 seconds on the clock to seal the outcome. Johnson finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Southern Illinois (17-10, 9-7 Missouri Valley Conference) earned crucial advantages of 14-2 in points off turnovers and 17-7 in fastbreak points.
Robbie Avila pumped in a game-high 30 points for Indiana State (22-5, 13-3), which appears certain to fall out of the Top 25 after its second straight conference loss.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 5 TEXAS TROUNCES IOWA STATE
Shaylee Gonzales and Madison Booker each scored 18 points as the No. 5 Texas Longhorns raced past the Iowa State Cyclones 81-60 on Saturday in Austin, Texas.
Booker spun a game-high 10 assists for Texas (24-3, 11-3 Big 12), which also used 16 points from Shay Holle and 12 points from Aaliyah Moore to notch its sixth straight win.
The Longhorns led 55-50 late in the third quarter before shooting 10-for-15 over the game’s final 10:30 to pull away.
Audi Crooks dropped 24 points for Iowa State (14-10, 8-6), which was seeking its second straight win over a top-10 opponent. The Cyclones upset No. 7 Kansas State 96-93 in double overtime on Wednesday in Ames, Iowa.
Addy Brown finished with 11 points as Iowa State’s only other scorer to crack double figures on Saturday. The Cyclones were outshot 52.5 percent to 40.7 percent from the floor and were outscored 23-10 in the fourth quarter.
No. 7 Kansas State 60, UCF 58
Serena Sundell paired 10 points with five assists and found Jaelyn Glenn for the game-winning layup as the wobbling Wildcats overcame a slow start and avoided their fourth loss in five games by outlasting the Knights in Manhattan, Kan.
After Mya Burns’ layup evened the game at 58 with 6 seconds left, Sundell hurled the ball down the court to a wide-open Glenn, who converted to bump Kansas State ahead with 2 seconds remaining in regulation. UCF’s last-gasp half-court shot fell short.
Glenn finished with five points for the Wildcats (22-4, 11-3 Big 12), who were led by Gabby Gregory’s 19 points. Eliza Maupin had 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Kaitlin Peterson fueled the Knights (12-12, 3-11) in their second-straight loss with 26 points. Burns added 10 points and six boards. UCF trailed 27-24 at halftime and rallied from 11 down with 9:08 left to tie before Burns’ game-winner.
No. 17 Gonzaga 91, Pacific 78
The Bulldogs quelled any chance of an upset with an explosive third quarter to power past the Tigers in Stockton, Calif., for their 20th straight win, which clinched them at least a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season title.
Gonzaga (26-2, 13-0 WCC) trailed 48-45 early in the third period before surging ahead with a 17-0 run that Yvonne Ejim capped with a layup to push the Bulldogs’ lead to 62-48 with 6:18 left in the quarter. Gonzaga outscored Pacific 30-14 in the third quarter. The Bulldogs led by as many as 21 and hit 13 3-pointers compared to the Tigers’ three.
Ejim’s 28 points led all scorers, while Kaylynne Truong finished with 15. Kayleigh Truong had 12 and Eliza Hollingsworth bundled 12 with nine rebounds for Gonzaga.
Elizabeth Elliott paced Pacific (14-11, 6-6) with 14 points in only 17 minutes as the Tigers lost for the fourth time in five games.
No. 25 Princeton 70, Yale 25
Kaitlyn Chen scored 18 points as the Tigers pushed their winning streak to 15 games by stifling the Bulldogs in New Haven, Conn.
Madison St. Rose added 10 points as Princeton (20-3, 10-0 Ivy League) forced 27 turnovers and surrendered its season low in points. The Tigers built a 32-15 halftime lead before blowing the game open with a 28-6 third quarter to send Yale (6-17, 3-7) to its second straight loss.
Jenna Clark’s eight points led the Bulldogs, who shot 9 of 35 from the field (25.7 percent) and missed six of their seven 3-point attempts. Yale didn’t score more than eight points in any quarter en route to its lowest point total in a game this season.
NBA NEWS
G-LEAGUER MAC MCCLUNG WINS NBA DUNK CONTEST AGAIN
G-League player Mac McClung received a perfect 50 on his final dunk Saturday night to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second straight year.
All five judges were impressed with McClung’s final effort as he jumped over NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, grabbing the ball from O’Neal’s hands and finishing with a reserve slam dunk during All-Star Saturday Night at Indianapolis.
McClung, who plays for the Osceola Magic, defeated Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown in the final round.
McClung is the first repeat winner since Zach LaVine — then of the Minnesota Timberwolves — in 2015-16.
In the final round, Brown received a score of 48.6 on his first attempt, a 360-dunk in which he wore a jersey honoring former Kentucky player Terrence Clarke, who died at age 19 in a car accident in 2021.
McClung followed with a dunk over two people — the lower person squatting somewhat — in which he threw it down with his right hand. He scored a 48.8.
Brown’s second and final turn featured Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers serving as the prop. Brown leaped over him and dunked with his left hand to score a 49.2.
McClung then finished the competition in style with his perfect effort to earn another dunk title.
McClung, 25, has not been able to stick on an NBA roster. He has played in four games — one with the Chicago Bulls and one with the Los Angeles during the 2021-22 season and two with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2022-23 season.
Prior to this season, McClung was released by the Orlando Magic. He has played in 14 games for the Osceola franchise and is averaging 23.7 points and 7.2 assists.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat and Jacob Toppin of the New York Knicks were eliminated in the first round.
Jaquez scored 47.4 and 46.8 on his two dunks. On the first one, he jumped over O’Neal before slamming it through the net.
Toppin received scores of 47.8 and 47.2 His older brother, Obi, the 2022 dunk champion, served as the prop on the second one as Jacob Toppin grabbed the ball from near his brother’s head, slid the ball through his legs and finished with a reverse dunk.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: PANTHERS BEAT LIGHTNING FOR 11TH STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
Florida scored six unanswered goals inside the match’s first 22 minutes, and the Panthers — the NHL’s road warriors — humbled the Tampa Bay Lightning 9-2 on Saturday to stretch their road winning streak to 11 games.
Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett totaled two goals and two assists apiece, while Brandon Montour recorded a tally and two helpers.
Carter Verhaeghe hit the net twice and added an assist, and Gustav Forsling (assist) and Kevin Stenlund scored. The nine goals were the Panthers’ most in a road game. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for his 27th win as the Panthers improved to 18-3-2 in the past 23 contests.
Brandon Hagel scored his 20th goal and Brayden Point tallied, but Tampa Bay’s eight-game home winning streak was broken.
Kings 5, Bruins 4 (OT)
Brandt Clarke came out of the penalty box and scored on a breakaway with 26.9 seconds left in overtime as Los Angeles came from behind for a win over host Boston
The win was the Kings’ second straight on a four-game road trip. Clarke also added an assist and was one of five Los Angeles goal scorers. Matt Roy, Vladislav Gavrikov, Alex Laferriere and Anze Kopitar also tallied, while Pierre-Luc Dubois had two assists. David Rittich made 28 saves in the victory.
James van Riemsdyk registered his second multi-goal game of the season and added an assist, while Trent Frederic had a goal and a helper to lead Boston.
Oilers 4, Stars 3 (OT)
Evan Bouchard scored his second goal of the game on the power play 30 seconds into overtime to lift Edmonton over host Dallas.
Corey Perry had a goal and an assist, Leon Draisaitl had two assists and Calvin Pickard made 24 saves for the Oilers.
Matt Duchene had a goal and two assists, and Mason Marchment and Thomas Harley each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Oettinger made 20 saves.
Blackhawks 3, Senators 2
Jason Dickinson scored the game-winning goal with 1:52 left, Connor Bedard had a goal and assist and Petr Mrazek made 40 saves as host Chicago defeated Ottawa.
Chicago snapped an eight-game losing streak while withstanding the Senators’ 42-22 advantage in shots on goal.
Tim Stutzle and Jakob Chychrun scored for the Senators, who have lost two in a row.
Red Wings 5, Flames 0
Patrick Kane and Lucas Raymond both collected one goal and one assist, and goaltender James Reimer posted his second shutout of the season as visiting Detroit beat Calgary.
Reimer, who is third on Detroit’s depth chart, stopped 38 shots to post his 30th career shutout.
Flames starting goalie Jacob Markstrom was pulled after surrendering four goals on 12 shots en route to Calgary’s third consecutive loss. Dan Vladar made eight saves in relief.
Sabres 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Dylan Cozens scored with 35.8 seconds left in regulation and Henri Jokiharju scored 1:29 into overtime to lift visiting Buffalo over Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn.
Casey Mittelstadt also scored for Buffalo, which won its first overtime game since Dec. 30 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sabres have won two of their past three games.
Joel Eriksson Ek and Declan Chisholm scored one goal apiece for Minnesota. The Wild collected one point by reaching overtime but their four-game winning streak ended.
Predators 5, Blues 2
Juuse Saros made 35 saves as visiting Nashville defeated St. Louis.
Colton Sissons, Luke Evangelista, Filip Forsberg, Luke Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly scored for the Predators, who had lost five of their previous six games.
Jordan Kyrou and Nathan Walker scored, and Jordan Binnington made 28 saves for the Blues.
Hurricanes 3, Golden Knights 1
Spencer Martin made 29 saves and Seth Jarvis scored a short-handed, go-ahead goal to go along with an assist as Carolina earned a victory over Vegas in Las Vegas.
Andrei Svechnikov and Stefan Noesen also scored for Carolina, which completed a sweep of a road back-to-back that began with a 5-1 win at Arizona on Friday. The Hurricanes, who are 15-4-1 in their past 20 games, also improved to 9-1-1 in their past 11 road contests.
Jonathan Marchessault scored a goal for the third straight game and Adin Hill finished with 25 saves for Vegas. The Golden Knights, who lost 5-3 to Minnesota on Monday, have dropped back-to-back home games for the first time since doing so on Jan. 16 and Jan. 19 of 2023.
Capitals 4, Canadiens 3
Aliaksei Protas and Anthony Mantha each had a goal and an assist for visiting Washington in a win against Montreal.
T.J. Oshie and Sonny Milano also scored and Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves for the Capitals, who had lost eight of nine.
Arber Xhekaj, Alex Newhook and Nick Suzuki scored, Joel Armia had two assists and Jake Allen made 30 saves for the Canadiens, who have lost four of five.
Maple Leafs 9, Ducks 2
Auston Matthews had his second consecutive hat trick — and first five-point game of his career — as Toronto defeated visiting Anaheim.
Matthews, who also had two assists, has six hat tricks this season and 13 in his career. He leads the league with 48 goals. Bobby McMann added two goals and an assist, William Nylander had a goal and two assists and Jake McCabe and Nicholas Robertson each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have won three straight.
Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Ducks and Frank Vatrano scored a goal.
Jets 4, Canucks 2
Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and added an assist and Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists as visiting Winnipeg rediscovered its scoring touch with a win over league-leading Vancouver.
Scheifele and Vilardi scored goals just under two minutes apart to break the game open and give the Jets a 4-2 lead in the third period.
Connor Hellebuyck and Thatcher Demko kept the game scoreless through the first 20 minutes as both goalies showed why they will be strong candidates to make Team USA for the 2026 Olympics in Italy. Demko finished with 24 saves for the Canucks and Hellebuyck stopped 35 shots for the Jets.
Devils 6, Flyers 3
Nico Hischier scored on a breakaway 32 seconds into the game, netted his second goal early in the third period and notched three points as New Jersey never trailed in a victory over Philadelphia in the “Stadium Series” at East Rutherford, N.J.
In front of 70,328 fans sitting in frigid temperatures at MetLife Stadium, the Devils won the NHL’s 40th outdoor regular-season game thanks to Hischier’s 13th career multi-goal game.
Owen Tippett scored twice in the second and got his seventh career multi-goal game for the Flyers, who saw a modest five-game points streak stopped. Nick Seeler also scored and Travis Konecny collected two assists.
Blue Jackets 4, Sharks 3
Boone Jenner scored the game-winning goal with 12.9 seconds remaining in regulation as Columbus edged host San Jose.
Jenner put a backhanded shot between the pads of Kaapo Kahkonen for his team-leading 17th goal of the season. The Blue Jackets captain now has four goals in his past three games.
Zach Werenski, Kirill Marchenko, and Dmitri Voronkov had the other goals for Columbus, which avoided a third straight loss. Anthony Duclair scored a pair of goals, while Fabian Zetterlund added a goal and an assist for the Sharks. Calen Addison had two helpers, and Kahkonen stopped 37 shots.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
REPORT: TEXAS SET TO DOUBLE FOOTBALL COACH STEVE SARKISIAN’S SALARY
Texas is set to nearly double the annual salary of football coach Steve Sarkisian, according to documents posted on social media Saturday by Inside Texas.
The proposed four-year contract extension — announced by Texas officials on Jan. 13 with no financial details revealed — will go in front of the University of Texas System board of regents for consideration at their Feb 21-22 meeting, according to a published agenda book for that meeting.
Sarkisian, 49, is currently halfway through a six-year contract that’s scheduled to pay him $5.8 million in 2024, $6 million in 2025 and $6.2 million in 2026. If approved, the new contract would pay him $10.3 million in 2024 and then receive an annual increase of $100,000, capped at $10.9 million in 2030.
Sarkisian also can earn up to $1.85 million in annual performance bonuses, based on how successful the team is in the playoffs and which awards he has earned. If he receives the maximum bonus allowed, it would mean the Longhorns won the CFP national championship and Sarkisian earned the conference coach of the year (coaches vote) and at least one national coach of the year award.
Chances are good for these accomplishments given recent performances by Sarkisian and the Longhorns, who just had their most successful season in a decade. They posted a 12-2 record on the way to a Big 12 championship and an appearance in the CFP, albeit a 37-31 loss to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
The Longhorns finished at No. 3 in the AP Poll, the highest final ranking for Texas in 15 years.
Sarkisian earned Big 12 coach of the year recognition and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson, Bear Bryant and George Munger Coach of the Year awards.
“I said it when I came here three years ago, this is a dream job for me,” Sarkisian said in a statement last month. “It’s a destination job, and I’m fired up every day to be the head coach at The University of Texas. We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish and proud of the culture we’ve built and the way our players have grown — on and off the field. But we’re just getting started. I’ve said it all along, we’ve been building this program for long term success.”
Sarkisian has a 25-14 record in his three seasons in Austin.
MEN’S GOLF NEWS
PATRICK CANTLAY’S LEAD SHRINKS AFTER 70 AT GENESIS INVITATIONAL
Patrick Cantlay gave up some ground on his five-stroke lead heading into Saturday’s third round but still sits atop the leaderboard after his 1-under-par 70 at the Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Cantlay sits at 14 under, just two strokes ahead of Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris, who fired identical 65s to put some pressure on the leader.
Luke List dropped to solo fourth after a 68, no match for the red-hot rounds posted by Schauffele and Zalatoris.
Harris English (65 on Saturday) and Australian Jason Day (69) are four shots off the lead in a tie for fifth.
Cantlay opened his round with a birdie but finished with just three against two bogeys.
Meanwhile, Schauffele eagled No. 1 and carded four birdies coming in for his bogey-free round.
Zalatoris carded seven birdies against just one bogey for his 65.
INDIANA SPORTS NEWS RELEASES/NEWS REPORTS
INDY FUEL
FUEL SWEEP HEARTLANDERS ON THE ROAD
CORALVILLE – The third and final game of this road trip commenced on Star Wars Night for the Fuel and the Heartlanders. It was a tight battle until the end when the Fuel pulled away with a 5-2 victory, sweeping Iowa.
1ST PERIOD
The game opened with Iowa coming out energized, putting shots on goal right from puck drop. It was not until 17:59 on their second power play of the game when Pavel Novak found the loose puck off an initial Zach Driscoll save, netting his eighth of the season.
It only took 32 seconds for the Fuel to respond when Brett Bulmer scored off an assist from fellow veteran Anthony Petruzzelli, tying the game up at one.
Iowa outshot the Fuel 12-10 in the first period.
2ND PERIOD
Bulmer’s scoring didn’t stop in the first period. He gave Indy their first lead of the game at 5:14 of the second period, assisted by Victor Hadfield and Andrew Bellant.
The lead did not last long as two minutes later, Heartlanders Captain Kevin McKernan rifled his first goal of the season past Driscoll on a slapshot from the right side.
A goal review came on a Seamus Malone tip with about three minutes remaining in the period. It was ultimately ruled a no-goal after a review showed the puck hitting off the post and not crossing the goal line.
The Fuel outshot Iowa 11-9, evening the game total through two periods at 21 shots a piece.
3RD PERIOD
It was a quiet period until the final five minutes when the Fuel took the lead and never looked back. Kyle Maksimovich found the rebound goal at 15:04, giving him his 17th of the season.
Less than a minute later, Cam Hillis took advantage of the Iowa turnover and netted his 17th of the season. To put the cherry on top of the victory, Ross MacDougall scored a full-ice empty net goal to finalize the victory with a 5-2 win, notching a sweep of the Heartlanders.
The Fuel outshot the Heartlanders in the period 11-3 and 32-24 in the entire game.
ABOUT THE INDY FUEL:
The Indy Fuel, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs, are back at Indiana Farmers Coliseum for their tenth season.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
HOOSIERS SPLIT ON DAY TWO OF TROY INVITATIONAL
TROY, Ala. –––– Indiana Softball went 1-1 in their two games on Saturday at the Troy Invitational, falling to Gardner-Webb, 7-4, and defeating Troy, 2-1.
The Hoosiers’ season record now stands at 7-2.
GAME 1: GARDNER-WEBB 7, INDIANA 4
GAME 2: INDIANA 2, TROY 1
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana struck first against Gardner-Webb with an RBI from junior Taylor Minnick to score redshirt senior Cora Bassett and put Indiana up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
• Gardner-Webb used two three-run innings in the second and the fourth to build a commanding 6-1 lead.
• Indiana cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs to make it 6-4, but Gardner-Webb solidified the advantage in the top of the seventh inning with another run to seal a 7-4 win.
• In the Troy game, the Trojans took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Jade Sinness scored on a fielder’s choice to put Troy up 1-0.
• Junior Sarah Stone tied the game against Troy at 1-1 when she hit a single through the right side to score sophomore Cassidy Kettleman.
• In the top of the seventh inning against the Trojans, Taylor Minnick came up clutch with an RBI single to right field to score what would be the game-winning run when senior Brooke Benson crossed home plate.
NOTABLES
• Redshirt senior Cora Bassett has recorded multiple hits in five games this season.
• Sophomore Sophie Kleiman threw seven strikeouts against Gardner-Webb.
• Freshman Alex Cooper recorded her first career double in the in the top of the second inning against Troy.
• Junior Taylor Minnick is leading the team in runs batted in with ten on the season.
• Indiana outhit Troy, 8-2.
UP NEXT
Indiana will close out play in the Troy Invitational tomorrow against Florida A&M at noon ET at the Troy Softball Complex.
INDIANA BASEBALL NEWS
SHEPARD’S HOME RUN SECURES TOP-20 ROAD WIN
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – After missing the past two baseball seasons through injury, redshirt freshman catcher AJ Shepard provided an unforgettable moment, launching a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to help secure a 7-2 win over No. 18 Coastal Carolina.
Shepard, who redshirted last year in Bloomington and missed all of his senior year of high school, recorded his first collegiate hit on Friday vs. Duke before unloading on his first long ball as an Indiana player against the Chanticleers on Saturday (Feb. 17) evening.
Junior second baseman Brandon Burckel recorded his first hit as a Hoosier with a solo home run to give IU a 3-2 lead before the visitors broke it open in the ninth with four more runs.
IU was dominant on the mound, riding sophomore Connor Foley and sixth-year senior Ty Bothwell (W, 1-0) to the tune of nine innings of two-run baseball. Neither run was earned and the duo combined for 10 strikeouts, including seven from the hard-throwing Foley.
Sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny continued his hot start to the season, recording his second multi-hit game in as many games. He also contributed a pair of RBIs to kickstart IU’s offensive output in the ninth inning.
The Hoosiers improve to 4-1 all-time vs. Coastal Carolina, winning for the first time since 2018. It is the first top-20 regular season victory since beating No. 10 Louisville last April.
Scoring Recap
Top Fifth
Devin Taylor used a good piece of two-strike hitting to drive a ball the opposite direction, scoring Brandon Burckel. Brock Tibbitts followed in the very next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing around Carter Mathison to score.
Indiana 2, Coastal Carolina 0
Bottom Sixth
After an error put the leadoff runner on, Coastal Carolina used a double from Graham Brown and a single from Dean Mihos to level the score at two-all through six innings.
Indiana 2, Coastal Carolina 2
Top Eighth
Burckel hit a first-pitch solo home run over the bullpen in left field, his first hit in an IU uniform.
Indiana 3, Coastal Carolina 2
Top Ninth
Tyler Cerny added some insurance runs, singling to right center to bring Tibbitts and Sam Murrison around to score. AJ Shepard followed that up with a massive 400-foot two-run home run to put the game on ice.
Indiana 7, Coastal Carolina 2
Top Hoosier Performers
#14 Foley, Connor
4 IP, 2 H, 7 K
#41 Bothwell, Ty
5 IP, 4 H, 3 K
#8 Cerny, Tyler
2-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Quotable
Head coach Jeff Mercer
“We want to be fundamental and tough late. Duke and Coastal Carolina are both good teams. If you’re doing it right, you’re going to be in close games. That was the talk of the dugout.”
“We felt like [Connor] Foley was going to be a good matchup and we felt like [Ty] Bothwell was going to be a really good matchup. And they were. They both have really good fastball properties and they were able to command the zone and mix enough off-speed pitches in there. Coach [Dustin] Glant drew up a terrific gameplan and those guys executed all the way around.”
Left-handed pitcher Ty Bothwell
“It was good to see us bounce back after the season opener. We played really well yesterday and a lot of guys came back out firing today. They were able to capitalize late. It was a lot of fun to be out there.”
“From a perspective of me being an older guy, the overall team dynamic is probably the best it’s ever been in my six years here. This is probably the most talented and well-knit team I’ve ever been a part of.”
Up Next
Indiana will finish off the weekend tomorrow morning against George Mason at 11:00 AM. The game will be available via ESPN+ and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network.
PURDUE BASEBALL
GAFFNEY, SUTTER POWER PURDUE TO DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT
SUGAR LAND, Texas – Luke Gaffney and Logan Sutter teamed up for 10 extra base hits and 11 RBI while batting 4-5 in the lineup, leading Purdue Baseball to a doubleheader split vs. Stony Brook on day 2 of the season Saturday.
The Boilermakers (2-1) overcame an early 3-0 deficit to win the nightcap 12-8, scoring 10 times across the middle innings. The Seawolves (1-2) won game 1 10-8 after scoring nine times against the Purdue bullpen, including a six-run seventh inning.
Gaffney was 7-for-10 with five doubles, five RBI and six runs scored. He did not strikeout on the day. Sutter also had 12 total bases via a 5-for-9 day in which he connected for his first Purdue home run plus four doubles, finishing with six RBI. They barreled up for consecutive doubles in both games.
Jonathan Blackwell surrendered just two hits while striking out five over five innings of one-run ball as the Boilermakers’ starting pitcher in game 1. He worked at least five innings for the 13th time in his 15 starts for Purdue. Cal Lambert took the mound in both games, registering the final nine outs of the nightcap for his first save as a Boilermaker. It was Purdue’s second three-out save of the series.
Sunday’s series finale has been moved up an hour to 1 p.m. ET to help accommodate Stony Brook’s flight home to Long Island.
SATURDAY NOTABLES
• Luke Gaffney became just the second Boilermaker since March 2019 with a three-double game. CJ Valdez’s three-double game in March of last season was Purdue’s first since the 2019 season opener. The Boilermakers have a three-double game in consecutive years for the first time since 2003 and 2004.
• Gaffney posted a four-hit game in just his second collegiate game. Then he registered a five-RBI effort in his third game.
• Logan Sutter has a double, an RBI and multiple hits in each of his first three games as a Boilermaker.
• Purdue pounded out six doubles in both games of the doubleheader. The Boilermakers had two six-double games total last season.
• Couper Cornblum drew a walk in both games to extend his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games dating back to last season.
• After racking up 10 strikeouts in game 1, Purdue managed to win the nightcap with just two strikeouts on the mound.
• The Boilermakers struggled with keeping inherited runners from scoring. For the day, 10 of the 11 men on base when a pitching change was made came around to score – with six of those 10 runs resulting from bases-loaded scenarios (one in each game).
Game 2: Purdue 12, Stony Brook 8
Gaffney’s two-run double in the sixth inning, his fifth two-bagger of the day, gave Purdue the lead for good. Just as free passes had burned the Boilermakers in SBU’s big inning in game 1, two walks and a hit by pitch set the stage for the consecutive two-run doubles from Gaffney and Sutter.
In the top half of the sixth, Thomas Green (at second base) and Couper Cornblum (in center field) both came through with web gems to help freshman Easton Storey work a five-pitch 1-2-3 inning in his collegiate debut. Lambert retired eight of the final 10 batters he faced to close out the victory. He conceded just one hit in the outing.
Starting pitcher Kyle Iwinski recovered from a rocky start by retiring 14 of 15 batters faced from the first through fifth innings. He induced 10 ground ball outs during that stretch. Meanwhile, Gaffney’s two-run double in the bottom of the first allowed Purdue to immediately cut into the 3-0 deficit. The Boilermakers later took the lead when Camden Gasser singled with two aboard in the fourth inning for his first Purdue hit. Brody Chrisman and Gasser then executed a walk-off play with runners on the corners to steal the go-ahead run.
Game 1: Stony Brook 10, Purdue 8
The Boilermakers led 2-1 entering the sixth inning and regained the lead briefly at 4-3 on a two-out, two-run double from Green in the bottom half of the frame.
However, Stony Brook sent 10 men to the plate in their six-run rally in the top of the seventh. The Seawolves only had three hits in the inning but Matt Miceli’s two-out, three-run triple blew the game open. In both the sixth and seventh inning, Purdue issued three consecutive free passes (HBPs in the sixth, walks in the seventh) to the top half of SBU’s lineup.
The Boilermakers did not go quietly. Gaffney and Sutter doubled back-to-back and Keenan Taylor also connected for a two-out, pinch-hit RBI double in a three-run seventh inning. Taylor’s double bounced over the outfield wall and the ground-rule scenario cost Purdue a run as a runner was sent back to third, keeping it a two-run game entering the ninth inning.
Purdue had four base runners in the bottom of the ninth and put the tying run aboard before Stony Brook overcame a pair of errors by the shortstop to close out the game.
Blackwell worked three 1-2-3 innings in his five frames. He induced a 4-3 ground ball double play in the top of the second after SBU had two aboard with no outs. He struck out a pair while going through the heart of the lineup for the second time in the fourth inning.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
#2 PURDUE PUTS WINNING STREAK ON LINE SUNDAY AT OHIO STATE
GAMEDAY INFORMATION — GAME 26
[2] Purdue (23-2, 12-2) vs. Ohio State (14-11, 4-10)
Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024
1:00 p.m. ET | Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena (18,809)
TELEVISION: CBS (Tom McCarthy, Jim Spanarkel)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 2-ranked Purdue Boilermakers return to the road for the first time in 14 days when it travels to Ohio State for a Sunday afternoon matinee in Columbus. The Boilermakers are looking for their 10th straight victory, but will try to do so in a place (Value City Arena) where the Boilermakers are just 5-14 all-time. Purdue has won two straight games in Value City Arena, both coming in dramatic fashion.
• Purdue enters the weekend as one of five teams in America with 23 victories (UConn, Grand Canyon, James Madison, Samford) and one of three teams with just two losses (UConn, Grand Canyon). Purdue’s 23-2 start ties the best 25-game start in Purdue history.
• Purdue’s nine straight wins are tied for the fifth-longest streak in the nation and second among major-conference programs (UConn – 13).
• Purdue has won 20 games under Matt Painter in 14 of his 19 seasons with at least 25 wins in 10 of them. Purdue is looking for its third straight season of at least 29 victories.
• Over the last three years, Purdue has already won 81 games overall. The school record for wins in a three-game span is 83 (2016, 2017, 2018), needing just two wins to tie the record. Entering the weekend, Purdue’s 81 wins are tied for the second most in the country (Houston – 86).
• Purdue’s schedule ranks as the most difficult in the country by a wide margin and its non-conference foes currently lead the Southern Conference by 2 games (Samford), the Ohio Valley by 2 games (Morehead State), the SEC (Alabama), the PAC-12 (Arizona) and the Atlantic Sun (Eastern Kentucky). Marquette (Big East), Tennessee (SEC) and Gonzaga (WCC) are currently in second place in their respective conferences.
• In addition, Purdue leads the country in strength of schedule and teams that it has beaten rank 2nd (Michigan), 3rd (Wisconsin), 4th (Alabama), 5th (Xavier), 6th (Tennessee), 7th (Arizona) and 14th (Marquette) in strength of schedule.
• Entering the weekend, the combined record of Purdue’s non-conference opponents is 184-87 (.679) with seven of the 11 opponents already having won at least 17 games. Take 11 losses to Purdue out of the equation and non-conference opponent’s record is 184-76 (.708).
• Purdue ranks in the NCAA’s top 20 in wins (1st), off. efficiency (2nd), rebound margin (2nd), 3-point percentage (4th), assists per game (6th), scoring offense (6th), scoring margin (11th), fewest fouls per game (14th), assist / turnover ratio (17th) and defensive efficiency (18th).
• Purdue leads the country in quad-1 wins (9) and quad-1 and 2 wins combined (15). No one in the country has more than 13 Q-1 and Q-2 wins.
• Since the start of last season, Purdue is 52-8, the fourth-most wins nationally, while the eight losses are the second fewest behind Houston (7). The eight losses during that span have come by 1, 5, 6, 14, 8, 5, 4 (OT) and 16 points. Thirty-nine of the 52 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 27 against teams ranked in the top-50.
• Purdue has won at least 12 games in Big Ten Conference play for the ninth time in the last 10 years. No other team currently has more than six years (in 10) of at least 12 victories (Wisconsin). Purdue has finished in the top three of the Big Ten standings in seven of the previous nine seasons.
• Purdue was voted No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday, for the fifth straight week. With its No. 2 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 31 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn – 14). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 25 of those 31 weeks. The 31 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 is the longest streak by a Big Ten team in the last 45 years.
• With the win over No. 6 Wisconsin, Purdue has won seven straight against AP Top-10 ranked teams, the longest streak ever by a Big Ten team.
• With his 200th career block coming against Wisconsin on Feb. 4, Zach Edey became the third player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks and to shoot at least 60.0 percent from the field (Patrick Ewing, David Robinson).
• Zach Edey needs 22 points to move into third on the school’s career scoring chart and six rebounds to become the all-time leader in rebounds.
• A win over Ohio State would give Purdue a 13-2 Big Ten start for just the second time under Matt Painter (2007-08). Purdue has started 13-2 in Big Ten play four previous times in Big Ten history (2007-08, 1995-96, 1987-88, 1986-87).
• Purdue has won 16 of its last 17 games overall.
• Purdue’s four-game road winning streak is tied for the third-longest road winning streak among high-major teams in the country (UConn – 6; Marquette – 5).
• Purdue is one of six teams (Dayton, UConn, Florida, Houston, San Diego State) without a loss outside Quad-1.
• Purdue owns a nation’s-best 17 wins over the NCAA NET top-100 teams. Purdue has seven wins over teams ranked in the NET top 25.
• Five teams (Purdue, James Madison, Appalachian State, Weber State, UNC Wilmington) have at least one Quad-1A win (top 15 home, top 25 neutral, top 40 road) while being undefeated in those games. The other four teams mentioned above are 1-0. Purdue is 7-0 in that category.
• Over the last three seasons, Purdue owned a 59-6 (.908) record during the months of November, December and January, including a 41-3 (.932) mark over the last two seasons.
• Purdue is 20-0 this season when holding foes to 79 or fewer points. When opponents reach 80-plus points, Purdue is 3-2.
• Purdue is shooting just 81-of-134 (.604) from the free throw line in the last four games. Edey and Kaufman-Renn have combined to go 35-of-70 (.500) in that stretch. In the season’s first 21 games, the duo was a combined 190-of-268 (.709) from the stripe.
• Purdue’s leading rebounder is 7-foot, 4-inch Zach Edey. The Boilermakers’ second-leading rebounder is 6-foot Braden Smith.
• A year ago, Purdue shot 32.2 percent from 3-point range, a number that ranked 281st nationally. This year, Purdue is at 40.3 percent, ranking fourth nationally. Purdue had three players shoot over 35.0 percent from deep a year ago. This year, Purdue has nine players over 35.0 percent.
• Purdue’s schedule is ranked as the toughest nationally (via KenPom). Purdue, which ranks second nationally in offensive efficiency, has faced defenses ranked 2nd, 5th, 6th, 13th and 14th. The Boilermakers rank 18th nationally in def. efficiency, facing offenses ranked 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th, 15th, 16th (2x) 19th and 23rd.
• Zach Edey currently ranks third in the country in both points per game and rebounds per game. Since the 2000 season, only South Dakota State’s Mike Daum (2019), Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (2008) and Texas’ Kevin Durant (2007) have finished in the top five nationally in both categories. He would be the first one to rank in the top three in both categories.
• Since the start of last season, Zach Edey is averaging 22.9 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in 34 Big Ten Conference games.
• Based on a 36-game season, Zach Edey is on pace to attempt 387 free throws. It would be the eighth-most attempts in NCAA history and the most since Pete Maravich in 1970 (436 attempts).
• Braden Smith has 333 career assists, leading sophomores (or younger) in career assists. Coincidentally, second on the list is Colgate sophomore Braeden Smith (309).
• Based on a 38-game season, Braden Smith is on pace for 486 points, 216 rebounds and 274 assists. Since the 1947-48 season, only BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball have had 450 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season.
THE SERIES WITH OHIO STATE
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Ohio State by a slim 94-92 advantage. The two-game advantage is the closest margin of any Big Ten opponent, as Purdue reached .500 against the Buckeyes on Jan. 5, 2023.
• Purdue’s current four-game win streak against the Buckeyes is the longest since winning nine straight from Jan. 22, 1994 to Feb. 7, 1998.
• Matt Painter is 16-19 against Ohio State, one of two Big Ten teams that he does not have a winning record against (Michigan; 16-17).
• Three of Purdue’s last five wins in the series have come on 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds of the game (two by Jaden Ivey; one by Fletcher Loyer).
• Purdue is 5-14 in Value City Arena, but started 1-13 in the building. It has gone 4-1 in its last five trips to Value City Arena.
PURDUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BOILERMAKERS FALL TO NEBRASKA ON SATURDAY
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A shooting lull in the second and third quarters proved too much for the Purdue women’s basketball team to overcome in a 77-65 loss to Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers (11-14, 4-10) held a 10-point lead after the first quarter, but Nebraska (17-9, 9-6) outscored the hosts 43-22 over the next 20 minutes to pull away.
Mary Ashley Stevenson and Abbey Ellis paced Purdue on the offensive end with 16 points apiece. Ellis tallied 12 of her points in the second half, as she finished with a 3-pointer and went 5-of-8 at the line.
Stevenson battled through the afternoon with 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting and a perfect 8-of-8 mark at the line. The New York City native joined USC’s JuJu Watkins as the only freshmen to go perfect at the line with eight or more free throws twice this season.
Jeanae Terry moved up to third in program history with a game-high 11 assists. The fifth-year senior passed Katie Douglas to climb up the record list with 528 assists as a Boilermaker. It was Terry’s fifth double-digit dime game this season and the 14th of her career in West Lafayette.
Purdue took care of the ball and committed a season-low seven turnovers, while dishing out 16 assists on 22 made field goals. Shooting struggles led to a 37.3% clip from the floor for the game.
Nebraska was led by a 20-point, 21-rebound double-double by Alexis Markowski. The Cornhuskers shot 44.6% overall and made eight 3-pointers. The visitors won the rebounding battle 42-26.
Purdue opened with a 7-2 run, as Layden hit a 3-pointer just four seconds into the game. After the Cornhuskers responded to take a 10-9 lead, Purdue rolled off a 13-2 run to close the first. Jones scored five during the stretch.
Over the next 20 minutes, Purdue made seven of its next 27 field goals, while Nebraska went 14-of-30. After the Boilermakers trailed 36-32 at the break, Nebraska went on a 12-0 run early in in the third. Ellis scored eight of Purdue’s 12 points out of halftime.
Purdue shot 46% in the fourth quarter, as Stevenson posted six points in the frame. The Boilermakers chipped the gap down to 13 three times, but a trio of Nebraska triples in the fourth halted any late Purdue run.
NOTES
• The all-time series is now tied at 10-10.
• Stevenson recorded her 13th game in double figures this year, fourth most by a Purdue freshman since 2009-10.
• Prior to Terry’s arrival in West Lafayette, a Boilermaker had tallied 10 or more assists just 15 times since 2009-10.
• Terry finished with two points, moving her within 13 of 1,000 for her career.
• Madison Layden hit a trio of triples to finish with 11 points. The senior is 24 points away from joining the 1,000-point club. She is also four 3-pointers shy of 200 in her career.
• Despite forcing Nebraska into 12 turnovers, the Boilermakers tallied seven points off giveaways.
• Layden now has 54 made triples on the year, good for ninth by a senior in Boilermaker history.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will continue their two-game homestand on Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. tip against Michigan State on B1G+.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX
STATEMENT WIN: #8 IRISH TOPPLE #1 NORTHWESTERN, 14-10
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – For the first time in program history, the No. 8 Fighting Irish women’s lacrosse team knocked off the No. 1 team in the country, defeating top-ranked Northwestern by a score of 14-10 in Loftus Sports Center on Friday evening.
The win over the Wildcats snaps their 22-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the country entering Friday’s contest.
Jackie Wolak was the best player on the field on the night, posting a monster six-point performance with four goals and two assists to lead the attack. Teammates Madison Ahern and Abby Maichin each added hat tricks to help spur the Irish to victory.
Notre Dame completely dominated the draw, finishing with a 20-8 advantage to control possession throughout the contest. Kelly Denes was masterful at the draw, winning eight in the win, while Mary Kelly Doherty added six.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started off as a defensive affair, with both teams causing turnovers and making life difficult on the opposing attacks.
Northwestern managed to build a 3-0 lead over the first 12 minutes of action but the Irish roared back in the final 90 seconds of play, scoring three goals to end the period and tie the game at 3-3. Wolak accounted for two of the scores and Ahern had the other to level the score.
The Irish carried the momentum into the second quarter, taking their first lead of the night off a beautiful behind-the-back goal from Choma to go on top 4-3 less than a minute into the stanza.
After a Wildcat goal tied the game at 4-4, Abby Maichin fired home a free-position shot before Northwestern once again scored to knot the game up at 5-5 with just under seven minutes left in the half.
Another goal by Maichin was answered by a Wildcat goal to move the score to 6-6 and then the Irish once again finished a quarter strongly, scoring the final two goals to take an 8-6 lead into the halftime break. Ahern and Kelly Denes produced the goals to give the Irish the two-score lead.
Northwestern scored the opening goal of the third quarter to cut the advantage to one and after 10 minutes of scoreless action the Irish pushed it’s lead back to two at 9-7 off a goal from Arden Tierney, which she wrapped around the crease, spun off a defender and fired in her first goal of the night.
The visitors scored the final goal of the period to make the score 9-8 in favor of the Irish heading into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
The Wildcats scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to retake the lead for the first time since the first quarter, going on top 10-9 with less than 10 minutes to play.
The Irish roared back, responding immediately with goals from Keelin Schlageter and Wolak in the span of less than 30 seconds to go back on top at 11-10 with seven minutes remaining.
Ahern then stepped up to the line on a free-position attempt and buried her effort for her third goal of the evening to push the lead back up to two at 12-10.
Notre Dame closed the game emphatically, adding two more scores off goals from Wolak and Maichin in the final three minutes to put the exclamation mark on the win at 14-10 to remain unbeaten on the season at 3-0.
UP NEXT
The women continue the homestand Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. ET draw set against Butler. The game will air on ACCNX.
NOTRE DAME HOCKEY
IRISH FALL IN OVERTIME BATTLE SATURDAY
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team fell to eighth-ranked Minnesota in an overtime thriller Saturday night to take the weekend split and four of six possible conference points in a tight race for home ice in the Big Ten playoffs.
A fast-paced first period saw shots even, 4-4, halfway through with both teams scoreless. A flurry of saves for Ryan Bischel gave the Gophers the edge in shots as the game hit the first media timeout of the night.
The Irish were whistled for the first infraction of the game at 11:35 of the opening period but a successful kill gave the home team a bit of momentum late in the frame.
Despite chances late on either side, the two teams skated to the locker rooms for the first intermission still looking for the opening goal.
The Gophers’ wraparound attempt hit the skate of an Irish defender and into the back of the Irish net for the 1-0 tally.
Justin Janicke tied it up less than five minutes later with a wraparound trick of his own. Tyler Carpenter had been pushed into the crease by a Minnesota defender and the Gophers challenged but the goal was upheld and the visitors were charged their timeout.
The Irish took the lead at 13:22 of the second stanza when Brady Bjork forced a turnover in the neutral zone and fed the puck to Jayden Davis who ripped a shot into the back of the net for the 2-1 tally. However, the lead was short-lived as Minnesota scored the equalizer just 18 seconds later to tie it back up.
The score remained tied through the horn signaling the end of the second and both sides faced a big third period ahead.
The two teams continued the hunt for the elusive third goal to break the tie but with two Mike Richter Award semifinalists on either end of the ice, that proved to be a tough task.
Minnesota thought they had scored the go-ahead goal late in the final period of regulation but the official behind the net emphatically waved it off due to a collision in the crease. After a lengthy review the call on the ice stood and the Irish held onto the tie.
With 80 seconds to play in the third period, the Irish called timeout in the attempt to draw up the winning play in regulation but their last effort was cast aside and extra hockey began.
The two teams traded possession in the opening minute before Drew Bavaro traveled up ice and fired a wrister on the Minnesota net that was gloved down and passed along to the Gophers for their response. The answer came from Jimmy Snuggerud at 1:18 of the overtime session as the Irish were forced to settle for the split on senior night.
GOALS
Justin Janicke opened the Irish scoring Saturday night to knot the game at 1-1 early in the second period. His wraparound chance beat Justen Close in the Gophers net with the assists awarded to Paul Fischer and Hunter Strand.
With the Gophers looking to clear the puck through the neutral zone just under 14 minutes into the second period, Brady Bjork forced a turnover just over center ice and fed a pass over to Jayden Davis at the offensive blueline for the 2-1 tally.
KEY STATS
With the lone assist on Jayden Davis’ goal in the second period, Brady Bjork tallied his first collegiate point – on his senior night.
Ryan Bischel stood tall in net Saturday night, stopping 36 shots for a .923 save percentage, including 14 stops in the final period of regulation to force the overtime frame.
The Irish blocked 18 Gopher shots on the night, led by Drew Bavaro with a team-best six. An additional six Irish skaters boasted multiple blocks in the contest.
Following the game, the Irish honored the 12 members of its graduating classes following the game Saturday night.
With two successful kills on the night, the Irish finished the weekend a perfect 4-4 on the kill while zero opportunities on the man-advantage Saturday evening gave the powerplay unit a .500 success rate, having scored on the man-advantage in game one.
UP NEXT
The Irish conclude the regular season at Big Ten rival Michigan next weekend, February 23-24. Game one of the weekend series at Yost Ice Arena is set for an 8pm start before a 6:30pm tilt to close out the regular season Saturday. Both games of the weekend series are set to air on the Big Ten Network.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
IRISH HANDLE BUSINESS AGAINST SAMFORD
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame softball team cruised to a 7-2 win over the Samford Bulldogs Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Irish forged ahead in the second inning, and never relinquished their lead, scoring three runs in the third and fourth innings to put the game out of reach. Notre Dame improves to 6-2 on the season with the win.
Shannon Becker started in the circle. The junior threw 3.0 scoreless innings, scattering just four hits before handing the ball to the bullpen. Kami Kamzik came on and threw an inning, giving up an unearned run and striking out two. Kastor threw the final three innings, earning the win. The sophomore allowed one earned run, and retired seven of her nine outs with ground balls.
The Irish offense was led by Emily Tran, finishing a perfect 3-for-3. Addison Amaral added a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3 with her second homer in as many days, driving in three and scoring once. The top five hitters in the Irish lineup all scored a run as seven of nine starters tallied a hit. Bryn Boznanski also added a pinch hit single late.
How It Happened
The Irish got on the board in the bottom of the second. With runners on second and third, Cassidy Grimm put a ball on the ground to bring in a run and put the Irish up.
Notre Dame added three more in the third, courtesy of the long ball. A walk from Karina Gaskins and a Jane Kronenberger single put two on for Amaral, who delivered her second homer in as many days to put the Irish up 4-0 after three innings.
Samford got on the board in the top of the fourth. An error put the lead runner on as a single and a walk loaded the bases. Another misplay allowed the run to score as the Bulldogs got on the board for the first time in 10 total innings against Notre Dame.
The Irish manufactured some runs in the fourth inning, plating three more. Grimm singled and took advantage of a misplay to head over to third base before scoring on a Holloway ground ball. Tran reignited the rally with a single to right center and moved up on a Kloss single back up the middle. Gaskins kept that same approach, singling back through the box to bring in Tran and extend the lead to 6-1. Kloss took advantage of a wild pitch to score the third run of the frame as the Irish closed the fourth with a 7-1 lead.
Kastor surrendered a run in the seventh, but Samford could come no closer than 7-2.
Up Next
The second half of Saturday’s doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather. The Irish will take on the North Florida Ospreys at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning to conclude their weekend in Jacksonville.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
SECOND HALF PROPELS NO. 17/16 CREIGHTON TO WIN AT BUTLER
No. 17/16 Creighton used a big second half to pull away from Butler and take a 79-57 win Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Baylor Scheierman led the Bluejays with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
With the win, Creighton improves to 19-7 (10-5 BIG EAST). Butler is now 16-10 (7-8 BIG EAST).
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
Butler came out of the gates strong as the Bulldogs took their largest lead of the game at 21-13 with 9:12 remaining in the first half.
Creighton climbed all the way back to take brief 34-33 lead with just over a minute remaining in the first half before Butler went into the locker rooms with a 35-34 halftime edge.
Butler’s last lead of the game came at 37-36 with 18:57 remaining.
Creighton outscored Butler, 45-22, in the second half.
The 22-point margin at the final buzzer was the largest of the game.
OF NOTE:
Ryan Kalkbrenner added 21 points for Creighton on 8-for-14 shooting.
The Bluejays shot 52 percent from the field and utilized a 22-2 advantage in fast break points.
After making only two of their 11 attempts from three-point range in the first half, Creighton connected on six of 14 in the second half.
Jalen Thomas led the Bulldogs with 18 points, matching his season-high. He added a team-high five rebounds.
Posh Alexander (13) and DJ Davis (12) also reached double figures for Butler.
The Bulldogs were limited to 40-percent shooting for the second consecutive game.
After making five of their first seven three-point attempts, Butler went just 1-for-15 the rest of the way.
The teams combined for only 16 fouls in the contest. Both Creighton (the national leader) and Butler rank in the Top 10 nationally in fewest fouls committed this season.
The teams split the regular season series after Butler won the first meeting, a 99-98 shootout in Omaha Feb. 2. It was the first BIG EAST game since 2011 with both teams scoring 95 or more in regulation.
Saturday’s contest concluded a five-game stretch for Butler that included four Top 25 opponents. Butler went 2-3 during that stretch.
Entering the day, KenPom ranked Butler’s schedule as the nation’s 15th-toughest slate at this point in the season.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs take to the road next week for contests at Villanova Tuesday and Seton Hall Saturday. Tuesday’s tip at Villanova is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on FS1. Butler’s next home game is Wednesday, Feb. 28 when the Bulldogs host St. John’s.
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BULLDOGS UPSET WILDCATS IN VILLANOVA 55-52
VILLANOVA – The Butler Bulldogs recorded a 55-52 win at Finneran Pavilion on Saturday afternoon to pick up their third-straight conference win. Caroline Strande led the Bulldogs to victory with a team-high 19 points. With the win, BU moves to 12-13 on the year and dropped Villanova to 16-9.
Butler went on a 7-0 run to grab a 7-3 lead over Villanova, but the Wildcats would fight back to win the first quarter 15-14. Lucy Olsen only missed one shot over the opening 10 minutes to lead Villanova with seven points. Caroline Strande countered for Butler with six.
The Bulldogs silenced the crowd over the opening stages of the second quarter with an 11-0 scoring run. Sydney Jaynes sparked the scoring spree with four-straight points and Jordan Meulemans would bury a corner 3 to extend the BU lead to 25-17.
Butler outscored Villanova 17-10 in the second quarter to own a 31-25 halftime lead. Jaynes led all Bulldogs with eight points and Olsen was in the book with a game-high 12. Butler’s defense limited the Wildcats to just 35 percent shooting and the ‘Dawgs got the ball inside to outscore Nova 18-6 in the paint.
The Wildcats quickly knotted the score at 32-32 at the start of the third quarter, but a 6-0 Butler run would follow near the midway point to get the ‘Dawgs back on top. Defense was the name of the game for Butler in the third as they held Villanova scoreless for over six minutes to take a five-point lead into the fourth.
Each team added one field goal to their game total over the first four minutes of the fourth until Jordan Meulemans hit a transition 3-pointer for BU from the right wing. Butler’s next 3-pointer was a huge shot from Strande, made from the top of the key that gave the ‘Dawgs a 49-40 lead with 2:42 to play in the game.
The lead was trimmed to six on Villanova’s next possession as the Wildcats knocked down a 3-pointer out of a timeout. Butler never gave up the lead but Olsen would get the home team back within three with 18 seconds remaining. The comeback effort fell short and Nova was forced to foul in an effort to extend the contest. The strategy would fail as Strande stepped to the line and calmly made a pair to ice the victory.
Inside the Box Score
– Caroline Strande nearly posted a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds
– Sydney Jaynes ended the game with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists
– Butler led Villanova for nearly 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon
– The Bulldogs outscored Villanova 17-10 in the second quarter
– BU outrebounded Nova 40-34
– Butler moved ahead of DePaul in the BIG EAST standings with the win
– Lucy Olsen paced the Wildcats with 21 points
– Christian Dalce had 14 rebounds, seven blocks and seven points
Up Next
Butler returns to action on Wednesday night with a 6:30 tip vs. Xavier on FS2.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
BUTLERSOFTBALL SPLITS WITH GSU AND SOUTH DAKOTA ON DAY TWO IN ATLANTA
ATLANTA, Ga. – The Butler softball team dropped its second game to South Dakota in as many days at the Panther Invitational at GSU but bounced back to beat the host team in the afternoon. The Bulldogs (3-6) were shutout, 5-0, by the Coyotes (3-5) but took an early lead and then never trailed the host Panthers (2-7), holding on for a 6-5 victory.
Game 3: South Dakota- 5, Butler- 0 (7 innings)
South Dakota put one across in the first for an early, 1-0, lead.
In the second, Butler loaded the bases with two outs but could not find a gap to send anyone home.
The Coyotes added two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and another in the seventh.
Rylyn Dyer (0-2) started in the circle for Butler, lasted into the fifth inning, and took the loss. She allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks with one strikeout. Kayla Noerr (3.0 IP, 2R, 4H, K) entered in relief with nobody out in the fifth and finished the game.
Game 4: Butler- 6, Georgia State- 5 (7 innings)
Paige Dorsett’s single and Kieli Ryan’s base on balls each produced an RBI in the top of the first, giving Butler an early, 1-0, lead.
GSU put one across in the second, but the Bulldogs matched the run in the third, building a 3-1 lead that held through four.
In the fifth, Teagan O’Rilley and Makena Alexander reached base on a double and single, respectively. Ryan followed up with a three-run home run, putting the Bulldogs up, 6-1.
The Panthers hit a two-RBI home run in the bottom half of the fifth and then another in the sixth, closing the gap to 6-5 going into the seventh.
Katie Petran remained effective in the circle, shutting down the first three batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
Petran (3-0) threw a complete game and earned the win, her third such combination this season. She allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out five.
Bulldog Bits
Hailey Conger’s double vs. South Dakota was the first of her career.
Ella White’s double vs. GSU was her third of the season and 23rd of her career.
Teagan O’Rilley’s double vs. GSU third of the season and tenth of her career.
Kieli Ryan’s home run vs. GSU was her first of the season and second of her career. Her four RBI were a career high.
Katy Petran’s complete-game win in the circle vs. GSU was her third this season.
Up Next
Butler remains in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Panther Invitational at GSU and will play a final game against Georgia State on Sunday, Feb. 18.
IUPUI MEN’S BASKETBALL
JACKSON DELIVERS 17 AS JAGUARS FALL AT OAKLAND
ROCHESTER, Mich. – Sophomore DJ Jackson scored a team-high 17 points but the Jaguars were on the wrong side of a lopsided effort at Oakland on Saturday (Feb. 17), falling to the Golden Grizzlies, 107-59. Oakland (18-10, 13-4 HL) shot 66.1 percent from the field and 15-of-27 (55.6 percent) from three-point range, burying the Jaguars in a complete effort.
Jack Gohlke connected on 10-of-15 from three in scoring a game-high 31 points and Rocket Watts contributed 15 points, both coming off the bench.
IUPUI (6-22, 2-15 HL) shot a pedestrian 35 percent from the floor, including making less than 28 percent in the opening half as Oakland built a 51-24 lead by halftime. Fortunes didn’t change in the second half as Oakland shot 76 percent overall in the second half and topped 50 points in each half.
IUPUI stuck a pair of early threes from Bryce Monroe and John Egbuta to take a quick 6-2 lead, but then went without a field goal for more than seven minutes as the hosts built a 20-point lead. The Jaguars never threatened as Oakland dominated in virtually every facet of the contest.
The Golden Grizzlies won the glass by a 37-25 margin and outscored IUPUI in the paint, 42-22. Osei Price had 14 points and Trey Townsend closed with 12 points.
Monroe finished with nine points and Qwanzi Samuels added eight off the IUPUI bench. Vincent Brady II and Jlynn Counter had matching stat lines of seven points, three rebounds and three assists and Abdou Samb had five points and a team-high six rebounds.
IUPUI will be back on the road again next weekend when the Jaguars take on Northern Kentucky on Sunday (Feb. 25) on ESPN+.
IUPUI SWIMMING
SWIM AND DIVE CAPS THE 2024 HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH SOME HARDWARE
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI swim and dive team closed out the 2024 Horizon League Championship on Saturday earning seven specialty awards. The Jags also earned three Horizon League titles and one meet record.
The Jaguars kicked off the finals meet with the 1650 free. Emmaleigh Zietlow came out strong, taking the gold, breaking an eight year old record with a time of 16:25.95. With the first-place finish, she is now the 3x champion in the 1650 free and totaled three top finishes on the week. Freshman Samantha Lee finished in a time of 17:16.81 to earn seventh place.
In the men’s 1650 free, Youssef Magdy earned the bronze with a time of 15:34.21. Freshman Nathan Rariden added points for the Jags finishing in fourth with a time of 15:36.83. Luke Dibley took seventh.
In the 200 back, Tori Barnet finished in 11th while Lauren Thompson finished in 12th and Malayna Mancinelli took 15th. On the men’s side, freshman Jack Gallob finished in fourth with a time of 1:44.37 while Ben Kimmel took seventh and Grayson Tidwell finished in eighth.
Lillian Brandt represented the Jags in the women’s 100 free, finishing in seventh with a time of 51.50. Spencer Jyawook took the bronze in the men’s 100 free with a time of 43.74 while Kevin Burke took fifth at 44.04.
Freshman Emily Hoekstra finished in eighth in the women’s 200 breast with a time of 2:23.78. The Jags placed three in the men’s championship final of the 200 breast, with Logan Kelly defending his title. Kelly recorded a top time of 1:54.39 to take the gold. Dakota Kinder finished in seventh while Turner Long took eighth.
In the men’s 200 fly, Gallob ranked in the top eight once again. The freshman took fifth while Isaac Wilson finished in sixth.
Next up was the men’s 3-meter dive. The Jags swept the podium, finishing one-two-three. Sebastian Otero kept the 3-meter title with a top score of 392.30. Adam Schmehl finished in second with a score of 324.20. Third place was a battle till the very last dive when Blake Vanderjeugdt had a huge sixth dive, giving him the edge with a total score of 312.65.
The Jags finished out the night with the 400 free relay. The women’s team finished in fourth with a time of 3:27.03. The men’s relay team made up of Jyawook, Rariden, Kelly and Burke took silver with a time of 2:57.14.
The women’s team finished in third with 527.5 points behind Milwaukee and Oakland. The Jags were led by Zietlow who earned Horizon League Women’s Swimmer of the Meet and Alaina Heyde, the 2024 Horizon League Women’s Diver of the Meet.
The men’s team fought hard until the very end, but came up just short of the title, earning the runner-up spot with 808 points behind Oakland. They were led by Jyawook who was named the Horizon League Men’s Swimmer of the Meet and Otero, who retained his title of Horizon League Diver of the Meet. Rariden was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year.
Head coach Damion Dennis was named Horizon League Men’s Swimming Co-Coach of the Year with Cleveland State’s head coach Hannah Buramdt. IUPUI’s diving coach, Eric Barnes was named Horizon League Men’s Diving Coach of the Year.
The Jaguars conclude an outstanding season and will now have a select few preparing for the National Invitational Championships.
2024 Horizon League Championship Specialty Award Winners
Women’s Specialty Awards
Freshman of the Year – Clarissa Bezuidenhout, Oakland
Diver of the Meet – Alaina Heyde, IUPUI
Swimmer of the Meet – Emmaleigh Zietlow, IUPUI
Diving Coach of the Year – Larry Albright, Oakland
Swimming Coach of the Year – Kyle Clements, Milwaukee
Men’s Specialty Awards
Freshman of the Year – Nathan Rariden, IUPUI
Diver of the Meet – Sebastian Otero, IUPUI
Swimmer of the Meet – Spencer Jyawook, IUPUI
Diving Coach of the Year – Eric Barnes, IUPUI
Swimming Coach of the Year – Hannah Buramdt, Cleveland State and Damion Dennis, IUPUI
IUPUI SOFTBALL
IUPUI OFFENSE HEATS UP IN DAY TWO OF FURMAN INVITATIONAL
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The IUPUI softball team had more success offensively in the second day of the Furman Invitational (racking up a combined 15 hits and eight runs) but fell in walk-off fashion to Lipscomb and in the rematch against Georgetown.
Kinsey Pfeiffer led the way, batting an impressive .666 (4-for-6) with five RBIs. Kendal Calvert was also outstanding with the bat, going a combined 4-of-7 while adding three runs.
After going down a run to Lipscomb (3-5) in the bottom of the second, IUPUI (1-7) quickly bounced back in the top of the third. Morgan Gilbert led off the inning with a single and reached second on a steal. A Calvert bunt advanced Gilbert to third, who then scored on a Paige McPhearson groundout.
Following a hitless fourth frame for both sides, the Jags took the lead in the fifth, scoring with two outs on the board on a Pfeiffer single. However, the Bisons looked poised to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth, quickly putting multiple runners in scoring position. Elle Smith led off with a double to get the ball rolling. After Alyssa Hastings was walked, a sacrifice bunt advanced the two on base. Another bunt saw Smith reach the plate to tie the game at two with just one out. They took the lead shortly after, scoring on a Josey Polk sac fly. With a runner still on third, Jack Busch knocked one through the infield to add to the lead.
Down two runs in the top of the seventh, the Jags were forced into two quick outs by relief pitcher Ryleigh Sapp but a Calvert bunt got her un base and gave the team some hope with McPhearson coming to the plate. She added to her already impressive outing, getting on base with a walk to push Calvert into a scoring position. The heart of the Jaguar lineup continued to perform in primetime, with Pfeiffer recording a two RBI double to square the contest at four.
Lipscomb rallied back in the bottom of the final inning, with Kaylyn Belfield reaching first on a single, stealing second and rounding all the way to the plate on a Smith single to secure the victory.
Game number two started in similar fashion, with IUPUI going down a run early against Gerogetown (4-4), who scored an unearned run in the top of the first. It didn’t take long to even the score, with lead off hitter Gilbert making her way around the bases after being walked. Calvert, who reached on a single to right center, also scored to give the team an early lead after a Pfeiffer sacrifice fly.
The Jags, however, didn’t hold onto the advantage long, giving up two runs in the following inning. The second frame opened with a solo home run by Samantha Miller that squared the contest. Following a triple by Dayanara Campos, Gabby Park doubled to retake the lead.
Again, the Jags bounced back quickly, tying the match in the bottom of the inning. In just her second at-bat of her young career, Kalee Roberts was walked and eventually scored on a Kelli Riordan hit for her first career run.
IUPUI’s offense continued to roll in the following inning, with Pfeiffer tallying a solo homer to take a 4-3 lead. She leads the team with two home runs and seven RBIs.
Georgetown, however, ran away in the top of the fourth, tallying four hits and seven runs to take a commanding six-run lead. The team added two more runs in the next inning to close out the game’s scoring.
IUPUI will look to end the tournament on a high note, taking on Towson tomorrow morning. The contest features an early start, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
NO. 14 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL OUTLASTS 10TH-RANKED LOYOLA-CHICAGO ON THE ROAD IN FIVE SETS
CHICAGO, Ill. – It wasn’t an easy road win, but the Cardinals managed to complete the two-match Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association series against Loyola-Chicago after defeating the Ramblers 3-2 Saturday night at Gentile Arena.
With the win, Ball State improves to 11-7 on the season and 4-1 in MIVA play while Loyola-Chicago drops to 8-7 overall and 3-2 in conference action.
Three players reached double digit kills against the Ramblers with Patrick Rogers leading the Cardinals charge with 18. Not too far behind Rogers was Tinaishe Ndavazocheva who turned in a 17-kill performance. Rounding out the double-digit kills was Braydon Savitski-Lynde with 11. Your offense doesn’t run well without their setter and tonight Lucas Machado was just as efficient at the net dishing out 42 assists running the offense at a .304 clip.
Ball State took the first two sets and was on the brink of earning a possible sweep over Loyola Chicago. The Ramblers took a 22-19 edge over the Cardinals late in set three but a kill from Will Patterson, followed by a block assist from Patterson and Rogers made it a 22-20 ball game. The next point went to BSU after a kill from Rogers. But Loyola-Chicago went on a 3-0 run to take the set, 25-22.
Loyola-Chicago was victorious over Ball State in the fourth period as well to force the match into overtime.
The fifth set was tightly contested but the Cardinals went up 12-9 after kills from Rodney Wallace and Ndavazocheva. With the score 14-11 Ndavazocheva had a strong serve which allowed Rogers to get kill to win the match for Ball State.
The Ball State men’s volleyball team continues MIVA road play next weekend when it travels to Quincy for a 7 pm ET first serve.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WBB COMPLETES COMEBACK WIN AT OHIO; PUNCHES TICKET TO MAC TOURNEY IN CLEVELAND
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ball State women’s basketball team completed its 75-60 comeback at Ohio to bring home yet another victory while also sealing its fate in the upcoming 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament (March 13-16).
This is the ninth time in current head coach Brady Sallee’s tenure the Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland.
The Cardinals (22-3, 11-1 MAC) overcame their 17-point deficit over the Bobcats (7-16, 4-8 MAC) Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center after outscoring Ohio 44-20 in second half of play. Not only is that a testament to the Cardinals’ offense but also their defense.
The first half was not a typical one for the Cardinals as the Ohio Bobcats came out of the gates strong building a 17-point (38-21) lead over Ball State with 2:57 left in the second quarter.
The Cardinals finally got back on track and closed out the second frame with a 10-2 scoring spree to bring Ball State to within nine (40-31) of Ohio at intermission. During the run, the Cardinals’ bench came through with baskets from Annie Rauch, Ana Barreto and Estel Puiggros.
After the break, the Cardinals were on a mission outpacing the Bobcats 15-5 which was capped off by a 3-pointer from Nyla Hampton which put BSU on top 46-43 with just two minutes shaved off the clock.
The remainder of the third quarter was a seesaw match but the Cardinals continued to be resilient and were able to take a three-point (56-53) edge over Ohio after a steal from Hampton that set up Rauch for a layup off the dish from Marie Kiefer. That would be that last scoring play of third stanza.
The balance of the Ball State offense was unstoppable in the final quarter. The Cardinals defense also held the Bobcats scoreless for over five minutes. A nice move to the basket from Ally Becki put Ball State up 61-53. Puiggros then knocked down a 3-pointer to increase BSU’s lead to 65-53 with 6:28 left. From that point forward the Cardinals never looked back and continued to lead the remainder of the contest.
For the game, Madelyn Bischoff led the Cardinals in scoring with 17 points while Rauch had 14 points and Becki rounded out the double figure scoring with 13. Hampton was just shy of a double-double after pulling down 11 rebounds and scoring nine points.
The Ball State women’s basketball team returns to Worthen Arena Wednesday when it hosts Central Michigan for its annual “Think Pink” game. Tipoff is at 6:30 pm ET and fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.
BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO MIAMI IN OXFORD
OXFORD, Ohio – The Ball State men’s basketball team couldn’t fight back from a pair of Miami (OH) second half scoring runs and fell to the RedHawks 80-59 Saturday afternoon at Millett Hall.
Ball State (12-13, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) got 18 points out of both Davion Bailey and Basheer Jihad, but host Miami (12-13, 6-6 MAC) used an 8-0 rally early in the second half and a 12-2 run midway through the second period to take the rivalry matchup.
The Cardinals trailed 30-29 at halftime after Bailey hit a 3-pointer and Trent Middleton Jr. made two free throws in the final minute-and-a-half for the visitors to end the half on a 5-2 run. Miami’s early second half rally gave them a 53-43 advantage, while the RedHawks’ 12-2 streak put them ahead 69-51 with under five minutes to play.
Bailey nailed four 3-pointers for the fourth time this season while adding four rebounds and two assists. Jihad chipped in six rebounds and two block, and Jalin Anderson (11 points, four rebounds, three assists) and Trent Middleton Jr. (eight points, six rebounds, two assists) were also focal points of the Ball State offense.
The quartet of Eian Elmer (18 points), Anderson Mirambeaux (16), Bradley Dean (15) and Darweshi Hunter (13) combined for the balance of scoring for the hosts, who outrebounded the Cardinals 34-32 and had six less turnovers (15-9) while winning bench points 29-2.
Ball State shot 41.1 percent (23-56) from the field, including 35.0 percent (7-20) of its 3-pointers and made 75.0 percent (6-8) on free throws. Miami hit 51.7 percent (31-60), 47.8 percent (11-23) from distance and 70.0 percent (7-10) at the charity stripe.
The Cardinals’ next game is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. ET) at Northern Illinois.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
WALKOFF SINGLE AND FRESHMAN PITCHING HIGHLIGHT CARDINALS’ WN OVER MERRIMACK
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Dylan Grego’s walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning catapulted Ball State to a 2-1 victory over Merrimack College on Saturday afternoon in Game 2 of a doubleheader at the Swig & Swine Classic at Shipyard Park.
Each team managed just a single run in the fifth inning of a pitcher’s duel, common in the first college baseball weekend with live pitching. But with a tie score in the bottom of the ninth, catcher and cleanup hitter Hunter Dobbins stroked a ground-rule double to left-center to lead off the inning and two pitches later, Grego delivered a single to right to drive in the deciding run.
The game was dominated by pitching and strikeouts – 17 K’s by Merrimack batters and six by the Cardinals. Ball State (2-1) starter Keegan Johnson, a freshman from Frederick, Maryland, making his first college appearance, whiffed nine Warriors batters over 4.2 innings pitched. Another freshman, Zach Kwasny from Mokena, Ill., threw the final 4.1 innings and struck out eight more to earn the win.
The freshman duo made a nice statement for the future of the Cardinals’ pitching staff. Only twice last season did the Mid-American Conference champions manage more than 17 strikeouts by its pitching staff.
Dobbins and Grego both batted 2-of-4 on the day, accounting for four of the Cardinals’ six hits. Dobbins and Michael Hallquist each doubled to account for Ball State’s only extra base hits.
In the first game of the day, Ball State fell 5-0 to No. 20 Iowa and Marcus Morgan’s nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched. The Cardinals got a pair of base hits in the fifth inning, by Dobbins and Hallquist, but couldn’t move a run across the plate. The Hawkeyes did most of their damage with three runs in the top of the fifth, and single runs in the third and eighth innings.
The six-team Swig & Swine Classic continues and concludes on Sunday. Ball State meets Michigan State at 9:00 a.m. in their tournament finale.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Indiana State Falls To The Salukis On Saturday
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State men’s basketball suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in the 2023-24 season with a loss at Southern Illinois on Saturday, 74-69. ISU fell to 22-5 and 13-3 in the Missouri Valley.
Robbie Avila led the offense with a game-high 30 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the floor, knocking down a trio of three-pointers. He grabbed six rebounds, recorded two assists, and swatted two shots. Ryan Conwell scored 16 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and secured five rebounds. Jake Wolfe recorded a team-high seven rebounds, while Julian Larry finished with a team-high five assists, chipping in five rebounds. Other scorers include Larry with seven, Isaiah Swope with six, and Wolfe and Xavier Bledson each with five.
Two key factors contributed to the Sycamores’ fifth loss of the season: turnovers and shooting. Indiana State committed 16 turnovers in 69 possessions (23.19%) leading to 14 Saluki points. SIU recorded 10 steals, only the fourth time this season an opponent has recorded 10 or more, and the highest total is 11 in two separate games.
The three ball wasn’t finding its way into the basket, as Indiana State shot 28.0% from beyond the arc but 44.2% from the field. ISU did continue its success scoring inside the arc, making 16-of-27 two-pointers (59.26%) in Saturday’s game. Despite the lower numbers from three, ISU is shooting 65.48% inside the three-point line in the last six games.
Avila started off the game strong for Indiana State, scoring seven of ISU’s first nine points. With the score 13-7 in ISU’s favor early on, Avila had nine of ISU’s 13, outscoring the Salukis by himself. Indiana State then built to a nine-point, 18-9 lead just over 11 minutes into the ballgame.
The Sycamores compiled a 7-0 run off two layups by Bledson and Avila and four made free throws also from Bledson and Avila. SIU cut into the lead by could never get less than a five-point deficit, which was only once with 57 left in the half. Wolfe drilled a corner-triple to give ISU 37-29 led with 19 seconds left in the half, but SIU made a buzzer-beating tip-in at their basket off an out-of-bounds play, making the halftime score 37-31 in favor of Indiana State.
The first basket of the second half went to Indiana State, courtesy of a Conwell Jumper at the 19:06 mark, but the Salukis used the next five minutes to battle back and take its first lead of the game with 14:26 to play, 44-43. The score continued to flip with neither team giving up a big lead – from the 15:51 mark in the second half through the end of the game, the lead was never more than five.
Just inside five minutes to play, the Salukis knocked down a three to go up by four, only for Larry to respond with a triple of his own to bring the SIU lead down to 63-62. ISU used a short 5-0 run from 3:40 to 2:01 to claim the lead 67-65, but another Saluki triple a 1:30 gave them the lead. Conwell made a layup at the 1:15 mark to again flip the lead in favor of the Sycamores, 69-68, and those would be the last two points by the Sycamores as SIU scored a layup and converted four free throws to give SIU the 74-69 victory.
News & Notes
Indiana State is still top the MVC heading into Sunday’s games. With a Drake win on Sunday, both teams would be 13-3 in the MVC.
Robbie Avila scored a career-high with his 30-point effort, knocking out his old record of 27 points (set twice – Rice, Valparaiso). Avila hitting the 30-point mark is only the second time this season an ISU player scored more than 30, and it was only the seventh time a player has scored 30+ in the Coach Schertz era.
Jake Wolfe grabbed a career high with his seven rebounds. It’s also Wolfe’s first time leading the Sycamores in the category.
Indiana State continued its free throw efficiency, recording its sixth game out of the last eight shooting 80%+ from the line as a team.
ISU’s 16 turnovers are the highest in nine games since finishing with 16 in the win against Murray State (January 21).
INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SECOND-HALF SCORING SENDS SALUKIS OVER SYCAMORES
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Kiley Bess led Indiana State with 19 points and Ella Sawyer dished out a career-high 12 assists Saturday afternoon, but visiting Southern Illinois scored 50 points in the second half to defeat the Sycamores 80-70 inside Hulman Center.
Sawyer was on triple-double watch by the end of the game, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds in addition to her career-best mark in assists. Bess pulled down five rebounds for the Blue and White, while Bella Finnegan also finished in double-figures for the Sycamores with 10 points.
Indiana State got off to a slow start, with the visitors jumping out to an early lead in the first quarter. The Sycamores pulled their way back thanks to nine points between Bess and Finnegan in the opening quarter, then used a 3-point barrage from Keslyn Secrist in the second quarter to take a 33-30 lead at the half. SIU opened the second half on a 7-0 run and never trailed from that point on, though. Indiana State was within three early in the fourth quarter, but a 15-2 Saluki run broke the game open.
First Half
Southern Illinois scored the first two baskets of the game, but a fastbreak layup from Lily Niebuhr and a 3-pointer from Bess quickly put Indiana State in front. The Salukis’ paint presence saw them take a five-point lead before baskets from Bess and Finnegan whittled that down to a point. Indiana State headed into the second quarter facing a 15-12 deficit.
The visitors extended their lead out to six points within the first three minutes of the second quarter, but Indiana State had a response of its own. Three 3-pointers from Secrist evened the score at 26, and Bess tacked on a three-point play to put the Trees in front. Savannah White connected on a pair of jumpers late in the quarter, as the Sycamores took a 33-30 lead into the intermission.
Second Half
SIU opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run, but a jumper from Bess and a pair of free throws from Chelsea Cain knotted things up at 37. Bess and Niebuhr added baskets for the Blue and White, but another scoring run for the Salukis saw the visitors pull ahead 47-41. Indiana State pulled within two late in the quarter following a pair of free throws from Mya Glanton and a three-ball from Finnegan, but the Trees entered the fourth quarter trailing 54-49.
Glanton opened the fourth quarter with a fastbreak layup to get the Trees within three at 54-51, but a 15-2 Southern Illinois run saw the visitors take a double-digit lead. Cain and Deja Jones ended the scoring run with jumpers, and a pair of baskets from Sawyer cut Southern Illinois’ advantage to 11. Finnegan tacked on a 3-pointer inside the final minute but it was too little, too late for the Sycamores in a 10-point defeat.
News and Notes
Ella Sawyer’s 12 assists were her most in a game in her collegiate career. Sawyer finished one point and three rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Kiley Bess has averaged 18 points and six rebounds per game across Indiana State’s first two games of the current homestand.
Indiana State’s 3-point defense continues to be strong, limiting Southern Illinois to 3-for-12 from behind the arc. The Sycamores were 6-for-18 from distance.
Indiana State’ 19 fastbreak points were its most in a conference game this season and the most for the Sycamores since having 22 against Radford on Nov. 23.
Indiana State had a 19-4 advantage in bench points and a 16-15 advantage in points off turnovers.
Southern Illinois’ Laniah Randle scored a career-high 36 points Saturday.
Up Next
Indiana State’s three-game homestand wraps up Thursday evening at 6 p.m. against Evansville.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL
83-69 VICTORY ENSURES WINNING SEASON FOR MEN’S HOOPS
DETROIT – Four Mastodons finished in double-digits in Purdue Fort Wayne’s 83-69 victory at Detroit Mercy on Saturday (Feb. 17). The win ensures a winning season for the ‘Dons, their ninth in the last 11 campaigns for the ‘Dons.
Quinton Morton-Robertson led Purdue Fort Wayne with 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting including 5-of-8 from three. He moved into seventh in program history for single 3-pointers by bringing his 2023-24 total to 80.
Jalen Jackson added 18 points (8-of-13 shooting), six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Rasheed Bello pitched in 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting while adding six rebounds and four assists. Anthony Roberts totaled 13 points and six boards.
They helped the ‘Dons shoot 33-of-59 (55.9 percent). The ‘Dons had only five turnovers in the game and just one in the first half. Purdue Fort Wayne finished with 13 more shot attempts than Detroit Mercy thanks to their sure hands.
Jayden Stone led UDM with 27 points in 40 minutes of action.
Bello scored 13 points in the first half as the ‘Dons led 46-36 at halftime. The period featured two ties, but the ‘Dons never trailed. Purdue Fort Wane led by as many as 18 in the second half but the Titans cut it to 58-54 with 10:37 left. It would be as close as the home team would get. The ‘Dons responded with a 7-0 run, that turned in to a 12-2 stretch with five Mastodons scoring in the push.
Detroit Mercy falls to 1-27 (1-16 Horizon League). The Mastodons improve to 17-10 (8-8 Horizon League). Purdue Fort Wayne is at Green Bay on Friday (Feb. 23).
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
PURDUE FORT WAYNE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT TO NORTH DAKOTA
EL PASO, Texas – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team went down to the wire with North Dakota on Saturday (Feb. 18) in one of the two games at the UTEP Invitational.
GAME 1 – UTEP 8, Purdue Fort Wayne 0
UTEP used a big first inning to take control of the game. The Miners put seven runs on the board in the opening frame thanks to seven hits.
UTEP scored its eighth run an inning later.
The Mastodons recorded five hits. Bailey Manos, Epiphany Hang, Brayden Lickey, Tori Countryman and Alanah Jones had one hit each.
Jones took the loss in the circle. Kayla Roberts threw 2.2 innings in relief and struck out three, a season-high. Faith Aragon threw all 5.0 innings and struck out six ‘Dons for the win.
UTEP improved to 9-2 to continue its best start in program history.
GAME 2 – North Dakota 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 6
Down 7-4 in the seventh, the Mastodons started to mount a comeback behind the bat of Brooke Wintlend. Brayden Lickey got on base with a single up the middle, then two at-bats later, Wintlend hit her first home run of the season over the left field wall. From there though, the Fighting Hawks got the third out they needed to end the game.
The Mastodons jumped out to a 4-0 lead against North Dakota early on. Grace Hollopeter brought home Bailey Manos in the first inning with a double to right field, then three innings later the ‘Dons tallied three more runs. McKenna Minton knocked in Ella Carriere with a single up the middle, then Hollopeter got another RBI with a single. Hang hit the third single in five Mastodon plate appearances to score another.
North Dakota cut the lead down to one in the Fighting Hawks’ half of the fourth with a three-run home run. UND took the lead an inning later, tallying three runs with a five-hit inning.
Gracie Brinkerhoff registered two strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched. She took the loss. North Dakota’s Makaela Carr got the win in 5.1 innings pitched in relief.
North Dakota improved to 3-6. The Mastodons fell to 1-6. The ‘Dons are back in action on Sunday morning (Feb. 18) at 11 a.m. ET against Montana.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
BASEBALL ACES BLAST #26 ORAL ROBERTS, 14-3, TO EVEN SERIES
TULSA, Okla. – University of Evansville freshman left-hander Kenton Deverman struck out eight men in 6.0 innings of relief work on Saturday, and UE graduate students Chase Hug and Mark Shallenberger launched three-run home runs, as the Purple Aces pounded out a 14-3 victory at #26 Oral Roberts to even the season-opening series at one-game apiece.
“What a great response from our ballclub today to even up this series,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “I knew we would get this type of effort from our guys with the experience that we have, and for a freshman like Kenton Deverman to compete like he did was really special to see.
“It really sets up a big game for both of our programs tomorrow. We both have some pretty high expectations, and for us to get a season-opening series win against a quality opponent like this would be huge for us. So, we need to come out ready for a battle and ready to compete.”
The Golden Eagles, ranked #26 in the NCBWA preseason poll and receiving votes in the USA Today/Coaches Preseason Poll, came out of the gates hot early, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning off of UE starter Nick Smith to take a 2-0 lead.
The lead would not last long though for ORU, as Evansville would answer back in the top of the third inning thanks to some wildness and the bat of Chase Hug. After the inning opened with back-to-back hit-batters, Hug crushed a long home run over the bullpen in right field for his first home run of the year to give UE a 3-2 lead.
From there, Deverman took over in relief on a cold day in Tulsa, and he shut down a potent Oral Roberts attack. After yielding a single to left field by reigning all-regional player Holden Breeze in his first collegiate at-bat, Deverman recorded eight-straight outs to silence the Golden Eagles’ bats. Evansville would then explode for six runs in the fifth inning to make life easier on the mound for the freshman.
Evansville worked three walks to load the bases to begin the frame. Then, after a pair of run-scoring wild pitches by the ORU bullpen, graduate catcher Brendan Hord knocked the first of two run-scoring doubles on the afternoon to give UE a 6-2 lead. After another hit-by-pitch by ORU, Shallenberger then launched a mammoth three-run home run to deep right field to give UE a 9-2 lead.
UE would tack on five more runs in the seventh inning, powered by a run-scoring ground out by Hug, an RBI single by senior right fielder Kip Fougerousse, an RBI double by junior second baseman Cal McGinnis, and a two-run double by Hord to push the lead to 14-2. Deverman would yield his only run of the afternoon on a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but he earned the win in his collegiate debut, holding Oral Roberts to a single run on five hits in 6.0 innings of work, while striking out eight.
Offensively, Hug went 1-for-4 with two run scored, a home run and four RBI, while Shallenberger and Hord both had two hits and drove in three. Fougerousse and McGinnis also had two-hit days for UE. Evansville out-hit Oral Roberts once again, 12-8, on the afternoon.
The rubber match of the three-game series will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. at ORU’s J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Freshman left-hander Kevin Reed will get the start for UE in his collegiate debut.
EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
UE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BATTLES BUT FALLS SHORT TO MISSOURI STATE LADY BEARS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A quiet fourth quarter kept the University of Evansville women’s basketball team from its third straight Missouri Valley Conference win in a 72-56 loss to the Missouri State Lady Bears.
It was a one to two-possession game for three quarters, but the Aces couldn’t finish out against one of the top teams in the Valley on Saturday. Despite struggles in the rebounding game, UE forced more turnovers from the Lady Bears than themselves for only the fifth game this season. All but one Evansville player recorded a steal through 40 minutes while forward Neveah Thomas again led the Aces in scoring and rebounds with 19 points and six rebounds.
“The final score just doesn’t reflect how close this game was,” said Head Coach Robyn Scherr-Wells following the loss. “I’m so proud of the effort our players gave, being able to go into the fourth quarter with a one-possession game and going toe-to-toe with them for three quarters.
“It shows the growth of our team to be sitting here so disappointed that we didn’t win this game considering where we were a month ago. I’m really proud of our effort, we just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter because Missouri State made everything tough. They’re so good defensively, they made every shot tough to come by. And they showed why they’re one of the better teams in the conference right now.”
Saturday afternoon was a slow start on both sides as the first bucket took almost two minutes to make. UE took the early lead on a layup by guard Kynidi Mason Striverson. But Missouri State took off on a 12-point run to go up by double-digits with four minutes in the first quarter. Slowly but surely Evansville brought down the Lady Bears lead with a five-point run and a four-point run one after the other. Thomas had the last shot of the quarter, a layup with 12 seconds left to make it a one-possession game for the Aces.
UE’s offense kept clicking in the second quarter as guard Julia Palomo sunk a three in the first minute to tie the game. Evansville took their second lead less than 30 seconds later as Mason Striverson made a key layup to go up by two. But the Aces didn’t stay up for long as it became a shot-for-shot knockdown for four minutes. Missouri State was able to grab the first run of the quarter for a two-point lead with three minutes left. UE was able to answer as Palomo hit another three to kick off another basket for basket pace. The Lady Bears ended the quarter on a six to two run putting Evansville down by four points going into the second half.
An early foul gave the Aces the first point of the second half as Thomas split free throws at the line. UE returned to the line just a minute later as Evansville’s post-players made it a one-point game early in the third. The back-and-forth tempo came back as Missouri State tried to keep the Aces at bay. But UE took back the lead on back-to-back layups from Thomas and forward Maggie Hartwig shortly before the media timeout. Evansville extended its lead to four with 3:20 on the clock after going on a seven-point run. But the Lady Bears were able to respond with a run of their own to end the quarter with the Aces down 53-50.
After three close quarters battling with Missouri State, UE began to run out of gas, only scoring six points in the final 10 minutes. Guard Tené Smith had Evansville’s first two points of the six at the line in the first minute and a half. But the Aces had a minute-and-a-half scoring spell broken by Thomas, who had the final four points of the game for UE. The Lady Bears ended the game on a six-point run handing Evansville the 73-56 loss.
Three Aces players ended the afternoon in double figures led by Thomas with 19. Mason Striverson and Hartwig added 11 points each while Hartwig also had five rebounds. Three players also recorded two steals each as Thomas, Hartwig, and guard Lexie Sinclair forced turnovers from Missouri State.
UE hits the road for its next game on Thursday, Feb. 22. Evansville will make its way up US 41 to Terre Haute for a rematch with Indiana State. The Aces began the Valley season against the Sycamores in a 66-49 loss. Tip-off from the Hulman Center on Thursday is set for 5 p.m. CT.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
EAGLES GET FIRST WIN OF 2024 IN SATURDAY SPLIT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Softball picked up its first win of the 2024 season on Saturday following a two-game split on day two of the Easton Bama Bash. The Screaming Eagles fell in their first game of the day against the University of Virginia, 3-1, before seizing a 4-1 victory in the nightcap against the University of St. Thomas.
In the second go-around against Virginia (5-4), Southern Indiana (1-3) trailed the Cavaliers 3-0 midway through Saturday’s game. Virginia struck for a single run in three of the first four innings. USI sophomore pitcher Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky), who pitched 5.1 scoreless innings of relief in Friday’s second game, made the start on Saturday against Virginia and kept crooked numbers off the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, the Screaming Eagles’ offense struggled early on, earning its first hit against the Cavaliers in the top of the fourth inning. Then in the fifth inning, freshman infielder Sydney Long (Haubstadt, Indiana) doubled into the right-center gap to drive in a run for the Screaming Eagles, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Later, USI had the potential tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh inning, but a strikeout-throwout double play ended the game.
USI’s one run came off four hits. Gibson was dealt the loss with three strikeouts and three runs allowed in four innings. Junior Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) tallied a pair of strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief. Virginia’s Madison Harris was credited the win, coming into the game following an injury to Virginia’s starter and tossing 3.2 shutout innings with nine strikeouts.
The Southern Indiana bats came out early in the win against the Tommies (1-8) on Saturday. The first six batters reached base to lead off the top of the first inning. With runners at the corners, senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) put USI on the scoreboard with an opposite-field RBI single. The next hitter, senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana), followed with an RBI double to the centerfield wall. USI added to its 2-0 lead with another run in the second inning.
Meanwhile, junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was cruising, striking out seven through five innings and maintaining USI’s 3-0 advantage. That advantage grew in the top of the sixth. Three consecutive pinch-hit at-bats loaded the bases for the Screaming Eagles on back-to-back walks and a single. Junior outfielder Kennedy Nalley’s (Huntingburg, Indiana) sac fly drove in USI’s fourth run. St. Thomas got a run back in the seventh, but Newman finished the deal in her first complete game of the season.
Newman struck out 10 total batters in seven innings toward her first win of the season. The right-hander held the Tommies to four hits and one unearned run. St. Thomas’ Christina Crawford also went the distance, taking her fourth loss of the year after surrendering four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Offensively, USI scored four runs on eight hits. Fair had two hits and an RBI, and senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) also recorded a pair of hits.
Southern Indiana concludes the weekend at the Easton Bama Bash on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Screaming Eagles square off against the host team the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 11 in the nation and off to a 9-0 start this season, which includes two wins against Virginia and two against St. Thomas this weekend.
Coverage of Sunday’s game can be heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com) and seen on SEC Network+ through ESPN. Live stats will also be available. All coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
EAGLES CLIPPED BY TROJANS
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball was stopped by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 80-62, Saturday afternoon at Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Screaming Eagles fall to 7-20 overall and 4-10 in OVC play, while the Trojans are 16-11 overall, 10-4 OVC.
Despite the loss, USI remains eighth in the league and in the race to secure a spot in the OVC Tournament in March. The Eagles are tied for eighth at 4-10 with Tennessee Tech University, while Southeast Missouri State University is a game behind USI with four games to play in the 2023-24 season. USI, which currently owns the tiebreaker with TTU, and SEMO are scheduled to face off at Screaming Eagles Arena on the last day of the regular season.
The top eight teams at the end of OVC play advance to the league tournament March 6-9 at the Ford Center in Evansville. USI has three games on the road remaining before hosting a pair on the final weekend of conference play.
USI fell behind quickly in the opening half as Little Rock scored the first seven points of the game and had an early 12-2 lead. The Eagles rallied to cut the deficit to single-digits three times by the midway point of the first half, but the Trojans took a 38-26 lead into the intermission. Sophomore guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) kept the Eagles in the contest through the first 20 minutes, scoring 13 of the team’s 26 points.
The Eagles kept pace with the Trojans in the second half but could not gain ground. USI was never able to cut the deficit to single-digits, slipping to within 10 points, 38-28, with the opening bucket of the final 20 minutes. Little Rock led USI in the second half by as many as 19 points before closing out the 80-62 decision.
Smith was the only Eagle to reach double-digits in scoring, adding 10 second half points for a game-high 25 in the loss. The 25-points were two short of a career best by Smith.
Next Up For USI:
USI starts the second half of the four-game road swing Tuesday when it visits OVC front running Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Tipoff is set of 6:30 p.m.
The MSU Eagles are 20-7 overall and 11-3 in the OVC after losing 88-82 at the University of Tennessee at Martin this afternoon. MSU, despite a second-straight loss, has won seven of its last nine and 12 of the last 15 games.
The MSU Eagles got the better of the USI Screaming Eagles in January, winning 81-70 at Screaming Eagles Arena, and holds a 3-0 all-time series lead. Junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) led USI with 30 points in the January loss.
The road swing comes to a conclusion February 25 when USI visits Western Illinois University for a 3:30 p.m. game. The Leathernecks, who raised their record to 17-10 overall and 11-4 in the OVC after defeating Tennessee State University today, 68-61, are hosting MSU Thursday before welcoming the Screaming Eagles. WIU has won three of its last five games after Saturday.
WIU took the first meeting of the season with USI, 73-68, at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI had three players in double-digits, led by Hernandez with 26 points. The Leathernecks lead the series with USI, 4-1.
Following today and next week’s action, USI concludes the 2023-24 regular season with a pair of home games, hosting Lindenwood University February 29 and Southeast Missouri State University March 2.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASBEALL
USI FALL IN A SLUGFEST WITH NORTH ALABAMA
MOBILE, Ala.- University of Southern Indiana Baseball brought the bats on Saturday but couldn’t avoid the big innings defensively. The Screaming Eagles fell short the University of North Alabama, 13-7, Saturday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama.
Junior Carson Seeman (Auburn, California) worked his way out of trouble in the first two frames leaving two Lion runners on the base paths in back-to-back innings.
The Eagles pushed across two runs in the first off an RBI sacrifice fly from senior Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) after the first three batters reached base. Freshman Cameron Boyd (Villa Hills, Kentucky) took one for the team with a bases loaded hit by pitch to bring in another run and put the Eagles up by two after the first.
Junior Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) singled in junior Joe Ricchio (Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin) in the third to extend the lead to three. However, the USI pitching staff started to falter giving up four runs in back-to-back innings in the fourth and fifth. The Eagles countered in the bottom of the fifth after senior Ren Tachioka (Saitama, Japan) and sophomore Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) delivered RBIs to cut the deficit to 8-5.
The Eagles couldn’t avoid the big inning on defense as the Lions tagged three more runs in the top of the sixth. Senior Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) and Crowden both singled and scored in the bottom of the eighth to bring the Eagles within five. Pitching and defense proved to be the demise for the Eagles today, resulting in a 13-7 loss.
Tachioka led the Eagles offensively with three hits. Neihaus, Ebest, and Thompson-Allen collected two hits each.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI is back in action tomorrow for day three of four in the Jaguar Classic taking on the host, University of South Alabama. The first pitch on Sunday is slated for 3:00 p.m.
On Monday, the Eagles play South Alabama again at noon to end the trip.
VALPO BASEBALL
STARTING PITCHING SHINES AS VALPO SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER FROM ALABAMA STATE
The Valparaiso University baseball team received stellar starting pitching performances in both games of a doubleheader, downing host Alabama State 8-2 in the opener before breaking through late to win the nightcap 8-1 in Montgomery, Ala. The victories came over a Hornets’ team that won their conference’s regular-season title and won 41 games last season.
How It Happened – Game 1
Valpo struck first thanks to a big third inning. Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) smoked an RBI double to get the Beacons on the board, then Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) made it back-to-back two-baggers with a two-run double of his own to boost the lead to 3-0. Later in the inning, Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-0.
Starting pitcher Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) turned in a gem, going six strong innings and striking out seven while permitting just one run on four hits and two walks. Alabama State’s only run against him came on an RBI single through the left side in the fourth.
Righty Trent Turzenski (Burlington, Wis. / Burlington) came out of the bullpen and went the rest of the way, nailing down a three-inning save by allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out four and did not issue a walk. The only Hornet run against him was an RBI single in the seventh that made it 4-2.
The Beacons broke the game open in the eighth inning. After back-to-back walks to start the inning, Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) laid down a bunt that led to a wild throw by the pitcher that brought home a run. Valpo continued to play small ball as Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) laid down a bunt single to bring in another tally and make it 6-2.
The big inning continued thanks to an RBI double by Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central), then a string of three straight walks – the third of which was yielded to Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) – forced in a run to make it 8-2.
Turzenski worked a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the win and needed just 32 pitches to cover three innings.
Inside the Game – Game 1
Ryan paced the team with three hits, while Thurston and Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd [Wisconsin Oshkosh]) both added multi-hit efforts. Six of Valpo’s 10 hits were doubles including two by Giusti.
The six doubles marked Valpo’s highest total since delivering seven on May 1, 2021 vs. Illinois State.
Cottrill matched the longest outing of his career and picked up right where he left off at the end of last season. He allowed just one unearned run on one hit over six innings in the May 24 MVC Tournament game vs. Belmont, the final game of Valpo’s 2023 season.
Cottrill’s win was the second of his career, improving to 2-0, while Turzenski picked up his first collegiate save.
How It Happened – Game 2
Valpo received another strong pitching performance in Game 2, this time from left-handed freshman Lucas Foley (Deer Park, Ill. / Lake Zurich). He glided through seven innings while striking out 11 and walking none. He gave up just five hits and one run, which came in the bottom of the sixth as the Hornets broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double.
Alabama State starter Devin Brooks went seven shutout innings and yielded just three hits while striking out eight. He faced the leadoff batter in the eighth and issued his second walk before the Hornets went to the bullpen.
After Hannahs worked a walk against the starter to begin the inning, Renfro was hit by a pitch and Valpo had two on with nobody out in the eighth, chasing 1-0. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, then Schmack delivered a go-ahead, two-run single to make it 2-1.
A big eighth inning continued when Giusti delivered a two-run double to up the edge to 4-1, then a squeeze bunt by Ryan capped a five-run inning and made it 5-1 Valpo.
Reliever Jake Jakubowski (Lake in the Hills, Ill. / Huntley [Heartland]) took over in the eighth and sent down the side in order to keep it a 5-1 edge, an inning that ended with a swinging strikeout.
Valpo added another run in the ninth as Renfro picked up a base hit that increased the edge to 6-1. Hannahs later scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-1, then a sac fly by Giusti made it 8-1.
Jakubowski polished off the win with a flawless ninth. He retired all six men he faced.
Inside the Game – Game 2
Valpo received two hits from Giusti, one of which was a double, his third of the day between the two games. He drove in three runs in the nightcap.
Foley’s stellar outing came in his collegiate debut. He became the first Valpo hurler with double-figure strikeouts in a game since Griffin McCluskey on May 12, 2023 at Belmont (11).
Up Next
Valpo (2-1) and Alabama State will close out the three-game series on Sunday at 11 a.m. in Montgomery, Ala. Links to live video (Hornets Sports Network, subscription only) and stats are available on ValpoAthletics.com.
VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL
EARNEST’S CAREER NIGHT NOT ENOUGH AS ILLINOIS STATE RALLIES IN FOURTH QUARTER TO DOWN BEACONS
Already enjoying a tremendous season, Valpo women’s basketball senior Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) hit a new level on Saturday afternoon, pouring in a career-high 32 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but it proved not to be enough for the win in the end, as host Illinois State came from behind in the fourth quarter to deal the Beacons a 78-64 defeat.
How It Happened
Valpo got off to a dream start on Saturday, opening the game on a 13-0 run over the first 3:06 of action. Earnest had the first five points of the spurt and seven in all, while Ava Interrante (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) connected on a triple during that stretch and Nevaeh Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) hit a shot clock-beating 3-pointer to force an ISU timeout just over three minutes in.
The Redbirds rallied, getting as close as five points late in the period. A 3-pointer from Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids [St. Bonaventure]) helped the Beacons to a 22-16 lead at the end of the opening period.
Valpo’s attempts to pull away in the second quarter were thwarted by ISU, as the Beacons got out to eight and nine-point advantages before the Redbirds rallied to stay within striking distance.
ISU actually tied the score at 32-32 with under two minutes to play in the half, but Earnest scored Valpo’s last five points of the half — including a buzzer-beating midrange jumper to cap a 21-point half – to give the Beacons a 37-34 lead at intermission.
Valpo led for much of the third quarter, but again was unable to pull away from the Redbirds. A 3-pointer by Saniya Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) with 3:25 remaining in the period put the Beacons ahead 48-44, but Valpo went scoreless the remainder of the quarter as ISU scored the final five points to lead 49-48 with 10 minutes to play.
Valpo regained the lead on a pair of free throws by Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban [Akron]) 14 seconds into the fourth quarter and extended its advantage to five points on a Tecca triple as the clock ticked inside of eight minutes.
A layup by Earnest with 7:03 to play made it 57-53 Beacons, and another basket by the senior on the fast break restored the five-point edge at 59-54 with 6:17 to go.
Illinois State went on a decisive 20-0 run over the next 4:30 despite making just three field goals in that stretch.
Inside the Game
Earnest, who entered the game with a career high of 26 points, flew past that mark on Saturday as she finished with 32 points. The senior tied her career high with 10 field goals made and went 10-of-12 from the foul line to set a career best for made free throws.
The 32 points are tied for the most by a Valpo player in the last seven seasons. Earnest came up just one point shy of cracking the program’s single-game top-10 chart.
21 of Earnest’s points came in the first half, 14 of those in the second quarter — it was the eighth double-figure quarter by a Valpo player this season, four of which have been achieved by Earnest.
Earnest also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds — one shy of a career best — for her sixth double-double of the season. She is the first Valpo player with a 30-point double-double since Tabitha Gerardot went for 33 and 18 versus Wright State Feb. 28, 2013.
Earnest is one of just 20 D-I players to reach 32 points and 13 rebounds in the same game this year and is the sole MVC player to do so. Notably, Earnest is one of just two Valley players in the last decade (SIU’s Abby Brockmeyer, Dec. 2021 versus Eastern Illinois) to reach those marks
Earnest jumped two spots on Valpo’s career rebounding chart up to 12th, having now corralled 597 career boards. She also cracked the program’s career top-20 in scoring, and is closing in on the 1,000-point club, entering next week with 974 points.
Saniya Jackson joined Earnest in double figures with 10 points, her fourth consecutive double-digit scoring effort and her 12th of the season. Jackson also paced Valpo with three steals.
The Beacons shot just 33.3% for the game, compared to a 42.6% clip for Illinois State. Valpo did hit one more triple than the Redbirds, connecting on nine 3-pointers.
Valpo continued its recent strong shooting from the foul line, going 17-of-20 (85%) from the charity stripe. Illinois State took advantage of more trips to the line, however, going 30-of-36 on free throws. The -16 difference in free throws attempts was Valpo’s largest of the season.
The fourth quarter alone accounted for more than the total difference in attempts, as the Beacons went to the foul line in the final 10 minutes just four times — two of those 14 seconds in and the other two with just 34 seconds remaining — as opposed to 22 free throw attempts for the Redbirds.
Valpo committed a season-low 11 turnovers on Saturday.
Next Up
Valpo (5-18, 4-10 MVC) returns to the ARC for a pair of games next week. The week opens with the Beacons’ lone matchup against Belmont this season, as the Bruins visit Thursday evening at 6 p.m.
VALPO SOFTBALL
BEACONS DROP PAIR SATURDAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Senior Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) tallied three hits over Saturday’s pair of games for the Valpo softball team at the Pinnacle PC Invitational in Clinton, S.C., as the Beacons fell 6-2 to Morehead State and 6-1 to Presbyterian.
How It Happened – Morehead State
The Eagles jumped on top in their first turn at the plate, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first.
MSU added two more runs in the third to extend its lead to 5-0.
Valpo cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, as senior Regi Hecker (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South) drew a one-out walk and came around to score on a grounder from sophomore Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) to make it a 5-1 game.
Morehead State responded with a single run in the top of the fifth to push its lead to 6-1.
The Beacons looked to put a rally together in the bottom of the sixth, when senior Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to score junior Kaiah Fenters (Speedway, Ind./Speedway). Following Crompton’s run-scoring hit, Valpo still had two runners on with just one out, but consecutive outs ended the threat.
Valpo extended the game with two outs in the seventh on back-to-back base hits from Johnson and sophomore Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon), but was unable to get the potential tying run to the plate.
How It Happened – Presbyterian
The Blue Hose opened the scoring with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first and added another single run in the third.
Valpo got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as Johnson connected on an RBI single to plate sophomore Kam Utendorf (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove [Black Hawk College]) to bring the Beacons with 2-1.
Presbyterian answered immediately, however, pushing four runs across in the bottom of the fifth to cap the scoring.
The Beacons put a pair of runners on base in both the sixth and the seventh innings, but were unable to convert any of those runners into runs.
Inside the Games
Four different Beacons picked up hits in the opener against Morehead State, as they were limited to four hits as a team.
Rodas reached base twice in the opener, tallying a hit and drawing a walk.
Valpo racked up seven hits in the nightcap, led by a 2-for-4 effort from Johnson — the ninth multi-hit game of her career.
Utendorf reached base in all three plate appearances against Presbyterian, going 1-for-1 with a pair of walks.
The Beacons were held to 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position over the two games.
Senior Caitlyn Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) was charged with the loss in the circle against MSU, starting and going 3.2 innings. Sophomore Cadence Augustine (Beaverton, Mich./Beaverton) threw 1.2 shutout innings of relief in that contest.
Freshman Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) started and took the loss against Presbyterian, tossing 4.2 innings. Fellow rookie Anna Wilming (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Orange), who started the game at first base, moved over into the circle and registered the final four outs without surrendering a run.
Next Up
Valpo (1-7) closes its second weekend of competition Sunday morning with a 9 a.m. CT first pitch against Youngstown State. Live stats will be available via ValpoAthletics.com.
UINDY SOFTBALL
O’CONNOR REACHES ANOTHER MILESTONE AS UINDY COLLECTS TWO MORE WINS
SMYRNA, Tenn. – The UIndy softball team swept their competition on the final day of the Music City Invitational. The Greyhounds defeated Cedarville first with a win over Gannon following. The Hounds conclude their time in Nashville 3-0.
GAME 1 | UIndy 7, Cedarville 5
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Jocelyn Calvin sent the ball into the outfield. Calvin reached second base with the hit and earned two RBIs too, increasing the score to 3-1. Later in the inning, Lexy Rese hit a single and earned two RBIs of her own. By the end of the fourth inning, the Greyhounds led the Yellow Jackets 5-1.
Cedarville was able to add a run in the fifth but UIndy responded with two more of their own. With Grace Mosele on base after hitting a double, Megan Nichols later hit a sacrifice fly to bring the runner in. Emily O’Connor capped the scoring with an RBI single.
The Jackets made things interesting in the seventh. They rallied to cut the deficit to two, but Jayden Casebolt came on to get the final two outs to earn the save.
Casebolt was one of three Greyhounds who entered the circle during the contest. Kenzee Smith started and pitched for three innings, while Kaitlyn Brown tossed 3 1/3 and ultimately earned the win.
GAME 2 | UIndy 9, Gannon 3
For the second time in as many days, Emily O’Connor broke a major school record in UIndy’s dominant performance against Gannon. A day after breaking the school’s RBI mark, O’Connor broke the UIndy career doubles record with 60. The previous record belonged to Casey Williamson, who hit 59 career doubles from 2012-15.
O’Connor’s first double of the day came in the second inning and the hit also gave her an RBI. Three more runs were scored during the inning, one was off another double hit by Shelby Cook.
With UIndy up 6-3 in the fifth, O’Connor hit her second double of the day. The fifth-year added two more ribbies to her name, bringing her closer to 200 RBIs.
Jayden Casebolt was the winning pitcher for the Greyhounds. After earning the save in the first game Casebolt pitched four innings as the starter, striking out four batters before leaving the circle. Freshman Hailey Pogue pitched for the first time in a UIndy uniform and recorded three strikeouts of her own. Addy Neal also made an appearance.
UP NEXT
UIndy will travel to Evansville, Ind., to compete in the Blue Bridge Battle. The Greyhounds will play Northwood and Ferris State on Friday, Feb. 23 and Trevecca Nazarene and Lincoln (Mo.) the following day.
UINDY MEN’S BASKETBALL
HOUNDS HAND PRAIRIE STARS FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The UIndy men’s basketball team secured a tough 82-75 victory over Illinois Springfield on Saturday, making it four straight wins as the visitors in the capital of the Prairie State.
Jesse Bingham led all scorers with a season-high 25 points, while Kendrick Tchoua and Jarvis Walker also performed well offensively with 23 and 20, respectively.
The Prairie Stars entered Saturday with the third-best 3-point percentage in NCAA Division II at 41.8 percent, however, the Greyhounds allowed just seven triples on 22 tries (31.8 percent).
INS & OUTS
Sean Craig put UIndy back up double digits with 11-and-a-half minutes remaining, driving through the lane for a reverse layup to keep the momentum.
Facing a 13-point deficit, Illinois Springfield forged a comeback with a 17-6 run to inch within one possession as 2:56 read on the clock. The Greyhounds responded with a Tchoua layup and Walker’s four 3-pointer of the afternoon over the next two minutes to seal the win.
UIndy went 5-of-6 at the charity stripe in the final 18 seconds, with Bingham sinking all four of his attempts during the stretch.
The Hounds capped the first half on a modest 13-6 run started by David Ejah cleaning up a loose ball for a layup with under six minutes left before the break.
INSIDE THE BOX
– Tchoua recorded his fifth double-double of the season – and third of the month – with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
– UIndy controlled the paint play, outscoring Illinois Springfield on the block, 40-28.
– Four Hounds combined for nine triples in the win, with Josiah Tynes joining Bingham, Craig, and Walker.
– The Greyhounds coughed up possession nine times on Saturday, marking the sixth game this season they have finished with single-digit turnovers.
MORE NOTES
UIndy now leads the all-time series, 14-4 … Jacob Hanna led the Prairie Stars with 24 points, scoring 13 from the free-throw line … Bingham is now just seven blocks away from tying the program record of 137 held by Steve Kahl (1976-78).
HOUND BYTES
Head coach Paul Corsaro on the team’s 3-point defense…
“I thought our guys were really in tune with the game plan of defending the arc. We got terrific contributions from everyone that played. This was a total team win!”
UP NEXT
UIndy returns to Nicoson Hall on Thursday seeking revenge against William Jewell. The Cardinals knocked off the Greyhounds back on Jan. 13 in Liberty, Mo., by a score of 73-71.
The Hounds lead the all-time series, 12-2.
UINDY MEN’S LAX
HOUNDS FREEZE LAKERS’ COMEBACK ON ICY SATURDAY AFTERNOON
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 9 UIndy men’s lacrosse team fended off a late comeback attempt from 13th-ranked Mercyhurst on a freezing Saturday afternoon, earning an 8-7 victory from Key Stadium.
KC Carlson was on fire between the pipes, making a career-high 17 saves in the win, including a pair of big stops in the final minute.
UIndy led by five early in the final quarter before Mercyhurst rattled off four straight goals to inch within one. Nick Randgaard’s third goal of the season at the 12:21 mark proved to be the difference.
INS & OUTS
It was as tight of a February lacrosse game as it could be, with both defenses on lock down. UIndy scored each of the first four goals of the afternoon, with Sam Puzevic netting the lone score of the opening quarter.
The Greyhounds tacked on three more in a span of 56 seconds midway through the second, as Triston Schaffer capped the impressive run that gave the home team a 4-1 advantage at halftime.
Schaffer recorded his first hat trick of the season with a goal early in the fourth frame, just over a minute before Randgaard’s tally. The Lakers then put their foot on the gas pedal, scoring four times in six minutes to trail by just one.
The final minute was electric, as Carlson made a game-saving stop with 48 seconds remaining, just moments before the buzzer-beat attempt from Mercyhurst backup goalie Tyler Moritzen.
INSIDE THE BOX
– Trevor Lockwood was incredible on defense, finishing with four caused turnovers and six ground balls.
– Redshirt-junior Easton Ong recorded his first points of the season on Saturday, dishing out a pair of assists.
– The Lakers were a perfect 21-for-21 on clear attempts.
– The Hounds held the edge on the faceoff, as Caleb Parker secured 11-of-19 wins with eight ground balls.
MORE NOTES
UIndy evens the all-time series at four wins apiece and has won each of the past three meetings with Mercyhurst … grad transfer Justin Williams has now scored in his first four games as a Greyhound.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds are set to host Walsh on Wednesday, Feb. 21, for a 4 p.m. battle at Key Stadium. The Cavaliers will open their season two days prior at home against Roberts Wesleyan.
UIndy leads the all-time series, 4-0.
MARIAN TRACK
MARIAN WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COMPLETE THIRD CONSECUTIVE CROSSROADS LEAGUE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
INDIANAPOLIS – For the third consecutive year and the fourth time in five years, the Marian women’s track and field team has earned the Crossroads League Indoor Track and Field Championship. Marian’s championship was fueled by multiple All-Crossroads League finishes on Saturday, as Marian scored their seventh overall championship in track and field for indoor and outdoor season.
Marian entered the day with 81 points on the board after their successful Friday, and added six more to their score after the first event of the day as the 60m hurdles hit its final. Brooke Coffman finished fifth in the hurdle finals with a time of 9.22 seconds, and Nina Marinkovic finished with a 9.33 second effort to take seventh place. In the 60m finals just 10 minutes later, the Knights added another 11 points to their total, with Catalla Jones finishing second in the 60m finals with a 7.77 second effort. Giorgia Mameli would finish sixth in the 60m with a time of 8.00 seconds.
In the women’s mile race, Brooke Trinkle scored Marian’s only top-eight finish as the freshman took eighth place, clocking a time of 5:21.82. Gracynn Hinkley and Emma Beimfohr would finish 16th and 17th in the mile. During the 3000m race later in the event, Katie Woods took a seventh place finish to lead Marian as she clocked a time of 10:28.06. Lainey Roth would take 12th in the 3000m and Josie Feldman finished 17th overall.
As the mile race concluded, the four women’s field events reached their finish, with Marian gaining separation from the field with their performances. In the high jump, Gina Butz landed the victory, clearing 1.68m as her NAIA A standard mark landed a victory. Butz’s win came in a tie-breaker, as she passed the bar at 1.65m in less attempts than runner-up Erica Xayarath of Huntington. Brooke Coffman would add a fifth place finish in the high jump to Marian’s team total, while Nina Marinkovic finished with a 10th place effort. In triple jump Shirmara Anderson placed fourth hitting a mark of 10.89m, and Holli Reuter finished seventh with a mark of 10.26m. Naomi Walters missed a scoring place as she took ninth with a distance of 10.14m.
Arriana Benjamin claimed her second win of the weekend with her win in the shot put, as she pulled an upset over Indiana Wesleyan’s Princess Kara. Benjamin’s final attempt effort of 14.73m pushed her into first place, as Kara was unable to break the leading distance on her final throw, giving the Knight the win. Marian added an eighth place finish from Gabi Bilbrey in the event, as she took eighth with a distance of 11.69m. In the pole vault, Mia Curran scored an eighth place finish, hitting a 3.07m height. Alli Taylor finished 12th in the pole vault clearing 2.87m.
The mid-distance teams would highlight the finishing touches of Marian’s championship, starting with the 400m as Hanna Reuter and Taylor Thomas earned All-Crossroads League times. Reuter finished second with a 58.30 second time while hitting an NAIA B standard, and Thomas finished with a 58.81 time in her third place outing. Maya Mundy would finish 16th in the 400m. Claire Lange continued her busy weekend with a runner-up finish in the 800m, clocking a 2:18.72 time to score eight points for Marian’s team score. Nora Steele finished fifth in the 800m with a time of 2:22.80, and Adrianna Boyd finished eighth overall running out of the first heat with a time ot 2:25.
Katie Woods landed a win in the 1000m and further extended her Marian record, as posted an NAIA A standard time of 2:56.52 to earn the win. Liz Loichinger turned in an NAIA B standard time of 3:01.70 to finish fourth overall, and Rosie Barrett would finish just outside of the scoring athletes with her 10th place finish. The 200m was Marian’s final scoring race from individuals, as Catalla Jones finished fourth overall with a 25.76 time, while Hanna Reuter finished sixth with a 25.87 time. Kathy Soriano would finish 11th overall.
The event concluded with the 4x400m relay, as Marian left little doubt who the top team was as they clocked a 3:55.07 time, placing first with an NAIA A standard mark. Marian’s team was made up of Catalla Jones, Hanna Reuter, Taylor Thomas, and Claire Lange, with the quartet breaking the Crossroads League meet record by two seconds.
Marian broke multiple school and Crossroads League meet records in their championship, and ended their day with a final score of 193.5. Marian defeated runner-up Taylor by 53.5 points, while Huntington, Indiana Wesleyan, and Bethel rounded out the top-five team scores.
Marian will send their national qualifiers to Brookings, South Dakota, for the NAIA National Championship, which begins on February 29.
MARIAN MEN’S BASKETBALL
KNIGHTS WIN IN A NAIL BITING MATCHUP AGAINST THE ST. FRANCIS COUGARS
INDIANAPOLIS – The Knights continue their winning streak with a 84-75 win over the St. Francis Cougars! Scoring was lead by Maximus Gizzi with 17 points and both Ben Henderson and Josh Bryan close behind with 13 points each. The Knights are now 20-6 overall and 10-6 in conference.
The Knights get a late start against the St. Francis Cougars with a jump shot by Brody Whitaker in the 16th minute mark tying the game up, and Maximus Gizzi adding to the fire with another jump shot allowing the Knights to take a two point lead over the Cougars. Nolan Foster, Josh Bryan, and Whitaker all continued to bring the energy into the starting of the first half all scoring a total of 9 points combined before the midway point bringing the Knights to a 9 point lead.
Towards the midpoint of the first half Jackson Ames continued to bring the energy with a jump shot bringing the lead to a 6 point difference in favor of the Knights. Late into the 1st half Gus Etchison, Dylan Moles, and Bryan all scored a 3 pointer and Ben Henderson scored two continuing the lead into the 2nd half in favor of the Knights against the Cougars.
Going into the 2nd half the Knights lead with Whitaker leading in total points with 8 points, and Bryan and Henderson close behind with 6 total points each. Ames and Bryan both lead with 4 rebounds in total for the half.
Early into the 2nd half the Knights continued their lead over the Cougars with a couple good free throws by, Whitaker, Ames, and Etchison. After a rough starting of the 2nd half Henderson brought the energy back up with a fast break into a dunk bring the game back to the Knights only trailing by one point. The Knights turned up the energy with Gizzi having two good free throws and bringing the lead back into the Knights favor. After a couple good 3 pointers by Bryan, Gizzi, and Moles the Knights lead was brought into double digits for the first time of the game. Gizzi lead the team in scoring with 13 points and Bryan lead the team in rebounds with 5 rebounds in total for the half.
After two nail biting halves the Knights came out of top with a score of 84-75 with Maximus Gizzi leading in scoring for the night with 17 points in total, and Ben Henderson and Josh Bryan were close behind with 13 points each. Josh Bryan lead the team in rebounds with 9 rebounds, and Jackson Ames close behind with 7 rebounds in total.
The Knights will be back in action on the road next, Wednesday February 21st at 7:00pm vs. Mount Vernon.
MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
#2 MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STAYS UNDEFEATED IN THE CROSSROADS ON SENIOR DAY
INDIANAPOLIS – The Knights take home the W on Senior Day against the Cougars! Scoring was lead by Ella Collier with 17 points and Tamia Perryman with 14 points. The Knights are now 25-1 overall and 16-0 in the conference.
The Knights took the early lead in the 1st quarter with both Abbey McNally and Ella Collier both scoring 6 points each. McNally also had 4 rebounds and two assists for the quarter. Kinnidy Garrard brought the difference into double digits with a basket in the last seconds of the 1st quarter bringing the score 20-10 in favor of the Knights.
Into the second quarter the Knights continued to bring the heat with Collier gaining two more points to bring her total to 8 points in the first half and Garrard also gaining 3 more points to bring her total to 5 points in total. Aliyah Evans scored a quick 3 pointer towards the midway point in the quarter and also scored a basket bringing her total to 5 points in the first half.
Going into the 3rd quarter the Knights kept the lead against the Cougars 49-44 with Tamia Perryman leading in scoring with 12 points total going into the 4th quarter. Collier leads with assists going into the 4th with 4 assists total during the 3 quarters.
The Knights brought the energy back up in the 4th quarter to bring the lead back into double digits midway through the 4th quarter. With Collier scoring 17 points in total and Perryman totaled 14 for the entirety of the game. Within the last 3 minutes of the quarter Taylor Double scored a quick layup bringing her total to 2 points for the game.
The Knights will be back in action on the road next, Wednesday February 21st at 5:00pm v.s. Mount Vernon.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS
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
NBA STANDINGS
https://www.foxsports.com/nba/standings
NHL STANDINGS
https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/standings
NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/standings/
NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
https://www.ncaa.com/standings/basketball-women/d1
FOOTBALL HISTORY
Football History Headlines
February 18, 1994 – According to the OnthisDay.com the Shreveport Pirates joined the Canadian Football League as the fourth US-based team. Unfortunately the team folded one year later in 1995.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for February 18
February 18, 1893 – Alexandria, Minnesota – The awesome Army Football Center John McEwan claimed his birth date. John McEwan was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in1962 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.
February 18, 1895 – Laurium, Michigan – The legendary University of Notre Dame fullback George Gipp was born. See more about this legend by clicking on his name.
February 18, 1926 – Washington, D.C. – Len Ford the Defensive End from Michigan University was born. Ford first played professionally with the All American Football Conference’s Los Angeles Dons as a two way end. He was loved by quarterbacks on offense as he routinely hauled in leaping one hand grabs and was a big target at 6’-4” and 245 pounds according to the Pro Football hall of Fame. His specialty was on the defensive side of the ball though. When the AAFC disbanded, a former team of the defunct league, the Cleveland Browns, grabbed Len quickly in a special draft in the NFL. The Browns as a matter of fact changed their whole defensive thought process after acquiring Ford because of his awesome pass rushing skills, in essence creating the 4-3 defensive scheme. Len’s dominance really shined bright in the 1954 NFL Championship game against the Lions, when Ford picked off two passes in the 56-10 route. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Len Ford at the 1976 festivities in Canton.
February 18, 1931 – San Francisco, California – Bob St. Clair was an outstanding tackle from the University of Tulsa. The 6’-9” 273 pound giant of a man found himself as being the third round pick of his hometown 49ers in the 1953 NFL Draft per the ProFootballHOF.com. Bob played 11 seasons in San Francisco named first- or second-team All-NFL nine times and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. Bob St. Clair happily admired his bronze bust in 1990 when the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined him in their museum.
February 18, 1944 – Pat Bowlen attended Oklahoma and he ended up being one of the most successful NFL franchise owners in League History as his Denver Broncos teams had 21 winning seasons in the 30 years he ran the club per the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Broncos teams that Bowlen owned sold out 400 straight home games! The franchise has won three Super Bowls – XXXII, XXXIII and 50. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Pat Bowlen as a contributor in 2019.
February 18, 1947 – New Port News, Virginia – The stellar Purdue University halfback Leroy Keyes arrived into this life. The FootballFoundation.org tells us that Keyes got his first big play in college on the defensive side of the ball when as a sophomore against Notre Dame he picked off a fumble in midair and ran 95 yards to score. The 1968 season he was a fulltime offensive running back and he had games where he rushed for 225 yards on 21 carries against Illinois; two touchdowns running and one passing against Notre Dame. But who could forget his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as Purdue came from 11 points down to beat Indiana 38-35 during that 1968 season! Leroy Keyes was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.
February 18, 1962 – Crowley, Texas – Gary Reasons the outstanding linebacker from Northwestern State University celebrated his day of birth. The National Football Foundation shares that Reasons set school records with 172 tackles in a season and 394 tackles in his career. He made 24 tackles in a game against McNeese State. Northwestern State honored Gary by retiring his number 34 jersey at the end of his collegiate career. Gary Reasons received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
February 18, 1963 – Norman, Oklahoma – The fine quarterback of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chuck Long was born. The NFF says that Long was able to play in five bowl games. How is that, you ask? Well in 1982 he got in for two plays in the Rose Bowl but since it was such a small amount of playing time, the NCAA did not count it as an eligible season. In 1984, he set a national record by completing 22 consecutive passes against Indiana. In 1984, he led the nation in pass completion percentage, .661. The National Football Foundation selected Chuck Long for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1943 New York entrepreneur William D. Cox purchases the bankrupt Phillies from the National League. In November, the 33-year-old new owner will be banned from baseball by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis when he admits to making some “sentimental” bets on his team during the season.
1944 After getting permission from his parents and high school principal, 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall, a Hamilton, Ohio native, signs a contract with the Reds a day after playing in a high school basketball game. The not-so-old “Ol’ Left-hander” will become the youngest player to appear in a major league game, tossing two-thirds of an inning for Cincinnati in June, 49 days before his sixteenth birthday.
1954 In their first significant trade since moving from St. Louis, the Orioles, formerly known as the Browns, exchange outfielders with the Senators, sending Roy Sievers to Washington for Gil Conan. Sievers will spend five solid seasons in the nation’s capital, making the All-Star squad twice, and Conan, playing less than two seasons in Baltimore, compiles a .266 batting average with three home runs, appearing in 155 games.
1960 Walter O’Malley buys the land just north of downtown Los Angeles as a new ballpark site for his transplanted Brooklyn club. The Dodger owner paid a reported $494,000 for the property at Chavez Ravine, believed to be worth $92,000 at the time.
1967 During a nationally televised celebrity charity softball game at Dodger Stadium, hard-throwing Eddie Feigner strikes out six consecutive big leaguers, including five future Hall of Famers. The 39-year-old right-hander’s victims include Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, and Maury Wills.
1998 Eleven days away from his 84th birthday, long-time baseball announcer Harry Caray dies as a result of complications from a heart attack and brain damage suffered while having Valentine’s Day dinner with his wife, Dutchie. The colorful “Mayor of Rush Street” started his career in 1945 with the Cardinals, doing play-by-play for the A’s, White Sox, and the Cubs during his 52 years in the broadcast booth.
1999 The Blue Jays trade Roger Clemens to the Yankees for Graeme Lloyd, Homer Bush, and David Wells, the author of a perfect game in May. In his first tenure with the Bronx Bombers, the Rocket will post a 77-36 (.681) record, compiling an ERA of 3.99 during five seasons with New York.
2005 The Venezuelan authorities, during a daring eight-hour police raid, free Ugueth Urbina’s mother, Maura Villarreal, who spent five months of captivity surrounded by explosives to keep her from escaping from her imprisonment in a mountain camp. The kidnappers had demanded a $6 million ransom from the Tigers’ relief pitcher for his mom’s release.
2009 After considering playing for Atlanta, a location closer to his family, Ken Griffey Jr. agrees to a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners. The 39-year-old outfielder joins a list of superstars, Babe Ruth (Boston), Willie Mays (New York), and Hank Aaron (Milwaukee), to choose the city where they played with their first team as the place to end their major league career.
2009 The demolition of the last remaining piece of Shea Stadium, the ramp to section 5, occurred at 11:25 a.m., marking the end of the New York venue where the Mets played for 44 years. The old ballpark’s footprint will become a parking lot for the team’s new home, the $800-million Citi Field, opening in April.
2011 The Orioles officially announce the signing of Vladimir Guerrero after the 36-year-old passed his physical. The team’s new everyday designated hitter, who batted .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs with the American League Champion Rangers last season, agrees to a one-year, $8 million deal to play in Baltimore.
2011 Garrett Wittels goes 0-for-4 against Southeastern Louisiana, leaving the Florida International University junior two games short of Robin Ventura’s Division 1 record of hitting in 58 consecutive games, established by the future major leaguer in 1987. The overall NCAA mark is 60 straight games, set by Damian Costantino, playing for Division III Salve Regina from 2001-03.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1916 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
Off the field…
Montana voters elected thirty-six year-old Republican Jeannette Rankin as the first woman in the United States to serve in Congress. A strong proponent of peace, Rankin voted against the declaration of war on Germany in 1917 and in 1941, she cast the only vote in the House against entering WWII. A member of various antiwar organizations over the years, she led the “Jeannette Rankin Brigade”, a peace group, to Washington to protest the Vietnam War in 1968.
Congress officially established The National Park Service as a bureau in the Department of the Interior. The system included not only the most extraordinary and spectacular scenic exhibits in the United States, but also a large number of sites distinguished either for their historic or prehistoric importance or scientific interest, or for their superior recreational assets. Today, the National Park System is made up of over three-hundred seventy-five areas covering more than eighty-three million acres in every state except Delaware.
In the American League…
On April 11th, the World Champion Boston Red Sox suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss during an exhibition game against the young men from Boston College.
Cleveland Indians catcher Steve O’Neill completed an amazing thirty-six double plays for a Major League season record for catchers that still stands to date.
On May 9th, the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers combined to set a Major League record with thirty walks during a 16-2, “Motor City” win. Eighteen were issued by the A’s, (who went on to finish the season with 715). Detroit added eleven more the following day for a two-game Major League record of twenty-nine.
In the National League…
The National League, which was celebrating its fortieth anniversary, voted down a proposal by the New York Giants, Boston Braves, and Chicago Cubs to increase their player limit from twenty-one to twenty-two.
On June 22nd, the Boston Braves pulled off the only National League extra-inning triple steal to beat the New York Giants 3-1 in the eleventh. In 1941, the American League would match the feat with their only recorded triple swipe.
Chicago Cubs catcher Bill Fischer set a Major League record by catching all twenty-seven innings in a doubleheader loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 28th.
Around the League…
In January, the National Association released a list of one-hundred twenty-three Federal League players with free-agent status under the terms of the new leagues “peace agreement”. The following month, the Federal League’s year-old suit charging antitrust violations by organized baseball was dismissed by mutual consent in the U.S. District Court by Judge Kenesaw M. Landis.
Chicago Cubs owner Charles Weeghman became the first to officially allow fans to keep any and all balls hit into the stands. His decision followed an incident in which a fan fought with park attendants after catching a foul ball during the St. Louis Cardinals’ series.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
43 – 22 – 99
February 18, 1909 – The Boston Red Sox traded away their legendary pitcher, Cy Young who was 41 at the time mind you, to the Cleveland Naps franchise. Who are the Naps you may ask well they were the city of Cleveland’s American League MLB team from 1903 to 1914. They were briefly renamed the Cleveland Molly Maguires in 1911 before returning to the Naps. In 1915 the franchise again rebranded themselves as the Cleveland Indians until after the 2021 season their name was once again revised to the Cleveland Guardians. The name Naps was derived from their manager Larry Lejoie whose God given first name was Napoleon, thus the team adopted the shortened “Nap” portion for the moniker.
February 18, 1919 – Cy Denneny of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators scored a league record 52nd goal of his career in just the midst of his second season. We are not quite sure if he ever wore a number on his sweater or not as records are non-revealing.
February 18, 1944 – The youngest MLB player ever signed to a contract took place. 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall was inked by the Cincinnati Reds to play baseball just one day after playing in a high school basketball game. His debut in the big leagues with the club would not occur until later that year when he wore Number 43 that season.
February 18, 1962 – The Daytona 500’s fourth running the man with a name that even sounds fast, Fireball Roberts dominated the event, leading 144 of the 200 laps and drove his black Number 22 Pontiac
February 18, 1981 – Another Wayne Gretzky record setting moment arises as the star 20 year old forward of the Edmonton Oilers tallied his fifth career NHL hatrick, becoming the first skater to ever do that. In the game agiant the St Louis Blues Number 99 scored 5 goals and two assists to lead the Oilers to a dominant win
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
Feb. 18
1924 — Theresa Weld Blanchard wins her sixth and final U.S. figure skating championship. Sherwin Badger captures his fifth straight and final men’s title.
1928 — Sonja Henie, 15, becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating champion. She easily beats Fritzi Burger of Austria and Beatrix Loughran of the U.S.
1932 — Sonja Henie wins her sixth straight world title.
1951 — Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan orders the arrest of three City College basketball players on bribery charges and two professional gamblers and two intermediaries in a game-fixing scandal involving college teams across the country.
1961 — Bob Pettit of St. Louis scores a career-high 57 points in a 141-138 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
1964 — Wilt Chamberlain scores 52 points against Detroit, his second consecutive 50-point game.
1972 — Randy Smith of Buffalo plays the first of what would become 906 consecutive games, an NBA record which took more than 11 full seasons to accomplish.
1981 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky scores five goals and adds two assists to lead the Oilers over the St. Louis Blues 9-2.
1986 — San Antonio’s Alvin Robertson records the second quadruple-double in NBA history, with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in the Spurs’ 120-114 win over Phoenix.
1990 — Dale Earnhardt blows a tire with one mile remaining in the Daytona 500, giving Derrike Cope the biggest upset in stock car racing history.
1992 — Italy’s Alberto Tomba wins the giant slalom in Albertville, France, to become the first Alpine skier to win the same event at two Winter Olympics.
1995 — Utah guard John Stockton becomes the first NBA player with 10,000 assists in a 108-98 victory over the Boston Celtics.
2001 — Dale Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, is killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 as he tries to protect Michael Waltrip’s victory.
2006 — Shani Davis becomes the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics, capturing the 1,000-meter speedskating race. Joey Cheek makes it a 1-2 American finish, adding a silver to his victory in the 500 at the Turin Games.
2010 — Evan Lysacek becomes the first U.S. man to win the Olympic gold medal since Brian Boitano in 1988, shocking everyone with an upset of defending champion Evgeni Plushenko.
2012 — Shenneika Smith’s 3-pointer from the wing with 8 seconds left lifts St. John’s to a 57-56 win over No. 2 Connecticut, ending the Huskies’ 99-game home court winning streak. It’s the Huskies’ first home loss to an unranked opponent in nearly 19 years.
2013 — Brittney Griner scores 25 points, including the 3,000th of her career, to help No. 1 Baylor rally past third-ranked Connecticut 76-70.
2017 — Mikaela Shiffrin wins a third straight slalom title at the world championships to retain her unbeaten record at major events.
2022 – Johannes Thingnes Bø of Norway wins his 4th biathlon gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics when he takes out the men’s mass start.
TV SPORTS SUNDAY
AUTO RACING
2:30 p.m.
FOX — NASCAR Cup Series: The DAYTONA 500, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
BEACH SOCCER (MEN’S)
6:20 a.m.
FS2 — 2024 FIFA World Cup Group Stage: Japan vs. Belarus, Group C, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
7:50 a.m.
FS2 — 2024 FIFA World Cup Group Stage: Mexico vs. Oman, Group D, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
10:20 a.m.
FS2 — 2024 FIFA World Cup Group Stage: Senegal vs. Colombia, Group C, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
11:50 a.m.
FS2 — 2024 FIFA World Cup Group Stage: Brazil vs. Portugal, Group D, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
6:20 a.m. (Monday)
FS2 — 2024 FIFA World Cup Group Stage: Egypt vs. U.S., Group A, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
BOWLING
1 p.m.
FS1 — PBA: The Pete Weber Missouri Classic, Springfield, Mo.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
12 p.m.
CBSSN — Loyola of Chicago at Rhode Island
ESPN — FAU at South Florida
ESPN2 — Wichita St. at Charlotte
1 p.m.
CBS — Purdue at Ohio St.
2 p.m.
CBSSN — Chattanooga at Furman
ESPN2 — Bradley at N. Iowa
3 p.m.
FS1 — Northwestern at Indiana
4 p.m.
ESPN — Memphis at SMU
5 p.m.
FS1 — Seton Hall at St. John’s
6:30 p.m.
BTN — Rutgers at Minnesota
7 p.m.
FS1 — Utah at UCLA
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
12 p.m.
ACCN — Pittsburgh at Clemson
BTN — Michigan St. at Michigan
CW — Georgia Tech at NC State
SECN — Florida at Kentucky
1 p.m.
ABC — Georgia at South Carolina
2 p.m.
ACCN — Syracuse at Virginia
ESPN — Virginia Tech at Louisville
ESPNU — Columbia at Harvard
SECN — Tennessee at Vanderbilt
3 p.m.
PAC-12N — Southern Cal at Oregon St.
4 p.m.
ACCN — Florida St. at Miami
ESPN2 — Texas Tech at Baylor
SECN — Missouri at Arkansas
5 p.m.
PAC-12N — UCLA at Oregon
6 p.m.
ACCN — North Carolina at Wake Forest
COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN’S)
12 p.m.
ESPNU — Loyola (Md.) at Johns Hopkins
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
9:30 a.m.
ACCN — Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational: Washington vs. North Carolina, Clearwater, Fla.
ESPN2 — Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational: Texas vs. Northwestern, Clearwater, Fla.
SECN — Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational: Minnesota vs. LSU, Clearwater, Fla.
6 p.m.
ESPN — Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational: UCF vs. UCLA, Clearwater, Fla.
8 p.m.
ESPN — Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational: Florida St. vs. Tennessee, Clearwater, Fla.
COLLEGE WRESTLING
2 p.m.
BTN — Wisconsin at Iowa
4 p.m.
BTN — Nebraska at Penn St.
GOLF
4:30 a.m.
GOLF — Ladies European Tour: The Aramco Saudi Ladies International, Final Round, Riyadh Golf Club, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
1 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Genesis Invitational, Final Round, Riviera Golf Course, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
3 p.m.
CBS — PGA Tour: The Genesis Invitational, Final Round, Riviera Golf Course, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Chubb Classic, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club – Black Course, Naples, Fla.
HORSE RACING
3 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
NBA BASKETBALL
8 p.m.
TBS — NBA All-Star Game: West vs. East, Indianapolis (Alternate Cast)
TNT — NBA All-Star Game: West vs. East, Indianapolis
TRUTV — NBA All-Star Game: West vs. East, Indianapolis (Alternate Cast)
NHL HOCKEY
3 p.m.
ABC — Stadium Series: NY Rangers vs. NY Islanders, East Rutherford, N.J.
RODEO
12 p.m.
CBS — PBR: Championship Round, Los Angeles (Taped)
SKIING
3 p.m.
NBC — FIS: Alpine World Cup, Deer Valley, Utah
4 p.m.
NBC — FIS: Alpine World Cup, Minneapolis
SOCCER (MEN’S)
9 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion at Sheffield United
11:30 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Manchester United at Luton Town
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
10 a.m.
CBSSN — Bundesliga: Essen at Bayern
TENNIS
6 a.m.
TENNIS — Dubai-WTA Early Rounds; Rotterdam-ATP, Buenos Aires-ATP, Delray Beach-ATP Finals
2 a.m. (Monday)
TENNIS — Dubai-WTA, Doha-ATP, Rio de Janeiro-ATP, Los Cabos-ATP Early Rounds
6 a.m. (Monday) TENNIS — Dubai-WTA, Doha-ATP, Rio de Janeiro-ATP, Los Cabos-ATP Early Rounds