*******************THE SCOREBOARD*******************
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
| ALEXANDRIA | 37 | MONROE CENTRAL | 31 | |
| ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY | 82 | INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL | 72 | |
| ANDERSON | 64 | LAWRENCE CENTRAL | 58 | OT |
| ANGOLA | 69 | FAIRFIELD | 46 | |
| BATESVILLE | 58 | HAUSER | 49 | |
| BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | 48 | TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 46 | OT |
| BELLMONT | 80 | LEO | 75 | OT |
| BEN DAVIS | 62 | INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS | 39 | |
| BENTON CENTRAL | 52 | FOUNTAIN CENTRAL | 43 | |
| BETHESDA CHRISTIAN | 46 | INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE | 45 | |
| BLACKFORD | 47 | JAY COUNTY | 44 | |
| BLOOMINGTON NORTH | 80 | COLUMBUS EAST | 50 | |
| BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 78 | SILVER CREEK | 68 | |
| BLUE RIVER | 66 | UNION CITY | 54 | |
| BOONVILLE | 62 | EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | 56 | |
| BORDEN | 58 | CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 51 | |
| BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL | 84 | CORYDON CENTRAL | 53 | |
| CARROLL (FLORA) | 66 | NORTHWESTERN | 43 | |
| CASTON | 57 | NORTHFIELD | 52 | |
| CENTER GROVE | 61 | AVON | 56 | |
| CHARLESTOWN | 72 | LANESVILLE | 46 | |
| CHESTERTON | 53 | CULVER ACADEMY | 41 | |
| CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL | 70 | IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY | 24 | |
| CLAY CITY | 59 | WHITE RIVER VALLEY | 33 | |
| COLUMBIA CITY | 64 | NEW HAVEN | 53 | |
| DELPHI | 67 | FRONTIER | 58 | |
| EASTERN (PEKIN) | 60 | SALEM | 47 | |
| EASTERN GREENE | 57 | CLOVERDALE | 43 | |
| EDGEWOOD | 52 | MONROVIA | 43 | |
| EDINBURGH | 63 | HENRYVILLE | 56 | |
| ELKHART CHRISTIAN | 58 | OREGON-DAVIS | 45 | |
| EMINENCE (KY.) | 59 | EMINENCE | 33 | |
| EVANSVILLE REITZ | 58 | FLOYD CENTRAL | 54 | |
| FAITH CHRISTIAN | 57 | DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN | 52 | |
| FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY | 48 | SOUTH ADAMS | 31 | |
| FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA | 64 | HERITAGE | 37 | |
| FORT WAYNE WAYNE | 75 | FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK | 73 | |
| FRANKTON | 74 | TRI-CENTRAL | 61 | |
| GIBSON SOUTHERN | 65 | WASHINGTON | 61 | |
| GRIFFITH | 47 | WHITING | 39 | |
| GUERIN CATHOLIC | 51 | NOBLESVILLE | 46 | OT |
| HANOVER CENTRAL | 58 | CALUMET | 37 | |
| HUNTINGTON NORTH | 38 | DEKALB | 37 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL | 63 | LOUISVILLE WESTERN (KY.) | 49 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN | 52 | ROSSVILLE | 44 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI | 39 | GREENWOOD | 34 | |
| JAC-CEN-DEL | 56 | TRINITY LUTHERAN | 38 | |
| JASPER | 62 | NEW ALBANY | 52 | |
| JENNINGS COUNTY | 51 | CONNERSVILLE | 38 | |
| KOKOMO | 57 | LEWIS CASS | 32 | |
| KOUTS | 74 | HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH | 40 | |
| LAPORTE | 58 | CONCORD | 34 | |
| LAVILLE | 77 | BOONE GROVE | 58 | |
| LAKE STATION | 73 | RIVER FOREST | 45 | |
| LAPEL | 61 | OAK HILL | 51 | |
| LAWRENCEBURG | 52 | SOUTH RIPLEY | 42 | |
| LIBERTY CHRISTIAN | 50 | WESTFIELD | 48 | |
| LINTON-STOCKTON | 71 | NORTH KNOX | 34 | |
| LOOGOOTEE | 43 | EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | 37 | |
| MADISON-GRANT | 71 | BLUFFTON | 44 | |
| MARION | 84 | FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 65 | |
| MARQUETTE CATHOLIC | 76 | ANDREAN | 63 | |
| MEDORA | 54 | VINCENNES RIVET | 51 | |
| MILAN | 56 | SWITZERLAND COUNTY | 48 | |
| MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) | 50 | DELTA | 36 | |
| MUNSTER | 59 | VALPARAISO | 37 | |
| NEW PRAIRIE | 63 | SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) | 54 | |
| NEW WASHINGTON | 74 | BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE | 59 | |
| NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) | 82 | FORT WAYNE SOUTH | 29 | |
| NORTH DAVIESS | 51 | ORLEANS | 40 | |
| NORTH DECATUR | 52 | EAST CENTRAL | 47 | |
| NORTH HARRISON | 56 | MADISON | 35 | |
| NORTH JUDSON | 71 | TRITON | 56 | |
| NORTH MONTGOMERY | 61 | ATTICA | 26 | |
| NORTH VERMILLION | 48 | SOUTH NEWTON | 35 | |
| NORTHEAST DUBOIS | 67 | WOOD MEMORIAL | 56 | |
| NORTHEASTERN | 65 | RANDOLPH SOUTHERN | 48 | |
| NORTHVIEW | 51 | CRAWFORDSVILLE | 38 | |
| NORWELL | 77 | EAST NOBLE | 41 | |
| OLDENBURG ACADEMY | 62 | CENTERVILLE | 46 | |
| PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 42 | HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 41 | |
| PENN | 80 | GOSHEN | 41 | |
| PERRY CENTRAL | 65 | CRAWFORD COUNTY | 63 | OT |
| PIKE CENTRAL | 60 | MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) | 52 | |
| PLAINFIELD | 63 | LEBANON | 41 | |
| PORTAGE | 64 | KANKAKEE VALLEY | 52 | |
| PRINCETON | 47 | NORTH POSEY | 45 | |
| RENSSELAER CENTRAL | 65 | HEBRON | 59 | |
| RICHMOND | 74 | INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON | 56 | |
| RISING SUN | 52 | CROTHERSVILLE | 47 | |
| ROCHESTER | 68 | NORTH WHITE | 37 | |
| SEEGER | 65 | WESTERN BOONE | 60 | |
| SHAKAMAK | 63 | NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) | 57 | |
| SHENANDOAH | 53 | UNION COUNTY | 49 | |
| SOUTH BEND CLAY | 75 | HIGHLAND | 47 | |
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 54 | CROWN POINT | 48 | |
| SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) | 66 | CLARKSVILLE | 49 | |
| SOUTH KNOX | 63 | SHOALS | 40 | |
| SOUTH SPENCER | 65 | HERITAGE HILLS | 59 | |
| SOUTHERN WELLS | 59 | LAKELAND CHRISTIAN | 56 | |
| SOUTHMONT | 63 | OWEN VALLEY | 54 | |
| SOUTHPORT | 78 | FRANKLIN | 48 | |
| SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) | 66 | INDIANAPOLIS HERRON | 34 | |
| SPEEDWAY | 57 | CASCADE | 45 | |
| SPRINGS VALLEY | 58 | TELL CITY | 56 | |
| TALAWANDA (OHIO) | 48 | FRANKLIN COUNTY | 46 | |
| TECUMSEH | 70 | CANNELTON | 31 | |
| TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | 80 | EVANSVILLE BOSSE | 73 | |
| TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 59 | MANCHESTER | 57 | |
| TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN | 55 | INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN | 52 | |
| TRI-WEST | 62 | GREENCASTLE | 43 | |
| TRITON CENTRAL | 83 | SOUTH DECATUR | 51 | |
| WABASH | 68 | EASTERN (GREENTOWN) | 45 | |
| WARSAW | 58 | ELKHART | 33 | |
| WAWASEE | 53 | LAKELAND | 50 | |
| WES-DEL | 62 | COWAN | 57 | |
| WEST LAFAYETTE | 57 | FRANKFORT | 51 | 3OT |
| WEST WASHINGTON | 52 | SHAWE MEMORIAL | 37 | |
| WESTERN | 55 | CLINTON PRAIRIE | 45 | |
| WOODLAN | 54 | WHITKO | 41 | |
| YORKTOWN | 67 | CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 60 | |
| ZIONSVILLE | 67 | PIKE | 48 | |
| MUNCIE CENTRAL TOURNAMENT | ||||
| MUNCIE CENTRAL | 46 | MUNCIE BURRIS | 30 | R1 |
| GREENFIELD-CENTRAL | 50 | INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 49 | R1 |
| INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 48 | MUNCIE BURRIS | 46 | 3RD |
| GREENFIELD-CENTRAL | 52 | MUNCIE CENTRAL | 41 | 1ST |
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL
| BOWMAN ACADEMY | 45 | GRIFFITH | 25 | |
| CASTON | 47 | ROCHESTER | 25 | |
| CLARKSVILLE | 60 | SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) | 48 | |
| COWAN | 54 | WES-DEL | 15 | |
| EMINENCE | 42 | EMINENCE (KY.) | 28 | |
| EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN | 60 | NORTH POSEY | 57 | |
| EVANSVILLE NORTH | 43 | BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 29 | |
| FAITH CHRISTIAN | 47 | TRI-COUNTY | 34 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTH | 48 | FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY | 31 | |
| HUNTINGTON NORTH | 57 | NORTH MIAMI | 13 | |
| LAVILLE | 41 | CULVER | 31 | |
| LAKELAND CHRISTIAN | 74 | CLINTON CHRISTIAN | 28 | |
| MORGAN TWP. | 52 | BOONE GROVE | 36 | |
| NORTHWESTERN | 69 | ARGOS | 24 | |
| RENSSELAER CENTRAL | 73 | HEBRON | 23 | |
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 60 | LAPORTE LALUMIERE | 44 | |
| SOUTHWOOD | 83 | NORTHFIELD | 64 | |
| TALAWANDA (OHIO) | 78 | FRANKLIN COUNTY | 52 | |
| TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 73 | MANCHESTER | 38 | |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN | 81 | SOUTH DECATUR | 49 | |
| UNIVERSITY | 60 | TIPTON | 55 | |
| WABASH | 42 | PERU | 35 | |
| WASHINGTON TWP. | 73 | HAMMOND MORTON | 41 | |
| WINCHESTER | 62 | NORTHEASTERN | 55 | |
| SOUTHERN ROADS CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE | 55 | SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL | 40 | R1 |
| CANNELTON | MADISON CHRISTIAN | 10:30 AM | ||
| MADISON CHRISTIAN | SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL | 12:00 AM | ||
| MEDORA | 64 | BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE | 53 | SF |
| CANNELTON | 33 | COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN | 28 | SF |
| BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE | 61 | COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN | 47 | 3RD |
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL BRACKETS
INDIANA WRESTLING SECTIONAL FINALS
AT AVON:
1 BROWNSBURG 283.0
2 AVON 194.5
3 BEN DAVIS 188.0
4 NORTH PUTNAM 89.0
5 GREENCASTLE 85.0
6 PLAINFIELD 69.5
7 PIKE 63.0
7 TRI-WEST HENDRICKS 63.0
9 SOUTH PUTNAM 56.0
10 DANVILLE COMMUNITY 53.0
11 SPEEDWAY 33.0
AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH
1 TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO 258.0
2 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 188.5
3 NORTHVIEW 147.0
4 OWEN VALLEY 142.0
5 EDGEWOOD 96.0
6 WEST VIGO 83.0
7 INDIAN CREEK 78.0
8 TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO 75.0
9 SULLIVAN 65.0
10 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 64.0
11 PAOLI 22.0
AT FT. WAYNE CARROLL
1 GARRETT 240.5
2 CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) 195.0
3 FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER 183.0
4 COLUMBIA CITY 168.5
5 EASTSIDE 104.0
6 HUNTINGTON NORTH 101.0
7 FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 75.0
8 FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN 66.0
9 CHURUBUSCO 45.5
10 WHITKO 37.0
AT CASTLE
1 HERITAGE HILLS 267.0
2 EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL 203.5
3 CASTLE 200.5
4 WASHINGTON 171.5
5 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 121.0
6 BOONVILLE 111.0
7 TECUMSEH 82.0
8 SOUTH SPENCER 62.5
9 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 23.0
AT CENTERVILLE
1 NEW CASTLE 207.0
2 CENTERVILLE 202.0
3 EASTERN HANCOCK 194.5
4 NORTHEASTERN 141.5
5 TRI 137.5
6 HAGERSTOWN 101.0
7 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 69.0
8 SHENANDOAH 61.0
9 RICHMOND 59.5
10 BLUE RIVER VALLEY 48.0
11 KNIGHTSTOWN 44.0
AT CRAWFORDSVILLE
1 ZIONSVILLE 261.0
2 WESTERN BOONE 183.5
3 SOUTHMONT 177.5
4 NORTH VERMILLION 135.0
5 NORTH MONTGOMERY 125.0
6 SOUTH VERMILLION 109.5
7 FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 104.0
8 CRAWFORDSVILLE 92.0
9 PARKE HERITAGE 26.0
10 COVINGTON 16.0
AT CROWN POINT
1 CROWN POINT 337.5
2 LAKE CENTRAL 206.0
3 LOWELL 180.0
4 HANOVER CENTRAL 152.0
5 KANKAKEE VALLEY 104.0
6 BOONE GROVE 98.0
7 HEBRON 84.0
8 WHEELER 52.0
9 ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 26.0
AT DELTA
1 DELTA 259.5
2 COWAN 201.0
3 YORKTOWN 190.0
4 WINCHESTER COMMUNITY 138.0
5 MUNCIE CENTRAL 130.0
6 DALEVILLE 98.0
7 MONROE CENTRAL 93.0
8 WES-DEL 73.0
9 WAPAHANI 44.0
10 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 8.0
AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL
1 MERRILLVILLE 328.0
2 MUNSTER 220.0
3 HAMMOND MORTON 172.0
4 HAMMOND CENTRAL 171.0
5 WHITING 89.0
6 GARY WESTSIDE 72.0
7 EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 67.0
8 HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL 61.0
AT ELKHART
1 ELKHART 244.0
2 GOSHEN 200.0
3 JIMTOWN 178.0
4 NORTHRIDGE 164.0
5 NORTHWOOD 158.0
6 CONCORD 99.0
7 FAIRFIELD 81.5
AT ELWOOD
1 HAMILTON HEIGHTS 255.0
2 NOBLESVILLE 189.0
3 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 185.0
4 FRANKTON 126.5
5 ALEXANDRIA MONROE 119.0
6 ANDERSON 85.0
7 GUERIN CATHOLIC 78.0
8 TIPTON 77.0
9 ELWOOD COMMUNITY 58.0
10 LAPEL 50.0
AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL
1 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 309.5
2 EVANSVILLE NORTH 167.0
3 EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ 165.5
4 MT. VERNON 117.5
5 NORTH POSEY 113.0
6 VINCENNES LINCOLN 104.5
7 EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 96.0
8 GIBSON SOUTHERN 94.0
9 PRINCETON COMMUNITY 48.0
AT FRANKFORT
1 CARMEL 238.0
2 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 213.0
3 FISHERS 191.0
4 WESTFIELD 175.5
5 LEBANON 115.5
6 SHERIDAN 80.0
7 ROSSVILLE 73.0
8 CLINTON CENTRAL 54.5
9 FRANKFORT 41.0
10 CLINTON PRAIRIE 27.0
AT INDY TECH
1 INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 304.0
2 INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD 191.0
3 MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE) 177.0
4 NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 152.0
5 LAWRENCE NORTH 151.0
6 INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL 77.0
7 BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY 65.0
8 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 62.0
9 INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 48.0
10 INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND 0.0
AT JAY COUNTY
1 JAY COUNTY 262.5
2 BELLMONT 216.0
3 ADAMS CENTRAL 200.5
4 NORWELL 176.5
5 SOUTH ADAMS 149.5
6 BLUFFTON 131.0
7 UNION CITY 32.0
8 SOUTHERN WELLS 28.0
9 BLACKFORD 25.0
AT JEFFERSONVILLE
1 JEFFERSONVILLE 269.0
2 CORYDON CENTRAL 210.0
3 CHARLESTOWN 176.0
4 SALEM 129.0
5 NORTH HARRISON 108.0
6 PROVIDENCE 80.0
7 SILVER CREEK 69.0
8 EASTERN (PEKIN) 58.0
9 BORDEN 56.0
10 NEW WASHINGTON 53.0
11 CLARKSVILLE 36.0
12 CRAWFORD COUNTY 14.0
13 ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 6.0
AT JENNINGS COUNTY
1 COLUMBUS EAST 258.0
2 COLUMBUS NORTH 224.0
3 JENNINGS COUNTY 153.0
4 SEYMOUR 131.0
5 SWITZERLAND COUNTY 130.5
6 SCOTTSBURG 108.0
7 MADISON CONSOLIDATED 79.0
8 WEST WASHINGTON 75.0
9 SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 41.0
10 BROWN COUNTY 18.0
AT LAFAYETTE JEFF
1 HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 248.0
2 MCCUTCHEON 203.5
3 LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON 172.5
4 SEEGER 133.0
5 WEST LAFAYETTE 132.5
6 FAITH CHRISTIAN 118.5
7 ATTICA 98.5
8 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 40.0
9 CARROLL (FLORA) 39.0
10 DELPHI 32.0
AT LAPORTE
1 NEW PRAIRIE 266.5
2 CHESTERTON 233.0
3 GLENN 212.0
4 VALPARAISO 189.5
5 LAPORTE 135.0
6 KNOX 88.5
7 NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE 69.0
8 MICHIGAN CITY 39.0
AT MISHAWAKA
1 PENN 308.0
2 MISHAWAKA 303.0
3 SOUTH BEND RILEY 227.5
4 MISHAWAKA MARIAN 137.0
5 SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH 103.0
6 SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 62.5
7 SOUTH BEND ADAMS 42.0
8 SOUTH BEND CLAY 25.0
AT MOORESVILLE
1 CENTER GROVE 321.5
2 WHITELAND COMMUNITY 163.5
3 MONROVIA 147.0
4 CASCADE 145.0
5 MARTINSVILLE 139.0
6 FRANKLIN COMMUNITY 102.0
7 DECATUR CENTRAL 76.0
8 MOORESVILLE 66.0
9 GREENWOOD COMMUNITY 44.0
10 EMINENCE 6.0
11 CLOVERDALE 0.0
AT NEW HAVEN
1 HOMESTEAD 259.5
2 NEW HAVEN 227.0
3 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 221.5
4 LEO 139.0
5 WOODLAN 94.5
6 FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS 68.0
6 FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE 68.0
8 HERITAGE 62.0
9 FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE 57.0
10 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 29.0
AT OAK HILL
1 WESTERN 235.5
2 OAK HILL 198.0
3 KOKOMO 149.5
4 MADISON-GRANT 148.0
5 EASTBROOK 100.0
6 EASTERN (GREENTOWN) 93.0
7 MARION 92.5
8 TRI-CENTRAL 85.5
9 MISSISSINEWA 84.0
10 NORTHWESTERN 36.0
11 TAYLOR 19.0
AT PERU
1 ROCHESTER COMMUNITY 272.0
2 MACONAQUAH 193.0
2 NORTH MIAMI 193.0
4 PERU 170.0
5 MANCHESTER 130.0
6 CASS 88.0
7 NORTHFIELD 72.5
8 WABASH 70.0
9 SOUTHWOOD 29.0
10 CASTON 5.0
AT PLYMOUTH
1 WAWASEE 258.0
2 PLYMOUTH 209.0
3 WARSAW COMMUNITY 182.5
4 LAVILLE 162.0
5 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 126.0
6 TRITON 104.0
7 BREMEN 89.0
8 CULVER ACADEMIES 88.0
9 CULVER COMMUNITY 26.0
AT PORTAGE
1 PORTAGE 275.0
2 HOBART 233.0
3 RIVER FOREST 183.5
4 CALUMET 171.0
5 HIGHLAND 166.0
6 GRIFFITH 116.0
7 LAKE STATION EDISON 72.0
8 ANDREAN 32.0
AT SOUTH DEARBORN
1 EAST CENTRAL 253.0
2 FRANKLIN COUNTY 207.0
3 MILAN 180.0
4 RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED 127.0
5 CONNERSVILLE 116.5
6 UNION COUNTY 97.5
7 LAWRENCEBURG 75.0
8 SOUTH DEARBORN 61.0
9 GREENSBURG 60.0
10 BATESVILLE 59.0
AT SOUTHPORT
1 PERRY MERIDIAN 288.0
2 RONCALLI 283.5
3 SOUTHPORT 214.0
4 BEECH GROVE 202.0
5 PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY 95.0
6 CHRISTEL HOUSE 61.5
7 INDIANAPOLIS GEORGE WASHINGTON COMMUNITY 53.0
8 VICTORY COLLEGE PREP 30.0
9 INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER 0.0
9 INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS 0.0
AT SOUTHRIDGE
1 TELL CITY 226.0
2 FLOYD CENTRAL 219.5
3 JASPER 216.0
4 SOUTHRIDGE 214.0
5 NEW ALBANY 118.0
6 PIKE CENTRAL 83.0
7 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 53.0
8 MITCHELL 39.0
9 FOREST PARK 36.0
10 NORTH KNOX 25.0
AT WARREN CENTRAL
1 WARREN CENTRAL 251.0
2 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 234.0
3 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 180.0
4 NEW PALESTINE 154.0
5 TRITON CENTRAL 99.0
6 SHELBYVILLE 90.0
7 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 74.0
8 PURDUE POLYTECHNIC 72.0
9 INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL 24.0
AT WEST NOBLE
1 DEKALB 226.0
2 ANGOLA 195.0
3 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 186.0
4 EAST NOBLE 149.0
5 FREMONT 128.0
6 CENTRAL NOBLE 114.0
7 LAKELAND 104.0
8 WEST NOBLE 97.5
9 WESTVIEW 30.0
AT WINAMAC
1 RENSSELAER CENTRAL 272.5
2 WEST CENTRAL 211.0
3 NORTH WHITE 106.0
4 NORTH NEWTON 90.0
5 LOGANSPORT 88.5
6 TWIN LAKES 86.5
7 WINAMAC COMMUNITY 79.5
8 TRI-COUNTY 78.0
9 BENTON CENTRAL 74.0
10 PIONEER 69.0
11 FRONTIER 43.0
12 SOUTH NEWTON 25.0
*******************TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL************************
OKLAHOMA 93 #2 ALABAMA 69
#3 HOUSTON 75 CINCINNATI 69
#4 TENNESSEE 82 #10 TEXAS 71
#5 KANSAS STATE 64 FLORIDA 50
#6 ARIZONA 95 WASHINGTON 72
#7 VIRGINIA 76 BOSTON COLLEGE 57
#9 KANSAS 77 KENTUCKY 68
MISSISSIPPI STATE 81 #11 TCU 74 OT
MISSOURI 78 #12 IOWA STATE 61
CREIGHTON 84 #13 XAVIER 67
#14 GONZAGA 82 PORTLAND 67
WEST VIRGINIA 80 #15 AUBURN 77
#16 MARQUETTE 89 DEPAUL 69
#17 BAYLOR 67 ARKANSAS 64
HOFSTRA 85 #18 CHARLESTON 81
PITTSBURGH 71 #20 MIAMI FLORIDA 68
#21 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 70 WESTERN KENTUCKY 63
#22 ST. MARY’S 57 BYU 56
#24 CLEMSON 82 FLORIDA STATE 81
ELSEWHERE:
INDIANA 86 OHIO STATE 70
SETON HALL 70 BUTLER 49
NOTRE DAME 76 LOUISVILLE 62
BALL STATE 87 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 69
INDIANA STATE 79 NORTHERN IOWA 71
VALPARAISO 81 EVANSVILLE 69
NORTHWESTERN 81 MINNESOTA 61
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 79 WAKE FOREST 77
AKRON 83 OHIO 77
TEXAS TECH 76 LSU 68
TOLEDO 91 BOWLING GREEN 77
DUKE 86 GEORGIA TECH 43
ILLINOIS 61 WISCONSIN 51
EASTERN MICHIGAN 74 MIAMI OHIO 69
DAYTON 86 RICHMOND 60
MARYLAND 82 NEBRASKA 63
GEORGIA 81 SOUTH CAROLINA 78 OT
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 70 WESTERN MICHIGAN 69
VIRGINIA TECH 85 SYRACUSE 70
WRIGHT STATE 77 GREEN BAY 46
BOISE STATE 80 COLORADO STATE 59
OKLAHOMA STATE 82 OLE MISS 60
OREGON 68 UTAH 56
WASHINGTON STATE 75 ARIZONA STATE 58
TEXAS A&M 72 VANDERBILT 66
SAN DIEGO STATE 72 SAN JOSE STATE 51
UNLV 68 NEVADA 62
STANFORD 75 CALIFORNIA 46
OREGON STATE 60 COLORADO 52
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 84 PEPPERDINE 70
HAWAII 72 BAKERSFIELD 69
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230128
*******************TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL*******************
#10 IOWA 80 NEBRASKA 76
#18 IOWA STATE 86 #14 OKLAHOMA 78
#17 GONZAGA 67 PEPPERDINE 49
#23 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 67 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 41
ELSEWHERE:
IUPUI 78 MILWAUKEE 68
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 69 DETROIT 45
TOLEDO 79 EASTERN MICHIGAN 73 OT
CREIGHTON 65 GEORGETOWN 57
MIAMI OHIO 77 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 68
BALL STATE 78 OHIO 58
WRIGHT STATE 83 ROBERT MORRIS 49
YOUNGSTOWN STATE 52 NORTHERN KENTUCKY 51
GEORGE WASHINGTON 71 DAYTON 57
WICHITA STATE 69 CINCINNATI 50
KENT STATE 64 WESTERN MICHIGAN 38
BOWLING GREEN 66 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 50
CLEVELAND STATE 72 OAKLAND 51
WEST VIRGINIA 62 TCU 55
PROVIDENCE 50 XAVIER 48
SMU 61 TULSA 54
AIR FORCE 67 COLORADO STATE 65
BAYLOR 79 TEXAS TECH 59
WYOMING 69 BOISE STATE 62
NEW MEXICO 98 UTAH STATE 60
AKRON 69 BUFFALO 47
UNLV 80 NEVADA 57
TEXAS 78 OKLAHOMA STATE 69
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230128
*********************NFL PLAYOFFS*******************
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29
NFC: 3:00 PM (ET) NFC CHAMPIONSHIP (FOX, FOX DEPORTES)
AFC: 6:30 PM (ET) AFC CHAMPIONSHIP (CBS, PARAMOUNT+)
***************************NBA*******************************
PHILADELPHIA 129 DENVER 119
BROOKLYN 122 NEW YORK 115
HOUSTON 117 DETROIT 114
CHICAGO 128 ORLANDO 109
LA CLIPPERS 120 ATLANTA 113
WASHINGTON 113 NEW ORLEANS 103
MINNESOTA 117 SACRAMENTO 110
PHOENIX 128 SAN ANTONIO 118 OT
BOSTON 125 LA LAKERS 121 OT
UTAH 108 DALLAS 100
TORONTO 123 PORTLAND 105
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
**************************NHL*******************************
COLORADO 4 ST. LOUIS 2
FLORIDA 4 BOSTON 3
OTTAWA 5 MONTRÉAL 0
TAMPA BAY 5 LOS ANGELES 2
SAN JOSE 6 PITTSBURGH 4
PHILADELPHIA 4 WINNIPEG 0
NY ISLANDERS 2 VEGAS 1
MINNESOTA 3 BUFFALO 2
EDMONTON 7 CHICAGO 3
SEATTLE 3 COLUMBUS 1
ANAHEIM 2 ARIZONA 1
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
***********************TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES************************
MEN’S TENNIS NEWS
DJOKOVIC BEATS TSITSIPAS FOR 10TH AUSTRALIAN OPEN, 22ND SLAM
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic was simply too good at the most crucial moments and claimed his 10th Australian Open championship and 22nd Grand Slam title overall by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in the final at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.
The victory allows Djokovic to return to No. 1 in the ATP rankings.
The 35-year-old from Serbia did not compete in the Australian Open a year ago after being deported from the country because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Government restrictions have eased since, and he was able to get a visa this time despite still not having gotten the shots against the illness caused by the coronavirus.
Now Djokovic has run his winning streak at the hard-court tournament to 28 matches.
His 10th trophy in Australia adds to the record he already held. His 22 major championships — which include seven from Wimbledon, three from the U.S. Open and two from the French Open — are tied with Rafael Nadal for the most by a man in the history of tennis.
He was superior throughout against Tsitsipas, but especially so in the two tiebreakers.
Djokovic took a 4-1 lead in the first and after it was 4-all, pulled off the last three points. He led 5-0 in the closing tiebreaker and, when it finished, he pointed to his temple then climbed into the stands, pumped his fist and jumped with his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and other members of the entourage, before collapsing, crying.
Djokovic returned to the court, sat on his sideline bench, buried his face in a white towel and let some more tears flow.
Margaret Court, with 24, Serena Williams, with 23, and Steffi Graf, with 22, have the most championships among women.
This was also the 93rd ATP tour-level title for Djokovic, allowing him to break a tie with Nadal for the fourth-most. Jimmy Connors holds that mark, at 109.
Djokovic was participating in his 33rd major final, Tsitsipas in his second — and the 24-year-old from Greece’s other one also ended in a loss to Djokovic, at the 2021 French Open.
A win for Tsitsipas would have allowed him to get to No. 1 for the first time, supplanting Carlos Alcaraz, who got there after winning the U.S. Open last September but sat out the Australian Open because of a leg injury.
Little doubt this is of no solace to Tsitsipas, but there is no shame in failing to defeat Djokovic in Melbourne. Challenging his dominion on those blue hard courts is every bit the monumental task that taking on Nadal on the red clay at Roland Garros is.
NFL NEWS
CHIEFS ACTIVE TE JODY FORTSON FROM IR FOR AFC TITLE GAME
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs activated tight end Jody Fortson from injured reserve and elevated wide receivers Marcus Kemp and Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the practice squad for Sunday night’s AFC title game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The move to activate Fortson on Saturday was widely expected after the big, rangy red-zone threat showed no lingering problems from his elbow injury in practice this week. Fortson has not played since Dec. 18 against the Texans.
He filled a roster spot that was already available after the Chiefs waived cornerback Chris Lammons.
The decision to elevate Kemp and Smith-Marsette gives the Chiefs some insurance at wide receiver. Justin Watson was questionable on the final injury report because of an illness, while speedster Mecole Hardman has been dealing with a pelvis injury that landed him on IR and has kept him out of the lineup since Nov. 6 against the Titans.
Asked whether Hardman could play this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid replied: “Listen, he’s worked his tail off. I think he’s feeling better than what he was definitely last week, so we’ll see how he does.”
The Chiefs did not activate Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who like Fortson has been designated to return from IR and has spent the past couple of weeks at practice. The running back has not played since Nov. 20, and even then had been ceding time to seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco, who will start his 13th consecutive game against Cincinnati.
Pacheco ran 12 times for 95 yards in the Chiefs’ 27-20 win over Jacksonville last week.
Kansas City is hosting the AFC title game for the fifth straight time, and it’s a rematch of last year’s championship game, when Patrick Mahomes and Co. blew an early 21-3 in a 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals.
Mahomes practiced fully this week after spraining his right ankle against the Jaguars. He carried no injury designation on Friday’s final report, though, and the Chiefs expect Mahomes to start as usual.
“I think progressively I’ve gotten better throughout the week and I’m just going to try to keep doing that,” he said. “Keep that same mentality and push it, but then at the same time be ready to go whenever the game comes up.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
GEORGIA: SUV IN CRASH WAS FOR RECRUITING, NOT PERSONAL USE
(AP) — Georgia athletic department officials say the vehicle involved in a crash that killed a football player and employee on Jan. 15 was to be used only for recruiting activities, not personal use.
The University of Georgia athletic association provided that information in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday, saying personal use of the SUV was “strictly prohibited.”
Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy, a 24-year-old who worked in the recruiting department and was driving the SUV, were killed in the early-morning accident that happened hours following a parade and celebration of the Bulldogs’ second consecutive national championship. Another player and another employee were in the vehicle and injured.
Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said Tuesday that no one in the car was on athletic department business.
“The car driven in the accident was one of several vehicles leased by our athletic department for use during recruiting activities only,” the athletic association said in Saturday’s statement, which first reported Friday night by the Athens Banner-Herald and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“Policies and expectations that were well understood by athletics staff dictated that such rental vehicles were to be turned in at the immediate conclusion of recruiting duties. Personal use was strictly prohibited. Therefore, the continued use of the leased car by our staff members after their recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was unauthorized.”
A police report released Tuesday listed excessive speed on a road with a 40 mph (64 kph) limit as one of the primary causes of the crash.
Offensive lineman Warren McClendon, who had just announced plans to enter the NFL draft, sustained minor injuries. Georgia football staffer Victoria Bowles was hospitalized with multiple serious injuries.
“We are continuing to cooperate fully with investigators,” the athletic association statement said. “Above all, our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of those we lost and those who were injured in this tragic accident.”
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SHERFIELD SCORES 30 AS OKLAHOMA BEATS NO. 2 ALABAMA 93-69
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) With Oklahoma set to join the Southeastern Conference in 2025, Sooners fans used the SEC/Big 12 Challenge to give Alabama a dose of the energy they plan to bring to the league.
After taunting the second-ranked Crimson Tide with chants of “S-E-C” and “overrated” in the second half, the fans stormed the court – a rare occurrence at Oklahoma. Grant Sherfield scored a season-high 30 points, and the Sooners beat Alabama 93-69 on Saturday.
It was the kind of moment second-year Oklahoma coach Porter Moser envisioned when he left Loyola of Chicago to take over the Sooners.
“I thought the crowd was unbelievable,” he said. “I sat there when the crowd rushed the floor – you know, my younger self might have ran out in the middle of it – and I just sat there and just said, `This is a vision.’ And like, this kind of excitement with the student body – I thought they were awesome. They were there early. Best crowd I’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Jalen Hill added a career-high 26 points on 9-for-11 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. He also was assigned to guard Alabama freshman Brandon Miller, who came in averaging 19.5 points, but finished with 11 on 4-for-14 shooting.
Hill said he wanted to show what he was about.
“I feel like I had something to prove,” the senior said. “He’s going to be a top-five draft pick at the end of the day, and I just wanted to prove to everybody – the scouts, the country – that I can hang with him.”
Moser said it was a typical defensive performance for Hill.
“What he does night in and night out, the guys he guards – he’s guarding lottery picks and he is resilient,” Moser said. “He’s played a lot of minutes. And then for him to have that defensive effort and have 26 points as well. I mean, what a performance by Jalen.”
Tanner Groves had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma (12-9), which shot 58% from the field and posted a season-high point total. It was Oklahoma’s first win over a team ranked in the AP’s top two since the 2002 Big 12 Tournament and its largest victory margin ever against an AP top-five team.
The Sooners had lost three straight, but there had been some signs of progress. They had three losses to Top 25 teams by four or fewer points in January.
Alabama coach Nate Oats said the loss could be costly when it comes to NCAA Tournament seeding.
“It doesn’t have any effect on SEC standings, which is the only good thing to come out of this,” he said. “Hopefully, we will recover from a loss out of conference, but, you know, it’s not good. We needed the SEC to do well in this Big 12 challenge. We obviously didn’t do our job on it.”
The Crimson Tide (18-3) had won nine in a row, but Oats said the team hadn’t been playing well. Rylan Griffen, who led Alabama with 15 points, said Oats had warned the team about its lackluster play.
“We didn’t really listen,” Griffen said. “We didn’t come out ready to fight. … You could kind of feel that we thought we were kind of untouchable.”
Oklahoma led 50-33 at halftime and it didn’t look like a fluke. Sherfield scored 18 points before the break and helped the Sooners shoot 68% from the field in the first 20 minutes. Hill added 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting.
The half was punctuated by Hill scoring on a spin move in the closing seconds and Miller getting issued a technical foul.
Alabama trimmed its deficit to 11 in the second half, but Hill’s dunk on a fast break pushed Oklahoma’s lead back to 64-46 and got the crowd juiced up. Sherfield’s crossover and fadeaway 3-pointer put the Sooners ahead 78-53.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The young Crimson Tide got picked apart by a team with veterans. The Crimson Tide lacked energy and never really challenged the Sooners. They made 6 of 22 3-pointers and had just six assists.
Oklahoma: Sherfield had been in a slump, having made 10 of 34 field goals during Oklahoma’s three-game losing streak. He found his shot and found teammates, making 11 of 20 field goals and finishing with six assists to help create balance for the Sooners.
UP NEXT
Alabama: Hosts Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
Oklahoma: Hosts Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
WEATHERSPOON LEADS NO. 21 FAU OVER WESTERN KENTUCKY 70-63
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) Brandon Weatherspoon scored 14 points and No. 21 Florida Atlantic defeated Western Kentucky 70-63 to remain undefeated at home.
The victory extended FAU’s winning streak to a program-record 20 games, which is now the nation’s longest. The Owls’ 21 victories on the season ties their Division I record set in 2010-11. Western Kentucky (11-11, 3-8 Conference USA) has lost five straight.
Unlike their meeting two weeks before, FAU couldn’t shake W. Kentucky. The Hilltoppers trailed FAU (21-1, 11-0) by three with less than two minutes remaining before the Owls closed them out.
Both teams shot 37% on the afternoon, but the Owls drained 13 three-pointers, compared to only two for the Hilltoppers.
FAU scored seven points in the final 33 seconds of the first half to take a 35-30 lead into the locker room.
Weatherspoon’s three-pointer with 41 seconds remaining in the first half started the run. Johnell Davis’ steal then led to a dunk by Brenen Lorient. Alijah Martin followed with another steal, and his layup barely beat the halftime horn.
Martin scored eight while grabbing seven rebounds.
Jordan Rawls led all scorers with 17 for W. Kentucky. Dayvion McKnight and Emmanuel Akot each had 16.
BIG PICTURE
Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers played a second consecutive game without leading scorer Luke Frampton, who will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL. . Entering the game, 7-foot-5 center Jamarion Sharp’s 84 blocked shots led the nation. He added one more on Saturday afternoon.
Florida Atlantic: The Owls entered the game averaging 38.3 points per game off the bench, most in the nation. … After draining two 3-pointers on Saturday, senior guard Michael Forrest needs two 3-pointers to tie Greg Gantt’s FAU career record of 287. … FAU played in front of a home sellout for the second consecutive game. Not traditionally known for large crowds, the Owls announced their remaining four home games have also sold out.
UP NEXT
Western Kentucky: Hosts UTSA on Thursday night.
Florida Atlantic: Visits UAB on Thursday night.
BROWN, HODGE LIFT MISSOURI OVER NO. 12 IOWA STATE 78-61
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Kobe Brown scored 20 points, and D’Moi Hodge scored 17 points to help Missouri beat No. 12 Iowa State 78-61 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday.
“To have a quad one win in January is very important,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said. “I think that’s a two, a possible one-seed team. For us to have that quad one victory is very important, not only on Selection Sunday, but just for us in our growth to recognize who we are and also the confidence that we have in one another.”
Brown scored 14 of his points in the first half and led Missouri (16-5) with 12 rebounds. Nick Honor added 12 points and DeAndre Gholston scored 10.
“They had seven offensive rebounds, he had five of them,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said about Brown. “He asserted his dominance, and he stepped up. He’s a tough matchup. He’s a hard cover, but I’d say more than that was how aggressive he was and his intent. His mindset was really impressive, so he certainly led that charge for them here.”
Jaren Holmes led Iowa State (15-5) with 19 points, and Gabe Kalscheur added 14.
“They came out with a lot of confidence,” Otzelberger said about Missouri. “They shot the ball well early which allowed them to get their press set and put us on our heels a little bit more. I give all the credit to Missouri.”
Missouri made 47% of its 30 3-point attempts, while Iowa State shot 40% from long range. Iowa State outrebounded Missouri 38-25, but the Tigers negated the advantage on the glass by scoring 20 points off 19 Cyclones turnovers.
“Our guys forced a great team to 19 turnovers,” Gates said. “Kobe Brown was unbelievable as it relates to rebounding. D’Moi Hodge was elite at deflections and steals and different things like that.”
The Tigers’ 78 points were a season-high for an Iowa State opponent in regulation; the Cyclones are 0-3 this season when allowing at least 70 points in regulation.
The Tigers led 42-32 at halftime and trailed for just 44 seconds in the entire contest.
Holmes hit a 3 with 9:22 remaining in the first half to give Iowa State a 21-20 lead. Isiaih Mosley followed with a 3 of his own just eight seconds later to give Missouri the lead for good.
DOMINATING
The Tigers improved to 151-86 all-time against Iowa State – the most against any Missouri opponent. Missouri wore throwback uniforms on Saturday from 1973-1996, when they were in the Big 8.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Iowa State guard Caleb Grill missed the game with a stiff back.
“We’re going to do what’s in Caleb’s best interest, to be healthy and to be able to play at his best.” Otzelberger said. “We’re in this profession for young people and developing them and doing the right thing and being leaders and that falls on my shoulders, and I’m going to continue to do that.”
BIG PICTURE
Iowa State: Three of the Cyclones’ five losses this season have come against unranked foes. Iowa State lost its only other nonconference road contest at Iowa 75-56 on Dec. 8.
Missouri: The Tigers have made 169 of 436 3-pointers (39%) in wins and 25 of 116 (22%) in their losses.
UP NEXT
Iowa State: At Texas Tech on Monday night.
Missouri: Hosts LSU on Wednesday night.
CREIGHTON BEATS NO. 13 XAVIER BEHIND BALANCED SCORING EFFORT
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) After one of its roughest first-half shooting performances of the season, No. 13 Xavier recovered in the second half against Creighton.
Problem was, the Bluejays also got better in the final 20 minutes, and rolled to an 84-67 home victory Saturday.
Xavier (17-5, 9-2 Big East) entered the game with the nation’s fifth-best field-goal shooting percentage (.503), but fell off after the first five minutes and shot just 38.7% in the first half.
Arthur Kamula scored 20 points for Creighton (13-8, 7-3) and its four other starters finished in double figures. The Bluejays made 34 of their 60 field-goal attempts (56.7%) overall, shooting 60.7% in the second half and 53.1% in the first half.
“Playing Creighton at Creighton is not an easy task for anybody,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “I think they’re one of college basketball’s best teams, and certainly one of the Big East’s best teams, maybe overall, because of their defense.”
In addition to that stifling defense, Creighton’s offense had its best day of the month. Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 17 points, Baylor Scheierman had 14, Trey Alexander finished with 13 and Ryan Nembhard added 11 for the Bluejays, who avenged a 90-87 loss at Xavier on Jan. 11.
Zach Freemantle led the Musketeers with 18 points, followed by Colby Jones and Adam Kunkel with 13.
Early in the first half, Xavier had two starters pick up their second fouls 12 seconds apart. Jack Nunge went to the bench, but Miller kept in Freemantle.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott said Xavier’s foul trouble spurred him to keep going inside to the 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner against a smaller lineup – even though a similar plan at Xavier earlier this month didn’t go as planned.
“That’s the lineup that created the separation in Cincinnati,” McDermott said. “We hadn’t seen it a lot prior to that, but (they’ve) actually played probably about 50 percent minutes since our game with four guards and a big. So we were a little bit more prepared for it this time.”
Miller said Kalkbrenner’s presence “separates Creighton from everybody else,” adding that he’s “able to patrol the basket and block shots, allowing four other players to do things.”
“Creighton has a great way of making you take those tough two(-pointers),” Miller said. “I do think Creighton’s defense starts with that big fella.”
Creighton went on a 10-2 run just before halftime for a 42-28 lead. The Musketeers threatened in the second half with an 11-3 run to get within 55-49 with a 3-pointer by Kunkel.
Creighton responded with its biggest offensive burst of the game, outscoring Xavier 19-8 in fewer than six minutes to take a 74-57 lead.
STAT OF THE DAY
Creighton committed just six total fouls, three in each half.
BIG PICTURE
Xavier: The Musketeers entered the game leading the nation in assists per game at 21.0. At halftime, Xavier had only six assists before finishing the game with 16.
Creighton: The win over the Musketeers improved Creighton’s home record to 10-1 and also made the Bluejays 6-0 in Big East home games. Creighton’s lone home loss was a 63-53 setback to Nebraska on Dec. 4.
UP NEXT
Xavier: Hosts Providence on Wednesday.
Creighton: Plays at Georgetown on Wednesday.
NKAMHOUA, ZEIGLER LEAD NO. 4 TENNESSEE OVER NO. 10 TEXAS
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Olivier Nkamhoua scored 27 points and Zakai Zeigler had 22 points and 10 assists to lead No. 4 Tennessee over No. 10 Texas 82-71 on Saturday night in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
The raucous crowd of more than 20,000 at Thompson-Boling Arena watched the Volunteers (18-3) dominate the Longhorns (17-4) inside. Tennessee had a 38-24 rebounding advantage.
“They really pounded us on the glass,” said Texas interim head coach Rodney Terry. “We don’t get out-toughed too often. We got out-toughed tonight.”
Nkamhoua had eight rebounds to go with his game-high scoring.
“He was absolutely driven,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. “That (attitude) started in practice yesterday.”
“(This was) the focus and the energy I can bring every day,” said Nkamhoua. “It’s been able to translate into the game.”
Josiah-Jordan James added 14 and Santiago Vescovi had 12 points and eight rebounds for Tennessee, which led by as many as 22 midway through the second half.
Zeigler has been turning heads with his recent play.
“(Zeigler) makes guys around him better,” said Terry. “You have to pick your poison on how to guard him. He’s tough, and real pesky on defense.”
“I’m getting a good feel for the game,” Zeigler said. “Last year (a 52-51 loss at Texas), was a very emotional locker room. This meant a lot to us.”
Sir’Jabari Rice scored 21 to lead Texas. Marcus Carr, the Longhorns’ leading scorer, didn’t get his first points until early in the second half. Two early fouls impacted his production. He and Brock Cunningham finished with 11 each.
“(Tennessee) played us really hard,” said Terry. “They protected the paint and didn’t give us a lot of good looks.”
Texas went more than six minutes without scoring in the first half. Tennessee reeled off nine straight points and turned a tie game into a 26-17 lead. That spurt paved the way to a 40-28 lead at halftime.
BIG PICTURE
Texas: Longhorns interim head coach Rodney Terry spent nine season as an assistant at Texas under current Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. . Texas is averaging 16.7 assists a game. . Timmy Allen is the only active Division I player with at least 1,900 points, 800 rebounds and 400 assists. . Texas has had at least one 3-pointer in 1,075 consecutive games.
Tennessee: In college hoops parlance, a “kill shot” is a run of 10 or more points by a team. The Vols are fourth in the country with 21 “kill shots.” Only Houston (24), Rutgers (22) and Missouri (22) have more. The Vols have been on the receiving end of just three “kill shots.” . In four of Tennessee’s eight Southeastern Conference games, opponents have been scoreless at the first media timeout. . This year’s Vols team is averaging 9.70 steals a game. The all-time school record is 10.03 (2005-06).
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Ranked No. 10 in this week’s AP poll, Texas rose as high as No. 2 for two weeks (Nov. 28, Dec. 5). . Barnes, the all-time winningest coach (402) in Texas history (1998-2015) had the Longhorns ranked in the Top 25 for 180 weeks. . This has been the 17th week in the last five seasons that the Vols have been ranked in the Top 5. Prior to that, Tennessee was ranked in the Top 5 17 times in the past 70 seasons.
UP NEXT
Texas: The Longhorns have a quick turnaround. They will entertain No. 17 Baylor on Monday night.
Tennessee: The Vols return to SEC play Wednesday night at Florida.
NBA NEWS
EMBIID SCORES 47 AS 76ERS BEAT JOKIC, NUGGETS 126-119
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Joel Embiid won the battle of MVP candidates with 47 points and 18 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 126-119 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Jokic and Embiid have finished first and second in voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award over the last two seasons. Both are among the top candidates for MVP as this season hits the halfway mark.
James Harden had 17 points and 13 assists, and Tobias Harris scored all 14 of his points in the second half after being shut down by Denver’s defense in the first half.
Jokic had 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Denver, which has lost three of its last four games. Jamal Murray chipped in 22 points and Michael Porter added 20.
Embiid has scored 40 or more points nine times this season and 35 times in his career.
The Nuggets began the day with the second-best team field goal percentage at 50.7% and tops in 3-point percentage at 39.5%. In the first half, they overwhelmed Philadelphia’s perimeter defense, shooting 65.9% (29 for 44) from the floor and 10 of 17 (58.8%) from beyond the 3-point line. The hot shooting helped the Nuggets to a 73-58 lead at halftime.
Embiid started to take over toward the end of the third quarter, putting together a 16-point quarter on 5-of-6 shooting that keyed a 14-0 run that allowed the Sixers to close within 99-98 early in the fourth.
In the final quarter, Philadelphia wore down a Nuggets team playing the final game of a three-game, week-long trip. P.J. Tucker followed a Harden missed 3-pointer with a tip-in with over a minute left to stretch the lead to five. Embiid then hit a 3-pointer to restore an eight-point lead.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Jamal Murray did start after being listed as questionable with a left hip sprain. Murray missed the game at Milwaukee on Wednesday night. There were times in the third and fourth quarter where Murray appeared to try to stretch things out, but remained in to score 22 points.
76ers: For the second straight game, Embiid did start after being listed as a game-time decision with left foot soreness. Embiid had missed the final game of Philadelphia’s five-game trip in Sacramento last Saturday night. .. Philadelphia was issued a third-quarter technical foul for only having four players on the floor.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Start a three-game homestand against New Orleans on Tuesday.
76ers: Play the first of back-to-back home games against Orlando on Monday.
BROWN FORCES OT, CELTICS SNAP SKID BY BEATING LA 125-121
BOSTON (AP) Lakers guard Patrick Beverly grabbed a courtside camera in an effort to show referee Eric Lewis what everyone who’d watched the replay already knew: LeBron James was fouled on his missed layup at the end of regulation.
Instead of getting the call, Beverly drew a technical foul that gave Boston the lead to start overtime and the NBA-leading Celtics went on to beat Los Angeles 125-121 on Saturday night.
“The best player on earth can’t get a call. It’s amazing,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “As much as you try not to put it on the officiating, it’s becoming increasingly difficult.”
Jaylen Brown scored 37, completing a tying three-point play with 4.1 seconds left in regulation and adding 11 more points in overtime to help the Celtics snap a three-game losing streak. Brown added nine rebounds, Jayson Tatum had 30 points and 11 rebounds, and Malcom Brogdon scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half of a see-saw game that had 19 lead changes – six in the fourth quarter – and 15 ties.
James had 41 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. But it was his missed layup at the end of regulation that enraged him on the court and left him simmering at his locker afterward.
“I don’t understand. I don’t understand what we’re doing, and I watch basketball every single day,” said James, who sat with a towel covering his head during overtime and barely looked up as he spoke from at his locker. “I watch games every single day and I don’t see it happening to nobody else. It’s just weird.”
Anthony Davis had 16 points with 10 rebounds, coming off the bench for the second game in a row after missing 20 with a foot injury. Beverly scored 15, twice giving the Lakers the lead in the final minute of the fourth. But he also missed a foul shot that might have clinched it, and his technical gave the Celtics the lead to start overtime, and they never trailed again.
“At the end of the day, the players decided that game,” Brown said. “We made plays down the stretch; they made plays down the stretch. And I thought it was a good game. It was probably one of the greater games in our recent Lakers-Celtics matchup. And I’m happy we came out on top.”
With Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce cheering his former team on from the sideline and the team’s broadcasters – Boston’s Cedric Maxwell and L.A.’s Mychal Thompson – talking trash on press row, the Celtics swept their longtime rivals in the two-game season series. There was a vocal contingent of Lakers fans making noise when the visitors opened an 11-point lead in the third quarter. But they were out-shouted by the locals when Tatum, who scored 15 in the third, including three 3-pointers, helped erase an 11-point deficit.
Beverly hit a 3-pointer to give the Lakers the lead with 52 seconds left and then, after Boston tied it, scored on a putback dunk that made it 104-102 with 19 seconds to play. But after Brown missed a 3, Beverly missed one of two free throws; Al Horford missed a 3, and Brown scored on the putback and picked up a delayed foul call.
“That was just the craziness of the game,” Brown said. “It looked like they might have missed a call on their end toward the end of the game. But that’s just life. They’ll be all right.”
One game after missing a pair of free throws with 8 seconds left in a one-point game against the Knicks, Brown hit this one to tie it 105-all with 4.1 seconds to play. The Celtics (36-15) have the NBA’s best record despite losing their previous three games.
TIP-INS
James is 116 points away from matching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA record for career points, 38,387. . Pierce was wearing what appeared to be shamrock pajama pants. . Westbrook missed his first six shots, as the crowd taunted him to shoot, before finishing with 12 points on 4 of 14 shooting. . Brown picked up his fifth foul on the first possession of the fourth quarter. . The Celtics beat the Lakers 122-118 in L.A. on Dec. 13. Tatum scored 44 points. Davis had 37 points and 12 rebounds. James scored 33 with nine boards and nine assists. . The Celtics were without point guard Marcus Smart and big man Robert Williams III, who both have sprained ankles.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Brooklyn on Monday night.
Celtics: At Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
IRVING HAS 32 POINTS, NETS BEAT KNICKS FOR 9TH STRAIGHT TIME
NEW YORK (AP) Kyrie Irving grew up in New York and New Jersey, so he knows better than most whether the Knicks against the Nets is a real rivalry.
“If the NBA calls it rivalry week, then it’s a rivalry,” Irving said.
Only a one-sided one.
Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the final 9 1/2 minutes, carrying Brooklyn to its ninth straight victory over the Knicks, 122-115 on Saturday.
Irving’s sixth straight game of 30 or more points gave him a career high and the Nets an NBA franchise record. He didn’t seem headed that way when he was only 4 for 14 with 11 points early in the fourth quarter.
But he took over from there to make sure the Nets turned away every Knicks rally, including a deep 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play after New York was within five. The All-Star guard also had nine assists and six rebounds.
“That’s why it’s so great to have the basketball in his hands,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “He can attack by himself, he can draw and kick and the defense has to react.”
Joe Harris added 16 points and Nic Claxton had 13 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Nets. The NBA leader in field goal percentage shot 6 for 6. Royce O’Neale and Seth Curry chipped in 14 points apiece as Brooklyn finished 22 for 40 from 3-point range.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and RJ Barrett had 24 for the Knicks. They had won consecutive games against Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland and Boston.
But they can’t find a way to beat Brooklyn. The teams separated by about five miles made for a natural addition to the NBA’s “Rivals Week” schedule, now a decade since the Nets played their first season in Brooklyn following their move from New Jersey.
But the Knicks haven’t defeated the Nets in Tom Thibodeau’s 2/12 seasons and their last victory was on Jan. 26, 2020, when Kevin Durant still wasn’t playing for the Nets and Irving left Madison Square Garden after learning of Kobe Bryant’s death that afternoon.
“For me, I love beating the Knicks and playing against them, but all in all, it’s just about the objective and that’s to win the ballgame,” Irving said. “Nothing personal.”
The Knicks got the first basket of the fourth quarter, getting within five points as their fans were fully into the game after being held largely silent for 2 1/2 quarters. But Irving hit his next three shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, as Brooklyn went up 104-90.
“He made some tough plays. Those were deep 3s that he made on us,” Thibodeau said.
New York would later get within three, but Curry hit a 3 and Irving made a pair to keep Brooklyn safely ahead.
Playing without Durant and Ben Simmons, the Nets led by as much as 19 before the Knicks cut it to 88-81 after three.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Thibodeau said starting center Mitchell Robinson, who had surgery Jan. 19 to repair a broken right thumb, is running and other work can do, but won’t know more about when he can return until after he is examined again, which was expected to be three weeks after the procedure. … Thibodeau said he didn’t feel any extra pressure after owner James Dolan said during a radio interview this week that he expected the Knicks to make the playoffs. “If you’re doing all you can each and every day, you never feel pressure,” Thibodeau said.
Nets: TJ Warren also missed the game with a bruised shin, an injury that coach Jacque Vaughn thought was a knee injury. … The Nets’ longest winning streak against the Knicks is 11 in a row from 1984-86.
HALL OF FAME FANS
Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Irving, Barrett, Curry and Knicks reserve Cam Reddish, was at the game. Thibodeau was also one of his assistant coaches with the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. Former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera was also in attendance.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Nets: Host the Lakers on Monday night.
ROCKETS BEAT PISTONS 117-114 IN MATCHUP OF NBA’S WORST TEAMS
DETROIT (AP) Kenyon Martin Jr. had a four-point possession with 31 seconds left to help the Houston Rockets beat the Detroit Pistons 117-114 on Saturday night in a matchup of the NBA’s worst teams.
The Rockets had a 16-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, a 21-4 edge in second-chance points and outscored the Pistons 70-42 in the paint.
Houston played without Jalen Green (calf), Kevin Porter, Jr. (foot) and Apleren Sengun (non-COVID illness), while coach Stephen Silas missed the game to attend a memorial for his father Paul, who played and coached in the NBA for 48 years.
“I would say 98% of this win came from hustle and hard work,” Rockets interim coach John Lucas said. “With three key scorers out, I think a lot of guys were excited because the ball would be moving and they would get a chance to play.
“Coach has already texted us about getting a good win. Today was a celebration of his dad’s life, but I hope this made it a little easier.”
Eric Gordon led the Rockets (12-38) with 24 points. Martin had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Tari Eason added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“This is a really good road win,” Martin said. “We got some stops, made some plays and now we can get out of this cold and get back home.”
Alec Burks had 21 points for the Pistons (13-38). They have lost five of six.
“It seems like all these games come down to the end, but it is all the small things that we aren’t doing earlier in games that hurt us,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “We aren’t a good enough team to take anyone lightly. We can’t do that.”
With the Pistons leading 112-109, Martin was fouled as his layup bounced twice off the rim before dropping in. He missed the free throw, but Jae’Sean Tate kept the ball alive and Martin’s putback gave the Rockets a 113-112 lead.
“Coaches start teaching you to box out on free throws in junior high,” Casey said. “In that situation, you almost have to be face guarding, because you know they will be crashing with a bad free-throw shooter on the line.”
Jabari Smith Jr. then tied up Burks, and the Rockets won the jump ball.
Gordon hit two free throws to make it 115-112, but Jalen Ivey’s layup spun in to make it a one-point game with 10 seconds to go.
Gordon added two more free throws, making it 117-114, and Ivey’s tying 3-point attempt was off the rim.
The Rockets were 3-of-20 on 3-pointers in the first 39 minutes but made five in a row to stay alive in the fourth quarter.
“We normally struggle in the fourth quarter by turning the ball over and getting pushed around,” Lucas said. “This time, we didn’t let that happen.”
TIP INS
Rockets: Houston has won three straight in Detroit, but is still just 21-49 in the Motor City. However, they are 49-22 at home against the Pistons.
Pistons: Detroit was trying to win two straight games for only the second time this season. They beat the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz on Nov. 22-23.
LOPSIDED BATTLE ON THE GLASS
Neither team has done much right this season, but Houston’s biggest strength was a perfect match for Detroit’s most significant problems. The Rockets came into the game leading the league in offensive-rebound percentage at 29.6%, while the Pistons are one of the worst defensive-rebounding teams at 74.2%. Saturday, the Rockets grabbed 36.4% of their offensive-rebound attempts.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.
Pistons: At Dallas on Monday night.
DEROZAN, LAVINE LEAD BULLS TO 128-109 WIN OVER MAGIC
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each scored 32 points, Nikola Vucevic added 26 points and 13 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls turned back a late rally and beat the Orlando Magic 128-109 on Saturday night.
Mo Wagner led the Magic with 27 points, combining with Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs to lead a furious second-half rally that cut a 25-point deficit to six with 5:08 remaining.
“I thought we controlled most of the game,” said Vucevic, who had 17 points and eight rebounds in the first half. “They made a really good run and they cut it close. It’s been an issue for us all year long, playing with big leads. We let them back in the game, but this time we were able to finish the game off.”
Patrick Williams had 16 points and six rebounds for the Bulls, who shot 59.3% for the game just two nights after getting outscored by 23 points in the second half of a loss at Charlotte.
“In the Charlotte game we never responded,” coach Billy Donovan said. “The encouraging part is we did respond (tonight). I think it’s good that we had that. … Being pressed against it, we needed a game where we could respond and come out on the winning side.”
The Bulls led 60-47 at halftime. A 3-pointer by Vucevic, who played more than eight seasons in Orlando, stretched their lead to 24 points and a free throw by LaVine made it 89-64, Chicago’s largest lead of the game, with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
“I don’t know how, but we found some energy and we went on a run, got some easy buckets, hit some shots,” said Anthony, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Wagner scored the Magic’s final 11 points in the third period and their first five points in the fourth, pulling the Magic back into contention. But when the Bulls’ lead got down to six, DeRozan and LaVine responded with baskets, and a 3-pointer by Williams made it 116-106 with 3:29 left.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley thought the bad start cost his team the game.
“Obviously the energy level wasn’t where we wanted it to start the game,” he said. “I really think sometimes it falls down to taking the easy route, in some ways. When it’s hard, you just want to catch and shoot. But we weren’t making shots, and that takes its toll on the defense. But we have to be a defensive team first, whether the shots are falling or not.”
“This is not an excuse but we were just flat,” said Mo Wagner, “and part of that was we put our head down too quickly. We kind of let go of our focus.”
TIP-INS
Bulls: G Lonzo Ball, who has not played since tearing his left meniscus on May 10, 2021, is not yet back to running on a consistent basis and will likely not play this season, unless he is making progress by the All-Star break, according to coach Billy Donovan. … F Derrick Jones Jr., limped off the floor in the third quarter, but came back to play four minutes in the fourth. . . . G Goran Dragic had seven points in 13 minutes after missing three games due to illness. … DeRozan, who came into the game with a 26.3 scoring average, played eight scoreless minutes in the first quarter without taking a shot.
Magic: F Jonathan Isaac had five points and four rebounds in nine minutes in his third game back from a knee injury. … The Magic missed their first eight 3-point attempts and finished 10 for 28. . . . Anthony has scored 18 or points in four of his last six games, all off the bench.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host the L.A. Clippers on Tuesday night.
Magic: Play at Philadelphia on Monday night.
LEONARD SCORES 32, CLIPPERS BEAT HAWKS FOR 5TH STRAIGHT WIN
ATLANTA (AP) Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points, including a season-high five 3-pointers, Paul George added 23 points and the Los Angeles Clippers won their fifth straight game, a 120-113 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
“We limited them to 25% from 3 tonight, under 50% from the field, I think that’s big-time for us right now on defense,” Leonard said. “That was one of the things that got us in a slump. We shot the ball well tonight.”
Trae Young had 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter for the Hawks, who whittled a 14-point deficit down to four on De’Andre Hunter’s left corner 3 with 2:09 remaining. But they couldn’t get any closer after George buried a baseline jumper and Nicolas Batum hit a right corner 3 with 49.3 seconds to go.
George knocked down two free throws at the 17.6-second mark to put the game out of reach.
“I think we’re just taking the steps to grow as a team,” George said. “We’re sharing the ball. We’re playing the right way. We’re playing for one another, and I think our defense has been impactful. It’s starting to affect games.
“I think when we went through a stretch where we weren’t playing well, we were giving up a lot of points. I think we’re starting to cut that down.”
The Hawks dropped to 8-6 in January, including 6-3 in their last nine outings.
The Clippers used an 8-1 run early in the fourth to build an 11-point lead on Reggie Jackson’s layup. Atlanta called timeout, but it made no difference as Los Angeles went up by 12 on Norman Powell’s left corner 3 with 9:13 remaining. A pair of free throws by Ivica Zubac and Zubac’s putback dunk made it a game-high 14-point lead at the 5:22 mark.
“You’ve got two guys out there that are all-NBA type players,” Young said. “It’s easier said on how to stop those guys than just doing it. They played really good tonight. Kawhi did a really good job of scoring when he needed to and P.G. got everybody involved when he was getting in traps and stuff, but he was scoring early.
“Those guys played really well. You’ve got to give them credit.”
The Hawks pulled within one midway through the third, but the lead swelled to 71-66 on a pair of 3s by Luke Kennard. Leonard followed with two 3s that made it 76-68, and Los Angeles entered the fourth leading 84-81.
“I was able to get some open looks and if it’s open, I’m going to shoot the ball,” Leonard said. “It felt good.”
Atlanta took the game’s first double-digit lead at 41-30 on Dejounte Murray’s 10-footer, but the Clippers went on a 26-8 run to go up 56-49 on Zubac’s dunk late in the second. They didn’t trail again for the rest of the game and led 58-53 at halftime.
“I think we limited them to one shot attempt and got the rebound, came back on the offensive end with pace and made shots,” Leonard said. “We were able to control the game from there.”
TIP-INS
Clippers: F Marcus Morris Sr. was held out with a rib contusion. … F Robert Covington was not available due to personal reasons. … Los Angeles has scored over 100 points in 12 straight games. … The Clippers improved to 20-6 when leading after three. … They shot 48.7% on 39 attempts on 3s.
Hawks: Outscored Los Angeles 62-32 on points in the paint. … Young went without a 3 for the third time in the last four games, and Atlanta dropped to 1-5 when he fails to connect beyond the arc. He was 0 for 2. … All five of the starters scored in double figures. … Young had 10 assists. … Clint Capela had 12 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Clippers: At Cleveland on Sunday.
Hawks: At Portland on Monday.
GAFFORD DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADS WIZARDS PAST PELICANS 113-103
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Daniel Gafford had a season-high 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Washington Wizards beat the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 113-103 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.
“No matter what, I just kept playing,” said Gafford, whose production helped mitigate the absence of 7-foot-3 star Kristaps Porzingis, who missed his third straight game with an ankle injury. “We’ve got KP out. So, really just stepping up was the main thing on my mind . just locking in and being able to play physical throughout the full game.”
Bradley Beal scored nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and Deni Avdija scored 13 for Washington, which also won its fourth straight on the road while sending New Orleans to its seventh straight loss overall.
“The beauty of it is we’re constantly building on the game before,” Beal said of the winning streak. “We’re not getting tired of doing the right things.”
Washington led most of the game and by as many as 16 points when Kendrick Nunn’s driving layup made it 96-80 with 8:16 to go.
The Pelicans briefly seized momentum with a 10-0 run that included Brandon Ingram’s fadeaway and Herb Jones’ breakaway dunk.
It looked as if New Orleans was going to have a chance to pull within three when officials called a foul on Washington during Jose Alvarado’s drive to the hoop. But the Wizards challenged the call and it was overturned. Moments later, Beal hit a pullup as he was fouled by Ingram and completed the three-point play to make it 100-92.
The Pelicans did not threaten again.
“Fourth quarter, coach just told me to be aggressive and attack and that’s what I did,” Beal said.
Corey Kispert and Nunn each scored 12 for Washington, while Kyle Kuzma added 10 points and won teammates’ praise for his defensive on Ingram, who scored 22 points but made just 8 of 22 shots.
CJ McCollum scored 24 points for the Pelicans, whose string of losses has “kind of jolted us in a negative way,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
“We’ll get back to playing our style and playing with joy,” Green said. “Right now, like I told our team, nobody’s going to rescue you. We have to be a part of our own rescue.”
New Orleans played most of the game without top rebounder Jonas Valanciunas. He was ejected after a his elbow struck Taj Gibson in the head as the Pelicans center made a move toward the basket. Valanciunas indicated that contact was inadvertent, but officials ruled it a Flagrant-2 foul after video review.
Valanciunas laughed incredulously as he walked to the locker room.
Green said Valanciunas made one of his normal spin moves to the hoop, but that “it just looked like Taj Gibson had got so low” that the defender’s head was in the path of Valanciunas’ elbow.
Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said it would not be like Gibson to go down as he did “unless there’s significant contact there.”
“He felt it was a dirty play,” Unseld added.
Gafford had 14 of his points in the first half, highlighted by his soaring alley-oop jam of Beal’s lob, which the center caught with one hand high above his head and slammed down hard in one motion.
While Beal acknowledged his lob that set up Gafford’s big alley-oop dunk was on the high side, he added, “Gaff can go touch the top of the backboard. So, anywhere you can throw it in the vicinity, he can go get it.”
Added Gafford: “I tell them you can throw it to the moon, I’m going to bring it back down. I’m always prepared for anything around the rim.”
Delon Wright’s driving finger roll as time expired made it 59-50 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Monte Morris returned from a sore right hamstring that sidelined him in Houston on Wednesday and scored 10 points. . Gibson grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked a shot to go with nine points. … Outrebounded New Orleans 53-42. … Converted 13 offensive rebounds into 25 second-chance points.
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III, who scored 10 points, missed a two-handed alley-oop dunk attempt in transition early in the fourth quarter. … Ingram has reached 20 points in nine of the 17 games he’s played in this season. … All-Star power forward Zion Williamson missed his 13th straight game with a right hamstring injury.
UP NEXT
Wizards: At San Antonio on Monday.
Pelicans: At Milwaukee on Sunday.
EDWARDS SCORES 34, TIMBERWOLVES BEAT KINGS 117-110
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Anthony Edwards had 16 of his 34 points in the pivotal third quarter, D’Angelo Russell scored 25 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 117-110 win against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Rudy Gobert added 13 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which has won five of six and took the first of two straight meetings between the teams at Target Center. Naz Reid added 14 points off the bench, including 10 in the Timberwolves’ big third.
“We’re taking a lot of pride in defense and it feels like our urgency is at a much higher level than it was earlier in the season,” Gobert said. “It’s exciting because it’s what you need to be a really good team in this league.”
Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, which has lost three of four after a six-game winning streak earlier in January. De’Aaron Fox had 21 of his 29 points in the fourth as the Kings closed within 114-110 with 37.9 seconds left before Edwards hit a 3-pointer to put the game away.
“That is fool’s gold if we think as a team and organization that we’re going to just beat teams by outscoring them,” Sacramento coach Mike Brown said. “It’s not going to happen, especially come playoff time. So, somehow, someway, I have to find combinations of players that can score and that are willing to get stops for us.”
Russell got Minnesota started with 12 points in the first and he hit his first six 3s to continue his torrid shooting. In his previous 12 games, Russell was hitting 49.1% from the field and 47.1% from 3. His season average from 3-point range coming in was 38.1%.
Sacramento later closed the first half on a 26-14 run to lead 59-57. But the defensive issues again were an issue in the second half.
“We can’t let teams just run their stuff, get their spots and shoot the ball right over us,” Fox said. “You don’t want to pick up fouls, but you want to try to be physical as much as possible without picking up silly fouls.”
Edwards put the Timberwolves back in front as he scored 10 points during a 13-2 third-quarter stretch that saw Minnesota regain control. The Wolves outscored the Kings by 11 in the quarter, a night after the third was the key in a win over Memphis.
“I don’t know if it’s intentional, but it’s kind of how they’re doing it,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said of Russell scoring early and Edwards taking charge later. “DLo is staying ready. His catch-and-shoot is really on point. That’s big for him, and for us. And, obviously, he exits and Ant is out there by himself and kind of turns it up a notch.”
TURN THE THIRD
Minnesota has been outscored by 106 points in the third, the second-highest total in the NBA and the 2.1-point average per game was tied for second. But in January, when Edwards has taken over in the period, the Wolves are a plus-26 in the third in 15 games.
Edwards is averaging 8.5 points in the third in January, which is the 12th-highest total in the league during that span.
“I feel like I can’t miss right now, to be honest,” Edwards said of his 3-point shooting. “I don’t want to jinx myself, but right now, I feel like I just can’t miss. I put a lot of work in, man. So, I’m happy it’s showing.”
TIP-INS
Kings: Sacramento entered shooting 37.2% from 3 this season, the eighth-best total in the NBA. But the Kings were 9 of 33 (27.3%) from 3 in the game. … Harrison Barnes was 10 of 11 from the line and scored 13.
Timberwolves: Taurean Prince missed his fourth straight game with a left ankle sprain, but he could be nearing a return. He was able to work out on the court before the game. … Minnesota committed 20 turnovers, leading to 21 points for Sacramento. … Edwards has scored at least 31 in four of the last five games. He added 10 rebounds in the game.
UP NEXT
The second game between the teams is Monday night.
PAUL, BRIDGES HELP SUNS ESCAPE SPURS IN OVERTIME, 121-116
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Chris Paul scored 31 points, Mikal Bridges had 25 and the Phoenix Suns escaped with a 128-118 overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
San Antonio never led and trailed by 13 early in the fourth quarter, but forced overtime with an 18-7 run in the final four minutes of regulation.
Bridges had eight points in overtime in scoring 20-plus points for the eighth time in his past 11 games.
“With guys out, dude is stepping up,” Phoenix center Deandre Ayton said. “The confidence is not coming out of nowhere; it’s been there since the season (began). Mikal was working on his game. He’s pretty consistent, just working on his craft and tonight was a time for it show. He took over the game.”
Keldon Johnson had 34 points and Jeremy Sochan added a season-high 30 points for the Spurs.
Johnson scored seven straight points for the Spurs, cutting the Suns’ lead to 103-102 with three minutes remaining in the game. After a series of baskets, Sochan’s 3-pointer cut it to 108-107 with a minute remaining.
“Really proud,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “Great effort against a good basketball team, a very good basketball team. Lot of guys played, a lot of guys participated. They played physically, they played hard, did everything they could do. A couple of guys, Chris and Mikal took over during the overtime, made shots. Keldon tried to keep us in it, those guys kind of took over.”
After Bridges hit an 11-footer, Johnson responded with a three-point play to tie it at 110 with 47.8 seconds left.
Ayton completely missed the rim on an attempted hook shot with 31.1 seconds remaining and the Spurs missed a series of shots as regulation ended.
“They’re not just not a prideful team, they have championship DNA all through the organization,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. “We knew any Pop-coached team was going to evaluate and look at things they could do better.”
Ayton finished with 23 points.
Playing without Devin Booker, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet and Jae Crowder, the Suns still managed to overcome the beleaguered Spurs. San Antonio has lost five straight and 10 of its past 11 games.
“It’s big. (The injuries have) forced him to be more aggressive,” Paul said of Bridges.
Keita Bates-Diop had 14 points and Doug McDermott added 10 points for the Spurs.
Cameron Johnson had 15 points for the Suns.
Phoenix has won six straight in San Antonio and its last seven against the Spurs.
TIP-INS
Suns: Phoenix’s last loss in San Antonio was Jan. 29, 2019, when San Antonio forward Rudy Gay hit a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer for a 126-124 victory. The Suns’ previous loss to the Spurs was 111-85 on April 17, 2021. . A strained left groin has kept Booker out of the lineup since Dec. 25. Phoenix is 7-10 without Booker. . Payne and Shamet both sat out with foot injuries.
Spurs: George Karl, who played three seasons in the ABA with the Spurs and two in the NBA, was honored following the first quarter. Karl played his entire career with the Spurs before embarking on a 27-year coaching career in which he won 1,175 games for six franchises. Karl received an ovation after a video highlighting his time in San Antonio was played as part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebration. . Vassell missed his 13th straight game with a left knee injury that resulted in surgery Jan. 11. . Langford missed the game with left abductor tightness and Richardson was out with sore left knee.
LITTLE HELP
Ayton was forced to use an iPhone charger as a belt after forgetting to pack his. The Suns center wore the charger to the AT&T Center but took it off after initially wearing it after getting dressed following the game.
Booker, who did not play but was with the team, understood. Booker showed Ayton he had to use a shoelace as a belt.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host Toronto on Monday night.
Spurs: Host Washington on Monday night.
JAZZ HOLD OFF LATE RALLY, BEAT DONCIC-LESS MAVERICKS 108-100
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points, Malik Beasley added 19 and the Utah Jazz took advantage of Dallas star Luka Doncic’s absence to beat the Mavericks 108-100 on Saturday night.
Doncic sat out because of a sprained left ankle.
Jordan Clarkson added 14 points for Utah, and Walker Kessler had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks.
The Jazz rolled out three big men in their starting lineup with great success. Kessler is 7-foot-1, Markkanen stands at 7-foot, and Kelly Olynyk 6-11.
Their presence helped the Jazz go 12-of-18 from the field in the first quarter and shoot 60% from the field overall in the first half. Defensively, Utah finished with a 49-31 advantage on rebounds.
“I think it’s a good look,” Markkanen said. “It’s gonna be a tough matchup. And we just got to be able to dominate the rebounds with that lineup, so we’ll get better.”
Spencer Dinwiddie had 35 points and eight assists for Dallas. Reggie Bullock had 19 points, and Josh Green and Dorian Finney-Smith chipped in 11 apiece.
“With this game, we left some things on the floor for sure,” Dinwiddie said.
After trailing by double digits for much of the game, Dallas cut it to 103-98 on Bullock’s 3-pointer. Markkanen countered with a 3-pointer on the other end to keep the Mavericks from drawing closer and the Jazz held Dallas without a basket over the final 2 1/2 minutes.
“We’re getting better at closing the games and that’s what’s important,” Beasley said. “We’re learning as a team and learning as (individual) players what it takes.”
STEPPING UP
With Doncic sidelined and his status still day-to-day, Dinwiddie has emerged as the Mavericks’ primary offensive threat while filling in for the All-Star point guard. He has averaged 35.5 points and 8.5 assists over his past two games – while making 21 total baskets and 11 3-pointers in that stretch.
“You can’t change everything,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “You’re gonna try to put these guys in a position to be successful. Spencer has taken that challenge. You saw that in the Phoenix game. He’s not a rookie, so he understands what it means to be a leader.”
Dinwiddie’s elevated production highlights a comeback season for the veteran guard. He has started in 50 games for the Mavericks this season and missed only one contest after playing in just three games two seasons ago after tearing his ACL.
His presence offers a steadying influence to a Dallas offense missing its biggest star.
“Luka is one of a kind and you can’t replicate him, but Spencer Dinwiddie does a pretty good job of getting close in terms of their style of play,” Utah coach Will Hardy said.
TIP INS
Mavericks: Finney-Smith finished with a team-high nine rebounds and a season-high four assists. . Dallas scored 16 points off 17 Utah turnovers.
Jazz: Kessler blocked four shots in the first half. . Mike Conley finished with a game-high 11 assists. . Kelly Olynyk returned to action after missing eight games with a left ankle sprain.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Host Detroit on Monday night.
Jazz: Host Toronto on Wednesday night.
ACHIUWA LEADS RAPTORS TO 123-105 WIN OVER TRAIL BLAZERS
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Precious Achiuwa scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in place of the injured OG Anunoby to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 123-105 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and Gary Trent Jr. added 19 against his former team for the Raptors, who led by as many as 23 and never trailed. Scottie Barnes had 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Raptors were without Anunoby after he injured his left wrist Friday against Golden State. Coach Nick Nurse said X-rays were negative, but the team was still awaiting results of an MRI taken Saturday. Achiuwa stepped up in Anunoby’s absence.
“He was in the right place at the right time a lot tonight and that’s a good sign that he’s making himself available,” Nurse said. “He made really good reads and (teammates) found him and he made a couple of plays on his own.
“I was happy that he was available because teams will step up to Pascal when he’s driving.”
Damian Lillard scored 30 points and Jerami Grant 28 for Portland, which had 12 turnovers that led to 22 points for Toronto. The Trail Blazers were also outrebounded 45-27.
Lillard’s 3-pointer cut the Raptors’ lead to 94-90 with 8:41 left, but that was the closest the Blazers would get.
“They came out and imposed their will against us,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.
The Raptors answered with baskets on their next three possessions to make it 100-90 and forcing a timeout by the Blazers with 7:24 left. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was called for a technical foul during the timeout and Fred VanVleet extended the lead to 101-90.
A 3-pointer by Siakam made it 108-90 to send Portland fans to the exits.
“You’re on the road in a tough environment and they really banded together tonight really well,” Nurse said.
Nurse was also proud of the job Toronto did on Lillard, who was averaging over 38 points in his last 10 games entering Saturday.
“It was a pretty hard working 30,” Nurse said.
Toronto jumped out to a 37-14 lead after the first quarter, shooting 69% from the field while the Trail Blazers shot just 27%.
“I think the bad starts have become a trend,” Lillard said of the Blazers, who fell to 2-3 on their six-game homestand. “They came out with more energy than we did and more urgency than we did and they jumped out on us.
‘It was an uphill battle from that point on.”
The Blazers made a few runs in the first half, getting within 12 at 51-39 after a 3-pointer by Nassir Little. It wasn’t long before the Raptors extended their lead again. Achiuwa had two three-point plays to help the Raptors take a 63-44 lead into the break.
Grant hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and Portland cut into the deficit to make it 68-56.
Behind Grant’s scoring and better defense, the Blazers cut the Raptors’ lead to 88-83 heading into the fourth quarter. In addition to Grant’s 14 points in the third quarter, Anfernee Simons scored on consecutive possessions to end the quarter, including a buzzer-beating layup.
“Any time you dig yourself a hole in this league, on the one hand, you can always get back into the game because teams play so fast and the game is so long,” Lillard said. “On the other hand, you’re wearing yourself out trying to get yourself back into the game because you have to be close to perfect.”
TIP INS
Portland C Jusuf Nurkic (calf) and F Josh Hart (hamstring) both missed Saturday night’s game. Without two regular starters, the Blazers inserted C Drew Eubanks and Little into the starting lineup.
IN THE CROWD
Actor Will Ferrell was sitting courtside. After being introduced to the crowd, most of the arena stood to welcome him.
UP NEXT
Raptors: At Phoenix on Monday night.
Trail Blazers: Host Atlanta on Monday night.
WNBA NEWS
CANDACE PARKER TO SIGN WITH LAS VEGAS ACES
LAS VEGAS (AP) Former MVP Candace Parker announced on social media Saturday that she would sign with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Parker spent the past two seasons playing for her hometown Sky, leading Chicago to the WNBA championship in 2021. She posted on Instagram that Chicago would always be her home, but “my family’s home is on the west coast. She also won a championship playing for the Los Angeles Sparks.
“To play for a championship close to home is the perfect situation for us. I’m looking forward to continuing the journey this summer in Las Vegas.”
The free-agent signing period begins Wednesday.
NHL NEWS
NEWHOOK SCORES ON BIRTHDAY, AVALANCHE BEAT BLUES 4-2
DENVER (AP) Alex Newhook scored on his birthday for the second straight season, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Saturday for their seventh win in eight games.
Evan Rodrigues, J.T. Compher and Matt Nieto also scored for the Avalanche, and Logan O’Connor had two assists. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 26 shots.
Colorado had won six in a row before Thursday night’s 5-3 loss to lowly Anaheim. But the reigning Stanley Cup champions bounced back nicely in their final game before their bye week and the NHL All-Star break.
The banged-up Avalanche (27-18-3) could get some key players back after they return. Defensemen Josh Manson and Bowen Byram have been sidelined with lower-body injuries, but they have started skating in non-contact jerseys.
Ivan Barbashev and Brayden Schenn scored for St. Louis (23-24-3) in its fourth consecutive loss. Jordan Binnington made 27 saves.
“The positive of the game is we had a real good third period and we really pushed hard,” coach Craig Berube said. “That’s the competitiveness we need to see.”
The Blues were without second-leading scorer Robert Thomas, who left Thursday’s loss at Arizona with a lower-body injury.
Newhook, who turned 22 Saturday, scored his 12th of the season and third in the last four games at 9:22 of the first period.
“I think the celebration will be even better with the win,” he said.
Compher made it 2-0 when he scored on a rebound at 11:36, and Rodrigues made it 3-0 with his 11th goal 4:48 into the second on a return pass from Nathan MacKinnon.
“I gave it to him during the rush and caught it and shot it,” Rodrigues said.
Schenn scored on the power play at 16:27 of the second to get St. Louis on the board. Barbashev trimmed Colorado’s lead to 3-2 when he scored on a partial breakaway at 9:40 of the third. It was Barbashev’s ninth of the season.
Binnington came off for an extra skater with 1:26 left and Nieto scored into the empty net with 2.7 seconds left.
It was Nieto’s first goal since he was acquired in a trade with San Jose on Wednesday. It also helped prevent another third-period collapse for Colorado, which blew a lead against Anaheim on Thursday.
“I thought we played hard in the third period,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I don’t think we managed the puck well coming out of our zone but I thought we played hard.”
STOKING THE RIVALRY
Schenn’s power-play goal came a minute after Binnington took exception to O’Connor’s tap after a save. Binnington joined the scrum behind the net but no punches were thrown. He then skated to the bench while the sold-out crowd booed him.
“I love it. That was a fun atmosphere. And that was loud; 18,000 people hating on you, I don’t mind that,” Binnington said.
It added fuel to Binnington’s budding rivalry with the Avalanche. He was knocked out of a 2022 playoff series with a knee injury when former Colorado center Nazem Kadri collided with him in Game 3. Binnington threw an empty water bottle toward Kadri as he was doing an interview on national television.
St. Louis lost the series in six games.
WORTH NOTING
Avalanche RW Valeri Nichushkin missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. … With Thomas sidelined, Nikita Alexandrov centered St. Louis’ fourth line after being recalled from the minors. … The Blues have lost four or more games in a row three times this year.
UP NEXT
Blues: At Winnipeg on Monday.
Avalanche: At Pittsburgh on Feb. 7.
LIGHTNING BEAT KINGS 5-2 FOR 12TH STRAIGHT HOME WIN
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Brayden Point had a goal and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2 on Saturday night for a franchise-record 12th consecutive home win.
Victor Hedman, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Corey Perry and Ross Colton also scored for Tampa Bay, which has won three in a row overall. Rookie defenseman Nick Perbix had three assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves.
The Lightning surpassed the franchise mark of 11 straight home wins set in 2019-20 and defeated the Kings for the seventh straight time at Amalie Arena. The Lightning haven’t lost at home since Dec. 6 against Detroit.
“We get so motivated to play at home,” Colton said after the Lightning improved to 20-4-1 at Amalie Arena. “We have great fans and a great atmosphere.”
Tampa Bay swept a three-game homestand against Wild, Bruins and Kings to enter the All-Star break on an upswing.
“We played three tough teams – big, strong, fast playoff teams – and our guys handled it well,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “The only question was after the big win against the Bruins and the break coming up, how we would handle it. We did, and we got the points we needed. It makes for a better break.”
Los Angeles had won three in a row. Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Phillip Danault scored for the Kings, and Jonathan Quick made 20 saves.
“We haven’t been able to put a game together for Quickie,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar. “He’s been very solid back there. It’s frustrating.”
Tampa Bay went ahead to stay with two goals in a 79-second span in the first period.
Point scored at 5:02 on a quick shot from Quick’s doorstep. Nikita Kucherov set up Point’s 29th goal when he picked up a bad pass behind the net and made a quick centering feed.
Bellemare made it 2-0 at 6:21 with a wrist shot from the high slot after a giveaway by Kings defenseman Sean Durzi.
“Communication in the (defensive) zone, giving up a lot of chances down the pipe. We had to take away chances through the middle, and we didn’t at the start,” Kings forward Al Iafallo said. “When you don’t communicate, it leads to individual (mistakes). As a whole, we didn’t get it done defensively.”
The Kings got one back at 10:12 when Anderson-Dolan’s shot from the top of the left circle hit Vasilevskiy’s glove and snuck between his pads. But Perry made it 3-1 at 15:57, beating Quick from the lower left circle.
Colton scored on a rebound of Perbix’s shot at 15:20 of the second.
“He was rewarded tonight,” Cooper said of Perbix, a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft. “He put pucks on the net in the right spot. His game keeps improving.”
Danault got credit for his 14th at 19:08 when his pass from the right corner was deflected into the net by Lightning defenseman Ian Cole.
The Lightning went more than 16 minutes without a shot in the third period before Hedman’s one-timer from the left point beat Quick.
STREAKING
Steven Stamkos had an assist on Hedman’s goal to extend his point streak to 11 games. … Kucherov’s assist was his league-leading 53rd. He has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) during a six-game point streak. … The Lightning are 20-0-0 when leading after the first period.
STAT SHOTS
Perry, who spent most of his career with the Anaheim Ducks, has 25 career goals against his longtime Southern California rival, including 11 against Quick. . The Kings’ last win at Amalie Arena was a 4-2 victory on Feb. 7, 2015.
UP NEXT
Kings: Complete a six-game trip at Carolina on Tuesday.
Lightning: Off until they visit Florida on Feb. 6.
COUTURE LEADS SHARKS PAST PENGUINS 6-4 TO END FOUR-GAME SKID
PITTSBURGH (AP) Logan Couture and the San Jose Sharks made sure they didn’t let a late third-period lead slip away for a second consecutive night.
Couture had two goals and three assists for his first career five-point game as the San Jose Sharks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4 on Saturday night to snap a four-game skid.
One night earlier, Carolina tied the game with two goals in the final 1:37 and won in overtime, but the Sharks held off the Penguins 24 hours later.
“I’m not going to lie, it was tough going to sleep because you get (into Pittsburgh) late and you’re up for a few hours thinking about how that one (in Carolina) ended,” Couture said. “To the guys’ credit, we forgot about that one pretty quickly and rebounded well.”
Alexander Barabanov had a goal and two assists, Erik Karlsson added a goal and an assist, and Michael Eyssimont and Noah Gregor also scored for the Sharks, who are 4-5-4 in their last 13 games. Marc-Edouard Vlasic had two assists and Kaapo Kahkonen made 37 saves.
Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist to pass Stan Mikita for sole possession of 15th-place on the NHL’s all-time points list with 1,469 – 62 points behind Paul Coffey for 14th. Crosby also tied Mikita for 32nd-place with his 541 goal – three behind Maurice Richard in 31st.
Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist, and Ryan Poehling added a short-handed goal for Pittsburgh, which snapped a six-game point streak (3-0-3). Casey DeSmith stopped 26 shots.
“It’s frustrating when we beat ourselves because we don’t manage the puck appropriately in the critical areas of the rink,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “When you look at some of the goals they scored, it was a direct result of that.”
Malkin tied the score 4-4 at 10:06 of the third with a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot. Malkin is four points from 1,200 for his career.
Couture put the Sharks ahead for good 5 1/2 minutes later as he converted a 2-on-1 with Barabanov after a Pittsburgh turnover and a bad defensive line change.
Couture added an empty-netter with 10 seconds remaining to seal the win.
“(Couture) was huge, not only with the points, but the way he played,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “He really made sure that we weren’t going to lose tonight.”
Eyssimont opened the scoring 1:25 into the game with his third career goal, and second in two games. He was claimed off waivers from Winnipeg earlier this month.
Malkin answered at 5:45 with a power-play goal. Crosby had an assist on the play to break a tie with Mikita on the points list and extend his points streak to seven games.
Crosby put Pittsburgh in front with 7:05 left in the first with the Penguins’ second power-play goal of the night and eighth in the last six games. Crosby initially tipped Malkin’s point shot and converted his own rebound near the post. Jake Guentzel stretched his point streak to five games with an assist on the play.
Karlsson scored his 16th with 6.5 seconds left in the first period to tie the score 2-2. It was his 65th point of the season, passing Sandis Ozolinsh for fifth-most in a season by a defenseman in franchise history.
Gregor put the Sharks ahead when he converted a rebound behind DeSmith at 4:54 of the second.
Poehling tied it 3-3 with a short-handed goal with 5:06 left in the second, but Barabanov put the Sharks in front again with 2:53 remaining in the period.
UP NEXT
Sharks: At Tampa Bay on Feb. 7 to return from the All-Star break and continue an eight-game trip.
Penguins: Host Colorado on Feb. 7.
CARTER HART MAKES 40 SAVES, FLYERS BEAT JETS 4-0
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Carter Hart made 40 saves for his first shutout of the season in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 4-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night.
“It’s obviously nice,” Hart said. “There were a lot of big blocks, a lot of good sticks in lanes. They do a lot of seam passes and we did a good job of denying that.”
Noah Cates had a goal and an assist, Kieffer Bellows, Owen Tippett and Tony DeAngelo also scored, and Rasmus Ristolainen added two assists in the Flyers’ final game before the All-Star break.
“Going into the break, you just empty the tank and you’re not too worried about how you’re going to feel for the next game,” Cates said. “We’re feeling good about ourselves going into the break with a win. We’ve had a really good month here in January and we’ve got a couple of more big months coming down the stretch.”
Philadelphia (21-21-9) is 7-1-1 in its last nine road games.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26 shots for Winnipeg before being relieved by David Rittich. Rittich made three saves.
The Jets have lost three straight to drop to 31-19-1.
DeAngelo scored on set-up from Scott Laughton at 6:48 of the third period, the goal that chased Hellebuyck from the net.
Tippett scored on a breakaway early in the third period to give Philadelphia a 3-0 lead. Ristolainen sent a long pass from deep in his own end to Tippett, who beat Hellebuyck cleanly.
Philadelphia made it 2-0 midway through the second period on Bellows’s first goal of the season.
UP NEXT
Jets: Host St. Louis on Monday night.
Flyers: Host New York Islanders on Monday, Feb. 6.
GAUDREAU SECURES SHOOTOUT WIN AS WILD BEAT BUFFALO 3-2
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Mats Zuccarello, Kirill Kaprizov and Freddy Gaudreau scored in the shootout, lifting the Minnesota Wild past the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Saturday night.
Joel Eriksson Ek and Jared Spurgeon had goals in regulation for Minnesota, which headed into its All-Star break with two wins in a row.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots for the Wild, including a sprawling save to thwart Tage Thompson on a wraparound try with about eight minutes left in regulation. He also made a pair of stops about four minutes later with Buffalo buzzing in the Wild’s end.
“You saw this morning that we’re out of the playoffs, right? Not fun to see. A good win tonight and a good two points,” Fleury said. “At least now we’ve got seven days to see ourselves in the playoffs. Then when we get back, get back to business.”
Thompson scored in the shootout for Buffalo, but Jack Quinn was stopped by Fleury, and Gaudreau secured the win for Minnesota.
Wild coach Dean Evason hates shootouts, but will gladly take the result.
“We have a couple world-class goalies,” he said, “and those three guys have been pretty good for us at the top.”
Added Gaudreau: “Zuccy and Kirill are spectacular.”
Minnesota has seven post-regulation wins this year, four via shootout. Since the start of the last season, the Wild lead the NHL with 23 victories in extra-session games.
Quinn and Zemgus Girgensons scored in regulation for Buffalo, which earned seven of eight points on a road trip through much of the Central Division that included victories in Dallas, St. Louis and Winnipeg. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 33 saves for the Sabres, a league-best 12-2-2 on the road since Nov. 22.
“Not what we wanted tonight, but to get seven out of eight points is a pretty good job by that group,” coach Don Granato said.
With the shootout loss, Buffalo has points in seven straight road contests for the first time since Feb. 8 to March 6, 2011.
“It’s a long trip we’re on now,” Girgensons said. “They’re not easy. And especially at the end of it, it’s hard to push it. I thought we did a pretty good job.”
Buffalo went up by one twice in the first two periods, only to see Minnesota quickly respond each time.
Early in the first, Quinn took advantage of a turnover by Minnesota and beat Fleury with a wrister from the slot, but Eriksson Ek converted a feed from Kaprizov 73 seconds later on the power play.
Left open at the back post, Girgensons converted a pass from Kyle Okposo midway through the second period. But less than three minutes later, Gaudreau found Spurgeon coming low in the left circle and delivered a perfect feed for an easy redirect.
Rasmus Dahlin thought he gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead, but his rebound crossed the goal line less than a second after the middle period expired.
“I thought it was in,” Fleury said. “The horn was a little bit delayed, right? It was after the puck went in, so I was like, `Ahh.’ Extra emotions, right? Like, `Ahh.’ Then, `Yay.’ That was good.”
SABRES SANS TWO
Buffalo D Mattias Samuelsson took part in the morning skate, but missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. C Dylan Cozens, fifth on the team with 17 goals and 43 points, missed his first game with an undisclosed injury. Both were game-time decisions. C Rasmus Asplund and D Kale Clague took their spots.
“We’ve played lots of hockey, and I don’t want to make things worse at this point,” Granato said. “We’re in a good position moving forward.”
UP NEXT
Sabres: At home on Feb. 1 vs. Carolina.
Wild: At Arizona on Feb. 6.
OILERS HEAD INTO ALL-STAR BREAK WITH WIN OVER BLACKHAWKS
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Tyson Barrie scored twice, Connor McDavid had his NHL-best 41st goal and the Edmonton Oilers headed into their All-Star break with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.
McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman each had a goal and two assists, and Evander Kane and Ryan McLeod also scored for the Oilers (28-18-4). They are 7-0-1 in their last eight games.
Jason Dickinson, Jonathan Toews and Taylor Raddysh scored for the Blackhawks (15-29-4). They have lost three of their last four.
Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner came down with a sudden illness, forcing them to activate emergency backup goalie Matt Berlin, a player from the University of Alberta Golden Bears. With the big lead, the Oilers put him in net with 2:26 to play, and he stopped the only shot he faced.
Jack Campbell started and made 25 saves for the Oilers.
Petr Mrazek scored 36 shots for Chicago.
UP NEXT:
Blackhawks: Host Anaheim on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Oilers: At Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
WENNBERG SCORES AGAINST FORMER TEAM, KRAKEN TOP BLUE JACKETS
SEATTLE (AP) Alex Wennberg scored midway through the second period against his former team to help the Seattle Kraken beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night.
Wennberg, who was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the first round in 2013, had his 10th goal of the season in his 600th career game.
Morgan Geekie and Eeli Tolvanen also scored for Seattle, former Blue Jacket Oliver Bjorkstrand had an assist, and Phillip Grubaruer made 24 saves.
Kent Johnson scored for Columbus, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 shots.
After Wennberg’s gave the Kraken a 2-0 lead, Johnson put Columbus on the board late in the seecond. Tolvanen scored at 5:39 mark of the third.
NORES: The Blue Jackets placed LW Gustav Nyquist (upper body) on injured reserve, and claimed Vancouver center Lane Pederson off waivers. . Columbus recalled defenseman Jake Christiansen from the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. . Seattle’s Matty Beniers missed his second straight game after taking a hard hit from Vancouver’s Tyler Myers on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: Host Washington on Tuesday night.
Kraken: At New York Islanders on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
**********************TOP INDIANA RELEASES***********************
PACERS BASKETBALL PREVIEW AT MEMPHIS
Two teams that have sputtered in recent weeks will try to get back to winning ways this weekend in The Volunteer State.
The Indiana Pacers (24-27) will get a chance to even the season series in their second and final regular season meeting against the Memphis Grizzlies (31-18) on Sunday at FedExForum.
Both Indiana and Memphis have struggled as of late, as the Pacers are 1-9 over their last 10 games and the Grizzlies have lost five games – all on the road – in a row.
Indiana enters the game coming off a 141-131 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night in Indianapolis.
The Pacers trailed by as many as 33 points against the Bucks, and gave up the most points in a first half in franchise history when they trailed 85-56 at halftime. In the second half, however, it was all Indiana, as the Pacers outscored the Bucks 75-56 in the final 24 minutes – getting within seven points in the final frame.
Six players scored in double figures for the Pacers, led by 24 points from Myles Turner, 22 by Buddy Hield and 21 by rookie Bennedict Mathurin. T.J. McConnell also had a strong outing with 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Blue & Gold.
McConnell has been putting up solid numbers while taking over starting point guard duties for Tyrese Haliburton, who has been sidelined with left knee and elbow sprains since Jan. 11. Over the last 10 games, McConnell is averaging 14.2 points, 7.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game and is shooting 64.6 percent.
Mathurin has scored at least 20 points in each of the last four games and continues to lead all bench players in scoring.
During the recent 10-game stretch, the Pacers are averaging 114.6 points on 44.1 percent shooting (31.0 percent from 3-point range), 46.3 rebounds and 17.9 turnovers per game.
Despite the recent streak of losses, the Grizzlies still sit in second place in the Western Conference, trailing just the Denver Nuggets (34-15). The Grizzlies have been particularly good at home, with a record of 20-3 on their own floor.
The Grizzlies have ranked among the top scoring teams all season, and currently sit fifth at 117.5 per game – including No. 1 in points in the paint per game (59.4) and second in fastbreak points (17.9). They’ve also been dominant on the defensive end, ranking second in defensive rating at 109.8.
Memphis also is the top rebounding team in the NBA at 48.7 per game.
Memphis is led by All-Star point guard Ja Morant, the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2022 Most Improved Player, who is averaging 27.3 points on 46.5 percent shooting, 8.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game this season.
Six players are averaging double digits in scoring, with Desmond Bane (21.6), Jaren Jackson Jr. (16.2) and Dillon Brooks (15.8) all putting up more than 15 points per contest.
This time around, the Grizzlies will be without center Steven Adams, who will be sidelined for three to five weeks due to a knee injury. Adams ranks fourth in rebounding average among all players at 11.5 per game.
The Grizzlies enter the game coming off a 111-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Morant had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in the game.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – T.J. McConnell, G – Chris Duarte, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Myles Turner
Grizzlies: G – Ja Morant, G – Ziaire Williams, F – Jaren Jackson Jr., F – Dillon Brooks, C – Brandon Clarke
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – out (left elbow sprain, left knee sprain), Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery)
Grizzlies: Kennedy Chandler – available (nasal fracture/face mask), Desmond Bane – doubtful (sore right knee), Danny Green – doubtful (left knee surgery recovery), Steven Adams – out (right knee PCL sprain), John Konchar – out (concussion protocol)
Last Meeting
Jan. 14, 2023: Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Grizzlies continued their hot play by topping the Pacers 130-112 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Grizzlies led 68-52 at halftime and didn’t trail the rest of the way as they cruised to the win.
Memphis took advantage of 19 Indiana turnovers by outscoring the Blue & Gold 38-13 in fastbreak points. Memphis also held a 70-46 advantage in points in the paint despite being outrebounded 49-45.
Six players scored in double figures for the Grizzlies, led by 25 points from Bane and 23 from Morant, who also had 10 assists. With the big lead heading into the final frame, neither Morant or Bane played in the fourth quarter.
Chris Duarte scored 25 points off the bench and Mathurin had 16 points to lead the Pacers.
From the field, the Pacers shot 36.9 percent, including 23.4 percent from 3-point range, while the Grizzlies shot 55.2 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from deep.
Noteworthy
Hield is just four 3-pointers away from becoming the third player in Pacers franchise history to make 200 3-pointers in a single season. Reggie Miller holds the franchise record with 229 in 1996-97 and Paul George made 210 in 2015-16.
Rookie Andrew Nembhard returned on Friday for the Pacers and played 20 minutes off the bench after missing two games due to a non-COVID illness.
Jaren Jackson Jr. started his high school career with Park Tudor School in Indianapolis before transferring to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind. for his senior year. Bane is a native of Richmond, Indiana, and played high school basketball there. Grizzlies rookie Jake LaRavia is from Indianapolis and graduated from Lawrence Central.
The Pacers’ Oshae Brissett, Nembhard, and Mathurin, as well as the Grizzlies’ Brooks and Clarke are all Canadian.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers welcome LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:00 PM ET.
ALSO:
The Pacers have signed center Myles Turner to a two-year, $60 million contract with $17.1 million added to his 2022-23 salary bringing it to approximately $35.1 million according to a report from The Athletic.on Saturday afternoon.
Turner is in the midst of his most productive season as a professional, averaging 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, both career highs. He also has career bests in field goal percentage (.544), 3-point field goal percentage (.391) and effective field goal percentage (.611).
INDY FUEL: FUEL LOSE OVERTIME BATTLE TO ICEMEN
INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel hosted the Jacksonville Icemen for the second night in a row after falling to them on Friday night 5-4. Though the scoring looked a little different, they faced the same outcome on Saturday, losing 5-4 again, this time in overtime.
1ST PERIOD
Much like they did last night, Jacksonville came out with a lot of speed. They were able to score first and early. At just 1:23 of the first period, Victor Hadfield scored to put the Icemen up 1-0. At 9:41, Ryan Lohin added on another goal for the Icemen making it 2-0.
Despite being down 2-0, Indy outshot Jacksonville 11-7 in the first period. Only one penalty was handed out to each team, the latest being a tripping call handed to Fuel captain Keoni Texeira at 19:19 that would carry over into the second period.
2ND PERIOD
Lohin got his second goal of the game at 5:43 of the middle frame after a lengthy goal review proved the initial call wrong. He made it 3-0 for Jacksonville.
About three minutes later, Seamus Malone broke the shutout and scored for the Fuel with the help of Shane Kuzmeski and Luc Brown. That sparked some momentum for Indy. They had a few good chances in a row but Williams stood strong in net for Jacksonville.
Feelings seemed to intensify as a few scuffles resulted in a handful of penalties being handed out to both sides. The Fuel were held to just five shots in that period despite several close chances.
3RD PERIOD
Just two minutes into the period, Easton Brodzinski was given a five minute major penalty as well as a game misconduct penalty for boarding on Texeira who was slow to get up and quickly left the ice.
At 3:30 in the third, Carson Rose tallied his second goal of the season to make it 3-2 for Indy on the power play. Just over thirty seconds later, Luc Brown tied it up for Indy with another power play goal.
While still on the power play, Seamus Malone scored his second goal of the game to put Indy ahead for the first time this game.
At 8:49 in the third frame, Andrew Perrott took an interference call. As time expired on that penalty, Jacksonville’s Garret Cockerill scored. This tied the game again for the Icemen 4-4.
At the end of regulation, the game was still tied at four with the Fuel outshooting Jacksonville 27-26. The last minute of play, the Icemen heavily dominated possession but the Fuel defended well to force overtime.
OVER TIME
There were a few great chances on both sides of the ice to start the seven-minute 3-on-3 period but it was ultimately Christopher Brown for Jacksonville who scored the game winner.
The Fuel collected one point for forcing overtime and remain in first place in the Central division with 56 points.
INDIANA MBB
HOOSIERS BEAT BUCKEYES FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Jalen Hood-Schifino doesn’t rattle or doubt easily, even when under the weather.
Ohio State paid the price.
The freshman point guard shook off recent shooting struggles with veteran poise and confidence during Saturday night’s 86-70 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. A non-Covid illness didn’t affect him. He totaled 24 points, made six three-pointers, added three assists, two steals and a block and, in short, played to the point-guard level his coach expects.
“I told him before the game, you’ve got to play when you’re sick,” coach Mike Woodson said. “I had some of my best games when I was sick. I can’t feel sorry for you. We need you. He performed.”
In his previous two games, Hood-Schifino was 3-for-17 from the field. In his last five games, he was 1-for-12 from three-point range. He’d only scored 18 points in the last three games.
On Saturday night, that was as relevant as black-and-white TVs.
Woodson called it a professional approach, which are among the reasons why Hood-Schifino has started the entire season as a freshman.
“Even when he wasn’t putting the ball in the hole, he was doing other things,” said Woodson, who was back on the sideline after missing Wednesday night’s Minnesota victory with Covid. “He’s defending He’s battling. He’s gotten some rebounds.”
Hood-Schifino also takes hard coaching.
“When he messes up,” Woodson said, “I let him know it. When I challenge him, he listens. He doesn’t bark back. He’s serious about it.”
Freshman forward Malik Reneau, who was a Florida high school teammate of Hood-Schifino, is well aware of that serious approach.
“He’s ready to go at any moment,” Reneau said. “He prepares mentally and physically. When he gets on a hot streak, we keep supporting him and give him that confidence to keep performing.”
The Hoosiers (15-6, 6-4 in the Big Ten) won their fifth straight game, their longest conference winning streak since winning their last five to take the 2016 Big Ten title.
Ohio State (11-10, 3-7) lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Despite missing multiple layups, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continued his dominating way. He had a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) while adding six assists. Multiple Buckeyes refused to challenge him inside, passing up close shots to get the ball to others. He still blocked two shots and had a steal.
“I think he slowed himself down,” Woodson said. “He missed a lot of chippies.
“(Look at his numbers) and that’s a man’s game. You’re not going to make every shot around the bucket, but it puts pressure on the defense guard him. I’m pleased seeing where he finished.”
Reneau capitalized on some of Jackson-Davis’ misses, plus Ohio State’s defensive attention on Jackson-Davis, to total 15 points and eight rebounds. It was his second straight double-figure scoring game and continued a strong seven-game stretch.
“I’m calming down on the court and letting the game come to me,” he said.
Freshman forward Kaleb Banks made the most of his 12 minutes with five points and seven rebounds. It was his most action since playing 16 minutes against Jackson State in late November.
“He’s been patient with me,” Woodson said. “He’s been very in tune to what we’re doing in practice and walk-throughs. It was time to give him an opportunity, and he shined.”
The Hoosiers shot 50 percent from the field and from three-point range in another example of their improved outside shooting from previous seasons.
“It’s work and putting in the time,” Woodson said. “It started this summer. You feel good when the shot goes up, that it’s going in.”
Forward Jordan Geronimo didn’t play after re-aggravating a previous leg injury. Center Logan Duncombe was sidelined by a non-Covid illness.
Ohio State jumped out to a 9-2 start. Hood-Schifino shot the Hoosiers to a 13-9 advantage, connecting on three three-pointers and a 2-point basket.
Hood-Schifino kept shooting, and scoring. He reached 17 points on 5-for-5 three-point shooting in 10 minutes. Add a Banks layup off an offensive rebound, a pair of Tamar Bates free throws off a technical foul on Ohio State coaches, and then a Reneau basket, and IU led 27-21.
“(Hood-Schifino) got off to a hot start,” Woodson said, “and we needed every bit of it. He was the only guy putting the ball in the hole, and his defense stayed solid.”
The Buckeyes rallied for a 29-29 tie. Woodson used a timeout to make a defensive point.
“I told them, we’re trading buckets. Somebody has to make a (defensive) stand. We got a lot of stops. We made plays in the open court to get the cushion we needed.”
IU responded with a 17-1 run for a 46-30 halftime lead. Hood-Schifino led with 20 points and six three-pointers.
“We went on that run,” Woodson said, “and that sealed the game.”
The Hoosiers scored to open the second half for an 18-point lead. Ohio State responded with a 7-0 run. Forward Race Thompson ended that with a three-point play.
The Buckeyes were finished.
Next up is a Tuesday night trip to Maryland before the Hoosiers host rival and top-ranked Purdue next Saturday.
PURDUE MBB
#1 PURDUE HOSTS MICHIGAN STATE IN SUNDAY SHOWDOWN
GAMEDAY INFO
Sunday, January 29, 2023
[1] Purdue (20-1, 9-1) vs. Michigan State (14-7, 6-4)
West Lafayette, Indiana | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: CBS | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Spero Dedes, Bill Raftery, Jay Wright
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• Purdue opens the second half of the league season with one of the top-rivalry games in the Big Ten as Michigan State returns to Mackey Arena to close out the season series. The two teams are meeting for the second time in 13 days as Purdue edged the Spartans 64-63 on Jan. 16, at the Breslin Center.
• Beginning Sunday, six of Purdue’s final 10 league games are in Mackey Arena. Sunday’s game marks the first time in Mackey Arena history that The Paint Crew will watch the Boilermakers as the No. 1-ranked team in the country.
• Today’s game marks the most combined overall wins for two coaches in a game in Big Ten history (1,084 — actually tied with Knight and Keady; more on page 2). It marks just the third time in league history that two coaches with at least 400 wins will square off against each other.
• A win over Michigan State on Sunday would give Purdue a regular-season sweep (min. 3 games) of the two Michigan schools for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• Purdue’s 20-1 record is the program’s best 21-game start in school history. A win over Michigan State will give Purdue a 21-1 record through 22 games, just the fourth time since 2000 that a Big Ten team would start 21-1 (2011 Ohio State; 2007 Wisconsin; 2005 Illinois).
• Purdue’s 9-1 start in Big Ten play is the program’s best since starting 12-0 in the 2017-18 season. The 9-1 start marks the seventh 9-1 start or better in Purdue history (2023, 2018, 2008, 1990, 1988, 1984, 1969).
• Purdue can claim America’s best resume, leading the country with eight quad-1 wins, five of them against teams ranked in the NCAA Net’s top 30 (Gonzaga, Ohio State, West Virginia, Marquette, Duke). Seven of the wins (Marquette) have come away from Mackey Arena.
• After being one of the final two teams in the country with zero losses (New Mexico was last), Purdue is now one of three teams nationally with just one loss (Purdue, Florida Atlantic, College of Charleston). Purdue is one of just two high-major programs with two or fewer losses (Purdue, Alabama). Purdue became the first high-major program to reach the 20-win plateau. Purdue was also first to reach 20 in 2017-18.
• Purdue has MADE 328 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 201. Purdue has made 182 more free throws (328 to 146) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +182, North Carolina +169, Providence +139, New Mexico +128, Iowa +127).
• Over the last seven games, Purdue is shooting 83.3 percent (80-96) from the FT line. Opponents have made just 37 free throws in that span.
• Purdue ranks sixth nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.4) and is first nationally in opponent free throw attempts per game (9.6). The average is the lowest for an opponent since at least the 2010-11 season (lowest mark is 11.2 by Virginia in 2019-20).
• Purdue has held 22 straight opponents to 70 points or less, tied for second-longest streak in the country (Saint Mary’s – 22).
• Purdue returned to No. 1 in this week’s AP Top 25 rankings for the second time this season. Purdue is the sixth Big Ten team to voted No. 1 twice in the same season (Indiana – 2013, 1993; Michigan – 1977, 1965; Ohio State – 2011). Purdue is 7-2 all-time as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team with both losses coming on buzzer-beaters by Rutgers.
• Zach Edey ranks No. 1 in the KenPom POY ratings by a significant margin and has been the game MVP in 15 of the 20 Purdue games that he has played in (missed New Orleans with the flu). Edey has scored 10 or more points in 37 straight games — the nation’s longest streak.
• Perhaps our favorite Zach Edey stat: Through his 20 games this year, he has more blocked shots (45) than personal fouls (32). He has also played 30 minutes 14 times this season after not doing it once in his first two seasons. Edey is averaging just 2.0 fouls / 40 minutes.
• Fletcher Loyer was named the Big Ten’s Player and Freshman of the Week (Jan. 17) becoming the first freshman since Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn in Nov. 2019, to win Player of the Week honors, and the first Purdue freshman since Robbie Hummel in Feb. 2008, to earn the honor.
• Loyer and classmate Braden Smith have each made 16 free throws in a row. Over the last seven games, the duo is 35-38 (.921) from the line.
PURDUE WBB
PURDUE HEADS TO COLUMBUS TO FACE NO. 2 BUCKEYES
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Coming off a win over No. 22 Illinois on Thursday night, the Purdue women’s basketball team will travel to Columbus to face No. 2/5 Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at Value City Arena. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on B1G+.
Tim Newton will hit the airways for the Purdue Radio Network on 95.3 BOB FM.
GAME INFORMATION
Purdue (14-6, 5-5) at No. 2/5 Ohio State (19-2 ,8-2)
Sunday, Jan. 29
Time: 1 PM
TV: B1G+
Radio: 95.3 BOB FM
Live Stats: Purduestats.com
LAST TIME OUT
The Boilermakers dominated on the defensive end to knock off No. 22 Illinois last Thursday, 62-52. The Illini entered the game as the most accurate Big Ten team behind the 3-point line, only for Purdue to hold them to 4-of-26 (15.4%) from distance. Abbey Ellis tallied 16 points, while Jeanae Terry recorded her third double-double of the campaign with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
NOTES
• Purdue trails the all-time to Ohio State 31-49.
• Sunday will be the second of three straight games against a ranked opponent for the Boilermakers – at No. 22 Illinois (W, 62-52), at No. 2/5 Ohio State and vs. No. 6 Indiana.
• Ellis has steadily climbed the national ranks to move up to 11th in free throw percentage, now at 89.7% on the year.
• Jeanae Terry posted her third double-double of the season on Thursday night with 10 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. The Detroit native is one of five players in the nation to record five points, assists and rebounds in 10 different games this season.
• After holding its last two opponents to under 33% shooting, Purdue jumped up to third in the Big Ten with an opponent field goal clip of 37.9%. The Boilermakers are 10-1 this season when holding an opponent to 40% shooting or worse.
• Aiding to Purdue’s multi-headed attack, the Boilermakers are getting an average of 22.7 points per game from their bench.
•Caitlyn Harper crossed the 1,500-point mark for her career against Illinois. Fellow transfer Lasha Petree needs 54 points to hit 2,000.
• Reaching double figures in three of the last four games, Abbey Ellis has averaged 21.3 points per game during that stretch.
• Purdue has picked up 18 wins against AP top-5 opponents with the last one coming against No. 4 Texas A&M in 2011.
BUTLER MBB
BUTLER FALLS TO SETON HALL SATURDAY AT HINKLE FIELDHOUSE
Visiting Seton Hall used a strong first half to pull away from Butler and post an 70-49 win Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
With the result, Seton Hall improves to 13-9 on the season and 6-5 in BIG EAST play.
Butler falls to 11-12 (3-9 BIG EAST).
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
Seton Hall used a 14-3 run to take a 19-9 lead with 10:53 to play in the first half, which was the first time the lead got to double figures.
Butler scored only four points over the final nine minutes of the first half as Seton Hall extended its advantage to 38-18 at the half, the largest lead of the game at that point.
The Pirates’ lead maxed out at 27 early in the second half.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Seton Hall scored 34 points in the paint, with 22 of those coming in the first half as the visitors pulled away.
Seton Hall’s 37-30 rebounding advantage included a 21-8 margin in the first half.
Dre Davis scored 15 points to lead Seton Hall; he made all three of this three-point attempts.
Davis was one of four Pirates in double figures.
Seton Hall shot 48 percent from the field, but was well above 50 percent until the closing minutes.
Butler was led in scoring by Simas Lukosius, who had 11 points.
Jalen Thomas had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Thomas and Connor Turnbull each had three blocks for Butler, while Manny Bates added two. The team’s nine blocked tied for the second-most of the season.
OF NOTE:
Chuck Harris left the game in the first half after a collision and did not return. He played only 11 minutes in the contest.
Butler entered Saturday’s game having played the ninth-toughest schedule nationally according to KenPom.
Seton Hall won the first match-up between the two teams by a score of 76-51 Jan. 7 in Newark.
Seton Hall has won seven of the last eight most recent match-ups in the series.
Saturday’s loss was Butler’s fourth straight defeat.
Butler is 8-4 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season.
Four of Butler’s final eight BIG EAST regular season games will come against Marquette and Xavier, the two teams that Butler has yet to face this season.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs have a week off before traveling to Marquette Saturday. The 2 p.m. (Eastern, 1 p.m. locally in Milwaukee) tip against the Top 25 Golden Eagles will air on FS1. Butler’s next home game is Feb. 7 against St. John’s.
BUTLER WBB
BUTLER TO HOST MARQUETTE SUNDAY AT 2 PM
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host Marquette on Sunday, Jan. 29 for a 2 PM tip at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Joey Lindstrom and Amber Stocks will call the action live on FloSports.com.
GameDay
Date: Sunday, Jan. 29
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – Statbroadcast
Watch: FloSports.com – BEDN
Bulldog Bits
– Sunday will be the 29th overall meeting between Butler and Marquette.
– There were 18 lead changes and seven ties between Butler and St. John’s on Wednesday night.
– Butler shot 50% from 3-point range, connecting on 10 of their 20 attempts from distance.
– Anna Mortag led Butler with three made 3-pointers; she scored 15 points vs. the Red Storm.
– Mortag scored in double figures for the first time since Dec. 4 (vs. DePaul).
– Rachel McLimore added 15 points, five assists, a season-high three steals and two rebounds.
– Sydney Jaynes filled up the box score with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, a steal and a block.
– Jaynes has recorded a block in five-straight games. She leads the team with 18 on the year.
– Jaynes has scored in double figures in four of her last five games.
– Tenley Dowell led Butler in rebounding for the third time this season at St. John’s (5).
– Butler made nine of their 12 shot attempts in the third quarter at St. John’s to take a lead in Queens.
– A 10-0 scoring run in the third gave BU an eight-point advantage over STJ at the 3:12 mark.
– Jessica Carrothers ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (51.4) and Sydney Jaynes ranks 10th (49.7).
– Carrothers also ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in steals (1.4).
– Shay Frederick recorded two rebounds at St. John’s to move her career total to 400!
– Kendall Wingler needs five more 3-pointers to reach 100 in her collegiate career.
– Marquette didn’t attempt a free throw in the first meeting vs. Butler.
– Marquette had 10 offensive rebounds vs. Butler on Dec. 18. They won the rebound battle 39-25.
Scouting Marquette
The Golden Eagles are 13-7 overall with a 6-5 mark in the BIG EAST after defeating Xavier on Wednesday night. Jordan King and Chloe Marotta are the top two players on the Marquette roster. King leads the team with a 16.0 scoring average and Marotta joins her in double figures by averaging 13.7 per game. The Golden Eagles rank second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (58.0), free throw percentage (76.8) and rebound margin (+5.1). Marotta is the best free throw shooter in the conference, having only missed four attempts all year (92.5). King has scored in double figures 16 times this season. She has topped 20 points eight times and poured in a season-high 31 points in 34 minutes vs. Providence.
All-Time Series vs. Marquette
Marquette leads the all-time series against Butler 19-9. The Golden Eagles have won six-straight over the Bulldogs with every win during that stretch being by 14 points or more. Butler’s last win came during the 2019-20 season at Hinkle (61-55).
Butler’s Last Game vs. Marquette
Marquette used an evenly spread offensive attack and a dominant performance in the post to help secure the win over visiting Butler. Four different Golden Eagles finished in double-figures, led by Rose Nkumu’s game-high 15 points, while MU outscored the Bulldogs 46-20 in the paint. After an even start to the contest, the Golden Eagles closed out the first quarter on a 10-2 run to gain some separation, then carried that momentum into the second quarter. After the first two quarters, MU held a 34-24 advantage. Jessica Carrothers led Butler with 14 points, while Sydney Jaynes joined her double figures with 11.
Marquette’s Last Game
The Golden Eagles used suffocating defense and a strong second half to secure the victory, paced by the duo of Mackenzie Hare and Jordan King, who finished the night with 18 and 17 points, respectively. This was Hare’s second-straight game leading MU in the scoring column after going for 23 on Sunday against Seton Hall. Marquette (13-7, 6-5) led by 10 at the half, 28-18, before tallying a 21-point third quarter while holding Xavier (7-13, 0-11) to just 10 points in the period. Fernanda Ovalle led the Musketeers with nine points and seven rebounds on the night.
Behind The Arc
Butler ranks 7th in the NCAA and second in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (38.4). The Bulldogs average 7.6 made 3-point field goals per game (T-2nd in the BIG EAST) and hit 10 in a close loss at St. John’s in their last game. Butler shot 50 percent from behind the arc for the third time this season. They went 13-for-23 in a win over Binghamton (56.5) and 13-for-24 in a road win at Georgetown (54.2). Jessica Carrothers (50.0), Caroline Strande (47.2), Anna Mortag (43.9), and Trinity White (40.0) all shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range.
So Close
The Bulldogs have lost four games this season where they held at least a one-point lead over the opposition in the fourth quarter. BU led St. John’s (60-59) with 3:26 left; they led Illinois (51-50) with 7:40 left; they led DePaul (52-51) with 9:48 left, and they led IUPUI (55-54) with 2:51 left.
Trim the Turnovers
Butler had 20 turnovers at Marquette on Dec. 18, which led to 23 Golden Eagle points. In recent weeks, Butler has taken care of the ball to limit their turnovers. They committed just 11 turnovers at St. John’s on Wednesday and had a season-low five turnovers in their last home game vs. Providence.
Block Out
Marquette won the rebound battle against Butler in the first meeting 39-25. Offensive rebounds were lopsided at 10-2. The Golden Eagles were able to score 12 second chance points off those 10 offensive boards and they outscored BU in the paint 46-20.
Balanced Scoring
Butler has had a different leading scorer in four of their last five games. Kendall Wingler led BU with 23 points at Georgetown, Sydney Jaynes had 16 vs. Creighton and Caroline Strande posted 18 vs. Providence. Both Wingler and Strande set new career-highs during that stretch. Jaynes and Carrothers shared the team lead with seven points each at UConn and most recently, McLimore and Mortag shared the team lead with 15 points at St. John’s. McLimore has led BU in scoring the most this year (8x).
Searching for a Sunday Win
The Bulldogs are 0-5 this year when playing on Sunday, but three of their five Sunday opponents appear in the top 40 of the NET Rankings. The first meeting between BU and Marquette (39) was played on Sunday. The ‘Dawgs also faced Villanova (16), Illinois (34), DePaul (76) and IUPUI.
Home Games at Hinkle
Butler will play five of their final eight games of the regular season at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Two home games are next up on the schedule and the ‘Dawgs will play three-straight in Indianapolis from Feb. 15-24. Butler is 3-7 at home this year and Marquette is just 2-4 playing on the road. BU’s last home win came Dec. 7 vs. Southern Indiana.
St. John’s Recap
The Red Storm overcame an eight-point third-quarter deficit to score its 13th consecutive win inside Carnesecca Arena, snapping the previous record of 12 straight set in 1977-78 and 2009-10. Unique Drake led all scorers with 16 points off 7-of-10 shooting as St. John’s (17-3, 8-3 BIG EAST) finished with a season-best .529 clip while Butler (7-14, 2-10) posted a .481 shooting mark. The Red Storm led by two at the half, 32-30, which proved to be the difference after both squads scored 35 points over the final 20 minutes. Anna Mortag and Rachel McLimore tied for the Butler lead with 15 points apiece.
Up Next
Butler will open up the month of February with a home game against Villanova. The Wildcats will visit Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 4 for a 2 PM tip.
IUPUI WBB
JAGUARS EARN FOURTH-STRAIGHT #HLWBB WIN WITH VICTORY OVER MILWAUKEE, 78-68
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – The IUPUI women’s basketball team won their fourth-straight Horizon League game with a win over Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon, 78-68. Jazmyn Turner, Rachel Kent, Natalie Andersen and Destiny Perkins all finished in double-digit points.
The battle of the big cats started off even with the game knotted up at 20-20 after the first quarter. The Jags outsourced Milwaukee in the second quarter 17-16 to take the one-point lead heading into halftime. Turner scored 16 points and Perkins added in 10 points in just the second half to lead IUPUI to a ten-point lead to secure the win.
Turner led the offense with 23 points shooting 9-for-15 from the floor and totaled eight rebounds. Kent was just shy of a double-double again with 16 points and nine rebounds with five assists. Both Perkins and Andersen added ten points with Andersen chipping in four rebounds. Ali Berg brought down five boards with six points.
IUPUI shot 49.1 percent (27-for-55) from the floor and 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from behind the arc. The Jags outrebounded the Panthers 29 to 27.
The Jags look to continue their streak when they travel to Green Bay on Monday night. Tipoff will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 8:00 PM.
BALL STATE MBB
CARDINALS SOAR OVER HUSKIES ON THE ROAD
DEKALB, Ill. – The Ball State men’s basketball team returned to action for a Mid-American Conference road matchup with Northern Illinois on Saturday. Jarron Coleman led the team with 20 points and added a game-high six assists, as the Cardinals claimed an 87-69 victory over the Huskies.
The Cardinals ended a two-game skid and improved to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in MAC play. The Huskies fell to 8-13 overall and 4-4 in league play.
“It sounds crazy to say this as a coach, I wasn’t too concerned with the result today. I wanted to see us fight, compete, and get some of our edge back,” said Head Coach Michael Lewis. “I felt if we did that, we would put ourselves in the position to get the result we wanted. I was really pleased with came out in the first half and shared the ball. We had 12 assists on 16 made baskets. That dropped a little bit in the second half. We were doing some different things. We were working some clock and put some guys in situations that we have to handle better. I think we can clean up some areas on how we put teams away.”
Coleman led the Cardinals and tied for a game-high 20 points. He added a game-high six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Demarius Jacobs tallied 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Mickey Pearson Jr. finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and one block. Payton Sparks finished with a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with nine points.
The Cardinals started the game hot from 3-point range and took a 12-10 lead with 14:49 left in the first half. Ball State was 3-for-4 from long range. BSU held a 20-17 lead at the second media timeout. Ball State added an 11-0 run to extend its lead to 31-17 with 6:47 left until the break. During that stretch, Sparks recorded a steal and took it the length of the court for the fastbreak slam.
Northern Illinois answered with an 8-3 run and cut the deficit to 34-25 with 4:42 left in the half. The Cardinals were unfazed and went on a 10-1 run, capped off by a Bumbalough 3-pointer.
NIU ended the half on a 7-5 run, but BSU took a 49-33 lead into the break. The Cardinals finished the first half shooting 71.4 percent from 3-point range.
It was a back-and-forth battle for the first five minutes of the second half as the two teams traded baskets. The Cardinals held a 60-46 lead with 14:19 on the clock. Ball State went on a 12-4 run that ended with 9:30 left in the game, as BSU held a 72-50 lead. The 22-point lead was its largest of the game.
NIU responded with an 11-4 run and cut the BSU lead to, 76-61, with 5:47 left in the game. The Cardinals closed out the game outscoring the Huskies, 11-8, to take an 87-69 victory.
David Coit led the Huskies with 20 points and added four assists with two rebounds. Kaleb Thornton recorded 18 points, five rebounds, a team-high five assists, and one steal. Anthony Crump finished in double digits with 12 points and led the team with seven rebounds.
Ball State stays on the road for a matchup with Bowling Green on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Jump is scheduled for 7 p.m.
BALL STATE MBB
NO. 8 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL WRAPS UP TWO-MATCH WEEKEND WITH ANOTHER SWEEP
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s volleyball team (4-2) wrapped up its two-match home weekend with another 3-0 sweep. This time it was over Sacred Heart (1-4) Saturday night in Worthen Arena.
Senior Kaleb Jenness led the Cardinals offensively with 14 kills off 24 attempts for an impressive .500 hitting percentage. Defensively, sophomore Vanis Buckholz turned in a solid performance with eight blocks.
As a team, the Cardinals used a balanced offense that allowed Ball State to hit .456 from the floor. But one of the key pieces again tonight for Ball State was its defense as the Cardinals held the Pioneers to a .092 attack percentage.
Ball State cruised past Sacred Heart by a score of 25-11 in tonight’s opening set. Set two was a bit more challenging as the Pioneers began to warm up offensively but the Cardinals remained in control and took frame two, 25-16.
The third a final set allowed the Pioneers to give the Cardinals a run for their money as Sacred Heart kept the score close. Ball State began to pull away late in the frame (22-18) after a kill from freshman Keau Thompson. The Cardinals carried their momentum the remainder of the way taking the third set 25-21 and was able to seal tonight’s victory.
The No. 8 Ball State men’s volleyball team continues its eight-match homestand Thursday, Feb. 2 when it hosts No. 12 BYU in Worthen Arena at 7 p.m. ET.
pm ET.
NOTRE DAME HOCKEY
SPECIAL TEAMS LIFT IRISH TO VICTORY
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Irish hockey program completed the weekend sweep of the Badgers with a 3-1 victory in front of a sold out barn Saturday night.
Notre Dame went to the powerplay early in the first period as the Badgers were whistled for a slash at 4:42 but the visitors successfully killed it off and the game remained scoreless.
Wisconsin was called for yet another penalty halfway through the contest and, stifling a shorthanded chance at the other end of the ice, Landon Slaggert lit the lamp with a tip-in out front to give ND the 1-0 lead at 12:10 of the opening period.
The Badgers were whistled for a major penalty with 2:37 to play in the first and the Irish powerplay unit went back to work to end the period. Notre Dame was whistled for goaltender interference after a forward out front was pushed into the crease and collided with the Badgers’ netminder with 20 seconds to play in the first.
The two teams started the second period four-on-four but both were able to kill off their respective penalties and returned to full strength with the Irish still up, 1-0.
Notre Dame was whistled for handling the puck just across the blue line partway through the second stanza but killed their second penalty of the night to hold the one-goal lead halfway through the contest.
The Irish took advantage of another powerplay opportunity midway through the second when Hunter Strand buried a rebound to make it 2-0. Notre Dame continued to press the Badger end late in the second frame but could not break Jared Moe in goal again and skated to the locker room up by two after two periods.
The Badgers were called for elbowing at 4:31 of the third period. It took the Irish just six seconds to capitalize on the man advantage as Chayse Primeau won the draw and sent it back to Nick Leivermann at the point. The captain then found Chase Blackmun at the top of the circle who buried a shot for his second goal of the year, making it 3-0 at 4:37 of the final period.
The Irish held the 3-0 lead until late in the final period but a penalty against the home team made the Badgers confident to pull their goaltender for the two-man advantage. The visitors capitalized on the powerplay to snap Bischel’s shutout bid with 5:14 left in regulation.
The Badgers would take two penalties shortly after, including a five-minute major, as the Irish would end the contest on the powerplay. Despite multiple shots on net on the five-on-three chance, the Irish were unable to extend the lead as they ended the night with the 3-1 score and weekend sweep.
With the win, the Irish improve to 13-12-3 on the season and are 8-8-2 in Big Ten play.
GOALS
Landon Slaggert struck first, giving the Irish the 1-0 lead after getting the deflection out front from Nick Leivermann’s shot at the point. Ryder Rolston recorded his team-leading 20th point with the second assist on the play.
Hunter Strand capitalized on a net front scramble, giving the Irish the 2-0 lead with 7:46 left in the second period. The powerplay goal was the team’s second of the night and came following a series of shots out front, causing the Badger netminder to lose his positioning and open the net for Strand to take advantage and extend the Irish lead. Jesse Lansdell and Drew Bavaro were both credited with assists on the play.
Notre Dame capitalized on the powerplay for the third time Saturday night when Chase Blackmun buried the puck just six seconds into the man-advantage early in the third period. As a Badger looked on from the box following a holding call, Chayse Primeau won the faceoff and got the puck back to Nick Leivermann who found an open Blackmun for the 3-0 tally.
KEY STATS
With an assist on Landon Slaggert’s goal to start the night, Ryder Rolston became the first Irish skater to surpass 20 points this season.
Ryan Bischel recorded 28 saves on the night, finishing the weekend sweep in net with 55 saves on 59 shots faced.
Nick Leivermann’s two assists led the team in both assists and points in his second game back.
The Irish scored all three goals on the powerplay Saturday night.
The Irish and Badgers each fired 29 shots on goal in the contest, while ND blocked an additional nine.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back on the road next weekend as they head to East Lansing, Michigan for a two game series with the Michigan State Spartans.
Puck drop on Friday, Feb. 3, is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+ before a 4 p.m. start the following evening on the Big Ten Network.
NOTRE DAME MBB
IRISH DOMINANT IN 76-62 WIN OVER LOUISVILLE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (10-12, 2-9) dominated from start to finish and got a much-needed victory over the visiting Louisville Cardinals on Saturday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion. Freshman JJ Starling showed up and showed out with a game high 22 points, helping lift the Irish to the 76-62 victory.
Starling had 16 points at the half and ultimately finished one shy of his season high of 23. The New York native was 9-of-16 from the field and grabbed six boards as well.
Nate Laszewski contributed 17 points, five rebounds and three assists, hitting 3-of-4 from deep. Dane Goodwin tallied his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. It marked his sixth double-double of his career. Lastly, Cormac Ryan dished out a career high eight assists to go with his 11 points.
Next, how about this stat – Notre Dame had zero turnovers in the first half and didn’t commit their first until 13:18 left in the 2nd half. They finished with a season low of three.
How It Happened
Four of Notre Dame’s first five made field goals were three-pointers (Starling, Wertz and Lazewski x2) as they jumped out ot a 16-9 lead. The Irish ultimately recorded a 19-4 scoring run in which they made 8-of-9 from the field, which included six different ND scorers. Thus, at 11:32, the Irish were up 26-13.
Defensively, Notre Dame held Louisville to just three made field goals for the final nine minutes of the half. Speaking of ending the first half strong, Starling took over, scoring nine of the team’s final 12 points. Starling finished the half with 16 points.
All-in-all, Notre Dame boasted a 46-24 halftime lead, its highest first half points total this season. The Irish shot 51.4 percent (18-of-35) compared to Louisville’s 33.3 percent (10-of-30).
Next, Starling, Laszewski and Ryan combined for an 8-0 run early as Notre Dame jumped out to a 13-5 scoring start inthe second half. The Irish built their largest lead of the game, up 30, at 59-29 with 17:12 on the clock.
Luckily, the Irish had built such a substantial lead because they then went on a six-minute scoring drought, allowing Louisville to tally a 16-2 scoring spree.
Starling ended the drought from the free-throw line and got the offense back on track as Laszewski answered with a three shortly after, followed by a driving layup by Goodwin. As a result, the Irish lead that was cut as low as 14, ballooned back up to 19 at 71-52.
Laszewski put the final exclamation point on the game with a dunk at 1:38 as the Irish cruised to the 76-62 final.
Up Next
The Irish will ride into the bye week on a win and resume play next Saturday, Feb. 4, with Wake Forest at home. Tip is set for 1 p.m. ET on RSN.
INDIANA STATE MBB
BALANCED EFFORT LEADS SYCAMORES TO WIN OVER NORTHERN IOWA ON ALUMNI WEEKEND
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Five different Sycamores scored in double figures Saturday afternoon as Indiana State got back on track with a 79-71 win over Northern Iowa at Hulman Center in front of a loud home crowd that included men’s basketball alumni dating back to 1948.
In a game that saw 10 lead changes and six ties, the Sycamores led by just two points at 70-68 with just 2:00 to go in the second half. Indiana State took advantage of late free throws, shooting 6-of-6 at the line down the stretch with four straight stops to end the game.
Xavier Bledson led the Sycamores in scoring off the bench with 20 points while Cameron Henry posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Cooper Neese and Zach Hobbs added 14 points each while Robbie Avila posted 10 points.
The Panthers reached a game-high 18-10 lead with 11:51 to go in the first, but Bledson checked in with an immediate impact and assisted two straight Sycamore buckets before hitting his second triple of the day to cut ISU’s deficit to 22-18 at 10:00.
Henry laid up a basket and then hit two free throws to retake the lead for ISU at 30-19 with 5:04 remaining in the opening frame, and back-to-back buckets from Neese put the Sycamores up 37-31 at 2:45. UNI closed out the first half with a 6-0 run including a last-second dunk to even things up at 39-all going into the break.
Neese opened the second half with a triple and Courvoisier McCauley put his name on the scoresheet with a trey at 16:25 to tie things back up at 46-46. Hobbs nailed his fourth 3-pointer of the game before a Henry slam dunk put the Sycamores up 64-60 with 7:39 to go.
With ISU leading by just two points at 70-68 with two minutes left, Bledson drew an and-one and completed the three-point play to push the lead to 73-68. The Sycamores hit all six free throws in the last 18 seconds of action to cushion the win.
Inside the Numbers
The Sycamores shot 47.1 percent from the field, but were 11-of-26 from three (42.3 percent) which is just the third time this season ISU has shot 42 percent or better beyond the arc, and the first time since shooting 47 percent at Miami (Ohio) Dec. 3.
Indiana State outrebounded UNI 33-25 and improved to 10-1 when outrebounding its opponent.
ISU dished out 16 assists in the game led by Cameron Henry and Xavier Bledson with four apiece.
News & Notes
Saturday was the first time five Sycamores have scored in double figures since Jan. 7 against UIC.
Before Saturday’s game, ISU was 0-6 when tied or trailing at the half. After being tied 39-39 at halftime today, the Sycamores are now 1-6 when being tied or trailing at the half.
With his 10th rebound at 9:42 in the second half, Cameron Henry notched his third double-double of the season and first since Dec. 7 against Southern Illinois. His 12 rebounds tie a season-high while his 14 points mark his 12th double-digit scoring game of the season.
Xavier Bledson came off the bench to play a season-high 31:11 and tied the game-high of 20 points for his second 20+-point effort of the year.
Zach Hobbs shot 4-of-5 from three for a season-high 14 points.
Up Next
The Sycamores head to Evansville for a midweek matchup against the Aces Wednesday, Feb. 1. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET as Indiana State will be looking for the season sweep against Evansville after defeating the Aces at home, 91-63, back on Dec. 29, 2022.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB
PURDUE FORT WAYNE WBB BLOWS OUT DETROIT MERCY 69-45
DETROIT – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team picked up its third-consecutive win on Saturday (Jan. 28), beating Detroit Mercy 69-45 in Calihan Hall.
Audra Emmerson set the tone early for the Mastodons, burying 18 points in the first half. She was 6-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the 3-point line in the first 20 minutes of action. The sophomore guard nearly matched the Titans by herself in the first half, as they had 19 heading into the locker room.
Emmerson led the Mastodons on an early 16-2 run to close the first quarter, scoring six points in the run that put the ‘Dons up for good.
The Titans cut the Mastodon lead down to 13 with 2:42 left in the half, but Purdue Fort Wayne got a layup from Aubrey Stupp and a 3-pointer from Amellia Bromenschenkel to stem the minimal threat.
While Emmerson scored 18 in the first half, she was scoreless in the second. Bromenschenkel picked up where Emmerson left off, scoring 13 of her 16 points after the intermission.
Stupp got the ‘Dons going on an 14-4 run in the third quarter with a 3-pointer. Bromenschenkel had a free throw, a mid-range jumper and two 3-pointers, and Destinee Marshall had a driving layup in her first game back after injury. This put the ‘Dons up 27 on the home team.
The fourth quarter saw the bench empty, getting 13 Mastodons some extended run.
Purdue Fort Wayne had 10 3-pointers in the game, shooting a season-high 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. This week, the Mastodons were 23-of-42 for 54.7 percent from deep.
The Mastodons held Detroit Mercy to just 1-for-14 (7.1 percent) from the 3-point line. This is the third time this season that the ‘Dons have held an opponent to just one 3-pointer. It ties the most times that has happened in a season since the 2009-10 season.
Sydney Graber tied her career-high with six points. Bromenschenkel finished with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Emmerson had 18 points on 6-of-8, 4-of-5 from 3-point land.
Detroit Mercy falls to 3-18, 1-11 Horizon League.
The Mastodons are now 8-13 and 6-6 in the Horizon League. They are off to their best start through 12 league games since the 2013-14 season. The ‘Dons’ nine wins already matches last year’s win total. They will look to extend their three-game winning streak to four when Youngstown State visits the Gates Sports Center on Thursday (Feb. 2).
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MVB
MASTODON MVB MOVES TO 6-1 WITH WIN OVER QUEENS
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team picked up its fifth win in a row on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 28), taking down Queens 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 on the Arnie Ball Court.
The last home match in the Mastodons’ seven-match homestand to start 2023 featured a team that Purdue Fort Wayne will be playing every year moving forward, as Queens will join the MIVA on July 1, 2023.
The ‘Dons passed their test against their future conference foe, with their two best pin hitters leading the charge. Jon Diedrich and Mark Frazier had 15 and 13 kills, respectively, with Diedrich hitting an efficient .414.
The offense was clicking in set one for the ‘Dons, as they hit .387 as a team. Queens led 14-11 before the Mastodons returned fire with a few two-point pushes that eventually put them up 21-19. Queens tied the set at 23 before Diedrich got a kill, then Sergio Carrillo aced the visiting Royals. Wilmer Hernandez had four of his six digs in the opening frame.
The two teams traded individual points and mini-runs until the Royals led 20-19. The Mastodons rattled off four in a row, which included a kill from Frazier, an ace from Carlos Mercado, and a block from Frazier and Bryce Walker. The ‘Dons went to Diedrich for set point to go up 2-0. The Mastodons held Queens to .045 hitting in the second.
Queens went up 6-2 to start three, but it did not take too long before the ‘Dons evened the score at 10. Purdue Fort Wayne led 13-11 after a 5-1 push that included four Queens errors. The Royals were square with the Mastodons at 19 before Purdue Fort Wayne closed the door on the match with a 6-2 stretch over the final eight points. Axel Melendez Watts saw his first action of the match in set three, hitting 3-0-4 for .750
The Mastodons finished with 10.5 blocks, led by six from Ryan Steponaitis and five from Diedrich and Frazier. Queens was led by 11 kills from Daniel Leitao.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 6-1 while Queens falls to 1-6. All six of the Mastodons’ wins this season have been 3-0 sweeps. They are extending their best start to a season since 2018.
The Mastodons will hit the road for the first time next week, traveling to the site of the 2023 National Collegiate Volleyball Championship. The ‘Dons will play Mount Olive and George Mason in Fairfax, Virginia in the DC Challenge.
EVANSVILLE MBB
BOBE’S CAREER GAME NOT ENOUGH AGAINST BEACONS
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Continuing his inspiring journey from a walk-on to a starter, Gage Bobe paced the University of Evansville men’s basketball team in Saturday evening’s 81-69 loss to Valparaiso inside Athletics-Recreation Center.
Bobe recorded a career-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting versus the Beacons. He drained six of Evansville’s nine 3-point makes in the game. Yacine Toumi finished with 12 points while Marvin Coleman II added 10. Ben Krikke paced Valpo with a game-high 30 points. He fell one rebound shy of a double-double completing the game with nine.
“We came off a game where we had a great start and hoped that would carry over to tonight. I felt like the way we prepared would give us a really good chance tonight,” Purple Aces head coach David Ragland said. “They came out and punched us in the mouth and it is hard to come back from that.”
Five of the first six attempts from the field found the bottom of the net to put Valparaiso up 12-0 in the opening three minutes of the contest. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. took a feed from Yacine Toumi to get Evansville’s first basket at the 16:30 mark.
Up by a 15-8 score, the Beacons tacked on the next eight to push the lead to 23-8. Valpo’s largest advantage of the half came with 7:26 remaining when a free throw by Kobe King made it a 31-12 game. Over the next four minutes, Evansville rallied with a 14-2 run to make it a 33-24 score. Bobe highlighted the stretch with a pair of 3-pointers.
Capping off the half with a basket at the buzzer, Valparaiso took a 43-28 lead into the break. The Beacons shot 51.7% in the half and connected on 10 of their 11 tries from the free throw line. Ben Krikke had 17 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Evansville cut into the deficit in the first six minutes of the final period with Bobe converting his third triple of the evening to cut the gap to 54-42 at the 14:07 mark. On the ensuing Valpo possession, Evansville’s defense came close to forcing a turnover but the Beacons were able to call a time out. That play was the start of a 7-0 run that saw Valpo tie its largest lead at 19.
Playing the top game of his career, Bobe hit consecutive triples to chop six tallies off the Beacon lead. Preston Phillips hit both ends of a one-and-one to make it a 65-54 game as the Aces fought to get back within single digits. As the game went through its final minutes, UE could not get over the hump with the Beacons completing the night with the 81-69 triumph.
Both teams shot well with Valpo finishing at 50.9% and UE shooting 43.3%. The Beacons recorded a 38-28 advantage on the boards.
UE returns home on Wednesday to face Indiana State in a 7 p.m. game at the Ford Center.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MBB
USI’S STREAK SNAPPED IN OT BY SKYHAWKS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball had its five-game winning streak snapped in overtime by the University of Tennessee at Martin, 86-83, Saturday afternoon in Martin, Tennessee. The Eagles go to 13-10 overall and 6-4 in the OVC, while the Skyhawks are 15-8, 7-3 OVC.
With the loss, USI falls out of the first-place tie in the OVC and into a fourth-place tie with Tennessee Tech University and a game out of league’s top spot. UTM, Morehead State University, and Southeast Missouri State University are tied for first in the conference with 7-3 league marks.
USI and UTM battled back and forth during the opening 20 minutes that featured eight ties and five lead changes. The Eagles, whose largest lead of game was three-points, 20-17, during the first half, shot only 31.3 percent from the field (10-32) for the first stanza, but seven of the 10 buckets were from beyond the three-point arc.
Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) paced the Eagles through the first 20 minutes with nine points on a trio of three-point field goals.
The second half leaned toward the Skyhawks as they slowly built a 10-point lead, 61-51, with 8:52 to play in the game. The Eagles quickly cut the deficit to four-points, 61-57, with 7:40 left on the clock after a three-pointer by junior guard Tyler Henry (Brooklyn, New York) and three free throws by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana).
UTM would rebuild its lead to seven points, 74-67 with 1:59 to play when USI rallied with a 7-0 run to knot at game, 74-74, at the end of regulation. Lakes sent the game into overtime when he hit a three-point bomb from the top of the key with 16.8 seconds left.
In the overtime, UTM would outscore USI, 12-9, and led all five of the extra minutes for the three-point, 86-83 final. USI had a chance down the stretch of overtime after tying the game, 79-79, with 3:19 left, but could not get into the lead.
For the game, USI had four players in double-digits and was led by Simmons, who tied a career-high with 26 points. Simmons was eight-of-14 from the field, a blistering five-of-seven from beyond the arc, and five-of-seven from the stripe.
Lakes followed Simmons in the scoring column with 17 points, scoring 14 in the second half and overtime. USI’s double-figure scorers were rounded out by Henry and senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) with 12 points each.
Henry, who reached 1,000 career points in Thursday’s win over Eastern Illinois University, reached double-digits for the first time since scoring 12 versus EIU in December.
Polakovich continues to be dominating in the middle and combined his 12 points with another 20 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season, five behind the single-season record of 16 set by Chris Thompson in 2005-06. He also has had six double-doubles in the last eight games.
The 20-rebound performance also was Polakovich’s fifth game of the season with 20-or-more boards.
Next Up For USI:
USI returns to the friendly surroundings of Screaming Eagles Arena next for a pair of games during Homecoming Week. The Eagles are slated to host Tennessee State University Thursday at 5 p.m. and Morehead State University February 4 for the Homecoming game at 3:30 p.m.
The game, which is slated for a 3:30 p.m. tip, will be streamed on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.
TSU saw its record go to 12-11 overall and 4-6 in the OVC after defeating Lindenwood University this afternoon at home, 83-66. The Tigers were led by sophomore guard Marcus Fitzgerald, who had 22 points.
USI leads the series, 3-1, with TSU dating between 1976 and 1979. The Eagles have won the last three meetings all in the 1970s (1978-78: 73-72 (ot); 1977-78: 57-56; 1976-77: 92-66) after losing the series opener to the Tigers (112-52) in the 1975-76 season.
Morehead watched its season go to 14-9 overall and 7-3 in the OVC after holding serve against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 55-50, today at home. The Morehead Eagles were led by senior guard Mark Freeman led all scorers with 28 points.
USI lost the first ever meeting with Morehead, 84-80, January 5 in Morehead, Kentucky. The USI Eagles were led by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) with a 25-point, four assists game, while the Morehead Eagles were paced by 24 points by senior guard Mark Freeman and 22 points by senior guard Jake Wolfe.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WBB
SECOND-HALF MOMENTUM SWING HURTS EAGLES ON THE ROAD
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball concluded its regular-season series against the University of Tennessee at Martin with a heartbreaking 68-56 loss on Saturday afternoon.
Following a strong 32-23 first half by the Screaming Eagles, UT Martin made a charge after halftime and never looked back with a momentum swing that led to a 45-24 difference in the second half.
The Screaming Eagles jumped out with a solid start, making their presence known in the post. Senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) scored six early points, including a perfect 4-for-4 at the foul line in the first period. Junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) had three drives to the basket for six points of her own in the first quarter. Strong rebounding and hustle plays by USI led to an 18-11 lead for Southern Indiana after the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, the defensive intensity and pace escalated, as the two sides showed pressure down the court. Southern Indiana increased its lead to nine, 24-15, with 7:16 left in the first half after back-to-back baskets by senior forward Tara Robbe (Wildwood, Missouri).
Following a two-minute scoreless drought for both sides in the middle of the second, USI picked up its aggression to increase the lead. The Screaming Eagles made four free throws inside the last three minutes with a Raley three-pointer sandwiched in between to push USI’s advantage to 11, 32-21, with just over a minute left in the second period. USI’s defense held UT Martin without a field goal from the floor in the last 2:35 of the first half. Southern Indiana went into the halftime locker room up 32-23.
Southern Indiana extended its halftime lead in the opening minute of the third quarter. A three-pointer by Raley and a jumper by sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) gave USI a 37-23 lead. Over the next three minutes of the third quarter, UT Martin grabbed the momentum with a 16-0 run and tied the game at 39 with 5:08 remaining in the third. The Skyhawks went ahead later in the period. With under a minute left in the third, Robbe scored to bring USI within three, 47-44, but UT Martin scored before the end of the quarter to lead 49-44 after three.
After a quick start to the fourth quarter for UT Martin, USI responded to make it a five-point contest, 53-48, following two consecutive buckets from Robbe. Another scoreless drought for both teams ensued for the next two minutes until Haithcock brought USI within three, 53-50, with 6:05 remaining. That would be as close as USI could get the score for the rest of the game. After the 4:30 mark of the fourth, the Skyhawks gradually built upon their advantage, which eventually led to the 12-point difference in the final score.
Southern Indiana had three players in double figures with Raley leading the way with 16 points on 6-11 shooting. Haithcock scored 15 points with 7 rebounds and a 9-for-10 performance at the foul line. Robbe tallied a season-high 12 points on 5-7 shooting. Shafford posted six points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and dished out five assists. Saturday was Shafford’s fifth double-digit rebound game of the season. As a team, USI was 19-for-49 for 38.8 percent from the field, 16-for-20 for 80 percent at the line and made two triples. USI outrebounded UT Martin 41-30.
UT Martin also had three players in double figures, as graduate guard Seygan Robins scored 30 points on 10-18 shooting and 7-for-11 from three. Robins scored 23 of the 30 points in the second half. The Skyhawks were 21-for-56 for 37.5 percent overall, 18-for-24 for 75 percent at the stripe and hit eight three-pointers.
Following Saturday’s game, USI’s record moved to 9-12 overall and 3-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference. UT Martin improved to 8-12 this season and 5-5 in the OVC.
The Screaming Eagles will return to Screaming Eagles Arena next week for a two-game homestand against Tennessee State University next Thursday and against Morehead State University next Saturday. Thursday’s tip-off time is 5 p.m. and Saturday’s start time will be 1 p.m. The Saturday game against Morehead State will be homecoming and family weekend on the USI campus.
VALPO MBB
VALPO LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE IN WIN OVER EVANSVILLE
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team scored the game’s first 12 points and never looked back on Saturday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center, leading by double figures for most of the night en route to an 81-69 victory over Evansville to sweep the season series from the Purple Aces. Valpo’s biggest day came from the team’s biggest scoring threat as Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place) finished with 30 points, one shy of a career high.
How It Happened
Valpo set the tone right away, jumping out to a 12-0 lead from the outset. Maximus Nelson (Appleton, Wis. / Appleton North) hit 3s on consecutive possessions to force former Valpo assistant coach and current UE basketball boss David Ragland into an early timeout at 10-0, and the run extended to 12 on a Kobe King (La Crosse, Wis. / La Crosse Central [Wisconsin]) bucket before the guests finally scratched the scoresheet.
The lead stretched to 15 with help from a pair of traditional 3-point plays by Ben Krikke.
A steal by Ibra Bayu (Flevoland, The Netherlands / Perkiomen) led to a fastbreak dunk by Krikke to extend the lead to 16 at 26-10 with 8:47 remaining of first-half time.
The cushion was 19 at 33-14 with 6:07 left in the half, but the Purple Aces rattled off 10 straight points to get to within nine with 3:46 on the first-half timer. Valpo had it back up to 15 by the break with Darius DeAveiro (Kanata, Ottawa, Canada / Orangeville Prep) driving to the basket for a layup right before the halftime horn.
Evansville cut what had been a 19-point gap to 11 with 8:50 remaining in the second half, but the hosts would not allow them to get back within single digits, ramping the lead back up as high as 17 after a made triple by Connor Barrett (Chicago, Ill. / Loyola Academy) with 2:26 to play in the eventual 12-point triumph.
Inside the Game
Krikke has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games and has done so in all 12 conference contests.
Krikke’s 30-point effort was one shy of his career peak, which came on Dec. 4 of this season vs. Murray State.
The senior forward went 10-of-14 from the field and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line while also squeezing nine rebounds. This was his third straight game with eight or more caroms and his highest rebound total in league play this year. The 10 made field goals were his most since 12 vs. Murray State on Dec. 3, and the 10 made free throws shattered his previous career high of eight set on Jan. 17 of this season vs. UIC.
Krikke also continued his climb on Valpo’s all-time scoring list, usurping Mike Jones (1986-90; 1,378) for 16th. He finished the night with 1,391 career points, five away from passing Jeff Simmons (1978-82) for a spot in the top 15.
King joined Krikke as the only Beacons to register double figures as he notched 13 points, his 23rd straight game with 10 or more.
Edwards handed out 10 assists, his third game this season with a double-figure assist total. Krikke added four helpers as part of his big day, and as a team Valpo had a season-high 19 assists on 29 made baskets.
The 19 assists marked Valpo’s highest total since 23 on Dec. 22, 2021 vs. William & Mary. This marked the team’s highest total in conference play since also giving out 19 on Feb. 6, 2021 vs. Drake.
Valpo shot 85.7 percent (18-of-21) at the free-throw line, its best showing at the stripe since shooting 87 percent on Nov. 19 vs. Incarnate Word.
Barrett had nine points and seven rebounds, the latter of which shattered his previous career high of six that came on Dec. 6, 2020 vs. Judson.
Nelson scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting and pulled down seven boards. He too set a career high on the glass after previously grabbing six rebounds on two occasions.
Valpo extended its head-to-head winning streak with Evansville to five.
The 81 points tied a season high against a Division-I opponent (Western Michigan, James Madison [OT]) and were the team’s most in league play this year and most overall since Dec. 6 vs. Trinity Christian (96). This was Valpo’s highest point total in a regular season, regulation MVC game since Feb. 25, 2022 (89 vs. Missouri State).
Valpo survived 3-point shooting struggles as the team shot just 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from long range.
VALPO WBB
VALPO HOSTS BRADLEY TO CLOSE FIRST HALF OF MVC SLATE
Valparaiso (3-15, 1-8 MVC)
Game #19 – Jan. 29, 2023 – 1 p.m.
Bradley (3-17, 0-9 MVC)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women’s basketball team continues its home-heavy stretch of games Sunday afternoon when the Beacons close out the first half of MVC play against Bradley.
Previously: Valpo fell in its return to the ARC Friday evening, as conference-leading Illinois State came in and earned a 78-46 victory over the Beacons. Jayda Johnston scored all of her team-best 14 points in the second half, 13 of which came in the third quarter, while Ali Saunders added 13 points.
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Head Coach Mary Evans: Mary Evans is in her fifth year at the helm of the program in 2022-23 and owns a record of 51-83. Evans has made an impact on the program in her first four years, raising the team’s level of play to be competitive in a strong Missouri Valley Conference. Evans’ preferred style of play has been a big part of the program’s turnaround, as Valpo has led the MVC in 3-pointers made per game in each of the last three seasons and in steals per game in two of the last three years.
Series Notes: Bradley leads the all-time series, 12-5, but the last two seasons, it has been Valpo coming away victorious in three of four meetings. Last year, it was a pair of Beacon victories, as Valpo won 68-61 in Peoria and 86-84 at the ARC. The road win featured the first career double-double for Leah Earnest, who registered 11 points and 10 rebounds, while the home win was highlighted by 17 points and 11 assists from Shay Frederick.
@ValpoWBB…
…and @ValleyHoops
– Valpo was picked to finish in 10th place in the MVC preseason poll, totaling 197 points, just 10 points behind Evansville.
– Valpo is in its sixth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
– The Valley was ranked 10th in conference NET last year, was ranked seventh nationally in conference NET in 2020-21 and was eighth nationally in conference RPI in 2019-20.
…looking back at last year
– Valpo finished last year with an 11-19 overall record, but was strong in MVC play, going 9-9 in conference and finishing in sixth place – both of which match the program’s best since joining the Valley.
– The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history.
– Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program’s first two wins ever against the Bulldogs.
– The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.
– Grace White was named MVC Sixth Player of the Year – the program’s first major postseason award since joining the Valley. Shay Frederick was a First Team All-MVC choice, while White was an All-Defensive Team selection and Olivia Brown earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.
…versus Illinois State
– The Redbirds led 23-6 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to as many as 28 points in the second quarter.
– An 11-2 Valpo run, which included two 3-pointers from Ali Saunders, cut the Illinois State lead to 38-19, but the Redbirds got 3-pointers on their final two possessions of the half to lead 44-19 at intermission.
– Valpo played Illinois State even in the third quarter, thanks in large part to six strong minutes Jayda Johnston. Johnston came in and delivered 13 points in the third period alone, hitting all five of her field goal attempts.
– Johnston, who entered halftime scoreless, ended up leading the Beacons with 14 points on Friday — just two points off her career high.
– Saunders delivered strong offense off the bench as well, finishing with 13 points and connecting on three 3-pointers for the first time in her career.
– Ava Interrante finished with eight points and a team-high three steals as the Beacons registered 10 steals as a team — the third time in the last five games Valpo has recorded double-digit steals.
– Valpo shot just 32.6% from the field and was a season-worst 4-for-26 from the 3-point line.
– Sophomore Katie Beyer received her first career start on Friday.
…at Wisconsin
– Valpo got out to a quick start to the game, outscoring the Badgers 12-2 over the game’s first 5:02. Junior Ava Interrante had a 3-pointer during the run, while junior Leah Earnest had seven points and an offensive rebound which kept a possession alive for a layup from sophomore Katie Beyer.
– The Beacons were held scoreless for the next eight-plus minutes, a stretch which saw Wisconsin go on a 20-0 run to take a 22-12 lead.
– A pair of free throws from senior Olivia Brown with 6:41 to play in the first half snapped the Badgers’ run and started an eight-point spurt of Valpo’s own, as two free throws by sophomore Olivia Sims made it a two-point game with 3:11 to go in the period.
– The two squads traded just one bucket apiece in the final three minutes of the half, with Wisconsin holding a slim 24-22 lead at intermission.
– The Badgers scored inside on each of their first three possessions of the second half to gain separation, pulling out to an eight-point lead, and Valpo was unable to make it a one-possession game the rest of the way.
– Making her return to her home state, Earnest enjoyed a strong performance against the Badgers Wednesday. The junior scored a team-best 16 points and dominated on the glass, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds — just one off her career high.
– Earnest was the lone Beacon to score in double figures, however, as the Badgers limited Valpo to 31.3% shooting from the field and 5-of-23 from the 3-point line while forcing 22 turnovers.
– On the flip side, the Beacons held the hosts to 35.8% shooting — the second-lowest clip of the season by a Valpo opponent. The Badgers also were just 4-of-22 from the 3-point line.
– Ilysse Pitts joined Earnest in hitting the boards hard on Wednesday evening, coming down with eight rebounds. The eight boards ties her career high, set 89 games ago against North Dakota State in Dec. 2018 during her freshman season.
…looking ahead
– The Beacons stay at the ARC for midweek action next week, welcoming UIC to town on Wednesday night.
– Valpo then heads down to Carbondale on Saturday for its lone matchup against Southern Illinois in the regular season.
U OF I MBB
TYNES DROPS CAREER HIGH IN WIN AT LEWIS
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The No. 10 UIndy men’s basketball team (18-2, 10-2 GLVC) ran its win streak to 12 on Saturday, defeating Lewis (7-12, 3-9 GLVC) by a score of 81-70. In addition, the Greyhounds secured their seventh consecutive road victory.
Josiah Tynes led the Hounds with a career-high 19 points, while Bruno Williams finished with 10 points and five rebounds in his first game back at Lewis since transferring to UIndy.
With the win, UIndy matches its best 20-game stretch to begin the season since 2014-15.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Greyhounds were in control for most of the afternoon, leading for more than 39 minutes of action. Aaron Etherington’s first of three 3-pointers gave UIndy an early 12-4 advantage, fueling the fire that was successful shooting from both teams.
Leading by 13 at halftime, the Hounds led by double digits the final 20 minutes. A dunk from Julian Steinfeld at 9:33 put the visitors up 20, their highest lead of the day. Jesse Bingham chipped in half of his 18 points in the second half, his final jumper with 75 seconds left to put the Hounds up 15.
UIndy forced just eight turnovers, however, the defense was a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Steinfeld recorded a game-best three blocks, while pulling down seven boards. In addition to leafing all scorers, Tynes also committed a pair of thefts in 25+ minutes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Tynes sunk all six attempts from the charity stripe, adding three 3-pointers.
– The team shot 52.5 percent (31-for-59) from the floor, as 10 Greyhounds recorded at least two points.
– Ben Nicoson contributed more than 17 minutes in the win, finishing with five points, three rebounds, and two assists. The senior ranked second on the team in +/- at +10.
– UIndy failed to allow a single point on the fast break, closing in on all Flyer quick attempts.
MORE NOTES
The Hounds have now won back-to-back meetings with the Flyers … Williams shot 4-of-6 from the field in his return to Romeoville … Lewis recorded just eight turnovers, the least amount UIndy has forced this winter.
HOUND BYTES
Williams on being a part of this team…
“It’s amazing. Since day one, I’ve felt welcomed. They treat me like family. They push me to work and they want the best from me every day.”
UP NEXT
UIndy returns home to Nicoson Hall on Thursday evening when it hosts Truman for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The Hounds last downed the Bulldogs, 80-57, on Nov. 28 in Kirksville, Mo.
U OF I WBB
GREYHOUNDS HURT BY SCORING DROUGHTS IN LOSS AT LEWIS
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – A pair of scoring droughts at Neil Carey Area played a big part in the University of Indianapolis women’s basketball dropping a 68-53 decision in a conference battle on Saturday afternoon at Lewis. The loss for the Hounds snaps a previous winning streak of four games and bumps the team down to 11-9 overall (7-5 GLVC). Lewis improves to 12-8 (8-4 GLVC) with the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A driving layup by Sadie Hill on an assist by Lauren With gave the Hounds a 25-23 lead with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter. This would be the last points of the first half for UIndy, who went completely scoreless the rest of the quarter while allowing Lewis to collect a 13-0 scoring run in that span of play.
Out of the intermission, a layup by Ilani Williams-Harris at the 9:11 mark in the third quarter was followed up once again by another UIndy scoring drought which lasted nearly five minutes of play. After Williams-Harris made this bucket, the Flyers went on a scoring run of 9-0 to extend their lead up to 20 points. From here, Lewis never looked back and maintained firm control of the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-All 11 players that saw the floor for UIndy scored one or more point.
-Kacilyn Krebs, Elana Wells, and Jada Patton led the Hounds in scoring with seven points each.
-The 53 points scored this afternoon by the Greyhounds is the second-lowest amount of points the team has had in a game this season.
-UIndy shot just 32.8 percent from the field while Lewis ended at 41.1 percent.
-The Hounds were out-rebounded by 13 in the contest.
-The Greyhounds forced the Flyers into 21 turnovers, marking the eighth time the team has forced 20 or more giveaways in a game.
UP NEXT
UIndy is set to return to the court on Thursday, Feb. 2 for a game against Truman at Nicoson Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
MARIAN MBB
MARIAN SURVIVES GOSHEN’S SECOND HALF THREAT AS KNIGHTS CLAIM SEASON SWEEP
Goshen, Ind. – Fueled by an efficient 61 percent field goal percentage in the first half that led to a commanding lead at the break, the Marian men’s basketball team was able to withstand a Goshen run in the second half as the Knights closed a 97-82 win over the Maple Leafs. Marian closes the week with a 18-5 overall record, as their season sweep of Goshen gives them an 8-5 Crossroads League mark.
The Knights opened the game on fire, opening on a 7-0 run with Hayden Langkabel scoring five in the fury. Langkabel’s hot start continued through the media timeout as an old school three-point play and a make from downtown gave him 11 points in the first 5:28, pushing Marian on top 18-7. Gavin Foe and Christian Harvey helped keep the lead steady at four possessions as the duo answered a Goshen score on multiple possessions.
With 10:25 to play in the opening half Marian made their second commanding run, with Taeshon Cherry scoring six unasnwered in a 35 second stretch to push the lead to 14. Luke Gohmann capped the 8-0 run with a bucket of his own, and as the clocked ticked under eight minutes to go a Josh Bryan trey moved the cushion to 18 points. Bryan’s second trifecta in the final 10 minutes helped soar Marian’s lead to 28 points, as an 11-0 run played a hand in the move. The Knights would go into the halftime leading 58-33, closing the half strong as they shot over 60 percent from the field.
Marian started the second half just like the first, expanding their lead to as many as 34 points in the first three minutes led by scoring efforts of Harvey, Cherry, and Gohmann. The push helped Marian surge the lead to a 74-41 mark following a steal and score from Harvey, but Goshen kept attacking despite trailing by 33. A Caleb Wright score with 15:28 remaining sparked the home team, as quickly gradually went on a 17-0 run to cut the Knights’ lead in half.
Goshen’s run forced Marian to use a timeout, as the Maple Leafs offense showed new life. Bryan halted the run with an open three after the timeout, and with 8:44 to play Marian had regained control with Cherry and Langkabel combining on a 5-0 run to make it a 21-point margin. Byran added to the run, and the Knights were able to breath easy as the lead stayed 15 or more for the remainder of the game. Foe, Luke Heady, and Nolan Foster all played contributing roles to close out the 97-82 win, with Heady scoring five of his 10 in the final minute.
Marian finshed the game shooting 58 percent from the field, winning the battle on the glass by 11. Cherry led the Knights with 16 points, while Bryan had 15 and Langkabel scored 14. Harvey netted 13 points and a pair of steals, while Gohmann led the team with eight rebounds and five assists to go with his eight points. Each of the 10 active Knights that played scored four or more points in the win.
Marian will stay on the road for their next league game, heading north to take on Bethel on Wednesday, February 1, at 7:00 p.m.
MARIAN WBB
HOT-SHOOTING MARIAN DOMINATES GOSHEN 87-41
Goshen, Ind. – The Marian women’s basketball team were hitting on all cylinders as six players scored in double figures to dominate Goshen 87-41. The win moves the Knights to 12-1 in Crossroads League play and 21-2 overall on the season.
Goshen got the early 4-2 lead to start the game before an offensive rebound from Allison Bosse led to an Abbey McNally layup to even the score. Marian got going with Kinnidy Garrard sparking an 8-1 run to take the 12-5 lead with 3:36 to play in the first quarter. The Maple Leafs responded with back-to-back shots before McNally closed out the quarter going one for two from the line to give her team the 13-9 advantage after quarter one.
Marian’s offense was flowing in the second quarter, erupting for 25 points and holding Goshen to only six points. McNally started the scoring off for the Knights before two fastbreak layups from Aliyah Evans put a cap on a big 14-3 spurt to give Marian the 27-12 lead. With 4:35 left in the quarter, Goshen finally answered with a free throw. The hot offense continued for the guests, as Bosse nailed a three and jumper in the final 58 seconds to help the Knights close out the first half with an 11-3 run.
Marian would go into the locker room at the break ahead 38-15 after shooting 84.6% from the field, and the strong defensive effort held Goshen to 13.3% from the floor.
The Maple Leafs had no answer for the Marian offense with the Knights beginning the second half with a 6-0 start. The hosts got a pair of free throws to end their scoring drought before Ella Collier and Garrard knocked one in to go ahead 53-21. Marian was not finished as they continued to build onto their lead, going ahead by 40 after Evans and Garrard scored in the final 20 seconds of quarter three. The Knights held the 66-26 lead going into the final period.
Evans scored the first basket to start the final quarter which would lead to 15-9 run by the Knights that saw Kenna Gray drilling two three-pointers to increase the lead to 81-31. Goshen saw their first run come with 3:17 to play as the got six straight points. Esther Sevilla and Gray responded with a pair of baskets before the Maple Leafs saw their final points coming from two freebies. Marian would go on to win 87-41.
Marian was dominant today, shooting 57.1% from the field, while the defense by the Knights held Goshen to 25.5% from the floor and 15.4% from three-point range.
Garrard led Marian with 18 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. McNally had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Bosse finished with 13 points and five assists. Rounding out the double-digit scoring was Gray with 11, Collier and Evans each with 10 points. Collier also pulled down six rebounds.
The Knights will be back at home for their next contest on Wednesday, February 1 when the host Bethel at 7 PM.
MARIAN WRE
MARIAN SPLITS SATURDAY DUALS AGAINST CLEARY AND INDIANA TECH
Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Marian wrestling team split their final Saturday duals of the regular season in Fort Wayne, as the Knights were able to breeze through Cleary University, while falling to No. 5 Indiana Tech. Marian’s loss to Indiana Tech drops their record in WHAC meets to 4-1, slotting them in second place in the WHAC final standings.
Marian 51-6 Cleary
The Knights steamrolled through Cleary, winning two of three matches while receiving a victory by forfeit in seven weight classes. Dylan McKelvey suffered the Knights lone defeat as he lost on a second period fall, but the Knights gained wins at 149 from Ian Heath on a first period fall and Austin Lane’s 2-0 win by decision at 285.
Jacob Simone, Asa Garcia, Zach Wilson, Jordan Fulks, Noah Hollendonner, Sam Osho, and Jack Servies all won by forfeit against Cleary.
#7 Marian 9-28 #5 Indiana Tech
The highlight matchup of the day came as the Knights wrestled No. 5 Indiana Tech for the WHAC regular season championship, with both undefeated teams going head to head to close the action in Fort Wayne. The Warriors scored the first points of the dual at 125 with Simone going down in a 5-0 decision. The lead shot to 9-0 after McKelvey was pinned in 18 seconds, but Garcia was able to provide a win as he scored an 8-1 win over No. 7 Kyle Kantola.
Marian’s luck would end after 141, as the Warriors claimed wins in the next three matches to clinch the dual. Heath fell at 149 in a 9-1 major decision, with Wilson losing after getting pinned in the first period. Fulks lost an 11-8 decision, but Noah Hollendonner was able to snap the slide as he won 5-2 over Griffin Bekish.
Sam Osho suffered a rare defeat as No. 1 Eric Vermillion took down the Knights all-time wins leader by way of an 8-1 decision. Marian was able to score one final win with Jack Servies defeating Jacob Brandt 6-2. A loss suffered by Austin Lane at 285 on a 9-3 decision would end the match in favor of Indiana Tech.
Marian will finish their regular season on Tuesday night as they host Rochester at 6:00 p.m. to close their WHAC schedule.
U OF I WRE
#6 GREYHOUNDS DOWN OILERS IN SATURDAY NIGHT DUAL
FINDLAY, Ohio. – On the campus of the University of Findlay, the No. 6 UIndy Greyhounds picked up another region victory, moving to 9-3 in dual action on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Starting out in the heavier classes at 184, the Oilers took an early 3-0 lead. That lead stood for only one match at freshly crowned No. 1 Derek Blubaugh got the first fall of the dual in 3:38. A Oiler win at 285 brought the dual squared at 6-6.
Aidan Sprague continued to impress in his freshman campaign with a win by pin over 125 GMAC Champion Graham Shore, Sprague’s third fall of the year.
The back-and-forth theme stayed true with former Greyhound Gavin Ritter taking the win over Nick Varanelli at 133. Ray Rioux continued his hot streak with yet another fall, this one in 2:45, that was followed by a major by Jackson Hoover making it 22-9, all but slamming the door on any hopes of a Findlay victory.
No. 4 Logan Bailey and No. 5 Jack Eiteljorge put the ice on the dual with two wins, Eiteljorge’s coming with bonus points. Owen Zablocki closed out the dual with a 8-3 win, sending the Greyhounds home on a high note.
125 Aidan Sprague over Graham Shore (Fall 6:57)
133 Gavin Ritter over Nick Varanelli (Dec 8-3)
141 Ray Rioux over Cade Cass (Fall 2:45)
149 Jackson Hoover over Mason Kelinberg (MD 13-2)
157 #4 Logan Bailey over Logan Sanom (Dec. 4-0)
165 #5 Jack Eiteljorge over Gary Nilson (MD 8-1)
174 Owen Zablocki over Andrew Knick (Dec. 8-3)
184 Mark Trifelos over Kyle Saez (Dec. 5-2)
197 #1 Derek Blubaugh over Jacob Kowalski (Fall 3:38)
285 Keigan Yuhas over Dennis Hubbard (Dec. 4-0)
HOUND BYTES
Head Coach Jason Warthan on Aidan Sprague…
“He’s exciting, there’s fireworks in most of his matches, where he’s able to weather a storm, he’s able to comeback, put up points. It was 12-9 when he got the fall, he had given up nine hard-fought points and it was back-and-forth the whole time. That’s a huge win for him and you have to give him credit, it would have been easy for him to put his head down and say ‘you got me, I gave it the best I got,’ but he’s just confident that he can score points and he does.”
Sprague on how he’s feeling at this point in his freshman season…
“I’m feeling pretty good, I’m excited because I see myself in my matches in November and I see the jump I’ve made within two months. When I came here I knew I wasn’t going to be the best guy out of our freshman class, but I believed I had a good ceiling, it’s been nice to see it come into fruition now.”
Warthan on the teams performance…
“Findlay is scrappy… they come to fight and we’ve had a lot of history with them over the course of my career. They don’t care what your ranking is, they’re going to come to fight and I think our guys did a great job matching that energy and that effort. You do not see guys put up bonus points on Findlay and we were able to get a couple falls and a pair of majors, that was pretty nice, it’s nice to get things rolling back in the right direction.
UP NEXT
The Greyhound Duals are on deck next for the home with a trio of duals taking place on UIndy’s campus. The battles are set to start on Feb. 4 with UIndy taking on Kentucky Wesleyan at 2 p.m. At last year’s Greyhound duals, the Hounds went a perfect 3-0 with wins over Kentucky Wesleyan, No. 9 Findlay and No. 24 Tiffin.
TAYLOR ATHLETICS | TAYLOR SET TO RETURN HOME AFTER LOSS TO EMBRY-RIDDLE
MESA, AZ – The No. 24 Taylor baseball team completed its time in Arizona on Saturday, when the Trojans played Embry-Riddle (3-1) on the final day of the Coach Calderone Invitational.
Taylor’s pitching and defense struggled to keep the Embry-Riddle bats at bay, as the Trojans fell by a final score of 8-4 with three Trojan errors resulting in three unearned runs.
Five different Trojan pitchers took aim at a dynamic Eagle offense throughout the game, each of whom struggled to keep the bases empty. Embry-Riddle recorded a hit in all nine innings, including multiple hits in five separate frames. By game’s end, Embry-Riddle outhit the Trojans 14-8, scoring eight runs for the third time in four games.
Kaleb Kolpien and Brayden Manning each posted multi-hit performances for the Trojans, the second for Manning in as many days, though as a team Taylor scratched just one extra-base hit into the scorebook.
Kolpien also drew three walks, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances, while his brother, Kade Kolpien, struck Taylor’s lone double in the second inning to drive home a run.
Embry-Riddle wasted little time in creating a lead, as the Eagles benefited from a pair of Trojan errors in the top half of the first inning to work a 3-0 lead. Though Taylor responded with four unanswered runs of its own to craft a one-run lead by the end of the third inning.
From there, however, the Eagles commanded the game, scoring five unanswered runs en route to an 8-4 win over the Trojans.
No. 24 Taylor (1-2) is set to return to Upland, where the Trojans will have nearly two weeks of practice before heading south to take on No. 7 Georgia Gwinnett on Friday, February 10, at 11:00 am.
ANDERSON MBB
MEN’S BASKETBALL: EARLHAM HALTS ANDERSON
Earlham College (4-15, 3-9) halted the Anderson University men’s basketball team (12-7, 10-2) by a score of 70-62 during Saturday’s Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) matchup in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
COACH CARTER COLLINS’S COMMENTS
Unfortunately, this result has been bubbling beneath the surface for quite a while. We have consistently been showing up with less than our best effort for long stretches of games, but up until [Saturday] we’ve still found a way to win. Eventually, that was going to catch up with us, and it certainly did. Earlham was tougher than us for the whole 40 minutes, but especially during the first half, and they easily deserved the win. We are still in a great position to be where we want to be at the end of the season, but [Saturday] needs to serve as a wake-up call.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Quakers led by as many as 11 points before entering halftime with a 34-28 lead. Earlham outscored Anderson 16-7 off turnovers in the first half.
Earlham led Anderson 43-36 with 16 minutes, 19 seconds remaining. The Ravens put together a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Tate Ivanyo to tie the game at 43-43 with 13:09 to go.
The Ravens took a 52-50 lead with 8:37 to go after Elijah Mattingly drained a 3-pointer. Earlham responded by creating some separation with a 10-1 run, taking a 60-53 lead with 5:51 to go.
The Ravens committed 19 turnovers while the Quakers turned the ball over 15 times. Earlham utilized transition plays off turnovers, outscoring Anderson 26-14 off turnovers and 17-7 on fast-break points.
The Quakers outrebounded the Ravens 40-28.
Anderson made 14-of-21 (66.7 percent) shots from the free-throw line while Earlham converted 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) attempts from the charity stripe.
Earlham utilized its extra 19 shot attempts from the field. The Ravens hit 21-of-47 (44.7 percent) shots from the floor while the Quakers knocked down 29-of-66 (43.9 percent) attempts from the field.
The Ravens converted 6-of-22 (27.3 percent) attempts from 3-point range while the Quakers made 2-of-18 (11.1 percent) attempts from the perimeter.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tate Ivanyo – 17 Points
Camden Smith – 12 Points
Alex Hunt – 8 Points, 4 Blocks
Bryson Huckeby – 7 Points, 9 Rebounds
Gavin Dowling – 6 Points
Elijah Mattingly – 5 Points
Jordan Gadis – 4 Points, 3 Steals
Fred Shropshire – 3 Points
UP NEXT
Anderson faces off with Hanover College (12-7, 8-4) in HCAC action on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Hanover.
ANDERSON WBB
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: RAVENS SHUT DOWN QUAKERS
The Anderson University women’s basketball team (12-7, 9-4) shut down Earlham College (2-16, 3-9) by a score of 83-44 during Saturday’s Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) matchup in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
Anderson also hosted PJP Day celebrating Anderson University President John Pistole.
COACH JON GIN’S COMMENTS
I want to thank PJP and The Conspiracy. PJP Day was a great event and it really got us off to a hot start. We came out on fire from deep and we fed off that on the defensive end. I loved the energy and hustle we played with all game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Anderson attempted 42 free throws, which ties for the fifth-highest single-game total in program history.
The Ravens converted 26-of-42 (61.9 percent) shots from the free-throw line while the Quakers made 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) attempts from the charity stripe.
Earlham committed 23 turnovers while Anderson turned the ball over 16 times. The Ravens outscored the Quakers 29-8 off turnovers.
Anderson rolled to a 13-2 advantage in fast-break points.
The Ravens knocked down 11-of-32 (34.4 percent) shots from 3-point range while the Quakers made 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) attempts from behind the arc.
Anderson hit 23-of-57 (40.4 percent) shots from the field while Earlham converted 15-of-62 (24.2 percent) attempts from the floor.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lexi Dellinger – 20 Points, 9 Rebounds
Jade Shipley – 13 Points, 6 Assists
Makynlee Taylor – 9 Points, 8 Rebounds, 2 Blocks
Izzy Davis – 8 Points
Jada Stansberry – 7 Points, 5 Steals
Lauren Smith – 7 Points, 3 Steals
Mackinzie Toliver – 6 Points
Brynn Beard – 4 Points
Olivia Webb – 4 Points
Amanda Thatcher – 3 Points
Grace Marshall – 2 Points
UP NEXT
The Ravens clash with Hanover College (12-5, 11-1) in HCAC action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
WABASH TRACK
LITTLE GIANTS PRODUCE SEASON-BEST TIMES AT WITTENBERG
Wabash competed at the Steemer Showcase at Wittenberg University Saturday afternoon in a non-team scoring track, and field meet at the Tigers’ indoor facility.
The Little Giants put three runners in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles. Josh Massaquoi ran a season-best finals time of 8.49 to claim third place. Takeshi Greiner also turned in a career-best time by placing fifth with a finals time of 8.78. Giovonni Zappala scored a seventh-place finish with a time of 9.05.
Freshman Quinn Sholar turned in two top-five performances, including an individual victory in the shot put. Sholar was one of three Wabash entries to finish in the top-five places. Sholar won the event with a mark of 15.69 meters (51 feet, 5.75 inches). Brandon English placed second with a top distance of 14.63 meters (48 feet). Reis Thomas captured fifth place with a career-best toss of 13.92 meters (45 feet, 8 inches).
Sholar added a fifth-place finish in the weight throw with a top distance of 15.32 meters (50 feet, 3.25 inches). Connor Wakefield scored a seventh-place finish with a best effort of 14.70 meters (48 feet, 2.75 inches).
Freshman Haiden Diemer-McKinney produced the seventh-fastest time among NCAA Division III competitors this season by finishing second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.67. Teammate Will Neubauer played sixth overall with a career-best time of 1:53.36, 19th-best in DIII this year.
The Wabash foursome of TK Walls, Nathan France, Thomas Joven, and Josh Manfred produced a third-place finish in the 4×200-meter relay. The quartet combined for a season-best time of 1:33.29.
Nate Joven placed fourth in the pole vault by clearing 3.86 meters (12 feet, 8 inches) for the best performance in the event by a Little Giant this season.
Brayden Curnutt raced to eighth place in the 5,000-meter run by posting a career-best time of 15:15.68.
WABASH TENNIS
TENNIS OPENS 2023 SEASON WITH TWO MATCHES IN WISCONSIN
Wabash played a pair of tennis matches in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Saturday afternoon to begin the spring portion of its 2022-23 season. The Little Giants dropped a 6-3 decision to the host Warhawks from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater before taking a 6-1 loss to the NAIA program from Cardinal Stritch University.
Augusto Ghidini helped the Little Giants (0-2) score two team points in the match versus Wisconsin-Whitewater. Ghidini combined with Cole Shifferly at number two doubles to earn an 8-5 win. Ghidini won his number-four singles match in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 10-3) for one of two Wabash singles wins. Liam Grennon added the other victory with a 6-4, 6-4 win at number five singles.
Shifferly picked up the lone point for the Little Giants in the match against Cardinal Stritch with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at number three singles.
Wabash competes against Millikin University in the Little Giants’ 2023 home opener on February 11.
TAYLOR ATHLETICS | VANDERWALL, SAKEUH PACE TU AT TROJAN INVITE
UPLAND, Ind. – Ahna VanderWall and Patience Sakeuh shined the brightest for Taylor on a solid afternoon for TU at its own Trojan Invite. The squad picked up eight individual victories, hit eight NAIA qualifying marks and broke one school record in the third indoor meet of the season.
VanderWall turned in the lone record-breaking effort of the day for TU, crossing at 17:26.08 to win the 5,000-meters with the fastest time in program history. The mark was also good for the NAIA A-standard and led a trio of Trojans to hit the mark with Audrey Brinkruff and Mollie Gamble taking second and third with times of 17:44.70 and 18:0316.
Sakeuh also collected an A-standard with a victory in the long jump. Sakeuh registered a leap of 5.72 meters to automatically qualify for nationals, win the event and post the fourth-best long jump performance of the season in the NAIA.
In addition to the long jump, Sakeuh also won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.82 to collect her second A-standard of the day. Kiana Siefert finished second to Sakeuh in each of those two events and once again hit the B-standard in the 60-meter hurdles.
Noel VanderWall topped the field in the mile with an A-standard time of 5:07.17 and Lynae Ackley won the 3,000-meters with a B-standard time of 10:28.96.
Remaining victories for TU came from Kali Siemers in the triple jump and D’Arjha Davis in the 200-meters, while the 4×400-meter relay of Mikayla Ellis, Olivia Jeanette, Emily Johnson and Ashley Hall also scored a first-place finish for the Trojans.
TU grabbed several more runner-up finishes from Siemers in the high jump, Betsy Underwood in the pole vault, Davis in the 60-meters, Johnson in the 600-meters and Hall in the 400-meters.
Taylor is set to return to action on February 4, when it competes in the Indiana Wesleyan Invite.
TAYLOR ATHLETICS | TAYLOR MEN POST DOMINANT SHOWING AT HOME MEET
UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor men’s indoor track and field squad stole the show at the Trojan Invite on Saturday, claiming individual titles in nine-of-19 events on their home track.
Taylor was especially outstanding in the field events, winning five-of-six events, led by wins from Liam Hesting in the shot put and weight throw. Hesting again surpassed the NAIA A-standard in the weight throw, posting a distance of 17.18 meters.
Jake Thompson also showed well in two events, taking first in the high jump at 1.90 meters and second in the long jump at 6.83 meters. The long jump title went to fellow Trojan, Sammy Sommers, who won the event for the third time in as many outings this winter with an NAIA A-standard leap of 7.28 meters.
Not to be out-done was Damon Knowles, who won the pole vault for a third-straight meet and posted the fourth-best height in the NAIA this season with an NAIA A-standard mark of 4.90 meters. Following Knowles in second and third in the event were Josh Forbes and Isaac Brown at 4.55 meters.
The success carried over into the action on the track as well, with Sommers also claiming victory in the 60-meters with a time of 7.17 to lead Braden Bixler and Aidan Guckenberger across in a TU sweep of the top-three.
The Trojans also scored a sweep in the mile with Ben Eiffert, Bryce Noble and Joel Mumaw taking the top-three positions.
TU’s remaining first-place finishes included Alex Ortiz posting the fastest time in the 3,000-meters at 8:53.37 and the 4×400-relay team of Cole Whitehead, Guckenberger, Sommers and Bixler crossing in first at 3:32.79.
Other top showings came from Bixler in the 200, Whitehead in the 400 and Luke Harber in the 5,000-meters, who all took home second-place finishes.
Taylor is set to continue its preparation for the Crossroads League Indoor Track and Field Championships, when it competes in the Indiana Wesleyan Invite on Saturday, February 4.
WABASH VOLLEYBALL COMPLETES WEEKEND CHICAGO TRIP
The Wabash College volleyball team completed a weekend trip to Chicago with two Saturday matches at Benedictine University. The Little Giants lost the first contest 3-0 to the host Eagles before dropping a 3-1 decision to Trine University in the nightcap.
Wabash (2-4) stayed even with Benedictine (3-1) through the first 10 points by keeping the score tied at 5-5. The Eagle took control from that point by scoring the next four points. The Little Giants got as close as four points at 14-10 on a service ace by Ricky Sessions before losing the first set 25-19.
Benedictine raced out to a 6-0 lead in the second set and never looked back, taking a 2-0 lead in total sets with a 25-15 victory. Wabash matched the Eagles in the third set over the first six points to play to a 3-3 tie before Benedictine closed the match with a 25-16 victory in the third set.
Sessions paced Wabash in the first match with five kills and seven digs. He also finished with a .900 receptions percentage for the match. Zachary Small gave out 11 assists for the Little Giants. Jackson Leeper recorded two blocks.
Wabash faced fellow Midwest College Volleyball League member Trine (1-1) in a non-conference match to complete the trip. Both teams swapped points early for a 2-2 tie before the Thunder claimed a 9-3 lead in the early going. Wabash rallied to draw within a point at 12-11 on a series of kills by Sessions before a Trine timeout ended the scoring streak. The Thunder took a five-point lead before Wabash rallied again to cut the lead to one point at 17-16. The Little Giants got no closer before losing the opening set 21-25.
The second set featured 13 ties and four lead changes, with the two teams playing even at 21-21. A service error by Trine put Wabash in front for good. The Little Giants scored three of the final four points to claim a 25-22 victory to even the match at one game apiece.
Trine took control early in the third set on the way to a 25-10 win, but Wabash rebounded with a strong effort in the deciding set. Trine jumped in front 5-2 before the Little Giants tied the score at 9-9. Wabash followed with an 8-1 scoring run to take a 17-10 lead. Wabash reached set point at 24-22 but could not close the set. The Thunder tied the score at 24-24, and both teams scored again for a 25-25 tie. Trine scored the final two points of the match for the 27-25 fourth-set victory and the 3-1 match win.
Sessions put away a team-best 13 kills versus the Thunder. Patrick Volk recorded seven kills, and Luke Davis finished with six and a .955 reception percentage. Small gave out 25 assists and scored a team-best seven digs.
Wabash travels to Springfield, Ohio, next Saturday to participate in the North Coast Athletic Conference Showdown with Wittenberg University and Hiram College.
RHIT WOMEN’S SWIM-DIVE PICKS UP SENIOR DAY WIN
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women’s swimming and diving team picked up its first ever dual meet win over Transylvania University 156-129 to highlight a strong Senior Day performance at the Sports and Recreation Center on Saturday.
Rose-Hulman honored its 6 women’s seniors prior to the meet, then earned the dual meet win. Seniors recognized included Brooke Covert, Therese Jaeger, Tori Kinnamon, Chloe Koutsoumpas, Natalija Pumpurs and Arya Ziegler.
The meet featured 9 total event victories, including 4 duel event winners. Pumpurs highlighted the senior performances with wins in the 100-backstroke and 100-butterfly.
Rose-Hulman returns to action at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships from Feb. 8-11 at the Vigo County Aquatic Center.
ROSE-HULMAN VS. TRANSYLVANIA
1ST PLACE FINISHES:
1-Meter Diving – Audrey Hankins 194.65
3-Meter Diving – Audrey Hankins 186.55
200 Butterfly – Tori Kinnamon 2:31.28
100 Breaststroke – Lauren Meyer 1:13.07
200 Breaststroke – Lauren Meyer 2:42.10
100 Butterfly – Natalija Pumpurs 1:04.01
100 Backstroke – Natalija Pumpurs 1:04.12
500 Freestyle – Cate Stauffer 5:42.71
1000 Freestyle – Cate Stauffer 11:38.65
RHIT MEN’S SWIM-DIVE PICKS UP SENIOR DAY WIN
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology men’s swimming and diving team honored its five seniors and picked up a 205-89 win over Transylvania on Senior Day at the Sports and Recreation Center on Saturday.
Seniors recognized included Kaden Lindsey, Derick Miller, Ryan Nikolic, Michael Nixon and Hayden Walter.
The meet featured 11 total event victories, including two individual wins by Vineet Ranade. Rose-Hulman also swept both relay events.
Rose-Hulman returns to action at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships from Feb. 8-11 at the Vigo County Aquatic Center.
ROSE-HULMAN VS. TRANSYLVANIA
1ST PLACE FINISHES:
100 Butterfly – Nick Edwards 53.81
200 Freestyle – Anthony Hoyt 1:48.46
200 Individual Medley – Will Kenyon 2:04.91
50 Freestyle – Vineet Ranade 22.05
200 Breaststroke – Vineet Ranade 2:14.03
500 Freestyle – Evan Sellers 4:51.87
100 Breaststroke – Charlie Su 1:01.83
200 Butterfly – Heath Thomas 2:08.58
100 Freestyle – Sam West 48.57
200 Medley Relay – Ryan Nikolic, Brian Beasley, Vineet Ranade, Christian Cseri 1:36.81
400 Freestyle Relay – Vineet Ranade, Sam West, Christian Cseri, Nick Edwards 3:14.11
VINCENNES WBB
LADY BLAZERS LOOK STRONG IN WIRE-TO-WIRE HOME WIN OVER OLNEY CENTRAL
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers got their revenge after a December loss to the Lady Blue Knights in Olney by picking up a very strong 87-55 win over Olney Central Saturday night.
The Lady Blazers wasted little time setting the tone against Olney Central, scoring the first eight points of the game and jumping out to a 14-3 lead.
OCC picked things up offensively and answered back with a 7-0 scoring run of their own to cut the VU lead down to four.
This would be the closest Olney Central would get for the rest of the game however as VU built a 13-point lead with an 11-2 scoring run late in the first quarter and grabbed a 28-18 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
The second quarter was a more defensive battle, with neither team able to get much momentum scoring the ball.
The Lady Blazers held strong and headed into the locker room with a 40-28 halftime advantage over Olney Central.
Vincennes came out of the locker room swinging and quickly grabbed all of the momentum with a 12-0 run early in the third quarter.
VU kept their foot on the gas throughout the third quarter, taking a 65-46 lead into the final period.
The Lady Blazers looked to put the game away early in the fourth quarter and picked up their game defensively.
VU kept building on their lead with steals and transition layups as Vincennes cruised late to an 87-55 win over the Lady Blue Knights.
“We remembered the game over in Olney,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks said. “We kept talking about it and going back and watching the game film. We know that they had a lot to do with us not winning last time in Olney, but we know that we also had a lot to do with it. We have worked really hard at cutting down on some of our errors. Right now I think we are starting to run our offenses and plays better. We are getting more production out of people.”
“I just think the team wanted to win tonight,” Meeks added. “I think the girls played really hard. We pushed the ball and scored a lot of points and we definitely have a happy locker room tonight.”
The Lady Blazers were led offensively by sophomore Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) who started out hot from behind the arc with three first quarter three’s and ended the way she started with three more in the fourth quarter.
Newsom ended with 22 points off of her six three-point makes and a team-high seven assists.
Freshman Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) continues to be an imposing threat in the low block, ending her night with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Sophomore Daylynn Thornton (Lafayette, Ind.) helped get the VU offense going early, getting 10 of her 14 points in the first half. Thornton also finished with four assists and a pair of rebounds.
Sophomore Chanice Willis (Champaign, Ill.) came off the bench to reach double-figures, ending with 14 points, a team-high six steals, four rebounds and three assists.
Freshman Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) looked to get back on track offensively Saturday, nearly coming away with a double-double as Lange finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a team-high four blocks.
Freshman Brie Miller (Greencastle, Ind.) controlled the boards all game long as she finished with a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with four points and a pair of assists.
“We have really been working on blocking out and rebounding the ball,” Meeks said. “ We have really stressed only giving up one shot per possession. I think we played together really well tonight as a team.”
“Cherrelle was awesome,” Meeks added. “She put the ball in the hoop. She did everything that I ask her to do. She ran the team. She shot the ball when we got her into positions to shoot the ball. She really did a good job in the first half of setting the tone for us and I was really glad to see that. She’s a great kid and a really nice young lady who brings everything she has every day and that carries over to the rest of the team.”
“I was really happy to see Maycee have a good night,” Meeks said. “Maycee did a lot of things for us and was a leader on the floor. Elikya came in and was really dominant in the paint. You get her the ball and she will score or go to the free throw line.”
“You know Daylynn is going to give you everything she has out there on the floor,” Meeks added. “Probably more than she has. She is tenacious. Everybody knows if you want to find Brie just go to the weight room. She has a really good attitude, works hard, rebounds every game. She plays extremely hard and is a very physical player.”
“Chanice has got to use her court speed,” Meeks said. “I told her at halftime that she needs to get the ball in the open court. That’s where she helps us the most. Tonight we were able to do that. We were able to hit her on a couple of outlet passes and I thought she really played well in the second half. Again, congratulations to the whole squad. This is a good win for us and it’s a good redemption win.”
The Lady Blazers will look to continue their winning ways next week when VU hits the road and travels to Ullin, Ill. Wednesday, Feb. 1 to take on Shawnee Community College at 6 p.m. eastern.
The Lady Blazers defeated the Lady Saints earlier this season at the Physical Education Complex 73-68 behind 20 points by Daylynn Thornton.
“We’ve already started working on Shawnee,” Meeks said. “We have been looking at some of the games they have played recently. They are a good, physical basketball team. Their coach does a really good job with them. They are a force to deal with. When you go down there and play on their home floor it’s a tough night.”
“I look forward to seeing what our girls can do next week,” Meeks added. “I think we are playing pretty well right now and Wednesday will be a good marker to figure out where we are at this point in the season. I’m looking forward to the competition and I’m sure it will be a tough game. Shawnee has always been a difficult place for us to play. I don’t know if it’s the bus ride or what, but we’ve got our work cut out for us Wednesday.”
VINCENNES TRACK
TRAILBLAZER TRACK AND FIELD HAS BIG WEEKEND AT BILL CLINGER CLASSIC
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams continued their great start to the 2023 Indoor season this weekend by taking part in the Bill Clinger Classic at Grand Valley State University Friday and Saturday.
The Trailblazers Men’s Track and Field team checked in this week at No. 16 in the first USTFCCCA National Rankings and did not disappoint this weekend.
Vincennes had a really good weekend from their throwers including sophomore Mason Harmes (Borden, Ind.) taking the top spot in the men’s weight throw with a final distance of 16.33 meters.
Harmes would also finish sixth in the shot put with a throw of 12.78 meters.
Harmes was joined in both events by fellow sophomore David Beadle (Jamaica) who placed fourth in the weight throw at 14.35 meters and fifth in the shot put at 13.19 meters.
Freshman Olegs Kozjakovs (Riga, Latvia) competed in his first heptathlon of the season and looked strong as well, placing fourth after coming away with 4,210 points.
“We had an outstanding weekend,” VU Head Track and Field Coach Marty Rogier said. “Almost everyone we took had a Personal Best or performed above expectations. The throws were led by Mason Harmes who had a huge PR in the weight throw, winning the event and qualifying for Nationals. His throw of 16.33 meters places him sixth on the NJCAA National Rankings. Mason really had a couple of big throws and I believe he has much more coming in the weeks ahead. David also made the finals in both the shot and weight and also had another very good meet.”
The VU men’s runners also picked up some scoring finishes this weekend, led by freshman Isaac Stanford (Flora, Ill.) who placed sixth in the 800-meter race with a final time of 1:54.06.
Sophomore Mathew Keitany placed seventh in the 3000-meter race, crossing the line with a time of 8:48.95.
Freshman Desroy Jordan (Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) rounds out the VU scorers with an eighth place finish this weekend in the 400-meter race. Finishing with a time of 49.40 seconds.
“We had a couple of new performers in the sprints this weekend and competed against a field of very fast sprinters,” Rogier added. “Justin Emmanuel ran a couple of quick times in the 60m and 200m and finished 14th in the 200. Desroy Jordan ran a very fast 49.40 in the 400 to finish 8th overall. These were both very good performances considering they just got on campus a couple of weeks ago and we approached this meet as a practice to see how they looked before trying to race.”
“Griffin Worzella, Ernest Momodu and Reed Lawless all got PRs in their races this weekend,” VU Assistant Track and Field Coach Tyler Steigenga said. “In a very competitive field of the 800 meter, Isaac placed sixth and ran a new PR, placing fourth on the VU All-Time list. Not long after that, Trent won his heat with a big kick in the last 200 meters to win by two seconds and place 11h overall and setting a new PR at 1:56.56. Both of those times are National Qualifying marks and Trent’s first individual National qualifier.”
“The last event for the distance runners went off at 9:30 p.m., where Mathew Keitany ran just off his PR to place seventh in the open 3000 meters,” Steigenga added. “Ian ran a half-second PR in the next heat and was joined by Ernest in his 3000 meter debut, running 9:20 in his second race of the day.”
The VU women’s team battled some tough competition all weekend as well, with freshman Julia Do Amaral Salvi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) leading the way for the team with an eighth-place finish in the pole vault after a jump of 3.58 meters.
“Julia had another good meet and exceeded the qualifying mark for the women’s pole vault and to third on the All-Time VU Indoor performance list,” Rogier said. “Julia’s jump also has her second in the National Rankings. We also will be bringing back Ysnaira at our next meet who I feel will join Julia as one of the top jumpers in JUCO.”
Freshman Daisie Kinnett (Wheatland, Ind.) had a standout weekend as well after placing 10th in the 5000-meter race with a final time of 19:13.53, placing her fifth All-Time in VU Indoor Track and Field history for that event.
“Our mid distance and distance crew had another outstanding day,” Steigenga said. “Daisie kicked off the running events with a 1 minute and 4 second PR in the 5000 meters. She also broke her mile and 3000m PRs in the race as well. The mile was the next distance event for us, which Hope Laughlin got a five second PR. Brittany Page also lowered her indoor PR by running 2:29.”
The Vincennes Indoor Track and Field season will continue to push forward next weekend when the Trailblazers head to Marion, Ind. to take part in the IWU Midwest Classic hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University, Saturday, Feb. 4.
“Overall, it was a great meet by the whole team,” Steigenga said. “Picking our best performers of the weekend was extremely difficult with four athletes qualifying for Nationals and three joining the VU Top-Five All-Time Indoor List. Mason was our choice for this week’s Trailblazer Award because he had a huge PR and was our only event winner of the meet.”
“I am really pleased that because of the lack of JUCO competition available we face some of the top Division I and Division II programs in the Midwest and the country every weekend and still manage to compete,” Steigenga added.
VINCENNES RESULTS
MEN’S RESULTS
400 Meter
Desroy Jordan – 8, 49.40
800 Meter
Isaac Stanford – 6, 1:54.06
3000 Meter
Mathew Keitany – 7, 8:48.95
Shot Put
David Beadle – 5, 13.19m
Mason Harmes – 6, 12.78m
Weight Throw
Mason Harmes – 1, 16.33m
David Beadle – 4, 14.35m
Heptathlon
Olegs Kozjakovs – 4, 4210 pts.
WOMEN’S RESULTS
Pole Vault
Julia Do Amaral Salvi – 8, 3.58m
5000 Meter
Daisie Kinnett – 10, 19:13.53.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
SPORTS EXTRA
NBA STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Boston | 36 | 15 | .706 | — | 19-6 | 17-9 | 6-1 | 20-11 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 2 Philadelphia | 32 | 16 | .667 | 2.5 | 19-7 | 13-9 | 5-3 | 18-10 | 9-1 | 7 W | ||
| 3 Milwaukee | 32 | 17 | .653 | 3.0 | 19-5 | 13-12 | 7-4 | 19-13 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| 4 Brooklyn | 30 | 19 | .612 | 5.0 | 14-8 | 16-11 | 6-4 | 21-10 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 5 Cleveland | 30 | 21 | .588 | 6.0 | 20-5 | 10-16 | 8-3 | 18-9 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 6 Miami | 28 | 22 | .560 | 7.5 | 17-9 | 11-13 | 6-2 | 12-13 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| 7 New York | 27 | 24 | .529 | 9.0 | 12-13 | 15-11 | 3-7 | 18-15 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 8 Atlanta | 25 | 25 | .500 | 10.5 | 13-11 | 12-14 | 5-4 | 17-17 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Indiana | 24 | 27 | .471 | 12.0 | 16-10 | 8-17 | 3-4 | 17-14 | 1-9 | 2 L | ||
| 10 Washington | 23 | 26 | .469 | 12.0 | 12-10 | 11-16 | 5-3 | 13-15 | 6-4 | 5 W | ||
| 11 Chicago | 23 | 26 | .469 | 12.0 | 13-10 | 10-16 | 5-4 | 19-15 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 12 Toronto | 23 | 28 | .451 | 13.0 | 15-12 | 8-16 | 4-9 | 15-19 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 13 Orlando | 19 | 31 | .380 | 16.5 | 13-13 | 6-18 | 2-7 | 9-21 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 14 Charlotte | 14 | 36 | .280 | 21.5 | 6-16 | 8-20 | 4-6 | 7-23 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Detroit | 13 | 38 | .255 | 23.0 | 6-19 | 7-19 | 0-8 | 5-23 | 2-8 | 1 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Denver | 34 | 16 | .680 | — | 22-4 | 12-12 | 9-4 | 25-10 | 7-3 | 2 L | ||
| 2 Memphis | 31 | 18 | .633 | 2.5 | 20-3 | 11-15 | 6-2 | 15-15 | 5-5 | 5 L | ||
| 3 Sacramento | 27 | 21 | .563 | 6.0 | 16-11 | 11-10 | 5-5 | 15-10 | 7-3 | 2 L | ||
| 4 LA Clippers | 28 | 24 | .538 | 7.0 | 14-11 | 14-13 | 4-4 | 17-15 | 7-3 | 5 W | ||
| 5 New Orleans | 26 | 24 | .520 | 8.0 | 17-9 | 9-15 | 7-3 | 16-12 | 2-8 | 7 L | ||
| 6 Minnesota | 27 | 25 | .519 | 8.0 | 18-10 | 9-15 | 6-6 | 18-16 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| 7 Golden State | 25 | 24 | .510 | 8.5 | 19-6 | 6-18 | 4-4 | 14-9 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 8 Dallas | 26 | 25 | .510 | 8.5 | 17-9 | 9-16 | 6-2 | 19-12 | 3-7 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Phoenix | 26 | 25 | .510 | 8.5 | 18-8 | 8-17 | 8-0 | 20-14 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 10 Utah | 26 | 26 | .500 | 9.0 | 17-9 | 9-17 | 4-5 | 19-15 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 11 Oklahoma City | 24 | 25 | .490 | 9.5 | 15-10 | 9-15 | 4-6 | 11-13 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 12 Portland | 23 | 26 | .469 | 10.5 | 13-11 | 10-15 | 5-7 | 17-15 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 13 LA Lakers | 23 | 27 | .460 | 11.0 | 13-12 | 10-15 | 1-9 | 12-17 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 14 | 36 | .280 | 20.0 | 9-18 | 5-18 | 2-7 | 5-29 | 1-9 | 5 L | ||
| 15 Houston | 12 | 38 | .240 | 22.0 | 7-17 | 5-21 | 1-8 | 6-27 | 2-8 | 1 W |
NHL STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 49 | 38 | 6 | 5 | 81 | 36 | 186 | 105 | 22-1-3 | 16-5-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 48 | 31 | 9 | 8 | 70 | 28 | 159 | 130 | 15-5-2 | 16-4-6 | 6-2-2 | |
| 3 New Jersey Devils | 49 | 32 | 13 | 4 | 68 | 31 | 171 | 131 | 13-10-2 | 19-3-2 | 8-1-1 | |
| 4 Toronto Maple Leafs | 50 | 30 | 12 | 8 | 68 | 30 | 168 | 135 | 19-4-4 | 11-8-4 | 6-3-1 | |
| 5 Tampa Bay Lightning | 48 | 32 | 15 | 1 | 65 | 31 | 175 | 141 | 20-4-1 | 12-11-0 | 8-2-0 | |
| 6 New York Rangers | 49 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 62 | 25 | 157 | 129 | 13-9-4 | 14-5-4 | 6-2-2 | |
| 7 Washington Capitals | 51 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 58 | 25 | 161 | 144 | 14-8-3 | 12-11-3 | 4-6-0 | |
| 8 Pittsburgh Penguins | 49 | 24 | 16 | 9 | 57 | 23 | 161 | 153 | 14-6-4 | 10-10-5 | 4-3-3 | |
| 9 Buffalo Sabres | 49 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 56 | 25 | 185 | 165 | 11-12-2 | 15-7-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 10 New York Islanders | 52 | 25 | 22 | 5 | 55 | 25 | 148 | 144 | 15-9-2 | 10-13-3 | 3-5-2 | |
| 11 Florida Panthers | 52 | 24 | 22 | 6 | 54 | 23 | 178 | 183 | 13-7-3 | 11-15-3 | 5-3-2 | |
| 12 Philadelphia Flyers | 51 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 51 | 21 | 142 | 162 | 10-12-2 | 11-9-7 | 5-3-2 | |
| 13 Detroit Red Wings | 48 | 21 | 19 | 8 | 50 | 20 | 145 | 160 | 12-10-3 | 9-9-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 14 Ottawa Senators | 49 | 23 | 23 | 3 | 49 | 22 | 146 | 155 | 14-11-1 | 9-12-2 | 5-5-0 | |
| 15 Montreal Canadiens | 50 | 20 | 26 | 4 | 44 | 16 | 130 | 184 | 11-13-1 | 9-13-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 50 | 15 | 32 | 3 | 33 | 14 | 128 | 194 | 11-15-1 | 4-17-2 | 3-6-1 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Dallas Stars | 51 | 28 | 13 | 10 | 66 | 27 | 173 | 133 | 13-5-6 | 15-8-4 | 4-2-4 | |
| 2 Seattle Kraken | 49 | 29 | 15 | 5 | 63 | 29 | 177 | 151 | 13-10-3 | 16-5-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 Winnipeg Jets | 51 | 31 | 19 | 1 | 63 | 31 | 162 | 135 | 17-8-0 | 14-11-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 4 Vegas Golden Knights | 51 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 62 | 26 | 160 | 148 | 14-13-0 | 15-5-4 | 2-6-2 | |
| 5 Los Angeles Kings | 52 | 28 | 18 | 6 | 62 | 24 | 169 | 178 | 14-9-2 | 14-9-4 | 6-4-0 | |
| 6 Minnesota Wild | 48 | 27 | 17 | 4 | 58 | 23 | 151 | 138 | 15-8-1 | 12-9-3 | 5-4-1 | |
| 7 Edmonton Oilers | 50 | 28 | 18 | 4 | 60 | 28 | 187 | 162 | 13-11-3 | 15-7-1 | 7-1-2 | |
| 8 Colorado Avalanche | 48 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 57 | 23 | 151 | 133 | 13-9-3 | 14-9-0 | 7-3-0 | |
| 9 Calgary Flames | 50 | 24 | 17 | 9 | 57 | 23 | 157 | 152 | 14-9-2 | 10-8-7 | 5-3-2 | |
| 10 Nashville Predators | 48 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 54 | 22 | 137 | 141 | 14-7-3 | 10-11-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 11 St. Louis Blues | 50 | 23 | 24 | 3 | 49 | 20 | 154 | 181 | 10-12-2 | 13-12-1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 12 Vancouver Canucks | 49 | 20 | 26 | 3 | 43 | 17 | 165 | 193 | 10-13-1 | 10-13-2 | 3-7-0 | |
| 13 San Jose Sharks | 51 | 15 | 25 | 11 | 41 | 14 | 157 | 196 | 5-12-7 | 10-13-4 | 3-4-3 | |
| 14 Arizona Coyotes | 50 | 16 | 28 | 6 | 38 | 14 | 131 | 177 | 10-8-2 | 6-20-4 | 3-6-1 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 50 | 16 | 29 | 5 | 37 | 13 | 125 | 205 | 9-13-1 | 7-16-4 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 48 | 15 | 29 | 4 | 34 | 15 | 118 | 176 | 9-16-2 | 6-13-2 | 6-4-0 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
January 29, 1963 – The First Inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced. The list is a phenomenal class of legends according to the History and Headlines website. The first class of the enshrined held eleven superstar players of the professional gridiron past such as Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Sammy Baugh, Dutch Clark, Don Hutson, Mel Hein, Johnny McNally, Ernie Nevers, Bronko Nagurski, Cal Hubbard and Pete Henry. Also inducted on this day were a handful of owners and coaches which included Curly Lambeau, George Marshall, Tim Mara, Bert Bell and Joe Carr. Then another special man that both got in as a player, a coach and as an owner in George Halas. The article goes on to say that in 1963 three were but two rooms to show off the museum’s wares where as in 2017 there were five buildings bulging with pigskin nostalgia!
January 29, 1964 – NBC purchased the TV rights of AFL for five seasons (1965-69) for $36 million. According to a Newsday.com article the money raised in this deal helped the AFL fund recruiting players away from the NFL and fueled the rivalry which eventually helped with the AFL-NFL merger just a few short years later. The two sides had to wait until the 1965 season to start as ABC had one year remaining on its AFL contract to televise the 1964 season.
January 29, 1974 – The 1974 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys took Ed Too Tall Jones from Tennessee State as the first pick in the draft. Players that have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame per the PFR are Lynn Swan, Jack Lambert, John Stalworth and Mike Webster who were Pittsburgh’s picks at 21, 46, 82 and 125 respectively. Dave Casper whom Oakland chose at 45. Yes you heard it correctly there are 5 hall of Famers from this draft class and four of them were picked by the Steelers. Is it any wonder why they had so much success in the mid to late 1970’s?
January 29, 1979 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – The NFC outlasted the AFC squad in the NFL Pro Bowl 13-7. Vikings receiver Ahmad Rashād
Was awarded the Most Valuable Player honor for the game.
January 29, 1984 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – At the NFL Pro Bowl for the 1983 season it was once again the NFC who triumphed over their AFC counterparts in a big way 45-3. The MVP of this game was Quarterback Joe Theismann of the Washington Redskins.
January 29, 1989 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – It seems that NFC squad just could not lose in NFL Pro Bowls played on this day. Once again the NFC defeated the AFC in a big way, with a score of 34-3 The MVP was Randall Cunningham the Philadelphia Eagles mobile quarterback.
January 29, 1995 – Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida – Super Bowl XXIX had the San Francisco 49ers beat up on the San Diego Chargers, 49-26; The game’s MVP was Niners quarterback Steve Young who threw for 325 yards and 6 touchdowns in the game and had a whopping QB rating of 134.8 per the Pro Football Reference. Jerry Rice scored on three of those passes in the game.
January 29, 2002 – The San Diego Chargers hired Marty Schottenheimer as their head coach. Schottenheimer was the 13th head coach in the franchise’s history.
January 29, 2012 – NFL Pro Bowl was played once again at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu. This time the AFC outscored the NFC squad, 59-41. The game’s MVP was wide receiver Brandon Marshall who played for the Miami Dolphins during the season.
January 29, 2017 – Orlando, Florida – Another NFL Pro Bowl and the AFC knocked off the NFC, 20-13. Dual MVPs of the game were KC’s tight end Travis Kelce and Lorenzo Alexander the fine linebacker of the Buffalo Bills.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS
January 29, 1896 – Jackson, Mississippi – The quarterback of Mississippi College Edwin Hale was born. Friends called him Goat and according to the NFF the story why he was called that is entertaining. Hale got his nickname while still playing for Central High School in Jackson, Mississippi. In one game he battered through the line, and scored a touchdown, but ran past the end zone until his head hit a wooden building, loosening several planks. In 1921 Hale scored 23 touchdowns and drop-kicked 23 extra points. The National Football Foundation inducted Edwin Hale into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1963
January 29, 1927 – Donora, Pennsylvania – Arnold Galiffa, the one time quarterback of the Army team celebrated his birth. Arnold was the Army QB from 1946 through 1949 and during that time the Cadets suffered only two losses.The National Football Foundation selected Arnold Galiffa and all of his college Gridiron accolades for entry into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. After his service was over Arnold played pro football with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers according to the NFF.
January 29, 1964 – Allentown, Pennsylvania – Andre Reed the burner receiver from Kutztown University was born. Andre spent 16 seasons in the NFL after Buffalo picked him in the fourth round in 1985. Red caught 951 balls for 13,198 yards and was a member of the Bills teams that made it to 4 straight Super Bowls. He was a favorite target of Jim Kelly and for his career he caught 88 TDs. Reed played in 7 Pro Bowls and had a tremendous knack of getting massive amounts of yardage after his catches. Andre Reed was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
January 29, 1968 – – The great defensive back from Southern University, Aeneas Williams was born. Aeneas played in the NFL for 14 seasons after being the Arizona Cardinals 3rd round pick in 1991 according to the ProFootballHOF.com. For his first 12 seasons he manned the cornerback position and then moved to Safety for his final two years. Williams played in 7 Pro Bowls and recorded 55 career interceptions with 807 yards returned off of them. One of his highlight moments occurred in a 2000 game against Washington when he returned a fumble 104 yards for a score. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Aeneas Williams in 2014.
BASEBALL HISTORY
1936 The BBWAA and a special Veterans Committee made up of individuals with knowledge about players of the 19th century select Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson in the first Hall of Fame elections. Their enshrinement will have to wait until 1939 since the museum’s construction in Cooperstown has not started.
1949 The Pirates purchase Murry Dickson from the Cardinals for $125,000. During his five-year tenure in Pittsburgh, the 31-year-old right-hander will have a 20-win season for the Bucs and post three 20-loss seasons for the hapless team.
1958 Three-time MVP Stan Musial inks the first six-figure contract in National League history when he signs a $100,000 deal with the Cardinals. The 37-year-old St. Louis legend, who won his seventh batting title, hitting .354 last season, clarifies that he would have signed for less, but the $20,000 increase is the reward the team thought he deserved.
1960 The family feud continues in Chicago when a court rules in favor of Charles Comiskey’s sister, Dorothy Rigney, allowing her to sell her White Sox shares to Bill Veeck. Her younger sibling, known as Chuck, had brought suit to gain control of the club.
1961 Max Carey and the late Bill Hamilton are voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, which considers players who have been out of the game for 30 years for induction. The former outfielders established stolen base records, with ‘Sliding Billy’ swiping 115 bases with the Phillies in 1891, and Carey, the National League career leader at the time of his selection, has purloined 738 bags during his 20-year career with the Pirates and Dodgers.
1967 The twelve-man Veterans Committee, chaired by former baseball commissioner Ford Frick, announces its selection of the late catcher and baseball executive Branch Rickey, best known for integrating the major leagues as the Dodgers’ president and GM in 1947, and former Pirates outfielder Lloyd Waner as the 105th and 106th members of the Hall of Fame. Under the current rules, only two retired players for at least 20 years or more receive consideration in the annual selection of old-timers.
1971 The Pirates make a much-anticipated deal when they trade outfielder Matty Alou and southpaw reliever George Brunet to the Cardinals for righty Nelson Briles and outfielder Vic Davalillo, who collected 24 pinch-hits last year to establish a major league mark. The 32-year-old Alou compiled 200 hits last season but failed to hit .300 for the first time since joining the Bucs in 1966.
1981 Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn buy the White Sox from a group headed by Bill Veeck, the team’s owner. A few weeks later, the new ownership proves it is serious about winning by signing coveted free-agent catcher Carlton Fisk to a five-year, $2.9 million deal.
1988 Kirk Gibson, one of seven players granted immediate free agency when an arbitrator ruled the owners had colluded to drive down salaries, signs a three-year, $4.5 million deal with the Dodgers. The former Tiger outfielder is the only player in the group to join a new team.
1989 Mets’ first baseman Keith Hernandez becomes the all-time leader with 129 GW RBIs, and Orioles’ first baseman Eddie Murray, the American League leader, with 117, due to the elimination of the game-winning RBI statistic. The defunct rule, first employed in 1980, was much maligned by many players because the stat did not truly reflect clutch performance.
1995 Deion Sanders’ appearance with the NFL San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami makes the cornerback the first athlete to have played in a Super Bowl and a World Series. In 1992, ‘Neon Deion’ played left field for the Braves in the 1992 Fall Classic against the Toronto Blue Jays.
1999 Jimmy Key, citing shoulder injuries, retires from baseball, compiling a 186-117 (.684) record during his 15-year major league career. The 37-year-old five-time All-Star southpaw appeared in the playoffs with all his teams, including the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Orioles.
2002 The Astros sign Lance Berkman (.331, 34, 126) to a $10.5 million, three-year contract. The All-Star outfielder had 94 extra-base hits last season, the most ever by a switch-hitter in major league history, surpassing the previous mark of 87 shared by Ripper Collins (1934 Cardinals) and Chipper Jones (1999 Braves).
2006 In a surprising development, former Mets backstop Mike Piazza and the National League West champion Padres come to terms on a one-year, $2 million deal. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer, who will be behind the plate for 90 to 100 games this season, in addition to playing some first base and DHing in interleague contests, was thought to be headed to an American League team to be a full-time designated hitter.
2008 Baseball announces the annual Hall of Fame Game, played since 1940, will end after the June 16th Cooperstown contest between the Cubs and Padres. With the 68-year tradition ending, no major league team will participate in exhibition games during the season.
2008 A conditional 4-for-1 trade with the Twins brings Johan Santana to the Mets for pitching prospects Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and fleet-footed outfielder Carlos Gomez. New York has three days to come to terms with the two-time Cy Young Award winner, who has a no-trade clause and can veto the transaction if his new team cannot sign him.
2010 Avoiding an arbitration hearing scheduled for next month, Joe Saunders agrees to a one-year, $3.7 million deal with the Angels. The 28-year-old southpaw posted a 16-7 record last year and had compiled a 33-14 record for the Halos during the previous two seasons.
2018 After thoughtful and productive discussions between MLB and the Indians, Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announces the team has agreed to remove the “Chief Wahoo” logo from their uniforms, beginning with the 2019 season. The bright red caricature of the Native American, long considered offensive, will continue to be available on merchandise for sale at the team’s store.
2020 According to confirmed reports, the Astros have hired veteran skipper Dusty Baker to replace AJ Hinch, fired by owner Jim Crane, following MLB’s findings that the team used electronics to steal signs in 2017 and again during the 2018 season. The 70-year-old three-time National League Manager of the Year becomes the oldest pilot in the major leagues, having compiled an 1863-1636 (.532) record over 22 seasons at the helm with the Giants, Cubs, Reds, and Nationals.
2021 The Phillies formally announce the team has re-signed their catcher J.T. Realmuto to a five-year contract, reportedly worth $115.5 million. The $23.1 million average annual value of the deal makes the 29-year-old the highest-paid backstop in baseball history, slightly surpassing the extension the Twins gave Joe Mauer in 2010 that averaged $23 million annually (eight-year, $184 million).
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
January 29, 1936 – The first players selected to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame are announced: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson & Walter Johnson. Cobb, Mathewson, Johnson & Wagner during their playing careers most likely never wore a uniform number due to the fact Numbers were not required by teams in MLB officially until the 1929 season. Matthewson’s last year was 1916, Wagner finished up in 1917, Johnson in 1927 & Cobb completed his last year playing in 1928. Ruth as we know famously donned the Number 3 on his back.
January 29, 1963 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame announces its inaugural class of enshrinees: George Halas, Jim Thorpe and Red Grange. Halas wore the Number 7 when he played, Thorpe sported the Numeral 3 & Red Grange famously ran down the field with a Number 77 on his uni.
January 29, 1967 – Cooperstown, New York’s Baseball Hall of Fame elected Lloyd Waner, who spent most of his career wearing the Number 10 on the Pittsburgh Pirates roster, and Branch Rickey to their museum of legends. Waner was the lefthanded batting centerfielder who not only played with the Pirates but spent time in the organizations of the Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Brooklyn Dodgers as well.
Branch Rickey was most famously known after his playing days as being a very innovative executive in Major League Baseball. He is most well-known for helping baseball break the color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson to a Brooklyn Dodgers contract as well as establishing the modern framework for the baseball farm system. Mr. Rickey never had a uniform number that is recorded.
January 29, 1984 – At the NBA All-Star game, Number 11 of the Detroit Pistons, Guard Isiah Thomas was voted as the game’s Most Valuable Player in an East victory 154-145 over their West counterparts. Larry Nance Sr., Number 22 of the Phoenix Suns, was the inaugural Slam-Dunk Competition winner as part of the All-Star festivities.
TV SUNDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| SAINT JOSEPH’S AT GEORGE MASON | 12:00PM | USA |
| PROVIDENCE VS. VILLANOVA | 12:00PM | FS1 |
| MICHIGAN AT PENN STATE | 12:00PM | BTN |
| WICHITA STATE AT EAST CAROLINA | 12:00PM | ESPNU |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY AT LEHIGH | 12:00PM | CBSSN |
| MICHIGAN STATE AT PURDUE | 12:15PM | CBS |
| QUINNIPIAC AT IONA | 1:00PM | ESPN3 |
| MANHATTAN AT CANISIUS | 1:00PM | ESPN3 |
| OAKLAND AT ROBERT MORRIS | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGETOWN VS. ST. JOHN’S (AT MANHATTAN, NY) | 2:00PM | FS1 |
| RUTGERS AT IOWA | 2:00PM | BTN |
| RIDER AT FAIRFIELD | 2:00PM | ESPN3 |
| SIENA AT MARIST | 2:00PM | ESPN3 |
| BRADLEY AT UIC | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DETROIT MERCY AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DRAKE AT BELMONT | 3:00PM | ESPN2 |
| FURMAN AT UNCG | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT ILLINOIS STATE | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| IUPUI AT CLEVELAND STATE | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTH FLORIDA AT SMU | 4:00PM | ESPNU |
| MEMPHIS AT TULSA | 5:00PM | ESPN2 |
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WOMEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| LOUISVILLE AT SYRACUSE | 12:00PM | ACCN |
| SOUTH CAROLINA AT ALABAMA | 1:00PM | ESPN2 |
| TEXAS A&M AT VANDERBILT | 1:00PM | SECN |
| DUKE AT FLORIDA ST. | 2:00PM | ACCN |
| TULANE AT HOUSTON | 2:00PM | ESPNU |
| VILLANOVA AT UCONN | 2:00PM | CBSSN |
| MISSOURI AT KENTUCKY | 3:00PM | SECN |
| NOTRE DAME AT N.C. STATE | 3:00PM | ESPN |
| NORTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON | 4:00PM | ACCN |
| SAINT JOSEPH’S AT RICHMOND | 4:00PM | CBSSN |
| MISSISSIPPI AT ARKANSAS | 5:00PM | SECN |
| KANSAS ST. AT KANSAS | 6:00PM | ESPNU |
| VIRGINIA TECH AT VIRGINIA | 6:00PM | ACCN |
| FIGURE SKATING | TIME ET | TV |
| US CHAMPIONSHIPS | 3:00PM | NBC |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA | 6:00AM | USA |
| ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA | 12:00PM | NBC |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| MIAMI AT CHARLOTTE | 1:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| INDIANA AT MEMPHIS | 6:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| LA CLIPPERS AT CLEVELAND | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| NEW ORLEANS AT MILWAUKEE | 8:00PM | NBATV BALLY SPORTS |
| NFL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: SAN FRANCISCO AT PHILADELPHIA | 3:00PM | FOX |
| AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: CINCINNATI AT KANSAS CITY | 6:30PM | CBS |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| BOSTON AT CAROLINA | 5:00PM | NESN BALLY SPORTS |
| WASHINGTON AT TORONTO | 5:00PM | NHLN NBCS-WSH SPORTSNET |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| SERIE A: MILAN VS SASSUOLO | 6:30AM | CBSSN |
| LIGUE 1: NICE VS LILLE | 7:00AM | BEIN SPORTS |
| FIRST DIVISION A: ANDERLECHT VS ANTWERP | 7:30AM | ESPN+ |
| LA LIGA: REAL VALLADOLID VS VALENCIA | 8:00AM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS LIVERPOOL | 8:30AM | ESPN+ |
| SERIE A: JUVENTUS VS MONZA | 9:00AM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: STOKE CITY VS STEVENAGE | 9:00AM | ESPN+ |
| LIGUE 1: STRASBOURG VS TOULOUSE | 9:00AM | BEIN SPORTS |
| LIGUE 1: CLERMONT VS NANTES | 9:00AM | BEIN SPORTS |
| LIGUE 1: BREST VS ANGERS SCO | 9:00AM | BEIN SPORTS |
| BUNDESLIGA: SCHALKE 04 VS KÖLN | 9:30AM | ESPN+ |
| LA LIGA: OSASUNA VS ATLÉTICO MADRID | 10:15AM | ESPN+ |
| LIGUE 1: AJACCIO VS OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS | 11:05AM | BEIN SPORTS |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: WREXHAM VS SHEFFIELD UNITED | 11:30AM | ESPN+ |
| BUNDESLIGA: BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND | 11:30AM | ESPN+ |
| SERIE A: LAZIO VS FIORENTINA | 12:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| LA LIGA: CELTA DE VIGO VS ATHLETIC CLUB | 12:30PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: PRESTON NORTH END VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LIGA MX: TOLUCA VS LEÓN | 1:00PM | UNIVISION |
| SERIE A: NAPOLI VS ROMA | 2:45PM | CBSSN |
| LIGUE 1: PSG VS REIMS | 2:45PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| LA LIGA: REAL MADRID VS REAL SOCIEDAD | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: PLATENSE VS NEWELL’S OLD BOYS | 3:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: RACING CLUB VS BELGRANO | 5:15PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: INSTITUTO VS SARMIENTO | 5:15PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: COLÓN VS LANÚS | 5:15PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: BOCA JUNIORS VS ATLÉTICO TUCUMÁN | 7:30PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| LIGA MX: PACHUCA VS NECAXA | 8:00PM | TUDN |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| 2023 AUSTRALIAN OPEN: MEN’S FINAL | 3:30AM | ESPN |